Best time to inquire about an upgrade

[gottaluvcruises12]

I see many of you cruise guru's know a lot about how the system works. Currently on Carnival Splendor for Sept 14, 2017 with an Ocean View room. I wouldn't mine trying out a balcony, I would really love the Cloud 9 Spa balcony (wishful thinking). When is the best time to look out or inquire about an upgrade. Some of you have said that you received a call from the upgrade fairy to upgrade at a decent price.

 

I check the website every day to see if it's a good on balcony rooms and availability.

 

 

Any other tips.

[riffatsea]

IF for some reason the balconies don't sell out they may offer them at lower prices as time gets closer to the cruise.

There is no magic time to get them for a lower cost. It all depends on supply and demand.

[easyboy]

You can also try website of Online TAs. Their allocated cabin may still be available that may not show on Carnival website. After final payment date, it might revert back to Carnival inventory. But, it's still a hit or miss.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[winddawn]

I see many of you cruise guru's know a lot about how the system works. Currently on Carnival Splendor for Sept 14, 2017 with an Ocean View room. I wouldn't mine trying out a balcony, I would really love the Cloud 9 Spa balcony (wishful thinking). When is the best time to look out or inquire about an upgrade. Some of you have said that you received a call from the upgrade fairy to upgrade at a decent price.

 

I check the website every day to see if it's a good on balcony rooms and availability.

 

 

Any other tips.

 

Starting this year, it doesn't seem Carnival is discounting cabin categories as sail date approaches as they have in the past. Yes, some people do get upsell (not free upgrade) calls as sail date approaches, but those are hit and miss and may favor preferred guests. It sounds like you are already doing what you can, which is to check prices frequently. So if you happen to see a price drop that you can live with for the balcony you are seeking, jump on it. That's really the best advice and approach this year where bookings are strong and discounts are few.

[AdGuyMG]

You can also try website of Online TAs. Their allocated cabin may still be available that may not show on Carnival website. After final payment date, it might revert back to Carnival inventory. But, it's still a hit or miss.

 

Unsold Group inventory generally gets recalled 120 to 150 days out depending on the cruise length. The OP's sail date is 7/14. 98 days from today.

[Brad1972]

I'd call your PVP starting maybe 2 months before your sail date and just tell them your interested in upgrading cause you want to make this an amazing cruise, what do you have to offer, convince me. DONT TAKE THE FIRST OFFER. Tell them you cant do any better then that? or i'll have to think about it cause its not quite what i was wanting to spend. let it be for a few days. You may get a call back with a better deal or an email offer. if not call them back and ask them if he could do any better. A lot of people forget, your the customer and you can negotiate the price. Carnival wants to make their passengers happy as much as possible, may not seem like it sometimes but their goal is make as much money as possible and keep you happy. Who knows maybe the upgrade fairy will call you with a great offer. Carnival called me on my first ever cruise and offered me a upgrade from lido balcony to a suite and dont get me wrong for $250 total we could have gotten a nice suite but also taken down to deck 6 or 7. I like to be on Lido deck 9, I picked it for a reason after lots of research for great view, quiet, and close to the open deck and food.

 

Give it a shot and call them and just ask for a deal, but do your homework first and know what standard price difference it is between what room you have now and the balcony you want so you know if their giving you a deal or not. again dont take the first deal unless its a great price drop. give you PVP some time to work his/her magic and see if they'll call back with a better deal or call them back after a few days or week or 2 and ask again if he could do better. whats the worst that can happen? you stay in the cabin you already have and you still have a great cruise or you pay a small discount off for a balcony. all depends on how bad you want it. but if you come off to your PVP as eager they think they have fish on and wont offer you a great deal. let them convince you of the deal.

[seamusdad]

I would check the day after final payment is due. A lot of cabins open up then. TA's release unsold cabins they were holding for group rates, people who booked, especially with a $50 deposit don't pay up and forfeit their room.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

[AmberTeka]

Dear Carnival, If you read this site, Please offer me an Upsell for a 4J cabin on Deck Three on the Carnival Sunshine, sailing to Bermuda in Sept. of 2018. Or an ocean view on Deck Five. Please

 

I have 17 cruises on Carnival. Fifteen more on Hal. Princess. Celebrity. NCL. RCI.

I have never caused a disturbance.\

I always buy Carnival Shore excursions.

We eat in the Steakhouse for celebrations

We always recommend Carnival to our Friends

We always return to Carnival

Trivia is fun. Food is better. Ship is sparkling clean. People are more fun. We don't drink and turn in by ten.

I shop in Fun Stores.

If I write a review for Cruise Critic, and I usually do, the review is glowing. Never had a bad sailing on a Carnival Ship. Never had an issue with Carnival, other than never getting an offer. My daughter and her family went on one Carnival Cruise with us. I paid. She gets offers every other month. She is a primitive camping and hiking sort of Girl anyway. Hiking the Rockies and such.

 

I never get an Offer. Not a VIP offer. Not a casino Offer. Not an upgrade sell. Why we have fifteen cruises on other lines.

Please. Please. Sell me a 4J cabin or an ocean view on Deck Five for that Bermuda sailing. I am more loyal than the Family dog. . Or put me on a waiting list. Please

Edited June 7, 2017 by AmberTeka

[maxydu]

Remember the old saying...."You get what you pay for".......instead of begging, enjoy life and cough up a few bucks.

Can you imagine if every Diamond or Platinum cruiser had expectations of special treatment. Geez.........

If your thread was meant to be funny or sarcastic, I missed the punch line.

[PattBenatar]

Dear Carnival, If you read this site, Please offer me an Upsell for a 4J cabin on Deck Three on the Carnival Sunshine, sailing to Bermuda in Sept. of 2018. Or an ocean view on Deck Five. Please

 

I have 17 cruises on Carnival. Fifteen more on Hal. Princess. Celebrity. NCL. RCI.

I have never caused a disturbance.\

I always buy Carnival Shore excursions.

We eat in the Steakhouse for celebrations

We always recommend Carnival to our Friends

We always return to Carnival

Trivia is fun. Food is better. Ship is sparkling clean. People are more fun. We don't drink and turn in by ten.

I shop in Fun Stores.

If I write a review for Cruise Critic, and I usually do, the review is glowing. Never had a bad sailing on a Carnival Ship. Never had an issue with Carnival, other than never getting an offer. My daughter and her family went on one Carnival Cruise with us. I paid. She gets offers every other month. She is a primitive camping and hiking sort of Girl anyway. Hiking the Rockies and such.

 

I never get an Offer. Not a VIP offer. Not a casino Offer. Not an upgrade sell. Why we have fifteen cruises on other lines.

Please. Please. Sell me a 4J cabin or an ocean view on Deck Five for that Bermuda sailing. I am more loyal than the Family dog. . Or put me on a waiting list. Please

 

 

A for effort. I did not know the upgrade fairy reads this forum. :evilsmile: I would give it to you.

[gottaluvcruises12]

Remember the old saying...."You get what you pay for".......instead of begging, enjoy life and cough up a few bucks.

Can you imagine if every Diamond or Platinum cruiser had expectations of special treatment. Geez.........

If your thread was meant to be funny or sarcastic, I missed the punch line.

 

 

 

I am unsure of what you are talking about. Yes I can pay up to get the balcony and I am fine with my ocean view room. I just know there are ways to go about getting an upgrade. I am looking for suggestions. I don't know what is funny or sarcastic. As you can see other people have gave real suggestions...If you don't have anything nice to say about the topic...why say anything at all?! Have a great day.

[springs741]

Brad1972 has an interesting theory except that PVP can not negotiate price. I know there will be those that post their PVP got them a great deal. Trust me, it was a current Carnival price for a rate code you qualified. Even the upsell fairy can not negotiate price.

 

To Amberteka, I know how you feel. I have 15 Carnival cruises and have paid for 5 additional cruise for family. I also have 27 days booked. I gamble and play bingo. I dine in the Steakhouse at least once per cruise but usually more as we now do 10 day plus cruises. We don't do cheers but order adult beverages and buy wine. None of this seems to matter when the upsell fairy is looking over sailings. The fairy looks for people that have a desirable stateroom.

 

I got my first upsell offer just two weeks ago. I had a 4J between lifeboats (not the perfect 4122 or 4123) and was offered an extended balcony. I had been pricing balcony staterooms and knew the offer was about 1/2 the price it would have cost me to upgrade myself. I took it. We are celebrating our anniversary on the Miracle 14 day Alaska cruise. The point of me sharing---Carnival knew I was looking at balconies and knew the 4J would go quick. Indeed my stateroom returned to inventory the next day and was gone by that evening. Carnival knew the extended balcony staterooms would be the last to go because of the expense. Let's face it $1000 more for a few extra square feet is pricey. So all of these reasons combined to prompt the upsell fairy to call.

 

I am in the group that says, don't wait if you want a different stateroom do it yourself.

[Doggielover68]

I have tried calling to ask for an upgrade deal but have never been successful. The offered rates are always the same as what is available online. However, last year we were called the day before our cruise and we were offered a free upgrade to a higher category interior room. We declined because we were going on a back to back and already had the same room for both. The upgrade would have required us to switch rooms for the second leg.

 

So to answer your question, the odds of getting an upgrade are slim since most ships sell out now. Just book the room you want/can afford and maybe they will call you, maybe they won't.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[gottaluvcruises12]

I guess I should be clear as to I don't want nor need another stateroom. I am totally fine in the room I am in. I just wanted more details to how you get a call from the upsale fairy or the best time to call Carnival to ask to upgrade my room if I choose to do so.

 

It was just a question....

[maxydu]

I am unsure of what you are talking about. Yes I can pay up to get the balcony and I am fine with my ocean view room. I just know there are ways to go about getting an upgrade. I am looking for suggestions. I don't know what is funny or sarcastic. As you can see other people have gave real suggestions...If you don't have anything nice to say about the topic...why say anything at all?! Have a great day.

 

I was thinking that you might be making a mockery of the folks who write John Herald looking for free bee's and were trying to be funny or sarcastic. There was nothing in my response which wasn't nice.

I basically said if you want something in life go for it even if it means paying more. This isn't a dress rehearsal. Begging on a message board won't get you very far......Good luck in your quest!

[bnorris10]

I see many of you cruise guru's know a lot about how the system works. Currently on Carnival Splendor for Sept 14, 2017 with an Ocean View room. I wouldn't mine trying out a balcony, I would really love the Cloud 9 Spa balcony (wishful thinking). When is the best time to look out or inquire about an upgrade. Some of you have said that you received a call from the upgrade fairy to upgrade at a decent price.

 

I check the website every day to see if it's a good on balcony rooms and availability.

 

 

Any other tips.

If you want a cloud 9 I suggest you not wait as they fill up on almost every cruise