We were able to upgrade our perk package evn though our category was sold out

Just thought we would pass along that our TA was able to upgrade our perk package from "Sip and Sail" to "3 for Free" even though our Vista Suite category was sold out for our specific leg. I first noticed that even though our category was sold out on our 25 day leg, there were Vista Suites available on the 38 day cruise that encompasses our cruise. I called our TA to check out to see if we could get our booking upgraded to the "3 for free" since there was "technically" a VS cabin available on our leg, and low and behold, he was able to make it happen.

So, if you were under the impression you couldn't amend your "sold out" booking (if it makes economical sense to do so) if a better perk package comes along, there may be a way. It worked for us.

I got a price reduction on a category that was sold out. A good TA can do wonders.

Congrats!

Good deal!

Well, I tried really hard, and called the “big box” twice, talking to two different red agents. No go.

The enormous OBC made booking with them worthwhile, but it does have its drawbacks.

They said because my category is sold out, Princess has no price for it, therefore could not switch me to the 3 for 3.

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Well, I tried really hard, and called the “big box” twice, talking to two different red agents. No go.

The enormous OBC made booking with them worthwhile, but it does have its drawbacks.

They said because my category is sold out, Princess has no price for it, therefore could not switch me to the 3 for 3.

Just curious, is your specific cruise itinerary also included as a leg of a longer itinerary? If so is your cabin category still available on that longer cruise?

I will admit we have a specific TA and only communicate with him rather than having to talk with whomever answers the phone.

I got a price reduction on a category that was sold out. A good TA can do wonders.

Congrats!

Very True! A GOOD TA is always so helpful!

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Just adding ... The Sip&Sail works out better for us than 3ForFree ....

Very True! A GOOD TA is always so helpful!

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Just adding ... The Sip&Sail works out better for us than 3ForFree ....

Now that you can’t trade the beverage package for OBC, the “Sip & Sail” is almost useless. For me, the “3 for Free” is a much better deal.

Hmmm... that the category that you're booked in is sold out, shouldn't make a difference as to whether you can refare. If the new fare involves a category upgrade and *that* category is sold out, well that would make sense that someone couldn't do it.

Hmmm... that the category that you're booked in is sold out, shouldn't make a difference as to whether you can refare. If the new fare involves a category upgrade and *that* category is sold out, well that would make sense that someone couldn't do it.

I'm missing your point. I was told on previous threads here that if you are in a category, in our case a vista suite, and it is sold out, you cannot apply for any promotions that become available while the specific category is in a sold out state. On our particular cruise all suites are sold out.

In our case no category upgrade was involved, so what am I missing.

I'm missing your point. I was told on previous threads here that if you are in a category, in our case a vista suite, and it is sold out, you cannot apply for any promotions that become available while the specific category is in a sold out state. On our particular cruise all suites are sold out.

 

In our case no category upgrade was involved, so what am I missing.

Well, a refare does not involve a cancellation and a rebooking. It is taking the existing booking and changing the promo. There may well be promos that stipulate that they are for new bookings only which would then involve a cancellation/rebook scenario.

If there is a problem with a normal refare, a good TA can escalate the issue and get it handled.

Well, a refare does not involve a cancellation and a rebooking. It is taking the existing booking and changing the promo. There may well be promos that stipulate that they are for new bookings only which would then involve a cancellation/rebook scenario.

 

If there is a problem with a normal refare, a good TA can escalate the issue and get it handled.

I understand what refaring is. I was referring to your original statement

"Hmmm... that the category that you're booked in is sold out, shouldn't make a difference as to whether you can refare."

Are you saying that is not the case and anyone booked in a sold out category CAN refare a booking with a new promotion if it is not explicitly stated otherwise in the T&C of the promotion? If so, that's good to know. However, that's not what I've been hearing.

In my case, Club class is sold out. To refare me would have automatically made me eligible for an upgrade to a full suite. I can understand why Princess would not want to do that.

If I were in a lower category minisuite, and there was availability above me, I believe I’d have had no problem.

Had I waited for the 3 for 3, and not have paid to upgrade to Club Class, it would not have been available.

I chose to do it instead of taking the gamble because we want the dining benefit.

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In my case, Club class is sold out. To refare me would have automatically made me eligible for an upgrade to a full suite. I can understand why Princess would not want to do that.

If I were in a lower category minisuite, and there was availability above me, I believe I’d have had no problem.

Had I waited for the 3 for 3, and not have paid to upgrade to Club Class, it would not have been available.

I chose to do it instead of taking the gamble because we want the dining benefit.

Here are the "Free Stateroom Location Upgrade" terms for the 3 for Free promotion.

‡FREE Stateroom Location Upgrade applies to booking the stateroom location you wish to sail in for the price of the lowest category within that stateroom type during this promotion only. Offer is based on availability in like to like stateroom types (Interior to Interior, Oceanview to Oceanview, Balcony to Balcony). Upgrade offer excludes select categories, including but not limited to premium categories and suites. Offer does not apply to land portion of a cruisetour.

I don't believe this particular "3 for Free" promotion allows you a free upgrade into the next stateroom type and only applies to Interior, OV and regular balcony cabins. It would be nice if they did, though, but not very likely.

I believe the OP was able to refare a sold out category because of it being a 25 day and a 38 day cruise. Seems only the 25 day portion was "sold out" and not the 38 day. Therefore down the line if not sold could make available on 25. So I think that made the refaring possible as there was a stateroom available in that category on the ship and the TA pursued that line of reasoning and got it done. I would have pursued that line vigorously also!!! Sometimes I had to call a couple times to get a "cooperative" representative to help me with something, but I enjoy being my own TA!!!! Now if someone can tell me that worked on a single, say 7 day, itinerary, I sure would like to know about that!! I, so far, have not been successful under those circumstances!

Pooh

"3 for free" also works with mini-suites.

I have three cruises in vista suites booked under the sip and sail and looked into switching to the 3 for free but all suites are sold out so not luck getting any deals. I am starting to get frustrated with Princess. I think it may be time to switch to balconies or mini's. On our 35 day cruise, the drink package is worth almost $2500 per person. After two weeks on the drink package, I really cut back and by the third week, I really don't care if I have another one. Spending close to $5000 on drinks is really nuts.

I understand what refaring is. I was referring to your original statement

 

"Hmmm... that the category that you're booked in is sold out, shouldn't make a difference as to whether you can refare."

 

Are you saying that is not the case and anyone booked in a sold out category CAN refare a booking with a new promotion if it is not explicitly stated otherwise in the T&C of the promotion? If so, that's good to know. However, that's not what I've been hearing.

Yes, that is what I'm saying. From what I understand, as long as the promotion allows refaring, it should not matter if the category is sold out. I have been told that some promotions are capacity controlled, so if the promotion has "sold out", then you can't refare.

Yes, that is what I'm saying. From what I understand, as long as the promotion allows refaring, it should not matter if the category is sold out.

If a category is sold out, no price is shown to be available. How can you refare if there is no price to refare to?

That’s what Princess told my big box agents who asked three separate times and what Princess told me when I called direct. I didn’t want to give up, but I have.

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I’ve always been told that same thing exactly as caribill explained.

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If a category is sold out, no price is shown to be available. How can you refare if there is no price to refare to?

That's what shocked us too. Even when we found the VS cabin available on the longer cruise that encompassed our 25 day leg, we knew we only had a very slim chance of getting the promotions changed if we kept the same cabin. I think what helped us is that WE did the homework first, then passed on what we found to our TA. If we hadn't, our chances would have probably been nil as our TA would not have thought of researching our "encompassing leg" theory as he's usually not just sitting around waiting for our call.

But even though the fare for those available VSs (on the encompassing leg) were not posted on the web for our Sold Out leg, I'm sure there was a fare still in the computer in case someone just wanted to book one of those VS cabins on our leg; hence the VS stateroom type on our leg wasn't "technically" sold out. But this is just a guess.

We just got the Princess confirmation from our TA for our sold our booking. The 3 for free was on there but we were amazed to see that the price had also been reduced by $800 per person. That really surprised us and I have no explanation for it.

This is interesting - I am booked on a 20 day cruise that is also being sold as two 10 day cruises. On the 20 day they are still showing 1 penthouse suite available but none on the 10 day cruises. This leads me to believe that some cabins are held out for the longer cruise. Also recently change from the sip and sail to the 3FF for a 2019 cruise. I was able to combine my casino rate with the 3FF which I was not able to with the sip and sail. Even paying for the drink package we are saving several hundred dollars on the cruise.

Well, I tried really hard, and called the “big box” twice, talking to two different red agents. No go.

The enormous OBC made booking with them worthwhile, but it does have its drawbacks.

They said because my category is sold out, Princess has no price for it, therefore could not switch me to the 3 for 3.

 

 

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Weird. I just got off the phone with my big box agency. My category was sold out but Princess quoted a new, lower price and OBC. So it can happen.

This is interesting - I am booked on a 20 day cruise that is also being sold as two 10 day cruises. On the 20 day they are still showing 1 penthouse suite available but none on the 10 day cruises. This leads me to believe that some cabins are held out for the longer cruise.

Correct. When a cruise can be sold multiple ways, cabins are allocated to each way and will be marked as sold the other ways. I was once on a cruise that could be sold four ways which meant the cabins were allocated four ways.