teachinginhawaii Posted February 28, 2022 #1026 Share Posted February 28, 2022 I just thought I would share my experience even though we are 13 days out and I don't think there will be any upgrades for us. We booked a Haven Courtyard with a Large Balcony on the Bliss for the March 13th Mexican Riviera cruise. On November 14 (about 120 days in advance), we received an email inviting us to upgrade. I had the option to bid on the following in the Haven: 2-bedroom with balcony (minimum bid of $600) 2-bedroom with a large balcony (minimum bid of $600) DOS (minimum bid of $800) I used the NCL booking page to learn there were a number of open staterooms in each category and double check the pricing to see what the cost would be if I just upgraded. Then, I placed a bid for the 2-bedroom w/large balcony and the DOS (both in the fair range). Since we already had a large balcony, I did not want a smaller balcony. Each week I went online to double-check the inventory and for a pretty good chunk of time, it seemed like there were still a large number of open staterooms but the inventory did go down weekly. By the time we were 4 weeks out, the DOS was showing as "sold out" (as were many other categories that we couldn't bid on). At 3 weeks out, there were still several 2-bedrooms with large balcony staterooms available. By the time we were 15 days out, the DOS and the 2-bedroom with large balcony was "sold out". I know there is always the chance of a very last minute cancellation but I'm assuming we will be in the stateroom we actually reserved. We are not disappointed at all and know we will have an incredible trip! We were simply intrigued by the process since this is our first real NCL cruise (I did win a 2-night NCL inaugural sailing on the Bliss but that's another story). It's wonderful to see so many people be able to upgrade this way and we had fun watching it all. I just thought I'd share our experience because I know we mainly just saw a lot of people getting their bids/upgrades and thought it might be good to have this point of view as well. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luv2Cruz4Ever Posted March 1, 2022 #1027 Share Posted March 1, 2022 On 2/25/2022 at 1:27 PM, wolft927 said: So Booked on the Breakaway for March 6th, We have 2 Balcony cabins. I originally put in Bids for all the Haven Suites and to get the needle to hit Fair was 1K per person. Called NCL today and was able to upgrade to Haven Courtyard Suites for 700PP. Sometimes Bidding is more expensive then just upgrading especially when you are only about a week out. I won the Forward facing Penthouse last cruise in December, but with needing to upgrade 2 cabins didn't want to take the chance Did you book your original cabins with NCL directly? I booked our 2 cabins through a TA and NCL told me that they couldn’t do an upgrade for me but my TA could call. I had her call and they would only let us upgrade at the regular price difference from the website. No deal to be made at this point. 🤷🏻♀️ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuku77254 Posted March 1, 2022 #1028 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Usually Mondays are when people report upgrades but it seems like no one got one yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyinpa Posted March 1, 2022 #1029 Share Posted March 1, 2022 3/6 getaway some haven still are available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 1, 2022 #1030 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Last time I got it Monday morning, Nothing yesterday and still showing the Upgrade Banner when i sign into my account. Looks like the past few weeks it has been done on Wednesdays 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sthrngary Posted March 1, 2022 #1031 Share Posted March 1, 2022 11 minutes ago, kuku77254 said: Usually Mondays are when people report upgrades but it seems like no one got one yesterday. I have a Theory. Consider this from NCL Perspective. When your Revenue Department looks at the current guests "Upgrade Bids", they know that every single Haven suite will be taken. The longer they can hold out for a last-minute retail booking, the more income they can make for NCL. Frustrating for us, however good business for them. A little story. I have some folks who are executives with NCL. I emailed them over the weekend and expressed I would LOVE to win my Upgrade Bid for ANY Haven Suite. Now no one in NCL can tell the Revenue Department to give my or anyone else a Haven Suite for a bid lower than others. I was told without a shadow of a doubt that NONE of my bids even came close. The reason is I am a Solo traveler. Yet if I bid, I have to pay the bid twice even though it is only me. My bids tend to be on the lower side. I thought about this situation from emotional level, which is all marketing really is, emotional. If NCL waits to the last second, many of us will up our bid in hopes of getting one of the last Haven Suites. For me, I went back into my bid offers and already up my bids. I found myself moving past the upgraded bid I told myself was my top line. See, emotional. Then I am reading all the great post with pictures from the cruise of folks in the Haven which makes me want it even more. I hope this makes sense. I will watch my cruise, and all the cruises before it to get a sense of my changes. I say, based on what I have read, my chances are slim and none. Not for a lack of trying though. Cruise well. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikita389 Posted March 1, 2022 #1032 Share Posted March 1, 2022 20 hours ago, nikita389 said: We leave on the Escape Saturday, 3/5. We have a Haven Aft Facing Penthouse and bid on an Owner's Suite. Some of the other people we booked with had their bids for other Haven cabins accepted. I'm wondering if they're done with all of the bids. I'm still able to modify my bid. Does that mean I still have a chance? UPDATE - We got the Owner's Suite! Not sure if there was a cancellation but I got the email. I'm so excited. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuku77254 Posted March 1, 2022 #1033 Share Posted March 1, 2022 5 minutes ago, nikita389 said: UPDATE - We got the Owner's Suite! Not sure if there was a cancellation but I got the email. I'm so excited. Congrats! That's very exciting. Can I ask where in the range you bid? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 1, 2022 #1034 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Congrats my guess is those leaving Sunday will know tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sthrngary Posted March 1, 2022 #1035 Share Posted March 1, 2022 31 minutes ago, nikita389 said: UPDATE - We got the Owner's Suite! Not sure if there was a cancellation but I got the email. I'm so excited. You will love it. Here is a video that my help you. Have a list of three bottles of Spirits you will like in your suite and the type of mixers you want. The mixers will be replaced on consumption. If you have 3-4 person in the suite, ask for additional lounge chairs for your HUGE balcony. Also, ask for additional Haven Robes and Slipper for the extra people. Video on the H2 Deluxe Owners Suite with Large Balcony: Cruise well!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyinpa Posted March 1, 2022 #1036 Share Posted March 1, 2022 44 minutes ago, nikita389 said: UPDATE - We got the Owner's Suite! Not sure if there was a cancellation but I got the email. I'm so excited. gives me hope then...our dos has shown booked the past month. congrats! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanpatricksmom Posted March 1, 2022 #1037 Share Posted March 1, 2022 4 minutes ago, Sthrngary said: You will love it. Here is a video that my help you. Have a list of three bottles of Spirits you will like in your suite and the type of mixers you want. The mixers will be replaced on consumption. If you have 3-4 person in the suite, ask for additional lounge chairs for your HUGE balcony. Also, ask for additional Haven Robes and Slipper for the extra people. Video on the H2 Deluxe Owners Suite with Large Balcony: Cruise well!!! Do you still get the bottles of alcohol if you upgrade thru the bidding process? When you bid it does say that you don't get any additional amenities. I know that the double latitude points are excluded if you weren't already booked in a suite category...I wonder if the booze is as well. That's not a category that I've ever upgraded to, so just wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sthrngary Posted March 1, 2022 #1038 Share Posted March 1, 2022 5 minutes ago, ryanpatricksmom said: Do you still get the bottles of alcohol if you upgrade thru the bidding process? When you bid it does say that you don't get any additional amenities. I know that the double latitude points are excluded if you weren't already booked in a suite category...I wonder if the booze is as well. That's not a category that I've ever upgraded to, so just wondering. Good question, my understanding is, what every comes with the suite, you get. If you has a suite that has for example Haven Spa Suite. You would not get the spa. However if you upgraded to a Spa Suite, you would get the spa. Hope that makes sense. Remember also, you should have a bottle of real Champagne in your room vs. sparkling wine. Here would be my strategy. Call or email the Haven Shore Desk and ask. Know now so you are not disappointed when you get on the ship. Simple thing, really amounts to very little. But worth a call. Cruise well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 1, 2022 #1039 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Hopefully tomorrow when wake up i will have an email saying we have been upgraded, but either way we have a great cabin and cant wait to get on the Breakaway again. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikita389 Posted March 1, 2022 #1040 Share Posted March 1, 2022 3 hours ago, kuku77254 said: Congrats! That's very exciting. Can I ask where in the range you bid? We were right in the middle of the range. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick160158 Posted March 1, 2022 #1041 Share Posted March 1, 2022 3 hours ago, Sthrngary said: You will love it. Here is a video that my help you. Have a list of three bottles of Spirits you will like in your suite and the type of mixers you want. The mixers will be replaced on consumption. If you have 3-4 person in the suite, ask for additional lounge chairs for your HUGE balcony. Also, ask for additional Haven Robes and Slipper for the extra people. Video on the H2 Deluxe Owners Suite with Large Balcony: Cruise well!!! The owners haven suite on the encore is smack fwd on the ship. I've had balcony staterooms in the past in this location, and swore I'd never do this again, due to the extremely windy conditions being in the front of the ship. Barely used the balcony. At night while the ship was cruising, you could hear the wind howling. Is this not the case with this Haven suite too ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sthrngary Posted March 1, 2022 #1042 Share Posted March 1, 2022 2 hours ago, rick160158 said: The owners haven suite on the encore is smack fwd on the ship. I've had balcony staterooms in the past in this location, and swore I'd never do this again, due to the extremely windy conditions being in the front of the ship. Barely used the balcony. At night while the ship was cruising, you could hear the wind howling. Is this not the case with this Haven suite too ? I was in the Owners Suite on the Joy. The Joy is the sister ship to the Bliss and Encore. We did not here or else notice wind noise. We the wind was to much, we went to the side deck or the private deck outside our master bedroom. We absolutely loved this huge balcony. Most Haven suites are on the side front of the ship. The exception it of course the Aft large balcony. So to answer your question. It is not the case of the Haven Suites to have to much wind or wind noise. I hope I clearified. Cruise well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 1, 2022 #1043 Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) Just checked my breakaway for the 6th upgrades, 2 of my bids are expired but my 2 bedroom still says pending this a good sign? Edited March 1, 2022 by wolft927 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgibbs7 Posted March 1, 2022 #1044 Share Posted March 1, 2022 1 hour ago, wolft927 said: Just checked my breakaway for the 6th upgrades, 2 of my bids are expired but my 2 bedroom still says pending this a good sign? I think so. My last one showed the same and a few hours later said processing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 1, 2022 #1045 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Same things happened during my cruise last December. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scubaqn Posted March 2, 2022 #1046 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Hello all, Experienced cruiser but new to NCL, my first cruise on it, read all of these pages since last November. Made a couple of upgrade offers! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 2, 2022 #1047 Share Posted March 2, 2022 So got the email this morning...Upgraded to the 2 bedroom Haven Suite on the Breakaway March 6th. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meglet Posted March 2, 2022 #1048 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Sailing 4/15 on the Pearl in deck 10 aft suite. Bid on OS and DOS. Where are people seeing the "pending" or "expired" verbiage. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare wolft927 Posted March 2, 2022 #1049 Share Posted March 2, 2022 You won’t see it this far out, I sail in 4 days and just received it today 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat747 Posted March 2, 2022 #1050 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Congratulations wolft927. Can I ask which cabin you ungraded from and where abouts you were in the bidding scale?. We are really in 2 minds whether to put in a bid or not on our Joy sailing. We are already in the haven and like the location of our cabin but they have a really good special on the 2 bed suite with the smaller balcony so we are tempted but would only really be interested at the lowest rate so just wondered if we are wasting our time. We’ve never used the bidding before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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