Suite upgrades

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nhl101

Guest
First, I wish to thank those of you who replied to my questions about the Grandeur of the Seas on which we have scheduled a July 30 cruise. Second, I have another question, this time regarding upgrades. We have booked a Junior Suite on the Grandeur, but I noticed on the RCCL web site that there are still several suites available, some in a higher category, such as a Grand Suite. If one of those higher category cabins is still unbooked by the time of embarkation, can a person with a little "chutzpah" request a complimentary upgrade? If I am that person, whom should I approach for such an upgrade? Is it even possible, chutzpah or not? Can you offer me any inside information in this area? After all, why would they want to go to sea with a big empty suite? I thank you in advance. Neil
 
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Conniemc

Guest
:)D

Neil, chutpah or not, ain't gonna happen. Yes, they would rather sail with that empty suite. They are rarely empty, and often booked close to sailing. The only person with that authority would be the Hotel Director. The Captain and senior officers have the final say on matters of the ship itself, but cabin location, or anything to do with the pax would be the Hotel Director.

Now, it you remain loyal with a particular line for say, more than 15+ cruises, cruise at least 1-2 times a year, and spend lavishly on board, you may find yourself upgraded to a junior suite from an veranda cabin or something of that nature.

I will give you some inside information you may find handy. As someone from the Northeast, I understand in some cases, the squeeky wheel gets the grease. On board a ship, put your kindest, sweetest foot forward with the top brass to get what you want. They will shut down on in a NY minute if you get aggressive.
 
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suer182

Guest
chutzpah or not..... a few years ago I was able to PAY for an upgrade pier side. When we checked in, I asked if any suites were available and I PAID a few bucks more. It was cheaper than paying for the suite from the beginning.
 
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Conniemc

Guest
suer182 said:
chutzpah or not..... a few years ago I was able to PAY for an upgrade pier side. When we checked in, I asked if any suites were available and I PAID a few bucks more. It was cheaper than paying for the suite from the beginning.
Click to expand...

Well, sure Sue!! LOL
You can buy the empty suite (if available) at embarkation for far less than booking in advance. How much was your suite compared to booking in advance? What type cabin were you in, etc. I'm curious what the actual discount is for booking the "senior suite" (whatever name it is on that ship) at the pier.
 
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sanjoseca

Guest
Neil, on RCI it works like this:

Upgrades generally are given to Diamond Plus [24 cruise credits] cruisers if there are more than 5 cabins [I believe it is more than two for suites] available in a given category within 2 to 3 weeks of sailing. Diamond Plus upgrades are given first to D +s with the highest cruise count and they work down. RCI is generally pretty stingy with upgrades. Usually they will run a special to sell open cabins, consequently, there are less available for upgrades.

There are times when upgrades are given to people who are not D+, but that seldom happens.
 
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AJ coast

Guest
You will rarely get upgraded in advance of sailing. However, once onboard/at the pier, you have much more leverage in terms of offering to pay for an upgrade. I find it untrue that RCL would rather "let a suite go empty" rather than to sell an upgrade at a discounted price, especially onboard. In fact, I happened to obtain a specific breakdown of upgrade prices (obviously unpublished due to competitive reasons) that proves this fact, with ship, cruise length, and category-and category prices all neatly organized. And let me tell you, you can get those high end suites (GS, OS, etc... at EXTREMELY discounted rates).

My recommendation is this: book the MINIMUM level cabin you will be satisfied with occupying, and offer to pay up on the ship.
 
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Conniemc

Guest
None of you read the OP.

He asked he could get a COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE. That means free.

But again, Sue makes a good point if he wants to pay more, he can possibly snag a suite at the pier. In today's economy, I'm not sure how much more one is willing to pay to sleep in a bigger cabin. If I could pay a tiny amount more and get a veranda instead of an inside cabin, then I'd do it.
 
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nhl101

Guest
Conniemc, Suer182, AJCoast, and Sanjoseca, thank you. And Conniemc, thanks for mentioning the Hotel Director and I definitely agree that one should walk softly and be humble when approaching these folks. Yes, I did ask about complimentary suite upgrades in my first post, but I am willing to consider a paid upgrade once on board, if the upgrade price is considerably less than pre-boarding rates. I didn't consider that option, so your suggestion is well taken. The pre-boarding rate difference between a JS (Junior Suite) and a GS (Grand Suite) on the Grandeur is $1300 per couple--way too much for just a few extra square feet, in my opinion.

We are not Diamond Plus passengers, but on two previous RCCL ships (Voyager & Radiance) we got a GS to take advantage of the concierge lounge which we absolutely loved, but on the Grandeur there is no such perk, therefore the advantage of a GS over a junior suite is negligible. Nonetheless, the extra room and the upgraded amenities will be worth it if the price is right. I'll keep y'all posted! Neil
 
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