Princess stateroom downgrade!?!?!?

[letsgonow]

We’re booked on the 1/5 Regal sailing for a family cruise, multiple staterooms.  My brother booked stateroom M108 for two passengers on July 15, for the extra large balcony (category M6 ~ premium mini-suite).   Since then, they have been reassigned to A408 (category MA ~ standard mini-suite).  He never received an downgrade e-mail.  He’s contacted the online agency that claims best price, as well as Princess.  They claim it’s an upgrade.  Not sure why a move from premium to standard is an upgrade?  We’ve booked countless guarantee cabins, and are just happy to be cruising.  But this doesn’t seem like an upgrade.  Confused!

 

[Colo Cruiser]

42 minutes ago, letsgonow said:

We’re booked on the 1/5 Regal sailing for a family cruise, multiple staterooms.  My brother booked stateroom M108 for two passengers on July 15, for the extra large balcony (category M6 ~ premium mini-suite).   Since then, they have been reassigned to A408 (category MA ~ standard mini-suite).  He never received an downgrade e-mail.  He’s contacted the online agency that claims best price, as well as Princess.  They claim it’s an upgrade.  Not sure why a move from premium to standard is an upgrade?  We’ve booked countless guarantee cabins, and are just happy to be cruising.  But this doesn’t seem like an upgrade.  Confused!

 

Was the booking marked "No Upgrade"?

They consider it one because it is a mid ship cabin.

I will have them mark my booking "Meta" upgrade only.

That would be only to the next cabin type. 

IE: inside to OV,  OV to balcony,  balcony to mini suite, mini suite to a suite etc.

None of this moving to a midship cabin because they think I would like it better midship than a forward cabin like you picked.

[letsgonow]

I’m not sure if he selected, or was given the option, of a “no upgrade”.  I realize that mid-ship is desirable, but question why going from a premium mini-suite to a standard mini-suite is an upgrade?  We’ll have a great time, but they were looking forward to that HUGE balcony!      

[Colo Cruiser]

6 minutes ago, letsgonow said:

I’m not sure if he selected, or was given the option, of a “no upgrade”.  I realize that mid-ship is desirable, but question why going from a premium mini-suite to a standard mini-suite is an upgrade?  We’ll have a great time, but they were looking forward to that HUGE balcony!      

This has happened to a few here on CC. Some have demanded the original cabin back and some succeed.

Have you checked on Princess to see if it's still available to be changed back to?

Those big agencies lack a lot in customer service.

[letsgonow]

13 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

This has happened to a few here on CC. Some have demanded the original cabin back and some succeed.

Have you checked on Princess to see if it's still available to be changed back to?

Those big agencies lack a lot in customer service.

So true.  Only insides available. We’ll have a great time regardless.  Hoping other cruisers, who book specific cabins, will learn from this experience.    

Edited December 27, 2019 by letsgonow
Spacing

[franktown]

Princess considers it a significant upgrade.  If you look at my next cruise on the Enchanted Princess next November the price of M105 is $1389 and the price of the MA A408 is 1629.   As other have said if you or your travel agent doesn't mark your reservations no upgrade Princess thinks it giving you a free upgrade.

[letsgonow]

True - make sure you specify “no upgrade”!!  Those rear penthouse suites on Marina deck could turn into midship minis!!!  

[tmt218]

Yes I learned a lesson on not marking my booking as "no upgrade" on my upcoming cruise on the Emerald . I went from an inside on Riviera deck (IE) to an inside on Plaza (IA). They call it an upgrade as it's midship but it's a lower deck. 

[CruiseVA]

I've always told them to upgrade with my permission. Never been offered and upgrade so... That sucks

[cr8tiv1]

8 minutes ago, tmt218 said:

Yes I learned a lesson on not marking my booking as "no upgrade" on my upcoming cruise on the Emerald . I went from an inside on Riviera deck (IE) to an inside on Plaza (IA). They call it an upgrade as it's midship but it's a lower deck. 

 

I love the Plaza Deck.  So close to everything.  I hope you were assigned one of the "private hallway rooms".

[geoherb]

Going from a Cat. M6 to a Cat. MA is a downgrade not an upgrade. Princess messed up. If he can't get the original cabin back, they owe him big time.

[tmt218]

9 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I love the Plaza Deck.  So close to everything.  I hope you were assigned one of the "private hallway rooms".

 

From the deck plans I can't really tell. I'm in P330 behind the art gallery and below the casino. Not sure how quiet it will be. It will be nice to be close to most everything and the promenade deck. 

 

I do have the mind set of I'm happy to be on the ship. 

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, tmt218 said:

 

From the deck plans I can't really tell. I'm in P330 behind the art gallery and below the casino. Not sure how quiet it will be. It will be nice to be close to most everything and the promenade deck. 

 

I do have the mind set of I'm happy to be on the ship. 

 

I had to really read these posts.  OP is on the Regal.  You had mentioned the Emerald...Had to get my bearings straight.

 

P330 is an inside cabin.  Depending on who is manning the "door" leading to the piazza, it may be opened during the day and closed at night.  Not many will use this hallway.  Quick access to all three public decks.  Great access to forward and mid-ship elevators.  Occasional "noise" when art people are moving pictures around.  I think it is one of the best locations on the grand class ships.  Grab a bite from the International Cafe/coffee bar and take it back to your room without spilling contents!

[Astro Flyer]

3 hours ago, geoherb said:

Going from a Cat. M6 to a Cat. MA is a downgrade not an upgrade. Princess messed up. If he can't get the original cabin back, they owe him big time.

 

Based on the deck plans from the Destination Collection booklet that’s very true...it’s a downgrade from M6 (Club Class Mini-Suite) to MA (Mini-Suite).

Edited December 27, 2019 by Astro Flyer

[CATGUY7]

4 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

Based on the deck plans from the Destination Collection booklet that’s very true...it’s a downgrade from M6 (Club Class Mini-Suite) to MA (Mini-Suite).

This is what I don’t understand.  How can they be moved from a Club Class Minj to a Mini without an adjustment in price?  Since Club Class Mini’s are at the high end of the pricing scale,, I’d be on the phone with someone until I got the original

cabin back, a price adjustment or Princess added the Club Class perks to the new stateroom.  

[skynight]

A downgrade for sure. Club Class to non Club Class. That's a big difference, maybe something like $500/pp plus not having the Club Class dining. Your brother deserves major compensation, or his cabin back. 

Edited December 27, 2019 by skynight

[Knickearth]

6 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I had to really read these posts.  OP is on the Regal.  You had mentioned the Emerald...Had to get my bearings straight.

 

P330 is an inside cabin.  Depending on who is manning the "door" leading to the piazza, it may be opened during the day and closed at night.  Not many will use this hallway.  Quick access to all three public decks.  Great access to forward and mid-ship elevators.  Occasional "noise" when art people are moving pictures around.  I think it is one of the best locations on the grand class ships.  Grab a bite from the International Cafe/coffee bar and take it back to your room without spilling contents!

Having recently gotten off the emerald, we were in cabin p328. After 1 night we and the people in the next cabin had to move as there was a horrible continuous noise 24/7.  Fortunately it was easy as ship wasn’t sold out.

[WillCruiseForMoney]

M6 to an MA is a significant downgrade. Categories M followed by a number (with the bigger numbers being better) are considered higher categories than M followed by a letter.  

 

 

[MCC retired]

M6 to a MA is a 1 category Downgrade .

Should be entitled to compensation $$$  , don't give up .

Unless you booked and paid for a lower category than MA Guarantee rate and were changed from a M6 to a MA, then all bets are off.

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by MCC retired

[letsgonow]

32 minutes ago, MCC retired said:

M6 to a MA is a 1 category Downgrade .

Should be entitled to compensation $$$  , don't give up .

Unless you booked and paid for a lower category than MA Guarantee rate and were changed from a M6 to a MA, then all bets are off.

 

He didn’t book a guarantee - he selected the stateroom, and paid the current rate.  It was booked online, so not sure if he had the choice to say “no upgrade”.  But this isn’t an upgrade anyway.

[letsgonow]

11 hours ago, franktown said:

Princess considers it a significant upgrade.  If you look at my next cruise on the Enchanted Princess next November the price of M105 is $1389 and the price of the MA A408 is 1629.   As other have said if you or your travel agent doesn't mark your reservations no upgrade Princess thinks it giving you a free upgrade.

M105 is a standard mini-suite.  M108 is a premium mini-suite.  So he’s been moved from premium to standard.

[azbirdmom]

He should try again with Princess as it sounds like the online agency is useless.  If the Princess CSR insists it's an upgrade, he should ask to speak to a supervisor.  All you need to do is look at the deck plans to see that it's a downgrade, plus losing Club Class is a huge change.  If they can't move him back to his original cabin, they should provide compensation for their mistake.

[skynight]

It sounds to me that the on line agency messed up. Do you have any original documents from Princess which says M108? I would get these. If you don't have them the on line agency should. This is a major downgrade from Club Class to non-Club Class. Princess would not normally do this. My thought is that the on line agency when transmitting the original booking to Princess did not transmit the cabin as you thought was booked and transmitted a lower guarantee category, maybe from cabins the agency had blocked.

Do you have hard copy of anything that can be faxed to Princess?

[letsgonow]

21 minutes ago, skynight said:

It sounds to me that the on line agency messed up. Do you have any original documents from Princess which says M108? I would get these. If you don't have them the on line agency should. This is a major downgrade from Club Class to non-Club Class. Princess would not normally do this. My thought is that the on line agency when transmitting the original booking to Princess did not transmit the cabin as you thought was booked and transmitted a lower guarantee category, maybe from cabins the agency had blocked.

Do you have hard copy of anything that can be faxed to Princess?

Great advice.  I’ve passed this on to my brother.  Thanks.

[franktown]

1 hour ago, letsgonow said:

M105 is a standard mini-suite.  M108 is a premium mini-suite.  So he’s been moved from premium to standard.

You are correct.  Read the stateroom # wrong.  Was to late to edit after I realized it.