How is the bidding system doing? Any comments?

[RKSue]

6 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

 

So I had the same issue of not being able to bid. The page kept going back to the start. Princess suggested that I use Google instead of IE.  

I have it working now. Cant use my iPhone. Had to check Google as it automatically blocks Princess and the bidding site. Make sure you use a laptop or maybe an iPad or other brand. Go to security settings and check to see if it has blocked Princess or the actual bid site. 
 

I used safari. So you would go to Safari. Then Preferences. On the Web site tabs go over  to WEBSITES. Under General (this is the drop down once you click on the websites tab)  make sure CONTENT Blockers is OFF. Then go to the Pop Ip Windows and make sure the  website upgrade.plusgrade.com says Allow. 
 

you should then be able to bid. 
hope this helps. 

[PacnGoNow]

3 minutes ago, RKSue said:

So I had the same issue of not being able to bid. The page kept going back to the start. Princess suggested that I use Google instead of IE.  

I have it working now. Cant use my iPhone. Had to check Google as it automatically blocks Princess and the bidding site. Make sure you use a laptop or maybe an iPad or other brand. Go to security settings and check to see if it has blocked Princess or the actual bid site. 
 

I used safari. So you would go to Safari. Then Preferences. On the Web site tabs go over  to WEBSITES. Under General (this is the drop down once you click on the websites tab)  make sure CONTENT Blockers is OFF. Then go to the Pop Ip Windows and make sure the  website upgrade.plusgrade.com says Allow. 
 

you should then be able to bid. 
hope this helps. 

Thank you.  I haven’t received an offer yet, but if I do, that’s great information.

 

 

[Steelers36]

49 minutes ago, RKSue said:

So I had the same issue of not being able to bid. The page kept going back to the start. Princess suggested that I use Google instead of IE.  

I have it working now. Cant use my iPhone. Had to check Google as it automatically blocks Princess and the bidding site. Make sure you use a laptop or maybe an iPad or other brand. Go to security settings and check to see if it has blocked Princess or the actual bid site. 
 

I used safari. So you would go to Safari. Then Preferences. On the Web site tabs go over  to WEBSITES. Under General (this is the drop down once you click on the websites tab)  make sure CONTENT Blockers is OFF. Then go to the Pop Ip Windows and make sure the  website upgrade.plusgrade.com says Allow. 
 

you should then be able to bid. 
hope this helps. 

I typed in the URL and got nowhere.

[RKSue]

27 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

I typed in the URL and got nowhere.

It should be a link Princess sent you. Ive not been successful with the url. Might be because Princess is doing it by invitation only.  I heard that you can access it from your cruise personalizer but I have not personally tried it yet. 

[Steelers36]

2 minutes ago, RKSue said:

It should be a link Princess sent you. Ive not been successful with the url. Might be because Princess is doing it by invitation only.  I heard that you can access it from your cruise personalizer but I have not personally tried it yet. 

Oh yes, I agree.  But I tried it anyway to see what would happen.  I expect that a link from an invitation email is going to have a much more complex URL with encoded info and personal particulars that identify the source guest, etc.

 

[NavyVeteran]

30 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Oh yes, I agree.  But I tried it anyway to see what would happen.  I expect that a link from an invitation email is going to have a much more complex URL with encoded info and personal particulars that identify the source guest, etc.

 

That is correct. The link in my email was very long. When I clicked on it, it opened a page specific to me and to that specific cruise.

[Thrak]

Today is the day our cruise became eligible for the upgrade bidding but I haven't received an email. I may well not receive one as Princess kept "upgrading" our cabin over and over.  We tend to book balconies but, for this 16 day Panama Canal cruise, we booked an inside cabin all the way aft on Rivera Deck so my wife can just "slip out the door" and be at "her pool". She loves the aft pool.

 

Princess automagically upgraded us (without notice) to a mid ship location - still interior. I had my TA get the original room back. (It had been marked No Upgrade from the beginning.)  A day or so later I checked and we had once again been moved to a (different) mid ship cabin. I contacted my TA and he got the original room back again. I checked again a day or two later and - you guessed it - we had been upgraded again.

 

I wrote a note to  several people at Princess and, finally, the FOURTH booking stuck in the correct cabin. Princess actually called me and apologized for moving us over and over. As an extra apology they added a specialty dining to our booking. I still check from time to time but I don't think they will automagically upgrade us again and, given the notes that are likely attached to our booking, I don't expect to get the upgrade email. (We wouldn't try for an upgrade anyway but it would be interesting to see what was offered.)

[dave_k58]

1 hour ago, NavyVeteran said:

That is correct. The link in my email was very long. When I clicked on it, it opened a page specific to me and to that specific cruise.

I have not gotten an email either- can you send me a link where I could sign in with booking number?

[c-boy]

45 minutes ago, Thrak said:

Today is the day our cruise became eligible for the upgrade bidding but I haven't received an email. I may well not receive one as Princess kept "upgrading" our cabin over and over.  We tend to book balconies but, for this 16 day Panama Canal cruise, we booked an inside cabin all the way aft on Rivera Deck so my wife can just "slip out the door" and be at "her pool". She loves the aft pool.

 

Princess automagically upgraded us (without notice) to a mid ship location - still interior. I had my TA get the original room back. (It had been marked No Upgrade from the beginning.)  A day or so later I checked and we had once again been moved to a (different) mid ship cabin. I contacted my TA and he got the original room back again. I checked again a day or two later and - you guessed it - we had been upgraded again.

 

I wrote a note to  several people at Princess and, finally, the FOURTH booking stuck in the correct cabin. Princess actually called me and apologized for moving us over and over. As an extra apology they added a specialty dining to our booking. I still check from time to time but I don't think they will automagically upgrade us again and, given the notes that are likely attached to our booking, I don't expect to get the upgrade email. (We wouldn't try for an upgrade anyway but it would be interesting to see what was offered.)

  I'll put ya down as undecided. 

[cyndyga]

Got a email to upgrade my cabin yesterday for my Oct 15 Enchantment cruise. I am sailing solo so won't bid because I would have to pay double...I have a mid-ship Baha BB class and like the location...I was thinking of bidding for a room with a couch but am not willing to sacrifice location to a bad one of under buffet pool ect...although tempted by the Premium Deluxe as its only $70.00 pp entry bid...I'm on a comped casino cruise so I havn't paid much to start but will probable play and lose alot so have to consider that cost before bidding if I decide to 🙂

[cruiser113]

9 hours ago, cyndyga said:

Got a email to upgrade my cabin yesterday for my Oct 15 Enchantment cruise. I am sailing solo so won't bid because I would have to pay double...I have a mid-ship Baha BB class and like the location...I was thinking of bidding for a room with a couch but am not willing to sacrifice location to a bad one of under buffet pool ect...although tempted by the Premium Deluxe as its only $70.00 pp entry bid...I'm on a comped casino cruise so I havn't paid much to start but will probable play and lose alot so have to consider that cost before bidding if I decide to 🙂

we are  on  the  cruise after  you....also casino comped....bid  the  lowest bid for  club class mini.

currently in Balcony deck 17.  Happy  to  stay there....but would enjoy the club class mini.

 

 

Edited September 9, 2022 by cruiser113

[azbirdmom]

9 minutes ago, cruiser113 said:

we are  on  the  cruise after  you....also casino comped....bid  the  lowest bid for  club class mini.

currently in Balcony deck 17.  Happy  to  stay there....but would enjoy the club class mini.

 

 

 

9 hours ago, cyndyga said:

Got a email to upgrade my cabin yesterday for my Oct 15 Enchantment cruise. I am sailing solo so won't bid because I would have to pay double...I have a mid-ship Baha BB class and like the location...I was thinking of bidding for a room with a couch but am not willing to sacrifice location to a bad one of under buffet pool ect...although tempted by the Premium Deluxe as its only $70.00 pp entry bid...I'm on a comped casino cruise so I havn't paid much to start but will probable play and lose alot so have to consider that cost before bidding if I decide to 🙂

 

I was wondering if they would offer upgrades to those who had booked using a casino comp.  There wasn't anything in the FAQs about it and I guess it didn't take long to find out the answer to that question.  My only concern would be if this turns out to be one of those changes that accidentally cancels the reservation like other changes such as adding EZAir yourself would.  The casino isn't paying their share until 7 days prior to embarkation these days so that would be my concern about taking one of these offers.

[cruiser113]

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

 

 

I was wondering if they would offer upgrades to those who had booked using a casino comp.  There wasn't anything in the FAQs about it and I guess it didn't take long to find out the answer to that question.  My only concern would be if this turns out to be one of those changes that accidentally cancels the reservation like other changes such as adding EZAir yourself would.  The casino isn't paying their share until 7 days prior to embarkation these days so that would be my concern about taking one of these offers.

 

 

when  i  did  my  bid,  it  came  back that  i would be notified up  to  3  days  before  sailing if  accepted.

casino pays 7- 14 days before  cruise most  times.

I  will keep  an  eye  on  this as  well as  we  do  not  want  to  loose this cruise  as  it  is a  Prestige tournament cruise.

I bid way low  so not thinking  they  will accept my low  bid.

 

Thank  you for  your concern and bringing  that to my  attention.....we  will be  staying on  top  of  this till we  sail.

[suzyed]

FAQs say we will be notified "up to 3 days before sailing",  so no chance of hearing sooner?
I was hoping that if they didn't accept your bid could you bid up later?
Anybody know?  Has anyone actually learned their bid was accepted? I would hate to wait until 3 days to know.

[Wishing on a star]

That was my question as well.  So, you are committed once you make a bid, but they are not committed until 3 days before departure?  

My decision to bid would be made after looking at availability.  Because, if the bid put me in a location that I didn't like, once I had that new cabin category, I could move to a cabin in that category in a better location if there were any available.

 

We have booked an extended balcony mid-ship.   (Many balcony and deluxe balcony are still available).

I might not want to move to a larger cabin category with a tiny balcony.

 

If this is true, they might not notify anyone until that last week, when there is a huge chance that the better locations are all taken.

[Wishing on a star]

 

Also, I don't know if this was mentioned.  But, about the invitation to bid on a cruise that is showing not available.   It is my guess that 'not available' does not mean Sold Out.  I am thinking that Princess is limiting capacity on many cruises because of staffing shortcomings.  In that case, a LOT of invitations to bid would go out, as they would try to improve the revenues on a partially filled sailing.

[NavyVeteran]

18 hours ago, dave_k58 said:

I have not gotten an email either- can you send me a link where I could sign in with booking number?

The link in my email was specific to my specific booking. I did not sign in with my booking number or anything else. I just checked the link, and it had our names and booking information.

[Thrak]

Okay... Got the email today. If I click the link I get options with a slider to make a bid. However, in the email itself is shows set price upgrade options. If I click on the price shown it also takes me to the proper bidding page with the slider. What I find odd is that the set price showing (before actually clicking on it) for us to upgrade to a "standard balcony" is $96 per person more than if I just book a balcony at the currently listed price. Hardly a bargain.

[Shelly97060]

8 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

 

 

I was wondering if they would offer upgrades to those who had booked using a casino comp.  There wasn't anything in the FAQs about it and I guess it didn't take long to find out the answer to that question.  My only concern would be if this turns out to be one of those changes that accidentally cancels the reservation like other changes such as adding EZAir yourself would.  The casino isn't paying their share until 7 days prior to embarkation these days so that would be my concern about taking one of these offers.

Your concern is valid since any changes to the booking can remove the casino protection (code) in the event you do get a winning bid after you make payment you or your TA can call the Casino desk or send them an email at casinoinquires@princesscruises.com to let them know you have bid on and completed the purchase of an upgrade and ask them to make sure the booking is protected from cancellation.

[cruzin4us]

I was on one of the cancelled Diamond cruises out of San Diego.   I rebooked on Discovery Oct 8th.   I booked on a casino promotion (should have been a balcony, but they were all sold out so I took an inside room).   

 

I bid on the ocean view and a balcony.   Bid the lowest amount.   

 

I'm glad someone mentioned the casino issue above so if I randomly get selected with my lowball bid, I know what to do.    Not expecting to win the bid as it appears the cruise is sold out.

 

 

 

 

[Atlantic Canada]

Just received an email from Princess about bidding on an upgrade for our upcoming cruise. Has anyone done this and any advice

[Shelly97060]

The program started 3 days ago, so not a lot of Princess experience with it yet.
 

There is a lengthy thread about it titled  How is the bidding system doing? Any comments?   I don’t know how to insert the link to that topic but perhaps someone else can put it in a reply for you. Otherwise search the word bidding and you should find the topic.  
 

if you bid please report back and let us all know how it went! 

 

[LACruiser88]

 

[RKSue]

23 hours ago, cyndyga said:

Got a email to upgrade my cabin yesterday for my Oct 15 Enchantment cruise. I am sailing solo so won't bid because I would have to pay double...I have a mid-ship Baha BB class and like the location...I was thinking of bidding for a room with a couch but am not willing to sacrifice location to a bad one of under buffet pool ect...although tempted by the Premium Deluxe as its only $70.00 pp entry bid...I'm on a comped casino cruise so I havn't paid much to start but will probable play and lose alot so have to consider that cost before bidding if I decide to 🙂

Premium deluxe balconies are either on the 10th or 11th deck. They are excellent. Ive had them before. I say try for it. I don’t think you will be disappointed. 

[Shelly97060]

On 9/8/2022 at 8:59 PM, cyndyga said:

.I have a mid-ship Baha BB class and like the location...I was thinking of bidding for a room with a couch but am not willing to sacrifice location to a bad one of under buffet pool ect...🙂

If your bid successful Princess will pick a cabin for you. This is just something to consider if location is important.