What was your upgrade offer and what did you bid

[cliffd64]

2 minutes ago, amitsuzu said:

Hi all!  First time post and new to this forum so take it easy on me please 🙂  We're going to be sailing on the encore in December of this year and am currently booked in a connecting balcony stateroom on deck 9 (family of 4).  I've received the bid upgrade email and was contemplating throwing a few bids in.  It wasn't clear to me (after reading through previous posts etc) how the prepaid gratuities work if we were to bid on a haven suite.  Do we have to pay more top top those off?  Some people have said yes, some have said no so was curious if there was a definitive answer.  I prefer to avoid surprises and want to be able to walk off the ship with no extra charges etc.  

As well, i was thinking about putting in an offer for a spa suite... do people have strong feelings one way or the other regarding the spa?    Appreciate any insight your could provide.  Thanks in advance 🙂

I'm a little fuzzy on the pre-paid gratuities issue myself, but I know that insurance costs and such will definitely be added.

 

As for spa cabins...  the cost of a spa pass is 199 per person, so any bid should be less than that amount,  otherwise just buy the pass.

[amitsuzu]

Thank you, that was helpful.  I didn't purchase any of the insurance pkgs so that wouldn't apply.  It really is the prepaid piece in particular that remains unknown.

Thank you as well for the details on the spa!  The suites themselves are pretty much the same correct?  The value add is just the access to the spa itself?  

[bortzct]

Hello All -

 

I have been on 6 NCL cruises and have had the option to bid on an upgrade on all of them.  I never had a bid accepted until my last Labor Day cruise to Bermuda.  It was supposed to be a sold out ship so I was surprised 48 hrs before sailing to get the email that they accepted my $210 per person(just below Fair range) bid to move from an Interior to a Balcony.  

 

I am sailing on the new Encore on Dec 15th and got the upgrade bid offer email last week.   I have put bids in at $45pp for Oceanview (min is $25), then $165pp for Balcony (mid Fair), and $255 for Spa Balcony (mid Fair).    Currently this cruise still shows a lot of availability so I am hopeful that one of my Balcony offers gets accepted.

 

I am a Casino Comp so if my offers get accepted, it will still be significantly cheaper than if I had paid the flat $500pp to upgrade to a Balcony through the Casino.

 

Fingers crossed!!

[debgreg]

7 hours ago, K832905 said:

If you buy through a travel agent, not all participate in the upgrade program 

No I confirmed ours does and we got the offer booked July, NCL said not everyone get the offer 

[cliffd64]

36 minutes ago, amitsuzu said:

Thank you, that was helpful.  I didn't purchase any of the insurance pkgs so that wouldn't apply.  It really is the prepaid piece in particular that remains unknown.

Thank you as well for the details on the spa!  The suites themselves are pretty much the same correct?  The value add is just the access to the spa itself?  

Yes...  From a Haven penthouse to a Haven Spa penthouse the only difference is spa access...... For non Haven cabins the same holds true when comparing balcony to spa balcony, and mini suite (not really a suite) to spa mini suite..   The mini suite category is really a balcony with an enhanced bathroom.  So if your goung from inside cabin, you have a ton of options bidding.

Edited October 9, 2019 by cliffd64

[amitsuzu]

Got it.  Yes we're currently in a balcony (connecting).  I thought the spa suite might be interesting and I believe the minimum price was 135pp so I may put an offer in based on your explanation (thx again!)  I was also looking at the forward facing haven penthouse w balcony but am on the fence.  

[Momma Rene]

If the NCL site shows no availability for a certain cabin, does that mean no cabins or do they keep some available?  I am in Haven aft and bidding on Haven in the Haven, family suite or better.

[gmbhardy]

47 minutes ago, Momma Rene said:

If the NCL site shows no availability for a certain cabin, does that mean no cabins or do they keep some available?  I am in Haven aft and bidding on Haven in the Haven, family suite or better.

 

Stay where you are. The aft suites are wonderful.

[Firepath]

I finally put bids in on a balcony and an OV 1-BR Family Suite. If I happen to win the bid for the suite, what differences, if any, should I expect between my current Oceanview cabin and the suite. We didn't get any perks besides some OBC. I know there's a coffee maker and it's a larger cabin, but anything else I should be aware of?

[romalley99]

Norwegian Bliss 

December 28, 2019 - January 5, 2020

 

80 days out. Received Upgrade Advantage Email.  

 

My Current Cabin: Haven Connecting Stateroom (H8) Deck 11

 

Bidding Minimums: 

 

H8-H5 = $200pp - $750pp

H8-H6 = $300pp - $800pp

H8-H4 = $500pp - $1500pp

H8=H2 = $750pp - $2000pp 

 

Right now all is showing sold out in the Haven, and we are under final payment, so it's likely it is indeed sold out. I grabbed the last H8 a few weeks ago, and since then Sold Out has been showing. Not going to stop me from bidding to try and get on 17 or 18, though. I know there are cancellations etc. Happened to me first hand a few weeks ago when it showed sold out, then my upgrade came through. 

 

If anyone else is sailing, good luck! 🙂 

[xcell]

I'm curious. since the min bids for Havens will depend on your starting cabins, do they upgrade higher level cabins first (i.e H8 to H4 vs minisuite to H4) or based on overall bid.

 

This bidding system is confusing.  I liked the old method of calling in and asking....lol.

 

Side question: Ronmalley99 -- are those bids in USD? The ones I posted before were in CDN.

Edited October 10, 2019 by xcell

[cliffd64]

21 minutes ago, xcell said:

I'm curious. since the min bids for Havens will depend on your starting cabins, do they upgrade higher level cabins first (i.e H8 to H4 vs minisuite to H4) or based on overall bid.

 

This bidding system is confusing.  I liked the old method of calling in and asking....lol.

 

Side question: Ronmalley99 -- are those bids in USD? The ones I posted before were in CDN.

There have been no discernible patterns as to why certain bids are taken over others...  That information has not been communicated.

[amitsuzu]

Hi all, do bid minimums drop at all as you get closer to sail dates?  ie if a minimum bid is 200 today would you potentially see that change to 100 if it still hasn't been filled?

[Momma Rene]

12 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

 

Stay where you are. The aft suites are wonderful.

I am worried about the long walk to the Haven area.  We did enjoy the walk outside on the Grand Princess.  We walked outside to the Haven area.  However, because it was a long walk, we were not in the cabin except for the mornings and late afternoons.  Is there a nice walk to the Haven area?

[Firepath]

I've been watching since I got the email 90 days ago and now am 9 days out. The minimum bids on all categories has not changed at all during that time, but the bid strength has changed, I guess depending on how many bids they have.

[nyc2pdx]

4 minutes ago, Momma Rene said:

I am worried about the long walk to the Haven area.  We did enjoy the walk outside on the Grand Princess.  We walked outside to the Haven area.  However, because it was a long walk, we were not in the cabin except for the mornings and late afternoons.  Is there a nice walk to the Haven area?

I would stay where you are, too.  I am in a H8, Forward Connecting (without the connecting) on my Dec cruise on the Joy and I would give anything for the Aft Suite...that balcony is nothing short of amazing.  I could bid on one, but I've hit my budget for accommodations at $4200 (I'm solo).

[romalley99]

5 hours ago, xcell said:

I'm curious. since the min bids for Havens will depend on your starting cabins, do they upgrade higher level cabins first (i.e H8 to H4 vs minisuite to H4) or based on overall bid.

 

This bidding system is confusing.  I liked the old method of calling in and asking....lol.

 

Side question: Ronmalley99 -- are those bids in USD? The ones I posted before were in CDN.

Yes -- USD 

[Nclgetawaymenhoney]

4 hours ago, amitsuzu said:

Hi all, do bid minimums drop at all as you get closer to sail dates?  ie if a minimum bid is 200 today would you potentially see that change to 100 if it still hasn't been filled?

I've seen them I increase and decrease on the five sailings I've bid on, it's all about supply and demand what price you pay on a sep. cruise versus a Xmas cruise can often be quite significant, remember a bid is by no means a guarantee you'll get it, bid what your comfortable bidding, then just be patient because they majority of bids aren't awarded until week before sailing happy cruising

[kayteecat]

4 hours ago, amitsuzu said:

Hi all, do bid minimums drop at all as you get closer to sail dates?  ie if a minimum bid is 200 today would you potentially see that change to 100 if it still hasn't been filled?

My thought is that if NCL adjusted the minimums, they would be underbidding themselves. Remember that they can potentially be collecting bids every day between when the emails go out until 2 days out before sailing, so I find it unlikely that they wouldn't have enough bids even at the current minimum to fill the rooms they'd have open. If anything, I think in that case it would become more likely that a minimum bid would be accepted if the rooms fail to sell.

 

So I guess I would say theoretically possible, but practically unlikely.

[Sigster]

Has anyone had any of their bids accepted yet for the upcoming 12-Day Picturesque Panama Canal cruise departing on October 27, 2019?

 

We put very generous bids on all the Haven suites and haven't received anything yet.  

 

 

[gmbhardy]

1 hour ago, Momma Rene said:

I am worried about the long walk to the Haven area.  We did enjoy the walk outside on the Grand Princess.  We walked outside to the Haven area.  However, because it was a long walk, we were not in the cabin except for the mornings and late afternoons.  Is there a nice walk to the Haven area?

 

We would take the elevator up to the pool deck and then walk through that area. It was busy but never boring.

[snorklinbarb]

1 hour ago, kayteecat said:

My thought is that if NCL adjusted the minimums, they would be underbidding themselves. Remember that they can potentially be collecting bids every day between when the emails go out until 2 days out before sailing, so I find it unlikely that they wouldn't have enough bids even at the current minimum to fill the rooms they'd have open. If anything, I think in that case it would become more likely that a minimum bid would be accepted if the rooms fail to sell.

 

So I guess I would say theoretically possible, but practically unlikely.

Interestingly enough my upgrade offer this time (have gotten it many times and never successful as I didn't bid up) had higher minimums right out of the gate.  Usually to move from an inside to ocvw is $25 pp (double for me as a solo on this upcoming cruise) and thus time it's $50 pp.  Similarly balcony would be $100 pp (i.e. 200 for solo). 

 

It's past final payment now and if prices decline from here I will be calling about a paid upgrade which could work out less than a successful bid.  

 

Has anyone else noticed higher minimums all of a sudden?  My current offer is for a 9 nighter.

[Momma Rene]

12 hours ago, gmbhardy said:

 

We would take the elevator up to the pool deck and then walk through that area. It was busy but never boring.

Thanks for advice.  I cancelled my bid.  Frankly, they were looking for $1,000 for 2 people for a family cabin in the Haven.  I decided there was a lot more I could do with $1,000 for a 9 night cruise.....  Plus, I was already in the Haven even thouh I had a long walk to the Haven proper.  We enjoyed the walk before and the aft is fabulous.

[JillK]

On 10/10/2019 at 7:42 AM, amitsuzu said:

Hi all, do bid minimums drop at all as you get closer to sail dates?  ie if a minimum bid is 200 today would you potentially see that change to 100 if it still hasn't been filled?

Yes they can.

 

The ranges for our cruise on the Escape last December were steady until about 3 weeks prior to the cruise when they dropped. Haven 2 bedroom went from $1,000 minimum to $750. After a few days it went back up. No clue why but since they went back up I would have to assume that anyone who bid between $750 and less than $1000 were then more unlikely to win their bid. 

[RedwingHockeyFan]

On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 6:52 AM, xcell said:

I'm curious. since the min bids for Havens will depend on your starting cabins, do they upgrade higher level cabins first (i.e H8 to H4 vs minisuite to H4) or based on overall bid.

 

This bidding system is confusing.  I liked the old method of calling in and asking....lol.

 

Side question: Ronmalley99 -- are those bids in USD? The ones I posted before were in CDN.

 

On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 7:15 AM, cliffd64 said:

There have been no discernible patterns as to why certain bids are taken over others...  That information has not been communicated.

 

It would only make sense that it would.  The final price for the cabin would be the bid plus the original booked room costs.  Wouldn't make sense for them to upgrade someone with a minisuite to H4 over someone with an H8 if the bid was the same or even if the final total price was equal.  I'm sure they use a very sophisticated algorithm to make sure they get as much money as possible.  I'd also assume that they fill the higher class cabins first since it will open up another cabin to take a bid for.  Which is why they probably still take bids for a class of cabin that currently shows as being sold out.