Here's how bizarre the MoveUp thing can get...

[Bruin Steve]

I just removed my "MoveUp" bid for one of my upcoming cruises.

The MoveUp site will allow me to "bid" on a Concierge class cabin for a minimum bid of a mere $800 per person (I'm currently in an "inside" for that one).  Of course, that's the minimum bid...and the little meter shows it as "weak"...

Currently, with four weeks to go before the cruise, they have 33  unsold or unassigned Concierge cabins.  The price for a concierge is now slightly less than for a veranda...I could, actually, move from my inside to a Concierge RIGHT NOW for a mere $400 per person just by picking up the phone and calling my TA.

But, I've decided to monitor this just a little longer.  I'm thinking that if those 33 go largely unsold much longer, they'll likely drop the price even more (they did that last June for our Alaska cruise...and we were eventually able to trade our booked inside for a Concierge with zero additional cost!)...I will just keep monitoring it for now...

 

But I am guessing that, out there, there are some people who placed bids of upwards of $800 per person hoping for that MoveUp upgrade...seriously!

[Lastdance]

10 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

I just removed my "MoveUp" bid for one of my upcoming cruises.

The MoveUp site will allow me to "bid" on a Concierge class cabin for a minimum bid of a mere $800 per person (I'm currently in an "inside" for that one).  Of course, that's the minimum bid...and the little meter shows it as "weak"...

Currently, with four weeks to go before the cruise, they have 33  unsold or unassigned Concierge cabins.  The price for a concierge is now slightly less than for a veranda...I could, actually, move from my inside to a Concierge RIGHT NOW for a mere $400 per person just by picking up the phone and calling my TA.

But, I've decided to monitor this just a little longer.  I'm thinking that if those 33 go largely unsold much longer, they'll likely drop the price even more (they did that last June for our Alaska cruise...and we were eventually able to trade our booked inside for a Concierge with zero additional cost!)...I will just keep monitoring it for now...

 

But I am guessing that, out there, there are some people who placed bids of upwards of $800 per person hoping for that MoveUp upgrade...seriously!

 

10 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

I just removed my "MoveUp" bid for one of my upcoming cruises.

The MoveUp site will allow me to "bid" on a Concierge class cabin for a minimum bid of a mere $800 per person (I'm currently in an "inside" for that one).  Of course, that's the minimum bid...and the little meter shows it as "weak"...

Currently, with four weeks to go before the cruise, they have 33  unsold or unassigned Concierge cabins.  The price for a concierge is now slightly less than for a veranda...I could, actually, move from my inside to a Concierge RIGHT NOW for a mere $400 per person just by picking up the phone and calling my TA.

But, I've decided to monitor this just a little longer.  I'm thinking that if those 33 go largely unsold much longer, they'll likely drop the price even more (they did that last June for our Alaska cruise...and we were eventually able to trade our booked inside for a Concierge with zero additional cost!)...I will just keep monitoring it for now...

 

But I am guessing that, out there, there are some people who placed bids of upwards of $800 per person hoping for that MoveUp upgrade...seriously!

I agree...sometimes the right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing.  Also, you have some time to just keep checking...sounds like a great position to be in at the moment!

[jelayne]

Don’t be surprised if they disappear over night.  Lots of ways to fill 33 cabins, assigning guarantees, free casino cruises, giving unsold inventory to a consolidator which can fill them in a matter of days, donating cabins for charity auctions and of course Move-Up.

[Mike981]

We only cruise in the Caribbean in January, so I never have this opportunity. I hope you snag a good one.

[Morgsmom]

We just booked our cabin this week and are in an Inside GTY category (as yet unassigned.) The lowest price to move up to a Veranda is  MORE per person than I could have booked it for (the difference, that is.)  

 

This is my first experience with move up so I'm not sure how this game is played.  I'm thinking that I am better off waiting until our cabin is assigned and THEN seeing what the deals are. 

 

From those of you in the know, is that a good strategy? 

[NutsAboutGolf]

A lot of people simply book the sailing, then bid on an upgrade and they don't look at the current rates.  Most of the cruise lines use something like this, NCL/RCL/Celebrity all use this current system, PlusGrade.  You imagine the goal would be to fill the ship from the top down and the software does all the work vs a human trying to figure this out.  I can add some datapoints, I sail on 5/31, celebrity.com doesn't list the sailing anymore I guess because it's so close yet I cannot see unbooked rooms.  I originally bid on the Family Veranda which was displaying a min bid of $150/person.  I had to change credit cards so attempted to change that bid yet I couldn't edit online (perhaps I could have called) so you had to cancel and rebid.  However, now the cheapest bid is $250/person so looks like I'll miss out.

[karolinatx]

Nuts, I’m on the same sailing and also bid on FV and also had to cancel and rebid bc of a new credit card number! Ha! I checked with my TA  on the 21st and the difference between the FV and our current veranda was over $2k. There were still two available on deck 7 and then a few days ago everything just poof disappeared all at once. 

[NutsAboutGolf]

12 minutes ago, karolinatx said:

Nuts, I’m on the same sailing and also bid on FV and also had to cancel and rebid bc of a new credit card number! Ha! I checked with my TA  on the 21st and the difference between the FV and our current veranda was over $2k. There were still two available on deck 7 and then a few days ago everything just poof disappeared all at once. 

 

There's a few 5/31 sailings, are you on the Solstice (which is currently showing sold out)?  Yeah, I think we should have called to change credit cards vs cancelling, maybe it's not too late.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

On 5/26/2019 at 1:32 PM, Lastdance said:

 

I agree...sometimes the right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing.  Also, you have some time to just keep checking...sounds like a great position to be in at the moment!

 

In this case the right hand knows EXACTLY what the left one is doing ....  as others have stated they know a certain % of cruisers will not check fares before submitting an upsell bid, assuming that the bid offer they get must be lower than the cost to call and do a paid cabin category change would be.  The bid upsell process is designed to maximize revenue for the cruise line, not to benefit the consumer.

[karolinatx]

2 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

There's a few 5/31 sailings, are you on the Solstice (which is currently showing sold out)? 

Yup. 

[Cruise a holic]

On 5/26/2019 at 1:20 PM, Bruin Steve said:

I just removed my "MoveUp" bid for one of my upcoming cruises.

The MoveUp site will allow me to "bid" on a Concierge class cabin for a minimum bid of a mere $800 per person (I'm currently in an "inside" for that one).  Of course, that's the minimum bid...and the little meter shows it as "weak"...

Currently, with four weeks to go before the cruise, they have 33  unsold or unassigned Concierge cabins.  The price for a concierge is now slightly less than for a veranda...I could, actually, move from my inside to a Concierge RIGHT NOW for a mere $400 per person just by picking up the phone and calling my TA.

But, I've decided to monitor this just a little longer.  I'm thinking that if those 33 go largely unsold much longer, they'll likely drop the price even more (they did that last June for our Alaska cruise...and we were eventually able to trade our booked inside for a Concierge with zero additional cost!)...I will just keep monitoring it for now...

 

But I am guessing that, out there, there are some people who placed bids of upwards of $800 per person hoping for that MoveUp upgrade...seriously!

We have moved up from a sky suite to a celebrity suite.  We did save money but we lost the captains club points.  Really not fair as we did pay more for that suite .  perhaps it would have remained empty.

[Lastdance]

2 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

 

In this case the right hand knows EXACTLY what the left one is doing ....  as others have stated they know a certain % of cruisers will not check fares before submitting an upsell bid, assuming that the bid offer they get must be lower than the cost to call and do a paid cabin category change would be.  The bid upsell process is designed to maximize revenue for the cruise line, not to benefit the consumer.

 

"Assuming"...thanks, but unless you show me the research and fact check, I  am agreeing with the OP and not you!  Your statment is one way to look at it; however, it may not work out that way at all...I think Steve has the right approach!  "As  others have stated"...The Move-up program is run by an independent company that may or may not interface with real time!  On my past cruise, I learned a lot about it from a reputable source onboard.  Before my cruise, I also spoke with corporate.

Edited May 27, 2019 by Lastdance

[LuAnn]

Where are you looking to see what cabins are still available? Do you do a "pretend" booking on X or ??? LuAnn

[NutsAboutGolf]

2 minutes ago, LuAnn said:

Where are you looking to see what cabins are still available? Do you do a "pretend" booking on X or ??? LuAnn

 

Yes, yet apparently the sailing disappears if it's sold out.

[Cruise a holic]

4 minutes ago, LuAnn said:

Where are you looking to see what cabins are still available? Do you do a "pretend" booking on X or ??? LuAnn

 

Just now, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Yes, yet apparently the sailing disappears if it's sold out.

I n addition to trying cruise line website i also check others

[Lastdance]

18 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

 

I n addition to trying cruise line website i also check others

 

I so agree, as this is never a one size fits all.  One has to continually be aware of perks and prices, looking at a multitude of sites, as all are dynamic...unfortunately, it is like playing a game to get the best price.  Ignorance sometimes is bliss, as if you are happy with the price, that is all that matters...money rules!

Edited May 27, 2019 by Lastdance

[AtlantaCruiser72]

3 hours ago, Lastdance said:

 

"Assuming"...thanks, but unless you show me the research and fact check, I  am agreeing with the OP and not you!  Your statment is one way to look at it; however, it may not work out that way at all...I think Steve has the right approach!  "As  others have stated"...The Move-up program is run by an independent company that may or may not interface with real time!  On my past cruise, I learned a lot about it from a reputable source onboard.  Before my cruise, I also spoke with corporate.

 

By assuming - meant that many consumers, who may not be as savvy as we on cruisecritic, would assume the upsell price in the bid program to be lower than that of just booking into the higher catagory to begin with, or calling to pay and be moved to a higher category would cost.  Whether run by the cruise line or not the bid programs are designed to return the maximum $$ to the cruise line in terms of revenue, which does not always translate to the consumer getting the best value

[Lastdance]

29 minutes ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

 

By assuming - meant that many consumers, who may not be as savvy as we on cruisecritic, would assume the upsell price in the bid program to be lower than that of just booking into the higher catagory to begin with, or calling to pay and be moved to a higher category would cost.  Whether run by the cruise line or not the bid programs are designed to return the maximum $$ to the cruise line in terms of revenue, which does not always translate to the consumer getting the best value

 

It is always about profit!  If one is happy with the price, I guess that is a win-win regardless of what anyone else may think.  I do enjoy the challenge of the game, but more so when I know I’ve gotten a good deal.  Life is so unpredictable and not easily controlled; however, I still want to know as much as possible about the game...I am very interested to learn what Steve was able to secure and at what price, so that I can say kudos! 

[LA_CA_GAL]

Strange.  I got the email.  I then did a fake booking and found out all suites were sold out.

[The_Big_M]

Nothing bizarre here. They're just different ways to upgrade, with different pricing models. They don't guarantee that Move up will always be the cheapest.

 

Caveat emptor...

[Mike981]

My two issues: You don't know where the room is and you don't get the increased Captain points.

[Cruise a holic]

When we bid on a celebrity suite, we also bid on a royal suite.  Both were not listed.  However people cancel at the last minute and I think sometimes they may hold back a suite or two for a last minute vip.  A few days before the cruise we got email that the royal suite bid was cancelled.  However not the celebrity suite!  I went to look at my charge card account and the bid amount for the Celebrity suite was accepted.     It was a very fair bid, and would have cost much more if I originally booked it.  so actually even if you don’t see available upgrades, they might be available.  

[BEAV]

3 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

When we bid on a celebrity suite, we also bid on a royal suite.  Both were not listed.  However people cancel at the last minute and I think sometimes they may hold back a suite or two for a last minute vip.  A few days before the cruise we got email that the royal suite bid was cancelled.  However not the celebrity suite!  I went to look at my charge card account and the bid amount for the Celebrity suite was accepted.     It was a very fair bid, and would have cost much more if I originally booked it.  so actually even if you don’t see available upgrades, they might be available.  

 

That was the case with our recent Millie cruise. For a long time, there were 6 open Celebrity Suites displaying. We were price & inventory watching on a daily basis, and one day noticed all 6 of those CS were suddenly gone, each of them having been there the day before. We never saw them return to inventory, yet we became acquainted with two different couples dining in Luminae who reported winning MoveUp offers to CS and were notified 5 days prior to sailing. The entire time we were monitoring the sailing (about 3 months), there were also no RS or PS displaying, assuming they were all booked through normal channels.

 

As with others on this thread who’ve reported various categories suddenly vanishing, my personal opinion is IN SOME CASES, at a certain point in time, Celebrity gives up on selling them outright and puts them into a pool to be liquidated through MoveUp. In the case of the sailing we were aboard, those 6 CS remained unsold for about 45-60 days that we were monitoring, then around the 30-day mark all vanished. 

 

Great thread, Bruin Steve, and I hope your strategy pays off. I know you’ll keep us appraised! 

[karolinatx]

Woohoo, just got the email that my MoveUp bid for the FV on the 5/31 Solstice sailing was successful!

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 minute ago, karolinatx said:

Woohoo, just got the email that my MoveUp bid for the FV on the 5/31 Solstice sailing was successful!

Congrats!  Care to share how much you bid?