mum and son

Hi all, What happens if you bid for an upgrade and, when processed, you don't have the available funds on the credit card you used? I'm specifically referring to Princess but happy to know about other lines as well. If you're bidding for a suite the bid amount may be in the thousands, and you have no idea when/if you'll be successful, so what happens if the transaction fails?

Exactly the same for me. On the app I could open and scroll but nothing further. I also managed it first attempt on the web version.

Normal-ish 😁

Oh my goodness Geoff! You are 100% correct. I was basing my information off the situation that you have more than one cruise booked (not B2B), but didn't realise it was different for a B2B. Well I am thrilled to know I can now forge ahead. Thank you so much. I still can't accept the passage contract but that will be fine, I can resolve at the dock if needed. While you're solving all of my problems, do you know if you can pre-book access to the thermal suite? When I go into Spa Services and click "View" the page never loads and says View 0 results. Is this normal?

I am completely struggling with the new app. I had no issues with the old app last month on the Emerald. The new app won't allow me to complete checkin as it won't allow me to accept the passage contract. I was already aware that the new app can't currently handle multiple bookings (in my case a B2B), but when I log out of my first booking and log in using the booking info for the second booking the app still shows the countdown, number of days etc for the first cruise. I can't seem to get to the second cruise at all. It's frustrating. I like to be organised!

It is! Your turn.

Here we go...

Tennant Creek!

I think the answers to your question are "maybe" and "perhaps sometimes". I've heard reports of people over the years getting reception while standing on the top deck, facing due north, holding one foot off the ground and with one arm in the air 🤣. But, seriously, I've been able to get a bit of access here or there, depending on how close the ship is to land and where we're heading. I recall once having quite good access late in the day before arriving back in Brisbane on a 7 day Qld coast cruise, but only up on a top deck. You certainly won't be able to rely on having it so, if it's needed for something important then definitely purchase it. The internet prices on Princess have just skyrocketed so, if you drink alcohol and coffee the Plus Package works out to be a pretty good deal.

Royal and Regal Princess. Majestic has a similar set up as well but you may need to double-check the cabin numbers.

I completely agree - use all the avenues, especially when you have a great PVP. Cabin stalking is a bit of a hobby of mine... I can't help myself 😁.

This is the important bit. Even if you waitlist, keep checking the sites every day, especially around and beyond final payment date. When you see a cabin, grab it straight away. I have been waitlisted for cabins, or specific cabin categories on cruises and have never received a waitlist offer from the cruise line, but have found a cabin for myself online each time. It seems the cancellations go back into general inventory before they start contacting the waitlist so your chance may be better if you keep looking yourself.

Ok, so the red crosses being the tenders. You can see the cabins on the "curve" midship. E409 - 425 and E410 - 424 are the picks. This is the curve created by the Sea Walk. There is nothing in front of the BW in brown (Obs Balc) or DW in green (Obs Deluxe) except the curved promenade deck a floor below. The balconies are much deeper due to the curve. If you search the cabin numbers on Youtube you should find videos and photos.

I wish I was going for 21 nights! A mini will be lovely for that time though. On my Panama Canal cruise last month my upgrade bid was successful so I was happy about that (it was just from interior to obstructed oceanview) but the upgrade bid was cheap! My fingers are crossed for the upgrade on the Royal but the Deluxe Balc will be fine. It's only for 8 nights.

The MA minis now have every perk the M1 minis have, except some soft furnishings in the cabin. Lower category minis (from MB - MF) sometimes get offered access to the Beach Club while onboard for $30pp/pd but do not receive any of the other perks. The MA category minis are actually my preferred category as they are mid-ship whereas the M1s are forward.

That's so strange. I'm a bit like you, even if I'm not interested in bidding I like to know what's on offer and at what price.

Yes it is, but they're fine with the shower over bath. They're actually pretty agile for their age but I try to keep walking distances to a minimum for dad, he can make it but I get frustrated with all the dilly dally 🤣. The shorter the walk, the better!

Thank you - we're actually flying to Sydney for this cruise doing a Sydney return and then staying onboard for the 2 nighter back to Brisbane. It's been a long time since I've flown to Sydney to board a cruise, probably 8 years.

Yes, I'm only interested in an upgrade to a mini and there's no option for me to bid for a full suite. Those minis under the Sea Walk are always available but they'll likely go to guarantees before the bidding system so not much left. A significant number of aft full suites left, which is surprising at this late stage, but I have no means to bid for one and I'm not interested in paying full freight.

So you booked direct but couldn't put in an upgrade bid? That's very strange. I know some external agents don't participate in the upgrade bid program but I'm surprised that's the case with a direct booking 😱.

Yes, I was lucky enough to grab one of these exact cabins. Can't believe I could select a cabin on the Drop and Go deal but I'm not complaining. I've placed an upgrade bid for a mini-suite only because I'm in a mini for the following cruise. I know that if I got the mini upgrade I'll probably end up in one of those under the Sea Walk that nobody ever books on purpose, but chances are I'll stay put.

It's interesting because Princess have solved the issue of a person being upgraded from an Unobstructed Balcony cabin to an Obstructed Deluxe Balcony, but solving one problem creates another. It's hard to keep us all happy at the same time! I also note that on the Princess site the Obstructed categories are listed for sale under the Interior tab not under the Balcony tab, so I guess that answers my original question about where those cabins sit in the pecking order.

Hi crew, I've booked a DW - Deluxe Balcony Obstructed on my upcoming Royal Princess cruise. Strangely it was a "Drop and Go" deal for next month, which are always guarantee category, but I was able to choose my cabin and was lucky to book a DW midship with no real obstruction (the only obstruction is that the promenade deck is below, but no obstruction by tenders etc). I was surprised when it came to upgrade bidding that a standard balcony cabin is considered an upgrade over a deluxe balcony (even with an obstruction). My only bid options were Balcony, Deluxe Balcony and Mini-Suite. I've specifically selected a Deluxe because I want 3 beds at "ground level", no bunks. An upgrade to a Mini is the only other suitable configuration for me. I just figured the order would go from Balcony to Deluxe Balcony to Mini-Suite to Suite. Do you find it unusual that a standard Balcony cabin is considered an upgrade? It's probably valid but I guess it's not what I usually see with cruise lines. It is what it is but I'm just interested in your thoughts.

Thanks Marion. Yes, we'll organise a wheelchair on and off the ship.

I usually book guarantees because I'm a deal shopper and buy most of my cruises last minute, after final payment date when prices drop. I've just booked B2B on the Royal Princess for next month and, strangely, when booking the Drop and Go offers I was able to select my cabins on both cruises. That never happens!