Personalizer countdown.

[srphnx]

We booked our b2b for Nov-Dec in April with a category guar. About a month ago, we self-upgraded by taking advantage of a rate drop in the type.. not category above our original cabin type for free because the increase in OBC offset the price so it cost us zero to self upgrade a total of 10 categories. So we are not hoping for an upgrade so much as anxious about our locaition and if we are in same cabin from week to week. An upgrade would be welcome but NOT expected or even more important relied upon to be happy.

So far everybody else on our thread got an assigment some with within-type upgrades. We are 114 days out and nothing moving on personalizer...I know it can be anytime from here to pier pickup with the several likely stops in between, i.e. after final payment date, six weeks out, 7 days out.. etc. So how many more times will I have to check personalizer before we get a cabin...assuming the perfectly normal and not obesessive level of say...11 or 12 times a day? :D Who here is going to go out on a limb and predict my "F" gets changed to a two-letter category say something with a "B" in the first letter? I dare not do so as the UG fairy never drops dust on us but a more .... digestion related substance as she flies overhead on her way to give suites to first time cruisers.

[HighRoller]

Srphnx...come on we know your an "A" person anyways you'd be on that box 12 times day checking the Cruise Personalizer even if you got your assignment...I think as I check mine religiously all the time it's part of the fun and suspense! The upgrade fairy kinda likes me and pays me a visit often...I'll tell him or her to throw some pixy dust on your bookings from now on...positive thoughts Srphnx and good things happen to those who wait!

[Cruisin'40]

I am looking into category guarantee cabins, am a little confused! Am I correct in that they can just place you anywhere at that level or better? If they place you somewhere can they change it? if so can they down-grade on their placement. It would be a bummer to check one day on personalizer and see yourself in a balcony and then poof the next day you are in the galley!!!

 

Would be interested in people's experiences, so I know what to expect.:o

[HighRoller]

Never heard of a downgrade once an upgrade is given...also yes upgrades are at there sole discreation. If you booked a Balcony such as BF Cat guarantee they could still place you in CAT BF or in any Balcony cat all the way up to CAT BA. Once you've been assigned and/or upgraded you can still be upgraded as long as your booking record is still marked for an upgrade.

[LARGIN]

HR.. Tell her to throw some pixie dust my way.. I have been stuck at AB since I booked..

[Lynda90]

I am looking into category guarantee cabins, am a little confused! Am I correct in that they can just place you anywhere at that level or better? If they place you somewhere can they change it? if so can they down-grade on their placement. It would be a bummer to check one day on personalizer and see yourself in a balcony and then poof the next day you are in the galley!!!

 

Would be interested in people's experiences, so I know what to expect.:o

Princess will never downgrade you once you have been upgraded. On my last cruise I was upgraded (I know, you are all sick of hearing about it), to a full suite from lowest category mini. I was so excited, but very nervous that it could be taken back if a full fare wanted it. I called Princess and they told me that once assigned an upgrade, a downgrade would never take place.

[srphnx]

True, tongue in cheek worries about the engine compartment rooms aside, a guarentee is what it says it is. You don't go down but you can go up, counting on it is a mistake, but one that is made a lot.

 

 

 

Princess will never downgrade you once you have been upgraded. On my last cruise I was upgraded (I know, you are all sick of hearing about it), to a full suite from lowest category mini. I was so excited, but very nervous that it could be taken back if a full fare wanted it. I called Princess and they told me that once assigned an upgrade, a downgrade would never take place.

[HighRoller]

LARGIN I'll only put in a good word with the UF if you stop complaining!..heehhehee

[srphnx]

Update: a mere 20 personalizer checks later.. no assignment, on my roll call I joked about them still being slowed down by welding our soon to be assigned cabin in place above "old thumpy, the ailing diesel" in the engine room.

[srphnx]

Update.. now over 100 checks.. still nothing.... here cabin cabin cabin... come here boy!

[HighRoller]

Remember Good things come to those that wait Srphnx!

[Froufie]

Hey HR,

 

Sounds like you need a little practice with that pixie dust so on behalf of srphnx and all others hoping for an upgrade - I offer myself as a test case!

 

Sailing next Saturday on the Caribbean Princess - and I have stopped checking the cruise personalizer as the ship is now sold out and it looks like we are where we'll be (not that I am complaining :rolleyes: )...but feel free to ask your friend the Upgrade Fairy to stop by and do a little magic!

 

...then poor sprhnx will feel so much better and will once again BELIEVE, dontcha think??? :D :D

[srphnx]

Yeah... I dare you to prove it.. but my ship isn't sold out so if you need to do it on an easier one... pick mine, two chances on the B2B...

[HighRoller]

We'll Srphnx and Froufie...I can tell you this much....while sometimes you both have seen on how I get passionate on certain topics on threads on others I just sit back and watch.

 

This one I would like to offer you both and others reading what the facts are accroding to my contact in Yield Management. I know I know I've so many on here that are experts at telling what is what it isn't this is how in general it is suppose to work in theory and in this order!

 

3 set of Criteria:

 

1. Past pax status on Princess either Elite, Platinum or Gold.

2. Fare paid for your cruise and cat yor currently in as well.

3. Time you booked your cruise.

 

***also who do you know within Princess in a position to help secure an upgrade.

 

 

If I could upgrade you both just based on all your informative posts you both contribute on here each day trust me I'd the magic UF wand and pixie dust and sprinle it on your bookings.

[AndiandMike]

sphrx-

 

what ship are you on? I was told by Princess that the CP for 11/27/04 is 90% sold out at this point. We did a garauntee and self upgraded basically for free like you mentioned. Our assignment came about 2 weeks ago, and we'll be staying there I'm sure. I don't really want to move as it's on the Caribe deck with a balcony much larger than my inlaws that are on the Dolphin! Don't worry, even if the Upgrade Fairy doesn't visit, you still have a great room at a great price, and geez you're on vacation!!!

[Shipkicker]

Out last cruise, and like lyndabaker, I’m sure folks have heard this enough; we went from a min cat mini to a full suite. This showed up on the “personalizer” (guess I should add personalizer to my spell checker) about two weeks before sail date. We have three b2b bookings beginning 09/19/2004 and no cabins on any of them yet. Keeping fingers crossed! Our pervious upgrades, both of us were Platinum, now one of us is Elite! Warm up those machines in the laundry!

[HighRoller]

Shipkicker my fingers and toes are crossed for you on your sailings, my next one is August 20th on the Star out of Barcelona patiently waiting for the Ugrade Fairy to show his or her presence!...please use your weegy board for me too!

[Shipkicker]

Shipkicker my fingers and toes are crossed for you on your sailings, my next one is August 20th on the Star out of Barcelona patiently waiting for the Ugrade Fairy to show his or her presence!...please use your weegy board for me too!

I know this is off topic, but I’ll make it short. If you have not been to Barcelona before, I hope you are going to spend a few days in that city. It is one of my favorites in Europe. Back on topic! Here, here, come here upgrade fairy! Is the upgrade fairy male or female?

[jonikal]

HR - what port destinations on the Star out of Barcelona? If you've already mentioned it, can you give me the thread? Sounds like a winner!

[HighRoller]

My upgarde fairies are both female, as is the current dispatcher for the Star Princess and yes I arrrive in Barcelona on August 18 for 2 nights pre-cruise...first time in Barcelona as I have only been to Madrid before and that was on business...yuk!

 

P.S jonikal, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno(Florence), Rome, Naples, Kusadasi, Rhodes and Venice. we have a thread going on on Roll Calls as well FYI.

 

here's the thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=26761

[Shipkicker]

HR,

Be sure to visit the old Gothic part of the city, walk the Las Ramblas late in the evening, and don’t miss the Tapas Bars! Will you be visiting the Casino in Monte Carlo? It’s worth a visit!

[HighRoller]

Thanks our hotel is the Regina Hotel,just 50 meters from Las Ramblas...can't wait 9 days and counting...although it's going too be stinking hot in the Med compare to when I was on the Star in April in the Med!

 

Shipkicker, yes I will be paying a visit to the Royal casino in Monaco...I have played theer twice before while being in Europe, but I plan on hitting the House Bank harder on the Star this time ...I had a very nice little run in April on the Star that I would like to repeat too pay for my 3 exoctic cruises next year!

[jonikal]

Just wondering whether those wonderful surprise upgrades are communicated to the TA first? I see where folks keep checking their Cruise Personalizer, but I recall our first upgrade was announced via phonecall from our TA. Is it likely they would sneak something by without her knowing it? In that case I'll set my computer into an automatic check mode LOL!

[Lynda90]

My upgrades have always appeared on cruise personalizer. In the past, no ta has called me to let me know of upgrade.

[srphnx]

Most TA's are too busy or don't make the time to notify of an upgrade, we check on personalzer rather than have to rely on someone else who might balk at 5 phone calls a day.