I'm not sure if anyone knows, but how do you get a comp. upgrade i have heard stories of people getting upgrades when they board the ship, is there something I need to do or say in advance?

msjaxson,

I recommend reading this excellent article on the subject.

Raoul-that is an excellent article and extremely informative-Thank You for passing it on to us all!
BillyBuzzy

Raoul,
I read the article and what is not mentioned is "accomodation". In other words, if you give me enough business, I will do special things for you in return. Ergo, the TA that books in excess of one million dollars per year in business is able to pick up the phone, talk to the "right" people and get upgrades for his best clients (and himself of course) because the cruise line wants more of that TA's business and is willing to accomodate. Does it happen all the time? Of course not, if the ship is totally booked, no; if the only thing left is the penthouse, probably not but if a suite is open, you can be sure it probably will happen and it doesn't matter how many diamond, platinum and every other precious and semi-precious stones and metals there are waiting for an upgrade or how early they booked.

How do I know? Because I have been on the receiving end of some of these upgrades.

I agree with you Chucks OK. I was wanting a specific cruise at a great price that was offered on the internet, when I called RCI they told me the entire ship was sold out on that specific cruise and there was nothing they could do. I called my travel agent and two days later was called with my confirmation #. He said it was a perk due to their volume of service with RCI. He was able to get me a great room at the price I saw on the internet.

Yeah well I thought the same thing about getting a "comp or upgrade"... I wouldn't count on it. These ships usually fill up and there is no rooms available or if they are RCCL charge you the difference. We tried to get an upgrade when we checked in on the Mariner in June and this is what we were told.

UPGRADES? Please... I'm a Diamond Plus Member and one of the perks I'm suppose to get, is a call from Crown & Anchor, with any available upgrade. NEVER HAPPENS! It's always "the ship is full". In October I'll be on my 30th cruise with RCCL, and so far I never got an upgrade, and don't expect to. I do hear about gold and platinum members getting them though... hmmmm.

quote:

Originally posted by SONNYV:
UPGRADES? Please... I'm a Diamond Plus Member and one of the perks I'm suppose to get, is a call from Crown & Anchor, with any available upgrade. NEVER HAPPENS! It's always "the ship is full". In October I'll be on my 30th cruise with RCCL, and so far I never got an upgrade, and don't expect to. I do hear about gold and platinum members getting them though... hmmmm.

Sonny,
That's cuz they know they have you by the short ones! You're hooked and they don't have to give you any perqs to keep you coming back!

Chuck,
Does my gulliblity show that much? This is getting serious! I'll have to pay closer attention to what my T-shirts say.

quote:

...the perks for being a frequent customer. With RCCL I get $200 off every balcony cabin and free drinks from 5pm to 8:30pm., not a bad perk.

Sonny,
And here you had me feeling SORRY for you!

I'll bet you even have one of those Freedom of the Seas "surfboard styled" bath mats that you haven't told us about!

No Chuck, the "surfboard styled" bath mats go with an upgrade... I could never get one of those.

Yeah my wife's RCCL Rep called and asked her if we wanted to upgrade our balcony cabin on the Freedom to the next level up, but we cant..Dang it!! We have 2 rooms because of our 3 kids and my brother in law and we want to be on the same floor....

Good for you S&C_06, at least there is some hope. Are you a C&A member? Our next cruise is a membership cruise and I know there won't be any upgrades. The ship is sold out of balcony cabins. We have two D-1 balcony cabins on deck nine. I'm just glad we booked them early enough. Have a GREAT CRUISE!

I am a 1st time cruiser and we booked a junior suite originally and the next day when our travel agent called Royal Caribbean to confirm our arrangements she found out that we got upgraded to a grand suite

Wow, you're lucky! We've never gotten an upgrade, or maybe I just don't know how to go about getting one.

We didn't really do anything - neither did our travel agent. It probably was all luck. The cruise line probably wanted to free up junior suites and bumped us up. Can't wait to go!!!

I think it's totally random...spouse and me went on first cruise 1 yr ago and received an upgrade from balcony to suite without asking... it WAS our anniversary and our first cruise so maybe they do try to 'hook' you...like a drug.. we'll give em that first suite for free..hehe..