ESBMommie2

7 minutes ago, REOVA said:

What did you status match? If there are truly 100 verandas available, wait but also research the deck plans and cabins to see what the $1k gets you. It may not be a good location.  Did you book yourself or using a TA? 

We status match through MGM!

Since i was a cert we had to go direct through HAL,typically we always use an agent.  

Through a status match program we have a "free" cruise that was about to expire so we jumped on a 7 day Alaska HAL cruise.  The cruise cert was for an inside room and HAL wanted another 1k to upgrade to a balcony.  Cruise is next month and I'm having remorse.  Should I call back within 30 days of sailing to see if we can upgrade? Or just wait till port?  We are paid in full and it looks like there is around 100 + balconies still empty.  Thoughts?  First time on HAL.  

Yup. They also used to have a huge wine list, well over 50 wines that you could get by the glass. Now with the UBP the list is much shorter and much lower quality wine. Blue label also used to be $17.50 a glass so when you got it basically was $2.50 a glass. When we sailed again over the summer the same shot was $22.50. Not a big deal but when it is across the board and you are paying extra in cruise fare with dramatically limited options it is a little off putting.

What I noticed is that there has been a huge price increase in cruises ever since they introduced the UBP.

Are the older ships (Star, Sun and Dawn) on the new bidding system?

We typically tip our butler about $250 for a 7 day cruise but we use him a lot! The room steward around $100 and the concierge maybe $75 as I typically pre book everything myself in advance. I absolutely don't think a butler is a "lucky individual" they work LONG days and deserve a good tip if they give you good service. Out butler was on call from 6am to 11pm. Also several of the folks in our hall all upgraded (on the Epic we all got along great and did pre dinner drinks almost every night so we were all very friendly) and we had a final breakfast before disembarking. Many of them were shocked when my husband had to excuse himself to go tip the butler. They had no idea they were supposed to. And from sailing in the Haven several times we have found out that many don't...which is upsetting as these folks spend months away from their family and work hard to give you a vacation you will truly enjoy...so I will just say if they go out of the way to make your experience wonderful then tip when you find to be appropriate! Have a great Haven cruise. We took an upsell 3 years ago to the Haven and haven;t been able to book non haven since. NCL got us hook, line and sinker!

I would find it extremly hard to go back to anything that wasn't a 2 bedroom. with that said we were doing 10 day cruises out of Europe on the EPIC for a great price in the Haven with wonderful perks (3rd- 8th pax free, free UDP and UBP for everyone, free paid grats for 2 people plus $300 in OBC).

Now I look at booking the same itinerary and it is 45% more with perks that honestly are worthless to me. For now we did book the cruise but I will watch the price and promos. If nothing fantastic comes along we will cancel and do something else.

All the menus are mostly online on NCL.

https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/15333_EPIC%20SHANGHAI.pdf

Whatever it is I hope it will have something to do with Europe. The Epic is leaving and not coming back. Harmony of the Seas also hasn't said anything about it coming back to Europe past 2016. It would be nice to have a new mega ship here.

Congrats!! We are on the WBTA for 2016! I would love to hear your trip report!:D

We moved our EPIC Jan, 29, 2017 cruise (Western MED) to 4/7/2016. Still in the Haven in a H4 and only cost us $4 more per person though we are now sailing in April vs the middle of the winter. I never called in but our fabulous TA handled everything so I was pretty happy. It was pretty painless for us and I think at the price we paid for the winter sailing we really lucked out getting same 10 day itinerary minus 1 stop in APRIL!