Upgrade on Arrival On Board

[CFamilyWales]

Is it possible to obtain an room upgrade on embarkation...Free would be nice but even with negotiation can it/does it happen ?

Any experiences appreciated.

Thanks

[ariawoman]

It could happen but i'd think it's not very likely unless the ship didn't sell well and/or they were trying to accomodate another booking and would benefit by moving you elsewhere.

[CFamilyWales]

Thank You for very prompt response...

[bighairtexan]

Not impossible but HIGHLY unlikely.

[techwatcher]

Is it possible to obtain an room upgrade on embarkation...Free would be nice but even with negotiation can it/does it happen ?

Any experiences appreciated.

Thanks

 

It couldn't hurt to ask, but it's unlikely; but I remember on a number a cruises a sign at Customer Services saying the ship is full and so upgrades aren't possible.

 

However...I find it hard to believe that any ship sails with every possible cabin occupied as it makes me wonder what happens if a cabin becomes uninhabitable during a cruise. It's not like a hotel on land where a passenger can be transferred to another hotel...I suspect that the 'we're full' message is designed to prevent the hassle of a large number of people asking for upgrades, despite the fact it could form another revenue stream.

[ariawoman]

It couldn't hurt to ask, but it's unlikely; but I remember on a number a cruises a sign at Customer Services saying the ship is full and so upgrades aren't possible.

 

However...I find it hard to believe that any ship sails with every possible cabin occupied as it makes me wonder what happens if a cabin becomes uninhabitable during a cruise. It's not like a hotel on land where a passenger can be transferred to another hotel...I suspect that the 'we're full' message is designed to prevent the hassle of a large number of people asking for upgrades, despite the fact it could form another revenue stream.

 

I'm not sure about the not sailing 100% full thing, only because you read of people on here that had massive issues with their cabins but were told the cruise was completely sold out so there was nothing they could do. I mean, do you think the cruise lines are lying to the passengers, or are they actually selling to capacity. It's definitely something very curious to me...you'd think they'd leave some open on each sail in the event of something happening which leaves a room uninhabitable. But i guess they dont consider things like broken AC or broken toilets "uninhabitable" since you could use a bathroom outside of your cabin (i guess) and not stay in your cabin too long but...i'd think that defeats the purpose of paying for a cabin.

 

I really have always wondered about this "full" thing, since to me too it seems like they'd be crazy to sail 100% full.

[Fblack]

Not likely. Certainly not for free. I asked on the ship recently and was prepared to pay an additional fee. They told me to wait a few days. They have to wait and see if a real cabin problem occurs so they can move guests to the vacant cabin. After a few days I asked again and was told "sorry... nothing is available?" And I knew they had vacant cabins.

 

I myself was once moved for free to a better cabin after a mechanical problem in my cabin made it unsuitable.

[techwatcher]

I'm not sure about the not sailing 100% full thing, only because you read of people on here that had massive issues with their cabins but were told the cruise was completely sold out so there was nothing they could do. I mean, do you think the cruise lines are lying to the passengers, or are they actually selling to capacity. It's definitely something very curious to me...you'd think they'd leave some open on each sail in the event of something happening which leaves a room uninhabitable. But i guess they dont consider things like broken AC or broken toilets "uninhabitable" since you could use a bathroom outside of your cabin (i guess) and not stay in your cabin too long but...i'd think that defeats the purpose of paying for a cabin.

 

I really have always wondered about this "full" thing, since to me too it seems like they'd be crazy to sail 100% full.

 

TBH I would love to know the truth about this; my gut feeling is that the cruise lines are being economical with the truth with passengers to make their lives a little easier. I really don't believe they sail 100% full.

[Lsimon]

Im sure that 100% full means that they've sold all the rooms they would normally sell but that they probably always save a couple cabins for major problems. It also seems to me that these cabins held back from sale would NOT be available for purchase or upgrade at the last minute as that would defeat the purpose of holding them back from sale in the first place.

 

When we first started cruising there were a bunch of posts telling stories of how someone asked for the pier coordinator at the pier and got a great cheap upgrade at the pier. We tried that a bunch of times and finally decided we would not bother anymore. In recent years most of the reports I've read here indicate that there are not upgrades or that they are full price. It might still happen if you are on a sailing with lots of vacant rooms but I think it is very rare.

[Gonzo70]

The best chance for a reasonably priced upgrade (a free one is slim to none) is to speak with the Pier Coordinator at the cruise terminal after you check in (i.e. obtain your sea pass card) but before you board the ship. They are authorized to sell upgrades at discounted pricing. Often there is a sign outside their office saying "No Upgrades Available" but I have heard at least one person advise to ask to speak to them anyways; apparently sometimes that sign is out even when some upgrades are available. As Larry said this method does not work frequently in recent years, but occasionally people have mentioned scoring good deals.

[SusieV]

We've tried before but never had any luck. However, we keep hoping!

[miched]

Slyly slip them a Cleveland when asking. That will really help improve your chance of getting a upgrade. The problem is finding a Cleveland is about the same getting a upgrade.

 

The cruise line and crew have nothing to gain except headaches.

[dodger1964]

TBH I would love to know the truth about this; my gut feeling is that the cruise lines are being economical with the truth with passengers to make their lives a little easier. I really don't believe they sail 100% full.

 

I agree with this. Not sure though if "sail 100% full" (in suite category for example) is the same as "sold 100% full" in the same category.

 

Our upcoming June 17th Seattle/Alaska cruise currently shows all suites as sold. That doesn't mean that when we leave Seattle all suites will be occupied. I though in that past, that if there were open suites in the case of "100% sold" that it would be wise for cruise line to upgrade...good customer service...but was reminded by someone that sometimes people miss flights or have other problems and get rerouted to join ship at a port later in cruise.

I'm sure there are many people that buy a cruise and for whatever reason don't make it...after fare becomes 100% nonrefundable they might not cancel the sailing and the cruise line wouldn't know at the time of sailing if they were going to meet the ship later or not, so that room would need to be held just in case??

[cruisestitch]

A few years ago someone at my table had a big night at the casino on the first night of the cruise, a very nice win. Went to the front desk and asked if there was an upgrade available, which there was; he paid something but never said what the cost was. I know that they began in an inside room and ended up with a balcony.

 

Another time, friends who were on board went to the front desk after boarding and were able to move cabins before even unpacking. The dining room on that cruise seemed emptier than usual and we heard that the ship was about 2/3 full.

 

Having had luck, the next cruise, they asked and were told that the ship was 100% full. They said, aren't some cabins held back in case there's a plumbing problem or something, and were told, yes, there are a small number of those, but the 100% number meant that all the cabins which the line intended to sell had been sold and were occupied, so no upgrades were available.

 

All that being said, the answer is always no unless you ask.

 

But upgrade for free? Only in your dreams:o

[Poconolady]

We have dealt with this issue on two different occasions. Last year during the Volcano Ash Cloud episode we sailed on a ship that turned out to be 65% empty because passengers couldn't fly into the ports in Europe. We wanted to upgrade upon check in and were told that they couldn't because all cabins were sold (even though they knew people were not going to occupy them). As it turned out, our assigned cabin was very uncomfortable, it had a lot of noise from the engines and we were getting fumes that were giving us headaches, but it took two days before they would move us, because they had to be sure that passengers in empty cabins were not going to show up at a later port to join the cruise. Any this was with 65% non-occupancy.

 

The second episode speaks to the issue of a completely sold out ship-half way thru the cruise the shower faucet broke and water blew everywhere, soaking the bathroom and pouring out onto most the carpeting in the room before we could get anyone from maintanence to come fix it. The cabin steward had his afternoon off that day so they did not come to soak up the drenched carpet until much later in the evening. There were no other cabins available to switch to, and the longer the wet carpet sat, the more it stank, and the more unpleasant the room became. We were forced to stay where we were for the remainder of the cruise. I ended up very ill, but made it home, and then was in the hospital with pneumonia for four days.

 

My point--don't count on upgrades--or even changing cabins in the same category--as much as people rave about customer service-they are bound by rules, and they just can't make space available when there isn't any to be had.

[mapsmith]

I would also expect that you could get an upgrade if you were to offer "Brochure Price" for the upgraded room. Want to upgrade to the Penthouse Suite. That will be $10K per person please.

[Redtravel]

On my last Celebrity cruise, I was upgraded 3 times prior to sailing. Each time I was assigned a cabin and then unassigned. Not sure what happened. Each time it got better, either category or location. Maybe you'll luck out.

[CathyCruises]

I asked once and was offered an upgrade to a Royal Suite for $7,500! Hmm, let me think about that for a bit. . .

[jjl64]

13 cruises and not once did it happen for us.

[zoncom]

The time to negotiate changes is the period just before date of final payment, when X knows pretty closely how many cabins they need to resell. Average cruise cabin used to be resold 6 times. Cruise agent verified this to me several yrs. ago. Years ago this last minute stuff was called pier shopping.

[Denny01]

Some contradicting posts here. One group of posts seem to be bothered that the Cruise Lines are not telling the 'truth' when they say it's 100% sold out and they assume there are a few SRs still available, and another group seemed bothered that the ship wouldn't make sure there are extra SR's avail in case some SR becomes unfit.

 

But my favorite advice was to ignore the sign that says 'No Cabin upgrades avail' and go into the guys office and still ask - I'm sure that person has nothing else to do but put up fake signs, and then if someone ignores it, give them the 'good deal'...but this might work: "I know it says nothing is avail, but I just realized you and I are identical twins separated at birth....so can you give me a good deal????'.

 

And yes, you won't get an upgrade if you don't ask, even though most of the posts say its few and far between. I guess it's like the people who tell you, you can't win the Lottery unless you buy a ticket....personally, I don't buy Lotto tickets because it is a complete waste of money (well, not for 0.0000000000001% of those that win) and asking for an upgrade at the pier or on board would be a waste of my time.

 

Den

[CFamilyWales]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, in one sense it does not appear realistic but agree "if You don`t ask You don`t get", so we will at least task the question, and accept a FREE Upgrade is a dream.:)

I paid our balance today and when discussing upgrade possibility, TA confirmed the prices had actually increased slightly since we booked a few weeks ago (I have been checking anyway) for our grade, sailing 19th August...perhaps demand June through to August is still relatively high due to School Holidays and therefore the cruise is selling and no need to discount ?

We will see what develops.

 

Thanks All, feedback from many with years of knowledge of crusing, delivered with humour much appreciated !

[ladylemondrop]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, in one sense it does not appear realistic but agree "if You don`t ask You don`t get", so we will at least task the question, and accept a FREE Upgrade is a dream.:)

I paid our balance today and when discussing upgrade possibility, TA confirmed the prices had actually increased slightly since we booked a few weeks ago (I have been checking anyway) for our grade, sailing 19th August...perhaps demand June through to August is still relatively high due to School Holidays and therefore the cruise is selling and no need to discount ?

We will see what develops.

 

Thanks All, feedback from many with years of knowledge of crusing, delivered with humour much appreciated !

 

Hi! If you are travelling school holidays are you with kids? If so, another option is to ask if a Family Verandah is available for you - they are usually same cost as a regular cabin but HUGE, they hold them back for bookings of 5 persons until last minute and only then release them generally, they always show online as "sold" so its worth asking. We have stayed in them on Constellation and Solstice, both times were amazing.

[ISABELLA]

You need to tell them that you are willing to pay for an upgrade ( free is not availbale anymore, unless ship is half empty) - $$ might work if they have rooms.

Worked for us 2 years ago.

[Noodle4040]

Our last cruise had the large Royal Suite unoccupied - it was the prize in the bingo game held the first sea day. Two people "bingoed" at the same time and they agreed to split the remaining cruise days so both could have a go at life in the big suite. Now that was neat!!