What was your upgrade offer and what did you bid

[MICHLEV1974]

I totally agree with nealjr. Everyone is different so from my perspective, the only way I'd upgrade is if I thought I'd get my (additional) money's worth from it. We are in a midship balcony on the Escape at the end of May. Haven't received access to offer any upgrades yet but I've already decided how much I'd offer on each upgrade category and which ones I'd be interested in. I love the cabin we've already selected but it's our 10th anniversary and that's the main reason I'd bid on an upgrade. It all depends on what each individual sees as getting a good value for the additional upgrade fees. Now come on, NCL, I want to at least get the opportunity to make an offer!

 

I am on the Breakaway on May 28 and we got our offer at the 80 day mark. Check your ncl account and click on the message envelope in the upper right of the screen. Some folks said they got the offer via email but I didn't--mine only went to the ncl site.

 

Good luck

[Clay Clayton]

Just FYI for anyone thinking about the GEM, 7 days NYC-FL-GSC-Nassau milky run ... folks on our Roll Call reporting & I can also confirm the Upgrade Advantage just rolled out this week (t minus 52 days) both directly by emails (both DW & I got it ... making sure we didn't "miss" the time-limited opportunity to bid, LOL) + pop-up banner as soon as logged into MyNCL

 

Per personalized email, bids as low as $25 p/p from I/S to OV, $50 p/p to Balcony. OV can bid for Balcony or Mini-Suite. No new "Free At Sea" perks will be added, keep what you have at the time of original booking.

 

Still ?? time at 7+ weeks out, to sell unsold inventory - 50+ Insides and 50+ Oceanviews (a fair # of triples & quads available) while remaining Balconies are more limited & could be gone. It doesn't seemed like there's going to be a lot of school-aged on the sailing. Prices for new bookings not dropping & actually higher now.

 

Same thing here for our 4/18/17 sailing on Gem from NYC. DH and I decided that since we have a huge inside across the hall from our friends balcony (they decided not to bid on an upgrade to a suite) that the unknown that we might end up on the opposite end of the ship, several decks away meant the upgrade was not worth a whole lot of money to us. I bid $100pp (its an 11 day cruise) so we shall see. FWIW, since Gem is new to the program, I decided to play dumb about the bidding program and called the Upsell number in the hopes maybe they could make me a firm offer that would identify which stateroom and perhaps overcome the potential distance from the friends concern. Alas, no, she looked me up, said oh, you're on the Gem and you should have gotten an email.......oh well.

[Love.II.Cruise]

This is a great thread. I'd like to share our experience. We were booked in an aft balcony cabin and called the upsell line and paid $750pp to get an H6 Haven Aft-Penthous for a TA cruise we took last Oct.

 

Last week we just booked the TA cruise for this Nov and we crunched the numbers and it was better to book the H6 Haven outright rather than wait to do the bidding process later.

 

I do think it can be easy to overbid and not realize that you would have been better off booking the Haven to begin with. You can get to a point where you're past down payment, then final payment is over and now everything is paid. Then the up-bidding starts and people start thinking, I can afford a little bit more, etc.

 

We love the Haven and are hooked, but I also know that we won't always be able to cruise that way.

[BirdTravels]

Something you have to keep in mind when you decide to bid on an "upgrade" is the only perks you have are the ones you initially have prior to bidding. Bidding on the Haven especially you need to come up with a value on the drink package, dining package and any other perks you would have had and deduct that value from the original price of booking a Haven suite. People up bidding more then $1,000 per person needs to reconsider, yes the additional space is great to have when you are in the suite and is that worth the bidding process? The butler,etc., you will take care of by tipping so the real question is the increase size of suite, the pool and Haven dining worth the additional cost? Your comments?

 

Many of the Haven's rooms start bidding at over $1000 pp. Some over $1500 pp with top bids of over $3000 pp.

[LakeWobegon]

I know each cruise could be priced differently but I did the math, including all the free perks you get with the haven balanced with the perks we get with our large balcony room and we'd still save nearly $3,000 on an Aft balcony suite bidding the low end of Fair vs paying booking at full price. It just depends I guess.

[mking8288]

Same thing here for our 4/18/17 sailing on Gem from NYC. DH and I decided that since we have a huge inside across the hall from our friends balcony (they decided not to bid on an upgrade to a suite) that the unknown that we might end up on the opposite end of the ship, several decks away meant the upgrade was not worth a whole lot of money to us. I bid $100pp (its an 11 day cruise) so we shall see...

With a huge number of available cabins at 50 days (spend lunch doing data mining on details - surprised at large # of suites & in Haven. Many available ones ... even Oceanviews & Balconies are triples & quad occupancies ... meaning that our sailing will NOT be crowded at all.

 

Have 2 adjacent (non-connecting) on Deck 10 - just 2 couples, steps from MID stairs & elevators so tough call to bid & upgrade. Ladies in both cabin don't spend time on the balcony. Friend's DW always cold, so not important at all - aside from natural lights ... Don't want to end up extreme FWD or AFT, in the unlikely case of rough seas & crossings - getting tossed with 20' or 35' rough seas (last run on GEM, head-on for incoming Nor-easter, gail force cross wind, 35' to 40' waves overnight, rocking & rolling for 12 to 15 hours+ ... fun, NOT.)

 

A huge price difference now between OV & Balconies, priced same as Mini's - NCL jacked it all up recently before the "Advantage" rollout - part of the game, as far as I am concern ... puzzling with the huge # of unsold cabins. Maybe FDR and AS can get their travel partners to perform magic ... but, I really don't think so, even if they discount them in coming weeks to make a final push. Families planning their Spring/April getaways are booking with kid's school calendar in mind. Our week isn't it, from what I can see - only 2 families coming north of the border (Canada) in our Roll Call now.

 

Also, our friends still get offered to bid, they are on a land-based casino/NCL voucher to sail - a nominal price paid, knew what CAS asked for flat out to upgrade at time of booking last November ... There is no way, especially with no extra "freebies" or incentives to pay almost full price to upgrade to higher GTY category and no choice of deck & stateroom location. We might bid above the minimum suggested $25 for OV and $50 for Balcony, but probably under your amount for 7 nights with the Balcony ... No big deal if we get rejected or declined 2 or 3 days before. I have a gut feeling NCL might just accept a low-ball offer for OV, given the sales outlook for those empty cabins (if it's the summer, different stories entirely) Downside, ending up with a porthole OV, extreme forward on Deck 4 or 5 - those are the chances being assumed here, is it worth it ... being debated, not in a rush to jump in. We also picked the best perk then, prepaid gratitudes included & not repeated in subsequent offers - dining & UBP not of values to us at all. < < Long posts - but laid out as much details on what we think are pro's & con's to us > >

[phoenix1181]

I got my upgrade offer 73 days out for our Dawn cruise & put in a low bid. We're happy with our mid-ship mini but figure it's worth a shot. What I didn't like, and think is reprehensible, was the 2 most expensive cabins already showing bids. If I hadn't caught it at the last minute, I may have ended up placing high bids on cabins that I didn't want!

 

Extremely misleading & it won't surprise me when someone posts they were charged a horrendous amount 2 or 3 days before their cruise for a cabin they didn't bid on and can't afford but NCL says it's valid and won't do anything to fix it.

[Até]

... huge price difference now between OV & Balconies, priced same as Mini's - NCL jacked it all up recently before the "Advantage" rollout - part of the game, as far as I am concern ... puzzling with the huge # of unsold cabins. Maybe FDR and AS can get their travel partners to perform magic ... but, I really don't think so, even if they discount them in coming weeks ....

 

Glad to see someone else is seeing this.

[mamasylvia]

> We're happy with our mid-ship mini but figure it's worth a shot.

 

That is my attitude. We will have 4 adults in an accessible aft mini suite. It will be cozy but I don't expect our kids to spend much time in the room. However, I wouldn't mind more room, if I get a very cheap upsell offer or don't have to bid hundreds of dollars pp to get a larger room (which would have to be a suite). But if not, we can still have a great trip in our current room. So I don't have anything to lose.

 

> What I didn't like, and think is reprehensible, was the 2 most expensive cabins already showing bids

 

Wow! That IS reprehensible, but unfortunately typical of NCL's approach. Thanks for the warning, if the Pearl switches to the bidding system (which I expect it will) I will be sure to look for boxes I didn't fill in. You might start a new thread warning cruisers about that!

[tlreze]

To bid or not to bid, it all depends on if you really want that room. I really wanted haven on the next cruise since it is a spring break one and started to see them sell out a while back so I upgraded myself. I paid a little more then if I upsold in the fair range since I had a B1, but when you minus all the extra perks I got it wasn't too much more. If the cruise is a popular one there will only be so many left the week before when they accept them. Once I upgraded I got the new pop up to upsell to a higher haven and not all the same categories were available (not all I originally planned to bid on) so it was obvious most were sold outright and there will be limited upsells to Haven's on my cruise. Just look at the true cost difference and realize if you bid poor or low fair and there are not many available a couple weeks or week before you probably won't get it. If you are happy with what you originally booked then no big deal. If you have your heart set on that upsell then just upgrade.

[dexddd]

With a huge number of available cabins at 50 days (spend lunch doing data mining on details - surprised at large # of suites & in Haven. Many available ones ... even Oceanviews & Balconies are triples & quad occupancies ... meaning that our sailing will NOT be crowded at all.

 

Have 2 adjacent (non-connecting) on Deck 10 - just 2 couples, steps from MID stairs & elevators so tough call to bid & upgrade. Ladies in both cabin don't spend time on the balcony. Friend's DW always cold, so not important at all - aside from natural lights ... Don't want to end up extreme FWD or AFT, in the unlikely case of rough seas & crossings - getting tossed with 20' or 35' rough seas (last run on GEM, head-on for incoming Nor-easter, gail force cross wind, 35' to 40' waves overnight, rocking & rolling for 12 to 15 hours+ ... fun, NOT.)

 

A huge price difference now between OV & Balconies, priced same as Mini's - NCL jacked it all up recently before the "Advantage" rollout - part of the game, as far as I am concern ... puzzling with the huge # of unsold cabins. Maybe FDR and AS can get their travel partners to perform magic ... but, I really don't think so, even if they discount them in coming weeks to make a final push. Families planning their Spring/April getaways are booking with kid's school calendar in mind. Our week isn't it, from what I can see - only 2 families coming north of the border (Canada) in our Roll Call now.

 

Also, our friends still get offered to bid, they are on a land-based casino/NCL voucher to sail - a nominal price paid, knew what CAS asked for flat out to upgrade at time of booking last November ... There is no way, especially with no extra "freebies" or incentives to pay almost full price to upgrade to higher GTY category and no choice of deck & stateroom location. We might bid above the minimum suggested $25 for OV and $50 for Balcony, but probably under your amount for 7 nights with the Balcony ... No big deal if we get rejected or declined 2 or 3 days before. I have a gut feeling NCL might just accept a low-ball offer for OV, given the sales outlook for those empty cabins (if it's the summer, different stories entirely) Downside, ending up with a porthole OV, extreme forward on Deck 4 or 5 - those are the chances being assumed here, is it worth it ... being debated, not in a rush to jump in. We also picked the best perk then, prepaid gratitudes included & not repeated in subsequent offers - dining & UBP not of values to us at all. < < Long posts - but laid out as much details on what we think are pro's & con's to us > >

 

I was watching prices for our Dec Gem sailing (although a bit odd sailing) prices were pretty firm with lots of rooms until around 45 days out and then they started to drop prices. Noticed the same for other ships I had considered at the time.

[Starflyr3]

I wonder if people who pay full amount in Haven are upset with the new bidding system. Thoughts?

 

 

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Clearly I can't speak for everyone, but I book straight suite/Haven, and I honestly don't care what others paid.

 

The only thing that bugs me is when part of a group is Haven and part is not, and they will try to bring the whole group into the Haven.

 

Plus, even some Haven booked folks get upsell emails.

[Até]

... I book straight suite/Haven, and I honestly don't care what others paid...

 

I also would always book suites directly, but find this suite pricing game annoying. I'm no longer willing to pay the current asking prices for suites. At least not until when there is sometimes a last minute drop right before upsell/bid acceptance starts. So that leaves me to book a lower cabin early in hopes of moving up later or wait until the last minute, neither of which I find acceptable. It's not so much I'm concerned what others pay, I'm concerned with what I pay.

[heidikay]

Are the older ships (Star, Sun and Dawn) on the new bidding system?

 

The Dawn is.

[nealjr]

So out of curiosity, has anybody received an accepted upsell offer more than 3 days before sailing? I'm waiting on pins and needles to see if our upsell is accepted for our May 21st sailing, lol.

 

 

We are also leaving on the 21 of May sailing and have put in a upbid on the Haven. Trying to move up from a mini suite to the Haven, but not overbidding because there isn't anything wrong with what we have. What are you trying to move up to?

[mking8288]

<snip> ... prices for our Dec Gem sailing ... pretty firm with lots of rooms until around 45 days out and then they started to drop prices. Noticed the same for other ships ...

Thanks, "T" minus 49 days, just checked, prices not lowered yet. One Garden 3BR Villa, among others like 2BR, plenty of Haven & full suites, etc. - guess those on our sailing who really wanted to play can bid and deal, not worth the differential with no extra "freebies" of significant importance to us. Going with this new Platinum perk, with our luck, get to "enjoy" possible new menu for a maybe, Spring rolling out ... on the hunt for smoked/salmon as that's my weekly "fix" as part of healthy eating.

 

To bid or not to bid, it all depends on if you really want that room ... If you are happy with what you originally booked then no big deal. If you have your heart set on that upsell then just upgrade.

This new system is for the higher 2 categories of staterooms or suites/Haven but no specific sub-categories, let alone picking a particular stateroom #, per my understanding ... no ? For us, not a big deal as we've survived and laughed at quite a few nasty roller coaster runs ... always packed our own generic Meclizine (Bonine) in our mobile Rx pack. Just 50 days, I just counted 45+ OV & Insides, 60+ balconies/mini's and at least 20+ within Haven ... worth low-balling the initial bid and see, we can go higher (and, apparently ... lower it as well in review to change, until it is accepted or rejected, within 2 to 3 days of sailing). Just won't print eDocs and/or luggage tags till then (cutoff to access/print is 24 hours or day before sailing, as a reminder)

 

One of our nephew & GF just sailed 10 days on the GEM in mid January, booked 4weeks out at almost the lowest price points & but still got the "freebie" perks. Either fill the ship up or sail with lots of empty cabins, which I am sure the crews don't mind ... except, the Haven butler and concierge. From past tracking data, it appeared that NCL likely won't lower the asking prices for new bookings for another 3 or 4 weeks. < < stay tuned > >

[TSUmom]

We have sailed in the Haven in the past and loved it but the prices anymore are getting ridiculous. We have an aft balcony on our upcoming Escape cruise. we received the email a few weeks ago and decided the only way we would give up our aft is for an aft or fwd PH so we bid low - infact it is still in the poor range. We doubt we will win but are completely happy with our deck 9 aft.

[VegasMIGolf]

We have a Spa-Balcony on the Escape and was wondering what 2 levels are considered in the upgrade options. Would it give us the chance to bid on a Haven cabin? Will we lose Spa-access by going to a Haven or are the Spa facilities included in the Haven cabins?

 

 

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[JC5240]

Yes, you'd be able to bid on the Haven categories.

 

You'd lose the spa access since the room you're in is a spa cabin. The only Haven cabin that would include spa access is the Haven Spa Suite, which is awesome! It also has a jacuzzi in your room too.

 

Good luck!

 

 

We have a Spa-Balcony on the Escape and was wondering what 2 levels are considered in the upgrade options. Would it give us the chance to bid on a Haven cabin? Will we lose Spa-access by going to a Haven or are the Spa facilities included in the Haven cabins?

 

 

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[Sand and Seas]

We have a Spa-Balcony on the Escape and was wondering what 2 levels are considered in the upgrade options. Would it give us the chance to bid on a Haven cabin? Will we lose Spa-access by going to a Haven or are the Spa facilities included in the Haven cabins?

 

 

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If you are in a Spa Balcony, you will be able to bid on all Haven categories plus Mini-suites. No choice at all of what type of mini-suite but you could luck out and get a spa mini.....just wouldn't count on it.

 

 

For the Haven categories you are able to bid on individual types so it's possible you could get a Haven Spa suite which are really nice, but not located within the Haven area. You still have the access to Haven, but would also keep the spa. Spa access only comes with a H9 for the Haven categories.

[$hip$hape]

If you are in a Spa Balcony, you will be able to bid on all Haven categories plus Mini-suites. No choice at all of what type of mini-suite but you could luck out and get a spa mini.....just wouldn't count on it.

 

 

For the Haven categories you are able to bid on individual types so it's possible you could get a Haven Spa suite which are really nice, but not located within the Haven area. You still have the access to Haven, but would also keep the spa.

Spa access only comes with a H9 for the Haven categories.

Nice post.

We also chose a Spa Balcony.

For our upcoming Transatlantic cruise,

we keep looking, but find no reason for an upgrade to the Haven.

[wbmom1]

Question, if you bid to upgrade from an inside to a balcony, do you get any of the current promotions that are available?

[nealjr]

Question, if you bid to upgrade from an inside to a balcony, do you get any of the current promotions that are available?

 

No, you only get the perks you currently have with your current room.

[jannyflo2]

Anyone have any updates?

 

 

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[footballwife]

My husband and I leave on Saturday on the Epic. We were upgraded from an inside to a family balcony today. Yay!:D