Bidding on upgrades And Meet and Mingle

[lb0456]

1. I guess you don't just get upgrades anymore, not that I ever did; now you have to bid on them. If I get that chance, what would a balcony normally go for?

2. There was not even a roll call yet for my southern Caribbean cruise on the Jade in December so I sort of started one. Not sure what I'm doing. No one has started a Meet and greet either. Is there somewhere I can go for info on this? Are there any perks for heading a Meet and Greet? Don't know where to start.

TIA.

Linda

[johnrich]

1. I guess you don't just get upgrades anymore, not that I ever did; now you have to bid on them. If I get that chance, what would a balcony normally go for?

 

2. There was not even a roll call yet for my southern Caribbean cruise on the Jade in December so I sort of started one. Not sure what I'm doing. No one has started a Meet and greet either. Is there somewhere I can go for info on this? Are there any perks for heading a Meet and Greet? Don't know where to start.

 

TIA.

 

Linda

 

 

 

Hi Linda,

 

I have never bid on the upgrades so can’t answer that question. Sorry.

 

To organize the Meet and Greet, you need to email SpecialEventsJade@NCL.com

 

Let them know the date of your sailing and that you would like to set up a Cruise Critic Meet and Greet. They will contact you back with a date, time, and location of the event. A week or so before the cruise they will want to know the approximate number of members attending the Meet & Greet.

 

As far as getting any perks for organizing the M&G, it varies from ship to ship (and probably what officers are on the ship). Sometimes a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries. One time we had slippers, robes, and upgraded soaps and lotions (the ones they use in the Haven) and had a small plate of treats every afternoon. Other times they may not give you anything.

 

I like organizing it to get to know people and don’t expect the perks but am grateful when they do provide something a little extra.

 

There is a pinned thread above from Laura with some tips and info on organizing a M&G.

 

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[johnrich]

Duplicate post

Edited March 15, 2018 by johnrich
Duplicate

[casofilia]

Read the Roll Calls for 4 or 5 cruises doing the same route before you. Find out who is doing the M&G on them and pick their brains.

 

If haven't done one before there is a lot of work to do it properly so good luck.

 

Make sure you control the list of people going to the M&G and try to get a real commitment from people who say they will attend so what you tell NCL is accurate.

[TrumpyNor]

1. I guess you don't just get upgrades anymore, not that I ever did; now you have to bid on them. If I get that chance, what would a balcony normally go for?

2. There was not even a roll call yet for my southern Caribbean cruise on the Jade in December so I sort of started one. Not sure what I'm doing. No one has started a Meet and greet either. Is there somewhere I can go for info on this? Are there any perks for heading a Meet and Greet? Don't know where to start.

TIA.

Linda

 

You can also find useful information here:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcall/cruiselinel2.cfm?cruiselineid=24

[APDMOM]

Two people on our upcoming cruise won their bids - one of them bid $100 for an upgrade to a balcony. I don’t know what their original price was.

 

Key factor about both of them: They are cruising NCL for the first time. I don’t know if that is a coincidence, or if NCL is specifically targeting first time cruisers (on NCL) to try to win their business for future cruises. Just made me wonder...

 

 

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[josephmz]

Don't contact NCL about meet & greet until a few weeks before sailing. They will need to know how many attending.

 

Sometimes responses to roll calls can be a little slow coming. All you can really do at this point is wait for folks to join.

 

There are plenty of posts about activities at these events.

[kmc86]

As far as upgrade, we are Platinum with NCL and won Our bid from balcony to mini suite. We bid $75 so they charge for first 2 in cabin so it cost me $150. I felt it was worth it for the larger bathroom. We were notified of bid acceptance 19 days before the cruise last November.

[tef43]

Since we typically book the cabin category that we want, I usually throw a minimum bid on an upgrade just to see what happens. If we get it, fine. If we don't, that's fine too.

 

On the Getaway I bid $25/pp for a balcony --> mini-suite upgrade. It was accepted right at the 48-hour deadline. YMMV.

[lb0456]

Since we typically book the cabin category that we want, I usually throw a minimum bid on an upgrade just to see what happens. If we get it, fine. If we don't, that's fine too.

 

On the Getaway I bid $25/pp for a balcony --> mini-suite upgrade. It was accepted right at the 48-hour deadline. YMMV.

So, I wait to see if I get an email for upgrade and go from there. We are in inside cabin now.

[tef43]

So, I wait to see if I get an email for upgrade and go from there. We are in inside cabin now.

The upgrade invitation to bid will not happen until you are within 80 days of sail date.

[sid_9169]

I have never bid for an upgrade, so I can't help you there...

I have hosted the M&G 6 times now, on 3 different ships. (Escape, Getaway, and Epic) The "perks" have ranged from absolutely nothing (Epic) to upgraded soaps and lotions from the Haven (Getaway) to the full "VIP Treatment" on the Escape, including dinner at the Haven, Captains reception in the Haven, and priority disembarkation with escort...

I sail solo, and arrange the M&G to meet people, not expecting anything, so anything offered is just icing on the cake...

[casofilia]

When you approach NCL here is the proforma response; use specialeventsjewel@ncl.com but change jewel to the name of your ship.

 

Thank you for contacting the Norwegian Cruise Line Events & Concierge Department. We will contact you within 72 hours. To facilitate your inquiry, please have ready all relevant information such as number of guests, type of function, day, time, set-up, required equipment and so forth.

For medical inquiries, please contact accessdesk@ncl.com.

The Events & Concierge Department is open Monday through Friday 8-6:00 PM EST.

I would suggest that you make the first approach to them about 6 weeks prior to the cruise. You can start your spreadsheet as soon as you like.

[jdvmd]

So, I wait to see if I get an email for upgrade and go from there. We are in inside cabin now.

If you get the email (some travel agencies do not participate in the upgrade program), there will be step-by-step instructions on how to bid and what the ranges will be. You can bid up to two categories from the cabin you are currently in meaning an inside and bid for an oceanview/porthole and balcony. You will not be able to bid on a mini suite or higher.