Chances of Getting an Upgrade - Clarification Requested

[earnied]

I've seen many threads relating to upgrades and was quite surprised to learn that numerous Elite passengers have 'never' received an upgrade. Then I got to thinking, I wonder if they were talking about booking a specific cabin and not being upgraded or booking a guaranteed category and not being upgraded. We've been upgraded twice after booking a specific cabin and we are 3 for 3 for upgrades when booking the lowest guaranteed balcony room category. I would be surprised if Elite passengers didn't get some sort of priority when booking guaranteed categories.

 

earnied

[cherylandtk]

From what we can tell by posted experiences, nope Elites don't get any preferences. Strictly the luck of the computer.

 

Booking GTY means you probably booked the lowest possible category/rate within the room type (balcony, OV, inside, etc.). Since there are only about 4 rooms of that actual category, but many more GTY bookings, all but four bookings are practically assured of getting at least a higher category within the type. (Some people don't call this an upgrade unless you go from one type to another, but let's leave that out of the equation for the moment.) The upshot is, if you are booking the lowest rate GTY, you almost always will get a slightly higher category assigned.

 

If you book a specific room, the same chances apply, but specific room bookings tend to be higher grades than the lowest category (either those are already sold or because there are location preferences). If not marked "No Upgrade" these bookings have the same chance as being selected by the computer to be upgraded, but there are technically fewer rooms above them to be selected into.

[Colo Cruiser]

I agree no upgrades. :(

 

I have seen many first second and third time cruisers get great upgrades, once they are hooked the parties over. :mad:

[paul929207]

We have gotten a few upgrades over the years. There seems no logic to them. There have been threads here where the poster is Platinum or Elite, got a newbie to book a cruise with them. The two couples were in adjoining cabins of the same category. The newbie got an upgrade, but the other did not.

[skivoodoo]

I've often wondered if the price paid for a category has any bearing. That may be why first time cruisers seem to be upgraded more frequently. They may not price shop as hard as the seasoned cruisers.

[sunsetbeachgal]

I've never received a real upgrade -i.e: paid for outside cabin, got a balcony, or paid for balcony and got a mini- I am Platinum and have cruised ten times on Princess, with cruise numbers 11 and 12 under deposit. I have had some upgrades to a higher category here and there, and took a wonderful Moveover offer a few years ago, but I do not consider that an upgrade!

 

But no complaints here-I am very satisfied with Princess and feel that if I want a certain cabin, I will pay for it!

[mmceachn]

Most likely depends on how fast each catagory on the ship is filling up.

 

1st Princess cruise...booked Balcony GTY..got a BB on the Caribe Deck (sweet)

The other two cabins booked at the same time in my party in my ended up on the aloha deck..same cabin with a smaller balcony.

2nd Princess cruise..booked outside obstructed..got outside obstructed

3rd Princess cruise..booked Balcony GTD..got a BB on the Caribe deck (yay!!)

 

The first cruise was booked through an agent..2nd and third directly through Princess..

[Toto2Kansas]

One question when it comes to upgrades. Are we talking actual upgrades from one type of stateroom to a higher one? Or are we talking upgrades within the category? Like you booked the lowest balcony cabin and received a balcony cabin higher up on the list?

 

Even though these are to a higher category, to many of us (including myself), they are a bit different than a true upgrade to the next 'class' of stateroom. Inside to outside, outside to balcony, balcony to mini suite, mini suite to full suite. Those are true upgrades, the in category upgrades usually just mean they booked too many of the lesser priced category for guarantees, so they have to move some passengers up to a higher priced stateroom within that category to make room to assign those guarantees.

We have read a lot of comments from those that were upgraded to a higher stateroom in the category they booked (balcony to a higher priced balcony cabin), which was in a much less desireable location, or over a public room where they experienced a lot of noise, or all the way forward so they weren't only rocked to sleep, but almost thrown out of bed during heavy seas. lol

Upgrades can be a really nice surprise, and they can also be a big let down at times. :(

 

I can tell you also, booking the highest stateroom in a category doesn't give you an edge either. I have known more passengers to be upgraded to a full suite from a category AB or AC mini suite, then those that book AA's. So, it makes absolutely no sense at all. But I sure wish there were some rhymre or reason to it. lol

 

And I agree, I think reaching Elite status doesn't give you any edge at all in the guarantee pool. ;)

[sirwired]

I agree that if you book GTY in the lowest in a class of room, you are almost guaranteed a category upgrade. On Crown-class, there are all of four BG rooms, and four BF, but I've yet to see any of the specific cabins available for booking. Yet those categories seem to stay available for GTY as long as any others, even though logic would say that they are probably pretty popular. I booked my BG for a great rate a measly two months before sailing, and it wasn't even a sale; it had been that price for some time. I have been upgraded to a BB. (I wish it was a Caribe BB, but alas, it is a Riviera BB.)

 

In fact, I would go so far as to venture that those rooms are most often filled by people getting the rare cabin-type upgrade. After all, even on a "sold-out" ship, there will be people that cancel at the last minute, and there is no reason to leave any but the lousiest inside cabins empty. They might as well simply bump BG people actually assigned to those cabins to better ones, and give a Oceanview pax a real treat.

 

If you book a BA or BB, there just isn't very far for you to go without a room-type upgrade, so it would be relatively rare for your cabin to change at all.

 

SirWired

[Colo Cruiser]

I've often wondered if the price paid for a category has any bearing. That may be why first time cruisers seem to be upgraded more frequently. They may not price shop as hard as the seasoned cruisers.

 

Yes, I believe if you pay a premium price your chances are much better.

[Bizziecruzer]

I think working out the "solution" to how upgrades work is about as easy as it is to work out the winning lotto numbers!

We always book "lead in" priced cabies - i.e. lowest inside fare available.

First Princess cruise - booked a guarantee balcony and got a BD Balcony (booked as part of a trip from Australia to West Coast Canada / Alaska)

Second Princess cruise - booked an M inside category with cabin number allocated at time of booking and got upgraded to an outside obstructed view (very little obstruction) 1 week prior to cruising (booking direct with Princess)

Third Princess cruise - booked JJ with cabin number allocated - got JJ (booking direct with Princess)

Fourth Princess cruise - booked JJ guarantee, 7 weeks out from cruise allocated OBV, 3 weeks out re-allocated to a Outside with full window! (booking direct with princess)

Fifth Princess cruise - we have booked a HH OBV guarantee and a N inside guarantee (daughters travelling with us - trying to get them hooked) - we don't cruise till April and are still waiting our allocation - will be interesteing to see what happens with this booking as we have used a TA for the first time as they offered a lot less than princess were offering.

Your best chance of being upgraded is to BOOK A CRUISE, after that it seems it's all up to chance:)

[rdsqrl]

Yes, I believe if you pay a premium price your chances are much better.

Which may explain my good luck with upgrades, since as a solo, I'm usually paying almost double . . . On the other hand, I'm sure there are lots of cruisers sailing solo or paying brochure rate that haven't been upgraded, so who knows. I think maybe we make too much of the upgrades here, because I hate then to see those posts from newbies asking how to maximize their chances -- like they're counting on the upgrade to get the cabin they really want. And we all know how likely that is to happen. You're better off in the casino than betting on an upgrade.

[JLC@SD]

I agree that if you book GTY in the lowest in a class of room, you are almost guaranteed a category upgrade.

 

We always book the lowest guaranteed category....and alway get a higher category.......:)

[Coral]

Which may explain my good luck with upgrades, since as a solo, I'm usually paying almost double . . .

 

It is funny - when I sail solo, I seem to never get upgrades. Though - I do have to say, when I sail solo, it is usually a last minute cruise and I am paying rock bottom (flash) rates.

[Colo Cruiser]

There is such a thing as rock bottom flash solo prices???? :eek:

Let me know your secret.

[hoop4fun]

I booked and paid off (same day) our cruise mid-January and just now got our room#. Booked GTY-inside N category and got a inside-L category-midship/Plaza deck on the Coral. This is our first time cruising with Princess. My question is...can Princess change our room before our sail date again :confused: ...or once they assign your room its yours? I heard the ship is sold out.

Thanks for any reply or info :rolleyes:

[Toto2Kansas]

I booked and paid off (same day) our cruise mid-January and just now got our room#. Booked GTY-inside N category and got a inside-L category-midship/Plaza deck on the Coral. This is our first time cruising with Princess. My question is...can Princess change our room before our sail date again :confused: ...or once they assign your room its yours? I heard the ship is sold out.

Thanks for any reply or info :rolleyes:

 

There is a 'very' slim chance of receiving another upgrade before sailing. But if the ship is actually sold out, I definitely wouldn't be looking for a second upgrade if you have already been assigned a cabin number.

Keep in mind, most guarantees are assigned in the actually category you booked the guarantee in. If you booked an inside, you will usually get a cabin in an inside category, outside guarantee, the same result.

Of course sometimes there are those wonderful upgrades that take you to the next category, inside to outside and so on, but they are more frequently assigned in the actually type of cabin you booked in the first place. That is why it is always best to book at least the minimum category you would be happy with just in case a 'great' upgrade doesn't happen. Good Luck though!

[paul929207]

I booked and paid off (same day) our cruise mid-January and just now got our room#. Booked GTY-inside N category and got a inside-L category-midship/Plaza deck on the Coral. This is our first time cruising with Princess. My question is...can Princess change our room before our sail date again :confused: ...or once they assign your room its yours? I heard the ship is sold out.

Thanks for any reply or info :rolleyes:

It is possible, but very unlikely for you to get an upgrade at this point.

[hoop4fun]

Thanks for your reply...I was not looking for another upgrade but was afraid Princess would take it away and give us something else....you know "not so great" lol :eek: What do you both think of the location/area?

 

Thanks again...feeling better already lol

[Cruisin' Chick]

Thanks for your reply...I was not looking for another upgrade but was afraid Princess would take it away and give us something else....you know "not so great" lol :eek: What do you both think of the location/area?

 

Thanks again...feeling better already lol

 

As others have said, if you like your cabin, you can mark your booking "no upgrade." If you don't, make sure your TA knows to ask you first if Princess offers an upgrade. We just rather not risk someone assuming we'll want a change, and we've said no upgrade the last two cruises.

 

On my first cruise, on Carnival, we got an "upgrade" but it turned out to be under a dining room, so we heard vacuuming late at night. Proves that not all upgrades are a good thing.

 

We did get a moveover offer on our first Princess cruise the day before our cruise: a full refund and an upgrade from the lowest category inside to a balcony if we postponed our cruise a few weeks (we didn't take the offer). We think we were offered it because we didn't pay much to begin with (a friends and family employee discount) and we live close to that port so maybe the computer was looking for those within driving distance. As I said, it was our first time with Princess, so I don't think the computer was looking at your number of cruises.

[LARGIN]

All upgrades are at the whim of the upgrade fairy..

 

[hoop4fun]

As others have said' date=' if you like your cabin, you can mark your booking "no upgrade." If you don't, make sure your TA knows to ask you first if Princess offers an upgrade. We just rather not risk someone assuming we'll want a change, and we've said no upgrade the last two cruises.

 

On my first cruise, on Carnival, we got an "upgrade" but it turned out to be under a dining room, so we heard vacuuming late at night. Proves that not all upgrades are a good thing.

 

We did get a moveover offer on our first Princess cruise the day before our cruise: a full refund and an upgrade from the lowest category inside to a balcony if we postponed our cruise a few weeks (we didn't take the offer). We think we were offered it because we didn't pay much to begin with (a friends and family employee discount) and we live close to that port so maybe the computer was looking for those within driving distance. As I said, it was our first time with Princess, so I don't think the computer was looking at your number of cruises.[/quote']

 

Hi Patty,

Thanks for the info...I will call our TA to make sure we are not asking/taking any form of upgrade...ASAP. However, I was told we are under the casino :( but I think there are other locations that may be worst then ours. :confused:

 

Today, Princess is asking $2,188.00 more for our category :eek: lol I can't wait to tell my hubby :D. We also paid at a discount, live 40 mins from the port and its our first time sailing with Princess. I've been waiting 25 years to take this second cruise and would not take any offer (ok, my nose is growing as I write this lol) from Princess as of today lol.... The offer would have to be amazing for us to move or upgrade at this point.

[Pam in CA]

I've been on 20 Princess cruises and have 240 days on Princess, and have been "upgraded" only once, when they moved me from an AD mini-suite on Emerald deck to an "AC" mini-suite at the front of Dolphin deck without asking or checking with my TA. Hello!!! That's not an upgrade! I immediately had her get my old cabin back.

 

Just because some cabins have a 'higher' cabin category doesn't necessarily mean it's an upgrade. All it usually means is that it's the exact same cabin in a different location and is predicated on the perception of what is better. Often, that perception is somewhat flawed, made by people new to cruising or TAs without much booking experience. Some people seem to think that the higher the deck, the better the cabin. I remember once meeting a man who said, "We're on Aloha deck." To which I said, "And?" I wanted to say, "I'm on Emerald deck and my cabin's better than yours because it's much bigger and the balcony is larger." Some people are enamoured with having a balcony on Lido or Riviera deck but I'd cancel the cruise before being in a cabin beneath a public deck.

 

The bottom line is that if you are 'upgraded' to a cabin that's exactly the same but on a different deck, that's not really an upgrade since the only difference is location. A balcony on Caribe deck would be an upgrade because the balcony is larger, i.e., there's a difference beyond cabin location.

[hoop4fun]

I've been on 20 Princess cruises and have 240 days on Princess, and have been "upgraded" only once, when they moved me from an AD mini-suite on Emerald deck to an "AC" mini-suite at the front of Dolphin deck without asking or checking with my TA. Hello!!! That's not an upgrade! I immediately had her get my old cabin back.

 

Just because some cabins have a 'higher' cabin category doesn't necessarily mean it's an upgrade. All it usually means is that it's the exact same cabin in a different location and is predicated on the perception of what is better. Often, that perception is somewhat flawed, made by people new to cruising or TAs without much booking experience. Some people seem to think that the higher the deck, the better the cabin. I remember once meeting a man who said, "We're on Aloha deck." To which I said, "And?" I wanted to say, "I'm on Emerald deck and my cabin's better than yours because it's much bigger and the balcony is larger." Some people are enamoured with having a balcony on Lido or Riviera deck but I'd cancel the cruise before being in a cabin beneath a public deck.

 

The bottom line is that if you are 'upgraded' to a cabin that's exactly the same but on a different deck, that's not really an upgrade since the only difference is location. A balcony on Caribe deck would be an upgrade because the balcony is larger, i.e., there's a difference beyond cabin location.

 

Hi Pam,

Thanks for all the great insight on cabin location and upgrades. Yes, I'm very new to the cruise thing but I'm learning here on Cruise Critic. I don't think...I will ever book GTY again...it was crazy waiting for our room location. My husband wanted a low/midship location...so I'm happy for that. However, our room is under the casino :(...I hope it's not going to be to bad. I will have to post upon my return...thanks again

Lilly :rolleyes:

[Pam in CA]

Yes, I'm very new to the cruise thing but I'm learning here on Cruise Critic. I don't think...I will ever book GTY again...it was crazy waiting for our room location. My husband wanted a low/midship location...so I'm happy for that. However, our room is under the casino :(...I hope it's not going to be to bad. I will have to post upon my return...thanks again

Lily, you should be fine for a couple of reasons. One is that there is thick padding on the floor of the Casino so you won't hear people walking or the noise of the machines. The other is that it's not like you're near a lounge with a soundstage with amplifiers. :) That can be noisy. If you have open deck above you, there's little or no "padding" to suppress the sound; you'll hear women walking in high heels, people who have heavy footsteps, the dragging of loungers as the staff put them away in the evening and back out in the morning, etc. I've had several cabins, each on a different ship, beneath open deck and every time, I tell myself, "Never again!"