What is your tip (that you believe works) when seeking to upgrade to a suite.

I like all the comments because it reflects your experience and the experience of others that you are commenting on.

One of the key points to my original question is from everyone's experience does the solicitation for upgrades (when and if they come) are received directly from cruise lines (if you booked directly with them) or/ also from travel agents (if you also booked directly from them) regardless if you booked an inside, oceanview, balcony or a suite (with a chance for upgrade to a larger suite)

Dont know about needles and haystacks, but we spend alot of time reading deckplans (which is kind of an art form) and commentaries from folks who clearly "have a grip" so theres NO SURPRISES when we "move in". After we spend x thousands per cruise, I dont want ANY surprises, unless, occassionally, they're really pleasant ones. GREED KILLS...not only in the casino.

Yes, that's like looking for a needle in a haystack

HAH well said. On the other hand, "money talks" as the saying goes. The key in your post is the word "expect"..I take their "upgrade offers" with the proverbial grain of salt. We spend alot of time choosing our cabin, location, etc. We have no temptation to do one of their mystery upgrades. Theres no way to prove it of course, but I'd bet 50% or more of the folks who took an upgrade had regrets. This subject comes up occasionally, and clearly theres folks in here who feel differently. Some may play the upgrade game on every cruise. Some, like me, ignore it.

I can tell you this. Don’t book an interior on Deck 5, and expect an upgrade to a suite on deck 11.

Kinda takes the fun and suspense out of it that way

Simply pay a higher rate. Works every time.

Thanks for sharing. We learn as we go,

Gotta disagree. In this day of the internet, all it takes is starting to publish a list of all remaining available cabins, with an upgrade premium clearly listed next to the ones "so designated" by the line. Start say 30 days b4 sailing. And of course, do it real time. first come first served. no bidding at all. a cabin is worth what its worth, no more. no more difficult than buying a ticket to a ballgame, and they do it thousands of times too, in real time. mebbe I've cruised enough to realize the cruiselines have figured out a way to squeeze out more $$, but i bet theres STILL a bunch of unsold cabins, even on so-called sold out cruises.

You know that is what MSC does too. I think this is a fair way to get the mystery out of the upgrade and the Upgrade Fairy process. Hoping other cruise lines will do the same.