Trying not to hold my breath. Upsell questions

Hey everyone! Crossing my fingers that the upsell fairy visits me but trying not to get my hopes up. I was wondering if people are comfortable sharing how far in advance and what kind of offers you have received (whether you accepted or not) for upsells.

My cruise is just under 3 weeks away and there are still a good amount of rooms and suites open so I'm hoping I might get that email with an offer but I don't really know what reasonable expectations might be as far as offers. I'd love your feedback and experiences! Think it's possible to get an offer of a Verandah to NS (7 day cruise) for like $200 pp? I know there a lot of variables but wasn't sure if that would just never happen.

Thanks!

We paid $600 per person from a Verandah to a NS, about 1 week before sailing, on a 14 day cruise. This was about 4 years ago though, on the Oosterdam.

We usually get them a few days before departure and we set a per day value ahead of time for the upsell. How much per day is it worth to take the upsell offer - that seems easier than a fixed total amount. Neptune Suites have lots of nice advantages, beyond just the tangible extra size and perks, There is a very nice intimate feeling they offer that is hard to put a price or to even describe. Hope it works out for you.

I'm not sure I understand the reason people want an up sell email. I went around many, many reviews of cabins on our ship. Prior to our booking we talked it over with our PCC who was on our ship last year. Once we decided on our specific cabin type, deck and location we booked with a specific cabin room #. We have also checked that we do not want any upgrades since they can assign you an upgrade in a not so desirable location. While speaking with our PCC we purchased the room we wanted so what is the reason you want an up-sell when you could have already selected the cabin you would like months ago? this is our first cruise and this topic is pretty confusing to us.

People may want an upsell, because at the time of booking the suites are more than they wish to spend..... and then nearer the sailing day they may become available for a cheaper price. For us, getting a Neptune Suite for $1200 extra, for 2 weeks, was a great deal.

I'm not sure I understand the reason people want an up sell email. I went around many, many reviews of cabins on our ship. Prior to our booking we talked it over with our PCC who was on our ship last year. Once we decided on our specific cabin type, deck and location we booked with a specific cabin room #. We have also checked that we do not want any upgrades since they can assign you an upgrade in a not so desirable location. While speaking with our PCC we purchased the room we wanted so what is the reason you want an up-sell when you could have already selected the cabin you would like months ago? this is our first cruise and this topic is pretty confusing to us.

I can't speak for everyone but for us we don't want to pay full price for a Neptune suite, it's just not worth the price for the perks for us. We selected our room where we wanted as a Verandah. We were in a verandah room before and loved it. If that is where we are I will still more than enjoy our trip. BUT, if an offer that was cheap enough for us I would likely take it just to experience the suite. To select a NS off the bat would have been an extra $650 per person, certainly not worth it to us personally. But if we got an offer for like $200 per person I would definitely consider it. I selected our room so we wouldn't be randomly assigned to a new room location but with an upsell offer I can see what is available and choose to decline if I don't like the location.

To answer a couple of posed questions:

Normally the upsells happen in the 2 weeks prior to sailing. If there are alot of cabins to upsell, it may be as soon as 4 weeks.

We normally book a Signature or Vista Suite and try to catch an upsell to a Neptune Suite. We have paid between $200-400pp per week, so you getting an upsell from a Verandah to a NS might be tough for a week cruise for only $200pp.

When we book, we also pick our exact cabin and mark our reservation "do not upgrade", as we do not want a minor free upgrade within the category (like Signature). HAL will still send you "paid upgrade/upsell" offers however, which you can except or ignore. One important note - if you do take a paid upgrade/upsell, be sure to ask which cabins are available (we have always had the option to select from several (or more) cabins and in this way avoid any we do not like.

In my very limited experience the first upswell offer or 2 have been for rack rate. I have only taken one, and it was the 5th or 6th try, when the upswell became a bargain.

Is it possible to get an upsell offer to go from a Verandah to a signature suite?

I agree with others, on most sailings it seems two weeks out is when they start. That is what many on our roll call have experienced. We sail in 11 days now.

Let your T/A you are interested in possible upsells. It seems those with "Guarantees" may receive the first offers...

Hope this helps and good luck!

I was under the impression that people who book a "guarantee" are offered the up sells, but I could be wrong.

When someone goes to the trouble of choosing a particular stateroom wouldn't HAL assume that's the room they want to keep?

We always book a "guarantee" and 9 out of 10 times are offered a really good upsell or we are given a free upgrade usually 2 to 3 categories higher than what we book.

This has always happened within 7 days of departure for us in the past, with every line we've sailed.

I never book the lowest available guarantee because I feel that leaves less opportunity for a great upgrade and also if the upgrade/upsell doesn't come I want to be happy with the category room we do get.

Just checked my upcoming May 6th cruise and there are 86 Verandahs left (forgot to check higher categories), so I'm hoping that means we get a good offer as well.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

I was under the impression that people who book a "guarantee" are offered the up sells, but I could be wrong.

 

When someone goes to the trouble of choosing a particular stateroom wouldn't HAL assume that's the room they want to keep?

When I talked with HAL they said they won't do an automatic upgrade like they may if you don't select your room but you still can get upsell offers because even if you select your room it doesn't mean you wouldn't want an upgrade to potentially move to a higher level rooms such as going up to a suite.

Good luck Styles27! Hope you get a good offer!

I'm not sure I understand the reason people want an up sell email. I went around many, many reviews of cabins on our ship. Prior to our booking we talked it over with our PCC who was on our ship last year. Once we decided on our specific cabin type, deck and location we booked with a specific cabin room #. We have also checked that we do not want any upgrades since they can assign you an upgrade in a not so desirable location. While speaking with our PCC we purchased the room we wanted so what is the reason you want an up-sell when you could have already selected the cabin you would like months ago? this is our first cruise and this topic is pretty confusing to us.

An "upsell" or paid upgrade differs from a regular upgrade in that you DO get to select a cabin and location. Like you, we work hard to select just the right cabin (in our chosen category) and mark our booking as NO UPGRADE because we don't want a surprise where the cruise line picks the cabin. This is what happens when you buy a "guarantee cabin" as well. Suddenly, you are assigned a cabin and you have NO INPUT.

When the upsell call or email comes, you are still in control. You can pick a new cabin (if the price is agreeable) and pick the exact one ... OR ... you can just stay put. So, if you have the perfect balcony cabin but you are offered a suite for not much more money, you may want to "go for it".

As was already said, you may want to pre-determine what amount you choose to offer so when (if) you get the call, you can answer right away. If you don't, someone else may take the offer before you can.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

We had a Signature Suite booked June 17, 2012 - 7 night Alaskan Cruise on the Oosterdam. On June 4th we received an offer via email for $149 per person (there were 3 of us) we could upgrade to a Neptune Suite. We accepted. Hal ended up charging us $99 per person. Never knew why but I sure didn't complain! We are currently booked this summer on the Oosterdam to Alaska in a SS again. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we get another offer like the first one.

When I called the Upsell number ,he said to wait until 30 days out to check. So I am calling May 11th.:) As others have said ,sometimes the deals get better closer to the cruise.

We had a Signature Suite booked June 17, 2012 - 7 night Alaskan Cruise on the Oosterdam. On June 4th we received an offer via email for $149 per person (there were 3 of us) we could upgrade to a Neptune Suite. We accepted. Hal ended up charging us $99 per person. Never knew why but I sure didn't complain! We are currently booked this summer on the Oosterdam to Alaska in a SS again. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we get another offer like the first one.

That's what I'm hoping for, too, on our Alaska June 2018 cruise but not counting on it. We have 3 ladies and have booked an SS cabin. Had priced a verandah VD and the SS, and the SS was $200 more per person, so we went with that for the extra space. NS would have been an additional $300 per person, so that was out. But we could swing $100-150 per!

When I talked with HAL they said they won't do an automatic upgrade like they may if you don't select your room but you still can get upsell offers because even if you select your room it doesn't mean you wouldn't want an upgrade to potentially move to a higher level rooms such as going up to a suite.

 

Good luck Styles27! Hope you get a good offer!

Oh ok, that makes sense!

Thank you! I hope you do too!

When I called the Upsell number ,he said to wait until 30 days out to check. So I am calling May 11th.:) As others have said ,sometimes the deals get better closer to the cruise.

There's an upsell number?

I'm not sure I understand the reason people want an up sell email. I went around many, many reviews of cabins on our ship. Prior to our booking we talked it over with our PCC who was on our ship last year. Once we decided on our specific cabin type, deck and location we booked with a specific cabin room #. We have also checked that we do not want any upgrades since they can assign you an upgrade in a not so desirable location. While speaking with our PCC we purchased the room we wanted so what is the reason you want an up-sell when you could have already selected the cabin you would like months ago? this is our first cruise and this topic is pretty confusing to us.

Booking a room is a two-round process for us. On the first round, we book what we'll accept (or what we want if, in fact, it is something specific)...and then the second round is when we play the upsell game.

I can only think of a few times that we have actually chosen our specific stateroom on the first round (and they were mostly when did actually book a suite first round). We often book Verandah Guarantee knowing that we will be satisfied with any verandah stateroom that is assigned. That being said, we are always looking for an upsell.

Honestly, generally Neptune Suites are book-priced much higher than we are willing to pay. Looking for an upsell gives us the opportunity to have a Neptune Suite for much less than the book price. Two months ago on Koningsdam, they came to us several times with an offer on a Vista Suite, which has no real suite perks. We kept turning it down and eventually we ended up in an SQ Spa Suite (one step down from the Pinnacle Suite...only 2 of these onboard) and paid less for the two of us than the book price for one guest.

We know it's a game, but it is a game that we're willing to play. Our PCC is awesome and works so well with us. She expects calls from us during the last few weeks prior to sailing. Last cruise, we sailed on Sunday and got the upsell on either the Wednesday or Thursday prior to sailing. It was almost like an auction...they came to us with a price, we counter-offered and then actually came back with a price better than the initial offer.

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For the Zuiderdam cruise we just finished, I ended up getting a total of three upsell offers.

We were booked originally into a Signature Suite and the first offer came about 3 weeks out, $499pp to go to a Neptune Suite. We passed.

Second offer came about a week later...$399pp to the Neptune. We passed.

Third offer came about five days later...$299pp to the Neptune. We accepted. Within 24 hours the Neptunes were sold out, so that was clearly the final 'round' of upsells for that category.

I will say this...my husband was not convinced I chose wisely. He didn't think there was enough value to spend the extra $600. That was until he got to the suite, saw the space, experienced the Neptune Lounge and the extra perks and service. He's told me I've spoiled him and now he wants a Neptune every time!!

He's told me I've spoiled him and now he wants a Neptune every time!!

That is truly one of the hazards of moving up.:):):)

But ... a good hazard.

Cheers!

There's an upsell number?

Yes....it is actually called "Ship Inventory Department" 888-628-8107. It is the same number everyone gets when they receive an upsell offer.

For our cruise after having a Neptune suite, we had a balcony but booked a retreat cabana. Which softened the blow of not having a suite!

For our cruise after having a Neptune suite, we had a balcony but booked a retreat cabana. Which softened the blow of not having a suite!

This is an option we'll consider if we can't get a Neptune...because even though my husband said it will be so hard to go backwards, he realizes that we did get a fantastic deal on this one (casino rate plus the Explore 4 promotion). Neptune suites were at least $800pp more WITHOUT Explore 4, so if we'd booked at that rate and then had to pay for our drinks and tips, it would have never been a consideration.

We checked out the retreat cabanas on Zuiderdam and they were pretty nice...a private shady area to enjoy a guaranteed deck chair.

Yes....it is actually called "Ship Inventory Department" 888-628-8107. It is the same number everyone gets when they receive an upsell offer.

That's great, thank you! I didn't realize we could contact them before they made offers to us.