Upgrade Bid Pending

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, 3OfDiamonds said:

How does one know what category one’s bid is in (minimum/low/fair/etc.)?  I did not get any indicator when I made my bid.  I pretty much *need* the upgrade due to mobility issues but paying more than I have to would suck 😬

While it is not really relevant (i.e., it is meaningless), you need to be logged on via a laptop. The rating dial is not shown on mobile upgrades. 

 

We won near-minimum bid ("Poor") bids this last year on both NCL and Royal 

Edited January 11, 2023 by BirdTravels

[mertziek]

Just got an email saying the following below so think that means no upgrade for us.  But we were really happy with our original selection so not too disappointed plus it saves us money.

 

“This email is to confirm that we have received your offer(s) to be upgraded on your upcoming cruise. While your offer has not been selected yet, you may still be selected for an upgrade by our onboard team.”

[Cassicruiser]

Excuse my ignorance - I had no idea you could bid for upgrades!  Do you have to wait for an invitation to bid?  Otherwise how/where do you place your bid, and how long before sail date?  Thanks for any info on this 🙂

[BirdTravels]

17 minutes ago, Cassicruiser said:

Excuse my ignorance - I had no idea you could bid for upgrades!  Do you have to wait for an invitation to bid?  Otherwise how/where do you place your bid, and how long before sail date?  Thanks for any info on this 🙂

If eligible, you will get an invitation to bid and there will be an invite on your MyNCL logon screen. 
 

Some big box store travel agents do not participate, and you are ineligible. Also a button on your reservation on the NCL app. 

[BirdTravels]

On 1/12/2023 at 8:35 PM, mertziek said:

Just got an email saying the following below so think that means no upgrade for us.  But we were really happy with our original selection so not too disappointed plus it saves us money.

 

“This email is to confirm that we have received your offer(s) to be upgraded on your upcoming cruise. While your offer has not been selected yet, you may still be selected for an upgrade by our onboard team.”

In the past, that means that your bid was unsuccessful and bidding ends. All successful bids have been awarded. 
 

Now, because of last minute Covid cancellations, they give the ship the option of filling suites that no show,,, if the want. So, there is a very very very very small possibility than one room will open up and you are the highest amongst all others. 
 

Now you don’t get your final reject message until after the ship leaves the port. 

Edited January 14, 2023 by BirdTravels

[Cassicruiser]

Oh great, thanks Birdtravels!

 

We booked through a big agency, so hopefully will still be eligible.  

If we are, would the button on my reservation on the NCL app be there as soon as we book or closer to sail date?

[Nclgetawaymenhoney]

14 minutes ago, Cassicruiser said:

Oh great, thanks Birdtravels!

 

We booked through a big agency, so hopefully will still be eligible.  

If we are, would the button on my reservation on the NCL app be there as soon as we book or closer to sail date?

Approximately 110 days out, is when you will see the banner update or often you get an email but since you booked thru big agency chances are slim most of them don’t participate 

[Cassicruiser]

Damn - if I'd known maybe I would have booked another way.  Ah well here's hoping anyway...

[trbarton]

23 hours ago, Cassicruiser said:

Oh great, thanks Birdtravels!

 

We booked through a big agency, so hopefully will still be eligible.  

If we are, would the button on my reservation on the NCL app be there as soon as we book or closer to sail 

Edited January 15, 2023 by trbarton

[Lionkingrichard]

On 1/13/2023 at 10:55 PM, Nclgetawaymenhoney said:

Approximately 110 days out, is when you will see the banner update or often you get an email but since you booked thru big agency chances are slim most of them don’t participate 

This is the first time I have not seen a banner when logged in, but the offer is in NCL messages.

[mking8288]

Apparently, most balcony and even oceanview upgrades on the Jan 20th Getaway 12 nighters were done weeks ago, some awarded in the (low) fair/borderline poor range from OV & IS.  Some are looking for last minute onboard upgrade - unlikely & slim chance since it's sold out except for maybe 10 to 15 Insides.  NCL managed to kickoff its new scheme, "live bidding" for a single Haven Penthouse CY, went from $1,000 to $1,600 to over (in excess of) $2,600+ p/p times 2, with 80 bidders reported, gradually many dropped out of the lead - no idea who got the winning bid and the amount.  That's just crazy on top of whatever the winner paid to secure their original cabin, even if it was a bargain Sailaway Oceanview.  

 

Saw 3 balconies and 1 oceanview opened up briefly at high prices (several days ago), before disappearing again within a day - no idea if those went to live bidding - and how much the winners paid (offered at about $3,400 for 2 with all the FAS included as new booking)

 

Frankie & Harry laughing and toasting themselves with those ACH deposits, pumping up the numbers for Q4 to butter up Q1 outlook.   Folks, like it or not, the new eBay model is here. (and, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a fixed amount stepping up as the highest bid, i.e. $2,650 to $2,700 and not $2,655 in $5 increment)

Edited January 15, 2023 by mking8288

[HBCcruiser]

8 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

 Folks, like it or not, the new eBay model is here.

They realize how crazy people can get with auction bidding. People get competitive and overpay for items. Booking the best cabin you can afford seems the way to go IMO.

[Travelling2Some]

On 1/9/2023 at 9:24 AM, tsahall01 said:

You are right!  I got pending mixed up with processing!  Blonde Senior Moment (double whammy!) Hope OP gets his upgrade!

 

Just like to say that (1) the "Dumb Blonde" stereotype got started with the roles Marylin Monroe played in the 50's and generally referred to airhead young things with bleached platinum blonde hair.  (2) blonde hair does actually occur naturally (!) and does not have any effect on our intelligence.  Nobody seems to think men with blonde hair are all goofballs.  Not picking on you (sincerely) but it's a pet peeve and I'm apparently having a "Snowflake Senior" moment, lol.

[BirdTravels]

On 1/13/2023 at 10:40 PM, Cassicruiser said:

We booked through a big agency, so hopefully will still be eligible.  

If we are, would the button on my reservation on the NCL app be there as soon as we book or closer to sail date?

If you booked through a warehouse store that sells cheap hotdogs and soda, you are no eligible. 

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

They realize how crazy people can get with auction bidding. People get competitive and overpay for items. Booking the best cabin you can afford seems the way to go IMO.

In 2022 we won two upgrades with minimum bids (poorest of poor). One to a Balcony and one where we got a 2-story loft suite on Royal. 

 

[Travelling2Some]

3 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

They realize how crazy people can get with auction bidding. People get competitive and overpay for items.

I just this morning for the first time ever in all our 20 years of cruising placed an upgrade bid.  We have always been picky about cabin location but this time the bids were starting very low and the deck plans indicated minimal risk.  I had to talk my husband into placing a bid just over the minimum, but now he has morphed in only a few hours into the person you describe!!!  Just hope he can continue to stay out of the casino.

[Travelling2Some]

3 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

They realize how crazy people can get with auction bidding. People get competitive and overpay for items. Booking the best cabin you can afford seems the way to go IMO.

There are many people (not me) who use a strategy of booking a low category and intending to bid for upgrades.  They are not picky about cabin location and seem to do well with this method.  Personally, I'm usually more in the "book the cheapest cabin you are okay with because I am darn well not paying double or triple for the same cruise".

[HBCcruiser]

55 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

There are many people (not me) who use a strategy of booking a low category and intending to bid for upgrades.  They are not picky about cabin location and seem to do well with this method.  Personally, I'm usually more in the "book the cheapest cabin you are okay with because I am darn well not paying double or triple for the same cruise".

I’m just wondering if that strategy will continue to work for people with this new EBay-like auction bidding process.

[Travelling2Some]

33 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

I’m just wondering if that strategy will continue to work for people with this new EBay-like auction bidding process.

I think it will depend on the person whether it works for them.  The key is to decide in advance how much something is worth to you and then not bid past that point.  It's a great strategey for the cruise line.  Why not get a few more bucks rather than have some of the better cabins sit empty and get nothing for them?  Then NCL can sell the leftover inside cabins to local folks who would only have booked if they could get a last minute bargain.  If the cruise line is really lucky those last minute bookers are casino fans.

[RocketMan275]

On 1/15/2023 at 2:51 PM, BirdTravels said:

If you booked through a warehouse store that sells cheap hotdogs and soda, you are no eligible. 

of course they saved about 7% on their original fare along with threir cheap hotdogs.

if they had added that 7% to their original booking, they might have been able to purchase a much better room without the bidding process.

But, then, any marketing person will tell you the quickest way to make a sale is to convince the buyer they're getting something 'free', ie, an upgrade at a discounted price.

[HavenAddict]

I’m just curious, did you end up getting an upgrade? I have a bid in on 3 different cabins and they all say “pending” but they don’t say I can’t modify.

Thank you.

[BirdTravels]

23 minutes ago, HavenAddict said:

I’m just curious, did you end up getting an upgrade? I have a bid in on 3 different cabins and they all say “pending” but they don’t say I can’t modify.

Thank you.

Who are you asking. This thread has been dead for over a year. 

[HavenAddict]

LOL, just had a brain fart I guess and didn’t realize the post was from 23. No worries.