Timing of Upsell Offer - Question

[forevercruising1]

Can anyone clarify whether upsell offers are only sent out on weekdays?  

 

Has anyone ever received one on a weekend?

 

Also, are they always early in the AM?

 

We have never received one, so I want to know what to expect if we are fortunate enough to receive one.

 

Thanks!

[DaveOKC]

As I recall, they normally are on a weekday.  Since they are on Pacific time, its usually late morning (for us on Central) or afternoons).  Thats been my experience anyway.

[travelers07]

Just got one Friday for a cruise in 4 weeks. Came in at 4pm EST. I had been expecting this since there were 9 Neptunes left on the Maasdam. Email arrived and I called within a minute- call was answered immediately. Since I had watched the cabins available, I asked and got our first choice.

We always book direct and have frequently been offered upsells. Some we take and some we don’t. This timing was common thinking of past offers. Never on a weekend and usually within a day or so of the cruise being suddenly “sold out” and then being available again. Assume they are assigning the guarantees during that time and then figuring out the upsells.

Good luck!


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[rkacruiser]

I have only had two up-sell offers, both for the same cruise, two weeks apart.  (I work with a travel agent who has my home and cell phone numbers.  She calls; no e-mails.)

Both offers took place on a week-day.  First was a very reasonable up-sell from a standard veranda to a Signature Suite, which I accepted.  48 hours before departure while I was near Fort Lauderdale, she called again with another very reasonable offer to a Neptune Suite which I accepted.

 

 

[wesport]

Upsells for my 3/6/19 11 day Koningsdam

VH to best available VF to VQ

wednesday 7:54pm est $249 3 weeks ahead

wednesday 12:20pm est $199 2 weeks ahead

thursday 3:58pm est $149 9 days ahead

monday 10:24  am est $99 one week ahead

[rkacruiser]

1 minute ago, wesport said:

Upsells for my 3/6/19 11 day Koningsdam

VH to best available VF to VQ

wednesday 7:54pm est $249 3 weeks ahead

wednesday 12:20pm est $199 2 weeks ahead

thursday 3:58pm est $149 9 days ahead

monday 10:24  am est $99 one week ahead

 

Interesting!

[DaveOKC]

4 minutes ago, wesport said:

Upsells for my 3/6/19 11 day Koningsdam

VH to best available VF to VQ

wednesday 7:54pm est $249 3 weeks ahead

wednesday 12:20pm est $199 2 weeks ahead

thursday 3:58pm est $149 9 days ahead

monday 10:24  am est $99 one week ahead

Interesting in that the latest time was just before 5 PM Pacific while the earliest was 7:24 AM Pacific (I assume normal business hours).  My experience has been similar.

[forevercruising1]

This is very helpful information.  Thanks, all!!!  🙂

 

I look forward to learning more details from more cruisers!

[tanstaafl_2001]

We received a phone call from our TA on a Friday afternoon. We had a Vista guarantee (BB), and received our cabin assignment, which was a Vista A (3 category upgrade). HA offered us a Pinnacle suite for $1,200/PP. I think I might regret not taking the upsell.

[wesport]

On 3/3/2019 at 5:30 PM, DaveOKC said:

Interesting in that the latest time was just before 5 PM Pacific while the earliest was 7:24 AM Pacific (I assume normal business hours).  My experience has been similar.

 

On 3/3/2019 at 5:23 PM, wesport said:

Upsells for my 3/6/19 11 day Koningsdam

VH to best available VF to VQ

wednesday 7:54pm est $249 3 weeks ahead

wednesday 12:20pm est $199 2 weeks ahead

thursday 3:58pm est $149 9 days ahead

monday 10:24  am est $99 one week ahead

Leaving tomorrow, and just got an upsell for a vista suite on Monday for $249.  That for the 11 day southern caribbean

[magictam]

 I also got an upsell email last Friday.  I got mine at 11:05 AM MST. 

 Mine is for an offer to go from an inside guarantee to:

Veranda for $99 a person

Oceanview for $89 per person

 

That was a really good deal. I am a solo traveler and since I have to pay double occupancy I opted not to go with one of offers. I’m hoping to get either a better offer or for a free upgrade from inside to an ocean view.  Neither of those will probably happen but you know what they say hope springs eternal.

[san diego spartan]

So I"m new to this upsell possibility.  I have a TA on both our upcoming cruises.  Do I have to do something to be eligible for the possible offer?

 

thanks.

[DaveOKC]

8 hours ago, san diego spartan said:

So I"m new to this upsell possibility.  I have a TA on both our upcoming cruises.  Do I have to do something to be eligible for the possible offer?

 

thanks.

I would notify your TA that you want to be alerted if any upsell (paid upgrade) offers come up for your cruises.  HAL notifies your TA who then is supposed to forward it to you, but some TAs are better at doing this than others are.  

 

This is one nice thing about booking directly with HAL - the upsell offers are emailed directly to you.  Since the good offers often are taken quickly (in minutes many times), having it come to you directly can be critical.  

[drowelf]

Upsells are always tricky with us, since DW does not like the ends of the ship (Bow/Stern). So generally when we get one it has to involved a multi-call between us and our TA and our TA and HAL so we can find out the exact room being offered. We've turned down some reasonable deals because of the room location. 

[DaveOKC]

58 minutes ago, drowelf said:

Upsells are always tricky with us, since DW does not like the ends of the ship (Bow/Stern). So generally when we get one it has to involved a multi-call between us and our TA and our TA and HAL so we can find out the exact room being offered. We've turned down some reasonable deals because of the room location. 

 

Thats the nice thing about booking with HAL - I get to speak directly with the HAL department who is offering the upsells and can usually pick my cabin when I call.  The last time I did an upsell, I had the deal done in less than 5 minutes from the time I received the email.

[Boatdrill]

The department is closed on weekends, so no upsell emails on Saturday or Sunday (no one would be available to take your call). 

[1964IceCreamLady]

Thanks everyone for all the great information!  We are fingers crossed for an upsell.  My husband called a couple of weeks ago and let them know we should be at the top of the list 🤣 (we missed out on using a $100 casino credit from our previous cruise by a week).  He also told them on the phone that we are brand loyal, and this will be our 3rd HAL cruise in 3 years and that we are the "younger" demographic they should be courting.  Again- 🤣  He is a salesman and was selling us hard!  I *REALLY* want a balcony for this trip (booked an inside).

[DaveOKC]

4 minutes ago, 1964IceCreamLady said:

Thanks everyone for all the great information!  We are fingers crossed for an upsell.  My husband called a couple of weeks ago and let them know we should be at the top of the list 🤣 (we missed out on using a $100 casino credit from our previous cruise by a week).  He also told them on the phone that we are brand loyal, and this will be our 3rd HAL cruise in 3 years and that we are the "younger" demographic they should be courting.  Again- 🤣  He is a salesman and was selling us hard!  I *REALLY* want a balcony for this trip (booked an inside).

Its fine to call them and let them know, but personally it has never worked for me!  I think they just basically do mass emails and then sit back and wait for the phone to ring.  I have been told that I was "on their list" and then never got an offer, even when others on the same sailing got them!

[Taters]

I don't wait for my phone to ring.  I do mock bookings every day to check the prices.  My price finally came way down last week and I was able to upgrade from a verandah guarantee to a Signature Suite for my 16 night Transatlantic on Zuiderdam for about $50 total.  I got to keep my OBC. 

[DaveOKC]

7 minutes ago, Taters said:

I don't wait for my phone to ring.  I do mock bookings every day to check the prices.  My price finally came way down last week and I was able to upgrade from a verandah guarantee to a Signature Suite for my 16 night Transatlantic on Zuiderdam for about $50 total.  I got to keep my OBC. 

That was a fantastic deal - likely better than the upsell offer would have been.  This can happen at times when you have a big price drop.  I have never been so lucky.

[kazu]

9 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

 

Thats the nice thing about booking with HAL - I get to speak directly with the HAL department who is offering the upsells and can usually pick my cabin when I call.  The last time I did an upsell, I had the deal done in less than 5 minutes from the time I received the email.

 

I”ve done the same thing with my TA.  

 

And in less than 2 minutes except for the time I negotiated.

[DaveOKC]

8 hours ago, kazu said:

 

I”ve done the same thing with my TA.  

 

And in less than 2 minutes except for the time I negotiated.

I am sure that you have a great TA and I know that you understand how the system works, so it does not surprise me that you are able to accomplish this.  Most people however, are not as accomplished and the upsell procedure using a TA takes longer than going direct was my point. 

 

 

[DaveOKC]

I just received an upsell offer on my cruise that sails in 30 days, so they do happen early.  Was able to pick a specific SA Neptune cabin (from those still available of course) and got a very good location.

 

 

[FlorenceItaly]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

I just received an upsell offer on my cruise that sails in 30 days, so they do happen early.  Was able to pick a specific SA Neptune cabin (from those still available of course) and got a very good location.

 

 

Congratulations!!  I know you have been hoping for one.  Thank you for the update.  It is helpful to all of us.

[Snowesha]

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

I just received an upsell offer on my cruise that sails in 30 days, so they do happen early.  Was able to pick a specific SA Neptune cabin (from those still available of course) and got a very good location.

 

 

I'm sad. I didn't get one yet. Were you in a guarantee or a specific cabin. Just curious since I am on the same sailing with you! Congratulations!