18 hours ago, spanishguy1970 said:

nope they are ripping you off, is first two only. Your TA should be helping you with this.
 

 

Upgrade Advantage - how it works.

Welcome to Upgrade Advantage. In just a few clicks, you can submit an offer to upgrade your stateroom on your upcoming cruise.

Browse through the stateroom options below. Making offers on multiple rooms will increase your chances of getting upgraded, but you'll only ever pay for one upgrade.

Here's how it works:

1. Name your bid to upgrade your stateroom on your upcoming cruise, then click Continue.
2. We'll notify you via email if your request for an upgrade has been approved.

If your offer is accepted, you'll be charged for the upgrade. If not, you pay nothing and keep the stateroom you have.

Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom for the entire duration of the cruise - only the first and second guest will be charged.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or watch the Norwegian Cruise Line Upgrade Advantage video for more information about the program. Please note that information may display incorrectly once printed.

Now NCL is dancing further stating:

This is to further our previous correspondence and in response to your recent letter. 

We apologize for the misunderstanding on our part. We have contacted the Upgrade Advantage team on your behalf and have been advised the following:

The guest submitted two bids – one for a Balcony, and one for a Club Balcony. Both amounts were for $150 per passenger (the Balcony amount was originally $75 per passenger, but the guest later increased the amount to $150 per passenger). 

Please note that preference levels cannot be set at this time. Should a guest submit multiple bids, any bid may be selected and upgraded at any time up until the close of the program at 0 days prior to sailing. Our system accepted the guest’s offer for a Balcony for $150 per person ($300 total), and the below email was sent to the email address on file, XXX@yahoo.com.

Per our program’s frequently asked questions, if a reservation includes multiple passengers (between 2 and 9 passengers), the offer amount submitted will be per passenger, but only for the first and second passenger on the reservation. The bid amount for a Balcony was $150 per person, so the total amount charged to the credit card ending in 3236 was $300.

I most certainly did not modify my booking to change my bid.  My confirmation very clearly shows my bid of $75pp for Balcony (see my earlier post).

On 10/19/2022 at 11:00 PM, mscdivina2016 said:

So what happened??

Earlier I posted here regarding the fact I was charged the upgrade fee for 4 people instead of just the first two as the terms state.  All of you here as well as my TA all saw the same thing and said the same thing as I, but here is the response I just received from NCL:

Thank you for writing in and choosing Norwegian Cruise Line for your vacation at sea. 
 
According to our records, the upgrade advantage bid was for a Balcony cabin. This price was $75.00 per person. You have 4 people on your reservation. The total charged was $300. If the Upgrade was for a Club Balcony Suite, you would have been charged $150.00 per person or a total of $600. While we regret any misunderstanding, you did not pay for a Club Balcony Suite. For more information regarding the cabin descriptions, please see our website here:

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/breakaway/staterooms/balcony

The Upgrade Offer Pricing snip provided is based on a double occupancy cabin, not for 4 guests.

Please review the full terms and conditions of the Upgrade Advantage program here:  https://www.ncl.com/content/upgrade-advantage-termsThank you for writing in and choosing Norwegian Cruise Line for your vacation at sea. 
 
According to our records, the upgrade advantage bid was for a Balcony cabin. This price was $75.00 per person. You have 4 people on your reservation. The total charged was $300. If the Upgrade was for a Club Balcony Suite, you would have been charged $150.00 per person or a total of $600. While we regret any misunderstanding, you did not pay for a Club Balcony Suite. For more information regarding the cabin descriptions, please see our website here:

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/breakaway/staterooms/balcony

The Upgrade Offer Pricing snip provided is based on a double occupancy cabin, not for 4 guests.

Please review the full terms and conditions of the Upgrade Advantage program here:  https://www.ncl.com/content/upgrade-advantage-terms

The very terms and conditions they cite state:

"If your reservation includes multiple passengers (between 2 and 9 passengers), the purchase price you accept will be per passenger but only for the first and second passenger on the reservation."

So I am pushing back again.  I genuinely have tried to think about every possible argument they could make against me and I'm coming up blank.  Has anyone else had more than 2 people in a room and been charged for each person beyond that?  Am I looking at this wrong or misinterpreting somehow?

Norwegian Breakaway

We bid $300 total for a Club Balcony Suite and $150 total for a Balcony stateroom.  The room we ended up with was Cabin 9712, designated as a "Large Balcony Cabin" Category B6 by the deck plan.  This differentiates from Club Balcony Suite rooms Category MB or MX.  I was charged $300 on my credit card.  From my amateur Googling, all indications are we were not given a Club Balcony Suite and, instead, simply a Balcony stateroom -  but we were charged for a Club Balcony Suite.

This is further evidenced that the "congrats" email says we got a Balcony Stateroom.   We also had no double sinks, a feature of Club Balcony Suite.  And the color scheme was green and not purple, the former of which is for Balcony and latter of which is for Club Suite.

Am I misinterpreting this?  Screenshots attached for reference.

Does anyone know what films are currently running in the IMAX movie theater on the Vista?

TIA!

8 hours ago, matymil said:

 

What is moot about the OP's point? Did someone mention the kids club somewhere else in the thread because the OP didnt?

I am the OP, matymil 🙂

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Ocean Cay.

Yeah, sorry, been looking at too much cruise stuff lately 😄

17 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Since you have non-fully vaccinated in your group, everyone is considered not fully vaccinated for excursions. You can all go on a MSC excursion but other than the private island, that is the only way that you can exit the ship. You and the young kids can't visit the other islands on your own. 

I'm okay with that if we can just get off at Coco Cay.  I have no desire to get off at Cozumel or Costa Maya.

5 minutes ago, KeepSailing said:

 

Thanks I see it now.  What I'm confused by is why does it say it's okay there, but if you go here it says "Any fully vaccinated guests in the same traveling party with a not fully vaccinated guest or a child 11 years old or younger are considered not fully vaccinated for the purposes of shore excursions. Everyone will need to purchase a shore excursion as not fully vaccinated guests."

I just read the kids club isn't even running so the point is moot.

4 minutes ago, KeepSailing said:

Here is link.  Under the "Ashore" section, "Unvaxed", 4th bullet.

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

I'm not seeing it.

Oh and, can you find out if they are running any of the kids clubs (namely for those under 12)?

7 minutes ago, KeepSailing said:

I think it's not just related to Bahamas issue. 

 

As I read the MSC website, all Caribbean (incl Bahamas) has a single protocol for "shore excursions".  Since all members of a family with children 2-11 is considered "unvax" for purposes of shore excursions, then at all ports of call, the only way you can get off the ship (except the private island) is with MSC-sponsored unvax bubble.  That would include locations outside of Bahamas. 

 

So, you would need to determine if your specific cruise had such unvax bubble tours for each port in your itinerary.

 

Do others read it differently?

Then that would mean we can't even get off the boat?  In which case I really don't want to go.  I can't not get off for 8 days.

10 minutes ago, Bevv said:

Per the Carnival website, it is still possible to cruise without being vaccinated.

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_072821

Do I need travel insurance for the 2 kids?  Will we be able to get off the boats in the ports?

18 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

On our exclusive private island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, you can spend the day as you wish or you may purchase one of our many offered shore excursions.

So this means we can get off there then, correct?

Hey all,

I'm considering an October cruise on the Horizon for my family which includes 2 unvaxxed children (10 & 6) who are not eligible.  I called Carnival this afternoon and "Jeff" told me (and I repeated back to him so I was sure) that "absolutely no guests who are not vaccinated will be allowed on Carnival ships through October 31st."  He confirmed this included children.

Was he wrong?  I thought Carnival's policy was Under 12 was exempt (but possibly still subject to the 5% max)?

Thanks in advance!

3 minutes ago, slk1000 said:

The way I read it on the MSC website is you won't be able to get off the ship if unvaccinated except for Ocean Cay. For my cruise itinerary I don't mind much for Nassau but was wanting to get off to go to Dunns River Falls. I believe if we book directly through MSC as part of an unvaccinated tour we can get out at the port.  This isn't an option in the Bahamas. I'm going to call for more clarification.

The only Bahamian stops are to Coco Cay on my trip since they axed all the other Bahamian ports in favor of Cozumel and Costa Maya.

On 8/27/2021 at 5:49 PM, SkierRobUMN said:

Currently onboard so feel free to ask me anything you’re curious about. 

Have you seen any kids on board?

6 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

NEW: The Bahamas has just announced new protocols requiring any visitors (12 years and older) to be fully vaccinated. Due to this latest requirement, MSC Cruises will now be requiring all guests 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated on all sailings beginning September 3, 2021 through and including sailings of October 31, 2021 departing from PortMiami and Port Canaveral.

Thanks, I also read this:

https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates

... which doubles down on the 12+.  Can we still get off the boat at Coco Cay, though?

51 minutes ago, 9876 said:

I am not the OP on the ship but I thought I would chime in.  October will be all vaccinated since the Bahamas is prohibiting nonvaccinated tourists until October 31st.

Even for those under 12?  Can you link please?

4 minutes ago, slk1000 said:

I believe travel insurance is only required for people unvaccinated over 12.  It's listed in the FAQ section and says over 12.

 

Yes I see now where it says "Children 11 years old and younger are not required to purchase travel insurance."  That answers that question, but what about the whole thing with the Bahamian gov't mandating all cruisers be vaxxed, even for private islands, prior to 10/31?

We are a family of 5 currently booked on the 10/9 sailing.  2 adults, both vaxxed, and a 12 year old also vaxxed.  However, our 2 youngest, 10 and 6, are not yet eligible.  According to the new policy, am I understanding correctly they now want me to purchase travel insurance?

"Guests who are not fully vaccinated will be required to purchase a Travel Protection Plan"

I also saw from another poster that

"October will be all vaccinated since the Bahamas is prohibiting nonvaccinated tourists until October 31st."

...so can we even go in the first place?

They've also changed my itinerary already from a Bahamian cruise to a dud Caribbean cruise to places we've been a dozen times.  I'm also reading horrendous reviews of folks coming off the ship, especially for those unvaxxed.  What is the refund policy?  I've read about the "Cruise Flex" but it's all very ambiguous to me.  I really don't want a FCC because I'd rather travel somewhere else.

15 hours ago, sevenseasnomad said:

You probably won't hear any Christmas music from the bands.  We didn't hear any last year, and we were on the ship during Christmas week.  We attended a sing-along carols at the tree lighting, but other than that, no.

That's unfortunate news but I sincerely appreciate the 'real world' experience!

16 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Live music takes live bands :(.

 

 

Forgive me but the Nieuw Statendam is advertised as being loaded with live bands?  Is that not the case?

Hey all,

We are scheduled to depart on the Nieuw Statendam on Dec 15th out of Fort Lauderdale.  We were curious if anyone knew if there might be Christmas-related activities such as live Christmas music being played?  I'm not talking about the kind piped in over the speakers but live performances?

Thanks!

J

Great news, all!

Owner of T.A. was SUPER nice. So here's the deal: It absolutely was not Early Saver. Apparently Carnival releases these unique rates to various VFIP profiles and Carnival decides to apply their own arbitrary cancellation rules to them which are not part of their normal cancellation policy but instead, at their discretion, are "like" Early Saver. The T.A. could have asked what the policy was but, since no one asked, Carnival didn't say (until it was done and booked and we went to cancel it).

Bottom line: Carnival is refunding me in full for my deposit!

Thanks for your help!