Upgrade Special Offer

[FlaMariner]

On 9/27/2023 at 11:18 PM, KAKcruiser said:

The offers to upgrade for a fee go out to everyone.  If you booked through a TA it will go through them.  They may or may not decide to forward the information to you.

 

Very true.....

 

We use a big, online TA and at first, we would never get upgrade offers.

 

When we moved to another agent (same TA), she agreed to send them on and we get them now. I also send her an email 30 days out reminding her to please send them on.  

 

 

 

[POA1]

The upgrades don't change the commission basis. Our old TA, who has since retired, told me that. It's not generally a big deal for us because we usually book what we want.

 

We did play the upgrade game successfully in 2014 by booking directly with HAL. We moved from a verandah to a Signature Suite for a very reasonable price. This was back when the SS category wasn't as wildly popular as it is today. (I blame myself for talking about how the Signatures hit the value sweet spot. So, for the record, they only make sense if you are 4* or higher. 😉 While I am at it, avoid the Retreat Cabanas. It's windy up there and can be bumpy in rough seas. It's also a hike to the pools. 🌊)

[FlaMariner]

2 minutes ago, POA1 said:

The upgrades don't change the commission basis.

 

That would explain the reluctance to send them on......hassle and work for no $$$.

[Haljo1935]

On 9/29/2023 at 8:16 AM, POA1 said:

The upgrades don't change the commission basis. Our old TA, who has since retired, told me that. It's not generally a big deal for us because we usually book what we want.

 

We did play the upgrade game successfully in 2014 by booking directly with HAL. We moved from a verandah to a Signature Suite for a very reasonable price. This was back when the SS category wasn't as wildly popular as it is today. (I blame myself for talking about how the Signatures hit the value sweet spot. So, for the record, they only make sense if you are 4* or higher. 😉 While I am at it, avoid the Retreat Cabanas. It's windy up there and can be bumpy in rough seas. It's also a hike to the pools. 🌊)

So what he's saying, is if you forget the fancy CO bag w/the highly functional mesh pockets, the hike to/from the pools to retrieve it is even longer and the orange line card may blow away in windy, rough seas.. 

Best to stay low and forward...

Edited October 1, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[slavetoabunny]

We were on the Zaandam for a South America cruise in 2019 (booked directly with HAL) in a Signature Suite.  I received an upgrade offer to a Neptune at a very reasonable rate. When I called to book within an hour of getting the email I was told I got the last one, so they do move quickly.  I have a feeling if the booking would have been through a TA, I wouldn't have gotten it time.  The location was great - just down the hall from the Concierge Lounge - and we were happy for the extra space on such a long cruise.

 

[cruisedd]

Has anyone here ever received an upgrade offer as a solo, or do they typically go to a double occupancy booking?

[RuthC]

30 minutes ago, cruisedd said:

Has anyone here ever received an upgrade offer as a solo, or do they typically go to a double occupancy booking?

I have, but it was only once, out of literally dozens of cruises. I usually book an inside cabin, and I don't know if insides ever get offered upgrades. The time I was offered the upgrade, I had booked an outside. 

I have to admit, though, that I usually have my booking marked 'Do Not Upgrade'. 

[wdw1972]

9 hours ago, cruisedd said:

Has anyone here ever received an upgrade offer as a solo, or do they typically go to a double occupancy booking?

Yes - not every cruise but several.  Be aware that whatever the offer is, it'll be doubled if you're cruising solo.  In other words, a $199 upgrade to a new stateroom category will cost a solo $398.

 

Sue/WDW1972

[Curlingwhiz]

We always book thru our CC and have received probably about 6 different offers over the years to upgrade.  As mentioned earlier, I do believe that it depends on your relationship with your TA or CC.  (We used to .....pre covid.....have a pretty wonderful CC....he once got us an upgrade to a Neptune at no additional dollars!)  But there is no additional monies paid to the agent for these offers so it depends on how dedicated they are?  Plus the offers usually go quick so you need to know how much you are willing to pay and specifically which cabins.  I once got an offer by a cell call while I was ordering two coffees at Starbucks - still don't know what was in those drinks I ordered??                               One other item of note is that if you are upgrading to a suite from a non-suite category, you do NOT receive double Mariner points for your cabin.  Just be aware so you don't miscalculate your points.

[dfrohman]

On 9/26/2023 at 10:51 PM, cruise101 said:

To the best of my knowledge the “big box” TA opts out of upgrade offers, so you are unlikely to receive an upgrade offer if your booking is with that TA.

I guess I need to find another TA.

[sunviking90]

On 9/29/2023 at 6:16 AM, POA1 said:

The upgrades don't change the commission basis. Our old TA, who has since retired, told me that. It's not generally a big deal for us because we usually book what we want.

 

Things may have changed. My TA forwarded the upsell email to me a few days ago, and the wording to the TA clearly says, “Enhance your clients cruise and increase your commission with this offer”.

I thought it was too much and offered a reasonable counter. They declined. We are still almost 4 weeks to sail date so hopefully another one will come.

 

[Real NHDOC]

Even if you book through a TA you can handle the upgrades yourself.  If you book through a TA HAL will send the offers to them and you will likely not see them.  You can just call the ship inventory office directly, starting around 4 weeks before the sailing date, and ask if there are any upgrades available.  Sometimes they will offer you something they haven't even sent out yet.  You can call back every few days and check again if nothing is available when you first call in.  Just be prepared to act, have your CC and deck plan available because they are busy and the cabins go fast.  The number for that office is 1-888-628-8107 or 206-626-7381.  We often upgrade all the way from Interior to Neptune suites.  Sometimes you have to do it twice to jump more than a category or two but upgrading is almost always less than the cost would have been to book the same cabin from the start.  Often times half as much or less. 

Edited October 30, 2023 by Real NHDOC

[bammy23]

Thanks for all the info.  We are 3 star and booked in January, we got all the big perks.  We transferred our onboard booking to the big box agency so we get a nice size store credit.  I called them today and the agent knew nothing about club orange.  At the end of the call, we had purchased Club Orange, changed our cabin from VB to a VA (complimentary upgrade) got it for a great 'casino player' price, and got a bunch of stuff we wouldn't have with 3 stars, I guess.  Not much money, seems like worth it on such a long cruise.

[BigTeee]

I'm solo on a free casino offer and I just got emailed an upgrade offer that I have to pay some money for a better cabin.

[Cruise Suzy]

4 minutes ago, BigTeee said:

I'm solo on a free casino offer and I just got emailed an upgrade offer that I have to pay some money for a better cabin.

Most of us consider that an "upsell" - but depending on the $$, ship, cruise and stateroom could still be a very good deal

[BigTeee]

Yeah it's an upsell.    Obviously the decision is made by its parent company CCL and its computer algorithm.   I wonder if many empty cabins might sweeten the offer in a couple weeks.  It's a gamble, either way.