Price drop after final payment, what's your experience?

[Shellbelle28]

Those bid "ranges" are pretty arbitrary. Allegedly they are based on past bidding, but every sailing is so unique, that I really think they don't matter at all. They aren't in any relation to what others have bid on your CURRENT sailing, and that's what really matters. Also, when processing bids, NCL doesn't give a flip about what you've already paid for your stateroom. They already have that money. They are going to accept bids that net them the most *additional* money.

I just need to quit thinking about that Deluxe Owner's Suite hot tub.[emoji38]

 

The Aft Penthouse Suite we've booked is really nice and the location is perfect for Glacier Bay on our Alaskan itinerary.

[YVRBassElectric]

thanks for asking the question, just had OBC added to my Feb cruise, wouldn't have noticed perk changes without this thread

[cruisegal40]

We always head for the second level. I would not be able to stand being so close to others like that. I like a little room. Even between the hubs and I. :rolleyes:

[bbryan5]

I have also gotten OBC after a price drop. I don't know if its an official policy tho..

[CarmenBizet]

I'm sailing  Sep 2019 and made a full payment May 2019 ($6674 total for 4 in a Family Suite Category MB).  Curious, I went back to ncl today to see what the going rate was for the same cruise.  My Family suite dropped a total of $100 and the Full Suite (Category SJ) was $500 less. I asked for 1 of 2 options, 1-upgrade me to the full suite and apply the $500 difference to a future cruise or 2-upgrade to SJ suite and add 1 more person for a total of $6679 (which was the going rate today).  They declined both.

At first I requested the $100 but they offered only 25%, so I went for the upgrade to the Full Suite SJ for just the 4 passengers at no additional fees and the $500 evaporated.  

[kjquilts]

2 hours ago, CarmenBizet said:

I'm sailing  Sep 2019 and made a full payment May 2019 ($6674 total for 4 in a Family Suite Category MB).  Curious, I went back to ncl today to see what the going rate was for the same cruise.  My Family suite dropped a total of $100 and the Full Suite (Category SJ) was $500 less. I asked for 1 of 2 options, 1-upgrade me to the full suite and apply the $500 difference to a future cruise or 2-upgrade to SJ suite and add 1 more person for a total of $6679 (which was the going rate today).  They declined both.

At first I requested the $100 but they offered only 25%, so I went for the upgrade to the Full Suite SJ for just the 4 passengers at no additional fees and the $500 evaporated.  

 

Huge difference in MB Mini-Suite and SJ Suite ..... if you were able to upgrade with $ -0- cost you did very well!

Not sure if you are on the Star or the Dawn.   The SJ's on the Star do not have balconies but do have a wall of windows.  There are four SG suites that do have balconies.  I believe on the Dawn there are SJ's with balconies.  We've stayed in SJ and SG on the Star with four adults and loved both of them.  Location is great, bathroom is wonderful, dining table and chairs for 4, so much more comfortable for 4 than a mini-suite.    The suite breakfast at Moderno/Cagneys is one of our favorite suite perks.  Great way to start the day.  Check out youtube .... here is one from Star with no balcony.  Watching video reminded me that we always take stretchy bands to corral the curtains so they block less view. 

 

 

 

Edited June 27, 2019 by kjquilts

[Shoppie124]

On 7/4/2018 at 10:16 PM, LAFFNVEGAS said:

It makes no difference if you booked through NCL direct or with a TA you will still be offered the 25% as a one time courtesy.

do you contact your TA or NCL?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

3 minutes ago, Shoppie124 said:

do you contact your TA or NCL?

If you booked direct with NCL you contact them and if you booked with a TA you contact them, NCL will not talk to you about your reservation if you booked with a TA.

 

[nwcruiselover]

I was recently booked solo in a sailaway balcony on the Getaway.  After final payment the price of a sailaway balcony went down to $500 less than I paid.  I called NCL and was offered a complimentary upgrade to a mini suite.  They did mention that there would be no further consideration if the price went down more.  I was booked directly with NCL on-line.  

[R'man]

I just received a $75 OBC on a price drop after I called.  Our reservation was made online.  It took a supervisor over 20 minutes to come to the NCL reservation center phone to make me an offer that I could not refuse.  (Guess they don't trust their front line agents.)  After a short conversation I was told bluntly by Rosanne to take the $75 or take nothing - and I won't have a second chance to ask.  Take it or leave it, she confirmed. 

 

Upgrade?  I suspect they are virtually always "sold out".  There were none available in my case.

 

We've done three NCL cruises, and this will be my last - only taken because of the itinerary and my sister-in-law's preference, which is softening.  Previous NCL cruises have been just okay, and I just don't like their business practices.

[robin13]

16 hours ago, nwcruiselover said:

I was recently booked solo in a sailaway balcony on the Getaway.  After final payment the price of a sailaway balcony went down to $500 less than I paid.  I called NCL and was offered a complimentary upgrade to a mini suite.  They did mention that there would be no further consideration if the price went down more.  I was booked directly with NCL on-line.  

Same thing happened to me on The Epic for my 15 day TA.  I noticed that the mini suite was cheaper than what I paid for my balcony so they upgraded me for free to a gty mini suite.  I didn't like the idea of them assigning the cabin to me but I knew that the mini suites were in good locations on the ship.  Turns out that it was a fantastic location and it was a great cabin.

[Swsimpson1]

Need guidance on what to do, please

 

Norwegian 

- paid $2,999 USD per person for balcony room

- same room, now, is $2,045 per person

(We are 92 days out from the cruise)

- that is $954 per person or $1,908 less!

Options from Norwegian:

1. wait and watch and if it goes even lower there is more negotiating room

2 talk to the super user now (hold time is over an hour) and begin the negotiation but once it is final it is final

3. cancel through insurance if there is something that meets the. An ellation criteria (but we have already bought plane tickets and hotel rooms) and how do you re-book after cancelling through insurance? I don't think you can.

- Guidance? $1,908 is substantial and while I guess it could go even lower, I have never heard of anyone over-paying by this much. Help?

 

[MaryZ]

2 hours ago, Swsimpson1 said:

Need guidance on what to do, please

 

Norwegian 

- paid $2,999 USD per person for balcony room

- same room, now, is $2,045 per person

(We are 92 days out from the cruise)

- that is $954 per person or $1,908 less!

Options from Norwegian:

1. wait and watch and if it goes even lower there is more negotiating room

2 talk to the super user now (hold time is over an hour) and begin the negotiation but once it is final it is final

3. cancel through insurance if there is something that meets the. An ellation criteria (but we have already bought plane tickets and hotel rooms) and how do you re-book after cancelling through insurance? I don't think you can.

- Guidance? $1,908 is substantial and while I guess it could go even lower, I have never heard of anyone over-paying by this much. Help?

 

Wow, sorry this happened to you. 
We  often cancel cruises right before final payment if the ship isn't booking well and we haven't booked thru the casino  (that is basically a highly discounted 'free' rate)

You know there will be a huge price drop then.

In your case, what can you upgrade to?  I don't know what cruise is it, so other than upgrading there isn't much you can do. They don't refund after final payment.  I've heard of people getting a small amount of onboard credit but honestly, I'd try and get into a suite before I'd settle for that.
 

[Swsimpson1]

Based on current pricing:

- the Family Suite is $2,399 and the

- Penthouse with Large Balcony is $2,999

- have not talked to the supervisor yet to go for the upgrade or credits b/c we decided to go w/ option 1 and wait to see if price drops even more

- - it is hard to sit and wait when you imagine overpaying by almost two grand

 

There are two of us, we are travel buddies and not a couple  so we would want two seperate beds. Not sure if Family Suite or Penthouse beds can be split...or if this will even be an option given to us.

[MaryZ]

You always have the option to upgrade.  If the price of the cabin is equal to what you paid or you just pay more
the Penthouse has a king bed.  I'm not really sure about the family suite? 

[R'man]

On 8/11/2019 at 12:16 AM, Swsimpson1 said:

Based on current pricing:

- the Family Suite is $2,399 and the

- Penthouse with Large Balcony is $2,999

- have not talked to the supervisor yet to go for the upgrade or credits b/c we decided to go w/ option 1 and wait to see if price drops even more

- - it is hard to sit and wait when you imagine overpaying by almost two grand

 

 

 

I love this...NCL takes your money, plays with the prices, and then stiffs the over-charged customers without even a thank you.  So, it's 'round and 'round it goes, and no matter where it stops they keep your overpaid money.  Get a fraction back; or take an upgrade for a few bucks more.  Hello, suckers! 

 

I'm certain this next one is my last visit to the NCL Anytime Casino.

[luvcruzing]

On 8/11/2019 at 12:16 AM, Swsimpson1 said:

 

There are two of us, we are travel buddies and not a couple  so we would want two seperate beds. Not sure if Family Suite or Penthouse beds can be split...or if this will even be an option given to us.

I cruise with a travel buddy, too. A couple of cruises ago, we upgraded to a Haven suite that had a king bed that couldn’t be separated. We both agreed that we had much more space between us than we do when we have a cabin with twin beds.

[smplybcause]

Just be careful. With a huge price drop like that, there's a decent chance those rooms will get picked up and the prices will go back up. When I booked a cruise the rooms had all dropped several hundred in each category. I booked what I felt comfortable in, but was hoping for another price drop to upgrade to a balcony. A couple days later they must have been selling well because all of a sudden the categories jumped back up to the higher prices and never lowered again. 

 

If you wait you could miss out on that Penthouse. 

[Swsimpson1]

7 hours ago, smplybcause said:

Just be careful. With a huge price drop like that, there's a decent chance those rooms will get picked up and the prices will go back up. When I booked a cruise the rooms had all dropped several hundred in each category. I booked what I felt comfortable in, but was hoping for another price drop to upgrade to a balcony. A couple days later they must have been selling well because all of a sudden the categories jumped back up to the higher prices and never lowered again. 

 

If you wait you could miss out on that Penthouse. 

I called this evening and we did the upgrade. The upgrade is a forward-facing center penthouse! We are pretty happy about it. The room and the balcony are double the size of the mid-ship balcony room we had. I still cannot believe I am really going on this vacation of a lifetime, and now we will be staying in a penthouse?? No way! Is this real???

[mafig]

Is final on NCL 90 days or 120?  Suites the same?

[Swsimpson1]

120 days is final payment for all room types. But if the cruise does not sell out by final payment date, and the rooms go on sale - that is what sparked my original dilemma.