2NOLAcruisers

I just found an email in my span folder that explains the cancellation.  I am a little surprised because my sailing was 10 months away and thought this would be under control by then.  It goes on to explain that for first time cancellations, you get the 150% FVC or a full refund +25% FVC.  If this is not the first cancellation for you, then you get FVC that can be used up to a year from your booking start date.

There was some good news.  Ship 3 is 40% complete and ship 4 construction has started.  They are also moving forward with their Miami port facility.

On 6/11/2020 at 11:43 AM, papamouse101 said:

So  2 weeks later, multiple phone calls, and literally the same idiotic explanation everytime ... the fare went up, my discount was the non increase.  Hey Virgin... you can't raise the fare after we already booked!!!  That is not a discount in any way shape or form.  really have no option but to cruise, but they better WOW me to ever consider another cruise with them.  Unprofessional Virgin...

So, I spoke with someone who explained the discount better and why some front line agents are confused.  He said that the price of the cabin goes up as we get closer to sailings.  The discount that was offered was to reset these increases back to the original price.  My sailing is so far out that it is still at the original price, so when an agent sees that I am at the lowest price, they think that the discount was applied (not knowing that I am still at the original price.)

That helps with the explanation, but it doesn't help make up for removing some perks.  

It looks like they only applied the discount to the Scarlet Lady suites and not Valiant Lady suites.

Search for May 2021 sailings and apply the "I'm really picky - RockStar Quarters" filter.  You can see a significant price difference between the two ships.  I wonder if they forgot to apply it to the Valiant Lady sailings?

On 6/4/2020 at 2:54 PM, papamouse101 said:

date.  BUT... take this with a grain of salt because my responses coming from different people have literally been all over th charts.  So let me give you the cliff note version of our story.

 

• Booked a Suite on a "Sneak a Peek" Virgin on Feb 14th.  Was at a TA rate, so had to pay in full. 
• Few weeks later, the world went into a spiral and they had to cancel my cruise.  Offered me 200% credit or cash refund.
• Took the credit, but lost the TA discount... so ended up I couldn't touch the cabin I had booked for the 200%.  Price went up over 300%.
• Fast Forward, booked a Nov. cruise on May 3 using the credit.  Complete with the full set of perks.
• Got the aforementioned email  letting us know they wanted to help us out and lower the cruise rate (BUT took away the perks we talked about)
• Was told, yse sir we have already applied a credit to your cruise... this is you rnew price.  "But that is the exact price I recevied as my price on May 3rd originally.  It wasn't change"  "Well, that cabin now costs $200 more so we gave you a discount".  No... I bought the cabin for this price weeks before the email sent saying we would get a discount."  "OK well I will look into it and get back to you in next 2 days
• 5 days later, got the call today, and it was literally the same exact conversation.  "Your discount has been applied, your acccount shows $200 dscount?  NO it deosn't!  "Sir, that cabin now is listed at $200 more....  You get my drift.
• One change this time.  Once i walked the agent through step by step... "I go this price May3 right"  Yes  "I got email from you saying reduced price for suite right?"  Yes  "So where is the discount?  "Well actuall the discount doesn't apply to every sailing and all cabin,s etc"  
• So Why did you send me an email saying I was getting a break when I wasn't?

 

Long and short of it, they are now refusing to offer me a full cah refund on the 100% portion that was my cash payment saying I can only have a credit... since I accepted the first offer before.  So guess wer are goping to cruise... but they are a mess!!

 

I am in the same situation and got the same explanation.

Booked a Sneak a Peek cruise that wound up getting cancelled.

Took the 200% offer for a Rock Star Suite on the Valliant Lady next year.

Got the email that says "we're lowering the fare for your suite" and "You'll receive an updated confirmation email from us in the next 7 days that reflects your new fare."

Did not receive an email.

Price of the suite did not change.

Called and was told that the price of the cabin went up and the "discount" is the protection from the fare increase.

I said the price did not change.  I've been checking often since I booked it.  I quoted the email.

The guy said they will research it some more and email me an explanation.

I don't think I'm going to get that explanation email.

Also dropped luggage assistance to unpack and pack everything. 

The wording of the in room drinks dropped "the first round is on us." 

We also took the 200% and upgraded to one of the Sweet Aft Suites, but we are on the Valiant Lady now on a Mediterranean itinerary. 

Boohoo.  

If this means you are not booking your like minded clientele, then great!

I love the idea of a tiny pool! I think they are a waste of deck space. 

On previous cruises, it was mostly kids swimming, so the no kid policy gets rid of that. On my other adult only type cruises, a very low percentage of people got in the pool and nobody swam. It was just wading or light movement. They probably figured out how many people really use the pool and adjusted the size accordingly. 

I'm on the first sneak peek sailing and look forward to not swimming! 

4 hours ago, perditax said:

Still nothing (booking button is greyed out). 

Mine turned red, but doesn't do anything when clicked.

It looks like there will be enough room in the closet area under the space where you hang your clothes. Two medium cases or more if you have different sizes and store them nested inside each other. 

Three minutes into this video is your best view of the closest area. 

I saw them this morning on the mobile site. 

I had to click on the Mediterranean icon, select all, then apply. I may have had to adjust the dates too, but the cruises are listed. 

Looks like someone from Virgin lurks here. 

I had the same link on my booking, but now it's gone. 

13 minutes ago, _Mr.G_ said:

 

Thanks for that information !

 

Would you mind sharing your particular upgrade bids for the Gem?  😉

I started with a free inside cabin (casino at sea offer) and paid to upgrade to a balcony room.  

My original bids (all per person):

$75 - Mini suite

$385 - Penthouse (SE, SF)

$780 - 2 Bedroom Family Suite (SC)

$835 - Haven Courtyard (H5)

I was checking my bids one day to see if I felt like tweaking them and saw that there was a "special offer" to bid on a Haven 2 bedroom Family Villa (H4).  Instead of the minimum $1000 per person bid, the minimum was dropped to $750 so I bid $760.  I didn't expect to win because my bid was lower than everyone else's minimum bid, but I won!

8 minutes ago, _Mr.G_ said:

Hi all,

 

our cruise (NCL Gem from Québec) starts in 10 days. Until today my upgrade offer is still pending / in progress since weeks.  Since I'm leaving in two days I would like and need to do the NCL online check-in.  Will the online check-in somehow affect the upgrade process since I'm checking in into my original cabin? Or can the upgrade offer also be applied after the online check-in?

 

Thanks,

Stefan

You can check-in now.

I am on the Gem in 3 days (leaving from Boston.)   I checked in a couple of weeks ago (checking into my original cabin) and just yesterday won my upgrade bid.

If you are leaving in two days but win an upgrade you will need access to a printer to print the updated luggage tags and cruise documents.  

1 minute ago, time391 said:

Question what is the best bid I should offer:

 

NCL Escape- NYC-Bermuda November 15-20 2019

 

I see Spa Balcony is available, I can bid between $0-500 per person on slider?

 

I have CAS Comp inside room from a promo, not sure if anyone has ever gotten upgraded from those. I usually get Balcony for vacations, but thought it would be a nice budget short vacation before the holidays. Any thoughts?

I had a CAS comp inside room for a Boston - Bermuda cruise on the Dawn.  I paid for an upgrade to a balcony room, then won a bid for an upgrade to a suite.  I don't remember what all of that bidding and upgrading cost, but I do remember it was cheaper than booking the suite at the price stated on the website.

Just got my denial emails for the 3/3 Breakaway out of New Orleans.  Going from mini suite (MA) bidding on Haven.

H4 - 2 bedroom family villa w/balcony - bid $1070pp 

H5 - Courtyard Penthouse - bid $1025pp

H6 - Aft facing Penthouse - $1210pp

H9 - Spa suite $650pp 

There wasn't too many Haven rooms left earlier in the week (mock bookings showed 2 or 3 on Monday and Tuesday.)  

No big deal, just means more money for the next cruise.

My Cas offer comes through a land based casino. This year the offer has San Juan, Alaska, Canada/New England, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Everyone I spoke to while picking it up had the same itineraries. The only thing that changed was cabin class based off of casino play. 

Last year the Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, and European cruises were offered. 

How did you get an offer directly from NCL? Did you call and ask for one? 

Jacket vs. Jeans?!?!

But I wear jackets with my jeans. :confused:

we don't want them to have a penny of our money.

If you really don't want them to get a single penny, then you have to cancel your cruise. A portion of the port fees comes out of your fare. The ship refuels or restocks some supplies - your fare pays a portion of it.

Is there a way to look over the options for excursions before the booking comes available for our cabin category?

 

Thanks!

Yes. I was able to see mine around 90-100 days out (I think, it was a long time ago.) I wasn't able to book until 60 days.

I added excursions to my wishlist as soon as I could, so I wouldn't lose track of what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, some of them were either cancelled or sold out. Just be sure to check the availability of your desired excursions a day or two before booking opens.

At last they have gotten that to work. Used to be that you couldn't just click the iten in the wish list and using the wish list was just a waste of time? Do you have to navigate back to the wish list each time you add an excursion to your shopping cart?

I had all of my desired excursions in my wish list. On the morning of booking, I pulled up the wish list on MVJ. I clicked on the first one listed. A popup appeared with a picture, available times, description, and "add to cart" button. I picked my time, clicked add to cart, and closed that popup. The wish list was still there with all of my desired excursions. I worked my way through the list and went to the shopping cart to pay for them.

So, to answer your question, I did not have to navigate back to the list. It stayed there and clicking on an excursion created a popup.

Thanks for all of the advice. I booked my excursions this morning. Here are my own tips for anyone else that stumbles upon this thread.

1. Use the wishlist. I added items to my wishlist as soon as the excursions were posted.

2. Double check your wishlist a day or two before the excursions are available for booking. My original wishlist was not usable because some of my original picks were cancelled or sold out.

3. Print the wishlist and write down your desired times. For some reason, the wishlist cannot keep track of desired time slots.

4. You can book from the wishlist page. Click on the excursion, select the time, and add to cart. Repeat until all excursions are booked. No need to go day by day to pick excursions.

5. If you have a feeling that your desired excursions will sell out, wake up early. They become available at 12:00 am Pacific Time.

6. Keep checking if you missed out. Some people modify their picks or Viking can make another tour available.

I have had butlers on other lines and not having one is not going to be a deciding factor in what cruise line I book.

Perhaps I didn't utilize them to the fullest, but I didn't find their services necessary. I haven't taken my Viking cruise yet, so I don't know if I will miss having one, but I don't see us having any needs that the staff cannot handle.