SEAKevin

Could you share what the cost of the upgrade was? As noted before I'm used to Carnival's offers like this but not Princess. On Carnival, upgrade from free inside to Balcony is usually 250 - 260 per person on a 7 or 8 night cruise. Upgrade to OV usually 100. But you can choose the highest balcony category in that group.

Yes... for the 10 day cruises I checked on the cost to upgrade from inside to:

Oceanview, $200 per person.. (I'm now kicking myself for not thinking to ask if I went by myself if it meant I wouldn't be double charged...she worded it $200 per person)

Balcony, $400 per person (in one case it was $430 per person..this was a ship that only had balconies)

The cost to add a 3rd/4th person was $599 for inside or $849 ocean view/balcony on one of the cruises. I didn't ask about this option on every cruise.

I didn't check any shorter cruises..or ask about mini-suites. Also, availability for balconies was limited...she mentioned obstructed views.. since I was really just trying to get some basic starting info and still haven't picked a cruise I didn't didn't deep into categories, etc. I did ask if it's common for casino guests to be upgraded (because I read that in this thread) and she said no that doesn't happen very often.

I am very new to the elite thing on cruising... I'm a pro at United Airlines upgrades and their elite program but no idea how it works on a cruise line. Loyalty programs are hobbies to me and now I am hooked and like to learn.. I did some reading on this board....

I'll be sailing Vancouver to Seattle in a couple weeks just for fun on a 1 day repositioning cruise on the Ruby, and then again later in May on the Crown.. I couldn't believe how cheap they were and it's so easy to get to Vancouver on Amtrak. Big advantage living in Seattle for those...

And I'm soon going to receive on-board dividends from the Carnival shares that I added to my IRA portfolio after taking the investment advice on this board! :D

Congrats! That's really cool your offer includes 10 day sailings! I've never received an offer, but all you can do is call the number they give you and ask about Europe and see what they say! You never know! Good luck

 

 

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Thanks! I called today and sadly the answer was no about changing to any other region or choosing a cruise longer than what's on my offer. I had made a few alternate selections to check availability on 10 day cruises in Sept/Oct..and all of them had inside cabin space.

Maybe I am wrong, but after talking to the person at the casino booking desk I got the distinct feeling they are only empowered to assist you with exactly what the your casino host has given you...they are not casino hosts themselves. So, if you want/need to make those kinds of requests you'd need to have access to a host who can consider your request.

The pricing for cabin upgrades, extra people..they were all in the computer and varied by cruise. And the costs did not at all mirror the actual price differential I saw online for what was for sale to the public on those cruises...in fact it was quite a bit more expensive per person to upgrade...at least on the cruises I asked about. Granted these are several months out.

I haven't booked anything yet..still have deciding to do. One good feature I learned.. she said if I book any cruise before my cutoff reservation date..I can change it to a different cruise or cancel for no cost as long as I do so 30 days prior to the sailing I've booked. That actually can buy you time.

Seems a good time for my first post. I completed my 2nd Princess Cruise on April 10th (Caribbean Princess 11 day voyage out of Houston) and it looks like I left a large enough deposit in the casino for them to ask me back again and leave some more :p... I was comped a free cruise, inside cabin.

I've got to book it by May 10th and travel by Nov 6th... it's good for up to 10 days, for "ANY CARIBBEAN, COASTAL, MEXICO, ALASKA, HAWAII, OR PANAMA CANAL SAILING". Sadly there are no Hawaii sailings under 15 days.. I would have done a one way from Vancouver to enjoy all those sea days! Perhaps some of their comps are for longer cruises where it could be used.

I do not know what the comp criteria was..I won't talk dollars, but I was in the casino every night after dinner for 2-3 hours always playing a table game ..I may have skipped 1 night. Maybe the average time was more than that ..timekeeping is harder at night when you've also purchased the unlimited beverage package:D.

I was just stunned and thrilled when I walked into the casino on the last night and the host came over to me and personally handed me the letter. A wonderful surprise.

Another casino regular I talked to who was betting at least 2-3 times as much as I was was comped a balcony cabin plus $1,000 in casino cash.

I asked the host about paying to upgrade the cabin because I don't like inside cabins and he said it's definitely possible, and often inexpensive...so that's why I came here searching for some price guidance. I have no idea which cruise I'm going to choose yet but I was wondering if anyone knew:

1. Is the availability of these pretty reasonable where there are at least a few cabins on most every cruise unless it's a holiday peak spring break/New Years, etc? Or do they send you a "take it or leave it" list?

2. I know the regions are set where the comp is allowed... and I'm greatful with what I've got. However..I just got a Princess Summer Sailing brochure in the mail with very steep discounts on their Mediterranean sailings..meaning some empty boats. I've never been on a Med Cruise... sadly I think terrorism is taking its toll on European tourism this summer. So, what do you think my chances are of using my comp on a 7 day Med cruise instead?