Diamond Upgrade Success....or Not?

[The Traveling Man]

1 hour ago, MagnoliaBlossom said:

No, if we were upgrading with world points that would be the case, but not so if you’ve got 400 cruise days under your belt!

When I applied for my Diamond upgrade last week, I approached it the same way I had done so many times in the past with World Points upgrades.  I checked with NCL to identify available cabins which I found to be acceptable in the upgrade category.  Then I specifically asked for a particular room, and stated that if we couldn't get an upgrade to a room I liked, they should just call off the whole thing.  Maybe it was because the Diamond upgrade process was new to the rep who took my call, maybe it was because I've done World Points upgrades before and kinda knew the drill, or maybe it was because I resorted to a bit of bluster in my instructions to the NCL phone rep, but for whatever reason, we got exactly the upgraded room that I wanted.

[KeithJenner]

3 hours ago, Beaver1975 said:

After all these years of experiencing the Latitudes rewards program I am astounded that any of you expected something worthwhile in a supposed upgrade to the program. SMH!!

I think the various discussions around these changes have displayed a health level of scepticism. The fact that this thread exists demonstrates that we know that getting any value out of this perk will be a struggle.

 

Having said that, a couple of people have managed to get upgrades that they are happy with, and if people can make it work then it is actually a benefit which can have some considerable value. It is likely that I won't be able too use it at all, but if we can then we are looking at saving around £1,000 on a couple of cruises. That is certainly worth having (much more so than some laundry and it takes a long time to save that much on the free meals).

[MagnoliaBlossom]

4 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

When I applied for my Diamond upgrade last week, I approached it the same way I had done so many times in the past with World Points upgrades.  I checked with NCL to identify available cabins which I found to be acceptable in the upgrade category.  Then I specifically asked for a particular room, and stated that if we couldn't get an upgrade to a room I liked, they should just call off the whole thing.  Maybe it was because the Diamond upgrade process was new to the rep who took my call, maybe it was because I've done World Points upgrades before and kinda knew the drill, or maybe it was because I resorted to a bit of bluster in my instructions to the NCL phone rep, but for whatever reason, we got exactly the upgraded room that I wanted.

Congratulations!   I’ve done dozens of WP upgrades and only had a proble, once, but she eventually saw the error of her uppity ways and decided to be reasonable and do it my way. 🤣   The cabin is not really the problem, as on NCL standard cabins are all about the same size and we don’t mind be way forward or aft, it’s the point that staff is forever on different pages, if not entirely different volumes.

[Sand and Seas]

For those who have had an upgrade process, did NCL send you an updated Reservation?

 

I haven't been notified, but hours ago in my NCL app I could see the new upgraded cabin number.  I'm hoping that means it is totally processed, but they haven't sent me any notification yet.

[The Traveling Man]

1 hour ago, Sand and Seas said:

For those who have had an upgrade process, did NCL send you an updated Reservation?

 

I haven't been notified, but hours ago in my NCL app I could see the new upgraded cabin number.  I'm hoping that means it is totally processed, but they haven't sent me any notification yet.

We received an email on Thursday after calling in our Diamond upgrade on Tuesday.  I didn't notice the change in my NCL account until after receiving the updated reservation email.

[Sand and Seas]

5 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

We received an email on Thursday after calling in our Diamond upgrade on Tuesday.  I didn't notice the change in my NCL account until after receiving the updated reservation email.

Thanks!   I'll sit back and wait to see when they notify me.   

 

What I see in MYNCL shows they have moved me to one of the cabins I requested in the MC category.  Also of note, they are showing the Upgrade for a cruise that is more than 12 months out.

[TrumpyNor]

4 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

For those who have had an upgrade process, did NCL send you an updated Reservation?

 

I haven't been notified, but hours ago in my NCL app I could see the new upgraded cabin number.  I'm hoping that means it is totally processed, but they haven't sent me any notification yet.

My upgrade request was e-mailed in to the Latitudes dept. by my PCC on Tuesday and I received an automated cruise confirmation by e-mail Friday. So three days in my case - but that may include a day extra as my upgrade request was sent in by e-mail.

[KeithJenner]

3 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Thanks!   I'll sit back and wait to see when they notify me.   

 

What I see in MYNCL shows they have moved me to one of the cabins I requested in the MC category.  Also of note, they are showing the Upgrade for a cruise that is more than 12 months out.

That is all very encouraging.

[Sand and Seas]

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😊

 

When I started this thread, I was concerned that we would be limited to the standard 7 day cruise and we would need to use the upgrade within one year.   

So happy to report-  My upgraded 12 Day cruise is more than 14 months out

 

The category is now listed as: CATEGORY/STATEROOM: BF-MC/xxxx showing former and current category.

 

Best of luck to all of you looking to use your Diamond upgrade.  (Now have to think about what to do with my DH's available Diamond upgrade🤔)

[The Traveling Man]

6 hours ago, 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😊

 

When I started this thread, I was concerned that we would be limited to the standard 7 day cruise and we would need to use the upgrade within one year.   

So happy to report-  My upgraded 12 Day cruise is more than 14 months out

 

The category is now listed as: CATEGORY/STATEROOM: BF-MC/xxxx showing former and current category.

 

Best of luck to all of you looking to use your Diamond upgrade.  (Now have to think about what to do with my DH's available Diamond upgrade🤔)

There are a couple of important takeaways from your very positive experience.  You were able to upgrade on a cruise more than a year out, and you were able to upgrade to a higher subcategory than the one you originally booked, from a BF to an MC.

[Sand and Seas]

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

There are a couple of important takeaways from your very positive experience.  You were able to upgrade on a cruise more than a year out, and you were able to upgrade to a higher subcategory than the one you originally booked, from a BF to an MC.

Yes, I was very pleased how it worked out😊

 

I would still love to hear from others about their upgrades.

 

If someone starts in a B9 Spa Balcony, will they be offered a  M9 Spa Club Suite Balcony?    Or, if they start in a B6 Large Balcony, can they be upgraded to a M9 Large Balcony?

Edited January 20, 2022 by Sand and Seas

[The Traveling Man]

15 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Yes, I was very pleased how it worked out😊

 

I would still love to hear from others about their upgrades.

 

If someone starts in a B9 Spa Balcony, will they be offered a  M9 Spa Club Suite Balcony?    Or, if they start in a B6 Large Balcony, can they be upgraded to a M9 Large Balcony?

The protocols for upgrades using World Points from a Norwegian Master Card, which have been in place for several years, make it clear that you only can upgrade to a similar or lower subcategory of the next higher basic room category.  In the past they have denied my attempt to upgrade from an OB to a BA, for example.  It seems from your experience, however,  that it may be possible with a Diamond upgrade to go from one of the lowest subcategories of Balcony to one of the highest subcategories of Club.  I also would like to hear about the experiences of others to see just how far they can push the edge of the envelope.

[Sand and Seas]

41 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

The protocols for upgrades using World Points from a Norwegian Master Card, which have been in place for several years, make it clear that you only can upgrade to a similar or lower subcategory of the next higher basic room category.  In the past they have denied my attempt to upgrade from an OB to a BA, for example.  It seems from your experience, however,  that it may be possible with a Diamond upgrade to go from one of the lowest subcategories of Balcony to one of the highest subcategories of Club.  I also would like to hear about the experiences of others to see just how far they can push the edge of the envelope.

I wasn't sure what they would offer for Upgrade from BF.  On the Joy, the lowest category of Club Balcony is MC (which is what I received).   

 

Without a similar sub-category to offer,  I was halfway wondering if they would upgrade within the Balcony category to a B6 Large Balcony.  For the 12 Day sailing, the B6 cost was $8 more than the MC.   It will be interesting to see what kind of upgrades will be offered as more and more are processed.

[The Traveling Man]

12 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

I wasn't sure what they would offer for Upgrade from BF.  On the Joy, the lowest category of Club Balcony is MC (which is what I received).   

 

Without a similar sub-category to offer,  I was halfway wondering if they would upgrade within the Balcony category to a B6 Large Balcony.  For the 12 Day sailing, the B6 cost was $8 more than the MC.   It will be interesting to see what kind of upgrades will be offered as more and more are processed.

Well, the terms do state that the upgrade is from one basic category to the next, not from a lower subcategory to a higher subcategory within the same basic category, so it seems that they would have to move you at least to some kind of Club, not just a slightly better Balcony.  Glad you're happy with it.  It certainly looks like we'll be happy with our Club upgrade.

[Beaver1975]

On 1/18/2022 at 3:51 PM, KeithJenner said:

It is likely that I won't be able too use it at all, but if we can then we are looking at saving around £1,000 on a couple of cruises.

It is a one time only benefit.

Edited January 20, 2022 by Beaver1975

[KeithJenner]

11 minutes ago, Beaver1975 said:

It is a one time only benefit.

There are two of us.

[Sand and Seas]

10 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

There are two of us.

Yes, most  of us will have a second one to think about upgrading in the next year.  

 

That brings up another unanswered question.  If we use the upgrade, and then we cancel or NCL cancels, does it extend the one year to redeem?

[KeithJenner]

3 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

Yes, most  of us will have a second one to think about upgrading in the next year.  

 

That brings up another unanswered question.  If we use the upgrade, and then we cancel or NCL cancels, does it extend the one year to redeem?

We may actually have a third, as our son is going to be very close to Diamond when he turns 18. He will probably be off to university and is unlikely to cruise much for a while after that, but if he does come along with us on any cruises then he will have an upgrade to potentially use as well.

[Sand and Seas]

Another word of advice for any who booked through CAS (Casinos at Sea).

 

When I called the dedicated line the first time and reached the unknowledgeable agent, she said "I see you booked through CAS so I'll have to send you over to them".   I had to inform her that CAS is not able to process your onetime Diamond Upgrade.

 

Second call I reached a friendlier agent who was willing to listen to my request and note the couple of cabin numbers that I would be happy with.

 

Where CAS usually offers me a M6 or M9 category for a 7 to 9 day cruise, I deliberately chose a 12 day cruise for this upgrade opportunity.  I was happy when CAS was able to offer me a bottom of Balcony category BF.   This got me to a nice MC category for my upgrade.

[Beaver1975]

On 1/20/2022 at 4:25 PM, KeithJenner said:

There are two of us.

You said a couple of cruises. Do you and your wife sail separately?

 

[KeithJenner]

18 minutes ago, Beaver1975 said:

You said a couple of cruises. Do you and your wife sail separately?

 

No, but we will both get a cabin upgrade for being Diamond, so would make that saving twice between us.

 

I get to upgrade our cabin for being diamond and then my wife gets to upgrade our cabin for being diamond. A saving on a couple of cruises.

[KeithJenner]

I just got my Diamond upgrade.

 

I had considered using it on the Dawn cruise which we just booked for this September, booking an Oceanview and upgrading to a balcony, but was too nervous about getting allocated a bad room, so in the end we went for the Viva, upgrading from a balcony to a club suite. I don’t see any club suites as being in too bad a location.

 

As we are in the UK, I decided to try emailing rather than calling. I rather cheekily asked for a front corner room, which are a few hundred pounds per person extra.

 

I just got the reply today, three days after emailing. Unsurprisingly I didn’t get the corner room. We got a room in the aft block on deck 9. I would have preferred 10 or 11, to avoid being directly above the dining area, but I’m happy with 9 as we won’t be in the room much when the dining is busy.

 

Not ideal, but I’m happy enough. 
 

The cruise is in two years time, so that is more confirmation that the one year restriction is in arranging the upgrade, not taking the cruise.

Edited May 7, 2022 by KeithJenner

[Sand and Seas]

1 hour ago, KeithJenner said:

I just got my Diamond upgrade.

 

I had considered using it on the Dawn cruise which we just booked for this September, booking an Oceanview and upgrading to a balcony, but was too nervous about getting allocated a bad room, so in the end we went for the Viva, upgrading from a balcony to a club suite. I don’t see any club suites as being in too bad a location.

 

As we are in the UK, I decided to try emailing rather than calling. I rather cheekily asked for a front corner room, which are a few hundred pounds per person extra.

 

I just got the reply today, three days after emailing. Unsurprisingly I didn’t get the corner room. We got a room in the aft block on deck 9. I would have preferred 10 or 11, to avoid being directly above the dining area, but I’m happy with 9 as we won’t be in the room much when the dining is busy.

 

Not ideal, but I’m happy enough. 
 

The cruise is in two years time, so that is more confirmation that the one year restriction is in arranging the upgrade, not taking the cruise.

I love that they are letting you use the upgrade for a new ship two years out!

 

We studied the Prima carefully and were very happy to get an aft Club Balcony on deck 11 for later this year.   We would have been happy with deck 9 or 10 Aft too.   We think they will be the best CBs on the ship with good views.  We had a chance at a forward facing CB, but the lower decks wouldn't have much of a view and possibly too much wind at sea.    

 

Congrats on the upgrade😊

[complawyer]

since the best anyone can currently do is upgrade to a club balcony suite, for me it probably wont change my booking habits. the club balcony suite were previously called mid dhip mini suites, and although they are comfortable and can easily accommodate 3 people, if i want to stay  in this category cabin, i'd just book it straight out. besides, i'm still about 120 points away

[TrumpyNor]

7 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

I just got my Diamond upgrade.

 

As we are in the UK, I decided to try emailing rather than calling.

Which e-mail address did you use - I have only seen the phone number listed? We have one Diamond upgrade left, that we would like to use for a cruise next year - to go from oceanview to balcony. Last time I sent an e-mail to my PCC at NCL in the US instead of calling from Norway, and she acted like a "middle man" in the "upgrade matter". But I would prefer to do it directly through the "Diamond upgrade dept." if possible....