What is the best upgrade you have ever gotten for FREE?

[mininutrsp]

We went from a 4A inside to a 6A outside on the Carnival Pride.

[RadioPeri]

4 1/2 years ago we got upgraded on the Galaxy from a balcony to a sky suite, then, we found out at the airport, to the penthouse suite! (I must be in the front row!!)

 

It was, of course, an incredibly awesome experience, but one we have not yet been able to duplicate :o .

 

~ Peri

[tinydancer21]

I go on my second cruise in September. My first cruise when I was 17, in 1997 both my parents and my sisters and I were upgraded we went from a porthole room to an outside big window and my parents from an outside big window to a balcony on the Carnival Imagination.

 

How you get upgraded most of the time is just purchase a guaranteed room but don't have them assign you to a room, then you may get upgraded when you check in but you’re guaranteed the room you paid for. For instance, when we sail on the Pride we purchased a guaranteed CAT 8A (Balcony) but since we do not have a cabin assigned we may get upgraded when we check in. :)

[cruzincurt]

Several years ago we were booked on a RCCL 4 day cruise. Two days before sailing they called and asked if we could take a 7 day cruise instead leaving a day earlier. Being close enough to drive to the port, we did and got a 7 day cruise and $200 per person ship credit for the price of our 4 day cruise. They had overbooked the 4 day cruise.

[paljoeysmom]

In May on the Zuiderdam. Booked in a cheap BB balcony gty. Got upgraded

4 days ahead of sail date to an AA, then at the dock we were ELATED to find out we were in an S SUITE for FREE. 526 Square feet of luxury, with a huge deck, 2 showers, whirpool tub, priority boarding on tenders. The list goes on, and on. I give all the credit to me TA who pushed like crazy. BTW, he also got us a $100 shipboard credit.

 

For more details send me a line @ ksiggins@faroudja.com

[mconthehighseas]

There can be many reasons, and I don't know all of them. If anyone has some other answers, please chime in. The big thing to remember is that it all DEPENDS. It depends on how quickly the particular cruise fills up, which rooms don't get sold on that cruise, and how many people make the final payment when it's due 60-90 days prior to embarkation. Time of year, current events and other things play a part in this too.

 

The easiest rooms for the cruiselines to sell are the most expensive, and the least expensive. So once the least expensive rooms are sold, many cruiselines will move people up to make those rooms available to people who are not interested in paying top dollar.

 

So BOOKING EARLY is one way to get an upgrade, and the earlier you book the better.

 

Another way is to have and ASSERTIVE TA. It's usually the TA's that have done the most business with the line that get the best deals for their customers, but not always. Some TA's just work harder to get good deals for their clients than others.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS help get an upgrade sometimes. If this your honeymoon, your 50th anniversary, or your return from space cruise, be sure to have that noted on your reservation.

 

If you are part of a LARGE GROUP, some cruiselines will get you an upgrade as reward for bringing in more business. (But I'm not sure how that works.)

 

Another way is through LOYALTY to the cruiseline. Different lines have different loyalty programs. RCCL for instance has special balcony/suite rates for return cruisers with 5 or more cruises. But all of them will keep return cruisers in mind when it comes to an upgrade. If 2 people have the same type of room, and a room in the category above becomes available, the person with 4 previous cruises will probably get the upgrade first. Unless one of the other things listed above come into play.

 

The main idea of upgrades is to fill the ship - they make more money in the shops, photo gallery, casino, etc., that way. It also has the side benefit of making you happier, so you will return to their line when you decide to cruise again. And you tell your friends, which is free advertising.

[tanner2]

on the mardi gras we went from an inside cabin to the suite. old ship but lots of fun.

[Karried]

Is this true? When you book a guaranteed room and get your docs on the back of your S&S card (at the end of the booking number) is your room assignment? Does anyone know? Thanks

[gurkleo]

how do you get upgraded?

[dad son team]

I went from a cat 9, outside-lower deck, on Disney to a cat 5 balcony-deck 9. Like others that have gone before me, I am now addicted to baconies and cannot bring myself to book anything else.

[mconthehighseas]

gurkleo - read my previous post, 3 above yours.

[Psoque]

I was on Norwegian Sea in April of last year. (Actually I did not like the ship or the people there at all...) I booked category M (2nd cheapest inside cabin) but just before boarding the ship, I was told I was upgraded to F (picture window). I don't know why, but that was very nice. The thing is, I didn't even ask for the upgrade. I guess the ship was less than full.

[kendon]

To answer Germantowners question, how do you get those upgrades, they just happen. Our cruise is this Sunday, and a week ago we were notifed by our TA that we were upgraded from two obstructed outside rooms (we split our family of four into two rooms for space reasons) to a minisuite. The ship was over sold and they needed our rooms. Princess won on this one as the minisuite was vacant anyway, and they got two additional families on the ship. This was the first time for us and our 5th Princess cruise.

[Nath]

On Celebrity from an inside cat. 11 to an owner suite cat. 2 with Butler. We were booked on the Galaxy (11-day) and shortly after final payment were told of about 80 cabins overbooked. Were offered to sail the Horizon back-to-back 14 days instead with a $400 on-board credit + free air from Tampa. Could not resist their offer (we could have choosen from about 6 or 8 options).

[MN1st-timer]

I read somewhere (maybe it was here)that unless you move from an inside cabin to a cabin with a balcony -- is a room and one should take ship credit instead. Would you agree with this? This is our first cruise we have the possiblity of getting an upgrade but wonder what we should do....do you suggest?:confused:

[nosnobunny]

On our cruise on CCL's Legend last March we were booked in an inside guarantee. The price had dropped, so we called our TA to ask about a shipboard credit and were upgraded from a 4B inside to an 8H balcony. :D

Beth

[csk]

On our New England jcruise on the Carnival Victory we booked a 4A inside and were upgraded to a balcony 8D, and got $400.00 onboard credit, that we really sweet, the only thing is now we feel we "need a balcony", we just love sitting on the balcony.

[MN1st-timer]

WOW CSK....I like the sound of that! We booked a 4a inside so I can only hope this will happen to us!! I guess I should be checking the website to see if the cruise price drops....

You guys give great advise....thx

Our first cruise...Ecstasy 1-15-05!!!!:D

[WASUP]

SO if we want an upgrade, should we notify NCL that we are wanting the upgrade, now, we are cruising 10-1 on a repositioning cruise on the Spirit, do we call the TA and ask that they call NCL? Do we call NCL? DO we just wait and see what happenss at the port that day? Is then when we ask? How do you know how full the ship is? We are 39 days out from the cruise....

Wanted to make sure we covered the bases, but not sure of the right direction to take...any help appreciated..what to surprise hubby also with an upgrade...

Thanks

[TaGD]

We got married in August 22, 1992, we booked a cruise on Carnival's Esctasy ship. They gave us a room on the main deck and before we cruised, they upgraded us to Verandah Deck for no extra charge , which made our honeymoon very nice. Tom

[PMCruisers]

We just returned from a trip on the grandeur-great cruise- and at check-in wereceived an upgrade from large oceanview on deck 4 to junior suite on deck 8 aft. It was done by the cruiseline and we were not aware of it until check-in. It was wonderful and again as others said it will be hard not to have a balcony next time:)
Good luck, Phyllis

[swannie]

We were booked in an outside cabin on the volendam for a June 9 Alaska inside passage. 3 weeks before the cruise, our TA called and said that HAL "needed our cabin". They offered us a 50% rebate and a verandah suite for taking a later sailing. We ended up going Aug 11 and got a cat. A verandah. Of course, most of the rebate was spent rescheduling the plane fare, but we still were 300 ahead, and the verandah was AMAZING. I too will probably never do less.

[waterguy2003_01]

Just got upgraded for our 10/2 cruise from a balcony to the penthouse suite... after my last cruise (my 1st balcony) I was spoiled and would never consider cruising in less... if the same thing happens again... I am in trouble!!! LOL!!

[mlymd]

We went from a balcony to a mini-suite plus an additional $200.00 shipboard credit. It was wonderful and now we are hooked on the mini-suite. It was a great cruise!!

[paljoeysmom]

Waterguy,

A BIG CONGRATUALTIONS to you! That is FANTASTIC!!!! On our last cruise on the Zuiderdam in May we went from a cheapo balcony to a FULL SUITE. It was awesome. I too am sailing on 10/2 in a mini-suite on the brand new Sapphire Princess. Its less than 3 weeks now until we sail. Hurray! Tomorrow is my B-Day! Yeah, and today I celebrate my 6th year at my company so that means I get 1 extra day of vacation a year. DOUBLE YEAH!