akacake Posted May 13, 2014 #1 Share Posted May 13, 2014 We are set to sail on the Zaandam, May 23, 2014. Booked what we could afford directly with HA in Nov as an FF GUAR and was advised of our room assignment 2 weeks ago in an F - cabin #1827. Last night I received and email from HA advising of an upgrade from category C-HH to A-BC for $49 pp. I called them 1st thing this morning and we are now in a vista room midship on the verandah deck! Just curious if paid upgrades like this happen only when you book directly with HA? (This is my 1st time with HA and normally I book with a T.A.) We are absolutely THRILLED to have a balcony!! What a totally unexpected surprise! I think now I need to go and pre-order a bottle of Bailey's since I will be needing it in my coffee on my deck :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 13, 2014 #2 Share Posted May 13, 2014 No, upsells (what you got) don't just happen if you booked thru HAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted May 13, 2014 #3 Share Posted May 13, 2014 There are a lot of theories around. I know that every cruise I've booked direct I've seen upsells on. When i used to book thru a ta it was rare. Once i heard about one and was told i didn't qualify for it. This was a cruise i booked thru a ta. Have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted May 13, 2014 #4 Share Posted May 13, 2014 We are set to sail on the Zaandam, May 23, 2014. Booked what we could afford directly with HA in Nov as an FF GUAR and was advised of our room assignment 2 weeks ago in an F - cabin #1827. Last night I received and email from HA advising of an upgrade from category C-HH to A-BC for $49 pp. I called them 1st thing this morning and we are now in a vista room midship on the verandah deck! Just curious if paid upgrades like this happen only when you book directly with HA? (This is my 1st time with HA and normally I book with a T.A.) We are absolutely THRILLED to have a balcony!! What a totally unexpected surprise! I think now I need to go and pre-order a bottle of Bailey's since I will be needing it in my coffee on my deck :) Enjoy Room Service breakfast on your verandah, keep an eye out for whales, and have a Bailey's when the chill starts to tickle your nose in Glacier Bay. Enjoy your cruise and let us know your impressions of your verandah cruise when you return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted May 13, 2014 #5 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Good for you .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYteacher Posted May 14, 2014 #6 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We book through a very attentive TA. He knows we book a cabin or suite we will be happy in, but also welcome upsell offers. I pre-authorize him up to a certain amount and he accepts on our behalf. Last summer the amount was more than we had authorized him to accept. He called us in Denmark to tell us the offer for an SA aboard the Eurodam for a Baltic adventures voyage. I accepted because I'm weak like that. We had a wonderful time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted May 14, 2014 #7 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We book through a very attentive TA. He knows we book a cabin or suite we will be happy in, but also welcome upsell offers. I pre-authorize him up to a certain amount and he accepts on our behalf. Last summer the amount was more than we had authorized him to accept. He called us in Denmark to tell us the offer for an SA aboard the Eurodam for a Baltic adventures voyage. I accepted because I'm weak like that. We had a wonderful time. Glad I'm not the only one who is weak:D. I say I'm not going to pay more than xxx but then I do. I think I've learned my lesson but that remains to be seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liketraveling Posted May 14, 2014 #8 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Awesome upsell! I have only received upsell offers when I have booked directly with HAL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsyAnne Posted May 14, 2014 #9 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I book through a TA and get upsell offers. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windsailer Posted May 14, 2014 #10 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I only book with a TA and have gotten upsell offers - one a few weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akacake Posted May 14, 2014 Author #11 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Sorry...upsell...paid upgrade... The email's subject was titled " Preferred Limited Upgrade Special", so even though it was an "upsell" they were still calling it an "upgrade" (which I had to pay for). I couldn't sleep all night waiting for 0700 PST to roll around so I could call them to "upgrade" myself :) I was in YVR for the day yesterday and walked down to Canada Place...not a cruise ship to be seen :( 10 more days until I sail....can't wait :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catkoe1 Posted May 14, 2014 #12 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Holland America has been offering many many paid upgrades throughout their ships....I know three couples that got great ones on their Med cruise! They were thrilled! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowPrincess Posted May 14, 2014 #13 Share Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) Awesome upsell -- congratulations! :D :D :D One caution -- do NOT become glued to your balcony. Alaska cruises offer amazing scenery, and you really need to get out on public decks to truly appreciate it --to get the widest angle view possible. Enjoy your balcony! (despite the caution I just gave you ;) ) Edited May 14, 2014 by CowPrincess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 14, 2014 #14 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Congratulations. Enjoy your verandah. :) Have a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipity1499 Posted May 14, 2014 #15 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We've also received upsell offers & we book through a TA.. Enjoy your cruise & your verandah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psbtrvlr Posted May 14, 2014 #16 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We book with a TA and have gotten upsell offers. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenGlassHalfFull Posted May 14, 2014 #17 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We have been on over 20 cruises with HAL. Half of them were booked directly with HAL and half were booked through a TA. We have never received an upgrade nor been offered an upsell. I'm not complaining. It's truly a mystery as to how HAL handles upgrades and upsells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bean na mara Posted May 14, 2014 #18 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We are set to sail on the Zaandam, May 23, 2014. Booked what we could afford directly with HA in Nov as an FF GUAR and was advised of our room assignment 2 weeks ago in an F - cabin #1827. Last night I received and email from HA advising of an upgrade from category C-HH to A-BC for $49 pp. I called them 1st thing this morning and we are now in a vista room midship on the verandah deck! Just curious if paid upgrades like this happen only when you book directly with HA? (This is my 1st time with HA and normally I book with a T.A.) We are absolutely THRILLED to have a balcony!! What a totally unexpected surprise! I think now I need to go and pre-order a bottle of Bailey's since I will be needing it in my coffee on my deck :) Great deal...Congats. Jamnut and I took an upsell 2 weeks ago to the same catagory of stateroom on your deck. We are also mid-ship. We could be neighbors:) Are you on the starboard or port side? This is the first time I have been offered upsells but have been upgraded by a few catagories 4 out of the 5 cruises my DH and I have taken... This upsell has been the most I've "moved up" Maybe traveling with my long time friend is the charm for this upsell :D Again congats--you'll love the verandah! Spazzsmom (Jean) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 14, 2014 #19 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Congratulations!! That is a wonderful upsell. Upgrades and upsells -- no one really knows how HAL chooses to offer them. Order that Bailey's for your coffee. Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted May 14, 2014 #20 Share Posted May 14, 2014 That's wonderful! Good for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alibabacruisers Posted May 14, 2014 #21 Share Posted May 14, 2014 How fun and exciting for you! Congratulations and enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMLady Posted May 14, 2014 #22 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We are set to sail on the Zaandam, May 23, 2014. Booked what we could afford directly with HA in Nov as an FF GUAR and was advised of our room assignment 2 weeks ago in an F - cabin #1827. Last night I received and email from HA advising of an upgrade from category C-HH to A-BC for $49 pp. I called them 1st thing this morning and we are now in a vista room midship on the verandah deck! Just curious if paid upgrades like this happen only when you book directly with HA? (This is my 1st time with HA and normally I book with a T.A.) We are absolutely THRILLED to have a balcony!! What a totally unexpected surprise! I think now I need to go and pre-order a bottle of Bailey's since I will be needing it in my coffee on my deck :) Congrats on a nice upsell. No, you don't have to book directly with HAL to get one. We got an upsell to a balcony on our AK cruise and we'd booked through a travel agent. HAL contacted the TA with the offer and she contacted us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda&Vern Posted May 14, 2014 #23 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Congrats on a nice upsell. No, you don't have to book directly with HAL to get one. We got an upsell to a balcony on our AK cruise and we'd booked through a travel agent. HAL contacted the TA with the offer and she contacted us. Exactly. From my 10 years reading these boards, my opinion is that if you booked through a TA you may receive an upsell offer - IF your TA reads their mail in a timely manner, and IF your TA contacts you immediately. There have been stories her about large TA agencies that do not respond or forward any HAL offers. I think it is wrong to say you only get an upsell if you book with HAL - although your chances may be greater because hopefully YOU have read HAL's mail in a timely manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie51 Posted May 14, 2014 #24 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Congrats on the upsell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted May 15, 2014 #25 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Congratulations on your upsell. Have a fabulous cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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