Why No Cabin Upgrade Offers?

[Daddyfto]

From the moment you book a constant flow of email offers begins.  Cheers, Dinning, Internet, Excursions....but never an cabin upgrade option.  I booked an oceanview as I was going solo and because I'm paying for two wanted to keep the cost down.  DW decides she will be joining me and naturally she  prefers a balcony. The issue is I have a $500 on board credit with this booking and may lose it if I chnge my booking so I wonder why they dont offer upgrade opportunity's?

 

[tallnthensome]

Depends on a lot of things I suppose including what's available and what is not as well as still trying to sell cabins at full price  before making offers and to whom of Iimportaance to Carnival I guess. 

[nwcruiselover]

I have been cruising on Carnival for a long time, and I have only gotten 1 upgrade offer.  It was a “lame” offer, for just about $20 less than  the price I could have gotten without the upgrade offer.  I don’t ever book a cabin hoping for an upgrade because it probably won’t happen.

[john91498]

I was upgraded to an Ocean Suite from an 8D balcony on my last cruise. Cost was $350.

[jennas_mum]

I just got offered an up sell from an inside on deck 6 to an ocean view in deck 1 for $336 today for a 10 day on the miracle. Decided not to take it hoping for another one for a balcony. I know, fat chance but a girl can hope😀

[BlerkOne]

Surely you jest. Free upgrades are the almost never exception and you should expect to lose any perks with the original booking.

[ZoeyVictoria]

I have had several offers over the years, the most notable one being $292 to move from an inside to a corner aft balcony.  About ten days ago, I received an offer to move from an ocean view on deck 2 to a balcony on deck 7 for $104.  This was for a 4-night cruise on the Conquest in mid-November.  Just no way to figure out why or when offers are made.

[csm5986142]

I'm always trying to figure out what prompts upgrade/upsell offers or certain casino offers.

We have been on more than 20 Carnival cruises, and in that time have had 1 upgrade offer, but it was gone by the time I logged in to view it.

I think some itineraries have a much higher demand for balconies (Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal) so if I get an amazing deal on an inside on one of those, I don't expect an upgrade offer (but I do still check frequently... just in case 🙂).

And as an aside... I so wish all those youtubers would quit telling people to head straight to guest services to request an upgrade when they board the ship - it only contributes to the huge lines. ☹️  

[kikimom]

I've never gotten an email with an upgrade offer, but have gotten one on my manage your cruise page on the website.  Just got one this morning - upgrade from deck 2 interior to Spa Balcony on deck 11 for $250 & I'm sailing solo.  Check there frequently.

[woodey]

I am not sure when your booked but all the offers I have heard about and seen were within 90 days of sailing...from what I hear it is when Travel Agents and group bookings turn in there unused Cabins they have not sold they then sort out what they have.

Plus I am assuming you have a casino offer because of the OBC I Had one of those free casino offers  last Year but it was a Inside Cabin I called and asked about upgrades and was denied...My PVP said it is a Casino deal and he couldn't touch it and I would lose the deal I had which was free room $250 casino chips plus drinks....I emailed the Players Club and was told ... Look we gave you a great deal already.....Which they did...

In May I Had a Cruise to Alaska and was inside again But a Different offer, still a good deal through the casino but i payed more it was 500 OBC and drinks ...i got an offer to upgrade to a Balcony for $400 i took it. my siblings who were next door to me tried but were under a better deal... the one i had before... and were rejected...

coming up in October I am doing a 4 day Baja I got a casino deal, the book now pay later...with 500 OBC drinks etc. I booked a Aft Extended Balcony which I have wanted for years to do i paid $900 but im a share holder but I have other OBC so total OBC will be $700 great deal right.... I did get a upgrade offer a dew weeks ago to a Suite for $320 I turned it down I have had suites before I am Platinum so all the perks I already get...

So Be patient nobody has a clue when and where or how the Upgrade Fairy works....my  experience calling and asking goes no where.

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, csm5986142 said:

I'm always trying to figure out what prompts upgrade/upsell offers or certain casino offers.

We have been on more than 20 Carnival cruises, and in that time have had 1 upgrade offer, but it was gone by the time I logged in to view it.

I think some itineraries have a much higher demand for balconies (Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal) so if I get an amazing deal on an inside on one of those, I don't expect an upgrade offer (but I do still check frequently... just in case 🙂).

And as an aside... I so wish all those youtubers would quit telling people to head straight to guest services to request an upgrade when they board the ship - it only contributes to the huge lines. ☹️  

Connecting cabins where the two cabins are not linked and Carnival wants to resell both cabins at a higher rate to someone who needs connecting are the most likely.  Upsells are only due to benefit the cruise lines, not win over customers.

[john91498]

lol, the upsell person is here 🤣

[wemjam]

6 hours ago, Daddyfto said:

From the moment you book a constant flow of email offers begins.  Cheers, Dinning, Internet, Excursions....but never an cabin upgrade option.  I booked an oceanview as I was going solo and because I'm paying for two wanted to keep the cost down.  DW decides she will be joining me and naturally she  prefers a balcony. The issue is I have a $500 on board credit with this booking and may lose it if I chnge my booking so I wonder why they dont offer upgrade opportunity's?

 

I know you hear about it "all the time" here on the forum but you have to understand that is because those people are excited and want to share.  The upgrade fairy is like seeing a unicorn 🦄

 

They are the exception not the rule.

 

I have cruised almost 50 times over 20 years and I think I have received 3 offers total. 1 was a good one, 2 weren't even that great if I remember correctly.

 

 

[StephPS79]

I received a phone call upgrade offer on Magic in June from interior to balcony for $150.  Definitely took that!  5 night sailing and had an GYT interior.  I’ll say, it’s probably because they oversold and didn’t have a spot, as the sailing was sold out for a while, and then 3 weeks before, they opened up some rooms and I jumped on one.  Got a phone call they day before we left with the upgrade offer.

[lostsoulcruiser]

20 hours ago, Daddyfto said:

From the moment you book a constant flow of email offers begins.  Cheers, Dinning, Internet, Excursions....but never an cabin upgrade option.  I booked an oceanview as I was going solo and because I'm paying for two wanted to keep the cost down.  DW decides she will be joining me and naturally she  prefers a balcony. The issue is I have a $500 on board credit with this booking and may lose it if I chnge my booking so I wonder why they dont offer upgrade opportunity's?

 

 Upgrades are a function on how full the ship is and the distribution of passengers across the cabin categories.  Never a guarantee of an upgrade offer especially on nearly full ships.  

The upgrade offers I have received in the past have always been within two months before leaving, never earlier.  I assume Carnival wants to book the rooms thru other channels to optimize revenue.  

I have not taken any of the upgrades because they were either not worth it or I already was happy with the room I had booked.  

IMHO, call either your TA or Carnival, depending on how you booked the room, and just upgrade the booking.  You may not lose the OBC but at least you will know for sure and can make your decision accordingly.  BTW, good luck getting in touch with Carnival.   

[wemjam]

1 hour ago, lostsoulcruiser said:

 Upgrades are a function on how full the ship is and the distribution of passengers across the cabin categories.  Never a guarantee of an upgrade offer especially on nearly full ships.  

The upgrade offers I have received in the past have always been within two months before leaving, never earlier.  I assume Carnival wants to book the rooms thru other channels to optimize revenue.  

I have not taken any of the upgrades because they were either not worth it or I already was happy with the room I had booked.  

IMHO, call either your TA or Carnival, depending on how you booked the room, and just upgrade the booking.  You may not lose the OBC but at least you will know for sure and can make your decision accordingly.  BTW, good luck getting in touch with Carnival.   

I also think what type of room you have to start with plays into it.  When we received our upgrades we had booked into an inside room (which we rarely do).  Every once in a while we will do a "down and dirty" cheap trip here out of Michigan and if an inside room is dirt cheap we will take it along with a lower priced flight.

 

It is easier for them to sell the cheaper rooms than the more expensive ones, so when they get closer to cruising if the algorithms tell them so, they will offer upgrades to move people to the more expensive rooms for an upcharge and then sell the inside / ov rooms 

 

We just did this for the first time in a long time, booked a cruise for October in an inside room at like $94 per person... we will see if we get an offer to move up for some extra $$

Edited August 4, 2022 by wemjam

[ProgRockCruiser]

1 minute ago, wemjam said:

I also think what type of room you have to start with plays into it.  When we received our upgrades we had booked into an inside room (which we rarely do).  Every once in a while we will do a "down and dirty" cheap trip here out of Michigan and if an inside room is dirt cheap we will take it along with a lower priced flight.

 

It is easier for them to sell the cheaper rooms than the more expensive ones, so when they get closer to cruising if they algorithms tell them so, they will offer upgrades to move people to the more expensive rooms for an upcharge and then sell the inside / ov rooms 

This.  We've been offered an upgrade once, from a Cove Balcony to a regular balcony higher up - the system algorithm thinks the regular balcony is more desired.  But we picked a Cove on purpose, so we had no desire to move, and it would have cost more!

 

Almost every other cruise we've booked very particular cabins (like aft extended balcony, or the Scenic Ocean View up top on Elation), which don't have an obvious "easy" upgrade without going to Suites.

 

A cruise we've booked for late 2023 is the first one with a "generic" balcony, so I do wonder whether we'll be offered an upgrade to a bigger (aft extended or something) balcony, or a suite perhaps.

[Schoifmom]

The offers happen.  We were just on the Splendor and about 2 weeks prior to sailing I got a phone call from the upgrade fairy and we went from a Spa Interior to Spa Suite for $500.  I know that sounds like a lot of money, but I got the interior dirt cheap and we were still all in well under the cost of the suite.

[wemjam]

3 minutes ago, Schoifmom said:

The offers happen.  We were just on the Splendor and about 2 weeks prior to sailing I got a phone call from the upgrade fairy and we went from a Spa Interior to Spa Suite for $500.  I know that sounds like a lot of money, but I got the interior dirt cheap and we were still all in well under the cost of the suite.

Never said it didn't happen.  Sure it does, but a lot of people see all the reports of it on the forum and just think it happens ALL the time or something - like OP.

 

It is the exception not the rule.

[Schoifmom]

1 minute ago, wemjam said:

Never said it didn't happen.  Sure it does, but a lot of people see all the reports of it on the forum and just think it happens ALL the time or something - like OP.

 

It is the exception not the rule.

Not sure why you thought my post was directed at you??? 😏

[wemjam]

2 minutes ago, Schoifmom said:

Not sure why you thought my post was directed at you??? 😏

Didn't specifically, worded that wrong.  Just was saying yes it happens, but OP's post made it seem like they expected it to happen.  

 

I think because we see it here all the time from people it can be a bit deceiving.

[IrishSails]

I received an email yesterday offering an upsell. I could follow the link but there wasn’t anything on “My Offers” page on the Carnival site. Kept the $500 OBC so it was an easy decision.

Last cruise I received a phone only. 
 

I think it’s random.

[slavigne5577]

I received an offer yesterday $152 to move from interior walkway view on deck 6 to Oceanview deck 2. I am 163 days from cruising. I declined offer.

[tweak89]

We got one as well, interior to ocean view for $120.  We went ahead and took it.  We were going to try our first interior room, but when the offer came up, we took it.  We've only ever had balcony cabins, so this will maybe be a better step to see how we would handle an interior type room.

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, wemjam said:

Never said it didn't happen.  Sure it does, but a lot of people see all the reports of it on the forum and just think it happens ALL the time or something - like OP.

 

It is the exception not the rule.

And people do fib...  Like I only spend $20 in the casino and I got an offer for a free suite.  The easiest "upgrade" is to tell your spouse you got a free upgrade for a balcony because you booked it and told them it was an interior...