HiCCCs

On 3/9/2024 at 10:59 AM, voljeep said:

and Voljeep, too!!

And Marvin, too!!!

1 hour ago, pistnbroke said:

Going on Ruby Princess on a 16 day to Hawaii.

Currently have a regular balcony on deck 14.

The cost to upgrade to mini suite will more than double our fare.

the bidding opens in a few days and have checked on the available cabins.

There are many available and all on deck 9.

I am aware that if a bid is accepted I will be stuck with the one given.

It looks like deck 9 is the only deck with availability.

Does that mean that we would not be given a different deck ?

They could give you any upgraded cabin regardless of what the Cruise Personalizer is showing (or not showing) as being available. Don't presume anything....the biding program involves risk.

6 hours ago, walkingsoon said:

Upgraded MD to S3 for $78 pp per day. It was my highest bid for that segment, though not the one rated most liable to hit according to their likeliness meter. In fact it was a minimum bid deemed "unlikely" as opposed to a couple others classified as strong bids.

 

Cruise is seven weeks out, e-mail offer sent ten days ago with my bids made that same day, and accepted today.

 

Prior to the bidding process, all suites had been listed as sold out for the preceding few months.

 

I rather hope that one of my bids for the following segment hits. Don't want to move from a nicer cabin to one more modest. The other direction is OK.

Enjoy the cruise....no matter which "direction" you might be going!!  I can't wait to be out on the high seas in a month and 10 days!!!

IF it's the Princess "Bid To Upgrade" Program (third party)....then it should be written somewhere that Princess reserves the right to send out upgrade notices independent of the program.  Otherwise, who is to say Princess isn't sending private emails to passengers likely to pay more to upgrade or giving first dibs to upgrades to their favorite customers??  

The sleuths are on it!!!

4 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Congratulations.  Do you mind answering a few question, because Princess (third party) making counter offers in not part of the written bidding process.

 

1.  You only bid on one category, the Obstructed balcony?

2.  Was the $100 the minimum bid?

3.  Did they send you an email offering you the deluxe version for a slightly higher price?

4.  Was this offer via the bidding program?

 

I hope you are successful and enjoy your cruise.  I would think since they made you the offer and it was not just a new or revised bid that it is automatic.

Dear jagoffee...

When you say ".....because Princess (third party) making counter offers is not part of the written bidding process" are you referring to the same concern I raised in an earlier post trying to get clarification about why Princess is sending out offers but not through the "Bid To Upgrade" Program which is being run/managed by a third party? I hadn't read that anywhere in the "Bid To Upgrade" Program and was wondering how these individual email offers were taking place....

22 hours ago, GonzoWCS said:

In this case there was a link (button) if We wanted to accept the offer.  If we did nothing then the counter offer expired.  Hope this helps.

 

Cheers

It's news that I either hadn't understood or haven't come across. Other posts mentioned something similar....I thought they were talking about "special offers" that were coming from their travel agent or Princess. What was throwing me was that a "third party" is running the "Bid to Upgrade" program....and I thought that meant Princess was completely out of the equation. So, I wonder how Princess decides who gets a counter offer and who doesn't.

On 12/29/2023 at 10:16 AM, GonzoWCS said:

Almost forgot to post here. 

 

CB 17 December 2023 -  Upgrade from Balcony to MS $100 PP - Counter Offer to Premium Balcony $80 PP.  We did not take it due to position of Premium Balcony. 

 

Had a fabulous Balcony B510.  

 

Cheers

Quick question.....I thought on the Bid to Upgrade program that you bid and if they accept the bid your credit card is automatically charged. You indicate being able to make a counter offer for a Premium Balcony -- which wasn't part of your initial bid from Balcony to a Mini Suite. How does that work in the Bid to Upgrade program?  Thanks for whatever information you can share on this.

Cheers! Happy New Years!

7 minutes ago, Noble724 said:

Just had success on upgrade bid, Regal sailing 28 Jan.  Complimentary upgrade from Balcony Gty to Deluxe Balcony,  then low bid accepted on Deluxe Balcony to Mini Suite.  This time, we had a good outcome.

Congratulations!!!

22 hours ago, 2MellowCruisers said:

Well, you hit the nail on the head!  We just got the charge to our CC and the email saying we got the premium balcony.  We are very happy with the new location and close to the laundry.  Very excited!

 

I forgot to say it before, congratulations on your win!

Thanks for sharing your experience!  And, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

3 hours ago, iamaqt2 said:

Won my bid for Jan 6 Discovery.

Was booked in Cat BC balcony.

Offered 4 bids

Deluxe Balcony 30pp

Premium Deluxe 55pp

Mini Suite 70pp

Reserve forward facing mini 165pp

 

Won mini suite at 70.

All were minimum bids.

Congratulations!  Enjoy your cruise - and the great upgrade!!!!

23 minutes ago, JeffM1 said:

Don't know for sure, but our best guess is that they have cancellations, right up to the day of sailing, and they are just sitting on some bids in case someone cancels.  That's my theory and I'm sticking to it 🙂

 

Agreed.

On 11/26/2023 at 9:15 AM, Go-Bucks! said:

I booked my next cruise (Dec 20-30) just 11 days ago and got the very last Caribe balcony cabin. Since then I've received 3 emails from Princess about bidding on an upgrade! Seems like they really want my cabin...but their upgrade prices are too high for me.

....and you probably could have afforded the upgrade price if you hadn't lost that money backing Ohio State last week!!  M-Go-Blue!!  See you again next year!!! 🥰

17 minutes ago, Celcius said:

One last question/suggestion: Why does every entity HAVE to have an app?  Why not just a link to the website where, using the browser on our phone, we could request reservations, make payments etc. The app is just a "middleman" to Princess website and data anyway. 

Relevancy, my dear! One MUST HAVE an app in the 21st century to be relevant. Thus, I long for the good old days when we were app free...and far more relevant then than we'll ever be.

9 hours ago, kamelia said:

After the long months (years) of hearing, "well, it's not supposed to work that way" when I've shown my glitches to the various Ocean Navigators, I figure I'm about due to be the one telling them that! 😆

You BOTH get my vote!!! And that's how it's done here in Chicago!!!

57 minutes ago, IndyKid said:

I just checked this morning, the app doesn't show that we have a package, we do have the Premier and it had been showing up until now. But the cruise personalizer still shows that we have it. Just chalk it up to this wonky, glitchy app. We'll just make sure to print copies of our cruise summary and have it with us when we board.

That's correct...glitchy app. Once you're onboard it all works like it should and your proper package will show up.

7 hours ago, memoak said:

I have 7 cruises booked and all with plus package and none show on the app right now. The travel summary is really all you will need

If any of those seven booked cruises get to be too much, I can take a couple off your hands. That's just the kind of guy I am...always willing to lend a helping hand! Toot-Toot!!!

17 hours ago, lcryderman said:

I'm having the same thing. Then, when I tried to reset my password it didn't recognize my email address. All this despite the fact that I can log in to the website and have booked my cruise already. 

I am lighting candles to the tiki gods of Ocean Medallion app that this is a sign of a major fix about to occur and new launch.....and this thread will finally have its proper and rightful burial.

On 11/5/2023 at 8:31 PM, birdiebill said:

My problem was corrected today.  My booking missing from the app was the first booking of the back to back on the Sun Princess.  I tried to get it fixed through online chat, but after communicating back and forth on the issue, I lost my chat connection with the agent.  About a half hour later I checked the app again and discovered that the missing booking was now on the app, combined with the booking for the second leg of my back to back. The back to back is now listed on the app as a single booking, but with the booking number of the second leg.  On Princess web site, they are still listed as two separate bookings with the original booking numbers.  Don’t know if agent fixed it after losing connection or if data system auto combined the two. 

My recent experience with the B2B is that the app does combine them...however, the web-site recognizes them as two separate bookings. I had two separate stateroom accounts for the two segments of the B2B. 

1 minute ago, nzOdy said:

Haha,  I'm not that deep in dread, sorry for you!!

 

Actually feeling better about it since I managed to convince them to stop running Customer Service scripts against me and take my engineering advice. Maybe I should tell them to put me in charge of their engineering team!! 😄 🤣

 

I'll pass on what I hear on Monday.

DRAT!!! I was starting to pack my bags.

Just as an FYI....once on board, the app did work fine. My only complaint was that they claimed drink orders were "delivered" but I never received one!!! After the third failed attempt I stopped ordering through the app and dealt only with humans. Bartenders were always sympathetic and credited back the undelivered cocktail. My advise at the end of the cruise survey was to associate an employee ID with each "delivered" drink to see if there is a personnel problem at hand. I'm not expecting a change....but since they asked I thought I would offer my two cents.

7 hours ago, nzOdy said:

Totally agree. It's quite shocking to me that this got cleared for release! I'm now dreading the cruise coming up this month!

Don't let technology (or the lack thereof) steal your focus that you are going on a cruise! Don't let technology glitches rob the joy that is yours to be going on a cruise! 

Anyone who needs to forgo their cruise because these technology problems are entirely unacceptable, please allow me to go in your place.

Toot-Toot! 😘

3 hours ago, rome2009 said:

It would seem pretty obvious that Princess’ only concern is to make as much money as possible. The bidding system is a way to generate more income by making the purchaser gamble on a bid. Granted, if you lose the bid there is no cost to you, but by telling you that you have been outbid and then suggesting that you increase your bid to better your chances is simply wanting to take more money away from you. I’m pretty sure that if I were to up my bid in a way to put me in the lead, an email would immediately go out to my rivals to suggest they up their bid. Only way to defeat this is if everyone bids the minimum and lets Princess choose randomly who wins. 

"Princess: Come Feel The Love" 🤣

6 hours ago, Cruisintimer said:

We are on the cruise after you sail and we have not heard either.  The bid form says they will let you know at least two days before sailing but maybe that applies if you are upgraded?  I am certain someone will have the answer here, standby. 😂

Your credit card charge will most likely alert you before Princess!! 🤣

23 hours ago, 1cruiselvr said:

I was once told it was only offered on 7 day plus cruises. Don't know if that's true. 

I am currently on a B2B (2-day and then a 5-day) in Australia. I was able to place bids for upgrades on both segments. Both bids were losers....but I'm a winner in the long run because I'm on a cruise!!!  Having a fantastic time. Turned Elite after completing the first segment....and now enjoying some of the perks on this second segment. Yippeeee!!!!!!

1 hour ago, Amy G said:

I was on chat with Princess today for way too long asking why I can't place a bid yet for our cruise in December (the cruise is 58 days away and is a 4-night cruise)).  He just said that some cruises don't offer upgrades... Super frustrating because there are a lot of cabins left in all categories, so I hope they open it up soon.

 

 

That's good information to receive. I wonder what the thought is behind why some sailings have upgrade bidding and some do not....especially if there is availability.

On 10/21/2023 at 11:02 PM, Bollycats said:

I didn't do a bid yet but I did put a request for a wait list for a club class mini suite on our 7-day cruise next month. We are in a forward mini suite now so club class is the next step up. The waitlist confirmed and they want an extra $4,100 for it. That's crazy! Now I'm wondering if I bid, where should I bid on the scale since this category of cabins seems ultra expensive?

Don't bid $4K-that's for sure!!!