upgrade ncl

[luv2gamble]

I booked NCL cruise and have a mid-hip mini suite. I have a room # already assigned to me. Someone told me that if I picked out a room # then I CANNOT be offered an upgrade. Does anyone know if by picking out the room I lost out on a possible upgrade?

[js4rq]

Unless you put in a request for no upgrades, there is no reason you can't get an upgrade if available.

[MCAT48]

If you book a guarantee cabin, meaning you do not pick your cabin number you are guaranteed that catergory of cabin. If there is no cabins left in that catergory you could be bumped up and given an upgrade in catergory. If you book your cabin #, not a guarantee you still have the ability to be bumped up in catergory. If they need your cabin they may offer an upgrade or if there is a significant price drop you may try to get an upgrade but may still have to pay a portion.

[luv2gamble]

Thank you so much for your help. I hear many people get an upgrade and I was just wondering. Would it help if I asked for an upgrade or just cross my fingers and hope they ask me?

[luv2gamble]

thanks for your reply. I hope I am responding correctly, Im new to the site. when do they ask you (if they do)? when you check in?

[B6ConMe]

thanks for your reply. I hope I am responding correctly, Im new to the site. when do they ask you (if they do)? when you check in?

 

If you've already chosen your cabin and you're happy with it, it's unlikely that NCL will call and ask if you want an upgrade, however, if you are interested in an upgrade/upsell (upsell being a better cabin but you pay any extra) you can call if the price of your cabin drops or if you have more in your budget that you want to spend.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Connie

[garycarla]

Thank you so much for your help. I hear many people get an upgrade and I was just wondering. Would it help if I asked for an upgrade or just cross my fingers and hope they ask me?

 

No, many people do not get upgrades, unless you consider the "fake" upgrades. Your chances of getting an upgrade to a better room - a suite in your case - is very, very slim.

 

Same room type, but better location ... make that supposed better location.

 

FYI - you mention you booked a mini suite.. that is NOT a suite, just a deluxe balcony.

[jimsig]

I think the reason it seems many people get upgraded is that those that they post about it, we are only seeing the good news. No one is posting "Hey, I didn't get an upgrade."

[Seanote]

Two upsell calls in 26 cruises. YMMV.

[roger001]

Upgrades are few and far between. They are only offered if there is a logistical reason on that ship, for that cruise, for NCL to do so. As others have said, most are just a same type cabin with a reassignment to what could be considered a better location, or on rare occasion to the next level up of cabin type. Only at the last minute, if suites remain unsold, would you then possibly get a call offering you a suite at a discounted price. A person really needs to be happy with what they originally purchase and not hold their breath hoping for a free or reduced price upgrade. But....a very few will occasionally get the offer and when they do, it will be posted on here.........

[Valen9]

thanks for your reply. I hope I am responding correctly, Im new to the site. when do they ask you (if they do)? when you check in?

 

I watch the sites to see if there has been a price drop from what I paid. If there is, I call my TA and ask if there is anything they can do for me. In the past that has usually been some onboard credit, but for my upcoming cruise they upgraded us from connecting aft balconies to mid-ship Family mini-suites for the same money.

 

If you've booked a guarantee then they'll assign you a room in at least that category, but often higher, at least from their point of view. We hear on the boards that you can even change "groupings" (like inside to outside) but typically you don't get that.

[DCP]

You can always ask. Our 2nd cruise, our DD and SIL got upgraded from an inside to a OV (picture window) and we got upgraded from a balcony to a mini suite. Our last cruise we were offered an upsell from a mid ship balcony to a penthouse suite for not much $$. So yes, it does happen. It pays to be nice and ask!

[luv2gamble]

You can always ask. Our 2nd cruise, our DD and SIL got upgraded from an inside to a OV (picture window) and we got upgraded from a balcony to a mini suite. Our last cruise we were offered an upsell from a mid ship balcony to a penthouse suite for not much $$. So yes, it does happen. It pays to be nice and ask!

 

Thanks to all who have responded. I am already booked on Jewell may 17th mid ship mini-suite and assigned a room # already. Very happy with the room picked. However, I am going w my bf of 46 yrs. Both turning 50 & my husb is sendn me. My bf was hit by a drunk driver 25 yrs ago and ha brain damage. Not severe but she is handicapped and slow now. this is her dream vac she has been saving for over 10 yrs now. Want this to be the best 4 her. She has NEVER been away. Mini-Suite was the most we could afford. Just wanted 2c if there was anyway for upgrade. I know everyone wants this but I have a slightly diff reason. Thanks for all your suggestions. BTW, dont have TA, I booked w NCL directly.

[luv2gamble]

thanks for your reply. I hope I am responding correctly, Im new to the site. when do they ask you (if they do)? when you check in?

 

No, many people do not get upgrades, unless you consider the "fake" upgrades. Your chances of getting an upgrade to a better room - a suite in your case - is very, very slim.

 

Same room type, but better location ... make that supposed better location.

 

FYI - you mention you booked a mini suite.. that is NOT a suite, just a deluxe balcony.

 

Really, I was under the assumption it was a suite. NCL said the sq ft went up and it was a suite? Wow, why would they call it Mini-Suite if its not a suite? Also, what is a fake upgrade? I'm mid ship 11th deck, I dnk of a better location in my cat? LOL, now I feel like I might have been taken. Maybe I was better off w just balcony. I still have 2 weeks 2 make changes but the price has gone up since and any change will cost me $$..Does it help that I booked it with NCL Harrahs diamond players card discount?

[cmoose]

A mini-suite in not suite in the sense that you don't get any of the suite perks, like butler, early boarding, priority seating at shows, etc. From what I understand the room and balcony are a bit larger, not much and there is a bathtub, not just a shower. You made a good choice. You and your friend are going to have a great time.

[B6ConMe]

You've made a great choice with the mini-suite. As the prev. poster said it's a bit bigger a balcony is approx. 205 sq. ft. and a mini is approx. 285sq ft. It will give you more space in your and on your balcony.

 

Plus, for all the perks you would get in a suite there is also the hidden costs and I get that it wouldn't be welcome if you had to pay an additional $2-250 in tips to a concierge and butler on top of all the other charges. I'm not saying a real suite isn't worth it, it just seems that maybe you wouldn't need the extra charges.

 

Feel good about this, it's your special birthday party. Don't let anyone rain on your cruise/parade and many happy returns to both on your day.

 

Happy cruising,

Connie

[Elainemh]

Is the room handicapped accessible. Will your friend be able to use the

bath tub. Not sure if mini-suites have a separate shower.

[garycarla]

Really, I was under the assumption it was a suite. NCL said the sq ft went up and it was a suite? Wow, why would they call it Mini-Suite if its not a suite? Also, what is a fake upgrade? I'm mid ship 11th deck, I dnk of a better location in my cat? LOL, now I feel like I might have been taken. Maybe I was better off w just balcony. I still have 2 weeks 2 make changes but the price has gone up since and any change will cost me $$..Does it help that I booked it with NCL Harrahs diamond players card discount?

 

As expected, another person that thought the mini suite was a suite. (which is why I usually mention it when someone says they have a mini)

 

It appears you have booked through Casinos At Sea (CAS). Most general rules about changes do not apply. You have to call them back to ask about changes. Prices going up MIGHT apply to you. Hard to say what goes on in the back room at CAS.

[DinaS]

As expected, another person that thought the mini suite was a suite. (which is why I usually mention it when someone says they have a mini)

 

 

While a mini-suite is not really a true suite (true suites have a separate bedroom), there is definitely more room in a mini-suite than a regular balcony cabin. If your friend has any mobility issues, the extra room will absolutely help.

 

Did you look at the room layout for the mini-suite as compared to the balcony cabin? If not, you should ALWAYS, ALWAYS look at the ship's layout and room photos/floorplans BEFORE booking a cruise or committing to ANY CABIN.

 

The one thing I always look at before saying yes to a cabin, is the deck plan above and below where our cabin is located. I will not book a cabin that has anything other than another cabin above and below. Clubs, restaurants and other public areas can mean too much noise during the night/early morning if they are directly above or below your cabin.

 

Don't worry so much - as long as your friend will be able to get around, you and she will have a great time.

[Demonyte]

Is the room handicapped accessible. Will your friend be able to use the bath tub. Not sure if mini-suites have a separate shower.

 

I can not stress this enough - in a normal mini-suite there is a pretty high tub that you need to be able to step in.

 

luv2cruise: If you have not booked a HC cabin, I'd strongly suggest making through research about the regular mini-suite and if you can manage in it.

 

While a mini-suite is not really a true suite (true suites have a separate bedroom), there is definitely more room in a mini-suite than a regular balcony cabin.

 

This is incorrect - most suites on NCL ships do not have separate bedrooms (well, maybe on the newest ships with two story Havens there are more suites with separate bedrooms than without but on most ships this is not the case).

Edited February 10, 2014 by Demonyte

[garycarla]

..luv2cruise: If you have not booked a HC cabin, I'd strongly suggest making through research about the regular mini-suite and if you can manage in it.

 

We all read and interpret things differently, but I am not getting the impression that a handicap cabin is needed here. Could be wrong....

[Demonyte]

We all read and interpret things differently, but I am not getting the impression that a handicap cabin is needed here. Could be wrong....

 

Yep, I might have jumped to conclusions too. From her other thread I somehow got the impression that a handicap cabin could help (especially when talking about mini-suites). Of course now that I re-read that thread, she never explained the disability more throughly than a brain damage.

 

P.S. I mistyped OP's nick in my previous post, sorry luv2gamble. :)

[jeepgirlroo]

It is absolutely worth a call to your travel agent or NCL directly. Even if you picked a cabin number already. I paid $649 each for an inside cabin, picked our location. Heard about the price drop. Now the price of a midship balcony (BB) is $649 so that's exactly what the upgraded us to - exactly what our inside room cost was before. It may be not as dramatic of an improvement of you started in a better cabin maybe just a location or a one category upgrade). Never hurts to ask!! :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[luv2gamble]

You are so sweet. Thank you so much. I am very happy with the room and location. Just thought it would be a great surprise to my friend if we got a free upgrade. Thanks again!

[luv2gamble]

Yep, I might have jumped to conclusions too. From her other thread I somehow got the impression that a handicap cabin could help (especially when talking about mini-suites). Of course now that I re-read that thread, she never explained the disability more throughly than a brain damage.

 

P.S. I mistyped OP's nick in my previous post, sorry luv2gamble. :)

 

thanks a lot! No, my friend for the most part has brain damage and a little slow. She gets very tired, confused, very little patients because she dont understand things the way she used to. Physically, she is good. She does have weak legs but she can handle a regular room. She cries at the drop of a dime but has a heart of gold.