What was your recent experience on an upsell offer with HAL?

[canadianbear]

16 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

Reporting an upsell offer......

 

• sailing 3/24 Oosterdam South America 17 night
• booked VF balcony
• got email upsell offer yesterday (2/27 at t-minus 26 days), from big internet TA (yahoo, I've got them to send them now)
• move from VF balcony to Signature Suite SS to SZ for $749pp.  No Neptune offer.

 

Not interested. 

 

How did you manage to get the big TA to do that, that’s great.  Most don’t.   Did you ask about a Neptune or did they just say none were offered? 
 

 

[FlaMariner]

1 minute ago, canadianbear said:

How did you manage to get the big TA to do that, that’s great.  Most don’t.   Did you ask about a Neptune or did they just say none were offered? 
 

 

So we deal with one person at the big internet TA and I've told her that we are very interested and to please send them....And she did!  Hope that continues.  It's a first.

 

I did not ask about Neptunes but when I do a "dummy" reservation they are saying Sold Out.  

 

Not sure how real that is.

 

I will be "dialing for dollars/upsells" again once we get closer.

[canadianbear]

4 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

 

So we deal with one person at the big internet TA and I've told her that we are very interested and to please send them....And she did!  Hope that continues.  It's a first.

 

I did not ask about Neptunes but when I do a "dummy" reservation they are saying Sold Out.  

 

Not sure how real that is.

 

I will be "dialing for dollars/upsells" again once we get closer.

Thanks for responding.  The big TA we’ve used in the past we get whomever we get unfortunately.  Glad she’s sent it to you and yes, hope that continues! 

[KroozNut]

On 2/26/2023 at 5:31 PM, Nodakboiler said:

We have upgraded to aft balconies and aft Neptune suites in the past which are definitely desirable cabins!

 

Maybe, or maybe not... depending on what the price tag was for those 'upgrades'.

[VennDiagram]

36 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

 

Maybe, or maybe not... depending on what the price tag was for those 'upgrades'.

 

Speaking as someone who has accepted AND ignored upsell offers, the value offered varies from cruiser to cruiser, and from offer to offer.  Sometimes the offer doesn't meet our comfort level, and other times it does.  And I'm sure that the ones we rejected were happily taken by other cruisers.  It is up to each of us to decide what offers value, and what doesn't offer value.

[Anne614]

We recently received an upsell off on our 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise. Our cabin was a free obstructed ocean view. Our offer was $249 pp for an upgraded ocean view.  We are not interested in that offer.

[FlaMariner]

4 minutes ago, Anne614 said:

Our cabin was a free obstructed ocean view.

 

Casino?

 

(I so wish I could cruise FREE...that's fantastic)

[Anne614]

There was no mention of casino in our offer. We have only one sailing on HAL which was last May.  We spent maybe 15 minutes in casino and we did play bingo once. So we really don’t know what is triggering our multiple free cruise offers. 

[Iamthesea]

4 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

So we deal with one person at the big internet TA and I've told her that we are very interested and to please send them....And she did!  Hope that continues.  It's a first.

 

I did not ask about Neptunes but when I do a "dummy" reservation they are saying Sold Out.  

 

Not sure how real that is.

 

I will be "dialing for dollars/upsells" again once we get closer.

I take it that you did not take the SS offer?

[FlaMariner]

Awesome.  I'd love to know that formula. 

 

Wonder if I walk slowly thru the casino if that will help?  

[FlaMariner]

1 minute ago, Iamthesea said:

I take it that you did not take the SS offer?

 

Correct.  Did not take the offer.

 

[ddauber]

We sail on 3/4 and have a casino cruise free obview room.  I got a email this past week for a upgrade to a balcony room for $399/p.  No thanks.  Thats probably what the original cruise cost was.  With taxes and port fees, we are already paying $1k for this free cruise.  lol  It is 10 days though so not a bad deal.

[DaveOKC]

13 minutes ago, ddauber said:

We sail on 3/4 and have a casino cruise free obview room.  I got a email this past week for a upgrade to a balcony room for $399/p.  No thanks.  Thats probably what the original cruise cost was.  With taxes and port fees, we are already paying $1k for this free cruise.  lol  It is 10 days though so not a bad deal.

IMO, 399 is a bit high for that upsell, even for a 10 day cruise.  But, I do think the normal price for that cabin for 10 days would be more than $1000 (depends alot on WHICH balcony subcategory you get).

[FlaMariner]

1 hour ago, ddauber said:

We sail on 3/4 and have a casino cruise free obview room.  I got a email this past week for a upgrade to a balcony room for $399/p.  No thanks.  Thats probably what the original cruise cost was.  With taxes and port fees, we are already paying $1k for this free cruise.  lol  It is 10 days though so not a bad deal.

 

FWIW.....Looked up the cruise and it is showing SOLD OUT for balcony and suites w/insides going for $699 & outsides going for $749.....looks like they were successful filling the high $$$ cabins.  

 

Enjoy the cruise!

 

My source is a very large online TA website. 

 

[HappyInVan]

19 hours ago, Anne614 said:

There was no mention of casino in our offer. We have only one sailing on HAL which was last May.  We spent maybe 15 minutes in casino and we did play bingo once. So we really don’t know what is triggering our multiple free cruise offers. 

 

That's why I'm reluctant to pay up on HAL ships. With the reduced quality and the upsells, I just don't see the value. I would rather pay C$1k pd on Explora/Crystal/Ponant/MSC-YC.

[iluvthe-c]

Received this email forwarded from HAL to my large online TA (I work with a designated consultant) on 2/27/23.  Sailing on the N Statendam 3/12/23.  Original cabin booked is an inside on Deck 11.  This is our first HAL cruise, 14th cruise in general.

PREFERRED LIMITED UPGRADE SPECIAL Upgrade for select bookings from your Interior Stateroom (Category IQ to N) to the following best available: Verandah (Category VQ to VF) for an additional $249pp USD/$311pp CAD

 

I did not take the offer.  We would have ended up on Deck 8 or 10 I believe.

[0106]

You can always call (you might need to have your TA call with you on the line too) and find out what cabins are available for the upsell.

[FlaMariner]

8 minutes ago, 0106 said:

You can always call (you might need to have your TA call with you on the line too) and find out what cabins are available for the upsell.

 

If you call on your own, I strongly suggest you:

 

1) have credit card ready

2) have deck plan ready

3) be ready to make a decision now (others are waiting on the line and no dilly dallying)

4) understand that if you do not take the offer because you want to talk it over with the spouse and then you call back in 10 minutes the offer may not be available and you should not be mad at HAL.

 

 

[Iamthesea]

1 hour ago, iluvthe-c said:

Received this email forwarded from HAL to my large online TA (I work with a designated consultant) on 2/27/23.  Sailing on the N Statendam 3/12/23.  Original cabin booked is an inside on Deck 11.  This is our first HAL cruise, 14th cruise in general.

PREFERRED LIMITED UPGRADE SPECIAL Upgrade for select bookings from your Interior Stateroom (Category IQ to N) to the following best available: Verandah (Category VQ to VF) for an additional $249pp USD/$311pp CAD

 

I did not take the offer.  We would have ended up on Deck 8 or 10 I believe.

Not sure what you paid for an Inside, but considering that the rate for the current lowest Veranda stateroom is $849pp, I would have jumped on the upgrade to have a balcony. 

 

I would have also taken FlaMariner's offer from Veranda to Signature.   But that's just me.

 

Unfortunately, I will probably not be getting any offers for a Signature Suite since there are only 4 left on our upcoming cruise.

[KroozNut]

3 hours ago, iluvthe-c said:

Received this email forwarded from HAL to my large online TA (I work with a designated consultant) on 2/27/23.  Sailing on the N Statendam 3/12/23.  Original cabin booked is an inside on Deck 11.  This is our first HAL cruise, 14th cruise in general.

PREFERRED LIMITED UPGRADE SPECIAL Upgrade for select bookings from your Interior Stateroom (Category IQ to N) to the following best available: Verandah (Category VQ to VF) for an additional $249pp USD/$311pp CAD

 

I did not take the offer.  We would have ended up on Deck 8 or 10 I believe.

 

Good choice, we received a similar offer for our sailing on NS in two weeks and didn't bite.

[Florida_gal_50]

3 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

Good choice, we received a similar offer for our sailing on NS in two weeks and didn't bite.

Didn’t you say that you had do not upsell checked on your cruise.  It stuck in my mind because I’ve never heard of that ever.  Do not upgrade yes, but do not upsell, no.

[KroozNut]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Didn’t you say that you had do not upsell checked on your cruise.  It stuck in my mind because I’ve never heard of that ever.  Do not upgrade yes, but do not upsell, no.

 

Yes, at least I thought I did. But that one popped in the other day which surprised me since we haven't received one in a very long time.

When I looked at it, I recalled immediately why I'd rather not be bothered with them.

[DaveOKC]

I normally mark my cruises Do Not Upgrade and still get upsell offers, which is great for me.  I like to pick my cabin and once I have I do not want HAL to move me to what could be an inferior location (in my eyes).  An upsell is fine however, as I can still control the new cabin location (or turn it down).

 

 

[Iamthesea]

Not an upsell, but I did notice yesterday that prices had gone down for my cruise.   We upgraded from our VA to an A Vista Suite for $410 total! Many say upgrading to the Vista for any price is too much, but we felt that $210pp was worth it.  We like that the Vista's are better located in the ship.  We also love that the bed is near the balcony. Opens the stateroom up!  

 

There are still no upsells available for our cruise, but we are one step closer to the Signature Suite, if by a miracle, more were to open up. 😁  Not counting on it, and very content with the Vista.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Not an upsell, but I did notice yesterday that prices had gone down for my cruise.   We upgraded from our VA to an A Vista Suite for $410 total! Many say upgrading to the Vista for any price is too much, but we felt that $210pp was worth it.  We like that the Vista's are better located in the ship.  We also love that the bed is near the balcony. Opens the stateroom up!  

 

There are still no upsells available for our cruise, but we are one step closer to the Signature Suite, if by a miracle, more were to open up. 😁  Not counting on it, and very content with the Vista.

Looks like you are on a pinnacle ship for your cruise.  I took an upsell to a vista from a balcony.  It was a waste of money in my mind.  It was barely bigger and the balcony was tiny compared to the balcony room.  I wouldn't do it again on a pinnacle ship.