A Royal Up upgrade from an inside cabin may include an interior cabin with more square footage. So, after subtracting the extras we had already spent, the 2 bedroom Aquatheater Suite was really going to cost $1600 more than our Junior Suite. Royal Caribbean followed in late 2018 with RoyalUp. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics, Bidding for Cruise Cabin Upgrades: Tips and Tricks, What to Expect on a Cruise: Booking With a Cruise Line, Top 8 Things You Can Do on the Cruise Critic Message Boards to Enhance Your Cruise, Flying to Your Cruise: How to Travel This Summer Amid the Chaos. Aloha! Request was made 8 December 2021. If you havent received an email, make sure to opt-in to Royal Caribbean Internationals marketing emails. Check if your cruise is eligible for an upgrade. In just a few simple steps, you could score a fantastic upgrade, from Ocean View and Balcony staterooms to the most expansive suites at sea. Then just days before the Liberty of the Seas set sail, the cruise line accepted their $4,200 RoyalUp bid. The programs differ slightly -- for instance, with Norwegian you can only bid up to two categories, for example, from an inside to an ocean view or balcony. If the bidding goes too high, you may get too close or even exceed the regular upgrading cost. It allows you to bid a certain amount of money, often as low as $50 per person, to upgrade your current stateroom to an ocean view or balcony cabin or even a suite. For more information on what each cabin category includes, you can check out our post on Royal Caribbean Suites Perks where we provide detailed information on each suite category. No, your cabin location and attributes will depend on availability. This negates the pay less to upgrade advantage you initially wanted from bidding. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Bid higher than the minimum. Note that if you do not receive a Royal Up email, you can go to their website to type in your information and see if youre eligible. Royal Caribbean sent me an email about a month ago and I thought I had no chance of getting my bid since I bid the lowest amount. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. While there are many ways to save money and indulge in an awesome cruise vacation, these are our favorite ways to get the most bang for our buck on Royal Caribbean cruises. While no winnings are guaranteed, its recommended to bid at least a little bit higher than the minimum bid. Whether you're a fi. If your bid is accepted, you'll be charged for the upgrade. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. However, if you win that suite through the RoyalUp bidding program, youll only get a single point per night. When you purchase a cabin, you must provide your personal information, like your email and credit card number. Getting close to the original cost while bidding might still seem better than normal upgrading, but it can sometimes be a bad idea. She frequently travels the U.S. and the world with her toddler seeking out unique travel experiences with a motto that Traveling with Kids makes them better humans. Think about cabins near the loud engines or by the busy elevators. On ship, day of sailing went to our stateroom and without unpacking in hopes of being upgraded then after the Odyssey was well ou. It allows you to bid a certain amount of money, often as low as $50 per person, to upgrade your current stateroom to an ocean view or balcony cabin or even a suite. Regardless of the room you select, we hope you have an amazing time sailing with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line! The price difference to pay for the upgrade was consistently $3,000, which was the reason I booked the balcony. Related: A beginners guide to sailing in Star Class. And only bid what you can afford to spend. Modifications or cancellations can be made here. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. Your credit card wont be charged unless you win the bid, so dont be afraid to bid on all the rooms you like. Check out these stories first! Can I choose the location or specific features of the RoyalUp upgrade cabin? Minimum bids depend on the stateroom category, with some upgrades starting at $30 per person whereas other bids may begin at $200+ per person. RoyalUp upgrades often come at a lower price than upgrading your stateroom on your own, making it an attractive option for those looking for the best deal on a better stateroom. Rather than bidding the minimum, you may stand a better chance if you go up a little to differentiate your bid from others -- from a suggested minimum of $75 to $95, for instance. Do you want to save money by booking an interior cabin or upgrading your accommodations to a balcony stateroom or suite? As the 1940s began, the military intelligence world spoke surreptitiously of new kinds of airplanes. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! The crew members informed me that I would have to ask at Guest Services once I boarded the ship. Always make a habit of checking the original upgrading price before bidding. Not so great for solo travelers that will be charged based on double occupancy for their upgrades. Accepted offers will earnCrown & Anchor points at the original stateroom category purchased, and not the category of the upgraded stateroom. Many people start with the minimum bid and hope they are the only bidder. If your reservation includes multiple guests (between 2 and 5 passengers), the offer amount submitted will be per guest but only for the first and second guest on the reservation. You can modify and cancel your bid until it has been accepted or up to two days before the sail date. Once your bid is accepted, you cannot change it. I have also heard that cruisers who book through Costco may not be eligible for the Royal Up program at all. Sailing has seasons; youll have a much better chance of winning a bid if your cruise isnt fully booked. At first this seemed outrageous to me, but then I considered the amenities that are included with Star Class. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. One of the easiest ways to waste money on any cruise is to be unaware of all the free activities and programs that are scheduled. Previously called CocoCay, it's now Perfect Day at CocoCay and it's an experience that should absolutely not be missed. Don Terris, an Ontario-based travel agent who analyzed the cruise upgrade bidding process in a YouTube video, won a bid at $1,500 on top of his basic fare to stay in a grand suite aboard a Royal Caribbean ship, which he said saved him more than $5,000 over booking the suite outright. Quantum of the Seas Royal Loft Suite (Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean) Royal Caribbean offers a pretty cool bid-based cabin upgrade program called RoyalUp. Also, if your bidding took you from an ocean-view cabin to a balcony, youd have no control over the location of that balcony. One important note for families before bidding on RoyalUp is that the bidding program will not maintain connecting rooms. The Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise? Honestly, theres no guaranteed way to win the Royal Caribbean RoyalUp upgrade. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once. The Royal Up success rate is really low, and its very rare to have your bid accepted. An At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit: How Does It Work Before Your Cruise and Is It Worth It? The cruise bidding process does not work for those who have booked a wheelchair-accessible cabin as you won't be guaranteed those rooms. Heres everything you need to know about the RoyalUp program. The RoyalUp offer amount is per person for the entire duration of the cruise. Since there seems to be no rhyme or reason to how Royal Up bids are accepted, its difficult to provide tips on bidding. 10 Signs You Should Upgrade Your Cruise Cabin, 7 Reasons to Turn Down a Cruise Cabin Upgrade (and 4 Not To), The Guarantee Gamble: The Odds of an Upgrade When the Cruise Line Picks Your Cabin. This will add $21 per person to a 7-night cruise. 1. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. For example, my sister had booked an ocean view balcony stateroom, and her Royal Up options included the following suites only: In other words, she did not have the ability to Royal Up to an Aquatheater Suite or a Star Class suite. For more details about RoyalUp, click here. Although, there are times when a cruise line will offer to upgrade your room for free . Do you know about when you'd like to sail? RCI cannot guarantee that both reservations will be upgraded. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Scam or Deal: Will That Cruise Sale Really Save You Money? Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? So, theres really no way to tell how to have your bid chosen. Royal Caribbean RoyalUp (Guide to Upgrading Your Cabin), How to Increase Your Chances of Winning the Bed, 2. Thats because most families arent able to travel, and many adults arent able to get vacation time off. Make sure none of these are deal breakers. If not, youll keep the stateroom you already have and you wont be charged anything additional. Many passengers bid on suites with RoyalUp, as you can often find a lower price through bidding than upgrading to the suite category outright. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Complimentary specialty restaurants. A Royal Up upgrade from an inside cabin may include an interior cabin with more square footage. Be the first to rate this post. This is great news for family or friends traveling together. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. If your stateroom has more than two people, however, youll only be charged the bid amount for 2 passengers in the stateroom category. So, bid only on the rooms that you like. If you booked an interior cabin, for example, you wont typically see the opportunity to bid on staterooms like Owners Suites and Loft Suites. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. Bids can be accepted up to 2 days before your sail date. If the Offer is accepted, the difference between the original and upgraded No. Fliers on some airlines can upgrade at a discounted rate to avoid what could be a cramped flight. What happens with the promotions I already have if I am upgraded through RoyalUp? Below, Ill explain in more detail why we chose this suite. There was an error processing your request. When we initially got our RoyalUp e-mail, the minimum bid for a Star Loft suite was WAY out of our range. The Royal Caribbean fleet includes multiple ship classes of all different sizes. So, my tips for pre bidding research are: If you are planning to bid on a room in the Sky Class or the Star Class, make sure you calculate the suite benefits included in that room. You may modify or cancel your offer up until 2 days prior to departure, provided that your offer has not already been accepted by RCI and provided your credit card has not been charged. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. As you get closer to your sail date, the Royal Up status may change. For more details about how we use your information, view our Privacy Policy. Royal Caribbean's RoyalUp Bid is a bidding program that allows you to upgrade your cabin to a higher cabin category at a lower cost than a traditional cabin upgrade. Invites to bid for a cruise upgrade may also depend on such factors as how booked up the ship is and which category you originally booked. You dont need to bid on every cabin category. Simply visit the customer service desk and ask for a brochure and form for other Royal Caribbean ships. Related: What's included in your cruise fare? RoyalUp is Royal Caribbeans stateroom bidding program that allows passengers to bid on higher cabin categories before their cruise, offering the chance to win an upgraded stateroom. Royal Caribbean offers a pretty cool bid-based cabin upgrade program called RoyalUp. As a general rule, youll find fewer people sailing when school is in session. Royal Caribbean International; Cruise Critic Community. If you are traveling with a group or have connecting rooms, there's also no guarantee everyone in your group will get an upgrade offer nor that your cabins will be together should you win the bid. Under the circumstance that all reservations are upgraded, RCI cannot guarantee that all No, once your bid is accepted, your card will be charged immediately, and the upgrade amount paid is final and non-refundable. The bidding process has a few steps: Note that RoyalUp is non-refundable, although cancellations and modifications are allowed prior to a bid being accepted. This is an important consideration for families who need cabins close together or connected cabins to keep the family in one location. If you plan to bid on a cruise cabin and you are cruising with friends, make sure you are aware that your friends do not receive the suite perks that you may get in your upgrade. Our cruise group consisted of families who bid the minimum and were upgraded and those who bid the maximum and were not accepted. The second option is to wait until you're onboard, then go to the front desk and ask about paid upgrades. Anything i should know? 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