Amex Travel TA - Rec. Upgrade Advantage Offer?

[boatdc]

Good morning all. I have looked through all the posts and Upgrade Advantage, and I see several comments that the Upgrade Advantage program seems to be dependent on whether the travel agency (TA) opted into the program. So, the question is if anyone who used American Express Travel has received the Upgrade Advantage emails? Thanks.

[boatdc]

Answering my own question to a certain degree. Just heard back from my amex travel agent. Here is what she provided:

 

"The information that I have received on this "Upgrade Advantage", is that NCL will reach out to clients that are booked on the Getaway and the Escape ships. Guests are randomly selected to receive these emails, there is no way to determine who will receive them, nor when. The determination is made through NCL's Upsell Dept., once received by the guest you will then bid on the higher end cabins, such as the Havens.

 

I occasionally receive these emails from the cruise lines, and forward them to my booked guests. Should I receive one for you, I will immediately forward this over to you, then you can determine whether you accept the upgrade costs or not.

 

This is a pilot program that started in September and only for two of the NCL vessels."

[purpletequila]

Answering my own question to a certain degree. Just heard back from my amex travel agent. Here is what she provided:

 

"The information that I have received on this "Upgrade Advantage", is that NCL will reach out to clients that are booked on the Getaway and the Escape ships. Guests are randomly selected to receive these emails, there is no way to determine who will receive them, nor when. The determination is made through NCL's Upsell Dept., once received by the guest you will then bid on the higher end cabins, such as the Havens.

 

I occasionally receive these emails from the cruise lines, and forward them to my booked guests. Should I receive one for you, I will immediately forward this over to you, then you can determine whether you accept the upgrade costs or not.

 

This is a pilot program that started in September and only for two of the NCL vessels."

 

I don't know about the whole random selection. What NCL is doing is basically the eBay model. It's in their interest to send the offer out to everyone to increase the odds of their getting more for an unsold cabin. I think I read on here that it was not yet being sent to TA bookings but I could be wrong. I'll search the boards.

[purpletequila]

This is what another poster had said so I guess it depends if your agent opted in yet.

 

"Not everyone is receiving the offers. There are some travel agencies that have not yet opted in to this new program. I found this out last Friday during a convo I had with a very nice person at the Upsell number. I was informed that the parent travel company for the agency that I booked through, has not yet responded to NCL's notification of the new program. There are multiple cruise agencies under this parent company that are in the same position."

[Visigoth]

Good morning all. I have looked through all the posts and Upgrade Advantage, and I see several comments that the Upgrade Advantage program seems to be dependent on whether the travel agency (TA) opted into the program. So, the question is if anyone who used American Express Travel has received the Upgrade Advantage emails? Thanks.

Here are the NCL term and conditions for the "Upgrade Advantage" program. I don't understand article 15 but there are lots of things I don't understand:

 

1. The following terms and conditions ("Terms and Conditions") apply to all offers (each an “Offer” or a “Bid”) made by you (“Guest”, “you”, “passenger”) to NCL Corporation Ltd. (“Norwegian Cruise Line”, “we”, “us”) for an opportunity to upgrade from the class of service that was originally purchased for travel with Norwegian Cruise Line to a higher class of service (“Upgrade”). This Upgrade program gives you a chance to place an Offer on an opportunity to upgrade from the class of service already purchased. Your Offer is not final and binding unless and until Norwegian Cruise Line officially accepts it.

 

2. You must be at least twenty one (21) years of age and able to enter into binding contracts. You shall be deemed to have the authority to act on behalf of and to bind the person or persons named or included on the Offer to these Terms and Conditions. Upgrade Offers are only valid for cabins that have already been purchased, either by you or someone on whose behalf you are bidding for the Upgrade.

 

3. First, as a prerequisite to the ability to make an Offer, you must receive an invitation (“Invitation”) from Norwegian Cruise Line. Sending an Invitation to anyone and at any time is entirely within Norwegian Cruise Line’s sole discretion.

 

4. Upon receipt of an Invitation, you may submit a Bid on up to two categories higher than your current class of service category for the original itinerary booked.

 

5. Norwegian Cruise Line may accept your Bid any time before the sail date. In the event Norwegian Cruise Line accepts your Offer, your credit card will be charged the full amount immediately upon acceptance. The total amount that you must pay to us will be disclosed to you prior to your submission of your Offer.

 

6. Once your Bid is accepted, the upgrade amount paid is final and non-refundable.

 

7. If you make a change to your itinerary after your Bid has been accepted, your Bid will be cancelled, will not be transferred to your new itinerary and the upgrade amount paid is non-refundable.

 

8. 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.

 

9. If your reservation includes only one person, the guest will be charged based on double occupancy.

 

10. Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decide whether or not to accept your Offer, and it makes no representation that any Guest will be upgraded regardless of whether or not cabins are available in the category for which an Offer is being made.

 

11. If you purchase an Upgrade, the conditions of your original cruise reservation will remain in effect following the Upgrade. This includes conditions pertaining to cancellation, penalties, and changes.

 

12. If you have purchased Norwegian Cruise Line’s Travel Protection on your current booking, you will be automatically charged to cover the Upgrade cost. For more information please visit https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/booksafe#pricing

 

13. The Upgrade does not include any additional promotions. If you purchase an Upgrade, Norwegian Cruise Line cannot guarantee a specific cabin number assignment within the upgraded category. Your cabin number will depend on space availability. You may revise or cancel your Offer through the hyperlink on the offer email before 48 hours of your departure, provided that your Offer has not already been accepted by Norwegian Cruise Line and provided your credit card has not been charged. However, if your Offer is accepted before you cancel or amend your Offer, you are legally bound to complete payment for the price stated in your original Offer.

 

14. If you are currently in a ‘Spa’ cabin and submit an Offer to upgrade to a higher category, we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to another ‘Spa’ cabin within the upgraded category. If your Offer is accepted and you do not get assigned to another ‘Spa’ cabin, you will be forfeiting the complimentary access to the Spa.

 

15. If your Bid is not accepted, you will travel in the category you originally purchased. The charge on your credit card may appear in the name of “NCL Reservations USD” / “NCL Reservations XX (currency)” / “Norwegian Cruise Line”. You agree that you cannot challenge or dispute a charge because the name appearing on the credit card statement is “NCL Reservations USD” / “NCL Reservations XX (currency)” / “Norwegian Cruise Line”.

 

16. By purchasing this Upgrade, the passenger accepts all terms and conditions of the Upgrade Program.

 

17. Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to modify and otherwise change these Terms and Conditions at its own discretion. Except as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment, modification or waiver to these Terms and Conditions shall be binding on Norwegian Cruise Line unless made in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.