Free Cruise Paid Upgrade?

[Bases5]

Free Cruise Paid Upgrade?

 

For those that have gotten a free inside cabin thru the casino and did you paid to upgrade.

 

How did you figure cost (not including port tax)

 

If I look up the cost of a free 4 A cruise only and the cost of a 6 A do you find you just pay the difference.

Or does Carnival do fuzzy math since it's a free 4 A

 

What has been your experience about upgrading?

Edited October 10, 2015 by Bases5

[dms419]

I used got off the pride with a free inside cabin from the casino. We upgraded to an extended balcony for $120 plus taxes for each my husband and I. We also added my daughter for $169 plus tax. We were very happy with the deal!

[twocruiseguys]

Free Cruise Paid Upgrade?

 

For those that have gotten a free inside cabin thru the casino and did you paid to upgrade.

 

How did you figure cost (not including port tax)

 

If I look up the cost of a free 4 A cruise only and the cost of a 6 A do you find you just pay the difference.

Or does Carnival do fuzzy math since it's a free 4 A

 

What has been your experience about upgrading?

 

We have been fortunate to receive a few free cruise offers from the casino, and in each case we upgraded. Prior to calling Carnival to book the cruise and the upgrade, I did a few mock bookings to price out the 4A Interior and then the category of the room we wanted to upgrade to, and then figured the difference to come up with the upgrade price. In each case I was able to come pretty close to the actual price Carnival charged in the end.

 

In fact, we sail next Saturday on the Freedom on a free cruise that we won in the casino in May. While I don't have the figures from my original research, I can tell you that we paid $699 (excluding taxes) for 3 persons when we upgraded to a Category 8C Balcony. Average $233 per person.

 

The taxes, as you probably know, are the same for everyone, regardless of the room category or rate that you pay.

 

As far as the "fuzzy math" is concerned . . . I can only say "yes". When I see my booking online, the individual numbers do not appear to add up. But the total charged is in line with what the agent quoted. In fact, the agent told me to expect this, as it was just the way their systems calculated upgrade rates . . . particularly when we threw the 3rd person in the mix, as the 3rd person is not included in the free offer, bud does qualify for a "3rd person in the same cabin" rate.

 

Hope this helps.

[CCLCruiser4321]

Nope b7t we fortunately cruise 2-4 times a year now and the rest on the cruises are balcony so not to big of deal I will probably see how much it is but is hard to beat free

[cosaraquis1]

Upgraded from inside to oceanview, one time was $50.00 extra per person, next time it was $80.00 per person.Accepted offer both times.

[Bases5]

Did you pick your room when you upgraded or did Carnival choose

[hightownCO]

I've upgraded from a free interior to a OV or balcony. I do my own booking on line. If you log into Carnival with your VIFP# and go to the cruise you have the offer on, it will show you exactly what it costs per person to upgrade to ov, bal or suite.

 

For my offers it's been 100pp for ov; 300pp or 350 to balcony; and 700pp for suite.

 

One thing to note, it's not just the bottom level of the next category up. It's the best available in the category. So you could get the aft extended balcony if it's available.

[winddawn]

The casino offers I received had the upgrade cost stated. The upgrade cost was not based on the going rate: it was plainly stated in the offer I received. For my most recent free cabin offer, I accepted the offer to upgrade from the free inside cabin to an extended balcony cabin for $120 per person. And I was allowed to pick my cabin.

[Bases5]

I've upgraded from a free interior to a OV or balcony. I do my own booking on line. If you log into Carnival with your VIFP# and go to the cruise you have the offer on, it will show you exactly what it costs per person to upgrade to ov, bal or suite.

 

For my offers it's been 100pp for ov; 300pp or 350 to balcony; and 700pp for suite.

 

One thing to note, it's not just the bottom level of the next category up. It's the best available in the category. So you could get the aft extended balcony if it's available.

 

Thanks

My offer states new bookings between 10/12-10/24, 2015

Up to 15 days in length before 04-07-2016

 

So tomorrow when I go on line those offers will be there and I can just book it my self.

 

So are you saying (if available) I could upgrade all the way to a GSOV with just a ocean view upgrade?

[HawkIVette]

I have had 4 offers from the casino (the letter under your door last night of the cruise). Accepted 3 of them and only 1 time upgraded to a balcony. Called the phone number on the letter, got to choose my own room on the 7th floor and paid only difference between inside to balcony on same floor ($350 total upgrade for a third person added + taxes.)

 

One thing I will say is that by paying for the upgrade, our days at sea added to or VIFP points. Have heard that sometimes free cruises don't count towards VIFP points because they are non-revenue fares. Hasn't been the case for me on the 2 free cruises I did take, but others have posted here that was to be the case.

Edited October 12, 2015 by HawkIVette