What was your upgrade offer and what did you bid

[fridaythe13th]

7 minutes ago, texastennis said:

There was a time when I would by-pass this thread because I just didn't understand what all the fuss was about.  But now I'm in the game and have submitted bids for a B2B I have booked in January.  I have no idea what I'm really doing, but it has become somewhat fun watching inventory on my two cruises, the price fluctuations, and updating my Excel spreadsheet to track the information.

 

It has also been fun to read what everyone has been posting about their bids and speculations.  Now I have a few questions of my own, (and forgive me for my ignorance).

 

My cruise at the first leg of the B2B is currently at day 47, and for the first time since the banner to upgrade appeared on the MY NCL page at day 80, the banner no longer appears.  If I want to modify my bid, does this mean I no longer can?  If I can, then where and how?  Also, if the banner disappears, what does this mean?  There's re-calibration going on and the banner will come back?  Bidding has closed?  Nothing?

 

Interested in your thoughts. 

Do you still have the email that said you put in bids?  There should be a link there to your bid(s).

[JamieLogical]

7 minutes ago, texastennis said:

My cruise at the first leg of the B2B is currently at day 47, and for the first time since the banner to upgrade appeared on the MY NCL page at day 80, the banner no longer appears.  If I want to modify my bid, does this mean I no longer can?  If I can, then where and how?  Also, if the banner disappears, what does this mean?  There's re-calibration going on and the banner will come back?  Bidding has closed?  Nothing?

 

Interested in your thoughts. 

 

So sometimes the banner isn't *gone* it just shows up later in the rotation. There are left/right arrows on the edges of the main banner, whatever that may be, that allow you to scroll through 4-5 different banners and the Let's Get You Upgraded banner still might be in that rotation somewhere. You can also still ajuse your bid by clicking any of the links in the emails you should have received with your offer to bid and then your bid confirmations. Finally, you might have a Let's Get You Upgraded message in your Message Center within My NCL, and that should also have a link that you can follow and then adjust your bids.

[tbo]

9 minutes ago, texastennis said:

There was a time when I would by-pass this thread because I just didn't understand what all the fuss was about.  But now I'm in the game and have submitted bids for a B2B I have booked in January.  I have no idea what I'm really doing, but it has become somewhat fun watching inventory on my two cruises, the price fluctuations, and updating my Excel spreadsheet to track the information.

 

It has also been fun to read what everyone has been posting about their bids and speculations.  Now I have a few questions of my own, (and forgive me for my ignorance).

 

My cruise at the first leg of the B2B is currently at day 47, and for the first time since the banner to upgrade appeared on the MY NCL page at day 80, the banner no longer appears.  If I want to modify my bid, does this mean I no longer can?  If I can, then where and how?  Also, if the banner disappears, what does this mean?  There's re-calibration going on and the banner will come back?  Bidding has closed?  Nothing?

 

Interested in your thoughts. 

This happened to me a couple of weeks ago, so from my experience, bidding is not closed, even now and we are 38 days out. If you can find the email from NCL where you bid, you can click there to view and modify your bid.

[spacedaisy]

You can also start typing https://upgrade.plusgrade.com/ in your web browser and you might see the full link auto-fill (unless you cleared your search history). 

[WYB!]

So tried calling NCL @ 1-866-234-7350 to inquire about the Upgrade Advantage Program.

 

While on hold I found my previous upgrade email from September 2018 and clicked on the request upgrade link to see what would happen. (The link still pulled up my name in the Guest area but I have removed it from the image).

 

While speaking to the NCL Rep, I informed her that I was booked on 2 NCL cruises departing within 30 days and another 2 NCL departing within 6 months but received no upgrade request. She informed me that the upgrade request invite email was sent randomly and only within 90 days of sailing. But even if that was correct I should have received more then 1 request in my past 5 NCL sailings.

Is there a another NCL Upgrade Advantage Program number to call and inquire?

 

Edited December 5, 2018 by Cwipes

[JamieLogical]

7 minutes ago, Cwipes said:

So tried calling NCL @ 1-866-234-7350 to inquire about the Upgrade Advantage Program.

 

While on hold I found my previous upgrade email from September 2018 and clicked on the request upgrade link to see what would happen.

 

While speaking to the NCL Rep, I informed her that I was booked on 2 NCL cruises departing within 30 days and another 2 NCL departing within 6 months but received no upgrade request. She informed me that the upgrade request invite email was sent randomly and only within 90 days of sailing. But even if that was correct I should have received more then 1 request in my past 5 NCL sailings.

Is there a another NCL Upgrade Advantage Program number to call and inquire?

 

 

The URL in the emails and the banner within My NCL is coded to the specific sailing, so clicking on a link in an old email for a past sailing won't be of any use. I have not heard of invites being "random". I have only ever heard of some TAs not participating, some room categories being ineligible (studios and 5-person OVs), and some sailings being entirely ineligible.

[WYB!]

Unfortunately I didn't have a current email from the upgrade advantage program to test. I only had the one from the past sailing and I was never under the believe that it would display anything other then "Not available".

I've used the same TA for all of my sailings over the past 7 years and my TA know how much I like upgrades.

 

Others in my roll calls report that they have received upgrade bid offers.

 

Other then the main NCL number (1-866-234-7350) is there another NCL number associated to the Upgrade Advantage Program to call and inquire or is there a specific department within the main number to contact?

Regards,

 

[Chuckabobo]

1 hour ago, Cwipes said:

Unfortunately I didn't have a current email from the upgrade advantage program to test. I only had the one from the past sailing and I was never under the believe that it would display anything other then "Not available".

I've used the same TA for all of my sailings over the past 7 years and my TA know how much I like upgrades.

 

Others in my roll calls report that they have received upgrade bid offers.

 

Other then the main NCL number (1-866-234-7350) is there another NCL number associated to the Upgrade Advantage Program to call and inquire or is there a specific department within the main number to contact?

Regards,

 

As others have said the "Upgrade Banner" isn't there everyday... sometimes Dining plan banner will be there instead for example.

Sometimes there are left right arrows that will allow you to get to the Upgrade Banner, sometimes those still won't show the upgrade banner.

Many people never receive an email about the upgrade being available, but if bidding is available to you - you should always have a link to the upgrade bidding specific to your sailing, by logging into your NCL account, selecting your sailing... and then clicking on the "Messages" icon towards the top right of the page.

There are 3 icons...a heart,letter,shopping cart... the letter icon is your "messages" specific to this sailing... offering you welcome instructions, embarkation advice, advertising specialty dining, and also your offer to bid on upgrades for this sailing if applicable.

I never received an email, many days i don't see the upgrade banner, but this messages folder always has the link available for upgrades, if you have been offered them.

[Katie H]

On 12/4/2018 at 12:56 PM, Cwipes said:

So my new hypothesis on upgrades:

 

NCL takes in to account all your previous cruise history's spending habits while on board.

 

The more that you spent on such things as excursions, dining, at the casino or even in the gift shop, then then greater the chance of you being sent an upgrade offer because in theory you should spend at least that much or the same this time around.

 

I can see from their perspective that at least your chances are better you will spend vs someone's cruise history that shows little to no spending at all.

 

What do you think?

We spend very little on board.  We never pay for specialty restaurants - just use our free Platinum Plus meals.   No gambling, no excursions.  We do take the drink package as a perk.  We have been invited to bid on every cruise except one and that one was booked with a TA who does not participate.  I have bid twice - both in the poor range - and got the upgrade both times - from inside to balcony.  Sailing on Breakaway tomorrow in our newly upgraded balcony 😁.

[JamieLogical]

10 minutes ago, Katie H said:

We spend very little on board.  We never pay for specialty restaurants - just use our free Platinum Plus meals.   No gambling, no excursions.  We do take the drink package as a perk.  We have been invited to bid on every cruise except one and that one was booked with a TA who does not participate.  I have bid twice - both in the poor range - and got the upgrade both times - from inside to balcony.  Sailing on Breakaway tomorrow in our newly upgraded balcony 😁.

 

I have been on three sailings with NCL (the first being this past February) and I'm currently within the 90 window on my upcoming sailing on the Bliss this coming February. For all four of those sailings, I have received offers to bid. I didn't bid on anything the first sailing. The second sailing we won an upgrade from an inside to a balcony. The last time we only put in a couple of poor bids on Havens and didn't win. For my upcoming sailing on the Bliss, we have bids in for a spa balcony, spa mini-suite, and a couple of Havens, but I am not optimistic as the sailing is nearly sold out.

[Jcdcruise]

28 minutes ago, Katie H said:

We spend very little on board.  We never pay for specialty restaurants - just use our free Platinum Plus meals.   No gambling, no excursions.  We do take the drink package as a perk.  We have been invited to bid on every cruise except one and that one was booked with a TA who does not participate.  I have bid twice - both in the poor range - and got the upgrade both times - from inside to balcony.  Sailing on Breakaway tomorrow in our newly upgraded balcony 😁.

How much did you spend on your upgrade if you don't mind me asking we are planning on doing the same and we are 89 day out. Also, if you do not want to tell me could you tell me what the minimum was?

[richstowe]

On 12/4/2018 at 1:56 PM, Cwipes said:

So my new hypothesis on upgrades:

 

NCL takes in to account all your previous cruise history's spending habits while on board.

 

The more that you spent on such things as excursions, dining, at the casino or even in the gift shop, then then greater the chance of you being sent an upgrade offer because in theory you should spend at least that much or the same this time around.

 

I can see from their perspective that at least your chances are better you will spend vs someone's cruise history that shows little to no spending at all.

 

What do you think?

Norwegian hopes people believe your hypothesis . They love your hypothesis and must dream that people will convince themselves that if only they spend more, bid more, book more often , then they will get the dream opportunity to bid against themselves for unsold inventory . 

Good luck .

[Katrina23]

How do I check status now that my banner has disappeared?

 

[Phaedrus78]

24 minutes ago, Katrina23 said:

How do I check status now that my banner has disappeared?

 

 

There should be a link in the email you received to confirm your bids.  You might also check your messages in myNCL, though if your banner is gone it's possible the message would be gone too.

[NRWPA]

Today, at 1:16 p.m. EST, I received my "Unable to Confirm Your Upgrade Request" emails for a bid of $50 pp each for Balcony and Mini-Suite on the December 7 sailing of Jade. I originally was booked inside, paid $150 pp to upgrade to Oceanview category OB. I had real hope of getting  either bid since the sailing has been pretty much sold out for a few weeks. This morning, the "Let's get you upgraded" banner was still appearing on My NCL, so I don't think the banner or lack of has much to do with whether they are actually awarding bids. I saw only one post from someone on this cruise that was upgraded however, that was weeks ago.

[texastennis]

Thanks to all of you who responded to my question about my banner disappearing and how to adjust my bid without seeing it.  All of you were correct: I found my email and was able to adjust my bid there, and the banner miraculously showed up today.  So, the anticipation continues!

[NRWPA]

1 hour ago, NRWPA said:

 I had real hope of getting  either bid since the sailing has been pretty much sold out for a few weeks.

That's "I had NO real hope". LOL!

 

[spacewoman]

I was offered from Spa suite up on my Dec 15 sailing on Epic. I bid on all starting at $250 for the Spa suite. Got the Spa suite

[Katie H]

5 hours ago, Jcdcruise said:

How much did you spend on your upgrade if you don't mind me asking we are planning on doing the same and we are 89 day out. Also, if you do not want to tell me could you tell me what the minimum was?

I bid $75 per person for a 10 day cruise.

[Katrina23]

Dec 16 - Breakaway

 

My SIL bid $200 on a Spa Balcony.  Yesterday it said expired.  Today it says processing.

[JamieLogical]

1 hour ago, Katrina23 said:

Dec 16 - Breakaway

 

My SIL bid $200 on a Spa Balcony.  Yesterday it said expired.  Today it says processing.

 

That's a new one!

[Katrina23]

12-16 breakaway 

 

All started with an inside cabin

 

SIL got a spa balcony $200

we got a spa balcony $160

kids (3 in the room) got a balcony $90

 

[AllAmericanAmy]

On ‎12‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 6:03 PM, DukeBlueRN said:

I was notified today that my bid was accepted.

Sailing on the Getaway from Miami this Sunday, December 9. We were upgraded from an inside cabin to a balcony.

Just  yesterday(12-2) I increased my bid for a balcony from $55 to $65.  It was definitely in the "poor" range. I also bid on an Ocean View at $45. 

There was an option to bid on a Spa Balcony, but I didn't even place a bid there.

We are thrilled with what we got!

congrats!!!  have fun

[AllAmericanAmy]

3 hours ago, Katrina23 said:

12-16 breakaway 

 

All started with an inside cabin

 

SIL got a spa balcony $200

we got a spa balcony $160

kids (3 in the room) got a balcony $90

 

thanks for posting!  Such encouragement!  I'm booked inside sail away cabin on 1/6 Breakaway and am hoping for good luck... I just counted over 200 balcony cabins avail still with 330 total cabins open (I realize that nobody knows how many are allocated for "gty / sail aways"). 

 

[AllAmericanAmy]

Ya know, this upgrading stuff reminds me of an oldie but goodie by Carly Simon....

 

Anticipation.  Anticipation it's making me wait.

 

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/carly-simon/anticipation