Upgrade possible on comped (Casino) sailing?

[Brkintx]

My next trip is on the Mardi Gras in October, booked free on a casino promotion (deposit that is returned via OBC). This will be only my third cruise ever.
I read with interest various threads about upgrade opportunities and am curious if there is ever an opportunity for free (or very low cost) upgrades when your cabin is already part of a casino booking in the same way as paid bookings? I’d rather not brave the hold times if this is not something that ever happens…  (And I certainly won‘t complain if it is not possible, but is it worth the call / hold time?) 

[firefly333]

Calling they can only tell you what the rates are for higher categories. You can do a mock booking and see yourself. I've called twice to get price drops and told both times they cant see the rates on the website I see. 

 

People who get cheap upgrades generally see lower prices and use the difference to upgrade, but it's not someone calling would help. Have your facts ready and prices before you call. 

 

I did once get upgraded without being asked ..it was a terrible hc cabin. I'd have rather have what I booked. The upgrade and outsell fairy are on vacation.

 

I've read of upgrades where they moved people to work on the ship, for isolation area, stuff like that. If they gave free upgrades regularly people wouldnt pay to upgrade.

[BlerkOne]

If the offer is still valid and cabins are available, you can pay to upgrade.

[sgttami]

50 minutes ago, Brkintx said:

My next trip is on the Mardi Gras in October, booked free on a casino promotion (deposit that is returned via OBC). This will be only my third cruise ever.
I read with interest various threads about upgrade opportunities and am curious if there is ever an opportunity for free (or very low cost) upgrades when your cabin is already part of a casino booking in the same way as paid bookings? I’d rather not brave the hold times if this is not something that ever happens…  (And I certainly won‘t complain if it is not possible, but is it worth the call / hold time?) 

I sail casino comp offers all the time and have gotten phone calls to ask if I would be interested in a balcony instead of the inside/oceanview room that was assigned.  

 

The calls were 2 days before the cruise and it was a FREE upgrade.  I said "YES"

 

I haven't sailed since Jan. 2020 but my current offers are through Nov. 2024.  I'm booked for 1/2023 on a Journey's but that comp cruise is already a balcony!

[Brkintx]

Good feedback. A duplicate offer is still in my offers, but the next higher room type is a significant jump… sounds like I’ll be enjoying the booking I have. 
Availability isn’t an issue, as the sailing should be no more than 70% max, and lots of rooms are still available. 

[Brkintx]

7 minutes ago, sgttami said:

I sail casino comp offers all the time and have gotten phone calls to ask if I would be interested in a balcony instead of the inside/oceanview room that was assigned.  

 

The calls were 2 days before the cruise and it was a FREE upgrade.  I said "YES"

 

I haven't sailed since Jan. 2020 but my current offers are through Nov. 2024.  I'm booked for 1/2023 on a Journey's but that comp cruise is already a balcony!

All of mine are balcony or higher, but would love to secure a Havana upgrade, etc. Not worth a grand extra for an already free room, so unless they call I think I’ll be where I’m at…  

[sgttami]

2 hours ago, Brkintx said:

All of mine are balcony or higher, but would love to secure a Havana upgrade, etc. Not worth a grand extra for an already free room, so unless they call I think I’ll be where I’m at…  

Agree. It's nice to get the phone call but I'm happy with whatever I get.  My recent offers are mostly balcony and free drinks anywhere so no complaints from me....(LOL) 

[Elaine5715]

6 hours ago, Brkintx said:

My next trip is on the Mardi Gras in October, booked free on a casino promotion (deposit that is returned via OBC). This will be only my third cruise ever.
I read with interest various threads about upgrade opportunities and am curious if there is ever an opportunity for free (or very low cost) upgrades when your cabin is already part of a casino booking in the same way as paid bookings? I’d rather not brave the hold times if this is not something that ever happens…  (And I certainly won‘t complain if it is not possible, but is it worth the call / hold time?) 

You are only going to get a call for a upsell if they want to resell your current assigned cabin to someone else or they are trying to sell higher $$ staterooms that are unsold.  The rare "free" upgrade only comes when it meets the needs of the ship, it is never a reward for a birthanniverwedding etc. or your stateroom is removed from service for maintenance. When you are booked into a connecting cabin without being connected to the other booking, you are most likely to get an offer if they need connecting for families.  Without many children on board, they don't need that many connecting staterooms.  Quite frankly, alot of online brags about "free" upgrades are BS.  They booked the higher category to start

[vp1]

My experience having completed about a dozen or so cruises through the casino:

 

First, I've NEVER had a phone call from Carnival that asked if I wanted an upgrade for no additional cost; clearly that has happened to some people, but I've not experienced it.  Second, I don't recall even being offered an upsell via email or phone call.  (In the past I have booked anywhere from inside cabins through balconies.) 

 

You can, however, call and ask what the upgrade would cost.  Sometimes it's little money, sometimes it's a lot...  With the new COVID reg's, a balcony seems particularly attractive to me these days so I called about a week or so ago to move my Premier and Ultra cruises coming up in November from inside to balcony - came to just about $50 per cabin per day (each is a 1-week cruise).  That was a great price for me and I gladly paid the upgrade.

 

On the other hand... I just called yesterday to see about the cost for moving from an inside cabin to a balcony for my upcoming 2 week, round-trip cruise from LA to Hawaii in December. That additional cost was about $3,300 for 2 people?! (an increase of more than $200 a day) - not worth it to me.  I'm guessing that this is based first on occupancy - they clearly feel that they can fill those cabins somewhere near that price-point and secondly, I now have 14 upcoming cruises booked with the attractive casino rates,  so they may be less inclined to offer me still further great rates...

 

Bottom line - I'd call them just to see.  My experience is that it has sometimes been absolutely worth calling, other times it was not worth the upsell cost to me.  YMMV.

~Bob

[K_e_short]

Another thing to note:

If that casino rate is still showing up in your list you can do a mock booking but pick a higher category.

You will still get the OBC with your deposit and the 'free" cabin, but then you can click on different cabin types to see how much more they would be.

For example I have a free inside cabin offer it will show $220 extra for ocean view, etc.