RoyalUP? (Bid for stateroom upgrade)

[gemcat]

binro01, Thank you for the explanation. It did seem to be dependant on who bid what for which suite. Maybe, I'll just cut to the chase, cancel my bids, and keep my JS.  There seems lots of folks in the GS and higher. Right now, the website shows only 5 GS 1 bedrooms and 1 GS 2 bedroom available, so my chances appear negligible of winning any bid. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process to me.

[binro01]

10 minutes ago, gemcat said:

binro01, Thank you for the explanation. It did seem to be dependant on who bid what for which suite. Maybe, I'll just cut to the chase, cancel my bids, and keep my JS.  There seems lots of folks in the GS and higher. Right now, the website shows only 5 GS 1 bedrooms and 1 GS 2 bedroom available, so my chances appear negligible of winning any bid. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process to me.

You have the best opportunities to move to one class above you, since your cabin will be the top tier in the upgrade chain, so a bid into the GS will provide your best opportunities. I would go for that vs anything over a GS. This is not the case for interiors right now because of the shear amount of balconies available on ships these days and the reduced capacity we are sailing at. But with suites, they are a scarce commodity, so your best bet is to bid hard for the suite just above your current category for a win. (ie, Balconies should bid hard for a JS to have a reasonable chance to win one, JS should bid hard for a GS, GS should bid hard for a CLS or a OS... etc

Edited January 17, 2022 by binro01

[Starry Eyes]

1 hour ago, gemcat said:

binro01, Thank you for the explanation. It did seem to be dependant on who bid what for which suite. Maybe, I'll just cut to the chase, cancel my bids, and keep my JS.  There seems lots of folks in the GS and higher. Right now, the website shows only 5 GS 1 bedrooms and 1 GS 2 bedroom available, so my chances appear negligible of winning any bid. I appreciate you taking the time to explain the process to me.

Don’t over think this by worrying about other people’s bids.  Look at the deck plans.  See if you would be happy in every single suite in a given category.  If so, decide how much that upgrade is worth to you; if more than the minimum, bid that amount.  If there are suites in a given category that would make you unhappy (noisy location for example), perhaps you should not bid, as Murphy’s law says you are apt to get the one you do not want.  Do not worry about other people’s bids; they are out of your control.  Bid so you will be happy if you get the upgrade, but remember to also be happy if you sail in your JS.

 

You do not know if the people in GS want to move up.  They may have friends/family in nearby cabins.  Or they may have booked the cabin they want.  Or they may not want to further stretch their budget.  You cannot know,  don’t need to know, and are wasting energy guessing.

Edited January 18, 2022 by Starry Eyes

[jahannah]

1 minute ago, Starry Eyes said:

Don’t over think this by worrying about other people’s bids.  Look at the deck plans.  See if you would be happy in every single suite in a given category.  If so, decide how much that upgrade is worth to you; if more than the minimum, bid that amount.  If there are suites in a given category that would make you unhappy (noisy location for example), perhaps you should not bid, as Murphy’s law says you are apt to get the one you do not want.  Do not worry about other people’s bids; they are out of your control.  Bid so you will be happy if you get the upgrade, but remember to also be happy if you sail in your JS.

 

This might be the most reasonable post I have read in the last month.  Great advice!

[ticketsunlimited]

3 hours ago, RFerrington said:

They don't tell you in the RU offer whether it's for an A3 or an A4 ?  If they aren't differentiating I guess you must assume that it's entirely possible that you could get an A4.  I would NOT want an A4 on either Oasis or Allure.  Those rooms and balconies are really REALLY small.  A1 or A2 would be worth the chance but not an A4 if it is on O or A.

RF I see that people can bid on a Grand suite 1 bedroom and Grand suite 1 bedroom large balcony on Odyssey, the high end of bidding is much higher for the bigger balcony.  Do you know where these larger balcony grand suites are on Odyssey?

 

[jonj]

Good morning, our GS bid was accepted for our Odyssey 1/29/22. 😊

This was a comp cruise and we bid close to the max as we thought it was still a good deal to us. The charge is pending on our cc and app shows our new number. 

When I go to my reservation on the Royal website it says pay remaining balance, assuming this will clear once the charge on my credit card goes from pending to charge?

Edited January 18, 2022 by jonj

[Biker19]

8 minutes ago, jonj said:

When I go to my reservation on the Royal website it says pay remaining balance, assuming this will clear once the charge on my credit card goes from pending to charge?

With RCI IT anything is possible, but I'd wait a couple of days before worrying about it.

[island lady]

14 hours ago, lonestarmikeb said:

We are in a 2D balcony on the Jan 29th Odyssey cruise, we bid $80 on a large ocean view balcony and max out the bid on the JS at $220pp. Bid $500 to $540 on the Grand suite and higher not really expecting to get one. Checked today and all expired except Large Oceanview Balcony which is pending. I have to say a little let down since seeing people on here getting JS who bid less than us. We will still have a great time but a JS would have been nice. 

 

Don't feel bad...I am in a JS on that cruise, putting bids in for suites that really don't exist for booking online...so far anyway.  Probably won't find out anything until well after sail away, as it has been in the past.  And is very frustrating that they wait that long to tell you one way or another.  

 

Mine still all say "pending".   You at least are getting some reaction from them, and now can realize some hope.  Congrats in advance for your upgrade.  🙂 

[island lady]

35 minutes ago, jonj said:

Good morning, our GS bid was accepted for our Odyssey 1/29/22. 😊

This was a comp cruise and we bid close to the max as we thought it was still a good deal to us. The charge is pending on our cc and app shows our new number. 

When I go to my reservation on the Royal website it says pay remaining balance, assuming this will clear once the charge on my credit card goes from pending to charge?

 

Congrats!!  Sweet deal on a suite!  🤗  Wow...11 days to go and you already have a cabin!  

 

Me for this cruise...they are ignoring...again.  

[jonj]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Congrats!!  Sweet deal on a suite!  🤗  Wow...11 days to go and you already have a cabin!  

 

Me for this cruise...they are ignoring...again.  

Hope you get what you are looking for. Have you considered upping the bid? I wanted to bid a little over half way but my husband said if we really want the GS we should bid closer to the max. So we did. 

[island lady]

13 minutes ago, jonj said:

Hope you get what you are looking for. Have you considered upping the bid? I wanted to bid a little over half way but my husband said if we really want the GS we should bid closer to the max. So we did. 

 

Seems all over the board with that.  Friend on Harmony last week bid just over minimum to go from JS to CLS and won her bid a week before, getting cabin number assigned.  Me, I bid over half way on the scale on several cabins, GS, CLS, OS (I was in a JS) and never heard from them.  Pending still after I got on the ship.  I cancelled all bids once I was settled into original cabin, but did not unpack.  Went down to GS desk and was awarded an OS for half what my bid was.  😉 

 

Had put in bids in for 11/29 Odyssey weeks ago, and will leave them as they are.  But this will be the last time I attempt to use the Royal Up program.  Not working for me, since they don't inform me one way or another until after sail away.   Others are lucky with this...I am not.  

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2022 by island lady

[Mullwi]

Congrats to everyone who got good news and fingers crossed for everyone still waiting.  I have never tried royal up. I am currently in standard balcony I picked on deck 11 mid/aft. I was considering bidding on spacious ocean view balcony but it said either bigger room or balcony. I originally assumed it would be what people refer to as hump rooms. I would only want if it was bigger balcony.  Does anyone have thoughts on how many would be larger balcony vs larger room?  Thank you!

[jonj]

4 minutes ago, Mullwi said:

Congrats to everyone who got good news and fingers crossed for everyone still waiting.  I have never tried royal up. I am currently in standard balcony I picked on deck 11 mid/aft. I was considering bidding on spacious ocean view balcony but it said either bigger room or balcony. I originally assumed it would be what people refer to as hump rooms. I would only want if it was bigger balcony.  Does anyone have thoughts on how many would be larger balcony vs larger room?  Thank you!

From what I read it is luck of the draw and no way to know what you will end up with. If you are not happy with that option I would not bid. When my bids came up I didn't bid on that option because if I couldn't get a JS or a GS I would stay with the balcony cabin I had which I was happy with location. 

[ticketsunlimited]

8 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Seems all over the board with that.  Friend on Harmony last week bid just over minimum to go from JS to CLS and won her bid a week before, getting cabin number assigned.  Me, I bid over half way on the scale on several cabins, including CLS (I was in a JS) and never heard from them.  Pending still after I got on the ship.  I cancelled all bids once I was settled into original cabin.  

 

Had put in bids in for 11/29 Odyssey weeks ago, and will leave them as they are.  But this will be the last time I attempt to use the Royal Up program.  Not working for me, since they don't inform me one way or another until after sail away.   Others are lucky with this...I am not.  

ISLAND, what categories did you bid on?  They had a grand suite category and a grand suite with large balcony.  I know Ovation has that option but I cant find a Grand suite with large balcony on Odyssey.  Am I missing something?

[Starry Eyes]

12 minutes ago, Mullwi said:

Congrats to everyone who got good news and fingers crossed for everyone still waiting.  I have never tried royal up. I am currently in standard balcony I picked on deck 11 mid/aft. I was considering bidding on spacious ocean view balcony but it said either bigger room or balcony. I originally assumed it would be what people refer to as hump rooms. I would only want if it was bigger balcony.  Does anyone have thoughts on how many would be larger balcony vs larger room?  Thank you!

I  cannot imagine paying to be removed from a carefully handpicked cabin to be placed in that nebulous category anyplace on the ship.

[nessachelle]

7 minutes ago, jonj said:

From what I read it is luck of the draw and no way to know what you will end up with. If you are not happy with that option I would not bid. When my bids came up I didn't bid on that option because if I couldn't get a JS or a GS I would stay with the balcony cabin I had which I was happy with location. 

This is what I did as well.  We are in an OV balcony deck 8 on Oasis.  I had options to bid for larger balcony up to owner suite. I put in bids only on grand suite and owner suite. My opinion was that I am very happy with the room I already have but if I was going to spend more money on the room I only wanted it if it came with full suite benefits. 

[island lady]

2 minutes ago, ticketsunlimited said:

ISLAND, what categories did you bid on?  They had a grand suite category and a grand suite with large balcony.  I know Ovation has that option but I cant find a Grand suite with large balcony on Odyssey.  Am I missing something?

 

On Harmony last week I had bid on GS, OS, and CLS.   

 

On Odyssey coming up on 1/29...I have bids on GS one  bedroom, Owners suite, Grand Loft suite, Owners Loft suite.  But I don't see anything but the GS 1 bedroom listed for booking.  

[ticketsunlimited]

12 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

On Harmony last week I had bid on GS, OS, and CLS.   

 

On Odyssey coming up on 1/29...I have bids on GS one  bedroom, Owners suite, Grand Loft suite, Owners Loft suite.  But I don't see anything but the GS 1 bedroom listed for booking.  

[ticketsunlimited]

Where is the large balcony grand suite on odyssey? Does it exist?

[Mullwi]

Thank you for your thoughts. One of the reasons I was hoping for a larger balcony was for more comfortable chairs than the straight back with no adjustment chairs. Does anyone know if that is the type in standard balcony on symphony? ThAnk you again. 

[Jkaczanowski]

4 minutes ago, ticketsunlimited said:

Where is the large balcony grand suite on odyssey? Does it exist?

i scoured the deck plans for odyssey 2 weeks ago and looked again just now and I have never seen a GS with large balcony

[RFerrington]

I have read WAAAYTOOO many stories of people who were already booked in balcony cabins, who then bid on another balcony class, and were then disappointed with the [winning] results.  Some got absolutely nothing (in their opinion) for the upcharge (no perceived upgrade at all) and some received an undesirable location vs their original cabin.  This is why I would never recommend bidding within the same cabin class you already have.  IOW, if you are in a balcony, only consider JS and above.  That way you are sure to at least get a genuine upgrade for your money, even if you don't love the location.

 

This advice comes from someone who has never won a RoyalUp bid !!  LOL

[badvector]

19 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

On Harmony last week I had bid on GS, OS, and CLS.   

 

On Odyssey coming up on 1/29...I have bids on GS one  bedroom, Owners suite, Grand Loft suite, Owners Loft suite.  But I don't see anything but the GS 1 bedroom listed for booking.  

 

You might have a good chance based on the need for a JS to fill for other bids.  Hope whatever you get works out in your favor (even if you have to get it the old fashioned way).  I was able to book an aft balcony for the first time and I'm not willing to give it up for a JS in a location I wouldn't be happy with so we only bid on GS and it wasn't an earth shaking bid at that.  At least we'll be able to decide if we like the aft more than the hump.  Last I looked they had one aft JS available but I'm not willing to pay what they want for it right now.

 

My goodness, after I reread that post for spelling checks it almost sounds pornographic. 

[island lady]

17 minutes ago, ticketsunlimited said:

Where is the large balcony grand suite on odyssey? Does it exist?

 

No idea...mine just came up as available to bid on 1 bedroom GS...so I bid.  Not familiar with layout of Quantum series ships.  Odyssey is our first.  

[island lady]

8 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

I have read WAAAYTOOO many stories of people who were already booked in balcony cabins, who then bid on another balcony class, and were then disappointed with the [winning] results.  Some got absolutely nothing (in their opinion) for the upcharge (no perceived upgrade at all) and some received an undesirable location vs their original cabin.  This is why I would never recommend bidding within the same cabin class you already have.  IOW, if you are in a balcony, only consider JS and above.  That way you are sure to at least get a genuine upgrade for your money, even if you don't love the location.

 

This advice comes from someone who has never won a RoyalUp bid !!  LOL

 

It's all a gamble.  But at least you don't lose your money if you are not awarded your bid.  😉 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2022 by island lady