How do "Revenue Upgrades" work?

[sblair]

How do the Revenue Upgrades work on RCCL?

 

I've got a cruise on Allure that is less 10 days off. We are booked in a GS that was published at $5500 when we got it. The current published rate on it is now just under $4k as prices have dropped a LOT. I was able to get cabins for my family upgraded but while ours has dropped a lot the others above it haven't dropped to be less than what we paid.

 

The OS is currently published at $6968. I'm only Gold status, so not likely to get any kind of an upgrade based on status.

 

I'm really not interested in paying $1500 to upgrade, but does RCCL ever deal on doing upgrades for less? Can you say negotiate to spend another $500 to get upgraded when the cruise is only 10 days out?

 

Note: I'm using RCCL published rates only as an example here for the relative price differences in order to understand what is possible.

 

Thanks.

Scott

[Thetrail]

How do the Revenue Upgrades work on RCCL?

 

I've got a cruise on Allure that is less 10 days off. We are booked in a GS that was published at $5500 when we got it. The current published rate on it is now just under $4k as prices have dropped a LOT. I was able to get cabins for my family upgraded but while ours has dropped a lot the others above it haven't dropped to be less than what we paid.

 

The OS is currently published at $6968. I'm only Gold status, so not likely to get any kind of an upgrade based on status.

 

I'm really not interested in paying $1500 to upgrade, but does RCCL ever deal on doing upgrades for less? Can you say negotiate to spend another $500 to get upgraded when the cruise is only 10 days out?

 

Note: I'm using RCCL published rates only as an example here for the relative price differences in order to understand what is possible.

 

Thanks.

Scott

The short answer is NO, and honestly any upgrades will more than likely go to tiers above you. The "listed" price on the website on any given day "is" the price. ......enjoy your cruise....K.O.:)

[leaveitallbehind]

As the term "revenue upgrades" describes, the upgrades are a result of additional revenue being paid by the upgrading passenger, which is set by RCI and not negotiated by the passenger.

 

Non-revenue upgrades - when available and offered by RCI - do not cost the passenger any additional revenue and typically are offered by Crown & Anchor tier status, starting at the highest tiers booked on that given cruise.

[sblair]

As the term "revenue upgrades" describes, the upgrades are a result of additional revenue being paid by the upgrading passenger, which is set by RCI and not negotiated by the passenger.

 

Right, my point was...how do these worth with RCI? Is the price the same as what is online for a new booking or something less in order to encourage someone to upgrade their booking when it is close to cruise time...compared to them just having to give it away to a C&A member with no increase in revenue.

[Ambiverol]

I understand what you are getting at.

 

We were booked in a GS on Allure two years ago. I believe we were platinum C&A at the time. C&A called us (I didn't even realize they had our number, I usually give a fake one. My wife probably gave her cell at some point). They offered to upgrade us to a Crown Loft for $250 per person ($500 total). I observed 5 or 6 CLS's available, and they started going quick. We called back right away, got the CLS, and it was awesome!

 

To answer your question: the gap viewed online was greater than what we paid. I don't know the exact numbers, but we paid noticeably less than if we had decided to pursue this upgrade on our own.

 

This phone call came 1-2 weeks prior to the cruise, and has not happened since. We have been upgraded by the casino since then based on previous play, but that's a whole different thing.

 

Good Luck.

[leaveitallbehind]

I understand what you are getting at.

 

We were booked in a GS on Allure two years ago. I believe we were platinum C&A at the time. C&A called us (I didn't even realize they had our number, I usually give a fake one. My wife probably gave her cell at some point). They offered to upgrade us to a Crown Loft for $250 per person ($500 total). I observed 5 or 6 CLS's available, and they started going quick. We called back right away, got the CLS, and it was awesome!

 

To answer your question: the gap viewed online was greater than what we paid. I don't know the exact numbers, but we paid noticeably less than if we had decided to pursue this upgrade on our own.

 

This phone call came 1-2 weeks prior to the cruise, and has not happened since. We have been upgraded by the casino since then based on previous play, but that's a whole different thing.

 

Good Luck.

 

We've experienced them three different ways. Once was based on pricing indicated on the RCI website which was the same on line as it was when our TA called to pursue the revenue upgrade. No difference or special deal.

 

One other time we were called and offered a revenue upgrade at a given price, which - in all fairness - I can't say was the same as or different from what might have been shown on line as I never checked to compare.

 

The third time was a non-revenue C & A upgrade (rare as they are) directly handled by RCI on our reservation. We only found out when our boarding docs were ready to be prepared and we saw the upgrade then.

 

To the OP's question, the revenue and C & A non-revenue upgrades are separate and offered by separate departments: revenue upgrades are through the standard booking / revenue department, and non-revenue upgrades are offered through Crown & Anchor. As such they are not coordinated or tied to each other when offered. Revenue upgrades are tied more to available inventory that is desired to be sold prior to a given cruise. C & A upgrades are more as "rewards" to the higher tier C & A members.

 

As to pricing, I don't know that there is always a difference in revenue upgrades from the price shown on line and that which may be offered via a phone call. But the pricing is not one that can be negotiated by the passenger - it is determined (at whatever value) by RCI.

Edited April 23, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[Ambiverol]

 

To the OP's question, the revenue and C & A non-revenue upgrades are separate and offered by separate departments: revenue upgrades are through the standard booking / revenue department, and non-revenue upgrades are offered through Crown & Anchor. As such they are not coordinated or tied to each other when offered. Revenue upgrades are tied more to available inventory that is desired to be sold prior to a given cruise. C & A upgrades are more as "rewards" to the higher tier C & A members.

 

 

The other things mentioned are in line with my experience as well. However, our GS to Crown Loft upgrade (appx. 2 years ago) came directly from C & A and there was definitely a cost with that one, albeit small. So, there are some C&A upgrades that are fee based, in our experience.

 

You are right about all of the different individuals/departments that come into play. Travel agents (good ones anyway) are keeping up with the prices and trying to get their customers free/low cost upgrades. Passengers are doing the same. Royal Revenue is trying to make some $. Crown and Anchor is trying to take care of their loyal customers (and, in my opinion, trying to hook some new ones). The casino is trying to upgrade their high stakes players.

 

At the end of the day, you will either see a price you like and upgrade, or "they" will contact you and offer a free or paid upgrade. If Royal contacts you directly and offers a fee based upgrade, it is likely less than what you see online (otherwise, why would they call you?).

 

All of this happens very close to the sailing date, and there is a big trickle down effect. If the OP can upgrade to an OS from a GS, that could open up 6 or 7 upgrades below him.

 

OP, also keep in mind that if you have an online Crown/anchor account, there is a box you can check for auto upgrades. Some people don't like doing this as they may get moved to what they consider a less desirable location/cabin, but it shouldn't hurt in your case.

 

And, finally, if you happen to find yourself in an OS on deck 11, please keep it nice for me. I'll be hopping aboard on the 11th, when you guys return.

[hlfrps]

From time to time Royal Caribbean has a very small number of staterooms that become available for upgrades during the week prior to sailing. Should these staterooms become available, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members will be the first to be offered a complimentary upgrade. We have worked to make the process simpler and more efficient. Effective November 11th, 2013, for those that wish to be considered for an upgrade, please take a moment to select your upgrade preferences online. If an upgrade becomes available to you, we will contact you within a week of your sailing via the email address provided in your My Cruises account.

 

So, just called to see if we could go to an oceanview F2 from interior on the Majesty of the seas. We would think that if there are over 11 F2s and 9 SOs oceanviews remaining with four days left that they would release these cabins to C & A for upgrades to members. Interesting enough, we could upgrade to an SO on deck 9 with no costs, but we were looking for an F2 on deck 7 which would be $20 pp more. "This sailing's inventory will not be released from revenue for C & A upgrades".

 

So the moral of the story, even if there is inventory, do not assume that the inventory will be released for upgrades to C & A members.

[leaveitallbehind]

Should these staterooms become available, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members will be the first to be offered a complimentary upgrade.

 

So the moral of the story, even if there is inventory, do not assume that the inventory will be released for upgrades to C & A members.

 

Correct in terms of the typical order of assignment with C & A upgrades. But the key is if they are available. We have only received one C & A upgrade in over 21 years of cruising - which occurred after we reached Diamond - but have taken advantage of revenue upgrades several times.

 

C & A non-revenue upgrades are rare and limited in number when the are released. Revenue upgrades typically would be more plentiful and frequent as they are based on available inventory in given categories that can be sold to generate revenue to fill the ship.

Edited April 28, 2014 by leaveitallbehind