Diamond Free Cabin Upgrade

[winddawn]

I'd like to hear from any Diamonds out there what your experience has been with the one-time free cabin upgrade you receive when becoming Diamond. Did you get to choose when to use the upgrade? Is this a step from one category to another, such as balcony to suite? How many categories up was your upgrade? TIA.

[Micahs Grandad]

We chose both times and went from OV to extended balcony.

 

They limited to certain types of balcony for upgrade. For example an aft wrap was available last time but they wouldnt let us do that.

 

Did it for 14 and 15 day cruises and was a nice perk.

[jakesnana]

We chose both times and went from OV to extended balcony.

 

They limited to certain types of balcony for upgrade. For example an aft wrap was available last time but they wouldnt let us do that.

 

Did it for 14 and 15 day cruises and was a nice perk.

 

When you say both times, did you become Diamond twice or did you use your free upgrade on one cruise and your spouse's free upgrade on the next cruise? If so, that answers the question on whether you need to use the perk on the cruise you become Diamond.

 

Thanks for the help, we will become Diamond very soon and I was wondering the same thing.

[rlkubi]

I just became Diamond on my Breeze cruise. We booked the Pride partial transit while on the ship and I used mine for that cruise. My husband will become Diamond on our Vista cruise in June.

[Micahs Grandad]

When you say both times, did you become Diamond twice or did you use your free upgrade on one cruise and your spouse's free upgrade on the next cruise? If so, that answers the question on whether you need to use the perk on the cruise you become Diamond.

 

Thanks for the help, we will become Diamond very soon and I was wondering the same thing.

 

We used mine on one cruise and DW on the other. We did use the first one on the cruise we became Diamond. We waited a few cruises for our next longer cruise to get maximum value for second upgrade.

[winddawn]

I just became Diamond on my Breeze cruise. We booked the Pride partial transit while on the ship and I used mine for that cruise. My husband will become Diamond on our Vista cruise in June.

Thanks for the feedback. What kind of upgrade did you get for the Pride cruise?

[winddawn]

We used mine on one cruise and DW on the other. We did use the first one on the cruise we became Diamond. We waited a few cruises for our next longer cruise to get maximum value for second upgrade.

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like you were able to choose when to use the upgrade.

[Micahs Grandad]

Thanks for the info. So it sounds like you were able to choose when to use the upgrade.

 

Yes

 

First one we used it for was 15 days to Hawaii. Than waited a few cruies and did it on a 14 day repositioning cruise.

 

Both times got extended balcony over regular one (moving up from o/v) but since you cannot put a lounge chair on extended is kind of useless extra upgrade.

[rlkubi]

We paid for an OV and were upgraded to extended balcony.

[!!SAM!!]

I was told you cannot go from a balcony to suite

[Micahs Grandad]

I was told you cannot go from a balcony to suite

 

We were told the same thing

[winddawn]

I was told you cannot go from a balcony to suite

So it sounds like the best bet then is to go from OV to balcony.

[Micahs Grandad]

So it sounds like the best bet then is to go from OV to balcony.

 

That is how you get the best value for the diamond upgrades

[ATL_Miami_Cruiser]

I think Carnival should allow a free balcony to suite upgrade. How can they tell Diamond customers who spent 200+ days on a Carnival ship and spent tens of thousands of dollars with Carnival that we value your business but we'll put restrictions on your benefits to keep you from getting a great cabin. I think this is where Carnival fails it's loyal customers.

[Micahs Grandad]

I think Carnival should allow a free balcony to suite upgrade. How can they tell Diamond customers who spent 200+ days on a Carnival ship and spent tens of thousands of dollars with Carnival that we value your business but we'll put restrictions on your benefits to keep you from getting a great cabin. I think this is where Carnival fails it's loyal customers.

 

Every once in a while they talk about a level above diamond. Perhaps they will add it for that level .

[chocolate melting cake]

No one has mentioned the alternative---you can add a 3 (and 4th) person to your booking at no charge instead of the upgrade.

 

 

My wife used hers to include our granddaughter as a birthday gift. I used mine as an upgrade from an OV to a balcony for a 15 day Hawaiian cruise.

[Jamman54]

No one has mentioned the alternative---you can add a 3 (and 4th) person to your booking at no charge instead of the upgrade.

 

My wife used hers to include our granddaughter as a birthday gift. I used mine as an upgrade from an OV to a balcony for a 15 day Hawaiian cruise.

 

That's also what we did. We added Ryan to our Pride spring break cruise last year. Better than an upgrade for us.

[Micahs Grandad]

That's also what we did. We added Ryan to our Pride spring break cruise last year. Better than an upgrade for us.

 

That is a nice alternative

[winddawn]

That's also what we did. We added Ryan to our Pride spring break cruise last year. Better than an upgrade for us.

Hi, Jamman. Thanks for the response.

 

Options are nice. :) Adding a third or fourth is a great alternative if you have others you want to bring along.

 

I'm glad this is one situation where Carnival let's you choose. That makes it more meaningful based on your individual situation.

[2Shoes2Go]

We used both of ours for OV to extended balconies on longer cruises. Be sure to look out for your Milestone credits, too. They are quite valuable. The 100th is a very nice benefit-- 8 night OS, paid in full! This is for each of you, if a couple. :) We talked with several Diamonds that didn't know about the Milestones and one time upgrades, or take advantage of them. Even more in GS that don't understand them. :confused:

[Micahs Grandad]

We used both of ours for OV to extended balconies on longer cruises. Be sure to look out for your Milestone credits, too. They are quite valuable. The 100th is a very nice benefit-- 8 night OS, paid in full! This is for each of you, if a couple. :) We talked with several Diamonds that didn't know about the Milestones and one time upgrades, or take advantage of them. Even more in GS that don't understand them. :confused:

 

Didnt realize the suite comes with 100 cruises but at 4 a year dont see myself getting there.

[terryinal]

No one has mentioned the alternative---you can add a 3 (and 4th) person to your booking at no charge instead of the upgrade.

 

 

My wife used hers to include our granddaughter as a birthday gift. I used mine as an upgrade from an OV to a balcony for a 15 day Hawaiian cruise.

 

I also did the 3,4 and 5 free. We leave on the Breeze and all in one cabin. Now it is 3,4 and 5th free. I think at one time it was just the 3,4

[winddawn]

We used both of ours for OV to extended balconies on longer cruises. Be sure to look out for your Milestone credits, too. They are quite valuable. The 100th is a very nice benefit-- 8 night OS, paid in full! This is for each of you, if a couple. :) We talked with several Diamonds that didn't know about the Milestones and one time upgrades, or take advantage of them. Even more in GS that don't understand them. :confused:

That's a good point. Carnival doesn't spend much if any effort promoting the milestones. I did not receive any notification from Carnival about my 25th. I had to call and ask about it. The problem for me is I keep getting free or greatly reduced casino rates so I have not had used mine. I keep thinking I should save it for a cruise with a higher fare.

[Elaine515]

I'd like to hear from any Diamonds out there what your experience has been with the one-time free cabin upgrade you receive when becoming Diamond. Did you get to choose when to use the upgrade? Is this a step from one category to another, such as balcony to suite? How many categories up was your upgrade? TIA.

 

 

 

For my parents we booked them into an oceanview room and upgraded them to a balcony cabin... I'm really not sure what category the balcony was but the girl at the Diamond Desk was amazing and let me pick any cabin I wanted for them... Originally, our PVP upgraded them in a balcony over the Disco, and being in their 80s, I said ummmmmm no, not a good location!!! Called Diamond # and it was so easy to change

 

I have called the Diamond Desk a couple of times and they are by far, the nicest and easiest to deal with... Oh, and I believe they used it on their 35th cruise, way past them having the 200 days so I guess you can use it anytime you want to

[shipbound2]

The only one time up grade that I received was when I reached milestone at my 25th cruise I got a wrap around balcony on deck six at the back of the ship. I never got an up grade for reaching diamond level. I think Diamond and milestone are different in terms of days at sea correct?

 

Gary

Edited February 21, 2016 by shipbound2