At Pier Upgrades

[Boo Boo]

Ok, have seen a few posts on this topic - i.e. PAYING to upgrade you cabin category at the pier.

 

My question is, for those that have done it, how do you do it or even know it is possible?

- Have you been offered the upgrade.

- Is there a sign up saying "upgrades available"

- Did you just ask on the off chance?

 

On my previous cruises have never asked and have, infact, seen signs up saying "Cruise full - NO upgardes available" (think that was Princess, both times we cruised with them).

 

We will book a cabin that we are happy with, but JUST WONDERING if the next cabin was available and the upgrade cost was reasonable that we might spring the extra cash for a higher category...

 

Boo

[billsgal]

They don't ask, and they don't post signs.

 

After you check in at the pier, ask to be directed to the pier coordinator.

He/She will have information on what (if any) upgrades are available and what the cost is. The cost is determined by your present category. For example, an outside to a balcony might be $200, but an inside to a balcony might be $300. These are not actual prices, just theoretical.

 

We have asked, and have used the pier upgrade only once. The cost was only $200 (per cabin) to go from a balcony cabin to a suite. However, that was in November 01, and ships were not sailing at capacity. We have since asked about upgrades, and the cost has been between $700 -$900 to upgrade from a balcony to a suite, so we have kept our balcony cabin, and kept the money for another cruise.

 

The whole thing is based on availablity. At this time of the year the ships are sailing pretty much at capacity, so pier upgrades are pricer than they are during hurricane season. You can always ask - you might be surprised.

I am glad to see that you book a room you'll be happy with, so you don't have to depend upon a pier upgrade.

[Hypo]

We have upgraded once at Miami. (Upgraded to RS for $800.00). Get there early so you are one of the first in the doors. You have to check in first and get your assigned cabin. After check-in immediately go to the Pier Coordinator Desk, (last year it was at the left end of the check in row). Ask the Pier Coordinator about what upgrades are available, and be prepared to immediately make a choice as to yes or no on your upgrade. There will probably be a lot of people with the same idea as you. They might not hold the upgrade cabin while you go discuss it with your spouse. When we upgraded, there were about 8 couples that were in line after me, and the next ones in line immediately took an upgrade to the cabin that we vacated.

 

Would I do it again? Probably not, too much money, but we had to try the Royal Suite just once. There are lots of bells and whistles with the Royal Suite, including free liquor. However, there were many cosmetic problems with the room. One vanity drawer had the front pulled off, a marble tile at the entrance to the bathroom was broken and was a trip hazard, steam shower in bathroom did not work, curtains in the living room were torn and the material was rotting from too much sun. The refrigerator in the room did not work at all, and had in fact been broken for several weeks. (They brought us a college dorm refrigerator the next day). And the weirdest problem were the tableside lamps in the master bedroom. The left switch (by the bed) turned on the right light; and the right switch turned on the left light. This was a problem if one wanted to read and the other wanted to sleep. We complained about that one and they were genuinely surprised that the Voyager had been sailing for several years and no one had brought it to their attention. They spent an entire afternoon trying to fix it; had to take the bed, part of the ceiling and part of the wall apart to get at the wiring, only to find out it was that way from construction and truly not accessible. I suggested that they make up two extension cords, and just cross connect the wiring to the lights where the wiring came out of the wall, under the bed. That fixed the problem.

 

Being in the Royal Suite did get us a Captains invitation to tour the bridge. Very interesting tour and the Captain spent about 30 minutes chatting with us.

 

Hypo

[FLCruiseGirl]

I have seen signs posted in the past that say the ship is full and that there are no upgrades available. The last upgrade we received was on the Enchantment two years ago. We paid $600 for an upgrade from a balcony (D1 I think) to a Grand Suite. It was a 5 day cruise, so I assume it would have been more for a 7 day. We did it at the pier after we checked in.

[ILoveScotland]

They don't ask, and they don't post signs.

 

After you check in at the pier, ask to be directed to the pier coordinator.

He/She will have information on what (if any) upgrades are available and what the cost is. The cost is determined by your present category. For example, an outside to a balcony might be $200, but an inside to a balcony might be $300. These are not actual prices, just theoretical.

 

We have asked, and have used the pier upgrade only once. The cost was only $200 (per cabin) to go from a balcony cabin to a suite. However, that was in November 01, and ships were not sailing at capacity. We have since asked about upgrades, and the cost has been between $700 -$900 to upgrade from a balcony to a suite, so we have kept our balcony cabin, and kept the money for another cruise.

 

The whole thing is based on availablity. At this time of the year the ships are sailing pretty much at capacity, so pier upgrades are pricer than they are during hurricane season. You can always ask - you might be surprised.

I am glad to see that you book a room you'll be happy with, so you don't have to depend upon a pier upgrade.

 

Do I read you correctly to say that November cruises might not be sailing at capacity, including transatlantic which we're on next November 7th?

 

Thanks.

[negc]

Do I read you correctly to say that November cruises might not be sailing at capacity, including transatlantic which we're on next November 7th?

 

Thanks.

Billsgal was talking about her experience on the Explorer of the Seas in 2001, only a few weeks after 9/11 when ships were sailing at far less than full capacity. That situation no longer exists and it is less likely that there will be quality rooms at a tremendous price available on your transatlantic when you sail next November. It never hurts to ask, however. My rule of thumb is never to book a stateroom that I will not be happy sailing in. If a great upgrade becomes available at a good price, all the better, but if not, I will be very happy to remain in the stateroom I originally booked.

:)

[medicmel]

We were recently booked on Deck2 outside quad on MOS. Once we were in line for processing I asked if they had any upgrades and they said they had 1 balcony on Deck 9 for $300.00 more. We snatched it like a bum on a boloney sandwich! We will never go back to an outside cabin again. Balcony or above only from here on out.:cool:

[ILoveScotland]

Billsgal was talking about her experience on the Explorer of the Seas in 2001, only a few weeks after 9/11 when ships were sailing at far less than full capacity. That situation no longer exists and it is less likely that there will be quality rooms at a tremendous price available on your transatlantic when you sail next November. It never hurts to ask, however. My rule of thumb is never to book a stateroom that I will not be happy sailing in. If a great upgrade becomes available at a good price, all the better, but if not, I will be very happy to remain in the stateroom I originally booked.

:)

 

Thanks, I'd heard that advice before. We've already upgraded from an E-1 to a JS for that very reason, and there would have to be an amazing deal at the pier to go any higher.

[rubrrick]

The last deal that I have seen was in '03. We were booked on the Legend of the Seas, and had a balcony, and for $500.00 we were able to upgrade to an Owners suite for the 11 night cruise. They actually had a sign out on the pier with prices to upgrade to different cabins.

 

Rick

[Merion_Mom]

R I CK ! ! ! ! !

 

You are back!

 

Welcome home!!!

[PhoenixCruiser]

The last deal that I have seen was in '03. We were booked on the Legend of the Seas, and had a balcony, and for $500.00 we were able to upgrade to an Owners suite for the 11 night cruise. They actually had a sign out on the pier with prices to upgrade to different cabins.

 

Rick

 

Now that was a deal!!

 

I'm with Carol, welcome back :D And you leave again in 6 days, sheesh, congrats ;)

 

###

[beachchick]

Do I read you correctly to say that November cruises might not be sailing at capacity, including transatlantic which we're on next November 7th?

 

Thanks.

 

November (before Thanksgiving) is often a good time for deals. However, I think in this case the pertinent detail is the "2001." We were in Hawaii in November of 2001. Let's just say that a lot of travellers had cancelled shortly before that time, so the prices and options were abundent. (And no, I'm not saying that it was a "good" thing--the reason for it was horrific and unbelievable.:()

 

beachchick

[djh]

We had booked a Panama Canal cruise last March (on Celebrity actually). Although our outside cabin was inexpensive, to upgrade would have cost us about $800/pp. I kept watching the website for available rooms and discovered that there were still a handful of balcony rooms/concierge class available when they closed bookings (like 72 hours before the cruise). We decided to try for the upgrade, and got to the pier very early (about 10:30). After checking in, we asked about upgrades and the lady said "We are supposed to say no, but let me see what we can do". After checking with the port coordinator, we were escorted to her and offered a concierge class balcony room for $300 /pp. Not bad for an 11 night cruise!

[Nliedel]

You may certainly ask and I encourage you to do so. That said, cruising is more affordable than ever. I cruised last year for what I paid to cruise in 1989! The ships are pretty full. You are more likely to get an upgrade sailing at less popular times of the year. Ask but don't expect and the price breaks are not phenomenal.

[csk]

I know this has been posted before, but does anyone know of the going price to upgrade at pier for 7 nights, thanks

[negc]

The price will vary according to the cruise, stateroom availability and what category of room you are upgrading from. We once received an upgrade from a D1 to an Owners suite for $200. On another cruise they wanted $600 to upgrade from a D1 to any suite category.