Any couples bid up to Garden Villa from Haven?

[brookie848]

Last year on the Dawn we were in a Family Suite with Balcony (SD) and the minimum bid for the Garden Villa was $1,500/person. This was for a 7-day cruise.

Edited October 21, 2018 by brookie848

[AlaskaAtLast]

3 minutes ago, brookie848 said:

Last year on the Dawn we were in a Family Suite with Balcony (SD) and the minimum bid for the Garden Villa was $1,500/person. This was for a 7-day cruise.

How was the family suite with balcony on the Dawn? We'll be in one in December. Also, I've gotten 2 emails about bidding for an upgrade but it looks like the higher suite categories are sold out. Does that make any sense?

 

[brookie848]

28 minutes ago, AlaskaAtLast said:

How was the family suite with balcony on the Dawn? We'll be in one in December. Also, I've gotten 2 emails about bidding for an upgrade but it looks like the higher suite categories are sold out. Does that make any sense?

 

How many people are in your party? For two of us, we thought the Family Suite was awesome. The only things we didn't like was the step up into the bathroom and for me, the lack of storage in the bathroom. For two people, we would definitely consider this cabin again. There is a divider that goes around the bed, so there is some privacy.

 

It is common for you to get opportunities to bid on categories that are sold out. They might upgrade one of those people into the Garden Villa and there might be last-minute cancellations. The upgrades are often not awarded until a few days before sailing, so anything can happen.

 

Our friend is sailing with us on our upcoming cruise and we decided to book one of the DOS with two bedrooms. It is less expensive than a 2-bedroom suite, plus the added perks of free soda/water and the three bottles of alcohol. We aren't concerned about not having a balcony. We are on a port-intensive itinerary and we barely used our balcony last year on a similar itinerary (Southern Caribbean).

Edited October 21, 2018 by brookie848

[AlaskaAtLast]

8 minutes ago, brookie848 said:

How many people are in your party? For two of us, we thought the Family Suite was awesome. The only things we didn't like was the step up into the bathroom and for me, the lack of storage in the bathroom. For two people, we would definitely consider this cabin again. There is a divider that goes around the bed, so there is some privacy.

 

It is common for you to get opportunities to bid on categories that are sold out. They might upgrade one of those people into the Garden Villa and there might be last-minute cancellations. The upgrades are often not awarded until a few days before sailing, so anything can happen.

 

This year, our friend is sailing with us and we decided to book one of the DOS with two bedrooms. It is less expensive than a 2-bedroom suite, plus the added perks of free soda/water and the three bottles of alcohol. We aren't concerned about not having a balcony. We are on a port-intensive itinerary and we barely used our balcony last year on a similar itinerary (Southern Caribbean).

There are 4 of us - me, hubs, and 2 teens. We got the family suite so the teens wouldn't have to share a bed. I love having a balcony to just watch the sea go by at night. It relaxes me.

[amygutman]

1 hour ago, boopsahoy said:

Amygutman do you mind if I ask how much your gv min bid is ?  Boopsahoy how long a cruise for $1500 each? I’m a 14 day ta next April.  

 

I just checked - the minimum bid for the GV is now $1200 - could of sworn it was $1000 when 1st offered, but I may be wrong. We are on an 11 day Caribbean on the Gem Nov 15th if that helps. 

 

We book our cruises a year out and usually get great deals - I understand from the other upgrade threads that a private company looks at the price you paid for your current cabin + your bid on the upgrade and whomever has the highest bid wins. So you may actually have a lower upgrade bid + higher cab price (or vice versa) and win the upgrade. 

 

It was fun to dream about...but as I said above, just as I was girding my loins to put a nice bid in because boopsahoy gave me hope , the GV is now showing sold out for our sailing...am super happy with our H4 (love, love this cabin arrangement) so I will just have to take the $2.5K and put it on our next cruise!

 

Amy

 

[erdoran]

While I'm dreaming of surprising hubby with a GV bid, I'm wondering....GV gives you free limo transportation to/from airport, right?  Does anyone know the distance range?  So if a miracle happened and we won, we'd get free limo from Civatevecchia to Rome airport going home?  Anyone know the distance their limo picks up from?  We're about 100 miles from NYC port, where we are sailing out of, I wonder if that might be possible....sigh....dream on......

[maja651]

4 hours ago, erdoran said:

While I'm dreaming of surprising hubby with a GV bid, I'm wondering....GV gives you free limo transportation to/from airport, right?  Does anyone know the distance range?  So if a miracle happened and we won, we'd get free limo from Civatevecchia to Rome airport going home?  Anyone know the distance their limo picks up from?  We're about 100 miles from NYC port, where we are sailing out of, I wonder if that might be possible....sigh....dream on......

You get transportation to the airport after the cruise, but not from the airport to the cruise.

[Clay Clayton]

On 10/20/2018 at 7:17 PM, amygutman said:

😇😇

Again - many thanks. 

 

And back to the original GV topic - hubby wanted to know (i'm curious as well) - if you were to upgrade and win the GV, can you add people to the reservation (assuming it's not 2 days prior to the cruise), and what do you think their cost would be? 

 

I'm sure it's happened in the past - certainly would be cool if you had friends / family travelling on the same cruise that you could "pull in" your friends into the unoccupied 2 bedrooms. I'm sure there would be sort of fee but still, i'm sure it's much less than booking outright. 

 

Amy

I can't figure out why Norwegian doesn't have a system for allowing two or three cabins to combine their bid. We are traveling with two other couples on our upcoming TA and would love to buy our way (at a savings of course😜) in either of the two GVs currently still available.  That would free up 3 staterooms that they could then resell.  Alas, there doesn't seem to be a way to do this. 

[havenfan]

 

On 10/20/2018 at 7:51 PM, boopsahoy said:

On 10/20/2018 at 7:17 PM, amygutman said:

😇😇

Again - many thanks. 

 

And back to the original GV topic - hubby wanted to know (i'm curious as well) - if you were to upgrade and win the GV, can you add people to the reservation (assuming it's not 2 days prior to the cruise), and what do you think their cost would be? 

 

I'm sure it's happened in the past - certainly would be cool if you had friends / family travelling on the same cruise that you could "pull in" your friends into the unoccupied 2 bedrooms. I'm sure there would be sort of fee but still, i'm sure it's much less than booking outright. 

 

Amy

No you cant add people only the people in the room that's being traded in get the new room. 

 

This certainly used to be possible.  If you had enough time to get organized after you got the upgrade notification and if lifeboat assignments permitted, you could have passengers added to the upgraded cabin.  For the appropriate 3rd/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th person fee, of course.

[havenfan]

On 10/23/2018 at 11:19 AM, Clay Clayton said:

I can't figure out why Norwegian doesn't have a system for allowing two or three cabins to combine their bid. We are traveling with two other couples on our upcoming TA and would love to buy our way (at a savings of course😜) in either of the two GVs currently still available.  That would free up 3 staterooms that they could then resell.  Alas, there doesn't seem to be a way to do this. 

 

In the days before the new upgrade bidding system, the upsell fairy once allowed us to combine two cabins into a GV upsell.  Then, after NCL started the rollout of the new upgrade system but before they retired the upsell fairy on all ships, the fairy did not allow us to combine two suites into a GV upsell.  We weren't able to find anyone else who wanted to go on that cruise at such short notice so the concierge gave my parents keys to the GV and the ship sailed with an empty suite.  So I suspect it has something to do with the new upgrade system.

[Clay Clayton]

Yeah I suspect so too, but seems to me they are missing an opportunity to free up two or three lower priced staterooms for re-sell.  

 

I will keep clanging my bell in bell in hopes that someday someone at the home office will hear it 😂

[amygutman]

5 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

Yeah I suspect so too, but seems to me they are missing an opportunity to free up two or three lower priced staterooms for re-sell.  

 

I will keep clanging my bell in bell in hopes that someday someone at the home office will hear it 😂

Bell Clanging! Love it!

 

I agree - seems like a fine opportunity for NCl to "free-up" and potentially "sell-up" two additional cabins if 3 couples went to one garden villa. 

 

Needless to say...since I love in NY and the lucky powerball winner lives in SC - the GV is not going to be occupied by the family and I on this particular trip. 

 

BTW...if anyone on this threat did get the GV upgrade on the Nov 15th NCl Gem 11 day Caribbean - would you mind giving a quick tour to your H4 neighbors? Pretty please? Just so I can drool a but (but I'll clean up after myself - promise). \

 

I figure I would ask here as this upgrade group seems to be "in the know" ... Amy

[boopsahoy]

4 hours ago, amygutman said:

Bell Clanging! Love it!

 

I agree - seems like a fine opportunity for NCl to "free-up" and potentially "sell-up" two additional cabins if 3 couples went to one garden villa. 

 

Needless to say...since I love in NY and the lucky powerball winner lives in SC - the GV is not going to be occupied by the family and I on this particular trip. 

 

BTW...if anyone on this threat did get the GV upgrade on the Nov 15th NCl Gem 11 day Caribbean - would you mind giving a quick tour to your H4 neighbors? Pretty please? Just so I can drool a but (but I'll clean up after myself - promise). \

 

I figure I would ask here as this upgrade group seems to be "in the know" ... Amy

Well my bid still says pending so I can still dream for a few more days, so does my bid on the OS...

[amygutman]

13 minutes ago, boopsahoy said:

Well my bid still says pending so I can still dream for a few more days, so does my bid on the OS...

Boopsahoy...I'm rooting for you!

 

Since it looks like we will be on the same sailing, I would love to invite you and family to join us for a drink or meal at some point during the cruise. Sounds like you have a ton of awesome experiences cruising, and we am always up for a great cruise story!

 

BTW...Hubby Mike, who originally flipped out when I told him what the lowest upgrade bid was, now is semi-pouting when I told him the GV was no longer available.  Reminded him gently that if he really wants to lose money, he can unleash me in the casino!!!

 

Amy

[boopsahoy]

45 minutes ago, amygutman said:

Boopsahoy...I'm rooting for you!

 

Since it looks like we will be on the same sailing, I would love to invite you and family to join us for a drink or meal at some point during the cruise. Sounds like you have a ton of awesome experiences cruising, and we am always up for a great cruise story!

 

BTW...Hubby Mike, who originally flipped out when I told him what the lowest upgrade bid was, now is semi-pouting when I told him the GV was no longer available.  Reminded him gently that if he really wants to lose money, he can unleash me in the casino!!!

 

Amy

Sounds great Amy! Its just my husband and I and we both love the casino-we also love the Gem-We have gone at least once a year since Gem was first docked in NY. Will you be joining the LRC games on sea days?

 

Barb

[amygutman]

17 hours ago, boopsahoy said:

Sounds great Amy! Its just my husband and I and we both love the casino-we also love the Gem-We have gone at least once a year since Gem was first docked in NY. Will you be joining the LRC games on sea days?

 

Barb

Slots gal only...No games for us. I think doing math while drinking alcohol is tempting the gods of financial disaster. 

 

This is our 3rd Gem trip...it was our first suite (an aft upgrade back in the days when they called you and you had like a minute to make your decision) and our 1st H4 last Thanksgiving. We now have 4 Havens under our belt and love, love spoling ourselves twice a year. We love this boat and the crews have been outstanding. 

 

My email is prehospitalmd@gmail.com - would love to make contact with you in real life! I promise - though we are a mildly weird family (Red Sox and the Big Bang Theory, if that makes sense), we are not intrusive nor stalkers ... just enjoy having a great time at home and on vacation.

 

Amy (Mike and Ronan)

[boopsahoy]

5 hours ago, amygutman said:

Slots gal only...No games for us. I think doing math while drinking alcohol is tempting the gods of financial disaster. 

 

This is our 3rd Gem trip...it was our first suite (an aft upgrade back in the days when they called you and you had like a minute to make your decision) and our 1st H4 last Thanksgiving. We now have 4 Havens under our belt and love, love spoling ourselves twice a year. We love this boat and the crews have been outstanding. 

 

My email is prehospitalmd@gmail.com - would love to make contact with you in real life! I promise - though we are a mildly weird family (Red Sox and the Big Bang Theory, if that makes sense), we are not intrusive nor stalkers ... just enjoy having a great time at home and on vacation.

 

Amy (Mike and Ronan)

Oh no-LRC is a game most fun while drinking-no math just 3 die and 3 bucks a person. Its a fun group game for seadays. We are going to meet at Maltings seadays at 330 if i remember correctly-just about the time my husband likes to nap!

I love slots and video poker. When Caribbean stud was in vogue we would play that but now table cards is too slow for us. And we are METS fans and Boston fans in the post season LOL 

How many in your family? 

[amygutman]

13 hours ago, boopsahoy said:

Oh no-LRC is a game most fun while drinking-no math just 3 die and 3 bucks a person. Its a fun group game for seadays. We are going to meet at Maltings seadays at 330 if i remember correctly-just about the time my husband likes to nap!

I love slots and video poker. When Caribbean stud was in vogue we would play that but now table cards is too slow for us. And we are METS fans and Boston fans in the post season LOL 

How many in your family? 

Hubby (Mike), me, and our 9 yo son Ronan.  I’m always in for learning a fun game. 

 

Now I’m dreaming of thanksgiving night football 🏈 - what could have been in the GV (sigh).  

 

Is it pathetic that even without a bid I still search my email every day for a “hey... you’re such a great customer why don’t you stay in the GV” offer? Considering we are on the Dawn in June, seems like a better chance to be successful in scoring an upgrade then. In any case ... extremely happy with an H4 - the best layout on the ship in my opinion. 

 

Amy 

[boopsahoy]

31 minutes ago, amygutman said:

Hubby (Mike), me, and our 9 yo son Ronan.  I’m always in for learning a fun game. 

 

Now I’m dreaming of thanksgiving night football 🏈 - what could have been in the GV (sigh).  

 

Is it pathetic that even without a bid I still search my email every day for a “hey... you’re such a great customer why don’t you stay in the GV” offer? Considering we are on the Dawn in June, seems like a better chance to be successful in scoring an upgrade then. In any case ... extremely happy with an H4 - the best layout on the ship in my opinion. 

 

Amy 

The H4 is great-for 2 people I love the OS. I keep checking it says pending sigh