Booking/ Uprades

[dlstex]

We are thinking about booking on the Miracle. We would like to know what way we should book (direct or TA) and what is the process for upgradeing. I would appreciate any input someone out there may have that could help us.

Thanks :confused:

[cali-croozer]

Only book a guarantee if you would be happy not getting upgraded. Upgrades are hit and miss; some people get them, others don't. Usually, an upgrade will be to a higher deck in the same category (inside to inside, outside to outside). Sometimes, people get upgraded from inside to outside, or outside to balcony. Sometimes people don't get upgraded at all and get a room in a location they wouldn't have picked for themselves.

 

If you want a cabin in a certain location on the ship, spend the extra money and book an assigned cabin (you would choose your cabin). I've always booked assigned cabins because I prefer mid-ship locations and I don't want to take a chance being "upgraded" to a cabin above the disco or below the galley or way at the front of the ship.....etc......

[dms_cruisers04]

dlstex, I completely agree with cali.

And I apologize in advance for the likely harsh, rude or unpleasant flaming repsonses you're likely to get in regards to asking for a free upgrade. Don't let them bother you.

[LeeNHCruiser]

We booked a 4A guar inside cabin and were upgraded to a 4C inside; Upper Deck. It was perfect. Carnival explained it this way: Carnival receives about 900 inside/outside guaranteed reservations and only has so many on the "bottom" deck, maybe 200. About 700 have to go somewhere! It also may not be much of an upgrade and, yes, there is a chance you may still get the "bottom" deck. Right now, with our kids still in school and our budget a consideration, it's worth it to us. I just booked another inside guar. on the Valor.

[dlstex]

Tiffdraw, that is so sweet as you say. Did you have to request the upgrade or was it done automatically? We have only cruised one time on the Spirit to the Mexican Riviera but we had a similar experiance. We booked 9 months in advance in a cat 8A and got upgraded to a cat 11. I was very leary about my first cruise but Carnival definitely set the hook. Only problem was no one told us we had been upgraded till we showed up for the cruise and it took a day to get all our luggage back together. I'm trying to find out from experianced cruisers if there is any rhyme or reason to getting the upgrades. Thanks

[serene56]

If you booked a guarantee you are in the pool to be upgraded--if they are available. If you book a certain cabin your chances of upgrading to a higher cat is rare. less then 1%- Booking a gauarantee can put you anywhere on the ship within the category that you booked. Example is a balcony guarantee will give you a balcony cabin ANYwhere on the ship. (you can not get the cat 7 obstructed views by booking a cat 8A. ) Please be aware that booking a gauarantee coul place you over a public area like the disco, lounges, casino or under the pool deck etc.etc.

 

You didnt say when you are looking to book your cruise for.

[CanTex]

Keep in mind that the Spirit class ships (relative to any others in Carnival's fleet) have a MUCH larger proportion of balcony staterooms relative to oceanview and inside staterooms. Even booking an OV guarantee gives you a pretty good chance of getting a balcony since there's only one deck of cat. 6 staterooms (you could also end up in a 5A or 7A and some people might not be happy with that)

 

I've taken this chance and ended up in an 8B.

 

 

 

If you booked a guarantee you are in the pool to be upgraded--if they are available. If you book a certain cabin your chances of upgrading to a higher cat is rare. less then 1%- Booking a gauarantee can put you anywhere on the ship within the category that you booked. Example is a balcony guarantee will give you a balcony cabin ANYwhere on the ship. (you can not get the cat 7 obstructed views by booking a cat 8A. ) Please be aware that booking a gauarantee coul place you over a public area like the disco, lounges, casino or under the pool deck etc.etc.

 

You didnt say when you are looking to book your cruise for.

[LeeNHCruiser]

I just looked up some facts for the Valor (we're going in October). There are 570 inside cabins and 917 outside cabins. I would say odds are good of an upgrade. Another TA I spoke with (not mine) has booked hundreds of cruises in her career and she has never seen a cruise booking NOT get upgraded. She also personally has had all of her own cruises upgraded.

 

I think if you're going to book a guar, just be prepared to be happy with the lowest possible guar that you booked. Anything else you get is a bonus :D

[serene56]

Keep in mind that the Spirit class ships (relative to any others in Carnival's fleet) have a MUCH larger proportion of balcony staterooms relative to oceanview and inside staterooms. Even booking an OV guarantee gives you a pretty good chance of getting a balcony since there's only one deck of cat. 6 staterooms (you could also end up in a 5A or 7A and some people might not be happy with that)

 

I've taken this chance and ended up in an 8B.

 

 

I can tell you that is exactly what I did because of what people were stating here on cruisecritic-- if I booked an oceanview at a year out my chances of being upgraded were very very high. Not a chance!! Only one deck of ocean view cabins are available on the spirit class ship. THe people who pay the most money get upgraded first. There is also not a lot of availaity of a oceanview guarantee for the Spirit class either... Since I book over a year out I pay dirt cheap prices and no way am I gettting that upgrade.

Also- if you book a oceanview guarantee (6a) you will NOT get a obstructed view 5A.

[blackwing]

I just looked up some facts for the Valor (we're going in October). There are 570 inside cabins and 917 outside cabins. I would say odds are good of an upgrade. Another TA I spoke with (not mine) has booked hundreds of cruises in her career and she has never seen a cruise booking NOT get upgraded. She also personally has had all of her own cruises upgraded.

So who exactly ends up in those 570 inside cabins? On our Conquest sailing, I think that it was 100% sold. Are you saying that the only people in those 570 inside cabins are the ones who did not book a guarantee and actually paid for an inside cabin?

 

I have a hard time believing this TA's claim that everyone gets upgraded. Somebody has to be in those inside cabins, and I think if you book an inside guarantee, I would think that somebody has to end up on the lowest deck inside. Sure, many get moved up to a higher deck, but I'm wondering who ends up in those lowest cabins if the ship is full.

[dlstex]

If you booked a guarantee you are in the pool to be upgraded--if they are available. If you book a certain cabin your chances of upgrading to a higher cat is rare. less then 1%- Booking a gauarantee can put you anywhere on the ship within the category that you booked. Example is a balcony guarantee will give you a balcony cabin ANYwhere on the ship. (you can not get the cat 7 obstructed views by booking a cat 8A. ) Please be aware that booking a gauarantee coul place you over a public area like the disco, lounges, casino or under the pool deck etc.etc.

 

You didnt say when you are looking to book your cruise for.

 

I'm so glad to get your input. I have noted your postings on many of the message boards. We are new to the cruise scene. On our Spirit cruise we had origionally booked an 8A room 7220. However when we arrived for the cruise we had been upgrade to a Cat 11 suite. Needless to say we were very pleased. We had booked 9 months in advance through AAA. And from reading many of the messages this is rare but not unheard of. We are now looking at booking the Miracle for next April 1. So if I get everyone right, if I book a CAT 8A for a specific room chances are I might have trouble getting an upgrade. My concerns about going the guarantee way are as you stated. I am an extremely light sleeper. As it was I had trouble sleeping due to the creeking the walls made at night. One more question I have is if anyone out there has had experience with RCCL Legend of the Seas. This would be an alternative ship. Thanks :D By the way, we love this web site, the information we have gotten so far has been invaluable.

[tef43]

One more question I have is if anyone out there has had experience with RCCL Legend of the Seas.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=83

[pegmora1]

I got my room # by using the book/modify method...I was booked *A grty & recieved an 8C, as a nebie I was wondering , is this the same or is there a difference??? Price, location etc.????

[CherieB]

I booked the OV / Riveria two weeks ago on the Sensation, loved it! To sit at night (day also) with the lights out an watch the waves breaking right beside the window, was awesome. Some RUDE lady in the elevator says 'oh the basement' ..... I let her know I loved it in the 'basement', I wouldn't have accepted an upgrade

[dms_cruisers04]

I got my room # by using the book/modify method...I was booked *A grty & recieved an 8C, as a nebie I was wondering , is this the same or is there a difference??? Price, location etc.????

Same room, but higher deck. Which ship are you sailing?

[pegmora1]

Same room, but higher deck. Which ship are you sailing?

 

We are sailing on the Valor, July 10, 2005:)

[kjunea]

I booked 4A and got 7A on the Miracle, booking 8 months in advance. :D I was just hoping for an outside window, but would have been just as happy in an inside cabin. I also studied the deck plan of the ship and knew there weren't any cabins over/under the disco (but there are some down the hall from it). We took our chances, but it seems with the Spirit class, you have a better chance of doing this upgrade than with any of the other classes.

 

I'll let you know what I think of the obstructed balcony when I return!

 

June