Diamond Upgrade Success....or Not?

[spanishguy1970]

2 hours ago, roxette said:

Has anyone tried this on the Epic from an inside room to a balcony? Since there are no oceanviews...

We just did, We booked the lowest inside stateroom guarantee, we used our diamond free upgrade perk and we got a BF Balcony category on Deck 10..

Edited August 23, 2022 by spanishguy1970

[Sand and Seas]

1 hour ago, spanishguy1970 said:

We just did, We booked the lowest inside stateroom guarantee, we used our diamond free upgrade perk and we got a BF Balcony category on Deck 10..

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing this info with us.  Very helpful😎

[spanishguy1970]

2 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing this info with us.  Very helpful😎

there is only one draw back but i don't see it that way. We were given the BF category in enclosed Balcony, on Deck 14 at first, but it was too close to La Cucina and high traffic area for us so we were able to move to another BF balcony also enclosed on Deck 10. Is a free upgrade so you can't choose what Balcony you get..  I am sure you know that. We are happy just the same, we got a Balcony for an inside guarantee price :-)....EL CHEAPO. 🙂 LOL

[complawyer]

for me (and we're not  yet diamond, but getting closer) there's not much (if any) incentive based on the perks.. the best you can do, is upgrade from a balcony to a club. dont want to sound like an entitled diva, but sorry, not interested.  there isnt much on diamond status that we dont already get with sapphire, and neither are of much value if im booking a haven.

 

im not knocking ncl's attempt to upgrade the total cruise experience for its passengers, and having read numerous posts for the past few years, im aware people will complain regardless of what they get.

i dont cruise or choose ncl for the perks , although a free bag of laundry is not to be taken lightly, or the extra 15% off onshore excursions. other than those 2, meh!

[spanishguy1970]

13 hours ago, complawyer said:

for me (and we're not  yet diamond, but getting closer) there's not much (if any) incentive based on the perks.. the best you can do, is upgrade from a balcony to a club. dont want to sound like an entitled diva, but sorry, not interested.  there isnt much on diamond status that we dont already get with sapphire, and neither are of much value if im booking a haven.

 

im not knocking ncl's attempt to upgrade the total cruise experience for its passengers, and having read numerous posts for the past few years, im aware people will complain regardless of what they get.

i dont cruise or choose ncl for the perks , although a free bag of laundry is not to be taken lightly, or the extra 15% off onshore excursions. other than those 2, meh!

some people are interested, we know you have said many times that you only book Haven so getting to Diamond wouldn't make any difference to you, but for some people going from inside cabin to balcony or ocean view, or even a club suite is a big deal, so is a nice extra perk. The Diamond perk can only be used once, but it is still a nice perk.

[complawyer]

i'm not knocking it at all, it's a very nice perk, it's simply not of great consequence to me. if im not going to book a haven, or a suite, im going to book the club balcony. 

 

for those who achieved diamond status, i salute you, enjoy, and bless you. 

 

just remember spanishguy1970, the original question ( i believe) was about the use of diamond status.  i was just as happy at platinum +, and quite satisfied with sapphire. at 75 years of age, ive completely given up all thoughts of ambassador status, and i might get to diamond sometime in 2024. 

[Hearthosesteeldrumsplayin]

On 1/17/2022 at 9:47 PM, Sand and Seas said:

I totally agree!  If they are rewarding our loyalty, you would think they would make this one category upgrade something that feels more special.   

 

The generic person who answered my call sounded like I had NO choice of what they could give me.  Told me I had to take what they decided to give me.  This made me feel very NOT appreciated.   All I would like is to know what type and deck of cabin I could get and then make the choice to say yes or keep my original cabin.   

I am in agreement that the limitation on the upgrade does NOT entice me to continue loyalty to NCL.  We usually book in the Haven, so not a benefit to us.  Guess I'll stay with Sapphire and see what other cruise lines might have to entice me over.  NCL doesn't seem interested in lower prices right now, so....

[complawyer]

HEARTHOSESTEELDRUMSPLAYNG

took me a second or 2 to decode your name. we seem to be on the same page vis a vis the haven, sapphire status etc.

 

as far as enticements go, i still feel ncl (and im by no means an ncl cheerleader) i still believe ncl gives you the best bang for your buck.

 

that being said, however, i'm not  looking for ncl appreciation. they offer what i want! a varied itinerary, at a price i'm willing to pay and an extremely comfortable cabin.

 

people seem to forget that no cruise line owes their passengers any type of reward program, and hopefully most people dont/wont book a cruise based on a reward program. if i never got any type of reward, it would not deter me from booking a cruise i want

[Toby459]

On 8/23/2022 at 5:35 PM, spanishguy1970 said:

there is only one draw back but i don't see it that way. We were given the BF category in enclosed Balcony, on Deck 14 at first, but it was too close to La Cucina and high traffic area for us so we were able to move to another BF balcony also enclosed on Deck 10. Is a free upgrade so you can't choose what Balcony you get..  I am sure you know that. We are happy just the same, we got a Balcony for an inside guarantee price :-)....EL CHEAPO. 🙂 LOL

I had a very simiilar experience.  One thing I learned is that all BF cabins are not the same.  I searched online for videos of the specific cabin I was offered and got four of them to compare.  I also searched for photos of the outside of the ship.  Between the two, I could see a clear difference.  I went to my TA and asked if they could relocate us to another room (giving them the specific number).  That was done almost instantaneously.  I'm happy with my search and interaction with my TA.  If something goes wrong due to the selection, I will bear full responsibility.

[roxette]

I sent an email yesterday to the latitudes email address, today I got a new confirmation. From an inside to a balcony on the Epic. 15 nights transatlantic. Yes, it is next door to La Cucina, but still, it has natural light and fresh air. I am happy.

[The Traveling Man]

I cashed in my Diamond upgrade benefit just a few days after the Diamond category and the upgrade benefit were created.  Since the upgrade procedure was new to the folks at NCL who processed my request, I was able to use some moral suasion, or maybe it was bluster, to get them to give us the specific Club Balcony we wanted.  When we tried to use my wife's Diamond upgrade a couple of weeks ago, we got the same "take it or leave it" response that others have reported here.  We passed on the opportunity to use her upgrade because it looked like we would get a room in a less than desirable location.  We still have several months to use it, so that could mean two or three more cruises.  We'll keep our eyes open for a cruise on which there is only one Club Balcony remaining and it is in an desirable location.  Maybe we'll get lucky.  One can hope.

[fstuff1]

called the diamond upgrade phone # listed here:

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruise-faq/i-am-now-diamond-member-how-do-i-claim-my-one-time-complimentary-cabin-upgrade

 

whoever answered was not in that dept and gave me the same phone # to call. 

i told her thats the # i just called and she said she'll check with someone.

on hold while she checks...

 

edit:

she has to send an email to 'latitude support' for my request.

 

Is this a change?

(my cruise is a free cruise from he casino dept)

 

Edited October 17, 2022 by fstuff1

[snorklinbarb]

Curious how guests are going from inside guaranty to any type if balcony?  I am using my Diamond perk and was assigned an ocean view from an inside.  How did you manage 2 category jumps?

[fstuff1]

2 hours ago, snorklinbarb said:

Curious how guests are going from inside guaranty to any type if balcony?  I am using my Diamond perk and was assigned an ocean view from an inside.  How did you manage 2 category jumps?

epic doesnt have ov.

it's either inside or balcony.

 

(ncl bought this ship partially built from a bankrupt cruise line)

Edited October 18, 2022 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

On 10/17/2022 at 1:04 PM, fstuff1 said:

called the diamond upgrade phone # listed here:

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/cruise-faq/i-am-now-diamond-member-how-do-i-claim-my-one-time-complimentary-cabin-upgrade

 

whoever answered was not in that dept and gave me the same phone # to call. 

i told her thats the # i just called and she said she'll check with someone.

on hold while she checks...

 

edit:

she has to send an email to 'latitude support' for my request.

 

Is this a change?

(my cruise is a free cruise from he casino dept)

 

a few days later, still havent heard anything back.

how long does it take for a response?

[Sand and Seas]

On 1/19/2022 at 12:08 PM, Sand and Seas said:

Success! 

Today I received my Reservation confirmation for my Diamond Upgrade.  I was happy to receive a cabin that I had asked the friendlier agent to list on the request.  (I had agent note two available cabins in the lowest MC category. )   Might have just been good luck, but it didn't hurt to ask😊

 

@fstuff1,  I had to make a couple of calls.    Like you, I was upgrading a CAS comped cruise.

 

Both times, not answered by the Diamond Upgrade people, but the 2nd call I had a much more helpful agent answer.  He had taken my information and submitted it to that department for me.   (See above).     

[fstuff1]

20 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

@fstuff1,  I had to make a couple of calls.    Like you, I was upgrading a CAS comped cruise.

 

Both times, not answered by the Diamond Upgrade people, but the 2nd call I had a much more helpful agent answer.  He had taken my information and submitted it to that department for me.   (See above).     

 

i called again and this person said she and her supervisor dont know how to upgrade a free cas cruise so she xferred me to cas.

 

on hold with cas but i have doubts they know how to do it.

sigh.

 

other suggestions?

 

edit:

so in them talking with cas, the Diamond upgrade dept will send an email to CAS for my Diamond cabin upgrade.

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

6 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

edit:

so in them talking with cas, the Diamond upgrade dept will send an email to CAS for my Diamond cabin upgrade.

 

 

at COB today, got email with new docs.

i think i've been upgraded?

 

room now says ob-bf/gty

 

gty= guarantee.

i just checked and when you try to mock book a balcony, it's a gty so my cruise (thanksgiving week) is full.

 

0b was my old room (ocean view).

guess ob-bf is their way of keeping track on how i got my room?

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by fstuff1

[Sand and Seas]

2 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

 

at COB today, got email with new docs.

i think i've been upgraded?

 

room now says ob-bf/gty

 

gty= guarantee.

i just checked and when you try to mock book a balcony, it's a gty so my cruise (thanksgiving week) is full.

 

0b was my old room (ocean view).

guess ob-bf is their way of keeping track on how i got my room?

 

Yes-  Sounds like your upgrade has processed!  My documents say  BF-MC.  We were moved into a great Club Balcony MC cabin that has a larger balcony (next to the M6 balconies.)  There were plenty of Club Balconies available at the time we upgraded so were assigned a cabin.

 

Original comp was a Balcony BF category for our 12 day cruise so I guess they need to document that on the updated booking.  

Edited October 21, 2022 by Sand and Seas

[fstuff1]

On 10/21/2022 at 5:56 PM, fstuff1 said:

at COB today, got email with new docs.

i think i've been upgraded?

 

room now says ob-bf/gty

 

gty= guarantee.

i just checked and when you try to mock book a balcony, it's a gty so my cruise (thanksgiving week) is full.

 

0b was my old room (ocean view).

guess ob-bf is their way of keeping track on how i got my room?

 

just checked and i got a room #.

it's a BA category!

12th floor midship (breakaway)!

 

i guess they were out of BB-BF rooms and the person in the BA either canceled or won a move up bid.

either way, lucky me 🙂

Edited October 25, 2022 by fstuff1

[Sand and Seas]

1 hour ago, fstuff1 said:

just checked and i got a room #.

it's a BA category!

12th floor midship (breakaway)!

 

i guess they were out of BB-BF rooms and the person in the BA either canceled or won a move up bid.

either way, lucky me 🙂

That's great!    Should be a very good cabin on Breakaway.

 

Have a wonderful cruise😎

[Warbird]

Just an update, since the Diamond upgrade perk went into effect a year ago it had a one year limitation.  According to my NCL PCC that limitation has been dropped.  We used our (mine) first upgrade (OV to Balcony) last October sailing from Seattle to Miami and plan to use my wife's Upgrade Perk this Spring on an Alaskan cruise.

[MikeyB]

8 hours ago, Warbird said:

Just an update, since the Diamond upgrade perk went into effect a year ago it had a one year limitation.  According to my NCL PCC that limitation has been dropped.  We used our (mine) first upgrade (OV to Balcony) last October sailing from Seattle to Miami and plan to use my wife's Upgrade Perk this Spring on an Alaskan cruise.

Hi, I'm a little confused.  I was told that when I used the upgrade perk for my wife and I (both Diamond) that I didn't have a second upgrade perk.

Are you saying that you are able to upgrade twice?

[MikeyB]

Well I just answered my own question.  I just called NCL.

The upgrade offer is per person.  So we do get to upgrade twice by being Diamond.

I will now change TA's.

Thank you Warbird.

[Sand and Seas]

12 hours ago, Warbird said:

Just an update, since the Diamond upgrade perk went into effect a year ago it had a one year limitation.  According to my NCL PCC that limitation has been dropped.  We used our (mine) first upgrade (OV to Balcony) last October sailing from Seattle to Miami and plan to use my wife's Upgrade Perk this Spring on an Alaskan cruise.

We used our my upgrade shortly after the new perk was announced.     Since we thought DH's upgrade would expire within the original year announced, we used it last month to for our April 2024 cruise.   Had no idea they dropped that one year to book limitation, but we got a decent upgrade for an 11 day cruise.   

 

Thanks for updating the thread!  Very helpful to let others know they are no longer limited to one year after becoming Diamond.