Move over offer questions

[caribill]

14 hours ago, Vexorg said:

- The offer was to cover up to $150 per passenger in airline change fees.  I haven't done this yet so I am not quite sure how this is handled.

 

 

Send them the receipts for the change fees. You will have to ask Princess who to send them too.

[Vexorg]

So now that the dust has settled and all the bookings are sorted out, one last question:  I submitted receipts for the airline change fees and cancelled hotel room to the person who handled the move over.  How do they typically reimburse those, and how long does it usually take?  I did see credits on our bank account for shore excursions that we had booked on the original cruise, but nothing else yet.

 

Oh, and as an added bonus, when I told my parents (who were the ones who got me into cruising in the first place) about our move-over at Thanksgiving, they ended up booking the cruise we moved to, which makes the deal even better.

Edited December 3, 2019 by Vexorg

[Cruise Raider]

On 11/25/2019 at 4:21 PM, Vexorg said:

I just got a move over offer on our Royal Princess cruise departing on Saturday.  I called to inquire about this and left a voicemail, but in the meantime, a couple of questions:

 

- The offer says that it's for any 5 night cruise, but there are very few options for 5 night cruises (basically one sailing out of San Francisco in January).  What options do they typically offer?

 

 

 

 

You've answered several of my questions as we were booked on that 5 night January sailing that you mentioned and received a move over offer just yesterday.  I called in and accepted it and poof, my cruise has disappeared off my personalizer.  I have several other Princess sailings booked and was thinking about canceling the 5 night sailing I have booked for December, same itinerary, and rebooking it under this offer.  I understand I will get whatever I paid for it back as refundable OBC (probably minus the trip insurance, which I booked through Princess ... but then, it will probably just move over with the booking) as well as a super category upgrade.  Would I be able to pick ANY 5 night sailing and still get a refundable credit as originally paid?  OR ...I can choose any 7 night booking in an upgraded room category and the funds I paid for the original 5 night sailing will cover the cost of the cruise....no with no refundable obc.  I have an Alaska one already booked through a travel agency that I could cancel ... but then I would have zero perks as I had the bare bones fare for the original 5 night sailing.

 

You already answered how they handle the Future Cruise Deposit for this ... thanks for that!  I suppose the same would go for the shareholders credit.... not sure but am assuming it would. 

I was wondering if anyone was successful in adding in the Best Sale Ever promo for $40 pp per day??  That would be sweet!  

Or, if I chose a 10 night sailing ... would I just pay the per diem rate on 3 of the nights or 5?  How are the per diem rates calculated ... just divide the going rate by 10 and then multiply by 3 or 5?  Or, is there a set per diem rate in this situation that covers all sailings.  

 

Thanks in advance for any hints, tips, advice you can provide.  

[Vexorg]

The email I got initially for the offer said to move to any 5 night cruise, but when I called (it took a day or so to get a response back from them) they said we could move to any 7-night cruise leaving from a US port (presumably because options for 5 night sailings are very limited.)  We opted to move to a 7 night Mexican Riviera sailing, which we are actually going to be sailing away on a week from right now.  When we took the offer they moved us from an interior cabin to a balcony cabin and applied the fare we paid (minus taxes and fees as OBC to the new sailing.  a shore excursion we had prepaid was refunded to our card immediately, and we had to submit receipts for the airline change fees and the hotel reservation we had to cancel (we got back the stated $150 per passenger; we ate part of the cancelled hotel night but it wasn't a big deal.)  A check to cover those expenses was mailed to us roughly five weeks after we took the offer.  I expect that any leftover OBC at the end of the cruise will be refunded the same way.  

 

I couldn't tell you about how they would handle wanting to move to a 10-night cruise though, since we didn't try it.  You would have to talk to the person who coordinates to find out if that's an option.

[Cruise Raider]

16 hours ago, Vexorg said:

The email I got initially for the offer said to move to any 5 night cruise, but when I called (it took a day or so to get a response back from them) they said we could move to any 7-night cruise leaving from a US port (presumably because options for 5 night sailings are very limited.)  We opted to move to a 7 night Mexican Riviera sailing, which we are actually going to be sailing away on a week from right now.  When we took the offer they moved us from an interior cabin to a balcony cabin and applied the fare we paid (minus taxes and fees as OBC to the new sailing.  a shore excursion we had prepaid was refunded to our card immediately, and we had to submit receipts for the airline change fees and the hotel reservation we had to cancel (we got back the stated $150 per passenger; we ate part of the cancelled hotel night but it wasn't a big deal.)  A check to cover those expenses was mailed to us roughly five weeks after we took the offer.  I expect that any leftover OBC at the end of the cruise will be refunded the same way.  

 

I couldn't tell you about how they would handle wanting to move to a 10-night cruise though, since we didn't try it.  You would have to talk to the person who coordinates to find out if that's an option.

 

Why, thank you!!  I am equipped with answers for when I talk to the person down at Princess tomorrow.  I'm either going to take her up on the 5 night itinerary that I just gave up or if they offer me my money back that I've paid in OBC for the 7 night, that is the winner winner chicken dinner!!  

[voljeep]

this was our move over offer on our little 3 day SKY inaugural V2.0 - 12/4

called back, was out when they returned call on a (EDITED ), called back again - no response

 

anyway - no OBC offered, but … and nothing about pre-cruise hotel compensation, which was going to try to negotiate … no airfare involved

 

EDIT - received the email over-night on MONDAY 12/2 … with our pre-cruise stay on 12/3 and cruise on 12/4

 

SPECIAL OFFER!! FREE CRUISE!!! ACT NOW!

Princess is extending a special offer to guests booked on December 04, 2019 sailing of the Sky Princess.

Move to ANY 7 day Domestic Cruise and receive:

* 4 EXTRA CRUISE DAYS

* Enjoy a complimentary upgrade (based on space available)

* Air change fees will be honored up to $150 per person

* EZ AIR Protected 100%

Edited January 19, 2020 by voljeep

[Cruise Raider]

So, I was able to complete my new booking with the move over offer.  I know, I know, I was going to choose the 5 night or the 7 night but was too tempted by the 10 night.  My original sailing was today and I don't regret taking the move over offer in the very least.  Since we live close to the port from which we were sailing and are both retired, well, we are very flexible.  Just love being on a ship ... doesn't matter so much where it stops but Alaska is our favorite and we love the convenience of sailing from our home port.  

Well, after talking to the rep in charge of inventory control (she is awesome, btw), we discussed our options and decided to pay the per diem rate for 3 days for a 10 day cruise.  She also provided what we thought was a generous amount of OBC.  Our FCD and Shareholder's credit, which she reapplied also went up in value (we were originally in a premium OV cabin for a 5 night cruise and now were given a premium balcony cabin on a 10 night cruise) ... so we were so very happy about that.  

Because these bookings are processed differently, no additional promos (best sale ever) or discounts (casino) can be applied.  Military benefits would have applied had I qualified, though.   I'm so jazzed, I feel like I won the lottery! 

 

I just have one more question for those that have accepted these offers.  I usually booked my cruises through a travel agency.  I found out a couple of years ago that they don't forward any move up / move down offers to their clients.  They were quite honest about it.  We tend to cruise quite a bit and was a little disappointed that we had never received one of these offers from Princess (although, we've done really well on Celebrity).  I was going to transfer one of my bookings to this agency when I found out they just don't forward those offers.  Thus, I just left my booking with Princess and bingo ... I got a move up offer, one that I really wanted at a very reasonable price.  This sailing, I also booked directly through Princess and again, I received a move up offer (it wasn't a good deal so I declined) but then, received this move over offer. 

OK ...that was a rather long path to get to my question .... here goes:

Do move over offers come directly to your email from Princess even if you booked through a travel agent?  Or ... do they go through your agent and hopefully, that agency will forward it to you?  I understand they are kind of time sensitive.  

 

[Colo Cruiser]

12 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

So, I was able to complete my new booking with the move over offer.  I know, I know, I was going to choose the 5 night or the 7 night but was too tempted by the 10 night.  My original sailing was today and I don't regret taking the move over offer in the very least.  Since we live close to the port from which we were sailing and are both retired, well, we are very flexible.  Just love being on a ship ... doesn't matter so much where it stops but Alaska is our favorite and we love the convenience of sailing from our home port.  

Well, after talking to the rep in charge of inventory control (she is awesome, btw), we discussed our options and decided to pay the per diem rate for 3 days for a 10 day cruise.  She also provided what we thought was a generous amount of OBC.  Our FCD and Shareholder's credit, which she reapplied also went up in value (we were originally in a premium OV cabin for a 5 night cruise and now were given a premium balcony cabin on a 10 night cruise) ... so we were so very happy about that.  

Because these bookings are processed differently, no additional promos (best sale ever) or discounts (casino) can be applied.  Military benefits would have applied had I qualified, though.   I'm so jazzed, I feel like I won the lottery! 

 

I just have one more question for those that have accepted these offers.  I usually booked my cruises through a travel agency.  I found out a couple of years ago that they don't forward any move up / move down offers to their clients.  They were quite honest about it.  We tend to cruise quite a bit and was a little disappointed that we had never received one of these offers from Princess (although, we've done really well on Celebrity).  I was going to transfer one of my bookings to this agency when I found out they just don't forward those offers.  Thus, I just left my booking with Princess and bingo ... I got a move up offer, one that I really wanted at a very reasonable price.  This sailing, I also booked directly through Princess and again, I received a move up offer (it wasn't a good deal so I declined) but then, received this move over offer. 

OK ...that was a rather long path to get to my question .... here goes:

Do move over offers come directly to your email from Princess even if you booked through a travel agent?  Or ... do they go through your agent and hopefully, that agency will forward it to you?  I understand they are kind of time sensitive.  

 

We have had moveovers/upgrades/upsells come though my TA as well as being sent to me from Princess.
Never had an issue about being notified right away. Regardless my TA does not disregard stuff/hold on to anything or flat out drop the ball.

[Loritd]

My travel agent forwarded both of my move ever offers (mom and pop agency).  I left the voice mail stating I would be interested in the offer. The agency received $200 for me accepting the offer (I am not sure if that was place of the commission or in addition) but they received nothing on the cruise eventually I booked with my move over.

[Cruise Raider]

4 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

We have had moveovers/upgrades/upsells come though my TA as well as being sent to me from Princess.
Never had an issue about being notified right away. Regardless my TA does not disregard stuff/hold on to anything or flat out drop the ball.

 

Good to know ... thanks!!  But, just to clarify, if Princess sends this offer to your TA, do they automatically forward the copy to you as well ... or is it that you've gotten the offer from one or the other?  

I like that big box TA I use but was disappointed to find out they don't forward these offers.  They said it's because they are just too busy.  

 

[Colo Cruiser]

2 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Good to know ... thanks!!  But, just to clarify, if Princess sends this offer to your TA, do they automatically forward the copy to you as well ... or is it that you've gotten the offer from one or the other?  

I like that big box TA I use but was disappointed to find out they don't forward these offers.  They said it's because they are just too busy.  

 

I get it from both.

[azbirdmom]

22 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Good to know ... thanks!!  But, just to clarify, if Princess sends this offer to your TA, do they automatically forward the copy to you as well ... or is it that you've gotten the offer from one or the other?  

I like that big box TA I use but was disappointed to find out they don't forward these offers.  They said it's because they are just too busy.  

 

 

Both my moveover and all upsell offers that I have received have gone to our TA only and she has immediately sent them on to me.  Many have reported getting them directly from Princess even if working with a TA and I'm not sure how they determine which route to go with these but all of mine have definitely come through our TA. 

[Cruise Raider]

7 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Both my moveover and all upsell offers that I have received have gone to our TA only and she has immediately sent them on to me.  Many have reported getting them directly from Princess even if working with a TA and I'm not sure how they determine which route to go with these but all of mine have definitely come through our TA. 

 

Very good to know.  Thanks!!   I just spoke with my big box agency again and her answer was that they still do not forward these to their clients, so, unless I am sure I don't want one of these offers, I am probably not booking with them.  Otherwise, they are fantastic.  

I also know that they only time I have gotten either one of these offers is when I have booked directly through Princess.  

[Vexorg]

In my case it was the first time I had seen a move over offer, even though the majority of the cruises I've been on have been booked direct (either through the website or through a Princess vacation planner.)  Then again, with all the planning and arrangements needed to take a Caribbean cruise from here I don't think I'd be in a position to take one unless it was departing from the West Coast anyway.

[memoak]

Many big box TA’s do not pass along offers or take their sweet time passing them along. I book through a Princess PVP and get the offers very quickly

[polmcs]

36 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Very good to know.  Thanks!!   I just spoke with my big box agency again and her answer was that they still do not forward these to their clients, so, unless I am sure I don't want one of these offers, I am probably not booking with them.  Otherwise, they are fantastic.  

I also know that they only time I have gotten either one of these offers is when I have booked directly through Princess.  

I got a move over offer on my Thanksgiving MR cruise on the Royal, despite booking my trip through a big box TA. Princess actually reached out to me direct via email. I’m guessing that if they are really desperate to get someone to move over, they are quite happy to bypass the TA. 

 

That said, I’ve only ever had 1 upsell offer and that was on a cruise booked directly with Princess.

[Cruise Raider]

4 minutes ago, polmcs said:

I got a move over offer on my Thanksgiving MR cruise on the Royal, despite booking my trip through a big box TA. Princess actually reached out to me direct via email. I’m guessing that if they are really desperate to get someone to move over, they are quite happy to bypass the TA. 

 

That said, I’ve only ever had 1 upsell offer and that was on a cruise booked directly with Princess.

 

Oh ... so, maybe they send the move over offers out a bit differently than the upsell offers.  I did get a free upgrade once and even though I was booked through that big box travel agency, I received a call directly from someone at Princess to see if I wanted it or not.  I had been booked in an inside and was moved up to a very good (un)obstructed oceanview cabin.  The guy from Princess that called me at 6:45 AM .. said, 'so, do you want it or not?'.  I kind of wondered if it was a prank call but he did have all my booking info and what was the worst that could happen if it were a prank.  I'd still be going ... whether it was in an inside or the upgraded room.  Well, I took it ... it was very nice free upgrade!  They didn't even have time to go through my agency, I am sure.  

[polmcs]

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Oh ... so, maybe they send the move over offers out a bit differently than the upsell offers.  I did get a free upgrade once and even though I was booked through that big box travel agency, I received a call directly from someone at Princess to see if I wanted it or not.  I had been booked in an inside and was moved up to a very good (un)obstructed oceanview cabin.  The guy from Princess that called me at 6:45 AM .. said, 'so, do you want it or not?'.  I kind of wondered if it was a prank call but he did have all my booking info and what was the worst that could happen if it were a prank.  I'd still be going ... whether it was in an inside or the upgraded room.  Well, I took it ... it was very nice free upgrade!  They didn't even have time to go through my agency, I am sure.  

I’ve also had exactly 1 upgrade (mini to full suite) for both cabins I had booked on an Alaskan itinerary. This was also booked through the big box TA and this time it was the TA who called to say that I’d been upgraded and that I would love the new cabins that we’d been moved to. 😉 

[Cruise Raider]

6 minutes ago, polmcs said:

I’ve also had exactly 1 upgrade (mini to full suite) for both cabins I had booked on an Alaskan itinerary. This was also booked through the big box TA and this time it was the TA who called to say that I’d been upgraded and that I would love the new cabins that we’d been moved to. 😉 

 

Wow ... I bet you did love them!!  That's great!!  

 

[Cruise Raider]

So, this is what I've gleaned from this thread when booking with a travel agent:

 

-Upsell offers are sent out to your travel agent and it is up to them to forward them to their clients.  

-Move Over offers that are sent out from Princess are done via email directly to the passengers as well as to your travel agent ... or maybe just one or the other.  ??

-Upgrades (free) ... you are given out directly through Princess and your travel agent may be notified, depending on the timing.  

 

I guess all of these assumptions are subject to change and however Princess may handle it at the time.  

[dchip]

We also received a move over offer on the 1-22-20 5 day sailing from SF. Princess sent us an email and never notified our TA. I didn’t see the email until after the office was closed on Friday night. We did receive a call Monday morning and took the offer for a 7 day Coastal leaving 3-22-20. However, our kids contacted our TA Monday morning to add OBC for hubby’s birthday. All the TA saw was our cruise was cancelled. They freaked out. 😝. Luckily I called our TA  about 60 minutes after talking to Princess they were relieved but couldn’t understand why they were not contacted first. If Princess had called our TA, we wouldn’t have spent a weekend thinking we missed the move offer boat. 🤗 This was our first ever move over offer and one that was east to accept. 

 

Cheers, Denise 

[phred119s]

We got a move over offer in August to move to an inside room on our same sailing. The email went to my agency email and my personal email. It was a few days before sailing. 
 

We got a free upgrade this week for our upcoming cruise in June. I just happened to notice while looking at something else. No emails to my agency email or personal email. 

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, dchip said:

We also received a move over offer on the 1-22-20 5 day sailing from SF. Princess sent us an email and never notified our TA. I didn’t see the email until after the office was closed on Friday night. We did receive a call Monday morning and took the offer for a 7 day Coastal leaving 3-22-20. However, our kids contacted our TA Monday morning to add OBC for hubby’s birthday. All the TA saw was our cruise was cancelled. They freaked out. 😝. Luckily I called our TA  about 60 minutes after talking to Princess they were relieved but couldn’t understand why they were not contacted first. If Princess had called our TA, we wouldn’t have spent a weekend thinking we missed the move offer boat. 🤗 This was our first ever move over offer and one that was east to accept. 

 

Cheers, Denise 

 

We got that offer and felt like we won the lottery!!  It was my first offer, too.  

Living so close to the port, we are so flexible.  We were looking at the 3/22 sailing but are on an April 4th cruise ... so, too close.  I've already filled our travel schedule for the next two years.  My DH said ... stop looking!  hahaha 

 

[voljeep]

1 minute ago, phred119s said:

We got a move over offer in August to move to an inside room on our same sailing. The email went to my agency email and my personal email. It was a few days before sailing. 
 

We got a free upgrade this week for our upcoming cruise in June. I just happened to notice while looking at something else. No emails to my agency email or personal email. 

did you take the "move down" offer ?

[phred119s]

2 minutes ago, voljeep said:

did you take the "move down" offer ?

I tried. But they didn’t have any triples or quads. So I’m not really sure how we got it since we couldn’t be accommodated. 
 

For June — we booked right after we got back in August and said then (among the 3 of us) that we would give up our balcony if it was a lucrative enough move down. Not interested in changing sailings. But with this upgrade and knowing how the child is going to react to it (we are going to let her figure it out when we get there), I’m not sure I’d want to take a move down now. Funny enough we were upgraded just a few doors down from where our inside was in December.