Bidding and Upgrade Programs
People at cruise terminals act like they’ve cracked some code with “upgrade secrets,” but nobody wants to talk about the wild west of bidding systems. It’s not just wishful thinking—cruise lines have basically turned upgrades into a stock market for staterooms.
How Upgrade Bidding Works
Here’s the routine: two weeks before sailing, I get a flashy email from Royal Caribbean or Celebrity or whoever, dangling a shot at a suite if I’ll just “bid.” It’s not a straight upgrade—it’s gambling, plain and simple. There’s no “magic number.” You’re just guessing, and it’s kind of infuriating.
Plusgrade runs the show—it’s the same company that airlines use, which, honestly, I didn’t know until recently. You toss in your bid, then wait, obsess, and maybe—just maybe—get a new keycard at check-in. Some lines let you pick preferences, but sometimes you just “win” a slightly bigger inside room. CruiseHabit says people get so aggressive with bids, they end up paying almost as much as booking outright. You can’t pick your exact cabin, so is it really an upgrade? I don’t know. Here’s a deeper dive if you want to spiral down that rabbit hole.
Comparison of Bidding Systems Across Cruise Lines
MSC, Norwegian, Celebrity—honestly, if you’ve tried one, you’ve tried them all. Norwegian’s Upgrade Advantage? I mean, they basically admit it’s a crapshoot. You pick a number, and then it’s like, “Congrats, you’re playing against everyone else and some secret algorithm we won’t explain.” I’m convinced they factor in how many mojitos you’ve bought, or maybe just roll dice backstage.
Royal Caribbean’s RoyalUp? You might get an invite, or you might just sit there refreshing your inbox. Ask anyone in customer service about minimums and watch them dodge the question like you’re asking for state secrets. Princess lets you bid on a bunch of room types at once, which sounds great until you realize, yeah, they’re not telling you what actually helps your odds. “Your bid is one of many factors”—translation: we do whatever we want. If you’re the kind of person who needs a chart for this stuff, there’s a comparison table here. I’ve stared at it for way too long. Still confused.
Maximizing Value: Beyond Just the Cabin
So you finally get that balcony upgrade and think you’ve won? Nah, the real perks show up later, if at all. It’s almost like the cruise lines want you to obsess over square footage so you don’t notice the sneaky extras. Nobody ever posts about the random bonuses—maybe because they don’t even notice them.
Onboard Credit and Extra Amenities
Everyone fixates on the room itself, but sometimes you get this surprise onboard credit, like a couple hundred bucks just sitting there. I’ve covered my entire bar tab with “oops, we overbooked your cheap cabin” money. People miss this every time—too busy measuring closet space.
And then there’s the weird little perks that show up with premium rooms. I’m talking priority boarding, fancier lounges, sometimes even a fruit basket or a voucher for pressing your wrinkled shirts. One time, I just found a pile of extra towels on my bed. Cruise blogs love to list these perks, but let’s be honest, nobody reads the fine print or checks if these extras are actually bundled in. Drawer space, though? Never enough.
Specialty Dining Perks
Specialty dining: the holy grail for some folks. You think you’re clever scoring a free steakhouse night, then look over and the next table paid $50 for the same meal. Some cruise lines toss in these dining perks with certain upgrades, but they never advertise it. It just shows up in the app, or maybe you find a card in your welcome folder.
I’ve met people who only chase upgrades for the dining bonuses. Makes sense—someone I know stacked two free dinners with onboard credit and basically ate for free all week. Staff once told me half the steakhouse crowd was there on some secret coupon. Free upgrades can hide these perks, but it’s chaos—sometimes the bonus loads late, sometimes only one person gets it, sometimes nobody does. I always ask guest services, even if they roll their eyes. Missing free filet? Unforgivable.
Who Benefits Most from Hidden Upgrades
Certain people just get all the luck. Cruise lines never say who, but I keep seeing the same thing: big groups, families, or people who don’t expect much seem to score the best upgrades. No rules, just vibes.
Families and Group Travelers
Cram a family into a tiny cabin and suddenly the cruise gods smile on you. I’ve seen groups get corner suites or “family staterooms” that aren’t even on the website, just because the line would rather move a whole crew than singles. It’s not generosity—it’s just easier for them.
Most people don’t realize cruise lines upgrade families to clear out blocks of standard rooms. If you book multiple rooms or a big family cabin, your odds go up, especially off-peak. For parents, a balcony upgrade is the holy grail—fresh air, kids don’t fight as much, and you paid for a sardine tin. Nobody mentions this, but some do catch on.
Solo and Budget Travelers
Solo travel is just a lottery—sometimes you get an upgrade because you fit in the leftover slot. I’ve been bumped from inside to balcony because they had a gap and I was an easy move. Travel agents say last-minute bookings on empty ships are gold. It’s not kindness, it’s just math.
If you’re on a budget, every dollar counts. Princess lets loyalty members bid for upgrades, and sometimes it’s dirt cheap, but only if you know where to look and jump on the email. You’d think people would brag about saving $500 or using points, but most tricks are buried behind loyalty tiers or credit card hacks. I’m always convinced I’m missing some obvious trick.
