placed an "Upgrade" bid for Rockstar room, but the ship shows the Rockstar rooms are sold out when you try to book them?

[valandemmy]

Is it a BS offer or a "just in case someone cancels last minute"....

Is there any chance of actually getting a suite?

[CineGraphic]

12 minutes ago, valandemmy said:

Is it a BS offer or a "just in case someone cancels last minute"....

Is there any chance of actually getting a suite?

 

Yes, it's an excellent way for VV to find out what everyone is willing (or not willing) to pay.

We live in a day where information is king.

Edited July 14, 2023 by CineGraphic

[cantgetin]

There is no way for you to know.....they always take bids "just in case" and sometimes they come thru.

 

[jon81uk]

It’s possible a rockstar might get a bid accepted to move up to a mega rockstar room therefore opening up a room for you. Or as you say cancellations can happen.

[CineGraphic]

If it shows no suites available, and you're already past final payment, the chances of aren't very good.

[cantgetin]

2 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

If it shows no suites available, and you're already past final payment, the chances of aren't very good.

Totally agree, but it does happen.  

[conandrob240]

We got a suite at port for the lowest amount we were able to bid pre-sailing. The suites had showed sold out for weeks. It was a last-minute cancel

[cantgetin]

Yup, many years ago we were offered the Roy suite on the Disney Magic.  When I asked, the CM said that the family who had booked it had a last minute medical cancelation.   Maybe I should have taken it as I'd certainly never pay regular price...but it seemed silly to have a suite that holds 7 for 2 people.

 

 

[CruisingWalter]

On 7/14/2023 at 6:49 PM, valandemmy said:

Is it a BS offer or a "just in case someone cancels last minute"....

Is there any chance of actually getting a suite?

 

Depending on the cruise, sometimes the cruise lines will hold back cabins for the bidding process.

Other times they are getting a waitlist together on the hope that those in lower suites will upgrade to the higher suites.

And lastly they are setting up a waitlist so if someone cancels, they can fill a higher level cabin rather than let it go empty.

 

This is how every single cruise line works now with the bidding process. Your chances of getting a suite wholly depend on how full the ship is and how high your bid is compared to the others if your cabin of choice opens up. 

[cantgetin]

It never hurts to bid, but you can never depend on getting your bid.  Always book a cabin where you will be happy, whatever that means to you.  If you don't want to be above a nightclub or below the pool deck, don't book a "lock it in." If you want a balcony, don't book an inside and hope for a cheaper rate on a bid or upgrade at port.

As long as you are starting from a point where you will be satisfied if you stay in your originally booking, you are good.  Then the upgrade is a "bonus" if it comes.

An additional note--on VV, some of the special offers start at the Sea Terrace level and exclude the "lock it in" rates.  You need to check the fine print before booking.  

[RBCal]

IMHO the minimum bids for upgrades are outrageousy overpriced.  I hope they aren't an indication of all of VV's customer services.

[cantgetin]

18 minutes ago, RBCal said:

IMHO the minimum bids for upgrades are outrageousy overpriced.  I hope they aren't an indication of all of VV's customer services.

I guess I don't understand how the minimum bid for an upgrade that probably doesn't exist has to do with the level of customer service.  The department that sets the fares, including upgrade bid amounts, is trying to get the most money they can for each person booked...that's their job.  If you feel that the minimum bid is too high, then don't bid.  The bids to go from an inside or window to a sea terrace or XL are usually very modest, and the listed minimums are per cabin, not per person.  The minimum bit + what was paid for the cabin the person is in is still less than the cost of the suite would have been had it been available and purchased initially.  If no one bids, perhaps because the minimum bid is "too high," any available suites will be available at the terminal...I don't know if that price is the same or less than an advance bid.

What frustrates me is the system that allows TAs to reserve  cabins including suites for up to 30 days without  a name attached.  This makes it very difficult for people who are interested to book a suite.  But then, I'm not likely to pay the asking price for a suite anyhow, so guess it doesn't matter.

[RBCal]

I'm in a suite but to upgrade to a higher level of suite the minimum bid is 5 to 10K.  Why have a minimum at all?  I view this as price gouging but understand that money talks.  However, for the price they are charging it makes more sense to book a private yacht.

[cantgetin]

1 hour ago, RBCal said:

I'm in a suite but to upgrade to a higher level of suite the minimum bid is 5 to 10K.  Why have a minimum at all?  I view this as price gouging but understand that money talks.  However, for the price they are charging it makes more sense to book a private yacht.

Enjoy your suite....there are a lot of perks that are not always easy to find out about.  Some of the balconies are beyond belief, but unless you are using them for a gathering....they are almost silly for 2 people.

[DenverVoyager]

Sailing on Valiant in a few weeks - about a week ago I believe there were 2-3 various Mega Rockstar categories available

 

I was booked in a Sea Terrace, submitted bids on every Rockstar suite about $100 above the minimum, and there was a chance for a Mega Rockstar Gorgeous Suite, bid the same of $100 over.

 

Got the email yesterday morning 17 days ahead of sailing that my Mega bid was accepted, and now it shows sold out online. Time to get a second mortgage on my home 

[cantgetin]

1 hour ago, DenverVoyager said:

Sailing on Valiant in a few weeks - about a week ago I believe there were 2-3 various Mega Rockstar categories available

 

I was booked in a Sea Terrace, submitted bids on every Rockstar suite about $100 above the minimum, and there was a chance for a Mega Rockstar Gorgeous Suite, bid the same of $100 over.

 

Got the email yesterday morning 17 days ahead of sailing that my Mega bid was accepted, and now it shows sold out online. Time to get a second mortgage on my home 

Hope you drink a lot!  Hint--it you are into the really good stuff that would exceed your "per drink" allowance, the bar in the casino does half pours, which keeps it within your limit.  As far as I know, the casino bar is the only one that does this,

 

Edited July 22, 2023 by cantgetin

[DenverVoyager]

Just now, cantgetin said:

Hope you drink a lot!

 

Like a fish, but within reason. Part of my enjoyment on cruises is having the freedom to try different cocktails and combinations I probably wouldn't otherwise. Either way, the total out of pocket cost of my voyage as MR is costing less than if I were to book a Sea Terrace with cash.. got to love a well timed 80k virgin red promo plus 1.3x AMEX transfer 

[_tacocat_]

6 hours ago, RBCal said:

I'm in a suite but to upgrade to a higher level of suite the minimum bid is 5 to 10K.  Why have a minimum at all?  I view this as price gouging but understand that money talks.  However, for the price they are charging it makes more sense to book a private yacht.

Have you looked at the prices of some of the other suites on other dates though? Higher mega rockstar suites are many thousands of dollars more than even gorgeous (base) mega suites.  That’s not price gouging, that’s typical for suites in any hospitality business…

[RBCal]

If I'm wasting that much money I'm booking a private yacht.

[cantgetin]

18 minutes ago, RBCal said:

If I'm wasting that much money I'm booking a private yacht.

If you consider it wasting money (as I do), we are not the people who should book it.  I don't need. a suites on a ship that is bigger than my daughter's condo.  On the other hand, if you need/want that much space and the associated perks, go for it.

[Lustate]

14 hours ago, cantgetin said:What frustrates me is the system that allows TAs to reserve  cabins including suites for up to 30 days without  a name attached.  This makes it very difficult for people who are interested to book a suite.  But then, I'm not likely to pay the asking price for a suite anyhow, so guess it doesn't matter.

That is my pet hate as well. Some agents are effectively blocking sailors (or agents) booking suites (or cabins like the XL), on the off chance they might be able to sell it in three weeks. Then they hold it again, and again. Two weeks before departure they know it won’t sell and release it, meaning it goes into bidding, so sailors pay over what would have been the general sale price.

 

side note on bidding, we have had one come through for a “lock it in” sea terrace to a mid terrace for £185 which was the minimum. 

[jwattle]

On 7/22/2023 at 4:39 PM, cantgetin said:

Hope you drink a lot!  Hint--it you are into the really good stuff that would exceed your "per drink" allowance, the bar in the casino does half pours, which keeps it within your limit.  As far as I know, the casino bar is the only one that does this,

 

That's one of the perks of the Mega RS...daily bartab and inroom comped bar

[cantgetin]

6 minutes ago, jwattle said:

That's one of the perks of the Mega RS...daily bartab and inroom comped bar

Sailors staying in a Mega RockStar Quarter can revel in exclusive access to complimentary drinks and bottles of wine around the ship - with reasonable limits, of course. This includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (up to $25) and two (2) bottles of wine per day per cabin (up to $90).

 

THe above is a cut and paste from the VV site.  The issue is that there are drinks that cost more than $25, so would be billed in addition to your mega rockstar BUT if you go to the casino bar, you can order these as "Half pours" which keeps them below the $25 limit.  If I paid for a mega suite, I wouldn't want to see pesky charges for drinks!  Thus, the casino bar  half pour trick. It is simply a way to get around the "reasonable limits" if you like really high end products.

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by cantgetin

[Lustate]

21 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

  If I paid for a mega suite, I wouldn't want to see pesky charges for drinks! 

let’s face it, if people are paying $20,000 a week for the massive suite, I don’t think they are going to spot a few drinks on the final bill, or indeed care about it like us normal folk lol 

[Fogcityca13]

Half pours allow you taste a few different spirits without being plastered after a few samples. I wish pink agave had more tasting options. We did Beyond Tequila and it was worth it.

 

There weren’t too many spirits that passed up the $25 limit. We had a free $300 bar tab to burn and ended up leaving money behind. Bottles wine and champagne could easily exceed the $90 per bottle. We did find lots of options in that price range.