Upgrading with NCL

[TOMTOMRN331]

Greetings Fellow Cruisers

 

My final payment for our January 2016 Spirit cruise is coming due November 16. I called NCL today to see if any upgrades were available. I was told no as the ship is about 3/4 full and prices have actually gone up (shocker).

 

I am hoping (though not optimistic) to maybe secure a suite, hopefully with a promotional rate closer to the sailing date. Has anyone had this luck. With my search today there seem to be A LOT of suites still available. Am I better to wait closer to sailing? Will NCL still allow an upgrade after final payment?

 

I will not be heartbroken if it does not happen etc.

 

Thank you

 

Tom

[pspercy]

If there's availability you can get a paid upgrade after final, I upgraded to minisuite for just a few $$ as its current price was close to what I'd already paid for a balcony.

Good luck:)

Edited October 23, 2015 by pspercy

[Seago2]

Yes, I called a week before my 10/11 BA sailing and got upgraded from an interior to a balcony for $10 pp. obviously prices had gone down, though.

[Jane Don]

When I booked the Spirit was the cheapest ship for my week. I was concerned that she might be retired, so I booked it. At one point I checked, the cost was twice as much and the Escape was the only ship more expensive for the week.

 

She is a unique ship. Even though older, people love her.

 

I will call the upsell department 14 days before sailing and see if anything is available but I doubt it. Suites are usually really expensive on the Spirit so even if available, it could still be too expensive.

[punkincc]

Greetings Fellow Cruisers

 

My final payment for our January 2016 Spirit cruise is coming due November 16. I called NCL today to see if any upgrades were available. I was told no as the ship is about 3/4 full and prices have actually gone up (shocker).

 

I am hoping (though not optimistic) to maybe secure a suite, hopefully with a promotional rate closer to the sailing date. Has anyone had this luck. With my search today there seem to be A LOT of suites still available. Am I better to wait closer to sailing? Will NCL still allow an upgrade after final payment?

 

I will not be heartbroken if it does not happen etc.

 

Thank you

 

Tom

 

 

Not sure what you mean by "promotional rate", I assume you mean you hope to get a suite for a reduced price, an upsell, vs a free upgrade. All you can do is monitor the suite prices and the inventory left to sell on the NCL website and hope sales of remaining suites are really slow.

 

If you see some price movement, call NCL. But be careful of the terminology you use. Don't ask for an upgrade, unless that is really what you want. An upgrade is usually a free move up in category or occasionally between cabin types, like Inside to Oceanview. What you are wanting is an "upsell" to a Suite. You are not going to score an "upgrade" to a Suite.

 

Tell them you are interested in moving up to a suite, and ask how much it would take to make the move. If the stars are aligned, they may make you an offer you like. Your success may depend on how much prices drop, how many drops there are, how many suites are left, how many times you call, and how much you are willing to pay to get there.

[BigEasyCC]

If I were to take an UPSELL to a better cabin/suite, would I loose the awesome perks I booked with? (UBP, UDP, etc.)

[niborHS]

Watch the prices, and watch for any kind of 24 or 48 hour sale. I had paid for my room, which I took an interior because I am by myself. The price on the outside, which truly isn't really a better room, was less than what I paid for my inside, so I called them and asked to be changed. They will not give you a refund, but if the price is less than you paid, they will change you.

[Cubechick]

If I were to take an UPSELL to a better cabin/suite, would I loose the awesome perks I booked with? (UBP, UDP, etc.)

 

No. With an UPSELL you keep your original perks. You only lose them if you UPGRADE and the perks are not being offered at that time.

[punkincc]

No. With an UPSELL you keep your original perks. You only lose them if you UPGRADE and the perks are not being offered at that time.

 

Ummm. Even with a free upgrade, like moving from an inside to an oceanview because the price for the OV is equal or less than what you paid for the inside, you would still keep your original perks, even if that promo were over.

 

The only time you might lose your original perks is if you did a cancel and rebook prior to final payment to get a lower cruise fare and your original promo was no longer offered.

 

Anytime I have ever done an upsell, I always made sure to confirm that nothing else on my booking or amenities was changing except my cabin number.:)

Edited October 23, 2015 by punkincc

[Nachosupreme]

I called 2 weeks before my breakaway cruise and they upgraded me for free from an ov to a balcony. On my gem cruise I called 3 days before and took an upsell from an inside to an ov for $100. On the gem cruise I had no perks during my additional booking, but when I upgraded they said I was eligible and added the Ubp to my booking. Personally, I always call and check and see if free or upsell upgrades are available very close to sail time, I figure it never hurts to check.

Edited October 23, 2015 by Nachosupreme

[Pamster]

I was recently able to obtain an upsell from a suite to the Haven. I had watched the site and saw that Haven suite was available - it would come and go as people reserved it and then decided against it. On Monday before our Sunday sailing, I called and talked to my Norwegian Personal Cruise Consultant. He told me I could make an offer for how much I was willing to pay - and the department that handles upsells would either accept the offer or make a counter offer. So, I made an offer and a couple of days later got a counter offer, which I took. The price I paid was significantly less than what the Haven suites had been going for when we initially booked - and it was a chance to stay in the Haven - which was REALLY cool. I've heard that they don't UPGRADE to suites any more, that I don't know.

[TOMTOMRN331]

Not sure what you mean by "promotional rate", I assume you mean you hope to get a suite for a reduced price, an upsell, vs a free upgrade. All you can do is monitor the suite prices and the inventory left to sell on the NCL website and hope sales of remaining suites are really slow.

 

If you see some price movement, call NCL. But be careful of the terminology you use. Don't ask for an upgrade, unless that is really what you want. An upgrade is usually a free move up in category or occasionally between cabin types, like Inside to Oceanview. What you are wanting is an "upsell" to a Suite. You are not going to score an "upgrade" to a Suite.

 

Tell them you are interested in moving up to a suite, and ask how much it would take to make the move. If the stars are aligned, they may make you an offer you like. Your success may depend on how much prices drop, how many drops there are, how many suites are left, how many times you call, and how much you are willing to pay to get there.

 

Thank you for the reply and the information. Sorry for the wrong verb use.

[TOMTOMRN331]

I was recently able to obtain an upsell from a suite to the Haven. I had watched the site and saw that Haven suite was available - it would come and go as people reserved it and then decided against it. On Monday before our Sunday sailing, I called and talked to my Norwegian Personal Cruise Consultant. He told me I could make an offer for how much I was willing to pay - and the department that handles upsells would either accept the offer or make a counter offer. So, I made an offer and a couple of days later got a counter offer, which I took. The price I paid was significantly less than what the Haven suites had been going for when we initially booked - and it was a chance to stay in the Haven - which was REALLY cool. I've heard that they don't UPGRADE to suites any more, that I don't know.

 

This is what I am hoping to accomplish. Will keep watching the NCL website to see if any suites are available a few days our and do some negotiating.

[Demonyte]

But be careful of the terminology you use. Don't ask for an upgrade, unless that is really what you want. An upgrade is usually a free move up in category or occasionally between cabin types, like Inside to Oceanview. What you are wanting is an "upsell" to a Suite. You are not going to score an "upgrade" to a Suite.

 

I have to disagree with the terminology here.

 

Even the dictionary definition for upsell is something the seller does in order to persuade more money from the customer, ie. offering them something more to make a bigger sale. The seller offers upsells unsolicitedly, one does not request them - hence upsell calls/emails.

 

Upgrade can be either free or paid and anytime the customer is asking for better product, it is asking for an upgrade (just like the seller upselling in this case actualizes as a paid upgrade) - no matter if there is a cost involved or not.

 

So asking "how much to upgrade" is a perfectly good and completely understandable way of asking what OP wants.

 

Tell them you are interested in moving up to a suite, and ask how much it would take to make the move.

 

With this I wholeheartedly agree.

Edited October 24, 2015 by Demonyte

[punkincc]

I have to disagree with the terminology here.

 

Even the dictionary definition for upsell is something the seller does in order to persuade more money from the customer, ie. offering them something more to make a bigger sale. The seller offers upsells unsolicitedly, one does not request them - hence upsell calls/emails.

 

Upgrade can be either free or paid and anytime the customer is asking for better product, it is asking for an upgrade (just like the seller upselling in this case actualizes as a paid upgrade) - no matter if there is a cost involved or not.

 

So asking "how much to upgrade" is a perfectly good and completely understandable way of asking what OP wants.

 

 

 

With this I wholeheartedly agree.

 

 

What you say may be true, but generally speaking, if someone says they were upgraded by the cruiseline ( or even a hotel ), you know exactly what they mean. They scored a better room, and did not pay an extra dime for it.

 

If on the other hand, someone says they got an upsell to a suite, you pretty much know they paid extra $. I think it helps for clarity sake to use these terms in that way on this board, but you can never assume when someone talks about an upgrade what they are really referring to.

 

And we all know how dense the customer service people at NCL can be. Imagine this call to NCL: I am interested in an Upgrade. Customer Service: There are no Upgrades available at this time. ( There is an Upsell to a Balcony available, but you did not ask about an Upsell, so I am not going to tell you ). NCL can get just as hung up on semantics as we can. I don't know if this scenario would ever happen, but I would not be surprised. Probably best to just ask if there are any upgrade OR upsell offers available.

[piper45maru]

I've been planning on calling for an upsell (or paid upgrade, if that's the technically correct term) when I got to 7 days out on my cruise. Last night (10 days out), I noticed prices had dropped considerably, so I called. At first I asked for an upsell, thinking that terminology would get me farther (i.e., I was willing to negotiate rather than just asking them to give me something). She said she had nothing available for an upsell.

 

I then mentioned that balconies were now cheaper than what I had paid for my inside, and I had been hoping that I might be able to get one of those somehow. She checked, saw prices had dropped, and went to check with her supervisor. She came back and said, "We can upgrade you to a mini suite guarantee." (Yes, I jumped on that!) I paid no additional cost to go from the inside to the mini suite, and it was even a higher category than I had first mentioned.

 

Anyway, upsell or upgrade or whatever you want to call it, I was glad I took the chance and called! Anyway, hope my story helps--asking for an upsell got me nowhere but essentially asking for an upgrade without using that term got me an upgrade (and after final payment and kept my promo, but the same promo is going on now anyway). Obviously, YMMV.

 

And can I mention how beyond excited I am to be in a mini suite when I thought I'd be in an inside? [emoji3] They gave me my room number immediately, too, even though it was a guarantee. Happy dance! I hope you also have good luck in getting your upgrade, OP!

[punkincc]

I've been planning on calling for an upsell (or paid upgrade, if that's the technically correct term) when I got to 7 days out on my cruise. Last night (10 days out), I noticed prices had dropped considerably, so I called. At first I asked for an upsell, thinking that terminology would get me farther (i.e., I was willing to negotiate rather than just asking them to give me something). She said she had nothing available for an upsell.

 

I then mentioned that balconies were now cheaper than what I had paid for my inside, and I had been hoping that I might be able to get one of those somehow. She checked, saw prices had dropped, and went to check with her supervisor. She came back and said, "We can upgrade you to a mini suite guarantee." (Yes, I jumped on that!) I paid no additional cost to go from the inside to the mini suite, and it was even a higher category than I had first mentioned.

 

Anyway, upsell or upgrade or whatever you want to call it, I was glad I took the chance and called! Anyway, hope my story helps--asking for an upsell got me nowhere but essentially asking for an upgrade without using that term got me an upgrade (and after final payment and kept my promo, but the same promo is going on now anyway). Obviously, YMMV.

 

And can I mention how beyond excited I am to be in a mini suite when I thought I'd be in an inside? [emoji3] They gave me my room number immediately, too, even though it was a guarantee. Happy dance! I hope you also have good luck in getting your upgrade, OP!

 

 

Thanks, you just proved my point that NCL can get hung up on semantics too;). You asked about an upsell, and they did not bother to tell you about the free upgrade until you pressed further. I would still keep an eye on prices. Who knows, maybe you can score a cheap upsell to a suite in a few days.:)

[piper45maru]

Thanks, you just proved my point that NCL can get hung up on semantics too;). You asked about an upsell, and they did not bother to tell you about the free upgrade until you pressed further. I would still keep an eye on prices. Who knows, maybe you can score a cheap upsell to a suite in a few days.:)

 

 

LOL! I was typing my post as you posted yours so I didn't see your comment about semantics until after I posted, but I pretty much thought the same thing when I then read your post! My takeaway is to just keep asking in different ways. :)

 

Suites are currently showing as sold out on my cruise but that would be awesome to be able to score again. I'm traveling solo though. Don't know what I'd do with all that space! :)

[TOMTOMRN331]

I checked today and there are 7 suites available (two different classes). Am I better off waiting closer to the cruise to make an offer (today is the 3 month mark), or wait till a couple weeks out to make an offer? Are my chances better an offering an price then vs now since NCL will want to sell out the suites are the normal rate ??

 

Thank you :)

 

TOM

[Demonyte]

I highly doubt that they would accept any offers except the shown price at this point. All special priced upgrades that I've read here about have been less than two or three weeks before the departure date.

 

Of course if the published price of a suite drops enough and you'd be willing to pay the difference between your original price and the current published price of a suite, then by all means call them and upgrade as soon as you can.

[bnorris10]

What number do you call

 

And are you able to call for upgrades/upsells/offers if you booked thru TA

[TraJon9]

A month before our cruise we received a upsell offer from NCL. I do believe it is random. The prices were still crazy. 1000 per person lowest category Haven on breakaway. Two weeks later, 500 per person email. We called that specific number and booked for 400 per person negotiated. Even booked we are still getting the upsell email. Sorta funny. 10 days to go.

 

Now I would think if moving from balcony to spa that would be a upgrade, and depending what the current prices are maybe it would be free..

 

I think the upsell emails or calls are random upsell fairy. We are obviously on a slow week. There is no rhyme or reason to the email. We are booked through the casino and only upgraded to a balcony. We did not expect to get a email offer on practically a free room, but it happened.

 

A upgrade or change in your reservation maybe you would get a change in freebies. A upsell we kept what we booked with, the UDP. We did not receive the other haven freebies.

 

If with a travel agent they have to call or arrange it us what I understand.