Help with an upsell

I've gotten mixed messages on the forums and I don't want to make a rookie mistake. For the first time in my cruising history, I got an upsell offer, on the Grand Princess for an Alaska cruise in July. We're currently in an obstructed OV and are marked for free upgrade if it's available. I've been offered an upsell to a window suite at an affordable price.

So the points I'm considering:

1. I've read if you turn down upsells you get better offers later----true? Common? Likely?

2. I've also read that Alaska cruises don't have free upgrades often, so will I miss out if I don't take advantage?

3. If we take a window suite on the level of the casino, will I regret it with two preteens, in terms of noise, smoke?

4. Is the pullout sofabed big enough for 2 kids?

Any advice or more considerations to think about are GREATLY appreciated!

I've gotten mixed messages on the forums and I don't want to make a rookie mistake. For the first time in my cruising history, I got an upsell offer, on the Grand Princess for an Alaska cruise in July. We're currently in an obstructed OV and are marked for free upgrade if it's available. I've been offered an upsell to a window suite at an affordable price.

 

So the points I'm considering:

1. I've read if you turn down upsells you get better offers later----true? Common? Likely?

 

I have not heard this.......Not common and IMO most likely you may not get another offer. There is no rhyme or reason how upgrades/upsells are assigned or offered

 

2. I've also read that Alaska cruises don't have free upgrades often, so will I miss out if I don't take advantage?

 

Again I don't know where you may have heard this but not something I have heard before. Why wouldn't they?

 

 

3. If we take a window suite on the level of the casino, will I regret it with two preteens, in terms of noise, smoke?

 

No noise no smoke. I would grab it while you can!!

 

4. Is the pullout sofabed big enough for 2 kids?

 

The sofa pullouts are usually not the full size of the sofa, more like a single.

 

Any advice or more considerations to think about are GREATLY appreciated!

 

See above in red...

OP was offered a Window Suite @ an affordable price above an Obstructed view.

All the suite benefits ? I would not wait and jump on it IF it is still available ?

I'd jump on it as well!

Uh, yeah...... We were told that we were eligible for a free upgrade on our last cruise in March. We then were offered an up-sell. Nice offer, but way too much (in our opinion) for only a three night cruise. We turned that down. Never heard another word about the complimentary upgrade that we were eligible for. Our takeaway, you may be eligible but that doesn't mean that you will get it. :cool:

Oh, BTW, I would go for the Window Suite if the price is what you feel is right!

YMMV

The window suites are very nice. I wouldn't hesitate to snap up the deal.

Uh, yeah...... We were told that we were eligible for a free upgrade on our last cruise in March. We then were offered an up-sell. Nice offer, but way too much (in our opinion) for only a three night cruise. We turned that down. Never heard another word about the complimentary upgrade that we were eligible for. Our takeaway, you may be eligible but that doesn't mean that you will get it. :cool:

 

YMMV

Everyone is "entitled to a free upgrade!" This isn't anything special. This is where you accept any upgrade if offered. This is automatic for everyone, except that a lot of people choose to have their bookings marked "no upgrade," or "meta upgrade only." These are the three options open to you at the time of booking.

Your TA just wanted to make him or herself look better by saying that... it's just a ploy.

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3. If we take a window suite on the level of the casino, will I regret it with two preteens, in terms of noise, smoke?

.................................

One other thing:

Other reviews have said that this is not an issue considering how the Window Suite area is partitioned off from the casino and cigar bar. Probably not a deal breaker.

Everyone is "entitled to a free upgrade!" This isn't anything special. This is where you accept any upgrade if offered. This is automatic for everyone, except that a lot of people choose to have their bookings marked "no upgrade," or "meta upgrade only." These are the three options open to you at the time of booking.

 

Your TA just wanted to make him or herself look better by saying that... it's just a ploy.

We didn't use a TA on that one. Booked directly with Princess and heard it twice. Once when we called to make final payment and, again, when we called about accepting or declining the up-sell offer. We had never heard that statement from Princess before, ie: "you are eligible for a complimentary upgrade". We book about 50-50 TA vs directly with Princess. And, yes, we know all about the meta vs no upgrade thing.

We didn't use a TA on that one. Booked directly with Princess and heard it twice. Once when we called to make final payment and, again, when we called about accepting or declining the up-sell offer. We had never heard that statement from Princess before, ie: "you are eligible for a complimentary upgrade". We book about 50-50 TA vs directly with Princess. And, yes, we know all about the meta vs no upgrade thing.

I guess it's Princess's way of making the standard option look better!

On the Grand, F301 had smoke issues because the corridor exit door is often left open and that cabin is near Churchills. We have been in F311 twice and there was no smoke.

In regard to the op question about noise and smoke - We never experienced smoke or noise in the Window suites when we had them.

OP..

Million dollar question if you mind telling us is, what was the affordable price was ?

Without knowing the upsell price it's really hard to say if it's a "rookie mistake" or not

Srpilo

I would always take a window suite (booked, upsell, or upgrade). They are wonderful. A couple of things to consider:

The higher the stateroom number: the less smoke (not that there is much), smoother ride, less noise from housekeeping closets.

You can always shut the door between the lobby and your hallway.

Since you booked an OV, you won't miss your balcony. You can go up one deck and enjoy the view from the Promenade Deck.

If you are in the hallway, you will hear the poker machines, but not in your cabin.

Danger, Danger, Danger, you are really close to the casino. I found that the mornings paid better than any other time of the day.

Love the Window Suites and all the perks.

IMO, I think Princess is moving away from free upgrades to upsells to help fill the ship. I like it, because one gets to choose from the available cabins.

We got an upsell offer from balcony to mini-suite about three weeks before our recent TA on the Emerald. I was able to choose E723, which is a covered mini-suite, for a reasonable price. Very happy.

A few weeks later, my daughter was offered an upsell from an inside to a balcony on her Alaskan cruise on the Ruby. She was able to choose C743, which was is on Carib Deck with an angled balcony. Again very happy.

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Danger, Danger, Danger, you are really close to the casino. I found that the mornings paid better than any other time of the day.

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Now that is a good piece of advice. BTW, hope to see you on another cruise. Teri sends her best and hopes all is well! :cool:

I have heard that if you are offered an upsell people have been able to bargain with Princess over the price and location. It's worth a try as you can still except or deny their offer. Some people have mentioned that the Princess rep has gotten off the phone to talk to some higher up.

Tom:)

I have heard that if you are offered an upsell people have been able to bargain with Princess over the price and location. It's worth a try as you can still except or deny their offer. Some people have mentioned that the Princess rep has gotten off the phone to talk to some higher up.

 

Tom:)

Yeah, we tried that, I mean it was only a three night (day, not even) cruise. We were told that the up-sell reps had no authority to bargain. And yeah, asked about the supervisors. Told no, can't talk to anyone else, take it or not, your choice. We choose not on that one. Just too short.

Still had a nice shorty cruise. :cool:

I believe that the days of free upgrades to full suites are gone. Princess is attempting to maximize revenue with "affordable" upsells. If you get an upsell offer, take it!!! We have been in a WS on the Grand and we had no issues with noise or smoke is F311.

My husband and I had the window suite for our September Grand Alaska cruise. F307 was a nice room , lots of closets, a bathroom that had lots of room and we loved it. No smoke smell and I can smell it a mile away. Close to everything and we would nab it again.

Yeah, we tried that, I mean it was only a three night (day, not even) cruise. We were told that the up-sell reps had no authority to bargain. And yeah, asked about the supervisors. Told no, can't talk to anyone else, take it or not, your choice. We choose not on that one. Just too short.

 

Still had a nice shorty cruise. :cool:

An upsell on a three day cruise doesn't make sense to me. We accepted one on an 11 day Baltic cruise for $299/person but turned down one on a 4 day coasted for $199/person. Both upsells were from a Cat ME mini suite.

Then you know how we felt about the offer that we got. We had a decent balcony and after three nights and two and, not even, a partial day (how do you count embarkation and all of the turmoil and then disembarkation and even more turmoil as a day??) , we were fine with what we had.

Looking forward to the next one (again, fine with what we booked).......:D

The only other advice I would tell you if you are interested is to call the number on the offer letter immediately. They make this offer to multiple passengers and it's first come, first serve. If you take too long mulling it over, others might snap it up and it won't be available. Good luck, and if you do get the window suite, hope you enjoy all the suite amenities.

Go for it!! We recently accepted an upsell to a Window Suite and are thrilled! All of the benefits of the suite make it worth it (in our opinion), and it's such a rare occasion for many of us to sail in a suite!

You never said how long the cruise was or how much the upsell was. Without that info it's difficult to say if its a good deal or not. However, in most cases, I'd be willing to sell your unborn children for an upgrade from an OV to a Window Suite. If the price isn't crazy this is an upsell to die for.