How do you get great upgrades??

[LibraByTheSea]

OK now, I want to know how these amazing unasked for upgrades happen. I have been on 17 cruises with Carnival. Am booked for my 18th in October. Have typically booked a balcony but since my divorce I have to watch the $$ a little more closely.

On my upcoming cruise my PVP Guy upgraded me from an inside to an outside right out of the gate. I think he's great and he even offered me an upgrade to an outside on Main Deack, I am on Riviera. Main Deck has public rooms above and Riviera has cabins above. Since a 10 day nightmare in a Suite under the ping pong tables, I am very careful about what noise will be overhead.

What I want to know is how you that got upgraded from a standard outside to a Suite. Have you taken a lot of cruises with Carnival?

Heck, if you added the cruises I have taken on Carnivals sister lines (HAL & Princess) I would be at about 25 cruises. Is that taken into account?

Plus I spend a lot on the ship except in the casino...is that the defining point?

Just wondering:cool:

[mrdood]

We spend tons of money on board, cruise frequently, and have never been upgraded - even when booking a gty.

 

I don't think there is any type of consitency to it...

[Jacky4]

I don't have an answer for you but I do know the number of cruises doesn't matter. On our first cruise we booked an OS GRTY and got upgraded to a suite. I asked our TA why and he basically said we were lucky. I haven't had an upgrade since but cross my fingers everytime.

[lvtotrvl1]

First you need to book a guarantee to be considered for an upgrade. It sounds like you want a cabin assignment to be sure where you are located. 99.9% of the time, cabin assignments are not eligible for an upgrade.

[tinmanswife]

There's no rhyme or reason, just luck. Our first cruise on Carnival (Victory) we booked an OV (for DS/DD) and a balcony for us (neither GTY). We were upgraded to a suite, quite a few cabins away from the OV, but on same deck.

[thoneycu]

On our 1st cruise we booked an IS GTY and were upgraded to an OV, just lucky I guess :p

We chose our cabin this time so no upgrade.....

[aggieastrosfan]

I think you just get lucky, I don't know how it happens. We had a 6D assigned on the Elation 3 years ago. I called our TA and asked about upgrading to a suite, but the cost was too much for us, so I told her to just leave it alone. Well, I was checking on Carnival's website and saw that the picture of our cabin had changed from an OV to a suite. Somehow we got upgraded to a 12 3 weeks prior to sailing. Haven't been that lucky since!

[Jacky4]

After reading all the replies to your question it seems to me they are more likely to give upgrades to first time cruisers. After 17 cruises they know they've got you hooked. :D

[Name game]

I also think it depends on how booked the ship is that you are sailing on.

[parrotthead]

. On our first cruise we booked an OS GRTY and got upgraded to a suite. I asked our TA why and he basically said we were lucky. I haven't had an upgrade since but cross my fingers everytime.

I think this may be part of it. I was upgraded very nicely on my first RCI cruise, booked inside gaurentee and was upgraded to not OV but Balcony!!!

I have my first Carnival cruise booked and I booked OVG so we will see.

I think they sometimes do it to get you 'Hooked'

 

 

:)

(Hey, this is my 1400th post on the regular boards!)

:)

[islahopper]

The first 5 cruises we took (CCL, RCL, NCL) we booked inside cabins and got upgraded to a outside every time. On cruise #6 on the Victory we booked a outside and got upgraded to a Cat 11 balcony. Cruise #7 on the Miracle we booked a balcony and did not get upgraded. On our last cruise on the Spirit in Jan we booked a Cat 11 suite(25th Ann.) and got upgraded to the Cat 12 suite (sweet!!). I have no reason as to why we get upgraded other than that I am a very lucky person. We leave on the Legend on July 15th and as of now no upgrade.

[Wennfred]

There are no formulas on how to get a good upgrade, its hit and miss, just like playing the Lottery.

 

I always book my Cat.1a guarantee cabins and usually end up in a Cat.5a with french doors and obstructed by a Lifeboat.

 

Best upgrade to date was a Cat.4a to a 9a mini suite onboard the Spirit.

 

My last upgrade was a 4a to a 4e. But since it was a pretty bad cabin, I will now book all specific cabins like the Cat.1a with the 2 large windows on the Conquest class ships or any Cat. 9a cabins.

 

 

Fred

[thoneycu]

The first 5 cruises we took (CCL, RCL, NCL) we booked inside cabins and got upgraded to a outside every time. On cruise #6 on the Victory we booked a outside and got upgraded to a Cat 11 balcony. Cruise #7 on the Miracle we booked a balcony and did not get upgraded. On our last cruise on the Spirit in Jan we booked a Cat 11 suite(25th Ann.) and got upgraded to the Cat 12 suite (sweet!!). I have no reason as to why we get upgraded other than that I am a very lucky person. We leave on the Legend on July 15th and as of now no upgrade.

 

 

You need to buy a lottery ticket :D Only 18 more days to go....

The upgrade fairy still has time ;)

[big_duck]

Short answer, book early and pay too much. ;)

[katybugg]

Have anyone booked with a group and had rooms already assigned, received an upgrade? I have booked with a group, and we booked 4A and was upgraded to a 4E. Any chance of getting more upgrades? Will be fine withwhat we have, but was wondering. Also, I was given a room at the back of the ship, E200. Had heard the back was noisy, and asked to be changed to E21. They changed it, and now I am hearing that the front has more motion. :eek:

Should I have stayed in back? This is my second cruise, but DH's first, and he is a bit apprehensive.

I will enjoy my cruise no matter what.

[firefly333]

Short answer, book early and pay too much. ;)

 

I agree with you, I think the computer pulls up what was paid and newbies are apt to have paid more for the same category. We get smarter as we cruise more and pay less.

 

katybugg, BOTH the front and the back have a little more motion, its the middle that has the least. Unless you really think you have a problem, its not really that much extra motion to worry about.

[Lachase]

was when they accidentally double booked our room and the other person luckily got there first. As a result we were moved from a budgetish lower floor room to a balcony upper floor room. It was great but now I am spoiled and only want balcony rooms! Maybe that is a hook as well to tempt people to choose a higher category room next time.

[eddann]

If I get upgraded, it will say it on the carnival websight under cabin assignment?

[IKE]

Believe me its all "LUCK"!!!! Sailed 60 times so far, 10 on Carnival, 10 on HAL, 5 on Costa, 20 on Princess and the rest on Royal Caribbean. Never got a free upgrade on any of these lines. Sailing in Sept. on "Miracle" and took a balcony 8A gty. Not expecting anything great! Just what I paid for. IKE

[PreciousJewel]

Believe me its all "LUCK"!!!! Sailed 60 times so far, 10 on Carnival, 10 on HAL, 5 on Costa, 20 on Princess and the rest on Royal Caribbean. Never got a free upgrade on any of these lines. Sailing in Sept. on "Miracle" and took a balcony 8A gty. Not expecting anything great! Just what I paid for. IKE

 

 

Wow...NEVER??? :(

[firefly333]

Wow...NEVER??? :(

 

Its actually a upgrade to be moved up a few decks in the same type cabin, but to me isnt a biggie. Some will say never when they mean they got the same type cabin just a few decks up. In that case I have not gotten anything good, just up a few decks, not the bottom deck.

 

Mostly I only book specific cabins, 2 guarantees, once on Princess got up a few decks which was nice, the other time on RCI they couldnt have done much worse. Not only the bottom deck, but 3 cabins from the aft.

 

If you book a guarantee I dont feel like later you can complain about your cabin location. It was more walking but the price was great.

[big_duck]

Its actually a upgrade to be moved up a few decks in the same type cabin, but to me isnt a biggie. Some will say never when they mean they got the same type cabin just a few decks up. In that case I have not gotten anything good, just up a few decks, not the bottom deck.

 

Mostly I only book specific cabins, 2 guarantees, once on Princess got up a few decks which was nice, the other time on RCI they couldnt have done much worse. Not only the bottom deck, but 3 cabins from the aft.

 

If you book a guarantee I dont feel like later you can complain about your cabin location. It was more walking but the price was great.

 

Without a doubt the majority of all "upgrades" are within the booked category. If you book an inside gty for example I don't see how you could call any inisde cabin an upgrade.

[cruisecruisecruise1234567]

Believe me its all "LUCK"!!!!

 

No way is it all luck.

 

From the prior posts everyone sems to mention higher catagories. I have upgraded 5 out of 6 times when I book a cat 4 inside guarantee.I have had 4 balconies and one window.

The sailings were in January and there are two factors.They want full ships,so boost the insides up to OV or better and sell the lower catagories cheaper so no one can complain they want OBC because of the nice upgrades. Next issue is the TA.Does your TA how blocked space on each ship and sailing? The TA needs to fill every room so they too can play with pricing and move better customers up.

[big_duck]

No way is it all luck.

 

From the prior posts everyone sems to mention higher catagories. I have upgraded 5 out of 6 times when I book a cat 4 inside guarantee.I have had 4 balconies and one window.

The sailings were in January and there are two factors.They want full ships,so boost the insides up to OV or better and sell the lower catagories cheaper so no one can complain they want OBC because of the nice upgrades. Next issue is the TA.Does your TA how blocked space on each ship and sailing? The TA needs to fill every room so they too can play with pricing and move better customers up.

 

You are lucky you can cruise in the off-season. ;)

 

Yes cruising off peak increases your chances as well.

[PreciousJewel]

Its actually a upgrade to be moved up a few decks in the same type cabin, but to me isnt a biggie. Some will say never when they mean they got the same type cabin just a few decks up. In that case I have not gotten anything good, just up a few decks, not the bottom deck.

 

Mostly I only book specific cabins, 2 guarantees, once on Princess got up a few decks which was nice, the other time on RCI they couldnt have done much worse. Not only the bottom deck, but 3 cabins from the aft.

 

If you book a guarantee I dont feel like later you can complain about your cabin location. It was more walking but the price was great.

 

 

Gotcha!!!!!