Upgrade Email Offer

[jschafer6161]

We are currently in an interior room and we got an email offering a balcony on the 6th floor for an additional $780 for four in our room.  We are leaving February 8 for our cruise.  The current savings are about $300 off a balcony room.  Is this a good deal or should I wait it out and see if we get offered a better deal before we sail?  

[amyotravel]

10 minutes ago, jschafer6161 said:

We are currently in an interior room and we got an email offering a balcony on the 6th floor for an additional $780 for four in our room.  We are leaving February 8 for our cruise.  The current savings are about $300 off a balcony room.  Is this a good deal or should I wait it out and see if we get offered a better deal before we sail?  

It's a matter of what is a deal to you at that point. I would never have four in any room, but assuming it's parents and kids? Because four adults, even three and a kid would just be like whoa. But that seems expensive for an upgrade with kids. What deck is your current room on?

 

You are not likely to get multiple offers. Anything could happen, but I have never received more than one, and lately they have not been worth it. . 

[jschafer6161]

Yes it is us, the parents, and our two daughters.  We are currently on the 2nd floor.  We have never had such a low room before.  We've been on 7 and 8 in our prior cruises.  We haven't cruised in almost 10 years so I wasn't sure what to expect nowadays with upgrade offers. 

[amyotravel]

Look on line at your ship's layout. If the deck 6 balcony might be in a pretty noisy spot, i.e. above loud bars or theater, etc., then that is something else to factor in. 

 

Also, try mock booking to look around to see what other rooms are still available to get a feel for how good of a deal it is (supply and demand wise)

Edited November 20, 2019 by amyotravel

[RHilla619]

Problem is if you wait it out for a better deal, there is no guarantee that you even get another upgrade offer. Only you can decide if the extra $780 is worth it, interior to balcony does make the room a little bigger, plus you get the balcony space but you wouldn't be able to fit 4 people on it comfortably so that may impact how much would you use it. 

[amyotravel]

Just now, RHilla619 said:

Problem is if you wait it out for a better deal, there is no guarantee that you even get another upgrade offer. Only you can decide if the extra $780 is worth it, interior to balcony does make the room a little bigger, plus you get the balcony space but you wouldn't be able to fit 4 people on it comfortably so that may impact how much would you use it. 

Ages of the kids can be a factor as well. Younger kids would not get full enjoyment of a balcony and it's extra safety issue for the parents. 

[jschafer6161]

Both of you provide good points!  Our kids are teens.  I'd just like to sit on it and have coffee in the morning or sleep with the door open.  

[amyotravel]

4 minutes ago, jschafer6161 said:

Both of you provide good points!  Our kids are teens.  I'd just like to sit on it and have coffee in the morning or sleep with the door open.  

They would enjoy it, then. But now I am back to the four people in one room issue. Teen girls - yikes!! 🙂

Edited November 20, 2019 by amyotravel

[jschafer6161]

ha ha ha!!!  Well....we used to have 5 girls at home, now only 2 are left so it's much quieter now!

 

[tandemcruzr]

11 minutes ago, jschafer6161 said:

Both of you provide good points!  Our kids are teens.  I'd just like to sit on it and have coffee in the morning or sleep with the door open.  

You can't leave the door open. It can cause a problem with your A/C as well as other cabins A/C around you.

Edited November 20, 2019 by tandemcruzr
Typo

[jschafer6161]

Oh good to know!  Thank you!

[VentureMan_2000]

Once you have a balcony, it's hard to go back to an interior.  Cocktails and coffee on the balcony is nice.

If you can afford the $780, then go for it I say.

[TNcruising02]

Although I can take or leave a balcony, if I was cruising with two teens I would probably go for it.  The extra space would be nice.  It would also allow a couple of people to enjoy the balcony while the other two people are getting ready.  Plus, I think it would be a nice area for you and your spouse to enjoy some quiet time.  It's very peaceful on the balcony.

[blarko]

On my last cruise, I got an email offer to upgrade and the cost was no bargain. I didn’t take it. Three days before my cruise I received a call for another upgrade offer and the price was good so I took it.  My point is.......I did receive more than one upgrade offer for the same cruise. For your upgrade offer, in my opinion, I think $780 is a lot. You could book another cruise for two for that amount.

[VentureMan_2000]

Regarding pricing... often you can find your own upgrade by mock-booking to see if prices have gone down.  I have three cruises booked where the prices went down... $500 on one and $200 on another, and 100 on the third.  In addition, I was able to upgrade the cabin location and categories of each of the first two.

So, perhaps the price of a balcony has gone down enough that you could upgrade for less than that $780.  Only a mock-booking will tell.  Also, make sure it's not an obstructed view balcony, unless you are OK with that.

[jschafer6161]

That's awesome for you!!  How do I know if the balcony is obstructed or not?

[jschafer6161]

1 hour ago, blarko said:

On my last cruise, I got an email offer to upgrade and the cost was no bargain. I didn’t take it. Three days before my cruise I received a call for another upgrade offer and the price was good so I took it.  My point is.......I did receive more than one upgrade offer for the same cruise. For your upgrade offer, in my opinion, I think $780 is a lot. You could book another cruise for two for that amount.

You are right there.  I'd love a balcony but it is a lot. 

[VentureMan_2000]

I believe an obstructed view balcony category is "7A".

 

[pe4all]

We sailed many years (and sometimes still do) with 4 in a balcony cabin - 2 daughters who are now young adults.  Having the balcony was like having an extra room.  While dh and I were on the balcony dd's were showering, dressing, etc.  DH also used the shower in the gym lockerroom to free up the bathroom a bit for us.  While $780 seems like a bit much for the upsell, you might consider it depending on where the cabin is located.  If noise bothers you, a cabin above the showroom,   casino band or another "noisy" area of the ship may not be worth it.  If the cabin is above the shops, that might be good.  I would definitely do a mock booking to see what cabins come up as available.  If you decide to go for the upsell I would call the number they gave and literally ask for a specific cabin, or have a deck plan in front of you on your computer and see what cabins they offer.  You can then make a really educated decision on whether to take it or not.

[CruiseHealing]

Since the cruise is 2+ months away, and considering that is a slow time of year, the cost may be a bit high.  IFirst check the current availability of balconies and the rates for 4 passengers in one cabin on your cruise.  If there are numerous balconies available, then counter back with an unobstructed cabin at the same upgrade price, or counter with a lower price that you consider to more reasonable. 

[bingomamma19]

20 hours ago, jschafer6161 said:

Both of you provide good points!  Our kids are teens.  I'd just like to sit on it and have coffee in the morning or sleep with the door open.  

I love sitting on our balcony and could never go back to not having one.

 

I also prop the door open every night to sleep.  The sound of the ocean is what I sail for!! :):)

[amyotravel]

1 hour ago, bingomamma19 said:

I love sitting on our balcony and could never go back to not having one.

 

I also prop the door open every night to sleep.  The sound of the ocean is what I sail for!! :):)

I don't have that site that starts with F so cannot contact John Heald, but I wonder if this is a good question for someone who does to ask him: "Is sleeping with the balcony door going to affect the A/C in your room and in rooms besides your own?"

People here have said that. See Post # 10 above, and it's not the only time I have heard this. 

 

Because... is that a rumor or fact? If a fact, I would hope nobody near my balcony room does that to me. I certainly would not do it to others. 

[USA41018]

22 hours ago, amyotravel said:

They would enjoy it, then. But now I am back to the four people in one room issue. Teen girls - yikes!! 🙂

I just cruised with 4 in the balcony room.  It was on the Pride and cruising were I, my daughter and son in law and my 17 year old granddaughter.  IMO we had plenty of room both cupboards and drawers.  I was on the sleeper sofa and my granddaughter was in the upper bed.  No problems.

 

[bingomamma19]

54 minutes ago, amyotravel said:

I don't have that site that starts with F so cannot contact John Heald, but I wonder if this is a good question for someone who does to ask him: "Is sleeping with the balcony door going to affect the A/C in your room and in rooms besides your own?"

People here have said that. See Post # 10 above, and it's not the only time I have heard this. 

 

Because... is that a rumor or fact? If a fact, I would hope nobody near my balcony room does that to me. I certainly would not do it to others. 

Not sure...my room has always been a good temperature no matter what.   And nobody has ever said anything to me about it.  

[drafterdw]

23 hours ago, jschafer6161 said:

Both of you provide good points!  Our kids are teens.  I'd just like to sit on it and have coffee in the morning or sleep with the door open.  

the balcony gives you a place to hang out while the teen girls are getting ready. We took our daughters years ago, no balcony.....we left room for an hour so they could get ready for dinner.