Greetings again! In a previous blog post, I shared with you the news about P&O Cruises' Upgrade Programme. However, it's worth mentioning that Cunard has also launched their own upgrade programme.
Although it has been available for some time now, we recently received our offer to upgrade for our upcoming 7-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords onboard Queen Victoria in June. The email arrived in our inbox just 9 days ago, which is exactly 80 days before our departure. Currently, we have booked an obstructed view cabin, but upon researching the cabins on Queen Victoria, we discovered that even the obstructed view cabins offer decent views, especially when compared to other ships like Queen Mary 2.
What offer have we received?
Currently, we are in an obstructed view cabin on board, and we have the option to make an upgrade offer for a Britannia Balcony Cabin or a Britannia Club Balcony Cabin. However, the prices for each upgrade vary significantly.
The minimum bid for a Britannia Balcony Cabin upgrade is £40GBP per person, whereas an upgrade to a Britannia Club Balcony requires a minimum bid of £240GBP per person. The maximum bid we can submit for a Britannia Balcony is £140GBP per person, and £840GBP per person for a Britannia Club Balcony. Although there are available Princess Grill Suites or Queens Grill Suites, we have not received an offer to upgrade to these cabin types. It's worth noting that only a few cabin grades above our current grade will be displayed, and not every cabin grade available on board.
However, we wonder if successful bids submitted early will be shown additional upgrade options, as we experienced during our last cruise with MSC Cruises.
How does the bidding system work?
Similar to the bidding process of MSC Cruises and other cruise lines, a selection of offers will be presented to you via email. If you opt to proceed and take a chance, you can indicate your bid amount for the desired cabin type using the sliding scale between the 'minimum offer' and 'maximum offer.'
What happens when you make a bid?
You will receive an email confirmation that your bid has been received, and then the waiting game begins.
Travelling solo?
It's worth noting that solo travellers will be paying 200% of the bid rate if they decide to make an offer and are successful. The bid upgrade prices displayed on the offer email reflect the cost per adult, based on two adults sharing a cabin. Unfortunately, if you are travelling solo, you will still be required to pay the full rate.
Who is eligible to bid?
To participate in the upgrade programme, you must have made your reservation directly through Cunard (not via a travel agent), be the main guest, over 18 years old, have paid the full balance, and not have opted out of receiving pre-cruise communications. Offer emails will be sent out to eligible guests approximately 80 days prior to their cruise departure date.
It's possible that the rule regarding booking through Cunard will change in the future, allowing all guests to bid for upgrades. However, as the programme is presently in a trial phase, they may be limiting eligibility to work out any initial issues.
If you believe you should be eligible for an upgrade but haven't received an offer, you can contact Cunard at 0344 338 8641 and select the "Cunard Upgrade Programme" option.
What if you don’t like your upgraded cabin?
In the event that you have been approved for an upgrade, but are dissatisfied with the location of your new cabin, it's important to keep in mind that cabin allocations are automatic, meaning there is no guarantee you can move back to your originally selected cabin. As a result, the Cunard Upgrade programme may not be the best option for you if you've already chosen a specific cabin based on its location or amenities. Nonetheless, you will still be assigned an alternative stateroom of the same grade as your original booking.
Can I place multiple bids to upgrade?
Yes, it is possible to place an offer on multiple cabin grades, but it's important to note that only one offer can be made on each grade, meaning that guests cannot submit multiple offers for the same grade of cabin.
Can I cancel my bid?
Yes. You can cancel or modify your bid to upgrade up until the bid has been successful. Once your bid has been accepted and your stateroom has been upgraded, you will not be able to cancel or modify your offer.
When will the offer be accepted?
Your offer could be accepted from the moment it has been submitted. Cunard aims to tell guests at least 7 days prior to the cruise departure date if they have been successful, but this could be as close as 1 day prior to embarkation. If your offer is not accepted, you will receive an email approximately 6 days prior to your cruise.
How do I pay the bid amount?
To participate in the Cunard PlusGrade program, you must first select the bid amount you want to make, complete the card verification process to confirm your bid, and then wait for the outcome. In the event of a successful bid, you will receive an email notification, and you will have 72 hours to make the payment for the upgraded offer.
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