friends who are new to Carnival got upgraded and we loyal to Carnival didn't?

[korky1]

Hi

 

Our friends and us booked a guaranteed outside cabin each on Carnival Legend for a 9 night cruise round Pacific Islands sailing 17th Feb. We both booked on same day (last August) and paid the same price, in full, at time of booking. We were allocated our cabin 1231 about 6 weeks ago, an ocean view cabin near midship which is fine. Our friends were allocated their cabin only last week, (cabin 5166) obstructed balcony. This will be our 5th Carnival cruise which is good going, as Carnival have only been in Australia for about 3 years. On our last cruise, there were a grand total of 21 people at the special past passenger meet the Captain/free drinks event so that gives you an idea of how few people have had a chance to build up loyalty points yet. This is our friends first Carnival cruise so I was surprised that they got an upgrade and we didn't. Happy for them, but a teeny weeny bit jealous as we are the loyal customers and they aren't. Any idea what determines who gets an upgrade and who doesn't? Is it just the luck of the draw?

[welldone60]

The luck of the draw. I don't think it has anything to do with how many times you have cruised with Carnival. We have never received an upgrade of any kind, in fact we have never received an up sell call.

[springs741]

I and many other here would like to know the magic formula for determining who gets and elusive upgrade or upsell. I have sailed 11 times and paid for those 11 plus 5 additional staterooms. All of this in just over 4 years. That sounds loyal, right? I have never had an upgrade or upsell call.

[Indytraveler83]

oops. Re read your question and my original answer didn't make sense.

 

Seems random. May have been that they had a balcony open up and thus the last minute assignment got to take it?

Edited January 23, 2016 by Indytraveler83
Misread...

[michaelandjoanne]

I have gotten the upgrade deals on every cruise I have taken with Carnival. I have no idea if these are the reasons or not but I have always done the following:

a) Booked my first cruise with Carnival through one of their Vacation Planners.

 

b) Always took the upgrade deal when called a couple weeks before the cruise date (balcony to suite)

 

c) Always pre-paid the gratuities (making them non-adjustable on the cruise)

[DebJ14]

Don't feel bad - 56 cruises across all lines and never an upgrade or offer to upsell. 34 of them were on Carnival.

[ATL_Miami_Cruiser]

First time cruisers seem to have the best luck for upsells and upgrades. It was that way the first few times I cruised, I'd get calls for good upsells. But now if I'm lucky they offer an upsell for the same type of room in an undesired location and deck which I politely decline.

[Rosethorn40]

I think many on these boards feel your pain. A few years ago Carnival was mailing out offers for free cruises. Some people got 2 or 3, while others (Including me!) got none. I had introduced my best friend from high school to cruising back in 2011. It was her first cruise, my 13th, but first Carnival. After that cruise she had sailed once more with Carnival, while DH & I had sailed 3 additional times. She got the free cruise, we got nothing.

 

Maybe those that think it's the newer cruiser that gets the free upgrades may be on the right track. If you have proven to be a loyal, repeat customer most businesses don't feel they need to woo you any longer. We received one free upgrade our entire cruise history; from an interior on the Baja deck, to an interior one deck up on the Aloha deck (This was on Princess) on our third cruise with them. Since then it's been I've gotten what I paid for. However, that said, I have managed to get some decent upsells by calling the cruise line and asking if a paid upsell was possible.

Edited January 23, 2016 by Rosethorn40

[texast518]

Hi

 

Our friends and us booked a guaranteed outside cabin each on Carnival Legend for a 9 night cruise round Pacific Islands sailing 17th Feb. We both booked on same day (last August) and paid the same price, in full, at time of booking. We were allocated our cabin 1231 about 6 weeks ago, an ocean view cabin near midship which is fine. Our friends were allocated their cabin only last week, (cabin 5166) obstructed balcony. This will be our 5th Carnival cruise which is good going, as Carnival have only been in Australia for about 3 years. On our last cruise, there were a grand total of 21 people at the special past passenger meet the Captain/free drinks event so that gives you an idea of how few people have had a chance to build up loyalty points yet. This is our friends first Carnival cruise so I was surprised that they got an upgrade and we didn't. Happy for them, but a teeny weeny bit jealous as we are the loyal customers and they aren't. Any idea what determines who gets an upgrade and who doesn't? Is it just the luck of the draw?

14 cruises Carnival (all balconies), not upgrade. 1st cruise on Celebrity, 14 day, upgrade to suite, no way to figure. Same way with Premier casino cruises.

[FloridaGram]

My thought, which is only speculation and has no basis whatsoever, is that first timers get a higher priority because they hope they will come back. If we are loyal and keep coming back with no upsells, why would they offer us one? They KNOW we will be back.

 

We met someone on our last cruise that it was their first and they got an upgrade.

 

That said, I know others have gotten them randomly and I imagine it really is random. But I sure wish I would get one some time!

[riclop]

Hi

 

Our friends and us booked a guaranteed outside cabin each on Carnival Legend for a 9 night cruise round Pacific Islands sailing 17th Feb. We both booked on same day (last August) and paid the same price, in full, at time of booking. We were allocated our cabin 1231 about 6 weeks ago, an ocean view cabin near midship which is fine. Our friends were allocated their cabin only last week, (cabin 5166) obstructed balcony. This will be our 5th Carnival cruise which is good going, as Carnival have only been in Australia for about 3 years. On our last cruise, there were a grand total of 21 people at the special past passenger meet the Captain/free drinks event so that gives you an idea of how few people have had a chance to build up loyalty points yet. This is our friends first Carnival cruise so I was surprised that they got an upgrade and we didn't. Happy for them, but a teeny weeny bit jealous as we are the loyal customers and they aren't. Any idea what determines who gets an upIt's all luck.grade and who doesn't? Is it just the luck of the draw?

It's all luck.

[LovetheTXsun]

We are first time cruisers so probably shouldn't even respond to this lol, but the point you made about their view being obstructed ~ Perhaps Carnival had them flagged for something better bc of this? Just seems to make sense that they would offer it to make a better first impression ~ though not in regards to not offering the better deals to those who are so loyal 😕.

[korky1]

Thanks guys for all your replies - reading some of them makes me feel not so bad LOL. We have done 14 cruises so far and have had one great upgrade with RCI - from a guaranteed oceanview to a midship superior balcony. We booked that cruise only a week before it sailed so that may be why we got the upgrade - rather than move someone who had already been allocated an oceanview to the balcony cabin and give us their room perhaps it was just easier to give us who had no cabin allocated the upgrade?

 

As you say it seems to be pot luck and doesn't really matter. We have had inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins and had a ball regardless.

We have 4 more cruises coming up over the next 6 months so we are very happy chappies at the moment.

[lisajm]

With a guarantee booking its luck of the draw.

[PAPERBKWRITER]

We've cruised 26 Carnival cruises and never got a free upgrade...You are already hooked on cruising maybe Carnival wants to get your friends as repeat also.

[lemansz20]

Upgrades are usually at random and dependent on the location or say if you have 2 people in a cabin that can hold 3 and you dont know. Alot of times to open up space they will offer those people a better category to open up the cheaper options for a family.

 

Also free cruises at random are virtually gone, but casino players still get them at random, trust me on that. If you want to really get cool little perks, jump in that casino and youll see them roll in lol.

[cb at sea]

They are more likely give "upgrades" to new cruisers to get them "hooked"...

[sandebeach]

I just got my first ever "upsell" phone call two days ago, for our cruise on the Breeze leaving tomorrow. They offered me a Spa Balcony on Deck 11, for $125(total) over what I had paid for a mid-ship balcony on Deck 8. I accepted (but my husband was not impressed with the upsell). I was just so amazed to finally get my first-ever upsell call, after many years of cruising. Also, I do play in the Casino, and often got offers for free cruises. I accepted one, and since then, I have never gotten another Casino free cruise offer!!!!

[Sue Do-Over]

Cabin type is a factor... if your room 'holds' 3+, or is handicapped accessible, they may ask/offer a move to accept another party.

 

Guarantees... with separate bookings, they don't know you're linked.

 

If a section is under-sold, they might also move those guests to fill in other sections, which allows them to pull a room steward to another set of tasks, like deep cleaning, windows, bed skirts, or other things that don't happen every week.

[Pesh]

I just got my first ever "upsell" phone call two days ago, for our cruise on the Breeze leaving tomorrow. They offered me a Spa Balcony on Deck 11, for $125(total) over what I had paid for a mid-ship balcony on Deck 8. I accepted (but my husband was not impressed with the upsell). I was just so amazed to finally get my first-ever upsell call, after many years of cruising. Also, I do play in the Casino, and often got offers for free cruises. I accepted one, and since then, I have never gotten another Casino free cruise offer!!!!

 

 

Oh, what cabin number?! I've got a spa balcony on the Breeze on deck 11 in March so would love feedback on them!

[southerngirl8]

Hi

 

Our friends and us booked a guaranteed outside cabin each on Carnival Legend for a 9 night cruise round Pacific Islands sailing 17th Feb. We both booked on same day (last August) and paid the same price, in full, at time of booking. We were allocated our cabin 1231 about 6 weeks ago, an ocean view cabin near midship which is fine. Our friends were allocated their cabin only last week, (cabin 5166) obstructed balcony. This will be our 5th Carnival cruise which is good going, as Carnival have only been in Australia for about 3 years. On our last cruise, there were a grand total of 21 people at the special past passenger meet the Captain/free drinks event so that gives you an idea of how few people have had a chance to build up loyalty points yet. This is our friends first Carnival cruise so I was surprised that they got an upgrade and we didn't. Happy for them, but a teeny weeny bit jealous as we are the loyal customers and they aren't. Any idea what determines who gets an upgrade and who doesn't? Is it just the luck of the draw?

It is the luck of the draw! I am booked on first Carnival cruise on the Vista May 24th, I booked an inside cabin and have gotten upgrades from Deck 2 to 4 to 6 all inside cabins and got a call last week and got an amazing upgrade to Deck 8 WITH a balcony!!! My girlfriend has cruised on Carnival many times and no upgrade for her.

[Bases5]

I have no problem getting a upgrade,

I pull out my wallet and call Carnival

easy pisy

[CdrescherRBL152]

This is a marketing move. You give our loyal clients what they expect (ie: you booked a ov cabin you got ov cabin), and give a new client more then they should expect hoping to make them a loyal client.

[simplelife]

There seems to be no particular pattern for upgrades.. Obstucted balcony are not very popular. Midship OV's are. They probably sold out of OV's) OVs are already sold out on our July Magic cruise -all other types still open)

[sandebeach]

Oh, what cabin number?! I've got a spa balcony on the Breeze on deck 11 in March so would love feedback on them!

 

 

We are in 11222. Leaving for Port of Miami in a bit. Will let you know what the room and dos is like! I am in Ft Lauderdale, it was only 43 degrees this AM so I have told my friends we are cruising to escape the Florida cold!