Anonymoussol

Thank you all so much for your input! I have a good answer to my questions now. I hope to see you all on the water again soon! We'll get there guys! In the mean time take care and stay healthy! 

Hello All,

Like all of you I am anxious to get back out on the water. I am currently books on an NCL cruise out of Miami in July but now have no faith that will happen. I see and NCL cruise with the exact same dates leaving out of Spain and cruising Italy and France.  

My question..

Are those ports open currently for cruising or are they still closed? 

I dont want to book another cruise and have it cancelled again. 

Thank you for any information you can send my way.

2 hours ago, BonnieJeanne said:

We did it last October Chicago to Vancouver. Paid an extra $25 to go a day early. Great flights, non stop, early arrival, later departure. Very happy with it.

On the jewel?
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3 hours ago, Dlarruso said:

We are booked on the same Oct. 9, 2020 cruise flying out of Phoenix.  Our reservation shows that NCL will fly us into Tahiti the day before the cruise departs as there are no flights on any airline that arrive the day of the flight.  We anticipate that NCL will have to book us a hotel room for the night before the cruise as their flights get us in the day before.  On a side note - we have our final payment due on June 11th. At what we know today, we will likely cancel as I don't think all of French Polynesia will be open by October and I really don't think Hawaii is going to welcoming big cruise ships come October.  I don't believe that NCL will cancel the cruise, I think they will simply slightly change the itinerary and include a whole bunch more sea days.  

Now thats good information! Same cruise even! ...  While I hope the cruise is not altered, that is a decision we might have to make too. :-( 

5 hours ago, hallux said:

Care to explain?  4 levels of booking?  As long as you're on a flight, why does it matter how many "hops" that booking took?  NCL would not book a flight that does not get you to the port city in time.  Will you like the time that your flight takes off?  Possibly not..

 

The conditions of the offer are that domestic flights have no more than one connection when possible, with international flights having no more than two when possible.  For example, I might need a 3 hop flight to get to Tahiti, depending on where the final leg to Tahiti leaves from.

 

@Anonymoussol what ship are you on?  The terms/conditions I'm looking at for the free/reduced airfare offer indicate Norwegian Jewel sailings that embark or debark in Tahiti are not eligible for deviation.

Found it... For anyone elses reference. https://www.ncl.com/termsandconditions/promotions

5 hours ago, hallux said:

Care to explain?  4 levels of booking?  As long as you're on a flight, why does it matter how many "hops" that booking took?  NCL would not book a flight that does not get you to the port city in time.  Will you like the time that your flight takes off?  Possibly not..

 

The conditions of the offer are that domestic flights have no more than one connection when possible, with international flights having no more than two when possible.  For example, I might need a 3 hop flight to get to Tahiti, depending on where the final leg to Tahiti leaves from.

 

@Anonymoussol what ship are you on?  The terms/conditions I'm looking at for the free/reduced airfare offer indicate Norwegian Jewel sailings that embark or debark in Tahiti are not eligible for deviation.

We are On the Jewel... OCT 9 leaving from san diego or LAX. I will try and find the terms and conditions as I didn't see it when booking. I am just hoping to get there morning of or day before. The Jewel leaves at 10 pm.

Thank you all So much for your input! This answers all my questions! We dont want to arrive to Tahiti hours before our flight, we ideally want to arrive a day early or more. I will pay for a hotel, How often does one go to Tahiti after all. Thank you all! 

Hello,

I recently booked a cruise through NCL that included the free airfare to Tahiti. The only thing they can tell us over the phone is that they will let us know a couple weeks before the cruise what our flights are. 

Does anyone have any experience with NCL booked flights? Some of the flights we looked at have 4 connections and one has a 27 hour lay over!.  Do they like to get you in a day before or hours before embarkation?  Do you have any say what flights you get or any flexibility? Please share your experiences! thank you in advance! 

6 minutes ago, debgreg said:

80 days out for me today, does the email usually come bang on the day or a few days later. Last time we booked at 50 days out and I got it a few days after ?

 

I had no banner on my account last time, we are in the UK

It really is a big window. Some People have bids accepted 80 days out. some have them 48 hours before cruise..But for the most part, I would say 65 to 75% of people get accepted the 2 weeks before the cruise. 

Most likely depends on how busy your cruise is. 

 I GOT UPGRADED! WOO!!

Here are the stats.

Escape to Bermuda 9-1 to 9-8  (appears to be a sold out cruise) 

Balcony offer accepted bid :$305pp. (accepted today 8-15) Family Balcony room deck 9

Originally had a comped inside room through CAS.

Thanks to all those who offered advise and shared their knowledge! 

2 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

What would be the cost of upgrading directly at this point? Despite all my analysis of the bid process, how it works, and what might constitute a "winning" bid on any given sailing, my advice is always to bid what you are comfortable with. A perfect bis amount is one where you will be happy either way. Content with the amount paid if you win the bid and happy to have the extra money to spend on board if you lose the bid. If you are going to be devastated if you lose the bid, then either bid more or pay to upgrade directly. If you think you will question if the upgrade was really worth it or regretting "overspending", then lower your bid to an amount you are more comfortable with.

The cost to upgrade directly to a balcony at this point was $500. funny thing. the prices keep going up online. More cabins sold out. Thank you for your advice. 

15 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Certainly the whole "chain" of upgrades is really what NCL is going to look at. But still it will be the total net of NEW money NCL can get for upgrades. The initial amounts paid by anyone are irrelevant past final payment. Like I said, NCL has that money in hand already. They are clearly going to process upgrades in such a way as nets them the most ADDITIONAL money.

I sadly agree with your logical approach. Your name suits you. 

You're a bit on a guru around here and I'm new to the boards so I figured I might ask you. 

I have a comped inside room on the escape to Bermuda on 9-1 bidding on a balcony. Current bid is in the mid good range at $280pp. Max is $400.   Ship looks almost completely sold out when I do a mock booking. Another factor is I was told that this particular cruise is the annual CAS golf cruise . Do you think I should up my Bid? 

15 hours ago, Tinyturtle22 said:

Casino comps get upgraded all the time. I have won every bid I have done for bids in the poor range. 

I was comped through CAS an inside room on the Star to mexico last year. Bid on a Balcony for $250PP. I did not get it. It was in march. I believe this was high Fair to Good range for the offer.  

On 8/2/2019 at 5:53 PM, romalley99 said:

 

I have yet to lose a bid, and I booked through CAS most of the time. That doesn't decrease your chances just like booking a sailaway category do not decrease your chances. 👍

Good to know. I'm curious. What type of room were you originally comped and where on the scale did your offers fall? My offers are high fair or barely good.

4 hours ago, bonstersd said:

Anonymoussol, please let us know if you you get an upgrade for your 9/1 Escape cruise.  I'm assuming you booked through CAS?  I did as well for the 9/15 cruise... want to know what my chances are for an upgrade having booked through CAS.

 

I did book through CAS. I was comped an inside room. I have heard it is harder to get a upgrade when you book with a comp. but thats just a rumor I think. Will let you know for sure. 

6 minutes ago, cheeseclan said:

We are sailing this Sunday on the Escape.  Just got notified of upgrade to mini suite M3 from balcony for $200 total.  Now Midship but on deck 9.  At least bigger balcony.

 

First time doing this so interesting process.  Was hoping for bigger aft cabin but knew that was a longshot 🤪.

Congrats on the upgrade!! 

If you dont mind I have a couple questions. Did you book with CAS or on your own?

Did you happen to see how full your ship was and room availability before you bid? And lastly, $100PP or $200 PP ?

Trying to gage for my upcoming cruise on the Escape 9-1

10 minutes ago, ollienbertsmum said:

 

How much you offer is up to you.  It is guess work.  Threads like this may help the decision-making process, but I don't think they do.   I have come to the conclusion that it might be better to not go for a round figure.  Why go $200?  lots of people might do that - perhaps better to go $201.  

 

What you cannot do is book a cruise with the assumption that you will be able to win an upgrade.  That is a recipe for getting upset.  

 Solid advise! Thank you Ollienbertsmum. Using the price is right method of going a dollar higher could pay off! 

Hello! This will be my first post on Cruise Critic but I have been lurking this thread for a long time. Posting a bit early I think but here is my offer info

Escape to Bermuda sailing 9-1-19

Booking inside cabin through Casinos at sea comp. 

My Offers:

Spa Balcony $350 PP (top of fair range)

Any Balcony $200PP (middle of fair range)

The cruise is becoming packed with not many rooms left. Prices have actually increased about $300 for a balcony in the last couple months. Its a holiday week so I may have a tough time getting an upgrade. Should I offer more?