WyomingGuys

The 8/1 Joy trip was just $4365 for a balcony the day free air started last, earlier today it was $4600 and now it is $5237. Sail Away hasn't moved much. Maybe this is a way to push more people into Sail Away. They have to be looking at every way to make money. 

1 hour ago, Matco said:

NCL's pricing is so erratic yesterday our trip was $560 cheaper than what we paid with 12 cabins still available in our category today its $200 MORE than what we paid and still 12 cabins open. My guess is they upped the prices to cover the OBC credits...

 Yeah it is. Tried to get some friends to book with us yesterday on the Joy. Alaska - Aug 1, 2020. Yesterday an inside was $3007 and a balcony was $4365 all free perks and air. Today an inside is +$616 and a balcony is +$588 more. No longer super interested. 

Interesting and sad read about Peter Max & Park West from the New York Times today. Not surprised. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/business/peter-max-dementia-cruise-ship-auctions.html

Our first cruise was last September and we didn't know what to leave on top of the DSC for sure. We gave him a $20 the first day, another $20 mid cruise and $20 on the last day. He spoiled us, so I'm planning on a similar level on our cruise in a couple of weeks.  

Has NCL already removed Veuve Clicquot from the "Wine By The Bottle During Dinner" list? It is still listed on the NCL site, but I don't see a little star by it on the menu. Nice that it is still be included by the glass, but not so easy to take with you after dinner.

Veuve Clicquot was $23 a glass before the new package was introduced, or an $8 upcharge. Before the new 50% price increase, a couple would have to drink 50+ glasses of Veuve Clicquot just to cover the new PPBP upgrade cost. Possible yes, but makes me wonder what else was artificially increased to make the package look appealing.  

Last September was our first cruise. We took the Bliss to Alaska. I had no interest in cruising before but I read an article about the new ship and decided to give it a try, we were hooked. We had such a great time that we bought four CruiseNext certificates on that trip. We are excited to go on the Bliss again next month to Alaska. I feel like we were Norwegian's dream clients to get locked into their brand, a pair of mid 30's professionals who could travel a few times a year, for years to come.  

But there have been a few things that have made me question my new found loyalty. I won't go into all of them as most are very minor ($5 shrimp upcharges, ha) but the big one for me was the drink package changes! I know they backtracked on this a little but it gave me a weird impression of them as a company. Such a little thing but it was enough for me to shop around.

I'm sure we will have a lot of fun on this upcoming trip, but I have no plans on buying more CruiseNext certs. I'm seeing rates on Celebrity to Alaska with prepaid tips, premium drinks and unlimited wifi for the same price or less. On top of that Celebrity looks like it might be a better fit for us. 

Not really a breaking point, but a maybe we should see other people situation. ha.

49 minutes ago, Cruiser_Girl1 said:

Hi WyomingGuys,  was that the 5 day or 6 day cruise.  I can't find anything.

There is only one Vancouver to LA sailing on the Joy in 2019. 

Did you notice it is only $20 more per person to upgrade to a Sail Away balcony on that trip?

I think Free Air is here to stay after hearing the CEO talk about it on Mad Money. I would rather pay less and book my own air.

The "art" is junk. Run! Try to take anything from Park West to a legitimate auction house and they will laugh you out the door.   

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-12-14/ever-bought-artwork-on-a-cruise-prepare-to-be-seasick

I have wondered if NCL prices mid-ships that way so when you buy a balcony guarantee and you are assigned a BA mid-ship if the price drops on the balcony guarantee and you want an adjustment NCL can be like "well you are in a mid-ship balcony and that price hasn't changed". I'm not sure I have seen a mid-ship balcony price ever change.   

We booked the Bliss again for a May trip to Alaska even though we wanted to try out the Joy, but with the Joy's "free" air it was $840 more for the same type of room. We can fly Southwest for just over $400. I might change to the Joy if the promotion stops and prices adjust.

Wow that is REALLY early. Can you do us a favor and check the current pricing for your sailing and tell us if it looks like it has gone down at all? I have noticed a pattern of early acceptance of bids preceding price drops.

Jamie- Yes, it did. The price for our inside room is just down $70pp, but the ocean views and balconies are down by $300+pp.

Bid accepted. Bliss - Alaska 9/15-22nd

Inside to Balcony, deck 14 mid ship. $210 per person. Notified today, 52 days out.