| Weekly Wrap |
| 13 November 2026 · Fleet Captain James |
| MEET OUR FAVOURITE CRUISE LINE EXECUTIVES |
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| Bidding for an Upgrade - What works and what doesn't |
| What the cruise lines won’t tell you |
| There is much written these days, especially by latter-day influencers, about supposedly 'proven techniques' to bag an upgrade. Of course, it's all done to drive clicks. Regardless of whether they are giving advice about upgrades on aircraft or cruise ships, the common thread of all such posts is the idea that if you are pleasant enough to the right person, mention it is your anniversary, or that your loyalty to their brand can tip the odds and score you a better seat or cabin. |
| After decades working on the front lines in both the aviation and cruise industries, I can categorically say that every single one of these ‘experts’ has no idea how upgrades are awarded, and their tips are as worthless as their compelling need for attention. |
| The evidence is clear. The upgrade fairy is dead. She was replaced by an algorithm. An algorithm that doesn’t give two hoots about how nice you might be, how loyal you are to the cruise line or in most cases how often you sail. |
| Here is what actually happens now, and how to work it. |
| Read the rest |
| SCENIC RIVER CRUISE AND BUSINESS CLASS |
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| Full details, dates and pricing |
| BLACK FRIDAY DEALS AND OUR EXCLUSIVE RATES |
| Tap a tile to see the voyages. |
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| Search the Black Friday deals on our website7,385 Interline Deals |
| The numbers this week |
14,268 voyages checked | | 1,845 fares fell | | 2,150 fares rose |
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| Correct as of 13 November 2026, against 6 November 2026. |
| SNEAK PEEK |
A surprise for scrolling all the way down here Be the first to try our new feature, the Cabin Counter. Pick a voyage and our new industry first system will crunch the numbers and quantify all unsold inventory, category by category. As I’ve been saying for years, the number of unsold cabins is the best indicator of whether a fare is more likely to fall or rise. This new tool gives you direct access to the reservations systems of most of our preferred cruise lines - well, those that are online anyway. Try the Cabin Counter |
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Note: Fares are indicative only and may have moved since publication. No fare can be confirmed or guaranteed until a firm hold is created. Reply to this email and I will check any sailing for you by hand.
Fleet Captain James
6 Star 4 Less
6star4less.com · Web version |
