Quick Upgrade Question

[Mike2131]

We are experienced cruisers (14 and counting) but the 7/7/14 sailing RT Seattle to Alaska is our first with Oceania. We are in an A2 Aft cabin and have been offered PH upgrade for $500 pp. The size is nice (agent checking on location) and wonder if, aside from the extra room, the upgrade from our Concierge is reasonable.

 

We have already rejected an offer to change cruises (20% cash back + upgrade to the best suite available (not OS) on a Baltic or several Med sailings.

 

I am inclined to wait in case the offer improves. Advice/suggestions appreciated.

 

Thanks.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Mike2131

[Twocoasts]

How many nights is your cruise? If it's 10 or more I'd take the upgrade in a heart beat. I just got off the Insignia in an A2 aft cabin and while the extended veranda was great, it doesn't make the cabin any bigger. It felt really, really small to me.

[guffy]

Just called......all Penthouse Suites gone for Alaska Cruise July 7th.

[Mike2131]

How many nights is your cruise? If it's 10 or more I'd take the upgrade in a heart beat. I just got off the Insignia in an A2 aft cabin and while the extended veranda was great, it doesn't make the cabin any bigger. It felt really, really small to me.

It is a 7-night cruise so the per night upgrade cost is substantial. My agent found out there were only 2 suites (probably PH3) and they were gone. The ship was overbooked, they made the switch cruise offer which we passed on, and then they were reshuffling the deck with the cabins made available when some others made the switch. I understand this is happens fairly often with Oceania. Who knows, there might be something else since we don't sail for almost 2 weeks - LOL!

[pacheco18]

BY the time you ask the question and get answers on CC the opportunity is probably gone. Upsells are grabbed quickly -- particularly to PH suites.

 

Your TA should know if it's a good deal. If he or she does not, you have the wrong TA.

[Mike2131]

BY the time you ask the question and get answers on CC the opportunity is probably gone. Upsells are grabbed quickly -- particularly to PH suites.

 

Your TA should know if it's a good deal. If he or she does not, you have the wrong TA.

She thought the deal was OK, but not great. We are very content with our aft cabin - 7121. I know you were just aboard the Regatta and had a great time. It's our first cruise with Oceania and we are looking forward to a wonderful experience.

[pacheco18]

She thought the deal was OK, but not great. We are very content with our aft cabin - 7121. I know you were just aboard the Regatta and had a great time. It's our first cruise with Oceania and we are looking forward to a wonderful experience.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

 

For future reference -- You might have asked your TA to "negotiate" the upsell. That's what mine does. Often the price is negotiable.

[Mike2131]

Enjoy your cruise.

 

For future reference -- You might have asked your TA to "negotiate" the upsell. That's what mine does. Often the price is negotiable.

I will file that away for when it comes up again - and I am sure it will.

[dundeene]

I always tell my TA what she can accept without calling me. If she waits to reach me by phone for approval the offer is usually gone.

 

Set guidelines for her. . . . . for instance; I will accept an upgrade to PH 1 or 2 at $400 per person and an Oceania Suite at $1000/person from my A2 etc.

If there is a room you do not want ask her to note that as well.

 

In this way she/he is ready to accept quickly if you would like a upgrade.

[Hawaiidan]

The best cabin on an Alaska cruise is an inside for the simple reason that it gets you out of the cabin and on deck to take in your surroundings, which is something no veranda or suite passenger can achieve from their cabins.

 

A penthouse will give you a 90 to 100 degree view, an aft cabin will give you 180 degree bit being on deck will give you 270 to 360

 

Alaska is where you come for the view not the cabin

[Off Shore]

We too were on an overbooked cruise.

He had an A1 GTY on a June Seattle-Seattle 10 night.

 

We accepted their 4th offer....

16 Night South American Cruise in a PH1 and cash back.

 

To do this it takes:

1)Being flexible.

2)Driving to the port not flying.

3)A good TA who knows what you want.

4)Not particularly excited abut the cruise you are on.

5)Nerves of steel!

[pacheco18]

We too were on an overbooked cruise.

He had an A1 GTY on a June Seattle-Seattle 10 night.

 

We accepted their 4th offer....

16 Night South American Cruise in a PH1 and cash back.

 

To do this it takes:

1)Being flexible.

2)Driving to the port not flying.

3)A good TA who knows what you want.

4)Not particularly excited abut the cruise you are on.

5)Nerves of steel!

 

Bravo!

I can never switch cruises -- I fly to departure port, I have booked ALL the private excursions most of the time so others are depending on me, and I ALWAYS am excited about the itinerary. But a huge amount of CASH for a downsell I will accept most of the time. Just got a fortune back on my upcoming cruise.

[terry&mike]

I also have an upgrade question, that I'm hoping some of you will weigh in with your opinion.

DH and I are sailing on the Riviera in October in a B3 cabin (one of the four B3's with the extended balcony that is open to one side). After a lot of planning and research, I booked this voyage/cabin last year.

As we are celebrating a bit of a milestone on this trip - our 25th wedding anniversary - I have been thinking that it might be a nice surprise from me to upgrade us to a PH3 or better, if the opportunity arises.

A bit about us, we usually take 4-6 trips a year, mostly international, mostly land based independent. We cruise on occasion, usually itinerary driven, or to join a group of friends or family. Lately, we have been thinking that we would like to try some of the luxury cruise lines, and possibly cruise a bit more in place of some of our land trips. We are getting older (although not old, 50 and 55 this year), and would like a bit more pampering on occasion. Thus our first booking of Oceania....

As it stands now on our sailing, all the categories below us are Wait List, all the categories above us are Available. Here are my questions -

Would you give up the B3 open side extended balcony for a PH3?

Any idea what a typical upgrade offer would be for this switch on a 7 night?

Any idea if this is a possibility to be offered?

For the record, I would not be interested in accepting an upgrade to a Concierge/A category cabin, or switching to another sailing.

Any and all opinions appreciated.

[tropicalkerry2002]

We DID switch from a B3 extended balcony to a PH, but we were on a 2 wk Med cruise.

The PHs are AMAZING, and you will have a MUCH bigger room, with a butler; what a treat for a 25th anniversary! The walk in closet alone almost made it worth the extra $$.

Having your dinner served by your butler course by course in your own room is quite an experience.

Having been in a PH, A and B before, we knew the PHs were fabulous.

At the time we upgraded to PH, we could have either PH1, 2, or 3, all for the same price. We took PH2, as PH1s on deck 11 are the cabins with the "overhang" on the balcony.

I also agree that I wouldn't pay to go from B to A, for the small difference in amenities.

I had asked about the cost to upgrade to a PH about 3 months beforehand, and it was more than I wanted to pay, but a month later it was more in my range. People on the roll call were also offered upsells, some reportedly paid more than me, some less.

After final payment is made, if PH is available, I would look at the difference between price for your B3 and the PH, and wouldn't pay more than half of the difference AT MOST.

Why not have your TA make an offer, even before final payment?

Edited June 28, 2014 by tropicalkerry2002
correction

[pacheco18]

I also have an upgrade question, that I'm hoping some of you will weigh in with your opinion.

DH and I are sailing on the Riviera in October in a B3 cabin (one of the four B3's with the extended balcony that is open to one side). After a lot of planning and research, I booked this voyage/cabin last year.

As we are celebrating a bit of a milestone on this trip - our 25th wedding anniversary - I have been thinking that it might be a nice surprise from me to upgrade us to a PH3 or better, if the opportunity arises.

A bit about us, we usually take 4-6 trips a year, mostly international, mostly land based independent. We cruise on occasion, usually itinerary driven, or to join a group of friends or family. Lately, we have been thinking that we would like to try some of the luxury cruise lines, and possibly cruise a bit more in place of some of our land trips. We are getting older (although not old, 50 and 55 this year), and would like a bit more pampering on occasion. Thus our first booking of Oceania....

As it stands now on our sailing, all the categories below us are Wait List, all the categories above us are Available. Here are my questions -

Would you give up the B3 open side extended balcony for a PH3?

Any idea what a typical upgrade offer would be for this switch on a 7 night?

Any idea if this is a possibility to be offered?

For the record, I would not be interested in accepting an upgrade to a Concierge/A category cabin, or switching to another sailing.

Any and all opinions appreciated.

 

Speak to your TA. If you have a TA who is an Oceania specialist he or she can give you the best advice on how to proceed. There are many "ins and outs" of upgrades and upsells -- some of which even the most experienced O cruisers are not privy to.

[hypercafe]

The upgrade policy is, I think,based on how a cruise is filling up, number on wait lists and number of guarantee rooms sold. I do not think you can figure it out nor count on it. I would always say book the room you can afford and like. On one trip we went from OV to A1 for 200$. Next from OV to B1 for 600$ both for two. As for PH, the room is bigger and has different perks. After seeing one and being on board it has no interest for me however it is a personal choice. You can call Oceania revenue dept and ask for your trip or ask your TA to call. The standard A and B rooms are very nice with, I feel, lots of room. Have a nice trip and do not lose sleep over this.

[Mike2131]

The best cabin on an Alaska cruise is an inside for the simple reason that it gets you out of the cabin and on deck to take in your surroundings, which is something no veranda or suite passenger can achieve from their cabins.

 

A penthouse will give you a 90 to 100 degree view, an aft cabin will give you 180 degree bit being on deck will give you 270 to 360

 

Alaska is where you come for the view not the cabin

This our 4th Alaska cruise. The attraction of this cruise was 3-fold; 1) Try Oceania, 2) 2 ports we have never visited - Wrangell and Prince Rupert: 3) As close to an expedition cuise (our favorite type of cruise) that we could get in a short cruise without the high cost. The bear tours in Wrangell and Prince Rupert should be the highlights.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Mike2131

[terry&mike]

Thank you to those who have weighed in on my upgrade offer question, I appreciate you taking the time, and have made some notes.

[cruisingxpert]

I also have an upgrade question, that I'm hoping some of you will weigh in with your opinion.

DH and I are sailing on the Riviera in October in a B3 cabin (one of the four B3's with the extended balcony that is open to one side). After a lot of planning and research, I booked this voyage/cabin last year.

As we are celebrating a bit of a milestone on this trip - our 25th wedding anniversary - I have been thinking that it might be a nice surprise from me to upgrade us to a PH3 or better, if the opportunity arises.

A bit about us, we usually take 4-6 trips a year, mostly international, mostly land based independent. We cruise on occasion, usually itinerary driven, or to join a group of friends or family. Lately, we have been thinking that we would like to try some of the luxury cruise lines, and possibly cruise a bit more in place of some of our land trips. We are getting older (although not old, 50 and 55 this year), and would like a bit more pampering on occasion. Thus our first booking of Oceania..../quote]

 

Are you on the Oct 22nd cruise from Turkey to Athens? If so, call your travel agent quickly. I checked the cruise and Cabin 7128 is available; it doesn't show online unless you use the "select a specific cabin" icon. Best of both worlds - it is a PH2 and it has the extended balcony. Been in it twice and just love it. We got an upsell from our B3 extended balcony to

the aft PH1 for our 7 day August cruise for $500 total - we are thrilled.

 

CJ

[terry&mike]

Thank you, I'll check into it

[MaryDG]

We had an aft cabin for an Alaskan cruise last summer on the Regatta and it was a near perfect experience. We couldn't "pick a side" and with an aft, got both sides and great pics! The moon pics were unbelievable and we loved our veranda. The only downside was that some jerk called our room to accuse us of throwing cigarette butts off the balcony; my spouse was in the shower; I was on the sofa and WE DO NOT SMOKE. Other than that, it was great and we turned down a PH upgrade because we did not want to pick a side.

[Mura]

Did anyone point out to the "jerk" that just because he was receiving cigarette butts didn't mean that they were coming from direction above. They could have come from far above?

 

Mura

[MaryDG]

I was horrified by the call; my spouse less so. We chose to ignore that particular idiot. The aft cabin was glorious -- we have booked it for the Panama Canal.

[JimandStan]

I was horrified by the call; my spouse less so. We chose to ignore that particular idiot. The aft cabin was glorious -- we have booked it for the Panama Canal.

 

I don't wan't to defend this "gentleman" and we love the back of the ship Suites, but to be fair there can be occasional effluent from the Funnel which might, to the uninitiated, be mistaken for smoking debris.

If we entertain on the Veranda, we always warn our guests against wearing white.

[MaryDG]

Fine but why pick up the phone and start accusing random people of bad behavior? We saw a napkin float down from the Terrace Cafe but neither of us ran up there to scream at someone. People need to chill out on vacation -- that's part of the experience.