How to Improve Your Chances of Getting an Upgrade

Honestly, it’s wild. You can rack up loyalty points, play the inside cabin lottery, obsess over emails, and still feel like upgrades are just cosmic jokes. There are “strategies”—some work, some are a waste of time, like my collection of expired mini toothpaste tubes. At this point, I’m not even sure how anyone sleeps with all those “upgrade” emails blowing up their inbox.

Booking Guaranteed Cabins

Let’s talk “guaranteed cabins.” I used to think this meant free perks and magic upgrades. Nope. It’s just the cruise line promising you’ll get at least what you paid for, but they pick the exact room. Sometimes you get lucky—a balcony for the price of a windowless cell. But mostly? It’s random.

Supposedly, these “guarantee” tricks work best when the ship isn’t full. I’ve seen it in my own spreadsheets—when bookings lag, upgrades start popping up. MSC and Royal Caribbean seem to play this game more than others. But you don’t get to pick your spot. I ended up over a nightclub once. Not even mad—still an upgrade, just with bonus bass.

Leveraging Loyalty Programs

Honestly, hoarding loyalty points feels like stuffing receipts into my wallet and hoping one turns into cash. But, yeah, loyalty programs do sometimes help. Celebrity, Princess, Norwegian—they’ll occasionally toss upgrades or perks to elite members. Not always, but enough to make you keep chasing status like it’s some fever dream.

Agents swear they get “group rates and unpublished offers” for loyalty folks, but less than 10% of passengers ever hit those levels. I’ve never seen a real list—just rumors and fine print. Sometimes, out of nowhere, you’ll get an amenity or upgrade invite right after you stopped caring. Feels like a cosmic prank.

Timing and Strategy for Secret Upgrades

So, I’m folding laundry, running late, and realize people pay double for the same cabin—except someone always brags about a suite for peanuts. Saving money? Supposed to be easy, but cruise lines hide the real upgrade tricks. Not all last-minute calls work, and just being hopeful gets you nowhere.

Best Times to Book

Booking months ahead? Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. My agent friend Anna swears midweek in February is the sweet spot—don’t ask me why. Carnival throws in perks after big holidays, not before. Black Friday? Total myth. It’s those “dead” weeks when nobody’s paying attention that seem to get you noticed for unsold premium rooms.

I tried booking right after tax season—nothing. But in March, nobody cared, and I watched three people snag upgrades for less than WiFi. Avoid peak dates. Look for those weird in-between times when even the crew looks bored. Old ships? They’re more generous. New ships? Forget it.

Last-Minute Upgrade Tactics

Those bidding systems—Plusgrade and friends—are weird. Don’t always bid high, but always opt in. I’ve bid zero bucks and still landed a balcony. Traveling Today Mag says some lines upgrade silent bidders just to fill rooms.

Pro tip: If you’re already on board and see empty cabins after departure, ask quietly. The front desk guy once told me, “Nobody who doesn’t ask gets an upgrade.” But don’t bother right away—wait until after muster drill. Loyalty passengers supposedly get first dibs, but I’ve seen first-timers win just because their original rooms were in Siberia and the nice ones were empty. Big groups? Forget it. Solo travelers are invisible and sometimes luck out.

Working with Travel Agents and Insiders

Trying to land a free upgrade, and suddenly travel agents pop up with perks nobody else mentions—are they wizards or just better at schmoozing? Every time I book direct, I find out about some “secret deal” too late. It’s like a running joke.

How Travel Agents Access Exclusive Deals

Here’s the deal: travel agents (especially the ones with massive social media followings) get upgrades and insider rates I never see. Sometimes they score balcony or oceanview cabins for the price of a closet, and I’m left wondering if there’s a secret handshake club I’m missing.

One agent told me outright, “We get special blocks, bulk pricing, even guaranteed upgrade promos.” Apparently, big agencies and cruise lines have deals that never make it online. This guide says it’s not rare. Some agents even nudge clients toward ships with semi-secret upgrades, like matchmakers for staterooms. But you’ll never see these deals advertised—just buried in emails or mentioned in passing if you’re lucky.

Insider Tips from Industry Experts

One agent put it bluntly: “Promotions are for filling ships, not rewarding loyalty,” which, honestly, tracks. The best upgrades? Usually tied to agency-exclusive group rates—never public, never searchable. You might book an oceanview and get bumped to a balcony because the agency bought a batch. Sometimes, status doesn’t matter if your agent can work their magic.

Not all agents play this game—some skip the secret upgrade programs, which is infuriating if you’re not paying attention (see this guide). I asked about the catch and just got vague answers about “inventory management.” Results are hit or miss, but when it works, these hush-hush upgrades beat any official bid-up. Why do cruise lines keep it so secret? Probably to keep partners happy and everyone else guessing. Honestly, building a relationship with the right agent is more useful than any loyalty scheme.