Hypothetical Question: Free Upgrades Still Possible?

[vicpylon]

This is purely a hypothetical question that popped into my head after I received (and declined) the opportunity to bid on a larger suite on an upcoming cruise. NCL still has an incentive to make room in "cheaper" staterooms to sell more popular inventory over the more expensive and less popular "luxury" suites. Assuming no one pays for the upgrade from, for example, a standard suite into the Haven, does NCL ever upgrade for free? Or have free upgrades become extinct in the age of Upgrade Advantage? Just curious.

 

Vic

[julig22]

Free upgrades aren't extinct.  I did it a few months ago when prices for an upgrade fell below what I'd paid.  But I was going from balcony to mini-suite, so no adjustments in cabin perks. 

 

From reading all the posts about bids, I highly doubt that there wouldn't be any takers on Upgrade Advantage into Haven for example, so even a low bid would be better than a free upgrade.  But you can always call and ask.  Sometimes you can get an upgrade cheaper than putting in a bid - and you get the answer immediately.

[complawyer]

as they say,anything is possible, however free upgrades are highly unlikely. besides, ncl has a weird definition of upgrade. as far as they are concerned a upgrade can be the same type of cabin but in a different location. there is probably noway anyone will get a "free upgrade" from say a mini suite to the haven

[esm54687]

On 1/25/2020 at 10:50 PM, julig22 said:

Free upgrades aren't extinct.  I did it a few months ago when prices for an upgrade fell below what I'd paid.  But I was going from balcony to mini-suite, so no adjustments in cabin perks. 

 

From reading all the posts about bids, I highly doubt that there wouldn't be any takers on Upgrade Advantage into Haven for example, so even a low bid would be better than a free upgrade.  But you can always call and ask.  Sometimes you can get an upgrade cheaper than putting in a bid - and you get the answer immediately.

This wouldn't be considered a free upgrade..... you were lucky enough to see a price drop and call to have the adjustment (could've also been some sort of OBC instead of the stateroom change). If the call wasn't made, the adjustment wouldn't have been done.

 

A free upgrade would be considered going from a balcony to a mini suite when the mini suite still cost more than the balcony.