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@ChiefMateJRK Heck NO, I dearly love it. I am about to go back to Europe next month thanks to Delta Airlines raising my status to Diamond and having a sale to Paris. This is a gift to my 32 year old daughter. I begged her to do a cruise with me but she does not love cruising as I do. So I did my normal due diligence and took care of most of the other details. I am still going to miss not being on a cruise ship but we will get by. Four countries in 10 days. Seriously, I am looking forward to it. Different experience. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@ChiefMateJRK Well stated. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I know we are all posting with a bit of a sense of humor. That make me very happy. Sometimes, we take life a bit to seriously. Yet some things have been brought up that for me kind of make sense. Cruising scratches a different itch for each person. Frequent Vacations: To some, this is more important than a over the top stateroom. On another blog, there is a person that feels very strongly about taking more cruises and never having an expensive stateroom. This same person loves to tell stories of getting off at different ports to find very inexpensive wines and liquor's. All this is fine until this same poster basically wants ever other poster to agree with them or they criticize those that disagree. Once In A Life Time Experiences: Then there are posters that would prefer not to cruise or vacation all that often. Instead, they would rather have a nicer stateroom, maybe The Haven or Retreat or Yacht Club. Maybe even an owners suite or nicer with all kinds of nice appointments. For this person, the experience is enhanced by as I have said a few time, "Being Treated Like a Rock Star for One Week A year". Vacationing All the Time: This was brought up in an earlier post. I wish this person was me, sure is not. But I get great joy from those that can actually vacation all the time. One such couple I follow on YouTube. That kind, sweet and humble. They both obviously did very well in life prior to retirement. They go on Brands like Regent Seven Seas, Ritz Carlton, and other high-end cruise experiences. Somehow, I get great pleasure watching their experience knowing it is not something I will ever be able to do. Enjoying someone else's experience is a gift. Each example to me is unique, special and share how people can and are different. What unites each example is everyone loves to cruise. For me personally, that is enough. Something about cruising simply scratches my itch in a way land based vacation never had. I am the middle kind of cruiser. I used to be the cruiser that did the least expense cruise. I like to say, I have rarely been on a cruise that I did not enjoy. I would like to add something that makes my cruises really special. For me, nothing is better for me then to go on a cruise with it is my guest first time. That just happened to me and watching their reactions really made my cruise even better. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

OK, let us play this out. Must everyone gets an upgrade "Bid" opportunity. I choose my words carefully. I have to assume this is the OP's question. Here is a, not the, but a strategy. If you want to help your friend, go online with their permission and open their NCL Account showing this cruise. You should see a link to "Bid" upgrades. That is your starting point: What to Upgrade too: This is the first question. Suite, Club Suite and or Haven. Make a decision but understand, if you bid on all three, the first one take is the one you get. You won't be obligated to take all three. Do your Due Diligence: How much did you pay, vs how much is the upgrade you want. For sake of this example here is some math. I paid $1000 per person for my stateroom. The upgrade I want is a Haven suite which if I purchased today would be $3000 per person. Next step is look at the availability of the category you are bidding for. If lots of staterooms are available, you bid lower. If a just a few are available, you bid higher. Does not mean you will get it but is a good strategy. Be Happy with your Original Booked Stateroom: Do folks get bids, yes. Does it happen often, no. Go into this with the idea that you will NOT get an upgrade. Just Book the Category You want: With high inventory, sometimes you can just book the higher category at a great price and eliminate the waiting. Consider this. This is a lot of work if you really want the upgrade so for a friend to do this for me or anyone else, is quite the ask. No computer, no phone, I would personally pass. Just be happen with what you got. Just my two cents yet I wanted to answer the question posed. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Funny the twist and turns a topic takes on Social Media. Since I am the author, I kick in every now and then to emphasis the original reason why I did the topic. First allow me to address some things: Solo Traveling: Anyone that knows me, knows I love the Haven. No excuses, no regrets, I love the Haven. Just call me Bougie Old Man. When I did my one and only Solo Cruise on the NCL Joy, I was in a Club Suite not the Haven. Did I attempt to bid up to the Haven, yes. My bids were to low and that sailing, another NCL Ship had to cancel and those guest were give the opportunity to cruise the Joy that week so all the Haven Cabin's were gone. So as a solo I did the Free At Sea PLUS program. I bought some more specialty restaurant nights. I had a week in the Vibe Beach Club. I call this Haven Lite and wrote about it on CruiseCritic.com. A very nice way to cruise for sure. Did I miss the Haven, yes. Why? Did I tell you I loved the Haven. My money my call. Haven Owners Suite with Large Balcony: Great suite especially since I got it at a bargain fair. I booked it during Covid not knowing if that cruise would be cancelled like so my other I had booked previously. The Joy almost got cancelled. The Cruise I was on with my entire family was a 50% filled, cruise which was the Joy's second cruise out. The first was Thanksgiving. I paid less then a normal Haven Suite today with all the perks given after so many cancelations. Would I do it again, NO. The cost is way to high now. Over double what I paid. But, I will tell you, it was fun while it lasted. Once in a life time opportunity. Once was enough. Inside Cabins: Some how the thought that I think inside cabins are bad has been completely wrong. My transition from an Inside cabin to let's say a balcony was based on my wife's love to have a drink, on the balcony at night. I liked inside cabins because I would never get awakened by the sun because there was no windows. On my Solo cruise, I did a Club Suite because it only charged me for one person instead of double occupancy. Luxury To Me: Luxury as defined for me is kind of simply. Anything that can enhance my cruising experience from my past experience. The biggest aspect of Luxury is Personalized Service. Folks get to know you, your name, you drinks and your likes/dislikes. This service happens much more in area's like the Haven, Celebrity Retreat, MSC Yacht Club or Premium Plus/Luxury/Ultra Luxury brands. You pay for this treatment and if it does not many anything to you, you can choose another brand or accommodation and still have an unbelievable time. You make the call. They key is, read and listen to all comments. Then it will make it much easier for you to make a good business decision for you. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@BandAgain Welcome to CruiseCritic.com. I am the author of this topic. The point was to share how cruising, over decades can evolve. Our Inside Cabin with Bunk Beds was the most luxurious accommodations at the time. Just being on a cruise and just being married was awesome. Then as life changes, so does our likes/Dislikes. So like so many others, we got a port hole, a small balcony, a mini suite, Suite all the way up to the Owners Suite. Each transition was fun and exciting. Each came at a different time in our cruising life. All were memorable. Many in this thread bring up cabin's like the NCL Club Suite which is lovely. Just a place to share, enjoy the hobby we all seem to cherish. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Andy0215 The extra perks are for the Owners Suites. You get bottles of Spirits or wine and all the mixers are complementary for the week. In addition, the day of embarkment, you get a bottle or real Champagne. Please make note, that is a H2 not a H4. Cruise well and enjoy every moment

@complawyer I love the way you write. On to the response. I have stayed in the Club Suite within the last two years twice. Once as a Solo and the other time with my wife who won the Slot Contest (That is crazy, she hates to gamble) on the joy when we were in the Owners Suite. I did enjoy the Club suite very much and wrote a piece on a "Haven Lite" strategy. My feeling about the NCL Haven is always my preferred way to cruise with a larger NCL Mega Ship. The issue for me is the price increases of recent. So I choose "Haven Lite" still bidding for an upgrade and other lines like Oceania which for me is a completely different world and vacation. The point of my piece today was to let other know, the suites like the Owners Suite is great but after the initially thrill, it is just another suite. Save the money and do another Haven suite. If that does not fit the budget, a normal suite like the Club suite is lovely and you have extra cash for lots of perks. I hope that clarifies and and answers your question. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Many of you know me from the topic, "The Secrets of the Haven VIP Luxury Experience". What many of you don't know is my first stateroom, some 44 years ago was an inside cabin, with bunk beds, on my Honeymoon. My last NCL Stateroom was the H2 Haven Deluxe Owners Suite with Large Balcony on the NCL Joy. I have had most all staterooms in between. Over the decades of cruising, as my career got better, I could enhance the stateroom on my cruises. That is when I found the NCL Haven. Good thing, I was going to stop cruising. I was getting upset with the crowds, lines, poor service, bad drinks and a host of other experience that were happening more and more often. The older I got, the more I wanted both a place to hide comfortably and excitement. The best of both worlds. However, like a lot of folks you dream of that one Stateroom. The one that only the wealthy can have. You wonder how it would feel to have half the front of the ship as your personal balcony. A full bar set up in your suite. A closet the size of your first stateroom 44 years earlier. A bathroom that you have only seen in TV and Movies. Well, due to circumstances that will never happen again, I had that opportunity. I even did a video on the Owners suite on the Joy. Now two years after the fact, I write this topic. The reality for me and my family is we had a great time. However I personally would never do it again. With all that room, balcony and Amenities; it was lost because after the "Newness" and shock is over, it is simply another stateroom on a Mega Ship. The experience was wonderful but been there and done that. My conclusion was and is, any Stateroom/Suite in the Haven whether in the Haven Proper or outside other Haven Courtyard would be just fine. Just not worth the added expense to do the Owners Suite. Now I recently went on another brand. Oceania Cruises which is a sister brand to NCL. I was in the equivalent to the size and layout of the H2 Owners Suite on the Joy. It was called a Vista Suite. I feel exactly the same way about that Suite. Not saying if you want to make the investment you should reconsider. Your money, your choice and enjoy it if you make it. Now if you have any questions about my experiences, just ask. Regardless of which stateroom you choose, Cruising is still one of the best most relaxing vacations any of us can choose. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

This topic seems to come up over and over. What that means is it is a trend or pattern. Not a single occurrence. Enough Vista Guest are calling it out even in PH categories that something will need to happen to fix the issues, obviously. In homes and apartments there is stuff that can be injected in walls and the problem is solved. I hope that Oceania will read and listen to the folks with the concerns. Noise is more important to some then to others. I am on the Vista in 2025. Since I can see this is a real issue, I personally will take steps to handle the noise when I am trying to sleep. Whether my Noise reduction headphones that I use every night or ear plugs. Knowing there is an issue now, allows all of us to take action to handle it in the future if we have one of the staterooms with the issue. Thank you to the author of this this thread and other that have brought the same information to light. It really helps to set Realistic Expectations. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@AMHuntFerry Well I stand corrected. As you overviewed, I was recently on the Riviera. I thought that little perk for everyone on the ship was very positive, never crowded and one of my favorite places on the ship. Thank you for the correction. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@KCalla Your question is one that I also wanted answered for the same reasons as you did. I also have had spa rooms on other brands that gave access to that brands Thermal spa area as a perk of a spa room. I have some GREAT news for you. The Aquamar Spa Terrace which is the outdoor Sundeck, Thermal Spa and sometimes Hot tubs is complementary for Concierge stateroom level and above. If you are not at those levels, they do sell daily passes which are extremely reasonable but I personally don't know what it costs. The reason those passes are reasonable is because most of the spa facility amenities are complementary to everyone on the ship. This should thrill you as it did me. The Sauna, Steam, showers, non-alcoholic drinks, and heated tile loungers are for everyone. I went to these every day and it was never crowded. My guest were in a Penthouse and I was in a Vista suite so the Aquamar Spa Terrace area was complementary. That is why I don't know the price. But other then treatment, the rest is complementary. Hope that helps. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

I had such a good time taking the Hop on/Hop off buses in the Mediterranean. I loved that. I also love the experience of a port intensive cruise so much, I am flying with my daughter to the Mediterranean in April to spend more time in my favorite ports Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@WildWanderers Hello Greg. We were in Istanbul in November on an Oceania Cruise. I accidently found a very good experience. When you get to the pier, go outside, a taxi stand is there. We want to go to the Grand Bazar which I DO NOT recommend, it was crowded and uncomfortable. Back to my story. The Manger of the stand said the Taxi Driver would take us to the Bazar, stay with us and bring us back for $60. I thought it was a scam but it was not. He spent four hours with us and I gave him a total of $100.00 for the four of us. The next day, I found the same driver and he took us to the the blue M and then on a ferry to see both sides of Istanbul. I gave him another $100.00. Just my opinion and experience. FYI Only Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for your kind words and all the thought you put into your post. I hope you recover quickly. Enjoying life is our reward. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Flatbush Flyer Well I did not know about the illy coffee but what I did have in November was pretty darn good. On the Dom, I could not agree more about the price. That said, something has happened to my and my mindset in the last two years. I don't mean to get personal with this comment but I think others will understand. They might not agree but they will understand. I was a Professional Educator, Speaker and developed curriculum for fortune 100 and 500 companies. I owned my own company since I was 30. At age 60 I had an acute stroke that was a wake up call. I retired. My biggest fear as is most folks men or woman at this stage of our lives is if our retirement/savings will last us the rest of our lives. After 6 months of fear I realized, everything would be just fine. Then an occasional health issue here and there which all got handled efficiently. I went from being super cheap, saving every cent I could for a rainy day to saying, "It is time for me to be a little reckless, and splurge on some things. Life is to short." So the cruise staterooms got nicer, we went to Destin, FL for Vacation more, and a few more nights out to dinner started to happen. None of which I would have or did consider earlier in my life. So things like the Dom event is definitely not frugal and in many was a waste. However it is an experience I have thought about so why not. Sorry for the book, but one of those mornings with my coffee. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@AMHuntFerry You are right. I did not know the ship and my group was upset I could not find a BAR quick enough. The Baristas covers my coffee and their adult beverages. Great call. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@alcpa1 Are you from my area of Alabama? Is so, it is a date. Love to. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@mauibabes Thank you for taking the time to share. We are on the Vista. The idea of having the Key Lime Pie escaped me on my last trip. I am all in on that. The Privee was an after thought on my first Oceania Cruise and I regret not doing it. I will do my best not to miss that this upcoming voyage. Thank you again for a kind thoughtful post. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Yesimapirate Oct 13, 2025? Deal

@DENIE That will be awesome.

@Snaefell3 Have your butler bring you a nice coffee and pastry every morning from Barista. Love that.

With so much craziness in our world, I am trying and I do mean trying, to distract myself with happy thoughts. Dreaming about upcoming cruises has always been my happy place. That is why I am writing this topic. I also believe if you focus on the good in life, knowing life is not always great, it keeps a smile on your face. My problem is I book cruises to far in advance. I booked my 10-Day Mediterranean Cruise on the Riviera 18 months ahead of time. My booked my next cruise which is another 10-Day Mediterranean Cruise on the Vista 24 months ahead. Some thing we did I definitely want to do again. They include: Pre-Dinner Drinks at Martinis Using the Outside Spa in the Front of the ship Spending quiet time on the headed stone lounge chairs Eating at Red Ginger Finding the best bakery in each port Having my morning coffee at the illy Barista As a frequent member of this board shares quite often, I love finding really nice wines at each port then it would be enjoyed in our stateroom that night. Next cruise I know I want to go to the Dom Champagne special meal which will be my big splurge. I might have to do that one solo. My wife and guest think it is silly and way to expensive. To each their own. Please share your favorite thing you absolutely want to do on your next cruise. Lets enjoy the day dream together. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@urlaub Just write Oceania a letter. Mail it to the top executives in Florida. Make them sign for it. Explain your situation. Explain your cruise history. Social Media is a place to vent not fix the issue. Travel agents are not as committed to your resolution as you are. Keep sending the letters weekly until they call you or answer you. At this stage, Oceania or any brand has made you so disappointed, you may never go back. So, now it is the principle of the thing. Don't give up. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

@Vallesan You obviously are taking about my mother prior to her passing away. I think we all know someone like that. Your post struck me in a positive way. Booking a cruise for a bargain price as your main motivation in my thoughts is not sport. Booking the cruise that you really want and fall into a nice sale if you are looking for it and it happens is sport. That is what I got out of your post. Thank you for taking the time to say it the way you did. Cruise well and enjoy every moment.