Is Princess having IT problems again or are the cabins really sold out?

[TN-Mountains]

I booked two cabins for a 4-day cruise while onboard the Sky just under two weeks ago.  We booked one balcony (2ppl) and one interior cabin (3ppl) that are across the hall from each other.  At the time, there were lots of interior cabins available that would accommodate 3 people, but not necessarily across the hall from a lower-category balcony.  After booking, we received a "come back and play" offer from the Casino department for a free interior cabin but the offer wasn't available until 10 days after the cruise it was issued.  Now that we are 10 days out, I'm considering canceling and rebooking using the casino offer, but the cruise is showing as sold out of interior cabins that sleep 3 & 4 ppl.   Do you think they really sold out in the last 10 days or are they having IT problems again?  I've been following this cruise (Discovery Princess Dec 19, 2023) for several months and the pricing hasn't changed much.     

[voljeep]

what does your TA or Princess CVP have to say about cabin availability? - seems like P may be pushing hard to 'require' a TA or CVP to book specific cabins that only they can see and book - otherwise a non-refundable GTY may be the only option to book online - might vary by cruise

[TN-Mountains]

4 minutes ago, voljeep said:

what does your TA or Princess CVP have to say about cabin availability? - seems like P may be pushing hard to 'require' a TA or CVP to book specific cabins that only they can see and book - otherwise a non-refundable GTY may be the only option to book online - might vary by cruise

It doesn't give the option for a GTY cabin.  It shows everything below a balcony as sold out.  I haven't reached out to my CVP  yet.  She helped fix the errors on the balcony that the Future Cruise Dept onboard the Sky created.  When I mentioned rebooking the interior to get the "free" casino rate, she said I'd have to call the casino department.  I thought that odd since the offer has a promo code and specifically mentions calling the 800#, CVP or TA with any questions.  Do they not get credit if you book a casino offer?  

[startedwithamouse]

Perhaps they are placing upgrades?

[PacnGoNow]

17 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Perhaps they are placing upgrades?

This is Dec 19, 23.  Too early

for upgrades.

[andrewp]

I just had a quick look.  There are 4 IA4 Inside Cabins available for that sailing for 3/4 pax.  IB-IE category are sold out, waitlist only.  Not sure if that helps.

 

Andrew

[startedwithamouse]

58 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

This is Dec 19, 23.  Too early

for upgrades.

Okay, maybe they are controlling inventory and holding back cabins which hold more passengers?  

 

[startedwithamouse]

Here's what Princess is trying to avoid - passengers who are booking with a extra dummy guest. 

 

It's widely spoken about here, selfishly booking 3 guests to get a cabin with a sofa, then cancelling the 3rd 'dummy' guest, yet keeping the cabin, only with 2 guests. This cuts into supply when there are truly parties with 3 or 4 guests, who need a cabin, which are already occupied by 2 guests, who have found a loophole in the system and booked in bad faith. Not to mention, Princess misses out of all the extra revenue guests 3 and 4 would have generated.

 

If "Princess Chooses", they can put 2 passengers in a cabin which has the capacity for 2 people, not 3 or 4 people.

 

If you want a sofa, book a mini-suite.

[chrysalis]

7 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Here's what Princess is trying to avoid - passengers who are booking with a extra dummy guest. 

 

It's widely spoken about here, selfishly booking 3 guests to get a cabin with a sofa, then cancelling the 3rd 'dummy' guest, yet keeping the cabin, only with 2 guests. This cuts into supply when there are truly parties with 3 or 4 guests, who need a cabin, which are already occupied by 2 guests, who have found a loophole in the system and booked in bad faith. Not to mention, Princess misses out of all the extra revenue guests 3 and 4 would have generated.

 

If "Princess Chooses", they can put 2 passengers in a cabin which has the capacity for 2 people, not 3 or 4 people.

 

If you want a sofa, book a mini-suite.

You saying that we, or another couple shouldn't book a deluxe balcony?

[reedprincess]

10 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Here's what Princess is trying to avoid - passengers who are booking with a extra dummy guest. 

 

It's widely spoken about here, selfishly booking 3 guests to get a cabin with a sofa, then cancelling the 3rd 'dummy' guest, yet keeping the cabin, only with 2 guests. This cuts into supply when there are truly parties with 3 or 4 guests, who need a cabin, which are already occupied by 2 guests, who have found a loophole in the system and booked in bad faith. Not to mention, Princess misses out of all the extra revenue guests 3 and 4 would have generated.

 

If "Princess Chooses", they can put 2 passengers in a cabin which has the capacity for 2 people, not 3 or 4 people.

 

If you want a sofa, book a mini-suite.

Interior cabins don't have a sofa, regardless of booked for 1, 2, 3 or 4 passengers.

Neither does Oceanview, or balcony cabins.

To get a sofa, you have to book Deluxe Balcony or above. Regardless of how many passengers.

Your theory is wildly incorrect as booking for 3 in an interior doesn't get a cabin with a sofa 

It's actually not a desirable option and one most wouldn't do unless they actually have 3 or 4 passengers as the 3rd and 4th berth as wall mounted beds, not Pullman berths, thus shrinking the interior space and head space when getting in or out of bottom berths. 

[reedprincess]

4 minutes ago, chrysalis said:

You saying that we, or another couple shouldn't book a deluxe balcony?

Obviously, startedwithamouse doesn't know what they're talking about.  

[startedwithamouse]

56 minutes ago, chrysalis said:

You saying that we, or another couple shouldn't book a deluxe balcony?

If it doesn't appear on the Princess site when selecting two passengers, no.

 

If there are deluxe balconies available for two passengers AND you can select two passengers. 

[startedwithamouse]

52 minutes ago, reedprincess said:

Obviously, startedwithamouse doesn't know what they're talking about.  

Actually, yes, we do. 

 

The "let's beat the system" is only taking away revenue from the cruise line.

 

Let's say out of 300 cabins, 100 of those have a capacity for 4.  All booked by couples, maximum of 2 passengers per cabin. Those cabins SHOULD be available for parties of 4 only.  Princess also misses out of 200 additional fares for those 100 cabins. 

 

 

[startedwithamouse]

58 minutes ago, reedprincess said:

Interior cabins don't have a sofa, regardless of booked for 1, 2, 3 or 4 passengers.

Neither does Oceanview, or balcony cabins.

To get a sofa, you have to book Deluxe Balcony or above. Regardless of how many passengers.

Your theory is wildly incorrect as booking for 3 in an interior doesn't get a cabin with a sofa 

It's actually not a desirable option and one most wouldn't do unless they actually have 3 or 4 passengers as the 3rd and 4th berth as wall mounted beds, not Pullman berths, thus shrinking the interior space and head space when getting in or out of bottom berths. 

I was referring to the deluxe balconies, NOT any of the other categories. 

[chrysalis]

5 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

If it doesn't appear on the Princess site when selecting two passengers, no.

 

If there are deluxe balconies available for two passengers AND you can select two passengers. 

we always select "two" and get offered deluxe with a sofa....that's what deluxe means.

 

I'm afraid that you are way off base on this one.

[startedwithamouse]

Just now, chrysalis said:

we always select "two" and get offered deluxe with a sofa....that's what deluxe means.

 

I'm afraid that you are way off base on this one.

Well, that's good. There are ones that are 3, and people dummy book. It's spoken about time and time again, how to do it. 

[TN-Mountains]

On 6/28/2023 at 3:24 PM, andrewp said:

I just had a quick look.  There are 4 IA4 Inside Cabins available for that sailing for 3/4 pax.  IB-IE category are sold out, waitlist only.  Not sure if that helps.

 

Andrew

Thank you.  Do you mind sharing where you found the 4 available cabins?  When I checked last night using princess.com, I got to the screen where I can spend less $ and let Princess pick my cabin, or spend a few extra bucks and pick my own.  I selected choose a cabin and on the next screen, it showed "not available" under all 5 sections of the ship.  I was hoping this meant there was an IT issue as opposed to being sold out.  It seems odd they would sell out in 2 weeks when the prices have been steady for months.  Maybe there is a sale outside the USA that I can't see???

[TN-Mountains]

On 6/28/2023 at 4:55 PM, startedwithamouse said:

I was referring to the deluxe balconies, NOT any of the other categories. 

Since my kids are only 10, 12 & 13 I have to put one adult in each cabin.  I spent a lot of time researching where everyone should sleep and what would yield the best prices on this itinerary.  That includes 3 people in the interior & 2 people in a balcony and vice versa.  What you state is accurate about Princess holding some of the cabins for the larger group.  When I searched with 3 people I could see some of the D4 balconies that weren't available when I searched with 2 people.  I don't think that is the problem with the interior rooms disappearing.  Based on the pictures I've seen, the bunks in the interior rooms extend from the walls and protrude into the room even when they're stowed away.  This should make them less desirable rooms for 2 people. 

 

I've also seen on the boards where folks claim they put a hold on the cabin using 3 people and then call their TA or CVP and get the third person removed and book it for two. I wonder if they're still able to do that with all the changes Princess has been implementing like only doing GTY cabins for the lowest category???   

[Steelers36]

On 6/28/2023 at 3:43 PM, startedwithamouse said:

Here's what Princess is trying to avoid - passengers who are booking with a extra dummy guest. 

 

It's widely spoken about here, selfishly booking 3 guests to get a cabin with a sofa, then cancelling the 3rd 'dummy' guest, yet keeping the cabin, only with 2 guests. This cuts into supply when there are truly parties with 3 or 4 guests, who need a cabin, which are already occupied by 2 guests, who have found a loophole in the system and booked in bad faith. Not to mention, Princess misses out of all the extra revenue guests 3 and 4 would have generated.

 

If "Princess Chooses", they can put 2 passengers in a cabin which has the capacity for 2 people, not 3 or 4 people.

 

If you want a sofa, book a mini-suite.

🙄

[Steelers36]

On 6/28/2023 at 4:54 PM, startedwithamouse said:

Actually, yes, we do. 

 

The "let's beat the system" is only taking away revenue from the cruise line.

 

Let's say out of 300 cabins, 100 of those have a capacity for 4.  All booked by couples, maximum of 2 passengers per cabin. Those cabins SHOULD be available for parties of 4 only.  Princess also misses out of 200 additional fares for those 100 cabins. 

 

 

All things being equal, a member PCL guest here is going to pick the capacity 2 cabin over the capacity 4 cabin all day long.  Some cabin categories accept >2 guests in all cabins of that category. 

[TN-Mountains]

10 minutes ago, TN-Mountains said:

Since my kids are only 10, 12 & 13 I have to put one adult in each cabin.  I spent a lot of time researching where everyone should sleep and what would yield the best prices on this itinerary.  That includes 3 people in the interior & 2 people in a balcony and vice versa.  What you state is accurate about Princess holding some of the cabins for the larger group.  When I searched with 3 people I could see some of the D4 balconies that weren't available when I searched with 2 people.  I don't think that is the problem with the interior rooms disappearing.  Based on the pictures I've seen, the bunks in the interior rooms extend from the walls and protrude into the room even when they're stowed away.  This should make them less desirable rooms for 2 people. 

 

I've also seen on the boards where folks claim they put a hold on the cabin using 3 people and then call their TA or CVP and get the third person removed and book it for two. I wonder if they're still able to do that with all the changes Princess has been implementing like only doing GTY cabins for the lowest category???   

I'll also add that on my most recent cruise on the Sky Princess, we had a Deluxe Balcony D4 for just 2 of us.  We didn't do anything special to get it.  I searched with 2 people.  It was available and I booked it.  That was 6 or 7 months prior to the cruise.  Maybe they hold them for 3 people and then release them as it gets closer to the sailing.  

[Steelers36]

36 minutes ago, TN-Mountains said:

..................Maybe there is a sale outside the USA that I can't see???

Canada and USA are same market and "see" the same cabin selections, etc, and share promotion codes (except there can be region-specific offers that apply to some States and/or Canada).

Edited June 29, 2023 by Steelers36

[TN-Mountains]

1 minute ago, Steelers36 said:

Canada and USA are same market and "see" the same cabin selections, etc, and share promotion codes (except there can be region-specific offers that apply to some States and/or Canada).

I said USA, but I was thinking of areas outside North America. 🙂 When I met with the future cruise department on board the ship, there were different promotions for the North American customers vs. the European customers.   I realize a 4 day California Coast cruise probably isn't a bucket list item for folks traveling from Europe!  It just seems odd that there were lots of cabins available and then they ALL disappeared within a week without a big promotion.  

[Steelers36]

14 hours ago, TN-Mountains said:

I said USA, but I was thinking of areas outside North America. 🙂 When I met with the future cruise department on board the ship, there were different promotions for the North American customers vs. the European customers.   I realize a 4 day California Coast cruise probably isn't a bucket list item for folks traveling from Europe!  It just seems odd that there were lots of cabins available and then they ALL disappeared within a week without a big promotion.  

Often when that happens, I just assume they were settling GTY bookings.  Otherwise, no idea other than marketing hijinks.

[andrewp]

15 hours ago, TN-Mountains said:

Thank you.  Do you mind sharing where you found the 4 available cabins?  When I checked last night using princess.com, I got to the screen where I can spend less $ and let Princess pick my cabin, or spend a few extra bucks and pick my own.  I selected choose a cabin and on the next screen, it showed "not available" under all 5 sections of the ship.  I was hoping this meant there was an IT issue as opposed to being sold out.  It seems odd they would sell out in 2 weeks when the prices have been steady for months.  Maybe there is a sale outside the USA that I can't see???

 

I'm a travel agent, so I can see a bit more of the inventory that is available for regular bookings.  I don't know much about the Casino offerings, they may have inventory limits on that offer or category restrictions like only IB cabins and lower.  I'd only be speculating.  

 

Right now when I search, all Inside Cabins are sold for that cruise.

 

Andrew