Bid-for-Upgrade Programs
How bidding for a better cabin works — and how to avoid overpaying.
Ask Us About Upgrade OptionsBid-for-upgrade programs let eligible guests offer an amount to move up a category before sailing. They can produce a genuinely good deal — or an expensive surprise if you don’t read the terms. Here is how they generally work.
How Bidding Typically Works
- Invitation. If your booking is eligible, the line contacts you or shows the offer in your online account, usually some weeks before sailing.
- Choose a category. You select the higher category you want and enter an amount, often within a range the line sets.
- Wait. The line reviews bids against its inventory. You may not hear until close to departure.
- Result. If accepted, you are charged and your cabin changes. If not, your original booking stays as it was.
Program Examples
| Cruise line | Program name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | RoyalUp | Bid-based upgrades for eligible bookings. Amounts are per guest. |
| Celebrity Cruises | MoveUp | Bid-based upgrades for eligible bookings before sailing. |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Upgrade Advantage | Eligible guests may bid on higher categories by invitation. |
Rules, eligibility and timing change. Always read the current terms on the invitation or the cruise line’s website before you bid. Other lines may run similar programs or fixed-price upsell offers; ask your advisor what applies to your sailing.
Bid or Book Directly?
A bid only makes sense if it could cost less than moving up the normal way. Before bidding, ask your advisor for the current price of the higher category on your sailing. If the difference is small, booking it directly gives you a cabin you choose, right away, with no waiting. If the gap is large, a modest bid can be a reasonable gamble — as long as you are happy to lose it.
Smart Bidding
- Bid what it is worth to you, not what you think will win. If losing would be fine, bid low.
- Compare with the current price of simply booking the higher category. Sometimes a direct change is cheaper or nearly the same, and gives you a cabin you choose.
- Check the multiplier. Per-guest bids add up fast with three or four people.
- Think about location. A winning bid may put you somewhere you wouldn’t have picked. See best cabin locations.
- Keep your budget for the cruise. An upgrade that leaves no money for excursions is rarely a good trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my bid per person or per cabin?
It depends on the program. On some, including RoyalUp, the amount is per guest, so a two-person cabin is charged roughly double the figure you enter. Read the terms on your invitation carefully before you submit.
Can I cancel an accepted bid?
Generally an accepted bid is treated as final. Only bid on a cabin category you genuinely want at the price you enter.
Why wasn’t I invited to bid?
Eligibility depends on the line, the sailing, your fare type and whether upgrade inventory exists. Not receiving an invitation doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your booking.
Do I pick the cabin I bid on?
No. You bid on a category; the line assigns the cabin if your bid is accepted.
Got a Bid Invitation?
Send it to our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise. We will compare the bid with the cost of simply moving up and help you decide — free.
Ask Us About Upgrade Options