Tdrott Posted May 16, 2023 #1 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Hello all. I’m about to take a cruise on Iona to the Fjiords. I booked a saver fare as it was a last minute thing and paid for a deluxe balcony cabin as I wished to see the sun rising and setting. When I got allocated my cabin I realised that they’d given me an upgrade to a family suite that has no balcony and I’m most annoyed. Has anyone had the same happen to them ?. I know that going with the saver fare means you can’t select your cabin but surely if you pay for a balcony cabin you should get one ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalos Posted May 16, 2023 #2 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Welcome to C C forum board .🙂 Did you tick the Do Not Upgrade BOX ? If Yes ,I would give who you booked with a ring . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FangedRose Posted May 16, 2023 #3 Share Posted May 16, 2023 That's why you untick the upgrade box. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdrott Posted May 16, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted May 16, 2023 Booking under the Saver fare it’s not an option to refuse an upgrade. If I knew they could change a balcony cabin to an outside cabin, albeit a suite, I’d certainly would have had a rethink 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FangedRose Posted May 16, 2023 #5 Share Posted May 16, 2023 1 minute ago, Tdrott said: Booking under the Saver fare it’s not an option to refuse an upgrade. If I knew they could change a balcony cabin to an outside cabin, albeit a suite, I’d certainly would have had a rethink A suite is an upgrade on a cabin (even a balcony cabin) so was always a possibility. That is why a lot of us pay the extra to guarantee the cabin we want (and make sure we untick the upgrade box). Most of us have been caught out before we learnt that particular lesson. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyMichelle Posted May 16, 2023 #6 Share Posted May 16, 2023 26 minutes ago, Tdrott said: Booking under the Saver fare it’s not an option to refuse an upgrade. If I knew they could change a balcony cabin to an outside cabin, albeit a suite, I’d certainly would have had a rethink Call P&O... They may not help, but they did help us once when we queried the upgrade and put us back into the grade we had paid for. (saver). We now try to book select and choose. Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Megabear2 Posted May 16, 2023 #7 Share Posted May 16, 2023 If you don't like it nothing to be lost in asking. You don't say how many of you travelling, they may have thought if you were a family you would like it. I once had the same happen on an MSC cruise on the Divina. As I was travelling alone I would have rattled around like a lone coffee bean in a tin. I asked at reception if they could swap me with someone else in a balcony and on sailing got the call to say a family would love the swap. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britboys Posted May 17, 2023 #8 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Sadly, it really seems that P&O use the complimentary upgrades to their own ends, rather than as a great boost for the passenger. With so many cabin grades now, it does seem quite easy to effectively have what you might consider a downgrade but because of the gradings, it is considered by the company to be an upgrade... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted May 17, 2023 #9 Share Posted May 17, 2023 This is a clear lesson. If you have what you think is a nice cabin. Always opt out of upgrades Don't think about bid to upgrade. Otherwise will get what others don't want 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejuggler Posted May 17, 2023 #10 Share Posted May 17, 2023 2 hours ago, Britboys said: Sadly, it really seems that P&O use the complimentary upgrades to their own ends, rather than as a great boost for the passenger. With so many cabin grades now, it does seem quite easy to effectively have what you might consider a downgrade but because of the gradings, it is considered by the company to be an upgrade... That has always been the case and why there are so many cabin grades. With dynamic pricing on popular cruises they can try and resell already allocated cabins at higher prices and 'upgrade' the original passengers to higher grade cabins which may not be popular. A seaview suite right at the front may be such a cabin. If I'd booked a balcony, a seaview cabin of any type is a downgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britboys Posted May 17, 2023 #11 Share Posted May 17, 2023 32 minutes ago, Thejuggler said: That has always been the case and why there are so many cabin grades. With dynamic pricing on popular cruises they can try and resell already allocated cabins at higher prices and 'upgrade' the original passengers to higher grade cabins which may not be popular. A seaview suite right at the front may be such a cabin. If I'd booked a balcony, a seaview cabin of any type is a downgrade. Unless my memory is failing me (which is quite possible 🤪) there are a lot more cabin grades now than when I started cruising with P&O 23 years ago. Partly I think down to the accountants maximising revenue and partly due to the size of the newer ships.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrierjohn Posted May 17, 2023 #12 Share Posted May 17, 2023 3 minutes ago, Britboys said: Unless my memory is failing me (which is quite possible 🤪) there are a lot more cabin grades now than when I started cruising with P&O 23 years ago. Partly I think down to the accountants maximising revenue and partly due to the size of the newer ships.... As far back as I remember there have always been 6 categories in each cabin grade, and each grade represents a different cabin type, there are possibly more types of cabin now on the bigger ships, where they added Conservatory mini suites, but most ships have all the other grades. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdrott Posted May 17, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted May 17, 2023 To my mind the upgrade offered is an increase therefore upgrade in the space ( rather pointless as it’s only the two of us) but a decrease and downgrade in facilities. Thanks to you all for your input, I shall ask for it to be changed when I board and keep you informed 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adawn47 Posted May 17, 2023 #14 Share Posted May 17, 2023 20 hours ago, kalos said: Welcome to C C forum board .🙂 Did you tick the Do Not Upgrade BOX ? If Yes ,I would give who you booked with a ring . I didn't think you could tick the no upgrade box on saver fare, only select fare🤔 Avril Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalos Posted May 17, 2023 #15 Share Posted May 17, 2023 4 minutes ago, Adawn47 said: I didn't think you could tick the no upgrade box on saver fare, only select fare🤔 Avril The op kindly put us right in post #4 . I have only done select and wrongly thought there was an upgrade box on saver as well . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdrott Posted May 22, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Just an update as promised. When I eventually got on board I went straight to reception and aired my complaint. The staff didn’t really believe that I’d paid for a balcony and “upgraded” to one without. They asked me for proof of purchase so I got someone to go to my house and send me the invoice via email. Once they saw that they were quite happy to sort me a bald cabin out, a conservatory mini suite. As a side not we hadn’t been cruising for 6 years and hadn’t realised some changes like we now had a boarding time. Normally we’d rock up and they let you on the ship. So we waited outside the checking in area for 3 hours before they’d let us in. When on board by the time we’d sorted the cabin out and downloaded the booking app ALL the restaurants were fully booked for the whole week and now have to join a queue every night for the restaurants so just a heads up to anyone who isn’t aware of these changes. Once again thank you all for your input 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlaMarie Posted May 22, 2023 #17 Share Posted May 22, 2023 38 minutes ago, Tdrott said: Just an update as promised. When I eventually got on board I went straight to reception and aired my complaint. The staff didn’t really believe that I’d paid for a balcony and “upgraded” to one without. They asked me for proof of purchase so I got someone to go to my house and send me the invoice via email. Once they saw that they were quite happy to sort me a bald cabin out, a conservatory mini suite. As a side not we hadn’t been cruising for 6 years and hadn’t realised some changes like we now had a boarding time. Normally we’d rock up and they let you on the ship. So we waited outside the checking in area for 3 hours before they’d let us in. When on board by the time we’d sorted the cabin out and downloaded the booking app ALL the restaurants were fully booked for the whole week and now have to join a queue every night for the restaurants so just a heads up to anyone who isn’t aware of these changes. Once again thank you all for your input Thank you for your update. I'm really pleased that they sorted your cabin for you. Unfortunately there have been many changes, including the introduction of the app. May I ask, how long were you having to wait in the queue for the restaurants? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalos Posted May 22, 2023 #18 Share Posted May 22, 2023 @Tdrott Hope your cruise goes well for you .thanks for the update. Have a great time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdrott Posted May 22, 2023 Author #19 Share Posted May 22, 2023 11 minutes ago, CarlaMarie said: Thank you for your update. I'm really pleased that they sorted your cabin for you. Unfortunately there have been many changes, including the introduction of the app. May I ask, how long were you having to wait in the queue for the restaurants? Not long actually. About 30 mins with about 50+ ahead of you in queue but you have no idea how long you’ll be waiting. I had to check the app to see if table was ready as no alert given although that may be me not using the app correctly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Megabear2 Posted May 22, 2023 #20 Share Posted May 22, 2023 (edited) 8 hours ago, Tdrott said: Not long actually. About 30 mins with about 50+ ahead of you in queue but you have no idea how long you’ll be waiting. I had to check the app to see if table was ready as no alert given although that may be me not using the app correctly You have a fellow CC member on Board Interestedcruisefan. ICF is running a blog in another thread. Would be great if you could post in there so we can see your two differing experiences - he's fully app booked and not queuing etc so would be great to hear how you're doing too. Glad you got the cabin sorted. I assume you aren't sailing full. Edited May 22, 2023 by Megabear2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlaMarie Posted May 22, 2023 #21 Share Posted May 22, 2023 9 hours ago, Tdrott said: Not long actually. About 30 mins with about 50+ ahead of you in queue but you have no idea how long you’ll be waiting. I had to check the app to see if table was ready as no alert given although that may be me not using the app correctly Yes from what I know you have to constantly refresh the app to check for the notification that your table is ready. Pleased the wait isn't too long on this cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mariners Posted May 22, 2023 #22 Share Posted May 22, 2023 Hi all. We got off Iona Sat 20th May after a week in Norway. I regularly read CC but don’t post a lot and I must say we had very positive thoughts on Iona. We regularly joined the virtual queue for dinner at peak times just as we were leaving cabin or headliners show and I think the most we saw was 27/28 in front of us (Coral or Pearl ) Never actually got to a bar to order a drink before notification that our table was ready so we found things worked great. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splice the mainbrace Posted May 22, 2023 #23 Share Posted May 22, 2023 (edited) That’s not good having to wait for 3 hours before boarding. We rocked up last October on Arcadia and went straight on ahead of time. We stay in the Southampton area the night before cruises and I don’t fancy hanging around between vacating the hotel room and killing some hours. We depart on a Cunard cruise this week on Queen Victoria it will be interesting if they are as strict with a smaller ship. Edited May 22, 2023 by Splice the mainbrace 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlaMarie Posted May 22, 2023 #24 Share Posted May 22, 2023 3 hours ago, The Mariners said: Hi all. We got off Iona Sat 20th May after a week in Norway. I regularly read CC but don’t post a lot and I must say we had very positive thoughts on Iona. We regularly joined the virtual queue for dinner at peak times just as we were leaving cabin or headliners show and I think the most we saw was 27/28 in front of us (Coral or Pearl ) Never actually got to a bar to order a drink before notification that our table was ready so we found things worked great. Pleased you enjoyed your cruise and thankyou for your feedback. Your feedback supports that of others regarding less queue time for the MDR's on Iona. Clearly having the 4 main dining rooms works and is needed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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