Possible upgrade ??

[Sea and Me]

Is it possible to receive an upgrade if you didn't request one?? I guess anything is possible right?? Do they ever take into consideration how many times a passenger has sailed?? If the ship isn't "full" would they upgrade at the sign in desk? Just questions popping into my mind today:D

Thanks.

Carol

[paul929207]

On Princess all upgrades are handled by the Upgrade Fairy. No one has been able to figure out how she does it.

 

Generally, ships are full. If there is space, you can upgrade by paying the difference between your fare and the fare for the cabin you are upgrading too.

[Toto2Kansas]

Is it possible to receive an upgrade if you didn't request one?? I guess anything is possible right?? Do they ever take into consideration how many times a passenger has sailed?? If the ship isn't "full" would they upgrade at the sign in desk? Just questions popping into my mind today:D

 

Thanks.

Carol

Carol, occasionally, even if you mark you booking 'no upgrade' it happens, but they normally contact you first since your booking is marked that way.

I have never known or heard of Princess taking into consideration how many times you have sailed on Princess or other lines in the past as to having priority for upgrades over anyone else. It is more or less a supply vs demand thing with upgrades, and just pure luck.

As for upgrading after boarding at the 'check in/sign in' desk at the pier. They do not have the capability to tell you what is available when you check in for your cruise, or the ability to upgrade you if there are any higher categories available.

You can check at the customer's service desk onboard, but if by strange chance there is something available, there are no discounts for upgrading onboard, the price you would pay will be the same price you would pay now if you decided to self upgrade and pay the difference.

Good luck, as you never know when an upgrade might come along, but you just can never count on it happening.

[BridgeMates]

Is it possible to receive an upgrade if you didn't request one??

Thanks.

Carol

 

Carol, we got upgraded on our last T/A cruise about 3 days before we sailed, even tho our Inside cabin was marked no upgrade. Travel agent called to tell us we'd been moved to a balcony but we didn't want to be in the front of the ship. Luckily she was able to move us to the same level balcony cabin on Caribe deck. Needless to say we were quite pleased. So it does happen, but probably not often. We're guessing but maybe they wanted our category cabin in order to fill more cheaper cabins at the last minute.

[Woobstr112G]

After reading the OP's post, I thought of somewhat of a collateral question. If you by chance get upgraded to a full suite, do you get the double cruise credits even though you didn't pay for the suite. I was wondering because I've heard that people who sail under the friends and family discount don't receive credit for the sailing (not confirmed), just what I've heard at work which is about a block from Princess HQ....

 

Bob

[ONT-CA]

We know of no business that would ignore a repeat customer and not track the expenditures of that repeat customer. Princess could not nor should not do otherwise. Business is business. Customers' spending history cannot be ignored. Do they take Princess tours, and do they spend a good dollar or two in the bars, do they in general spend. We are not saying that these factors are the primary conditions for upgrades or for that matter waiting lists but anyone who runs a business knows that there are customers and there are customers...

[paul929207]

We know of no business that would ignore a repeat customer and not track the expenditures of that repeat customer. Princess could not nor should not do otherwise. Business is business. Customers' spending history cannot be ignored. Do they take Princess tours, and do they spend a good dollar or two in the bars, do they in general spend. We are not saying that these factors are the primary conditions for upgrades or for that matter waiting lists but anyone who runs a business knows that there are customers and there are customers...

But we have had people on hear complaining that they were Platinum or Elite and got two newby couples to join them on a Princess cruise. Three cabins in a row, same category. You guessed it, the newbies got upgraded and the veteran did not.

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

Upgrades are the luck of the draw. Yes to some it doesn't seem fair that repeat customers are overlooked. But this actually happens in life outside the cruise world. If you subscribe to a daily newspaper you are not rewarded for your loyalty....they offer specials to get new subscribers but not to their loyal subscribers. For me, to worry about not getting an upgrade as a repeat customer, is simply time consuming. I buy the cabin that I know I will be happy to live in during the cruise. If I can't be happy in that, then I buy a different category or don't go.

[ONT-CA]

But we have had people on hear complaining that they were Platinum or Elite and got two newby couples to join them on a Princess cruise. Three cabins in a row, same category. You guessed it, the newbies got upgraded and the veteran did not.

 

We agree, my sister and brother-in-law joined us on a cruise for the first time, we being long time customers of Princess. They were upgraded and we were not. But isn't that also good business, newbie booking associated with we old, long time and good customers. We were impressed more than the newbies. Again good business. But the key word there is associated.

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

We agree, my sister and brother-in-law joined us on a cruise for the first time, we being long time customers of Princess. They were upgraded and we were not. But isn't that also good business, newbie booking associated with we old, long time and good customers. We were impressed more than the newbies. Again good business. But the key word there is associated.

 

ONT-CA, who is this "we" or "us" that I see in most of your postings? Or do you refer to yourself in the third person? (Just curious)

[ONT-CA]

ONT-CA, who is this "we" or "us" that I see in most of your postings? Or do you refer to yourself in the third person? (Just curious)

 

For the most part when I refer to we it is on behalf of my significant other and myself. We discuss this board openly and come to a general consensus. But there are times when there is disagreement and I must speak for myself and will therefore use I. Does that help?

[jhunger]

On my recent Alaska cruisetour I booked an AF mini in May of 2010. After I was asigned my cabin I was upgraded to an AA mini several months later. Six days before cruise part of my trip I was upgraded to a PS full suite AWESOME!! This was my first cruise with Princess. Not sure why but I certainly appreciated it.

[freetocruise]

After reading the OP's post, I thought of somewhat of a collateral question. If you by chance get upgraded to a full suite, do you get the double cruise credits even though you didn't pay for the suite. I was wondering because I've heard that people who sail under the friends and family discount don't receive credit for the sailing (not confirmed), just what I've heard at work which is about a block from Princess HQ....

 

Bob

 

Bob,

 

I don't believe you get double credit if upgraded to a full suite - you get what what you paid for. It's similar to getting upgraded on a flight - you don't get the bonus mileage for business/first, just what you paid for.

 

On the second, I can say that friends and family do get credit for the cruise and it counts in their cruises. What they don't get is any of the Captain's Circle Benefits that they would other wise be entitled to (platinum internet, etc) when booked on a friends and family fare.

 

Bonni

[shepp]

We know of no business that would ignore a repeat customer and not track the expenditures of that repeat customer. Princess could not nor should not do otherwise. Business is business. Customers' spending history cannot be ignored.

 

A cruise ship is not a casino, and the only "whales" are in the ocean. I'm not one of Princess' higher-rolling passengers. But on my last cruise, I got a 15-category upgrade, from lowest inside to unobstructed outside. Go figure.

 

On my cruise next month, I got an upgrade in name only, from inside to inside. (Though on paper I'm saving $350 p.p. over current "retail.") As a past passenger, I got a 20% discount on the fare, and as Platinum I'll get the usual perks, and all that seems like fair reward for sticking with (OK, being addicted to) the line.

 

I can see the business logic of making sure the freer-spending passengers are back onboard. But every category on my next cruise is waitlisted, so clearly Princess doesn't have to do anything much to fill the ship, and I wonder if upgrading someone to a suite instead of having someone else pay full fare would be offset by the potential profit made on bingo cards, drinks, and slots.

[ONT-CA]

...I wonder if upgrading someone to a suite instead of having someone else pay full fare would be offset by the potential profit made on bingo cards, drinks, and slots.

 

Business decisions are just that, business. When we were upgraded to a full suite that suite in our opinion would have remained empty or no upgrade would have occurred. As to who and when upgrades are made we cannot say for we have no access to the Carnival boardroom. But we believe that a strategy must be at work to make their business more successful.

[lovevacadays]

But we have had people on hear complaining that they were Platinum or Elite and got two newby couples to join them on a Princess cruise. Three cabins in a row, same category. You guessed it, the newbies got upgraded and the veteran did not.

 

I've heard of similar things. I really don't think anyone will ever know for sure how the lovely upgrade fairy grants her upgrades. I've been fortunate to have two - one from an Aloha balony cabin to a mini-suite and one from on Emerald deck Obstructed view to a full oceanview on the Plaza deck. The mini-suite upgrade I was actually called prior to the cruise on because I had my cabin marked no upgrade. I typically mark my cabin no upgrade because I book the cabin I want. My OV to full oceanview was a guarantee which I did because the price was so low! I was willing to take the chance.

[Toto2Kansas]

After reading the OP's post, I thought of somewhat of a collateral question. If you by chance get upgraded to a full suite, do you get the double cruise credits even though you didn't pay for the suite. I was wondering because I've heard that people who sail under the friends and family discount don't receive credit for the sailing (not confirmed), just what I've heard at work which is about a block from Princess HQ....

 

Bob

Bob, Last year when we received our one and only true upgrade (our 26th Princess cruise, if memory serves me correctly), we received ONE cruise credit for that sailing, as we had not paid for that suite, we were upgraded to it. I checked, and that is the way this is handled with upgrades to full suites, you don't get the double cruise credit you would get if booking and paying for it yourself. ;)

[LARGIN]

After reading the OP's post, I thought of somewhat of a collateral question. If you by chance get upgraded to a full suite, do you get the double cruise credits even though you didn't pay for the suite.

 

Bob

 

No...

[Nancyquilts]

On my recent Alaska cruisetour I booked an AF mini in May of 2010. After I was asigned my cabin I was upgraded to an AA mini several months later. Six days before cruise part of my trip I was upgraded to a PS full suite AWESOME!! This was my first cruise with Princess. Not sure why but I certainly appreciated it.

Our first cruise with Azamara we were upgraded. In over 20 cruises with Princess it hasn't happened yet. My opinion is that the cruise lines want to lure the newcomers back - the rest of us are already fans.

[englishbird]

You have more chance of getting an upgrade if you live in the US. Princess doesn't value its other customers.:D:D

[BruceMuzz]

We know of no business that would ignore a repeat customer and not track the expenditures of that repeat customer. Princess could not nor should not do otherwise. Business is business. Customers' spending history cannot be ignored. Do they take Princess tours, and do they spend a good dollar or two in the bars, do they in general spend. We are not saying that these factors are the primary conditions for upgrades or for that matter waiting lists but anyone who runs a business knows that there are customers and there are customers...

 

All the cruise lines do track individual and group spending patterns very closely.

What have we all learned from that?

 

First time cruisers generally spend far more than repeaters.

On your first cruise you buy all the special drinks of the day, the souvenir glasses, t-shirts, a few nights in the casino, shore excursions, airport transfers, bingo every day, all the photos taken at the gangway and in the dining rooms.

 

After that first cruise, you cut back dramatically. Very few photos, you use your camera to photograph the photos for sale in the gallery, smuggle your own drinks onboard, no more t-shirts, play the penny slot machines "for fun", book your own shore tours to save money.

 

Better to upgrade the first timers, who are spending more money.

[TracieABD]

All the cruise lines do track individual and group spending patterns very closely.

What have we all learned from that?

 

First time cruisers generally spend far more than repeaters.

On your first cruise you buy all the special drinks of the day, the souvenir glasses, t-shirts, a few nights in the casino, shore excursions, airport transfers, bingo every day, all the photos taken at the gangway and in the dining rooms.

 

After that first cruise, you cut back dramatically. Very few photos, you use your camera to photograph the photos for sale in the gallery, smuggle your own drinks onboard, no more t-shirts, play the penny slot machines "for fun", book your own shore tours to save money.

 

Better to upgrade the first timers, who are spending more money.

Thank you. That is probably the most logical explaination that I have ever heard for the newby upgrade. (I know that you work for the cruiselines).

Though there is something about the mystique of the elusive Upgrade Fairy...:)

[vannagirl]

How do princess alert you to an upgrade? Do they call or just a room change is on your Booking summary?

[caribill]

How do princess alert you to an upgrade? Do they call or just a room change is on your Booking summary?

 

a) It will be in your personalizer

 

b) If you booked directly with Princess, they will notify you either by e-mail or a phone call.

 

c) If your booking is with a travel agent, they will notify the travel agent. It is then up to the travel agent to notify you.

[gooch47]

a) It will be in your personalizer

 

b) If you booked directly with Princess, they will notify you either by e-mail or a phone call.

 

c) If your booking is with a travel agent, they will notify the travel agent. It is then up to the travel agent to notify you.

 

Not necessarily. We were upgraded to a PS at the dock recently.