pghflyer

Great, very helpful, thanks

Wait, so you could book a BX and get a BA? Seems ridiculously generous! Do you mean a single category (ex. book a BD and go one up to BC)?

Interesting. I never would have considered booking so far in advance but I appreciate this thread. There is a cruise in 2020 that I am interested in so maybe I should look into it. I always use a compete site to book, but I wonder how "competitive" your offers will be so far out in advance.

Also, I understand things are pretty strict now at NCL and there is no issuing of OBC for fare changes (I tried looking up the exact policy but couldn't find it). Sometimes that is a gray area anyhow when booking with agencies where your "fare" is sometimes fuzzy (their best fares are not really published). I guess you are pretty safe to cancel / rebook with no downside in the worst case as long as before the 120 days based on the cancellation table, right?

thanks folks, very helpful

Never had an issue , used both every cruise.

You receive an opportunity to bid

You bid

You wait

You either get upgraded or you do not

Sorry to be so specific, but how / when does the opportunity arrive exactly? (ex. Via email around a month before sail date )

I am very grateful for the fish and the service it provided and miss the tool. But reality is when you buy credits, the credits should work. There is no reason for anyone to buy new credits with how that site works today, unless you are wanting to make a goodwill donation.

Yeah sad too see it go, definitely saved me some money but hasn't done anything for me either in some time.

Been a few years and with the mandatory gratuity on the UBP, it really makes it less useful. On our 11-night cruise we are currently considering, not only was it about $450 (combined for 2) to upgrade from Sail Away to the lowest qualifying rate, but then it was $400 (combined for 2) for the beverage package mandatory gratuity. $850 is a lot of darned drinking....over 25% of our actual cruise cost (balcony).

First, MANY thanks for this thread - it is very helpful. We just booked a B6 for next year and our agent said he got us the "best" one (12096)....but we really like the idea of having half the balcony uncovered. Which I take it to mean decks 8/ 9....and obviously 9 looks better by being a little higher above the side boats. We also want a bed by the balcony, which I *think* means I want the down part of the wave by the balcony.

Is my logic sound?? 9026 the best?

Was on the Norwegian Jade recently and didn't do this because the weather was terrible (rain).....BUT the Cruise Director said that NCL no longer offers Capri as an excursion because they lost too many passengers due to the return trip cancellations during surprise bad weather.

Thanks much VirtualRain, very helpful...just wish you had been to all my other ports too! :)

So does everyone walk from the cruise dock to the ferry port? Mobility not an issue at all, just don't want have a LONG unexpected hike trying to catch a ferry......

Great post and valuable information - will be using next month. Thanks!

Serious bidders may want to look at the better bidding site too as they list all the probable hotels and characteristics. Also, they have some good tips....for example, when bidding for hotels in PR, there are about 6-7 regions you can bid in and only 2 of those regions have 4* and above properties....so you can "add" one of those regions allowing you to immediately (not wait 24 hours) up your bid by like $1, knowing you won't win one there...and this allows you to check an approximate $7 price range in a day.

Just booked 2 rooms using Priceline at San Juan Intercontinental Resort for $113.75 per night ($110 bid plus $3.75 bonus cash) for 02/01/12 (weds) - 02/05/12 (sun).

Total per room (based on our $110 pay rate) = $501.96 per room / $125.49 per night including taxes

So, how did the cruise go? Any tips? Heading that way on this ship in the fall...........

Did anyone find this to be true if you didn't have insurance?

I got stuck in "Snowmageddon" this weekend and spent the first 2 nights of my cruise on the airport floor only to find out it would be another 2 days before they could get me on a flight South. Needless to say, I had to cancel the cruise. I didn't buy travel insurance.

When I called Princess, they said I will get nothing back and would not let me transfer it to anyone else.

While it makes sense to me that I shouldn't have to pay any taxes & fees (probably 1/3 of my cost!), I am skeptical they are going to voluntarily return them.......