Once your bid is accepted, Royal Caribbean will charge that amount to the card it has on file for your voyage. If you have your heart set on a specific stateroom category, its best to book it directly to avoid disappointment. To receive an email invitation to bid on a stateroom upgrade guest must be opted-in to RCI Marketing e-mails. Yes, by upgrading to a higher stateroom category, each guest in the booking may be subject to a higher gratuity amount. And only bid what you can afford to spend. You get to keep the promotions you already have based on the stateroom category originally booked. Read the fine print about the upgrade programs on the cruise line websites. The least expensive room option is typically an interior cabin. Your time on the island gets you the most bang for your buck simply because you get all of these cool experiences for free. Introducing RoyalUp a new bid-based stateroom upgrade program. Guests will receive an email if their sailing is eligible and they will have the opportunity to browse through staterooms available for upgrade on their sailing. And, you'll only earn Crown & Anchor points on the original cabin category you purchased and not the upgraded on. Some cruise lines excel in their offering. Although, there are times when a cruise line will offer to upgrade your room for free . Ours said Pending for weeks, and we were hopeful that our bid had been a success. There is typically a minimum bid to get the ball rolling, and the dial indicates the strength of your offer relative to other bidders. My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once. Yes, based on the commission percent on the booking. Each night, you will receive a Cruise Compass activity planner that provides you with a detailed hour-by-hour schedule of events for the next day on board. Selecting a cabin category is one of the most significant decisions when booking a cruise. Check out these stories first! Even though they were all declined in the end, we would definitely attempt to RoyalUp again. All rights reserved. Not so great for solo travelers that will be charged based on double occupancy for their upgrades. . On ship, day of sailing went to our stateroom and without unpacking in hopes of being upgraded then after the Odyssey was well ou. The most popular sailing times of the year are the summer, spring break, Christmas, and New Years. As travel is slowly restarting, PCR tests is the new norm. This will add $21 per person to a 7-night cruise. The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. How do RoyalUp offers work if I am part of a group or traveling with another reservation? The line is known for its mega-ships and first-of-its-kind world-class entertainment at sea. RoyalUp Charges on a Double Capacity Basis, Cruise Ship Anchors: Everything You Need to Know. Note that your card is. Minimum bids depend on the stateroom category, with some upgrades starting at $30 per person whereas other bids may begin at $200+ per person. A passenger in an inside paid $100 to upgrade to an ocean view. 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. Royal Caribbean charges guests an automatic daily gratuity. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean's RoyalUp guide, tips, and tricks, How to upgrade your cabin on Royal Caribbean, The best time to go on a Caribbean cruise. Introducing RoyalUp a new bid-based stateroom upgrade program. Each RoyalUp offer is considered individually, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cannot guarantee that all reservations traveling together will be upgraded. 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. When you purchase a cabin, you must provide your personal information, like your email and credit card number. The first bid I won was on Anthem from balcony to JS with a near min bid, maybe 10% over min (like 220 on a min 200pp). Keep yr seapass card within reach, you need to tap and take temp as you move from venue to venue within the cruise. A few clicks and you place your bet and wait to see if your bid is accepted. Bidding for the room you want and getting your upgrade couldnt be easier. This gives you a ton of flexibility and leaves you with more time to enjoy all your cruise has to offer. Im not sure if they didnt get the email because they used a travel agent rather than booking direct or not. With some cruise ships and even Amtrak getting in on the act, is bidding up worth it? If the Offer is accepted, the difference between the original and upgraded . In this post, well explain how the Royal Caribbean Royal Up program works, including lots of bid upgrade tips. It could have an obstructed view, meaning you wont get the full view of the horizon. 3. United rolls out free fleetwide Wi-Fi for select flyers. If you win the RoyalUp bid, youll receive an email notification, and the cruise line will charge your credit card for the amount you bid. Likewise, if you prefer to modify the bid to a higher or lower offer, you can modify each stateroom categorys bid. Our cruise group consisted of families who bid the minimum and were upgraded and those who bid the maximum and were not accepted. Your bid is priced per person and based on two guests per stateroom for the entire length of your cruise. Complete an internet search for worst room in your category. The increased gratuity charge applies even if those upgrades were acquired through bidding. The crew members informed me that I would have to ask at Guest Services once I boarded the ship. Complimentary in-suite movies. When bidding, be sure you'll be happy in that cabin because once your bid is accepted, your credit card is charged and the fee is nonrefundable. Thats why its essential to ensure youve bid on the rooms that suit your needs. RoyalUp bids have a minimum and maximum bid. I have also heard that cruisers who book through Costco may not be eligible for the Royal Up program at all. 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. Good thing we didn't bite," Want2Cruise 701 writes. Woot! Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a96fc2884f50e64b8406c8618a18c96a" );document.getElementById("d5aa0859c9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. If you're choosy about location -- you want to be midship for more stability -- upgrading might not be for you. 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! For more details about RoyalUp, click here. Note that if your bid is accepted after you have purchased all of those additional items, you can cancel the extras online. You will be charged for gratuities based on your upgraded cabin category, and the price of your travel insurance may also rise. The cruise line programs are similar to more established airline bid-for-an-upgrade auctions. Remember, dining in the main dining rooms (although nice) are not mandatory. I have a 100% upgrade success rate (2/2). Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. It's also important to note that you'll be responsible for paying a higher gratuity rate if you're upgraded to a suite. If your original booking involved two or more cabins that were close together, the winning bids will most likely spread the rooms apart. 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 . In fact, its not unheard of to upgrade your cabin for the same price of a low bid or even less! 7-day spa pass. I highly recommend reading through these bid upgrade tips before you submit anything to Royal Up! Previously called CocoCay, it's now Perfect Day at CocoCay and it's an experience that should absolutely not be missed. This is so important! Anything i should know? Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. News Sport Region Music Person Profession Crypto. If my RoyalUp offer is accepted, will I earn Crown & Anchor points at the rate associated with my upgraded stateroom category? In other words, make sure you are certain that you want to pay the additional cost for the upgrade in the chance that your bid is accepted. bid them good-bye, and returned to Pasadena in the same . Simply visit the customer service desk and ask for a brochure and form for other Royal Caribbean ships. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Our large group bid on several different room types for various amounts each. is a journalist specializing in luxury family travel and the blogger behind The Daily Impressions. Check your email. For more details about RoyalUp, click here. Bid higher than the minimum. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. 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. With the more established airline programs, passengers report the most success when bidding 20 to 40 percent of the difference between what they paid and the established fare for their desired seat. Free mini bar, replenished daily. Does the RoyalUp upgrade include any additional promotions? Or you may be able to bid on a stateroom with a Royal Promenade, Central Park, Boardwalk, or ocean view window. Royal Caribbean offers a pretty cool bid-based cabin upgrade program called RoyalUp. 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. 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. This section is going to discuss Royal Up bid upgrade tips. 9. Submitted a Royal Up request for a Junior Suite on the Odyssey sail date 2 Jan 2022. 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. Michelle Couch-Friedman. If youre willing to take some risk, the Royal Caribbean RoyalUp Bid program allows guests to bid on unsold cabins. By bidding for an upgrade, youre sacrificing your choice of cabin location. Executives hint at an answer. Think about cabins near the loud engines or by the busy elevators. If youre interested in a balcony room with additional space and amenities, you can check out the Royal Caribbean Junior Suite. They are looking to reward both their loyal passengers and those who spend more on their cruise vacations. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. If your bid is successful, you'll win better accommodations at a lower price than direct booking. The bid amounts listed are per person for two people. On the other hand, a nearly sold-out cruise may mean the line needs to find someone in your category to upgrade. You dont need to bid on every cabin category. This negates the pay less to upgrade advantage you initially wanted from bidding. Although, I have never booked this way, so Im not sure if thats accurate. While no winnings are guaranteed, its recommended to bid at least a little bit higher than the minimum bid. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged. August 29, 2022. You can unsubscribe at any time. Bidding for a better room doesnt provide the flexibility youd get from regular upgrading. Just like a Royal Caribbean adventure, the possibilities are endless. With his successful bid, he . Royal Caribbean is introducing a new bid-based stateroom upgrade program, known as RoyalUp. We'll notify you via email if your request has been approved. Are the RoyalUp upcharges commissionable? If you originally booked a connecting room with friends or family, ensure you are comfortable with the fact that you will no longer be in a connecting room if you win a RoyalUp upgrade. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Scam or Deal: Will That Cruise Sale Really Save You Money? 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. That means that you can participate in most activities, amenities and areas of the island for no additional cost beyond your cruise fare. Once you select the cabin, youll find a scale that you can slide from this minimum bid all the way to the maximum bid. Since we had booked a junior suite, our upgrade options included the Sky Class suites and the Star Class suites. Sail in the Less Busy Times of the Year. Browse through the stateroom options available and choose the amount youre willing to pay for each upgrade. 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. Royal Caribbean reserves the right to notify you up to 24 hours in advance. Royal Caribbean offered Stan Fernald and his wife the opportunity to bid on an upgraded cabin for their upcoming cruise. An interior room may be sufficient if you dont plan to be in the room very much. Home / Cruise Tips / Royal Caribbean RoyalUp (Guide to Upgrading Your Cabin). You can modify and cancel your bid until it has been accepted or up to two days before the sail date. If your bid is successful, youll win better accommodations at a lower price than direct booking. Your bid is priced per person and based on two guests per stateroom for the entire length of your cruise. I'm Shari. RoyalUp upgrade opportunities differ based on the original stateroom you booked. Accepted offers will earnCrown & Anchor points at the original stateroom category purchased, and not the category of the upgraded stateroom. While everyone else is eating dinner, you can have that gorgeous hot tub all to yourself! Read on for our 5 expert tips on how to get upgraded to the cabin of your dreams and start getting in the cruise mood now. A Royal Caribbean cruise is no different. You will be asked to provide a credit card number that will be charged if your bid is accepted. Check if your cruise is eligible for an upgrade. Hi there! 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. 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