By bidding for an upgrade, youre sacrificing your choice of cabin location. 2. If you meant to bid only $200 per person on an upgrade, do a double check to make sure you didnt accidentally move the slider to $300 or $400! Honestly, theres no guaranteed way to win the Royal Caribbean RoyalUp upgrade. My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once. 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. I got my ROYAL UP bid. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. If my RoyalUp offer is accepted, will I earn Crown & Anchor points at the rate associated with my upgraded stateroom category? If you do successfully bid, consider your upgrade a nice surprise. Do you want to stay up to date of all the news about Travel? Cruise lines are encouraging select cruisers to bid online for cabin upgrades, and there are deals to be had. karmaoryx . If you havent received an email, make sure to opt-in to Royal Caribbean Internationals marketing emails. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Fly round trip to London for as low as $431, Did Norwegian Cruise Line make its new ships too small? If you bid $200, you are committing to $400. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Scam or Deal: Will That Cruise Sale Really Save You Money? Read the fine print about the upgrade programs on the cruise line websites. That being said, I do want to provide a few tips and even some warnings about the Royal Up process. While no winnings are guaranteed, it's recommended to bid at least a little . On the other hand, a nearly sold-out cruise may mean the line needs to find someone in your category to upgrade. A passenger in an inside paid $100 to upgrade to an ocean view. 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. Good thing we didn't bite," Want2Cruise 701 writes. RoyalUp bids have a minimum and maximum bid. Bid for an upgrade. The Offer Amount does not include the higher gratuity. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Turn on push notifications and don't miss anything! Ken's ready to share everything he knows about the Royal Up process in this quick and informational video full of Tips and Tricks. Balcony staterooms feature a verandah with views of . How to Navigate the Airport on Cruise Turnaround Day, Step By Step: How to Submit Comments on Cruise to the CDC, The Penthouse Suite on Celebrity Edge (Photo: Cruise Critic), Woman typing on computer keyboard (Photo: mimagephotography/Shutterstock.com), Connecting at Sea: Internet and Phone Use Onboard (ID: 45) (Photo: tolotola/Shutterstock). They are looking to reward both their loyal passengers and those who spend more on their cruise vacations. Here's a pro tip: Choose a flexible dining hour when you book your cruise. Why Do Cruise Ships Have Helipads? The minimum bidding price starts at $30 and may go up to $200+ per person. Ann S. Moore has served as a director of the Company since May 2012. 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. Although, I have never booked this way, so Im not sure if thats accurate. Several years ago, I decided to start this blog to document our family trips. If you want to get your moneys worth on your cruise, spend some time each night highlighting each activity or show that you may want to check out. Like what you see? Forums. Whether switching from an interior to balcony or Junior Suite to Grand Suite, heres what you need to know about Royal Caribbeans RoyalUp program. 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. 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. Your seapass card will be placed outside yr cabin. Posted 20 hours ago. Spacious Ocean View Balcony $15 Junior Suite $75 Grand Suite $100 Owners Suite $175 (The others are either too expensive, $400+, or unnecessary) So any personal experience on bidding and try and get one? 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. Even before you consider bidding, it pays to check what the situation is in terms of any reduced upsell fares for your desired cabin, other Cruise Critic members warn. The Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. Check here before booking an award fare. It has grown into a website full of information on family vacation tips, kid friendly activities, homeschooling organization hacks, and so much more! Cruise Tips. If we had not been cruising with family next door, we would have bid on every upgrade in our price range though. 84. If you want, you can up your bid as the sail date gets closer. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Carnival has a generous perk for those who choose a Cloud 9 Spa internal stateroom on Carnival Splendor, with the interior staterooms on Deck 10 affording private access to . The same stateroom wouldve cost us nearly $500 more than the interior stateroom if we had booked it directly. Here are some things to keep in mind before bidding. Minimum bids depend on the stateroom category, with some upgrades starting at $30 per person whereas other bids may begin at $200+ per person. This works great for a family of four; you only pay for two people for the upgrade. Or you may be able to bid on a stateroom with a Royal Promenade, Central Park, Boardwalk, or ocean view window. Youll browse through the stateroom options and select the amount youre willing to pay for each upgrade. Before bidding on an upgraded stateroom category with RoyalUp, contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean to check how much it would cost to upgrade your cabin outright instead of through RoyalUp. One other thing to keep in mind: the minimum bid amount may change over time. Are the RoyalUp upcharges commissionable? So, youre heading on your first Royal Caribbean Cruise? And theres no guarantee youll win an upgrade, even with a high bid. If not, youll keep the stateroom you already have and you wont be charged anything additional. Royal Caribbean is introducing a new bid-based stateroom upgrade program, known as RoyalUp. My family members and I were thrilled to receive this highly anticipated email about stateroom upgrade opportunities on our recent Royal Caribbean cruise. You dont need to bid on every cabin category. Youll only pay for one room if you win. Complete an internet search for worst room in your category. Here are tips to make a cruise experience better. Or you can go to Guest Services onboard the ship, and they will remove the extras that your new room includes for free. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. That way, you'll also reap the benefits of any perms your agent offers, such as onboard credit or prepaid gratuities. On Royal Caribbean "Cruise to Nowhere", the cost of swab tests for PCR is included in the cruise package. 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. For more details about RoyalUp, click here. If your original booking involved two or more cabins that were close together, the winning bids will most likely spread the rooms apart. Selecting a cabin category is one of the most significant decisions when booking a cruise. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged. At this time, the only exception is for bookings that reserve under a net price code which will not earn commission on the upcharge. When we initially got our RoyalUp e-mail, the minimum bid for a Star Loft suite was WAY out of our range. Once you select the cabin, youll find a scale that you can slide from this minimum bid all the way to the maximum bid. Additionally, if you bid from an ocean view to a balcony, you have no control over where the balcony will be located. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Even if your cruise will likely be at near-full capacity (cruising during peak season, during holidays, etc. 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. My family and I received an email from Royal Caribbean Royal Up about 58 days before our sail date. Heres everything you need to know about the RoyalUp program. No amount guarantees a win, but we recommend bidding more than the minimum to raise your chances of winning the RoyalUp cabin upgrade. Even though they were all declined in the end, we would definitely attempt to RoyalUp again. For more details about RoyalUp, click here. Many passengers bid on suites with RoyalUp, as you can often find a lower price through bidding than upgrading to the suite category outright. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Many people start with the minimum bid and hope they are the only bidder. As you get closer to your sail date, the Royal Up status may change. Royal Caribbean offers a pretty cool bid-based cabin upgrade program called RoyalUp. Food and drinks and Wi-Fi (if you purchased a package on board) are free as well as is access to beach lounge chairs. Accepted offers will earnCrown & Anchor points at the original stateroom category purchased, and not the category of the upgraded stateroom. You get to keep the promotions you already have based on the stateroom category originally booked. While no winnings are guaranteed, its recommended to bid at least a little bit higher than the minimum bid. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Experiences that include a charge include the 13 waterslides, wave pool and adventure pool; the zip line; Up, Up and Away helium balloon experience; entrance to the premium Coco Beach Club; as well as cabana, daybed, kayak and snorkel rentals. The RoyalUp upgrade does not include any additional promotions. While you can spend cash for certain on-island experiences, you can absolutely spend an entire day there and have an amazing time without spending a dollar more than your cruise fare. You can access your bids on the Royal Up website until your cruise begins. UPGRADE YOUR STATEROOM IN A FEW SIMPLE STEPS. When I looked at the process to bid on a Royal Caribbean upgrade, they used a slide bar as a bidding tool. How do RoyalUp offers work if I am part of a group or traveling with another reservation? Sometimes there is inventory and they just . American Express has expanded The Centurion Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Complimentary specialty restaurants. After you've booked a cruise, keep watching for price reductions. If the cruise ship has many unsold cabins, more upgrade wins are available, increasing your chances of winning the bid. Just the ones youre interested in winning. Learn more. A Royal Caribbean cruise is no different. The line is known for its mega-ships and first-of-its-kind world-class entertainment at sea. When my familys bid was not accepted, I asked about upgrading during check in at the port. Bidding for the room you want and getting your upgrade couldnt be easier. The Royal Caribbean RoyalUp program acts as an auction for unsold cabins. He bid the max of $1,000. 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. So, the Royal Up opportunities were dependent on no-shows at the port. So it might cost more if you were starting from the interior room, or less if you were starting from say a Junior suite. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Your bid is priced per person and based on two guests per stateroom for the entire length of your cruise. Check out these stories first! This is so important! You only pay if your bid is accepted. I'm Shari. Since it is by no means a sure thing, you dont want to completely depend on the Royal Up program to receive a stateroom you like. We went from a balcony to a junior suite. A. This gives you a ton of flexibility and leaves you with more time to enjoy all your cruise has to offer. Likewise, if you have only one person in your cabin, you will still be required to bid for two people. Stateroom categories can open up through last-minute cancellations, meaning you can still have a chance to be upgraded even on the busiest of sailings. I have also heard that cruisers who book through Costco may not be eligible for the Royal Up program at all. Royal Caribbean's RoyalUp Bidding Process. News Sport Region Music Person Profession Crypto. Bid higher than the minimum. However, the ones on the higher decks include tiny balconies. But this wasn't welcome news for the couple. You will, however, be able to upgrade to ocean view and balcony cabins. Booking a cruise on board makes you eligible for discounts and incentives such as on board cruise credits or discounted drink packages. This problem is automatically eliminated if you cruise in a group of 2 or more. You'll also find multiple beaches, pools, dining options, island excursions and more. So they did. 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