The "Secret" Cabin Bidding Process Most Cruisers Don't Know About

It hasn't made front-page news, but multiple cruise lines are now giving passengers the opportunity to bid on cabin upgrades. While the process isn’t actually a “secret,” so few people seem to know about it that it might as well be.

What is it?

When a cruise is a month or two away from sailing, cruise lines will offer passengers the opportunity to upgrade from their cabin category to a higher category. Previously, these upgrade offers (often referred to as the “upgrade fairy” among hardcore cruisers) would come as a surprise and with no additional cost.

Now, several cruise lines have introduced a cabin “bidding” process instead, where travelers are given the chance to bid against each other for an upgrade. This monetized upgrade process benefits the lines, but it gives cruisers a bit more power in the upgrade process rather than relying on lady luck, though it does come at a cost. 

Which lines offer it?

Norwegian Cruise Line led the charge for stateroom bidding, introducing the program in 2017. Shortly after, in 2018, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean followed suit. In May 2019, MSC Cruises announced that it would launch a similar program. Currently, most cruise lines are offering a bid-to-upgrade program, so be sure to check with your travel agent or cruise line for more details. 

How do I do it?

Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to ensure you receive an upgrade bid email. The higher-end cabins may have already sold out; even if some are available, certain cruisers may not be eligible. If cabins are available for an upgrade, you will receive an email with a link to a list of cabin categories you are eligible to bid on and a slider that lets you choose the amount you’d like to bid. The slider may also include suggested bid amounts or be color-coordinated to indicate whether your bid is strong.

For the lowest minimum bids required and the best chance for an upgrade, submit your bid request as soon as you receive the email. The closer to the sail date, the higher the minimum bids go, and the more the acceptance rate depends on what everyone else is bidding.

Is it done at the time of booking, or later?

There is no set time frame for when you may get the email, but it will be after you’ve already made the final payment and as close as several days prior to cruise departure. Even if higher categories are sold out, you may still get the offer if there are no shows at the pier.

READ MORE: 5 Reasons to Think Twice About Booking an Inside Cabin

How does it work if I've booked through a travel agent?

It’s the same process regardless of how you book your cruise. Be sure your travel agent includes your email address in the reservation so you will receive the email directly. Otherwise, it will go to your travel agent. Even if you've booked with a travel agent, be sure to sign up for an account directly on the cruise line website to manage your cruise booking, complete your check-in process, and make any purchases such as specialty dining, drinks packages, etc. By having a direct account with the cruise line will ensure you never miss an upgrade offer!

Can I actually save money?

The short answer is yes, absolutely. The long answer is that “saving money” is kind of relative in this instance. Did you book the cruise including potential bidding costs in your budget, knowing that if the opportunity came along, you would try for it? In that case, you definitely saved some money. If you had no idea about the program but got stars in your eyes when you saw the possibility of upgrading for cheaper than actually booking that category and going bid-crazy, the next thing you know, you might be out another thousand dollars that you weren’t planning on spending. In that case, you are technically saving money for that category (if you don’t bid above the upgrade cost!), but you aren’t if you didn’t actually feel the need to stay in that category beforehand. 

That being said, whether you’re saving money also depends on the promotional offers that were in place when you booked, along with the current cost of that cabin at the time you’re bidding. For example, if you booked a balcony and a suite was $1,500 more per person at the time of booking, and you can now bid for the same suite category at $500 per person, you might consider that a good deal if you want to stay in a suite.

When will I find out if my bid was accepted?

You will be notified via email if your bid is accepted. It could be accepted the same day you bid, or you could be waiting to find out up until a few days before the cruise. In the email, typically, your new cabin will already be assigned to you, and you can log into your account with the cruise line to reprint your boarding passes. While it’s extremely uncommon, we’ve heard of someone who was notified once they were onboard the ship that their bid was accepted because the person who had initially reserved the cabin was a no-show at the pier.

What are some possible disadvantages?

The biggest disadvantage to the bidding program is that you have no control over the location of your new stateroom if you win the bid. Say you booked an interior in your ideal spot but bid on a balcony and won, only to find out it’s far away from elevators or the amenities most important to you. Or worse yet, it's right below the ship’s nightclub. Depending on how easily you can get around and how well you sleep, that could spell a very exhausting and unhappy cruise. When you win a bid, you can’t change your mind. You’re immediately assigned the new stateroom and have no control over the location of the new cabin assignment. 

One last thing to remember: it’s surprisingly easy to accidentally bid higher than that category was selling for in the first place. Be sure to check the current price of the category you can bid on so you don’t get gamble-happy and pay the cruise line more than they were asking! Believe it or not, this actually happens. Being a savvy consumer pays, and working with a travel agent who can guide you through the process and check pricing is invaluable.