When you got a free upgrade...when did you complete check in?

[amurray88]

It seems free upgrades are more or less random. I've had one before, some have had several, some none. 

 

If you've had it before, when did you complete online check in? Is it the case that if you do it first then you get first dibs of upgrades? Or later when they know the likelihood of selling those cabins?

[CruisnDeb]

I booked my oceanview  guarantee on a Friday—this was at the 30 day mark and the same day checkin opened but I didn’t checkin yet. Monday morning I got the email for my balcony upgrade. I did my online checkin a few days after the upgrade. 

[dbrown84]

I'm going on my first MSC cruise in two weeks.  I had an ov guarantee, checked in at the 30 mark, and a few days later my cabin was assigned and it was a balcony.  I originally booked at 60 days out 

[Essiesmom]

 Y cabin assignment came at 31 days out, OC Bella gty to balcony.  I checked in the next day, day 30.  I have had offers to bid for further upgrade, but not interested.  EM

[amurray88]

That's helpful. I checked for Virtuosa on a few sailings (both for this year and next) and there was no sign of any GTY cabins at all - all gave a cabin number at time of booking.

 

My booking has a cabin number too so I'm guessing I'll not be in luck but you never know - hoping it changes!

[Stockjock]

Not a direct answer to your question, but based on what I've read from others, it seems to me that Bella GUAR cabins are upgraded at least 60% of the time.  But obviously, any time one books a guarantee, they have to be prepared to accept the worst cabin in the category that they booked.

Edited June 4 by Stockjock

[amurray88]

1 hour ago, Stockjock said:

Not a direct answer to your question, but based on what I've read from others, it seems to me that Bella GUAR cabins are upgraded at least 60% of the time.  But obviously, any time one books a guarantee, they have to be prepared to accept the worst cabin in the category that they booked.

Unfortunately no GUAR cabins when I booked... had to go for a normal inside. Presumably no chance of an upgrade. Raging! .... just joking 🙂

[Ottawa_Cruiser]

On 6/4/2024 at 2:36 PM, Stockjock said:

Not a direct answer to your question, but based on what I've read from others, it seems to me that Bella GUAR cabins are upgraded at least 60% of the time.  But obviously, any time one books a guarantee, they have to be prepared to accept the worst cabin in the category that they booked.

This is interesting. We've sailed MSC three times in a Bella GUAR and have never had an upgrade. However, I am totally okay with that. Sure, it would be nice, but I'm 100% okay with the category I book.

[Stockjock]

22 minutes ago, Ottawa_Cruiser said:

This is interesting. We've sailed MSC three times in a Bella GUAR and have never had an upgrade. However, I am totally okay with that. Sure, it would be nice, but I'm 100% okay with the category I book.

I used to see them more often, before the bidding system went into effect.  But it still seems like over 50% of those reporting here get some form of upgrade.  Obviously, it depends on how full the ship is.  I will say this much, I am not aware of another cruise line that is as generous as non-paid upgrades as MSC is.

[6045pjp]

Booked a casino offer for Bella OV Guarantee at the end of December 2023 for a 10 day sailing out of Lisbon in June.

Sometime in March I got an email with a balcony room assignment. Checked in last week.

This is my first MSC cruise.

[shibby sails]

Booked Bella guarantee interior for July 7th Seashore. Went to check-in 30 days before and was already assigned Bella balcony. No rhyme or reason just luck, I guess.

[mrdevo2u]

In my experience, timing your online check-in doesn't necessarily guarantee an upgrade. It seems to depend on various factors like how full the flight is, your loyalty status, or just sheer luck. I've had upgrades when I checked in early and also when I did it last minute.

[dbrown84]

I'm going on my first MSC cruise, and I was upgraded to a balcony.  I booked a OV guaranty.  Someone said they only have 80 OV cabins on the seashore, which greatly increases the chances of an upgrade.  I don't know if this is true or not, but I will certainly enjoy the upgrade 

[ccheng6401]

I booked a premium suite aurea. Is there any chance I can be upgrated to YC? 

[amurray88]

I have no idea to be honest...but if you can be then you may find it's a downgrade 😱... possibly? Maybe someone else could give more info? 

 

My belief was that the next step up from premium suite aurea is inside YC cabin?

[Stockjock]

On 6/16/2024 at 9:25 PM, ccheng6401 said:

I booked a premium suite aurea. Is there any chance I can be upgrated to YC? 

If you asked me to lay odds, I would put them at well under 5% possibility. In other words, almost no possibility, in my opinion.

[CruiserG79]

Booked two Bella inside guarantee cabins for a cruise on 29th of Septembre and both cabins got upgraded to a deluxe balcony cabin.

 

Did the booking in Octobre 2023, and noticed about the upgrade in January. So it was way before the online check in (which still hasn't started).

[SailorfromBrazil]

7 hours ago, CruiserG79 said:

Did the booking in Octobre 2023, and noticed about the upgrade in January. So it was way before the online check in (which still hasn't started).

 

And I thought the they would assign the cabins only about 90 days prior to boarding.

We're at 228 days out (who's counting?) from our next sailing without any assignment so far.

[ccheng6401]

On 6/18/2024 at 11:00 PM, CruiserG79 said:

Booked two Bella inside guarantee cabins for a cruise on 29th of Septembre and both cabins got upgraded to a deluxe balcony cabin.

 

Did the booking in Octobre 2023, and noticed about the upgrade in January. So it was way before the online check in (which still hasn't started).

Wow that's so lucky! May I ask which itinerary?  You got upgraded way before your final payment date. That's so nice!