Epic upgrade advice

Hi

We booked a guarantee inside for our Epic cruise a month ago, so paid the full fare. I'm now noticing that the balcony price for our cruise is coming down all the time and is now just £70 more than the price we paid for the inside. It appears that they are struggling to sell out the Epic in the Med, and in fact prices have been slashed on RCI's Western Med cruises as well.

If we decided we wanted to upgrade what is the best way to do this? We booked via an internet agency and are based in the UK?

Many thanks, from an NCL and upgrade newbie:)

Hi

 

We booked a guarantee inside for our Epic cruise a month ago, so paid the full fare. I'm now noticing that the balcony price for our cruise is coming down all the time and is now just £70 more than the price we paid for the inside. It appears that they are struggling to sell out the Epic in the Med, and in fact prices have been slashed on RCI's Western Med cruises as well.

 

If we decided we wanted to upgrade what is the best way to do this? We booked via an internet agency and are based in the UK?

 

Many thanks, from an NCL and upgrade newbie:)

Simply call the agency and tell them what you want to do. It's a simple matter for you to pay the difference and upgrade.

Realize, however, that the lower prices you're seeing may be for new bookings only. As you are so close to sailing, you may not be eligible to upgrade at the lower fare.

Realize, however, that the lower prices you're seeing may be for new bookings only. As you are so close to sailing, you may not be eligible to upgrade at the lower fare.

Yes - this turned out to be the case. today the balcony price came down to the same price as our inside but they quoted - through my agent - a £150 per person price for upgrading.

My agent advised me to call back about a week before to see if there is any better news, as they seem to be struggling to sell the cabins.

I've always booked guarantees in the past and guess I'm also not used to not knowing my actual cabin so close to the cruise date;)

they quoted - through my agent - a £150 per person price for upgrading.

)

We upgraded from inside to balcony GTY last week when we seen prices coming down, we were charged £65 per person, think we hit it lucky

Do you mind me asking if you had booked directly with NCL? That was the price difference I was seeing until yesterday as well and now it's the same price.

(Guess we won't be the only N Irish on board then :-) )

Hi

I thought I should just give a little update.

I had sent an email originally with my query on Thursday but called yesterday and got the response from a colleague that it would cost £150 per person for the upgrade. However today, the person I sent the email to originally emailed me back to say it would cost £50 each for a balcony guarantee. Which I think is a great offer.

I've had a look at the room configuration and think we won't go for it. We are brother and sister and the room configuration in the inside is preferable to the twin set up in the balcony where there are only a few inches gap.

But thought I would pass it on, as I see a lot of people here, heading on the Epic soon - so may be worth checking out.

Thanks for your advice.

Do you mind me asking if you had booked directly with NCL? That was the price difference I was seeing until yesterday as well and now it's the same price.

 

(Guess we won't be the only N Irish on board then :-) )

We booked with TA.

after posting read your other post lol

Another update. We had a think about the room set up and decided that if it was still on offer we would go for it. Our only concern was that the original £50 each upgrade to balcony was to a guarantee and we would end up with the enclosed balcony which we didn't want.

NCL came back offering the same price but for a family balcony, so decided to go for it. Worst case scenario, we could use the sofa bed.

thanks for all the advice. I'm feeling a lot happier about it all now and looking forward to my first balcony :-)

An upgrade to a balcony is definitely worth it in my mind! Do you two have cooties or some other reason why you would mind sharing a bed so much? :p

LOL - it's just the puritan upbringing we had. But I thought - "stuff it" I want that in-room coffee maker.

LOL - it's just the puritan upbringing we had. But I thought - "stuff it" I want that in-room coffee maker.

There's no contest between an inside and a balcony room. The main beds can be 10 inches apart, and for grins you can ask the steward to make one of the beds upside down so your head is near your sibling's feet. lol.

Another option for a family balcony is the bed that pulls down from the ceiling. It's quite comfortable. Also, as stated, one of you can sleep on the couch (request a foam pad to make it softer). Don't let a little bed issue get between you and a much better room experience. You really can't beat sitting out on the balcony watching the world go by.

I can understand the hesitation to sleeping so close as the "separated" beds are in the balcony configuration. It's not ideal, for sure. But I'm a male who went with another male friend and we got used to it pretty quickly once we stopped thinking about it. Enjoy the balcony. I doubt you'll regret your decision.

I can understand the hesitation to sleeping so close as the "separated" beds are in the balcony configuration. It's not ideal, for sure. But I'm a male who went with another male friend and we got used to it pretty quickly once we stopped thinking about it. Enjoy the balcony. I doubt you'll regret your decision.

As a male I can concur that the gap, however small, is extremely important. :D

Just got off the Epic last week and I will tell you I am so glad that we upgraded to balcony. One of the big flaws on the Epic is the lack of viewing spaces to see out of the ship. Other than a few windows in O'Sheehan's pub, the casino and the internet cafe, you need to be in a dining room or on the open 15th& sun deck to see out of the ship. I spent more time on my balcony than I expected just to be able to see the sites as we sailed away without having to listen to a band or deal with a deck party.

Thanks for all the comments - feel really excited now. I had read about the lack of sea views, which I like. On our HAL cruise last year, we would spend hours up in the Crow's Nest bar with its panoramic sea views.

I can well imagine having a coffee out on the balcony in the mornings. Not long to go now.