How is the bidding system doing? Any comments?

[Incognito1]

My partner stupidly bid on an upgrade for our upcoming Mexico trip, not paying attention that the cost was per person.  The upgrade cost was more than half the original cost of the cruise.  I was fortunately able to cancel the bid before it was accepted.

 

HOWEVER, while that bid was in the system, we got a free upgrade on our 2023 Transatlantic.  Yes, it was for a forward balcony, but we were oceanview before.  The next day, they moved us again (assuming it was because the first balcony had an adjoining room that they sold together) to a midship balcony.  Free.  Maybe it was coincidental, but I'm not big on coincidences...

[Bwana Tom]

21 hours ago, 4x4bob said:

We have been with Princess long enough years to go through the Upgrade Fairy, and Up Sells, so we were curious just how the new bidding process was going to work.

 

When we reserved our Aft Mini Suite we wrote down the prices of the full suites that we might be interested in.

 

Shortly there after Princess blocked out the Suites on our cruise with the message currently not available contact Princess to reserve.

 

Then we finally received the E-Mail stating that we could now bid on our cruise.

 

When we looked at the suite prices being offered at min to max bid we both agreed that if we had wanted to pay full price for a suite we would have done so months ago when we reserved the mini. 

 

At this point there are numerous empty cabins on our ship so we are waiting to see if Princess will adjust their min/max levels later on. 

Bob

If you don't mind - please let us know if the bid prices become adjusted. That would be a great bit of info.

Thanks

[Don9992]

I looked at the price to go to a full suite on the Discovery in January. The lowest bid was $475 each.  That is less than the regular price difference but not that much less. We're already in a Club Class Mini Suite with an expanded balcony and that sounds just fine. Pass

[Tikibird]

My cruise is 17 Nov - Coral PNG cruise and my bid is still pending.  I have an obstructed ocean view and bid the minimum on a balcony.  Up to Saturday, they were trying to last-minute sell balconies and below.  Bid is still pending with 3 days to go. 

[Matco]

Board Discovery Princess tomorrow both bids show pending 

[MattnTricia]

Got upgraded for $60/pp to go to a Deluxe Balcony from a standard Balcony. 

We did it to get the slightly better room with the couch and a bit more space. 

Actual ship location was not as good though. 

 

We were hoping for the suite upgrade we bid on but did not get it. 

[suzyed]

Ok, strange question, maybe?  I booked a cruise, paid for it and put in 2 bids for upgrades. I am cancelling that sailing but re-booked the same cruise.   Should I go and cancel the 2 bids for the one that will be cancelled?  

[wrongwaywatson]

14 minutes ago, suzyed said:

Ok, strange question, maybe?  I booked a cruise, paid for it and put in 2 bids for upgrades. I am cancelling that sailing but re-booked the same cruise.   Should I go and cancel the 2 bids for the one that will be cancelled?  

Since you will have a different booking number, yes.  You will need to bid with the new booking number.  Even if you aren't bidding for an upgrade with the new booking, I would cancel the original bid.  It's being handled by a 3rd party and I wouldn't trust that the info gets to them.  I would cancel the bid and then cancel the cruise.

Edited November 15, 2022 by wrongwaywatson

[andlep]

On 11/14/2022 at 1:28 PM, Tikibird said:

My cruise is 17 Nov - Coral PNG cruise and my bid is still pending. 

I am also sailing on the 17th Nov but on the Grand from Melbourne. Just had my minimum bid accepted for a mini suite MB from a balcony BE. 

[Tikibird]

41 minutes ago, andlep said:

I am also sailing on the 17th Nov but on the Grand from Melbourne. Just had my minimum bid accepted for a mini suite MB from a balcony BE. 

Mine is still pending, just now checked it.  If they aren't going to accept my bid I wish they would at least send an email denying it. 

I wonder if these are processed in the USA or Australia for a ship sailing from an Aussie port?

[suzyed]

4 hours ago, wrongwaywatson said:

Since you will have a different booking number, yes.  You will need to bid with the new booking number.  Even if you aren't bidding for an upgrade with the new booking, I would cancel the original bid.  It's being handled by a 3rd party and I wouldn't trust that the info gets to them.  I would cancel the bid and then cancel the cruise.

Yeah, the more I thought about it that's what I did.  My TA is working on the cancellation and I went in and cancelled the two bids.  Now I am booked again and they say I am not eligible for the bidding....oh well.

[suzyed]

4 hours ago, wrongwaywatson said:

Since you will have a different booking number, yes.  You will need to bid with the new booking number.  Even if you aren't bidding for an upgrade with the new booking, I would cancel the original bid.  It's being handled by a 3rd party and I wouldn't trust that the info gets to them.  I would cancel the bid and then cancel the cruise.

Thanks for your input...I feel like that was the right thing to do.

 

[bobrxlex]

Just received confirmation that my bid for mini suite was confirmed. Cruise is about 23 days out.  I had balcony obstructed (BW) on emerald deck and went to MC on emerald deck.  I bid on deluxe balcony (minimum bid of 45) premium deluxe balcony (I think minimum bid was 95 but I bid 155) and mini suite(minimum bid was 185 and I bid 255)  I got the cruise  for a discount rate since they were having a promotion so I thought I would go higher on the upgrade.  Might have been able to bid a little less but really wanted the extra room.  My mini is by forward steps and the bw was mid ship. but not too much difference.  Cruise is 7 day carribean on sky

[1cruiselvr]

Well my Nov 26 cruise now shows as SOLD OUT except for inside cabins. I haven’t received notification of my pending bids being denied, so I guess they just stay pending. I’d rather they tell me denied and I could forget about it. 

Edited November 17, 2022 by 1cruiselvr
Spelling

[KarmaCruisers]

We cruise on the sky on Saturday and still no word if yay or nay.

[cali-croozer]

I am on a cruise in 6 days that is oversold; people getting move over offers.  Just received notice my bid was accepted. Going from inside to deluxe obstructed balcony for the minimum bid ($40pp).  I checked the deck plans and it is in a nice mid ship location and the view is not that obstructed.  Can't believe they are still playing musical cabins so close to the cruise date.

[bobrxlex]

I got upgraded from midship (BW E417) emerald deck on sky to mini suite (MC E217) emerald deck. Now I'm worried that it will be too noisy above the theater.  I paid total of $510 for the upgrade and now I'm not sure it was worth it.  Has anyone been above the theater on emerald deck and how bad was it.   Be careful bidding for upgrade because of location change

[Incognito1]

Just got the upgrade notice from interior to Deluxe Balcony (aft) on the Ruby to Mexico leaving in 3 days.  After canceling the first bid, I bid again at the lowest possible amount, figuring I was okay with inside.  We paid $250 total.  Princess site had shown balconies sold out, so I'm guessing someone canceled.

 

This is two this month (first one free).  I'm thinking maybe I should hit the casino when I get onboard 🙂

[Cruise Raider]

15 minutes ago, Incognito1 said:

Just got the upgrade notice from interior to Deluxe Balcony (aft) on the Ruby to Mexico leaving in 3 days.  After canceling the first bid, I bid again at the lowest possible amount, figuring I was okay with inside.  We paid $250 total.  Princess site had shown balconies sold out, so I'm guessing someone canceled.

 

This is two this month (first one free).  I'm thinking maybe I should hit the casino when I get onboard 🙂

There are no deluxe balconies on the Ruby.  

[Incognito1]

Thanks for that!  I was looking at the Royal rather than the Ruby deck plans.  It's still a nice upgrade to a balcony near the back of the ship.  

[CasinoInvitee]

Can you go straight to Customer Service desk upon boarding and request an upgrade to a higher tier room? After learning the minimum bets you'll be able to negotiate with the front desk if your ship isn't full?

[roxievegas]

we have in the past, but not since this new bidding system has come into effect.  We have a bid in for January 2023 cruise - have not heard anything.  If we don't get it, I will go to guest services.

we could go from a balcony to a mini suite for $215 total 

don't think you can do that anymore

[Cruise Raider]

4 hours ago, roxievegas said:

we have in the past, but not since this new bidding system has come into effect.  We have a bid in for January 2023 cruise - have not heard anything.  If we don't get it, I will go to guest services.

we could go from a balcony to a mini suite for $215 total 

don't think you can do that anymore

Sure you can.  If there are cabins available, you can go to guest services and see what they can offer you and the associated cost.  There’s never harm in trying … it’s worked for us.  

[1cruiselvr]

Once we went to guest services to see if there was an upgrade available, they wanted the full difference between what we paid for our cabin and the upgraded one. No deal. Another time, they were taking names and cabin #s. The next day they called to say nothing available. Most cruises I’ve sailed on pre and post Covid have a sign at guest services saying ship is full, no cabins available or something similar to that. I can’t remember the exact wording. 
Even if a ships is not completely full, they like to have a little wiggle room in case there is a cabin problem and they have to move someone. So I if you want an upgrade, best to bid for it. 
 

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

I would love to see about an upgrade at the bididng price they sent, when we board.

Our cruise has tons of empty cabins.   But, I would only want to upgrade if one of the ones we might like are still available.   They are all still open right now, a few weeks before sailing.

 

With a ship that is not getting full, I wonder if they would still do the cheaper upgrades when we board.  If anybody here has any experience, then I hope they can post here!

 

We called to ask if we could go ahead and upgrade, but they said it would be full asking price, like rebooking, many times what the bid price we were sent!