Disappointed with upgrade

[Kittycatwlv]

Okay, any upgrade should be good right? I booked three cabins (GTY) on the Sapphire one for myself and two for two other couples new to cruising. I got the $25 preferral do Princess knows they are new, and I am Elite. Yesterday I got notified of our cabins. My two friends were together on deck 8 and I am deck 5. Their cabins are worth $410 PP more then mine. I am hurt by the lack of loyalty on Princess' part. Why do they highly upgrade a newbie before an elite member. I will never bring them a new cruiser again. Thanks for letting me vent. Oh it's also way before final payment so I'm toying with the idea of cancelling altogether and booking with a rival cruise since loyalty is a one way street for Princess.

[paul929207]

If you feel that way then cancel.

[Clutterlady]

Have you contacted Princess and voiced your displeasure:confused:

[Toto2Kansas]

There is no rhyme or reason to upgrades. You never can count on them, and even though booking three staterooms, all three could have ended up being assigned in different categories in different parts of the ship.

 

You might want to read this explanation about comp upgrades: https://book.princess.com/html/tapres/auto_upgrade_content.html

 

And just a little more info here. I have seen over the years where Princess WILL upgrade new cruisers to Princess more often then they will those with many past cruises on Princess, why? I have no idea, it is just the way they do things.

 

Sorry you are disappointed, but not much can be done about this. Hope you enjoy your cruise though!

[sidari]

Seems a lot of lines upgrade 1st timers ! so its nothing new though i can understand your dissapointment.

[gertz]

I have been on a few Princess cruises and have never been or have I ever thought I deserved an upgrade and I have never gotten one. We book the cabin we want and mark it no upgrade.

Princesses position IMO is to provide us with an enjoyable and safe cruise. You got your referral you are not owed anything more. IMO.:eek:

Jack for the lovely

[Kittycatwlv]

Have you contacted Princess and voiced your displeasure:confused:

 

Yes I did. They said i could pay $410 PP to join my friends on deck 8 which I found insulting. Most business' need and want repeat customers but apparently Princess doesn't. I had them throw me back into the GTY pool giving up that undesirable deck in hopes to get reassigned near my friends. I'll see what happens before i make any decisions to cancel and book elsewhere. I'm Diamond plus on RCL and Elite on Celebrity and a middle tier on HAL so I have options. My disappointment is that Princess does not value an Elite member and not just that but an Elite member bringing them four new cruisers, it doesn't get better then that for any business in these economic times. I want loyalty to go both ways that's not to much to ask.

[Kittycatwlv]

I have been on a few Princess cruises and have never been or have I ever thought I deserved an upgrade and I have never gotten one.

 

Princesses position IMO is to provide us with an enjoyable and safe cruise. You got your referral you are not owed anything more. IMO.:eek:

 

 

 

You missed the whole point. It's about being separated by four decks from our friends and the lack of loyalty. We didn't book specific cabins I took three GTY's and asked we placed together on the same deck, not a demanding request by any means. I would be happy with the category I booked if we were together

[Toto2Kansas]

I consider Princess as giving great 'perks' to Elite members in the Captain's Circle. Expecting upgrades on top of this is asking quite a lot I think (my opinion only). Personally, I would have been happy that my friends were given a special gift by Princess for their first Princess cruise, and not pouted because they received better than I did, as I felt I was 'entitled or owed' this by Princess. (sorry, but that is the way you are coming across here)

 

Lately it seems there have been more members of CC posting whines because they didn't get the upgrade they wanted or expected. Anyone that has ever booked a guarantee should know that an upgrade is not something you should expect, and you are not entitled to, no matter how many times you have sailed with Princess. Many times a guarantee is assigned in the exact category you booked the guarantee in. Upgrades when booking a guarantee are never guarantee, although they are nice, they are a gift and not an earned thing.

 

If you read that link I posted, you can not stipulate having guarantees assigned together, if it happens, it is mainly luck, but you can not request it. If requiring staterooms close together, booking guarantees is never the way. You choose your stateroom numbers and then you are guaranteed to be close to your friends. After all the princess cruises you have sailed on, I would think you might have know that one?

 

Again, sorry you are unhappy about this, but it is part of the guarantee game.

[Kittycatwlv]

I consider Princess as giving great 'perks' to Elite members in the Captain's Circle. Expecting upgrades on top of this is asking quite a lot I think (my opinion only). Personally, I would have been happy that my friends were given a special gift by Princess for their first Princess cruise, and not pouted because they received better than I did, as I felt I was 'entitled or owed' this by Princess. (sorry, but that is the way you are coming across here)

 

Lately it seems there have been more members of CC posting whines because they didn't get the upgrade they wanted or expected. Anyone that has ever booked a guarantee should know that an upgrade is not something you should expect, and you are not entitled to, no matter how many times you have sailed with Princess. Many times a guarantee is assigned in the exact category you booked the guarantee in. Upgrades when booking a guarantee are never guarantee, although they are nice, they are a gift and not an earned thing.

 

If you read that link I posted, you can not stipulate having guarantees assigned together, if it happens, it is mainly luck, but you can not request it.

 

Again, sorry you are unhappy about this, but it is part of the guarantee game.

You have totally missed the point. I don't want or care about an upgrade, I want to be on the same deck as my friends. I took an obstructed ocean view and and asked to be put back from the unobstructed ocean view to be near friends. I asked to be downgraded!!!!!!!!! All I want is to be on the same deck. I was able to bring Princess four new cruisers because of their GTY prices, had i taken a cabin assignment (there were none in their teaser rate HH) they wouldn't have gotten any business at all. You guys are such good cheer leaders but what Princess really needs is someone with business sense to run a business because it is a business after all.

[traveling1969]

You missed the whole point. It's about being separated by four decks from our friends and the lack of loyalty. We didn't book specific cabins I took three GTY's and asked we placed together on the same deck, not a demanding request by any means. I would be happy with the category I booked if we were together

 

When you book a guarantee you can ask for anything, of course. However you give up the "right" to be upset if you don't get what you requested. I can understand your consternation. Next time, steer away from a guarantee. Bon Voyage!

[Toto2Kansas]

You have totally missed the point. I don't want or care about an upgrade, I want to be on the same deck as my friends. I took an obstructed ocean view and and asked to be put back from the unobstructed ocean view to be near friends. I asked to be downgraded!!!!!!!!! All I want is to be on the same deck. I was able to bring Princess four new cruisers because of their GTY prices, had i taken a cabin assignment (there were none in their teaser rate HH) they wouldn't have gotten any business at all.

 

But they have given you a referral bonus for bringing those friends to Princess, so they have rewarded you. Loyalty and guarantee bookings have nothing in common, sorry!

And you can never count on being together in three seperate staterooms when booking a guarantee, not even on the same deck, let alone the same category.

 

Ask your friends to take a downgrade, I am sure Princess will be happy to do that. Although I doubt your friends would be too pleased with that answer. ;)

 

BTW-I have seen many times when passengers have turned down a stateroom assignment when a guarantee has been booked, and they have ended up in exactly the category they booked. Hope it doesn't happen in this case, but it definitely could. Best of luck on this one!

[2pbears]

You missed the whole point. It's about being separated by four decks from our friends and the lack of loyalty. We didn't book specific cabins I took three GTY's and asked we placed together on the same deck, not a demanding request by any means. I would be happy with the category I booked if we were together

 

My understanding of a GTY is that you give up the right to request anything in return for a lower price. If it was very important to have all three staterooms on the same deck then you probably should have picked your rooms and marked them "no upgrade". Unfortunately you took a gamble and lost.

[cacy6893076]

If being close to the other staterooms was the point then you honestly should have booked assignable staterooms and marked no-upgrade on the booking......remember," people" don't do upgrades, the computer does....what it bases upgrades on ?????A priviledged few may actually know.......obviously someone has to program the computer to observe select parameters, but cross referencing bookings etc is definitely not one of them as many have experienced.

[paul929207]

If you want to be sure to be next door or nearby, you must book specific cabins and mark them all "No Upgrade". If you book three guarentees, you just know that you will have three cabins and each will be in the category you booked or a higher category.

[jennifers490]

i know you are disappointed but you can't really expect that you will all be together when you book a GTY-they can seperate you all over the place, i'm surprised that your friends got to be together...that being said you mentioned it's before final payment, many times i am upgraded again before sailing so i really don't look at the cabin they assign me until just before sailing-they usually assign me something that's an "upgrade" really just the same type of cabin and then put me in something better...you may even get bumped to a better cabin than your friends before sailing-your friends could also end up being seperated by sailing time...

 

remember the point of the GTY is the better price, you can't expect to both get the pricing and the choice of locations...

 

elite benefits are really seperate and don't have to do with upgrades...I'm quite pleased with the princess perks for elite...what would you do if they upgraded you to the best cabin because you were elite and didn't upgrade your friends? You'd still be unhappy because you were seperated...

 

maybe you should cancel and book exactly what you want with another line if they are really offering you the better deal for your loyalty as you said...GTY is really a gamble

[jennifers490]

You have totally missed the point. I don't want or care about an upgrade, I want to be on the same deck as my friends. I took an obstructed ocean view and and asked to be put back from the unobstructed ocean view to be near friends. I asked to be downgraded!!!!!!!!! All I want is to be on the same deck. I was able to bring Princess four new cruisers because of their GTY prices, had i taken a cabin assignment (there were none in their teaser rate HH) they wouldn't have gotten any business at all. You guys are such good cheer leaders but what Princess really needs is someone with business sense to run a business because it is a business after all.

 

I'm definitely not a cheerleader for princess, just give my honest opinions --i wish they would be better with the referral rewards rules, i have a new cruiser with me before final payment and forgot to sign him up but they say it's not even valid for anyone that has cancelled and never even cruised (thought of just cancelling and rebooking) so that's 50 dollars we're out together :( at least you got your credits for that! good luck with your trip whatever you choose to do :)

[caribill]

Some people "gamble" in the stock market and are unhappy when the stock loses value.

 

Some people gamble in Las Vegas and are unhappy when the casino wins.

 

And some people "gamble" that a GTY reservation will result in a desired upgrade and are unhappy when they get what they paid for.

 

If you want to be happy at what you do, do not gamble unless you are willing to be happy with any result..

[Pia1913]

You have totally missed the point. I don't want or care about an upgrade, I want to be on the same deck as my friends. I took an obstructed ocean view and and asked to be put back from the unobstructed ocean view to be near friends. I asked to be downgraded!!!!!!!!! All I want is to be on the same deck. I was able to bring Princess four new cruisers because of their GTY prices, had i taken a cabin assignment (there were none in their teaser rate HH) they wouldn't have gotten any business at all. You guys are such good cheer leaders but what Princess really needs is someone with business sense to run a business because it is a business after all.

 

I didn't miss your point at all. I fully understand it. And I also understand you are whining. A guarantee does not guarantee you a location. A guarantee gets you whatever they deem available. I'm Elite, and I don't usually book a guarantee, but if I did I have to be willing to accept whatever they allot. In your case, had you all wanted to be together you should have never book that guarantee initially.

 

Two of my friends did what you did; booked an HH for 8/15 Sapphire. They were give a C (first time Princess cruiser) and an F (5 time Princess cruiser). Yes, the first timer got the better accomodation.

 

You paid less, you got less. Get over it.

[Kittycatwlv]

Some people "gamble" in the stock market and are unhappy when the stock loses value.

 

Some people gamble in Las Vegas and are unhappy when the casino wins.

 

And some people "gamble" that a GTY reservation will result in a desired upgrade and are unhappy when they get what they paid for.

 

.

 

Boy, not a good comparison at all. I wanted to be on the same deck, not next door to eachother. Some people are so blinded by their loyalty to Princess they can't see the forest for the trees. I don't care about upgrades at all, just staying on the same deck. If princess cares so little about their customers it's time to find a company that does. I gave up my ocean view to be put back into the GTY pool to go back to an obstructed ocean view so how you guys can go on about my being ungratful for an upgrade is a lack of understanding. I took the GTY because no cabins were available in the HH category and that low rate resulted in my getting four people to try a cruise they wouldn't have otherwise booked so Princess has an opportunity to win all around.

[BruceMuzz]

Yes I did. They said i could pay $410 PP to join my friends on deck 8 which I found insulting. Most business' need and want repeat customers but apparently Princess doesn't. I had them throw me back into the GTY pool giving up that undesirable deck in hopes to get reassigned near my friends. I'll see what happens before i make any decisions to cancel and book elsewhere. I'm Diamond plus on RCL and Elite on Celebrity and a middle tier on HAL so I have options. My disappointment is that Princess does not value an Elite member and not just that but an Elite member bringing them four new cruisers, it doesn't get better then that for any business in these economic times. I want loyalty to go both ways that's not to much to ask.

 

Am I understanding this correctly?

You are "Diamond plus on RCL and Elite on Celebrity and a middle tier on HAL", and you believe that Princess does not value loyal cruisers?

 

Looks as if loyalty is a one way street with you as well.

[paul929207]

Boy, not a good comparison at all. I wanted to be on the same deck, not next door to eachother. Some people are so blinded by their loyalty to Princess they can't see the forest for the trees. I don't care about upgrades at all, just staying on the same deck. If princess cares so little about their customers it's time to find a company that does. I gave up my ocean view to be put back into the GTY pool to go back to an obstructed ocean view so how you guys can go on about my being ungratful for an upgrade is a lack of understanding. I took the GTY because no cabins were available in the HH category and that low rate resulted in my getting four people to try a cruise they wouldn't have otherwise booked so Princess has an opportunity to win all around.

You are not listening to the answers. If you wanted to be on the same deck, you needed to book specific cabins that were on the same deck and mark them "No Upgrade". If you book guarentees, as you did, then it is a crapshoot where you will be placed.

[PescadoAmarillo]

If being close to the other staterooms was the point then you honestly should have booked assignable staterooms and marked no-upgrade on the booking...

Exactly.

 

And, for the record, based on reports here on CC, Princess is much better at offering upgrades to new cruisers than committed past passengers. They know they have you hooked...they're trying to expand their past passenger base, and they do that by providing upgrades to new cruisers.

 

To me, this complaint is just like those who don't buy travel insurance and then complain when Princess doesn't do anything for them in the event of an emergency. People pay extra to have that security. On your cruise, people paid extra (or booked early) to get cabins on the same floor as traveling companions. You got a great rate by waiting and taking a chance. How can you complain now that the majority of your group gambled and won, and you gambled and broke even?

[jennifers490]

Boy, not a good comparison at all. I wanted to be on the same deck, not next door to eachother. Some people are so blinded by their loyalty to Princess they can't see the forest for the trees. I don't care about upgrades at all, just staying on the same deck. If princess cares so little about their customers it's time to find a company that does. I gave up my ocean view to be put back into the GTY pool to go back to an obstructed ocean view so how you guys can go on about my being ungratful for an upgrade is a lack of understanding. I took the GTY because no cabins were available in the HH category and that low rate resulted in my getting four people to try a cruise they wouldn't have otherwise booked so Princess has an opportunity to win all around.

 

I'm just curious-do the other cruise lines let you pick and choose your location/decks if you book a GTY? I always understood I wouldn't have any choice in my location with a GTY not even what deck.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Looks as if loyalty is a one way street with you as well.

Are you implying that the only "loyal" cruisers are those that cruise exclusively with one cruise line?? Ridiculous! I think Princess appreciates people with 300 days on their cruise line regardless of whether they also have 400 days on other cruise lines or not. This is a business, not a marriage...it's not a case of cheating once and never being forgiven.

 

If what you believe is true, I guess I'd rather be a "smart" cruiser, and take the cruises I want to take regardless of cruise line, than a loyal cruiser any day.