Big/Small Spenders and Guarantees

[tennisobo]

We have booked several guarantees. We have always gotten upgraded within the category. Once we were upgraded from an inside to an unobstructed OV. Our onboard account is always quite low. We are definitely in the cheapskate range. I don't drink alcohol, I don't drink soda, I never gamble away more than $10 in the casino, I don't book many excursions, and when I do, they are usually not Princess-sponsored (although we have done a few). We usually have enough onboard credit before sailing to cover the tips. So I guess we are in an even lower category....we are ultra cheapskates. But, we keep coming back for more cruises. :)

[DeepWaterMariner]

I don't think there is a strong link between cabin category and what you would call a big spender or cheapskate. There is probably a much stronger link between the number of previous cruises and lower overall spending. I admit, we must be viewed by cruise lines as cheapskates and it has nothing to do with the cabin we book. No spending in the casino, no photos purchased, no tours. We're good for a coffee card and a bottle or two of wine in the MDR. Forget the specialty dinning. Cabin selection is a different story and it is cruise and ship dependent. No more guarantees. We've been burned a few times there and at this point in our lives we would rather pick our location. Cool weather cruise, oceanview. Warm weather cruise, balcony. Given the right situation, mini suite. We're less concerned these days on the cost of our cabin because we spend much more time there than we did years ago. Heck, back in our younger days we had inside cabins with upper and lower bunks and tried to get the cheapest cabin on the ship.

[Pam in CA]

If you book a BB guarantee, isn't it the same price as a BB cabin you pick?

Usually but not always. For instance, the GTY I booked for March 2013 was quite a bit less than booking the lowest outside cabin.

[suzyed]

Totally agree! Me, too -- my bar bill alone should have me in the Grand Suite every cruise.

LOL! Do they have two Grand Suites? One for you and one for me!! :D;)

[Times Prince]

From reading a recent thread on upgrades, I am curious to know what Princess would consider:

 

(a) A great spender;

(b) Middle of the road spender; and of course,

© A cheap spender (or cheapskate)...

 

One of the posters actually just about equalled passengers who book guarantees as being cheap...

 

I know one thing for certain... I book guarantees because I don't care where I am on the ship... so, for us it makes financial sense... And, I find that it adds to the excitement of trip... I love surprises!

 

What are your thoughts?

Before Guarantees were invented we were upgraded the cruise after buying several pieces of art onboard. Coincidence?

 

We've become real fans of guarantees for balconies - our mantra is that "we haven't seen a balcony on a cruise ship we wouldn't like." ;) Also we like the fact the lower cabin cost lets us spend more on Princess excursions if we want.

 

As stated, no one knows how the upgrade fairy works but we are fairly convinced that one of the factors is Princess saying "Thank You" for something memorable. For instance one Christmas cruise we volunteered and helped by planning and leading the music for the Midnight and Christmas day Masses. The next couple of cruises we received rapid BA cabin assignments for our BG guarantees - we believe as a Thank You from the CD. Princess, you are most welcome !

[OhioDogLover]

It would make sense that they upgrade people who spend more.

We did our first guaranty cabin on the last cruise and received an upgrade within the category. I think we will try it again. If you don't care about your cabin all that much but only have a floor, for example, you want an outside at least and don't care about more than that, or you want a balcony, etc., why not save the money? you can always spend it on something else, at least we do!

Ohiodoglover

[caribill]

If you book a BB guarantee, isn't it the same price as a BB cabin you pick?

 

Right. The price for a guarantee in any category is the same as if you picked a cabin in that category.

 

You only "save" by picking a GTY if you get upgraded to a higher category which can also occur if you had selected a specific cabin.

 

Some categories only have two or four cabins in that category, so a GTY booking will likely result in an upgrade, most likely to the same type cabin (inside, balcony, etc.) in a different location.

[caribill]

It would make sense that they upgrade people who spend more.

 

Most upgrades occur when Princess believes they can resell your original cabin by moving you to a category that is not selling well.

[Weluv2cruise2007]

I always book a guarantee balcony. My theory is, a balcony is a balcony. I don't see it as being cheap either, as I agree its about being financially wise. I know everyone has their own personal opinion, and completely understand those who like to hand pick their cabins. I have nothing against anyone on how they decide to book their rooms. You do what works best for you :)

 

I'm off topic here...I just noticed your signature block - do you purposefully only cruise on the Ruby or was that just by chance? :D We thought we were pretty good for cruising 3 times in 12 months (by chance) and we got married on the Ruby last Christmas! We love her!

 

I just realized you were on our wedding cruise! Lol!!

[cruisefreaks]

After being in the travel business for 25 years this is one thing I have learned from Princess. The people that are offered the best prices are always the newbies.

 

Same goes for upgrades, I can't remember when I saw an Elite get a true upgrade.

 

It is frustrating when your neighbor who cruises once a year is offered a better price then their friends who cruise 4 or 5 times a year. Also, I would be willing to bet the newbies will be the ones to get a good upgrade.......I understand the thinking on Princess side, the newbies out spend the old timers with photos, drinks, excursions and stuff.

 

just sayin......:confused:

[BruceMuzz]

The methodology for determining upgrades is one of the most closely guarded trade secrets they have.

 

Actually not a secret at all - for those paying attention.

 

Most of the Carnival Corp brands use the POLAR reservation system.

 

POLAR is a very powerful, intuitive system that tracks cabin category sales trends on every upcoming cruise. When it spots a high demand category that is filling fast, the computer automatically upgrades people from that category to a higher category that is not selling as well nor as quickly. Then those high demand cabins can be sold again.

 

The cruise line - and a few favored travel agents - has a list of least desirable cabins in each category. These cabins may be a long hike from stairs or lifts; they often have a higher number of noise, temperature, or toilet complaints.

These are the cabins that are sold last - or if not sold, assigned as Guarantees.

 

Those booking Guarantees remind me of the people you see at the convenience store, scratching off lottery tickets. They book a Guarantee cabin - usually at a lower price - hoping against incredible odds that they might win a more desirable cabin in the end.

A few get lucky and receive those better cabins. A very few know how to play the system, booking Guarantees in high demand categories that have very few cabins, which nearly guarantees an upgrade. Most get what they booked - a cheap cabin that nobody else wants.

 

The best part of this is, if you are satisfied with the bargain you get on the Guarantee, then everybody wins. The cruise line disposes of undesirable inventory, and you get to cruise more often.

[suzyed]

After being in the travel business for 25 years this is one thing I have learned from Princess. The people that are offered the best prices are always the newbies.

 

Same goes for upgrades, I can't remember when I saw an Elite get a true upgrade.

 

It is frustrating when your neighbor who cruises once a year is offered a better price then their friends who cruise 4 or 5 times a year. Also, I would be willing to bet the newbies will be the ones to get a good upgrade.......I understand the thinking on Princess side, the newbies out spend the old timers with photos, drinks, excursions and stuff.

 

just sayin......:confused:

Newbies being 1st time cruisers with that line or 2nd or 3rd. time too?

[fcorey]

Bottom line is always book a category that you will be happy to stick with....dont expect the "upgrade fairy" to visit you...if you get an upgrade great, if not dont blame the cruise line if you get what you the category you reserved.

[Clutterlady]

The cruise line - and a few favored travel agents - has a list of least desirable cabins in each category. These cabins may be a long hike from stairs or lifts; they often have a higher number of noise, temperature, or toilet complaints.

These are the cabins that are sold last - or if not sold, assigned as Guarantees.

 

.

 

 

Sorry Bruce, can't necessarily agree with this statement. After booking 4 guarantees, we have gotten a wonderful mid ship balcony cabin on the Emerald deck, 2 great balcony cabins on the Lido. To me, they were very desirable cabins:)

[DeepWaterMariner]

The cruise line - and a few favored travel agents - has a list of least desirable cabins in each category. These cabins may be a long hike from stairs or lifts; they often have a higher number of noise, temperature, or toilet complaints.

These are the cabins that are sold last - or if not sold, assigned as Guarantees.

 

That has been my experience with Guarantees. Even if you don't get an upgrade you still risk being assigned a cabin with issues within your category. We have been upgraded without having a Guarantee twice and both worked out very well (oceanview to balcony). With a Guarantee, the last three times we tried it, we got rooms with serious noise problems or a location to far forward for our liking.

[shepp]

To think that the Upgrade Fairy is not cognisant of the fact that anyone does or does not spend little aboard in restaurants, bars and Casino and take no Princess tours, etc. is just plain foolish. A restaurant gives its best table to it's best customer.

 

But, y'know....most everyone's testimony here would then be "foolish." Including mine. We fall into the cheapskate category. Sue me: I'd rather spend the money on six weeks in Southeast Asia this fall than on bad-odds slots and Princess charging 50% more for a tour I can arrange myself.

 

Last cruise, we booked a lowest-category inside guarantee and received a fifteen-category upgrade, to unobstructed OV. So was the fairy just drunk that day?

[shepp]

After being in the travel business for 25 years this is one thing I have learned from Princess. The people that are offered the best prices are always the newbies.

 

Sorry, you're wrong. For my cruise next week, Princess was offering a past-passenger fare that was a full 20% off the fare offered to those without a Captain's Circle number. It was right there when I signed on to the Princess site. (And a discount TA took an additional almost 10% off that.)

 

Or are you telling me that if I'd called you and told you I'd never sailed Princess, you would have been able to somehow offer an even deeper discount than that past passenger rate?

 

(And, BTW, by far the best upgrade I've gotten was when I was already on my 5th cruise with the line, the third within a year.)

[lovevacadays]

It would make sense that they upgrade people who spend more.

We did our first guaranty cabin on the last cruise and received an upgrade within the category. I think we will try it again. If you don't care about your cabin all that much but only have a floor, for example, you want an outside at least and don't care about more than that, or you want a balcony, etc., why not save the money? you can always spend it on something else, at least we do!

Ohiodoglover

 

I've only booked two guarantees in the 15 cruises that I've done. The first one was on the Statendam - Holland America - I wasn't at all happy with my cabin as it was the second one from the very front of the ship. It was the only time I felt a bit quesy in my cabin. I thought I wouldn't book another guarantee until back in Jan 2010 Princess had such great prices on their cruises to Mexico on the Sapphire. I booked an obstructed ocean view cabin for $379.00. I was upgraded to a full oceanview cabin so not sure that the price you pay for the cabin determines whether or not you will be upgraded. I'm thinking there isn't a true formula anyone will ever know.

 

I guess I'm just one of those that does like specific areas of the ship and likes to know where my cabin is going to be. But, if I saw a price again like the one mentioned above I'd do a guarantee in a heartbeat.

[lovevacadays]

After being in the travel business for 25 years this is one thing I have learned from Princess. The people that are offered the best prices are always the newbies.

 

Same goes for upgrades, I can't remember when I saw an Elite get a true upgrade.

 

It is frustrating when your neighbor who cruises once a year is offered a better price then their friends who cruise 4 or 5 times a year. Also, I would be willing to bet the newbies will be the ones to get a good upgrade.......I understand the thinking on Princess side, the newbies out spend the old timers with photos, drinks, excursions and stuff.

 

just sayin......:confused:

 

Hmmmm.I wasn't a newbie when I got upgraded from a standard balcony to a mini-suite. I don't think Princess takes the number of cruises one has sailed into consideration as they do what specific cabins are selling on any given cruise.

[TracieABD]

Each of the three times that I have booked a gty, I have minimum of a 4 category upgrade. Currently, we have a BG that was upgraded to a BB. Works for me!:)

[sn2792]

We are taking our 2nd cruise on Princess and booked a BG for our March cruise and were upgraded to a BA on the Caribe deck.

 

That category was $500.00 per person more, so I am very happy with this upgrade since we don't really have much of a history with Princess.

 

We have 16 cruises on RCCL and have never been upgraded.

[Whirlybird]

Same goes for upgrades, I can't remember when I saw an Elite get a true upgrade.

 

It is frustrating when your neighbor who cruises once a year is offered a better price then their friends who cruise 4 or 5 times a year. Also, I would be willing to bet the newbies will be the ones to get a good upgrade.......I understand the thinking on Princess side, the newbies out spend the old timers with photos, drinks, excursions and stuff.

 

just sayin......:confused:[/quote

 

I would have to disagree with the above. I'm an Elite on Princess, last year for a 10 day Christmas cruise, we booked an inside guarantee and got upgraded to a BB category balcony cabin. It was a very nice Christmas present.

[Musky Ike]

Each of the three times that I have booked a gty, I have minimum of a 4 category upgrade. Currently, we have a BG that was upgraded to a BB. Works for me!:)

 

My experience has been similar. I have never, however been offered an upgrade when I selected the cabin, so I will stick with gty. but we are just not that picky on location. To each their own.:)

[missm54]

We always book balcony gty and for our Jan. Ruby cruise went from BF to BA midship on Caribe deck. our favorite deck like many of you... got to love those larger balconies.

I guess we are not too picky about location or deck, so the gty's have worked for us...

[Sillyjilly]

I don't think how much you spend onboard comes into consideration with upgrades with Princess. Maybe it does, but in my experience, I've never seen those that spend a lot get upgraded more than those that don't.

 

Maybe someone who works at Princess can unofficial answer this question?

 

No, it has nothing to do with it. Some are saying that the money they save on the booking will most likely be spent on board.:)