Likely hood of getting upgrade ?

[Chirphy6438]

Just wondering if the likely hood of getting an cabin upgrade is better when there are a lot of unsold cabins? I put a bid in on several unsold upgrade cabins awhile ago and mine still show "Pending".  Our sailing isn't until Beginning of May so I know there's still time for those to sell but just wondering if anyone has experience with this.

[BklynBoy8]

44 minutes ago, Chirphy6438 said:

Just wondering if the likely hood of getting an cabin upgrade is better when there are a lot of unsold cabins? I put a bid in on several unsold upgrade cabins awhile ago and mine still show "Pending".  Our sailing isn't until Beginning of May so I know there's still time for those to sell but just wondering if anyone has experience with this.

 

They maybe waiting to see if they can be sold.

 

Also they may also offer those cabins to those with loyalty points and status as our cruise line does.

 

 

[leaveitallbehind]

If you are referring only to upgrades resulting from the bid process offered by some cruise lines, the answer is the available staterooms will go to the highest bidder(s) in each category.  Not sure which cruise line to which you are referring, but some lines keep those out of inventory knowing that they will sell through the bid process as this may result in a higher fare than the current prevailing rate. 

 

Your "Pending" status may remain until close to the sailing date as that is the timeframe when remaining available inventory will be assigned.  Doing so too soon may take some staterooms out of inventory prematurely for potential regular sale.  It's all in how the cruise lines manage their inventory as sales continue. So the amount of unsold staterooms at the time still a couple of months ahead of your sailing date doesn't really affect your chances.

 

Specific to you, your chances will depend in large part on how much you bid on the staterooms.  Typically those at or close to the suggested minimum will have little or no chance as there will always be higher bids.  But be careful and check the current prevailing rate on those categories when placing your bid so that you don't bid more in combination with your current category fare than you could purchase them directly. 

 

Although in the long run, that's exactly what the cruise lines hope happens.  They wouldn't offer this type of program unless they were to realize profitable sales from it.  Current cruise bookings are very high and most cruises will sail full.  The cruise lines don't have to discount their fares - or worry about selling unsold staterooms through a bid process at lower than published rates.  Just the opposite.

Edited February 8 by leaveitallbehind

[leaveitallbehind]

I realize in my first response I provided a lot of information that maybe you didn't ask for, but I wanted to give as much detail about how these programs work as possible as it looks like this may be your firsts experience with this.  Hopefully you also got the answers you were looking for from it -  LOL.

 

I do want to add that once you submit any bid(s), they become firm.  With some programs during the "Pending" phase you can make $ adjustments and possibly withdraw.  But otherwise, typically if a bid is accepted it is final and the amount non-refundable, your credit card is immediately charged the accepted amount, a stateroom assigned, and your original reservation cancelled. If you have multiple staterooms on which you have bid, the cruise line will select the one they accept and the rest are dropped. Also realize that your bid amount typically may be per person, not per stateroom. 

Edited February 8 by leaveitallbehind

[Chirphy6438]

Leaveitallbehind, thank you for your reply to my question.  Yes, this is my first attempt at bidding and you answered all my questions and some, thank you.

We're booked with NCL Joy for this May 5th sailing and I'm happy with the balcony room we chose, so as much as I really would love having the Haven (for which we bid on) for the week and all its perks, I have my limits on what I find logical in terms of the prices they're asking. We added 5 speciality meals pkg, and the vibe, and other up charges which I could have used toward the lowest cost haven along with my now bid and I would almost be at what they are asking for the room. So, if I now go even higher for my bid on a Haven, I'd probably be over mid price bid, which I refuse to do.  Honestly, I find it downright nuts to be paying upwards of $9,000 and then some for a week sailing on a ship thats not even the newest,  ( no offense to those that have that kind of cash to throw down), its just not in my budget. I wish I did a little more research before booking what looked like a good deal at first but come to see its just not. However, if by some stroke of luck and I am awarded the Haven, we'll be loyal cruisers to this line, if not, I'm moving on to explore other ships. 

Thank you again for all your help in clarifying this process. 

[leaveitallbehind]

I hear you!  There is a huge difference between the standard staterooms and the Haven suite level - and, depending on the suite, a huge price tag along with it!  Never apologize for your budget and what you are willing to spend for your time at sea.  The cruise lines offer numerous alternatives from small inside staterooms to multi-thousands of square feet suites to accommodate an equally large range of budgets that are legitimately justified at all levels by those who select them.

 

There are a lot of good cruise lines, each with their own target demographics, on board venues, etc., from which to choose and how the "all in" price is arrived at differs amongst them from base fare plus numerous add on charges to truly all inclusive, and several ranges in between.  It can be challenging at times to determine the best fit and apples to apples comparisons to arrive at your total budget.  And sampling different lines is one way to do that,  But loyalty also can have its benefits.  Its all a personal choice.

 

Either way I hope your bid outcome is positive for you and that you enjoy your cruise!

 

[BklynBoy8]

We always look forward to a upcoming sailing and will we see a notice within a month or two before surprising us like in the past.

 

I know we always ok if we would like to accept an upgrade and we do.

 

We know our loyalty points and decades of sailing with the same line does help. 

[Mum2Mercury]

Complicated question, as it involves many moving parts and every cruise is different.  Thoughts: 

 

- I assume you're talking about people who have Guarantees.  People who've chosen their room are not going to be moved -- not unless something's really wonky.  Not all of us consider the same rooms "best", and if you've chosen a room you're highly unlikely to be moved without your knowledge /consent.  

- If you have a Guarantee, you might get an upgrade within your category; for example, we paid for an Inside Guarantee and got a Promenade View.  That feels like an upgrade, but it's still an Interior.  

- The cruise line always wants to keep SOME interior rooms available because those lowest prices bring people in, then they might opt for a more expensive room. 

- The ship will not (often) willingly give an upgrade if people are willing to pay through Royal Up.  

[leaveitallbehind]

4 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I assume you're talking about people who have Guarantees. 

 

The ship will not (often) willingly give an upgrade if people are willing to pay through Royal Up.  

Per their initial question, the OP is not talking about Guarantees.  They are talking about upgrades through a bid program.  Not sure which cruise line they are booked with so it may not be through Royal Up, but a different program.

[Host Kat]

On 2/13/2024 at 1:34 PM, leaveitallbehind said:

... Not sure which cruise line they are booked...

 

On 2/9/2024 at 6:36 AM, Chirphy6438 said:

... We're booked with NCL Joy for this May 5th sailing...

 

This thread has been moved. It concerns the NCL bid process therefore it belongs on the Norwegian Cruise Line forum.

[The Traveling Man]

@Chirphy6438 NCL usually reconciles its upgrade bids a day or two before the sailing date of the cruise.  You will be notified by email whether your bid is successful or not.  If successful, your credit card will be charged, your previous room will be made available to other passengers for booking, and you will be assigned to your upgraded room.  You will not be able to select the location of your new room, and you will not be able to refuse the upgrade once it is granted.  If you are not satisfied with your newly assigned room, your only option other than accepting it is to choose not to sail.  If you refuse the upgrade, you will not receive a refund for your original payment nor for the upgrade amount.

[Sailing12Away]

On 2/9/2024 at 7:36 AM, Chirphy6438 said:

Leaveitallbehind, thank you for your reply to my question.  Yes, this is my first attempt at bidding and you answered all my questions and some, thank you.

We're booked with NCL Joy for this May 5th sailing and I'm happy with the balcony room we chose, so as much as I really would love having the Haven (for which we bid on) for the week and all its perks, I have my limits on what I find logical in terms of the prices they're asking. We added 5 speciality meals pkg, and the vibe, and other up charges which I could have used toward the lowest cost haven along with my now bid and I would almost be at what they are asking for the room. So, if I now go even higher for my bid on a Haven, I'd probably be over mid price bid, which I refuse to do.  Honestly, I find it downright nuts to be paying upwards of $9,000 and then some for a week sailing on a ship thats not even the newest,  ( no offense to those that have that kind of cash to throw down), its just not in my budget. I wish I did a little more research before booking what looked like a good deal at first but come to see its just not. However, if by some stroke of luck and I am awarded the Haven, we'll be loyal cruisers to this line, if not, I'm moving on to explore other ships. 

Thank you again for all your help in clarifying this process. 

If there are still a lot of cabins remaining, call NCL and see what the cost would be to just outright upgrade into the Haven. Since you didn't sail yet, you can still cancel the extra meals purchased, you can cancel the Vibe, and use those funds to pay for the upgrade outright and just be done with it.

 

Newest ship doesn't mean best ship. Quite the opposite really during those first few sailings as the paint still dries actually.

 

Basing your loyalty to a cruise line based on an almost random lottery isn't a good approach. There's a lot of complicated factors that go into the bidding process, nothing is set is stone and most are based on folks assumptions, previous experiences, and their own personal hopes of how it works. But highest bid does not necessarily win. There may be an expensive owner's suite unsold that someone already in the Haven moves into. That then frees up their entry level Haven room for a balcony to move into. Which frees up a balcony for an inside cabin to move into. Which frees up a cheap cabin in general for an entire set of new passengers to come on board and spend money in the casino and shops etc.

 

If you want to be in the Haven and there are rooms available stil, and you're sailing in <7 days - call and ask for the price to just move there. On a week long cruise you do not need 5 specialty dining meals unless you saw the menus and reallllly wanted to try each one. Haven comes with its own separate restaurant that most folks rave about, so it really removes the need to pay extra for dining. Haven also gives you a private pool, sun deck, and hot tubs. So again, no need to pay for Vibe when you get it for free in the Haven.

 

Quick check though and it looks like Haven and non-Haven suites are now sold out on that sailing. So OP may have just waited too long to sort it out.

[Sailing12Away]

On 2/9/2024 at 7:36 AM, Chirphy6438 said:

Leaveitallbehind, thank you for your reply to my question.  Yes, this is my first attempt at bidding and you answered all my questions and some, thank you.

We're booked with NCL Joy for this May 5th sailing and I'm happy with the balcony room we chose, so as much as I really would love having the Haven (for which we bid on) for the week and all its perks, I have my limits on what I find logical in terms of the prices they're asking. We added 5 speciality meals pkg, and the vibe, and other up charges which I could have used toward the lowest cost haven along with my now bid and I would almost be at what they are asking for the room. So, if I now go even higher for my bid on a Haven, I'd probably be over mid price bid, which I refuse to do.  Honestly, I find it downright nuts to be paying upwards of $9,000 and then some for a week sailing on a ship thats not even the newest,  ( no offense to those that have that kind of cash to throw down), its just not in my budget. I wish I did a little more research before booking what looked like a good deal at first but come to see its just not. However, if by some stroke of luck and I am awarded the Haven, we'll be loyal cruisers to this line, if not, I'm moving on to explore other ships. 

Thank you again for all your help in clarifying this process. 

Current pricing for a club balcony room for 2 people is only $2400 right now. So if you've paid close to 9K just by adding on extra dining meals and the Vibe, something isn't adding up.