soccer71

We usally book what we want without thinking of upsells or upgrades. We did get an UPGRADE on our Alaska cruise to an Owners Suite!! That was also the time we had dinner with the Captain and had an exclusive party with him---only 6 other couples. Don't know why, but since than have had other chances to dine with the captain, but don't always accept.

 

Did one other upsell when prices drastically changed, otherwise like I said--we book what we want at the time--maybe a couple months or a couple of years out--just watch the prices and make our PCC aware that we are willing to upsell if price is right!!

I keep watching the prices so if there is a price drop I can ask for consideration, biy I have never been offered an upgrade or upsell

I thinl your post asks a question that gets at the heart of one of NCL's weaknesses. That is a lack of consistancy. We are booked ***** the Gen and booked early hoping for good pricing and after final payment saw the price on our room drop over $300 per person. We also contacted NCL who we booked directly with and they said a FIRM sorry final paymemnt has been made nothing we can do. This doesn't match with many posts that you will read on this Board so no clear answer here. We are both Platinum and have received upsell calls but ONLY when we have already been booked in a Suite of some sorts already. While we have been told that being a past guests helps on getting upsell calls we doubt it and again many posts on this Board will tell you overwise. We believe that you will not really get a real answer to this question as NCL isn't consistant and it is indeed hit or miss. The old story of book the room you want because it isn't likely you'll get a move is very true. Of course like you we like playing the lottery and enjoy the wishful dreaming.

I think NCL should have at least met you half way and upgraded you. NCL needs to realize there are several other cruise lines that would love to have your business. They should realize that you will never forget the $600 that they burnt you for.

The only problem with this theory is that the mini-suites on most ships are on the deck which is right under the pool and buffet area and if you don't get an upsell you are stuck in that room!! I was actually offered a mini-suite once from a BA balcony (after I called to see if they had any suites available) but didn't take it because of the location of the room.

Thats good to know Mini suites don't seem to have many benefits except they are a little bigger

If you booked with a TA, then the TA will get the call from NCL with an upsell offer. We sailed only 2 times with NCL so far, and both times we were offered an upsell just prior to sailing. The first time was on the Jade (7 night Western Med.) last July booked directly through NCL. We got an upsell offer from a mini-suite to the A2 Deluxe Owners Suite for $740 extra total for the 2 of us. It truly was a "sweet" deal IMO. We loved that room and all the perks that came with it.

 

The second time was on the Pride of America just this past April booked through a TA. We got an upsell from a BA to a penthouse suite for $530 total for the 2 of us. Again, a "sweet" deal IMO. I even got the same upsell deal for the other 2 couples traveling with us whose reservations were linked to mine since I was the one doing all the bookings and planning.

 

So, based on my experience, upsells are random and offered to both newbies and lattitudes members. It's just a matter of who accepts quicker. I also think it has a lot to do with what category room you booked originally. I try to book the highest non-suite category so that the only category above mine is a suite. It has seemed to work so far.

 

If you get an upsell offer from a balcony or other category that does not get suite perks, then the deal is well worth the extra money. I'm not so sure about suite to suite. That would depend on the price offered.

I see so I have to let my travel agent know I am interrested, I have sailed 3 times with NCL and have never been offered an upsell

I think there is a difference between an upgrade and an upsell although posters seem to treat them as the same. To me ( and I could be wrong) an upsell is when NCL calls and wants to sell you a higher level experience at a somewhat reduced price. An example of an upgrade would be ( again IMHO) when prior to or at final payment the price has dropped and you are offered a higher level cabin, suite etc for the $$ you are paying. Happened to us 2 years ago on our Med cruise. We had booked a low end balcony and at final payment the same $$ got us upgraded to an aft balcony. It was wonderful :)

Thanks I guess my issue is I have booked with a travel agent and I can't call NCL directly

How does one get upgraded on NCL. I have heard the policy is NCL does not upgrade like other cruise lines.

I have also heard that lattitde members do get upgrades.

Has anyone been upgraded and can you share how you accomplished it

Same with me. I used RIL for transfers from airport to the hotel in Rome, 2 tours then transfer to the ship, then 3 more tours and a transfer to the airport. Each day's payment was put into an envelope and went into the safe. The day of the tour I just pulled out the correct envelope - with the tip already in the envelope. It was much easier to plan and all I had to do each morning was grab my stuff for the day and one envelope. A no brainer for me.

Great idea I will do that as well, hope I don't forget to take the envelope

I DID read many of the threads and I have NO doubt that it will be far more than adequate, I am just curious about the Walking Tours as I haven't read anything about them on this thread. I am curious about the tour itself and how it progresses, the pace, the content etc.... any info is appreciated.:)

I did some dearches in the thread and I didn't see information on walking tours either

Fantastic Job

NCL should give you a free cruise

I have a bad back and bad knees-- Rome in LImo was fabulous because they could pull right up to the museums and sites... I did not have to walk... and let us off, and we got to the front of the line, no waiting!!

 

actually they were fabulous for many other reasons. Yes, the driver guides are a fount of knowledge and make excellent tour guides. They are so worth it! We loved Rome in Limo!

 

Bobolink, great idea about downloading Rick Steve's audios before the trip.. I wish I had thought of that. It would be just one more excellent addition to a tour. :)

Did you take a tour with six or eight and was the vehicle a mercedes Viano

Just got back from a cruise and used RIL for our tour of Rome. It was our second time using them. We pre-bought our tickets for the Vatican and Coleseum and it worked perfectly. The 8 hour tour was perfect and the whole tour was awesome. Our driver, Manuel was excellent, and yes, we did tip him. We shared our car with another couple we found on Cruise Critic and had a wonderful day. I would definitly follow Jany's suggestions and you will have a great day touring Rome with them.:):)

 

Gail.

Thanks I am going in September and appreciate knowing you were happy with RIL

Congrats on your wedding :)

 

The RIL drivers will give you a great deal of information prior to dropping you off at each site. They will likely have a pictorial guide book that has the transparent overlays so you can see what the Colosseum would have looked like compared to what it looks like now. Very cool.

 

You can ask other tourists to take your picture; that is what we did.

 

My daughter used Romeinlimo last week, additionally she brought her iPod that she had downloaded all of Rick Steves audio tours.

 

So, she had the best of both worlds: the professional, prompt and knowledgeable drivers from Romeinlimo who could get her up close to all of the sites, and the audio guides for each site from Rick Steves.

 

If you are not familiar with Rick Steves, you can check out his website:

http://www.ricksteves.com/ae/ae_menu.htm

 

Have a wonderful time! You will love Romeinlimo!

Thanks for the audio guides information

I faced the same question when we were arranging our tours. We chose RIL for Rome and Florence but decided to go with SA for Naples based on the reviews on the TripAdvisor site. After reading through tons of comments on both boards, I'm sure you can't go wrong with either. Do more reading, contact the companies, then go with your instincts.

Happy planning.

You probably know this already but if you book all three tours with RIL you recieve a 50 Euro discount on each tour. The cost was not the most important factor in my decision but if the alternatives were close why not enjoy the discount and use the savings to improve my trip somewhere else

Hello soccer71,

You will be very pleased with Romeinlimo. It really doesn't make any difference which driver you get. They are all extremely professional, prompt and courteous. Duman, the owner, has very high standards for his employees and you will be treated like royalty!:)

Don't worry about it, you are in good hands. Come back and tell us all about your experience.

 

Have fun!

Thanks I think thats good advice rather than attempting to ascertain the "best" guide. All the reviews are fantastic so I will take your advice and not worry about it

I will tell you how things went

I will be doing the Rome tour tomorrow but did Livorno today and you can't walk on the pier there. RIL met us at the port. Had a great driver, Fabrizio, local to the area. Can't say enough about the tour today - was a wonderful day.

Would you endorse ....highly recommend Fabrizo

I will be using RIL for Florence, Rome and Naples. Are there guides for each port that you would recommend and does RIL honor requests such as these?

Does anyone know if the private tour companies are able to meet their passengers right at the ship in Civitaveccha for a Rome tour vs outside the port gate. I have read that you have to ride a shuttle bus to the port gate. They will not allow you to walk, but I was wondering if tour companies are allowed to enter the port area and then you would not have to ride the shuttle bus.

RIL told me they would me me at the ship

We LOVED our Amalfi coast tour! It's my favorite area in all Med cruises. Romeinlimo is fantastic! BEST BEST tour! :)

'I'm sure glad I booked them as they seem to be filling up for September

Soccer71... I think the best thing to do is email Jany and ask for exact seating configuration. I have traveled many times with Romeinlimo and have never been uncomfortable in the vans. That said, I have not toured with 8. This is way I almost ALWAYS limit anything I put together to 6 and then when others want to join tours, I just book another van and hope it fills up also. If you are stuck with 8, I would email Jany and find out what your options are, as I would not want to sit up with the driver plus another person either. I do know their mercedes vans (something we have always had) are VERY nice! Now... when we were taken to the port last time we traveled with 7 and there was TOTALLY room for one more. It was a larger van and you were able to sit 2 and 2... which is way better when touring with your significant other.

 

Email Jany... she'll do everything she can to clear things up for you.

Thanks I took your advice and emailed and spoke to Jany, she cleared up all my questions. Very patient and professional

I booked all three tours for 6 passengers she reccomended the Viano as its a little more luxurious and comfortable.

I can't wait to go and thanks again for your advice and help

We did a couple tours with RIL over the last couple years. There were 6 of us and I might say we are on the "large" size but we were very comfortable. So I would say 2 more people wouldn't be a problem. Plus in ROme there isn't a lot of distance between stops so you won't spend a lot of time driving except to and from the ship. Their website has a lot of useful info about their vehicles.

Thanks I checked the website under fleet, it helped but did not help answer my question about seating arrangements

It didn't seem tight to us - the stick shift and that stuff was between the middle passenger and the driver. Then, like in our cars, we had arm rests that you could put up or down. When dh and I were in the front seat we chose not to use the arm rest.

 

So we lifted it up to give us more room. (and we don't mind sitting close to each other). I hope this helps a bit :D

 

Seriously, ask Jany if you are concerned, she will either describe it well or send you a picture or tell you where there is one on their website.

 

I'm not a Rome in Limo cheerleader, but we were very, very happy with our tours and no one felt cramped (and we did do Rome). Have a great cruise:D

Thank you and that was very helpful, I feel better about it

Does anyone know the difference between a Mercedes Viano and Vito?

Have you traveled on one. On Romeinlimo it seems the Viano fits 6

They were two seats on ours with a divider you could lift up or down.

 

I wouldn't call it a bench seat. it was very comfortable, in fact, people were taking places to get this spot as it had great views and huge windshields.

Appreciate the information I am having trouble picturing this. If two people are sitting next to the driver it would seem to be fairly tight. Does the divider separate ypo from the driver

Has anyone driven in a mercedes vito

I am booking RomeinLimo for Florence, Rome and Naples.

It seems the most economical way to travel is with a party of eight. I am concerned that in Rome its too many people as Jany mentioned "in Naples and Rome, you will get a Vito since with Sprinter you wont move easily around the city" Has anyonr traveled with eight in Rome? Am I going to be crowded? Is the seating easily accesible in the Vito or do I have to crawl in to get to the back seat

Thanks for your helpful info to my previous question

Thanks this information helps

The two that sit up front with the driver, they share a bench seat?

I am booking RomeinLimo for Florence, Rome and Naples.

It seems the most economical way to travel is with a party of eight. I am concerned that in Rome its too many people as Jany mentioned "in Naples and Rome, you will get a Vito since with Sprinter you wont move easily around the city" Has anyonr traveled with eight in Rome? Am I going to be crowded? Is the seating easily accesible in the Vito or do I have to crawl in to get to the back seat

Thanks for your helpful info to my previous question

Did the driver enter the Vatican with you and become your tour guide?

Or is hiring a tourguide extra