Do I go for an upgrade option or not?

[tinka14]

Hi all

I have now booked my cruise on the Emerald Princess and we've chosen a balcony cabin BC grade on Aloha deck. My TA has advised me that Princess do operate a free upgrade option but that if we take this up, we get no choice of cabin, what you get upgraded is what you get if you choose this option....sooo do I take it or not..we don't really mind where we are as long as the view isn't obstructed or we are too near a lot of traffic..where we are near now is near the lifts and middle to forward of the ship. Advice please!!!!

Thanks

Tinka14:)

[Toto2Kansas]

If you don't mind where your stateroom is located, then choose 'will accept an upgrade'. If you like being where you are, and close to the lifts, then have your TA say 'no upgrade'. It is one of those things, could happen, might not happen, but you are correct, you will have no choice where you end up if it does.

[paul929207]

If you are happy and you know it, say no to an upgrade.

[Rob & Beckys mom]

If you are happy and you know it, say no to an upgrade.

 

 

Or clap your hands LOL...sorry

 

Jan

[grandmato4]

Hi all

I have now booked my cruise on the Emerald Princess and we've chosen a balcony cabin BC grade on Aloha deck. My TA has advised me that Princess do operate a free upgrade option but that if we take this up, we get no choice of cabin, what you get upgraded is what you get if you choose this option....sooo do I take it or not..we don't really mind where we are as long as the view isn't obstructed or we are too near a lot of traffic..where we are near now is near the lifts and middle to forward of the ship. Advice please!!!!

Thanks

Tinka14:)

 

I think you already answered your own question when you said "we don't really mind where we are as long as the view isn't obstructed or we are too near a lot of traffic ". As long as you have any qualifiers for where you don't want to be, even though you may love the upgrade if you were one of the few to get one, there is the chance you'll end up where you don't want to be and Princess's policy is not to ask if the new room is ok before they moved you! ;) Enjoy your cruise !!

[Colo Cruiser]

I think as long as you don't have a coveted Caribe balcony yet go for the upgrade. ;)

[HappilyEverAft-ers]

Hi,

 

I'm new to Princess, and a little confused about the good cabins. We switched from a balcony cabin on Aloha deck, to a mini-suite on Emerald deck (E726). When a mention was made of the "coveted" Caribe balconies, I checked and see mini-suites are available on that deck as well. So, my question is should I move up to the Caribe or stay where I am? I should mention that we did sail with them several years ago and had a cabin on the Dolphin deck and hated it, due to the fact that we felt so exposed. I've been trying to study deck plans, but what I see and what I hear are a little confusing. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it so much.

 

Thanks!!

[Pam in CA]

I'm new to Princess, and a little confused about the good cabins. We switched from a balcony cabin on Aloha deck, to a mini-suite on Emerald deck (E726). When a mention was made of the "coveted" Caribe balconies, I checked and see mini-suites are available on that deck as well. So, my question is should I move up to the Caribe or stay where I am? I should mention that we did sail with them several years ago and had a cabin on the Dolphin deck and hated it, due to the fact that we felt so exposed. I've been trying to study deck plans, but what I see and what I hear are a little confusing. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it so much.

If you've switched to a covered balcony mini-suite on Emerald deck and that's what you want, then stick with it. The difference between the Emerald deck "AD" mini's and the other mini's is that the ADs are all covered and all of the other mini's have uncovered balconies. The "coveted" Caribe deck cabins are all standard-sized balcony cabins; however, the balconies for these cabins is double-sized, i.e., much larger (and larger than mini-suite balconies) and half-covered, half-uncovered. In other words, your original cabin on Aloha deck is the same cabin as on Caribe deck but the balcony is much bigger. By booking a mini-suite, you have a much larger cabin and a larger balcony than the original Aloha deck cabin. If you switched to a Caribe deck balcony cabin, the cabin would be much smaller than the mini-suite (and you'd give up a full-sized shower in the mini) but the balcony would be larger than the mini. Clear as mud?

 

The uncovered balconies are exposed to the decks above but you will have more sun on them if that's what you want. We prefer covered balconies since we avoid the sun but that's not to everyone's taste.

[HappilyEverAft-ers]

If you've switched to a covered balcony mini-suite on Emerald deck and that's what you want, then stick with it. The difference between the Emerald deck "AD" mini's and the other mini's is that the ADs are all covered and all of the other mini's have uncovered balconies. The "coveted" Caribe deck cabins are all standard-sized balcony cabins; however, the balconies for these cabins is double-sized, i.e., much larger (and larger than mini-suite balconies) and half-covered, half-uncovered. In other words, your original cabin on Aloha deck is the same cabin as on Caribe deck but the balcony is much bigger. By booking a mini-suite, you have a much larger cabin and a larger balcony than the original Aloha deck cabin. If you switched to a Caribe deck balcony cabin, the cabin would be much smaller than the mini-suite (and you'd give up a full-sized shower in the mini) but the balcony would be larger than the mini. Clear as mud?

 

The uncovered balconies are exposed to the decks above but you will have more sun on them if that's what you want. We prefer covered balconies since we avoid the sun but that's not to everyone's taste.

 

Pam,

 

Thanks for taking the time to explain it. Clear as mud just about sums it up, lol.

 

Sorry I busted in on this thread, my apologies to the OP. Hell, I have so many questions I think I better go start my own. :D

 

Thanks again, you were very helpful!!

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi,

 

I'm new to Princess, and a little confused about the good cabins. We switched from a balcony cabin on Aloha deck, to a mini-suite on Emerald deck (E726). When a mention was made of the "coveted" Caribe balconies, I checked and see mini-suites are available on that deck as well. So, my question is should I move up to the Caribe or stay where I am? I should mention that we did sail with them several years ago and had a cabin on the Dolphin deck and hated it, due to the fact that we felt so exposed. I've been trying to study deck plans, but what I see and what I hear are a little confusing. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it so much.

 

Thanks!!

 

 

I would stay with the mini on Emerald, it is an excellent choice. :)

[Chesie]

We too have an Emerald mini as there are 3 of us. We requested, at a CC recommendation, to have the last cabin as it has the largest balcony than the other Emerald mini's. We wanted port but that was taken and we booked 14 months out! We too wanted to stay out of the sun as DH is very fair.

 

Chesie

[HappilyEverAft-ers]

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I'm beginning to understand a little better now.

 

Staying out of the sun isn't an issue for us, in fact, I'd prefer to be able to lay out on my balcony. I'd just like a little privacy in order to do it. From what I understand, I give up sun and gain privacy. I can live with that, but wanted to make sure there wasn't the best of both worlds out there.

[Pam in CA]

Staying out of the sun isn't an issue for us, in fact, I'd prefer to be able to lay out on my balcony. I'd just like a little privacy in order to do it. From what I understand, I give up sun and gain privacy. I can live with that, but wanted to make sure there wasn't the best of both worlds out there.

The mini-suite balcony is large enough for two half-loungers, two small chairs and a table with not a lot of room left over. The Caribe deck balcony has the same furniture and another table, and has room left over. There aren't any full-length loungers on Princess balconies, mostly because there aren't any that are made of the special inflammable material. However, you can put the half-lounger all the way back and use one of the chairs for your feet. I do it all the time.

 

By the very nature of being fully exposed to the sun, balconies without cover lack privacy and are exposed to the decks above. Keep in mind that depending on the direction of the sun, even covered balconies get sun. :) I don't know if Princess still does it but for a long time after the Star fire, there were two staff on duty on the Bridge 24/7 with binoculars trained on all of the balconies looking for smoke. They may now have video cameras but even a covered balcony isn't truly private.

[tinka14]

Thanks for all the replies! - we've decided to play the game and try and get the upgrade - my TA will also let Princess know that the cruise is for me celebrating a BIG birthday and my hubby has his birthday the day after we leave the cruise so if the upgrade fairy IS feeling generous we have good reasons for an upgrade! I checked out the location of BB and BA cabins and they look great so we really don't mind....if a mini suite balcony cabin came up that really would be a result but we'll have to wait and see!

Tinka14:)

[Toto2Kansas]

Thanks for all the replies! - we've decided to play the game and try and get the upgrade - my TA will also let Princess know that the cruise is for me celebrating a BIG birthday and my hubby has his birthday the day after we leave the cruise so if the upgrade fairy IS feeling generous we have good reasons for an upgrade! I checked out the location of BB and BA cabins and they look great so we really don't mind....if a mini suite balcony cabin came up that really would be a result but we'll have to wait and see!

Tinka14:)

Please don't think that celebrating any type of event is going to give you a bigger chance at an upgrade than anyone else, as it just isn't true. Probably 1/3 or more of the passengers will be celebrating something onboard, from birthdays to anniversarys and everything inbetween. Not trying to burst your bubble here, but celebrating something does not qualify for a better chance to be upgraded. :( Sorry! But I am hoping for the best for you. Let us all know whey you get your stateroom assignment, please. ;)

[FritzG]

We like Baja deck balcony rooms mid-ship to aft so we don't choose an upgrade. We're pretty fussy about where our cabin is located, and for our upcoming TA in April '09 we think a starboard view will be better. The only way to be sure of the deck and side is guaranteeing a specific room. I don't go out in the sun since I am very fair so I like the covered balcony. We are hooked on balconies. I suggested to my DH that we could save some $$ going with on outside cabin, and he said he'd rather skip the cruise than go without a balcony especially for the Med. On our Diamond Hawaiian trip in January we used the balcony every day including the sea days when it was rough and cooler.

[bubbadog]

if it were me i would stay there,those are good mini's there,only other place id rather be is the aft,so stay there and enjoy;)

[cherylandtk]

we don't really mind where we are as long as the view isn't obstructed or we are too near a lot of traffic.. Advice please!!!!Thanks Tinka14:)

Tinka, since you said that, I would have to agree with Grandmato4, you should go back to 'no upgrade'. You could get 'upgraded' to C101/102 (bulkhead blocks forward view), L201-L223 (under gym), L300's (high traffic), R330-340 (under Lido pool deck, noisy chairs/loungers), etc. Please look carefully at ALL the BA and BB locations, and make certain you would like any of them. The 'best' locations are usually selected by pax who choose their cabins, the remaining and usually less desirable cabins in those categories will be what is available for upgrades.

[Pam in CA]

Thanks for all the replies! - we've decided to play the game and try and get the upgrade - my TA will also let Princess know that the cruise is for me celebrating a BIG birthday and my hubby has his birthday the day after we leave the cruise so if the upgrade fairy IS feeling generous we have good reasons for an upgrade! I checked out the location of BB and BA cabins and they look great so we really don't mind....if a mini suite balcony cabin came up that really would be a result but we'll have to wait and see!

IMHO, you are just as likely to be upgraded if you book a specific cabin as a GTY. Also, there is a big difference between a BB on Aloha or Baja decks from the BB on Caribe deck: the balcony on the Caribe deck BB is about twice as big as on Aloha or Baja and it's half-covered, half uncovered, giving you the best of both worlds. To me, if I wanted a BB or BA and a Caribe deck BB was available, I'd book it like a shot. Absolutely no question or hesitation.

 

You're thinking of a GTY as a "game" but it's really a gamble. You're about as likely to get upgraded to a different type of cabin as you are hitting it big in the casino.

[tinka14]

Still going to go for the open to upgrade option....at the end of the day nobody knows how this game/gamble whatever you like to call it works...as long as we get on board that's the main thing! :)

 

I have seen plenty of evidence on these forums that upgrades do happen and people seem to have been extremely happy with what they've been given.

In my experience, people celebrating special occasions sometimes do get little extras, if you don't ask, you don't get..same as expecting to win the lottery without buying a ticket!;)

Tinka14