Upgrade Offers, Worth It...?

[NavyCruiser]

Excited & ready to board the Rotterdam next week to the Norwegian fjords.

Thanks to helpful posts on here, we called HAL upsell dept few weeks ago & upgraded our inside cabin to Balcony/Veranda cabin for $249 pp ($498 total), so we're super happy about it.

Today, just received email from our TA with this offer:

Congratulations, you have been selected for this special upgrade offer!

PREFERRED LIMITED UPGRADE SPECIAL!!

 

 

Upgrade for select bookings from your Verandah Stateroom (Category VQ to VF) to the following best available:

 

 

Neptune Suite (Category SQ to SC) for an additional $749pp/1498total USD

 Signature Suite (Category SS to SY) for an additional $599pp/$1198total USD

Vista Suite (Category AS to BC) for an additional $149pp/$298 total USD

 

So was wondering about your opinions if upgrading to any of these suites, esp to Vista suite for just $149 pp is worth it...?

Thanks,

[DaveOKC]

IMO, these prices are a bit high for an upsell, especially if you have a well located verandah now.  If you were going from an obstructed view verandah to a Vista (and can pick your cabin), I would go for that, but otherwise the deal is a toss up to me (the Vista is not much larger than your Verandah).

So, we need more details on your cabin now to be able to better advise you.

[crystalspin]

@NavyCruiser Here is another factoid: you will not get the extra Mariner Point per day for a suite obtained via Upgrade.

 

I think you did well to move to a Verandah for your itinerary! I would spend the additional upsell money on shore excursions myself.

[strykes]

I just received the same offer.  We are currently in 7125, a verandah.  I don't think the Vista Suite would get us much different, correct?  Do any of these come with extra perks?  

 

ETA: I just found the comparison chart on the website.  It seems like there are minimal perks.  The main reason to upgrade would be for more space.

 

Edited September 6, 2022 by strykes

[DaveOKC]

Just now, strykes said:

I just received the same offer.  We are currently in 7125, a verandah.  I don't think the Vista Suite would get us much different, correct?  Do any of these come with extra perks?  

ONly extra perks if you move all the way to a Neptune.  Then you get CLub Orange, VIP boarding, free laundry, access to the Neptune Lounge and a few others.

[kangforpres]

How long is the cruise? The Vista and up all get double suite mariner credit if you are getting close to earning another star.

[crystalspin]

8 minutes ago, kangforpres said:

How long is the cruise? The Vista and up all get double suite mariner credit if you are getting close to earning another star.

As I said above, "you will not get the extra Mariner Point per day for a suite obtained via Upgrade." I know this from personal experience as well as reading it here repeatedly.

[xjust4fun]

11 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

As I said above, "you will not get the extra Mariner Point per day for a suite obtained via Upgrade." I know this from personal experience as well as reading it here repeatedly.

You are correct…

[richstowe]

How much is your air to Rotterdam ? How much is your entire vacation cost ?

$149 - Absolutely !

[ChinaShrek]

I was in a Vista Suite on the Rotterdam last month. I liked my cabin but I didn't think it was that much bigger than the Verandah. In fact, I'm not sure how they get away calling it a suite.

[HAL4NOW]

In addition to no extra perks, no Mariner Suite Points, you would have an additional cost for gratuities/staff appreciation/tips. That extra cost is only $2.50pp/per day, but something else to consider. I haven't noticed a big difference between a Vista Suite and a Verandah. If you like your location, no need to upgrade again.

[NavyCruiser]

Thanks for all the great replies above.

The initial price difference for the 7 night cruise was $740 ppfor the inside vs balcony, so we picked inside, with option for upgrade offers later.  So with advise from people on here, we called HAL upsell dept & got upgraded to mid-ship Deck 6 balcony for $249 pp.  We thought great deal.

But thanks to the suggs above, think we'll save $300 & stay in our current balcony, & not upgrade to Vista suite, since it doesn't seem to add much value/perks, besides a little more space, which we don't need.

However, waiting for our TA to call us back to see if we can get a better deal on the Neptune suite....😁

 

[kdakda]

If I'm reading the "offer" correctly, the Neptune Suite is SQ/SC.   Check out where those are  --- looks like the forward most cabins on decks 10 and 11.   (I could be wrong about this --- not always good at reading the deck charts).  I love a Neptune Suite, but not sure I'd take those locations at that price.  

[Florida_gal_50]

2 hours ago, crystalspin said:

As I said above, "you will not get the extra Mariner Point per day for a suite obtained via Upgrade." I know this from personal experience as well as reading it here repeatedly.

That’s absolutely correct.  I don’t know why people keep repeating this incorrect information.

 

Op, the vista suite is not worth it.  It’s barely bigger than a balcony.

[Florida_gal_50]

2 minutes ago, kdakda said:

If I'm reading the "offer" correctly, the Neptune Suite is SQ/SC.   Check out where those are  --- looks like the forward most cabins on decks 10 and 11.   (I could be wrong about this --- not always good at reading the deck charts).  I love a Neptune Suite, but not sure I'd take those locations at that price.  

Good point.  I totally glossed over that.

[KAKcruiser]

I think you could choose any available Neptune Suite between SQ which is the highest rate and SC which is the lowest.  I would first choose an SA and second choice would be an SB.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

If you like it buy it. 

[VMax1700]

I am currently on deck 6 verandah.  The main difference is that the desk, sofa and bed are in a different position to the Vistas.  Vista has the bed closer to the window and further from the bathroom, whereas Verandahs have it the other way, i.e. sofa next to window and then bed closer to bathroom.  They also have different carpet patterns!  Verandah's have zigzags and Vistas have squares. 🤣

If you have any other question just ask and I will see if I can answer. Internet is a bit patchy today.

[MISTER 67]

I think their upsells are an insult and a joke, one time I was offered an upsell and it cost more than the brochure rate.

Maybe HAL should give their best customers a free upgrade once in awhile like the old days.

[DaveOKC]

8 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

I think you could choose any available Neptune Suite between SQ which is the highest rate and SC which is the lowest.  I would first choose an SA and second choice would be an SB.

This is correct.  You get to choose any Neptune, whose categories range from SC to SQ it means.  If you decide to do this, research which cabins are still open before you call, so you know what to ask for.

[Mary229]

I use Dave’s formula of 1/3 of the difference in cost.  So if the inside and the veranda were initially $1000 difference I would pay only $333. (Hoping my math is correct early in the morning).  And I always ask which cabin. 
 

I always screenshot the cabin costs the day I buy 

Edited September 7, 2022 by Mary229

[Tampa Girl]

16 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

IMO, these prices are a bit high for an upsell, especially if you have a well located verandah now.  If you were going from an obstructed view verandah to a Vista (and can pick your cabin), I would go for that, but otherwise the deal is a toss up to me (the Vista is not much larger than your Verandah).

So, we need more details on your cabin now to be able to better advise you.

 

His initial upgrade, however, was from an inside cabin to a verandah.  The notice appears to advertise an upgrade that he had already been sold.  If it is an upgrade from one verandah to another, I also would question whether it would be worth it.  

[kangforpres]

well back in the good old days I always got double suite credits for an upgrade, but I haven't taken in upgrade offers since pre-covid days.

 

Half the time I now sail solo since I'm retired and the wife still works. I'm happy with a free OV casino offer no matter where it's going.

[janmcn]

On the Pinnacle Class ships we “downgrade “ ourselves to a Verandah and NOT a Vista Suite which we would usually book on the older ships. Why? Because the Vista Suites on the new ships have the bed next to the Verandah door whereas on the Verandah cabins the couch and desk are there which we prefer. If traveling with a third person, the Vista Suites will provide a bit more privacy since there’s sort of a demarcation between the couch area and bed area. All too closed up for us.

[FlaMariner]

We did an upgrade once from verandah to vista.....It was so not worth it to us...never again.......not what I would call a suite and hardly noticed the extra room.....I think Neptune is the only real suite worth going for....and that price is above our pay grade. 

 

We have yet to find a cabin we do not like on HAL though....and we have come to realize that they all go to the same place and arrive at the ports at the same time.