Why does HAL give upgrades?

[Roboat]

What is the financial incentive for HAL in occasionally providing no-cost upgrades while there is a chance they might sell those better cabins, even 1 day prior to departure?

[pollux]

Since 9/11 there are no cabin sales 1 day or same day of departure. Names of PAX have to be send to the goverment 72 hours in advance. When the ship is not full HAL make certain PAX happy with upgrades and assure return customers.

[Orcrone]

What is the financial incentive for HAL in occasionally providing no-cost upgrades while there is a chance they might sell those better cabins, even 1 day prior to departure?

I believe they feel that it is much easier to sell the lower priced cabins at the last minute, rather than the suites. So they'll bump people up and leave the lower priced categories available.

 

However, I think the number of last minute deals that people refer to is greatly exagerated.

[Randyk47]

That's interesting information Pollux and it certainly makes sense. I know that years ago in the 80's/90's when my late father and step-mother were living in Orlando I'd get these "we're off to such and such on the so and so" phone calls. They'd pack their bags and, as I understood it, hang out at the cruise terminals in Miami trying to catch literally a last minute bargain. Worst case was that they just bugged my uncle who lived in Miami at the time. Very rarely did they have to turn around and come back home without a cruise and, as I recall, they could hardly feed themselves at home for what they were getting cruises for. Nowadays I don't think you can even get into the port area without specific business or cruise tickets in hand. Now I think upgrades (the free or heavily discounted kind) are either driven by demand for the lower cabins or out of "good will" by the cruiseline if upper cabins happen to be available.

[tommy]

Iam not sure how or why but Iam glad they do,we were upgraded to a suite from an CatA guarentee.So it can make for happy passengers also. TOM

[Krazy Kruizers]

Things have certainly changed since 9/11. All cruise lines can no longer sell cabins the last couple of days. We had friends a about a year ago who didn't listen to us, went to Florida, and tried to get a cruise at the last minute. They couldn't even get into the pier area in Ft Lauderdale. If you arriving at the ship via car, taxi, etc., you have to show cruise documents and picture ID. Those traveling on the cruise line buses from the airport don't have to show their documents. And sometimes the hotel vans are reguired to show cruise documents. That is kind of a hit and miss there.

[fireofficer5]

I was on Costa Med., April 4-11, 04. Met a woman who booked April 2, 04. She flew in from California. There are last minute deals out there. Rick

[Roboat]

All good points, thanks. Concentrating then on the financial incentive to HAL, rather than the security considerations, then Orcrone's suggestion seems reasonable. that it is more cost-effective to offer more lower-priced cabins. (Not to discount the customer good will generated by a free upgrade.)

 

Even if the total revenues from ticket sales is a wash, more passengers means more money spent aboard in the bar, the casino, spas, and the art auction, where they trick old people into buying pictures after plying them with champagne and then they have to go explain to their wife what a fool they've been and still have half the pictures sitting in the dang closet. Or so I've heard.

;)

 

So, now, is there a price difference between a guaranteed cabin and a specific cabin number? If you have a specific cabin number, you don't usually get upgraded for free, right?

[Randyk47]

No doubt there are last minute deals out there to be gotten....it's the definition of last minute that's the problem. Just for grins I checked a couple of Internet TA's and indeed there are cruises available 2-3 days from now. Nothing under 2 days though and that might be because there's no way to put together all the documentation required now in less time. Certainly going standby is no longer an option since you can't even get to the terminal in the first place. Too bad I suppose for the retired folks in places like Ft Lauderdale and Miami who used to be able to take advantage of that opportunity. I think I even vaguely recall an area in the terminal at Ft Lauderdale for HAL where a considerable number of couples were sitting around with their luggage hoping to catch an empty cabin or no show vacancy. Of course, if my Oosterdam cruise in March was typical, there aren't a lot of ships sailing with empty cabins.

[Orcrone]

So, now, is there a price difference between a guaranteed cabin and a specific cabin number? If you have a specific cabin number, you don't usually get upgraded for free, right?

Roboat,

 

When you book a guarantee, you book at a certain category. For instance an I guarantee. In that case you'll pay the same price as if you booked a specific I category cabin. You'll wind up with something in categoy I or above. I have heard of people getting upgraded who booked specific cabins, but I'd assume it's a lot rarer. In fact, I once went through the motions of booking a specific cabin through HAL. At one point there was a box that could be checked indicating that you don't want an upgrade. Although upgrades can be nice, they're often just the same room on a higher deck. Because I don't want a room on the promenade, or a room under the lounges, there would be many upgrades that I would find undesirable.

[Roboat]

Although upgrades can be nice, they're often just the same room on a higher deck. Because I don't want a room on the promenade, or a room under the lounges, there would be many upgrades that I would find undesirable.

Great info, thanks. So can you reject an undesirable upgrade? Or maybe the better way to ask is: do you book a guaranteed category, or a specific cabin? And why, if you don't mind?

 

(Or has this been hashed around a few thousand times already, and I should go searching.)

[Orcrone]

Great info, thanks. So can you reject an undesirable upgrade? Or maybe the better way to ask is: do you book a guaranteed category, or a specific cabin? And why, if you don't mind?

 

(Or has this been hashed around a few thousand times already, and I should go searching.)

It's come up before. But it's just as easy to ask again. You have my reasons for going for a specific cabin. I've never gotten seasick, but DW has, so for my next cruise we selected an outside cabin on the lowest deck, about mid-ship. DW prefers taking the stairs (and makes me also) to try to fend off the inevitable cruise weight gain. So lowest level is appealing to her also.

 

A friend of mine was on the Maasdam out of Norfolk in February. He said he screwed up three different ways in selecting his cabin.

1. He selected it on the Promenade deck, with the wraparound deck. It's been a topic of discussion whether people can look in. Whether they could or not, he did not feel comfortable with people walking by his outside stateroom.
   
2. It was in the front of the ship, right under the lounge. They rehearsed for the show and all he could hear was a loud boomy bass sound coming through.
   
3. It was in the front of the ship and they hit some very rough seas. He had never been seasick, until that cruise.:eek:
   

With those lessons I decided to choose my own cabin. Aside from which, there are some people that always have their raffle number called, or get lucky in the casino. Well, I'm not one of them, so why gamble?

[superstein61]

Too bad I suppose for the retired folks in places like Ft Lauderdale and Miami who used to be able to take advantage of that opportunity.

So just what do all those old fogies ;) in Florida do these days now - sit around and complain about Social Security - or cough up a few more bucks for a cruise like everyone else?

 

And this is a serious question - just having a bit of fun wording it

[Roboat]

So just what do all those old fogies ;) in Florida do these days now - sit around and complain about Social Security - or cough up a few more bucks for a cruise like everyone else?

 

And this is a serious question - just having a bit of fun wording it

Cough up a few more bucks? Heck, we spent all our money on plywood! ;)

In my next life I wanna be a roofer. That's where the REAL money is!:D

[ekerr19]

So just what do all those old fogies ;) in Florida do these days now - sit around and complain about Social Security - or cough up a few more bucks for a cruise like everyone else?

 

YIKES! :eek:

 

I think I'll stay away from this one - I had enough hot water last week. :D

[kent4489]

So, now, is there a price difference between a guaranteed cabin and a specific cabin number? If you have a specific cabin number, you don't usually get upgraded for free, right?

 

I think it's the luck of the draw on upgrades. We sailed the Zaandam to Alaska two years ago. We booked a mini-suite (are they called something else now?) guarantee. We did not get upgraded. We just returned from the Amsterdam. Again, we booked a mini-suite (or whatever they're called) and chose a specific cabin. What a nice surprise to arrive at embartkation to find we were upgraded to a full suite.

[superstein61]

Cough up a few more bucks? Heck, we spent all our money on plywood! ;)

In my next life I wanna be a roofer. That's where the REAL money is!:D

Yea, but can't you guys just recycle that plywood? ;) What do you do with it after the Hurricane is gone have a bonfire and roast marshmellows ?:D

[lipoppop]

So just what do all those old fogies ;) in Florida do these days now - sit around and complain about Social Security - or cough up a few more bucks for a cruise like everyone else?

 

And this is a serious question - just having a bit of fun wording it

 

 

They play 10 concurrent bingo cards and complain that they cannot handle the ballot on election day.

 

my joke

[gliles]

:D :D

They play 10 concurrent bingo cards and complain that they cannot handle the ballot on election day.

 

my joke

:D :D

[Lovebirds]

They play 10 concurrent bingo cards and complain that they cannot handle the ballot on election day.

 

my joke

Hey! As a new Floridian, I resemble that remark!:D

or something like that

[superstein61]

They play 10 concurrent bingo cards and complain that they cannot handle the ballot on election day.

 

my joke

LOL - I love it :D

[lipoppop]

Hey! As a new Floridian, I resemble that remark!:D

or something like that

 

Do you vote in Florida or Ohio?

[scamper]

What is the financial incentive for HAL in occasionally providing no-cost upgrades while there is a chance they might sell those better cabins, even 1 day prior to departure?

 

I've always thought it was 'cause I'm cute. At least that's the selective reality that I'm willing to believe in.

[Lovebirds]

Do you vote in Florida or Ohio?

we made Florida our permanent residence last January, so we are registered in Florida. Since both states are considered very close, maybe we should see if our Ohio registrations are still active and vote both places. Oh, wait, I forgot. Only democrats do that.:D

 

(Ducking)

[RuthC]

maybe we should see if our Ohio registrations are still active and vote both places. Oh, wait, I forgot. Only democrats do that.:D

 

(Ducking)

That was a campaign slogan back in the 40's!

"Vote early and often for Curley"

He was a mayor of Boston many times, and also served as governor of Massachusetts.

Even served (as mayor, I believe) from jail!

Politics was a lot more fun then.