the BAD upgrade fairy strikes

[ontheweb]

We were listed as no upgrade because we liked the location of our inside cabin. Also, DW likes insides for the absolute darkness for sleeping. I happened to look at my personalizer earlier today, and we had been upgraded to an OV cabin.

 

We had once been upgraded previously to an OV (on a Greek Isles cruise on the HAL Noordam), and that worked out fine, but I wanted to make sure the location was not a problem.

 

I called our TA. First, he was surprised that we had been upgraded without them informing him. He checked the new cabin location, and it was right above a casino bar. I would have slept through any noise (DW says I'm deaf), but she has very acute hearing and would have never slept if it was at all noisy. He said he would check why we were moved, and if they wanted to give us an OV see if he could get a better location.

 

He said (I forgot the exact term he said they used) that they said the original cabin would be uninhabitable. He could not get us another OV because they were all sold out except for the one they wanted to give us.

 

He found us another inside 2 cabins away from our original location. Even though it was so close to the original cabin, it was technically a different category, so we ended up actually downgraded. The price because it was a lower category was now a few dollars less.

 

BTW, the cruise is a port intensive British Isles cruise, so getting adequate sleep is important.

Edited April 7, 2014 by ontheweb

[southpawsdakota]

I am a very light sleeper and we always travel with a small white noise machine. My DH uses his IPHONE white noise app when he travels which seems to be all the time, lol. Give it a try. BTW you can find them on Amazon.com

[dazee8]

We were listed as no upgrade because we liked the location of our inside cabin. Also, DW likes insides for the absolute darkness for sleeping. I happened to look at my personalizer earlier today, and we had been upgraded to an OV cabin.

 

I called our TA. First, he was surprised that we had been upgraded without them informing him. He checked the new cabin location, and it was right above a casino bar. I would have slept through any noise (DW says I'm deaf), but she has very acute hearing and would have never slept if it was at all noisy. He said he would check why we were moved, and if they wanted to give us an OV see if he could get a better location.

 

He said (I forgot the exact term he said they used) that they said the original cabin would be uninhabitable. He could not get us another OV because they were all sold out except for the one they wanted to give us.

 

He found us another inside 2 cabins away from our original location. Even though it was so close to the original cabin, it was technically a different category, so we ended up actually downgraded. The price because it was a lower category was now a few dollars less.

 

BTW, the cruise is a port intensive British Isles cruise, so getting adequate sleep is important.

 

Hopefully with the downgrade of cabin that you are getting compensation for your trouble on an expensive cruise.

[EddieCruzer]

Hopefully with the downgrade of cabin that you are getting compensation for your trouble on an expensive cruise.

 

Why do you mention compensation right away? Why is it people think they are entitled to things.? The contract says Princess can move you to any cabin of equal or higher category. You agree to it when signing the contract. They chose to downgrade to get a cabin they wanted. Since it is only 2 doors away they basically got the same cabin they had. :rolleyes:

[Coral]

Glad your TA was able to make the most out of the situation.

 

Good thing you were checking. It sounds like your old cabin had some type of problem that required it to be empty during your cruise.

[Pam in CA]

Glad your TA was able to make the most out of the situation.

 

Good thing you were checking. It sounds like your old cabin had some type of problem that required it to be empty during your cruise.

I agree. Sometimes, even with a "Do not upgrade," you can or will be moved.

 

As for compensation, Princess upgraded you to an oceanview cabin but you refused it. Not sure why one would think they're due anything.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Pam in CA

[Coveguy4]

I read it as they did not accept the OV and got another interrior which was a few dollars less due to location. No complaints from OP and it was other posters who mentioned compensation not OP.

[dazee8]

I read it as they did not accept the OV and got another interrior which was a few dollars less due to location. No complaints from OP and it was other posters who mentioned compensation not OP.

 

Yes, compensation not having the original inside that they wanted and downgraded to another inside, meaning less in price. If the OP doesn't mind the less cost in fare or location, then it is a win-win for the OP. Having participated on the British Isles cruise in the past, I also agree with OP, it is VERY port intensive and as much rest as you can get to the next day is imperative.

[ontheweb]

I read it as they did not accept the OV and got another interrior which was a few dollars less due to location. No complaints from OP and it was other posters who mentioned compensation not OP.

 

I'm the OP, and I never said I wanted or demanded any compensation. All we wanted was a cabin we would be comfortable with.

 

As it happened the cabin we ended up with was a VERY FEW dollars less. I wondered why that was since it was only a few cabins away, and was told by our TA that it was in a different category. That was a bonus, a price decrease, but it was not in any way the main focus of our complaint.

 

One thing that no one seems to have focused on is my complaint that there was absolutely no notice of this change either sent to me or to our TA. If I had not happened to look at my cruise personalizer to check out excursions to one of our ports, this would have been a TOTAL SURPRISE.

[Coral]

 

One thing that no one seems to have focused on is my complaint that there was absolutely no notice of this change either sent to me or to our TA. If I had not happened to look at my cruise personalizer to check out excursions to one of our ports, this would have been a TOTAL SURPRISE.

 

Most of us have read similar stories, I don't think anyone was really surprised.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I'm the OP, and I never said I wanted or demanded any compensation. All we wanted was a cabin we would be comfortable with.

 

As it happened the cabin we ended up with was a VERY FEW dollars less. I wondered why that was since it was only a few cabins away, and was told by our TA that it was in a different category. That was a bonus, a price decrease, but it was not in any way the main focus of our complaint.

 

One thing that no one seems to have focused on is my complaint that there was absolutely no notice of this change either sent to me or to our TA. If I had not happened to look at my cruise personalizer to check out excursions to one of our ports, this would have been a TOTAL SURPRISE.

 

I agree with your last paragraph (I was thinking this rather than compensation). Why wouldn't Princess notify the TA about the fact that the cabin wasn't habitable?

 

One other thing I'm curious about is whether the OP will swing by the original cabin just to see what work is going on (if there's a name card in the slot by the door, I would be peeved).

[Colo Cruiser]

Why is the original cabin unusable?

[Wehwalt]

It's why it really helps to keep an eye on the cruise personalizer and the Princess web site generally. And you, not your TA.

[DrivesLikeMario]

I agree with your last paragraph (I was thinking this rather than compensation). Why wouldn't Princess notify the TA about the fact that the cabin wasn't habitable?

 

One other thing I'm curious about is whether the OP will swing by the original cabin just to see what work is going on (if there's a name card in the slot by the door' date=' I would be peeved).[/quote']

 

Generally speaking, there are many reasons why a TA might not get notification of a cabin change. Here are just a few with the first 2 of these being the ones I've seen most often:

 

a.) Princess didn't send it out

b.) Princess sent it out to the wrong email or fax #

c.) Whomever received it didn't forward it to the right TA (if in a large co.)

d.) Went to the TA's junk mail box and didn't get read

Edited April 8, 2014 by DrivesLikeMario
punc.

[san diego sue]

We had booked a back to back.Had same cabin for both.

Day after we booked Princess changed our cabin on second leg to down the hall, an upgrade but same balcony cabin. I had them change it back immediately and had marked no upgrade.

Three days before the cruises, I happen to go back into personalizer and

first leg had changed cabins. It was a mini suite and I was pretty happy so just left it. Travel agent tried to get them to give us same on second leg but not available. What I had been looking forward to was not moving cabins on turnaround day. But it was worth the sacrifice.

[Bruin Steve]

Apparently, having your booking marked "no upgrade" is fairly worthless...

I've never had mine so marked...but have worried at times since what Princess feels is an upgrade, quite simply, isn't...

But, on the whole, I don't say no upgrade because I'm hoping for a REAL upgrade...like being moved to a suite.

 

We typically book balcony cabins...but for our November Golden Princess cruise, we've booked our first inside cabin in a long, long time. I recently got laid off from my job of 23 years, but refuse to give up cruising...so, the concession I'm making is downgrading cabin selection to the minimum...

 

Now, I've NEVER gotten a REAL upgrade (only the kind where you move from one standard balcony cabin on one deck to pretty much the same cabin on a slightly different deck--which for no other reason than being in one location or another is considered a "higher" category...

THIS time, I'm really going to be hoping for a serious upgrade!

[ontheweb]

Why is the original cabin unusable?

 

I'm not sure. but if you go to the deck plans, it asks if you are cruising before or after June 4th. I'm assuming there is some work being done on the ship. Though it seems by August, they should have it done.

 

Doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's the only thing I can think of.'

[ontheweb]

Generally speaking, there are many reasons why a TA might not get notification of a cabin change. Here are just a few with the first 2 of these being the ones I've seen most often:

 

a.) Princess didn't send it out

b.) Princess sent it out to the wrong email or fax #

c.) Whomever received it didn't forward it to the right TA (if in a large co.)

d.) Went to the TA's junk mail box and didn't get read

 

I e-mailed our TA and asked him if he had found out why Princess had not informed him of the change. His reply was that they said they had faxed it to him, but he never received it.

 

As for c--I'm not sure how large the agency is, but the person I deal with is the president of the company.

[Colo Cruiser]

I e-mailed our TA and asked him if he had found out why Princess had not informed him of the change. His reply was that they said they had faxed it to him, but he never received it.

 

As for c--I'm not sure how large the agency is, but the person I deal with is the president of the company.

 

What ship? I don't think I saw that anywhere. :o

[ontheweb]

What ship? I don't think I saw that anywhere. :o

 

The ship is the Ocean Princess.

[DrivesLikeMario]

ontheweb - I've never had a problem getting faxes from Princess on cabin changes & upsells but I know there are many that have. It's not uncommon at all so I totally believe your TA.

[ontheweb]

ontheweb - I've never had a problem getting faxes from Princess on cabin changes & upsells but I know there are many that have. It's not uncommon at all so I totally believe your TA.

 

I believe him. He sounded genuinely surprised when I told him of the change. He seemed perplexed that he had not been informed. Also, I have dealt with him for years, and he has always been upfront with me

.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Most of us have read similar stories, I don't think anyone was really surprised.

 

I agree, I think lots gets sent to our TA's that ends up in lala land cause no-one ever sees it - the joys of the techno world we live in.

 

OP - enjoy your cruise and being such a port intensive one I'm sure you will sleep well wherever your cabin is:D

[Coveguy4]

I was agreeing with you! You did not ask for anything other than a cabin like you booked, other posters inferred compensation, not you!

I'm the OP, and I never said I wanted or demanded any compensation. All we wanted was a cabin we would be comfortable with.

 

As it happened the cabin we ended up with was a VERY FEW dollars less. I wondered why that was since it was only a few cabins away, and was told by our TA that it was in a different category. That was a bonus, a price decrease, but it was not in any way the main focus of our complaint.

 

One thing that no one seems to have focused on is my complaint that there was absolutely no notice of this change either sent to me or to our TA. If I had not happened to look at my cruise personalizer to check out excursions to one of our ports, this would have been a TOTAL SURPRISE.

[ontheweb]

I agree, I think lots gets sent to our TA's that ends up in lala land cause no-one ever sees it - the joys of the techno world we live in.

 

OP - enjoy your cruise and being such a port intensive one I'm sure you will sleep well wherever your cabin is:D

 

I would not have heard any of the noise, however, my DW would have heard every sound. She's a teacher, you know one of those people who with their .back turned not only heard what is being whispered in the back row, but also which child is doing the whispering.