Can a ship be oversold?

[Roberta12]

We booked our Princess cruise over 10 months ago. This week, 7 days before our cruise we have received two emails and one call asking us to first switch our date and then switch our cabin. Did Princess overbook this ship? Will we have a cabin when we arrive on Saturday?

[MaryLou]

Just as hotels and airlines do, cruiselines can overbook a ship. Sometimes you are asked to switch cabins if they require a handicapped cabin or an adjoining cabin for other passengers. I believe you will have a cabin when you arrive at the port. However, did they ask you to go to a lesser category? That shouldn't be the case unless they offer you something else in the deal.

[mehawk]

Yes they can and do.

[Fern]

Yes, cruises can be oversold! They'll keep "sweetening" the pot until there are enough cabins for everyone. If you don't take the offer(s), someone else will.

If you don't want to change your booking, you'll still have a cabin. Don't worry !

[bobbiek]

On our first cruise on the Horizon in 1994, one week before cruising, our group of 14 were offered the Zenith same day, differet itinerary, half price and given suites. Not Bad??? Great first cruise experience.

[Roberta12]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We had a very nice time on the Crown Princess (Pictures to follow in a few days). What we realized but were never told by Princess was that the room we booked could have been converted to a triple. Had they let us know the reason why they wanted the room and could have given us something else besides an obstructed view(Ours was a balcony) along with incentives, we would have considered it. The ship was a complete sell out with about 600 British on it taking 2 weeks back to back along with many northeasterners (especially teachers) including us due to school vacation. Thanks again, Roberta and Jerry