How do upgrades work?

[jones721]

Sorry, but a bit of a novice at this as never tried for an upgrade before and new to Celebrity.

 

The price of our cruise has dropped drastically and after reading the roll call last week, I noticed that someone had moved from an inside cabin (same as me) to a Concierge Veranda GTY cabin for very little extra. I phoned my TA but no luck.

 

Celebrity told our TA that we were not entitled to upgrade as the Concierge GTY offer price was for new customers only. I think that the TA genuinely did try as she was on the phone quite a while and said that she had gone all the way up to supervisor level. She told us to keep looking and ring back if something else came up.

 

Today, a GTY balcony cabin came up at same price as we paid for inside cabin. I phoned TA again and am awaiting an email back.

 

As I normally book in the UK, I don't have much experience of negotiating after payment is made. In the UK, you pay your price and are then stuck with it! Whenever I have booked in US, I have never thought to check price afterwards.

 

Any tips? I have read that it all depends on who you (or your TA) talks to at Celebrity?? If the answer is no again, do I persevere? Will Celebrity speak to me directly?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Tracey

 

PS We own a home in Orlando so all paperwork was addressed to there so booking in the US shouldn't be an issue. Didn't get drinks package with 123 offer as only booked an inside so don't have to worry about losing that either.

[welshfamily]

We booked directly with Celebrity and upgraded with no problem yesterday. However we did not have a guaranteed cabin and we have moved to a higher grade non guaranteed cabin for more money. It took about 5 minutes and Celebrity couldn't have been more helpful.

There are rules. The original cabin must cost less than the new cabin, even if it is only £1 or $ 1. It should but not always be before final payment. This does not always included guaranteed cabins which states ' new bookings only '.

We have come unstuck when using UK travel agents several times and now stick to booking directly with Celebrity. You can only talk directly to Celebrity if you have booked directly with them. They will only talk to your TA if you have booked through a TA.

Others report differently but we can only tell you what we have done.

Celebrity have a resolutions dept perhaps your TA should get in touch with them. We would ask for copies of the emails.

Or if you can ask to transfer your booking to Celebrity. I think You can do this as long as it is before final payment and your TA agrees. That way you can talk directly yourself.

Good luck.

[ross5247]

Hi there,

 

We booked 3 oceanview cabins last autumn for a May sailing, using a UK travel agent. Last week, we noticed concierge GTY cabins were only £100 more than we had paid so I rang Celebrity. They wouldn't speak to me, saying I had to contact my travel agent.

 

I spoke to the travel agent who quickly confirmed the price with Celebrity and we were upgraded (at £100 each) within an hour.

 

Surprisingly very easy given we had made final payment etc with the sailing only 4 weeks away.

 

Also, in case you wonder, whilst the travel agent told us we wouldn't know what cabin we had been assigned until 10 days before, if I log into he Celebrity website and click on the 'print off pass' it clearly states what concierge cabin we have been assigned (which amazingly is in a pretty good location for us).

[jones721]

Hi there,

 

We booked 3 oceanview cabins last autumn for a May sailing, using a UK travel agent. Last week, we noticed concierge GTY cabins were only £100 more than we had paid so I rang Celebrity. They wouldn't speak to me, saying I had to contact my travel agent.

 

I spoke to the travel agent who quickly confirmed the price with Celebrity and we were upgraded (at £100 each) within an hour.

 

Surprisingly very easy given we had made final payment etc with the sailing only 4 weeks away.

 

Also, in case you wonder, whilst the travel agent told us we wouldn't know what cabin we had been assigned until 10 days before, if I log into he Celebrity website and click on the 'print off pass' it clearly states what concierge cabin we have been assigned (which amazingly is in a pretty good location for us).

 

Well, a result. I logged into my Celebrity account and a new cabin number was showing up. A balcony.

 

As we were originally directly underneath the casino, I was happy to move from there, even moreso to move from an inside to a balcony :0)

 

Last week, nothing. This week, an upgrade with (it seems) no questions asked.

 

Think we may possibly be on the same cruise - May 24th?

[ross5247]

Great news for you - glad you got it sorted.

 

Unfortunately not, we are on Silhouette from 22nd May. I assume you are off to the fjords unless you are going further afield.

 

In any case, I am sure you will have a great time....on that balcony!

[jones721]

We booked directly with Celebrity and upgraded with no problem yesterday. However we did not have a guaranteed cabin and we have moved to a higher grade non guaranteed cabin for more money. It took about 5 minutes and Celebrity couldn't have been more helpful.

There are rules. The original cabin must cost less than the new cabin, even if it is only £1 or $ 1. It should but not always be before final payment. This does not always included guaranteed cabins which states ' new bookings only '.

We have come unstuck when using UK travel agents several times and now stick to booking directly with Celebrity. You can only talk directly to Celebrity if you have booked directly with them. They will only talk to your TA if you have booked through a TA.

Others report differently but we can only tell you what we have done.

Celebrity have a resolutions dept perhaps your TA should get in touch with them. We would ask for copies of the emails.

Or if you can ask to transfer your booking to Celebrity. I think You can do this as long as it is before final payment and your TA agrees. That way you can talk directly yourself.

Good luck.

 

Cruise is for in 4 weeks time so final payment already made. As posted above, success and upgraded to balcony cabin.

 

Incidentally, you might be interested to know that the price of the balcony was exactly the same to the dollar as we paid for the inside. However, the total, including taxes, was actually $35 less (don't know why taxes were different). But they upgraded anyway.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Tracey

[lindsaystevenson]

Well, a result. I logged into my Celebrity account and a new cabin number was showing up. A balcony.

 

As we were originally directly underneath the casino, I was happy to move from there, even moreso to move from an inside to a balcony :0)

 

Last week, nothing. This week, an upgrade with (it seems) no questions asked.

 

Think we may possibly be on the same cruise - May 24th?

 

Same for us we got an upgrade for 24th Eclipse from outside to a sunset verandah for £50. I had to do it via TA and they got different info depending on who they spoke to so we were glad of the outcome. Think you need perseverance to say the least. Think our cruise not as busy as they would so seems fair not to penalise those who paid a lot earlier in the booking process. 4 weeks-can't wait!

[welshfamily]

Excellent news. Have a good cruise.