Royal Up Upgrade

[coaster]

Just look outside Royal Up before you do it. Fall sailing prices seem to be dropping quickly after final payment. Royal Up minimum bids are stuck at high levels. Can go from balcony to jr suite right now for under $300 total on our Grandeur sailing next month direct with Royal. Royal Up wants a minimum bid of $500. Plus you get to pick your cabin outside of Royal Up.

 

Just be smart and don't always default to Royal Up to upgrade. I think it is because Royal Up is a third party vendor and just can't adjust their prices lower as rates drop. A disconnect between current Royal pricing and Royal Up's rates that do not reflect price drops on Royal's side.

Edited October 17, 2022 by coaster

[OCSC Mike]

3 hours ago, 1bravesfan said:

Was just able to figure out my GTY Balcony on Radiance of the Seas cruise using the bar code trick and not sure I like the location (Cabin 7644).  May have to up my bid or ask to be relocated in the same category.

 

Just moved my GTY for a cruise 7 days out. Keep checking if you don’t see one you like. There was almost nothing available in my category for the past week since I got my official assignment, let alone something I liked, then one popped up today.

[ckrobyn]

On 10/14/2022 at 7:47 PM, Breezie68 said:

I'm cruising Nov 2nd and got mine accepted 2 days ago.

What ship?

[trajan]

18 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Then that's what you should bid... whatever it's worth it to you. Just make sure you're bidding less than it would cost to just pay to upgrade.

 

As an example, we can upgrade (not RoyalUp, just pay) from an interior to a balcony for $100 total for 2 of us on our 4-night Indy cruise on Monday. On paper, it's a no-brainer, but we don't actually use our balcony hardly at all when we have one so we're debating. Everyone has their own values and preferences.

Good advice!

Strange thing for us is that on the Nov 7 Mariner sailing, suites have been shown as sold out for a while now. There’s literally hundreds of empty cabins but no suites. And it’s like that for Mariner throughout Nov. Weird.

Edited October 18, 2022 by trajan

[Cruzinforpeace***]

On 10/17/2022 at 1:51 PM, 1bravesfan said:

Was just able to figure out my GTY Balcony on Radiance of the Seas cruise using the bar code trick and not sure I like the location (Cabin 7644).  May have to up my bid or ask to be relocated in the same category.

 

What is the “bar code trick”?  I’ve got a GTY ocean view cabin booked for a November 6th cruise on Anthem.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Cruzinforpeace***

[OCSC Mike]

11 minutes ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

What is the “bar code trick”?  I’ve got a GTY ocean view cabin booked for a November 6th cruise on Anthem.

 

Method 1. If you have an Apple device, add your set sail pass to your Apple wallet. Numbers will now appear under your bar code. The numbers after the dash represent your cabin.

 

Method 2. Scan the bar code with a QR scanner from another device and that should also show you the numbers.

 

NOTE: If you see "GTY" instead of numbers, you truly haven't been assigned yet. One tip off is that if you don't see a muster station on your set sail pass then you almost definitely don't have an assignment yet.

[jagsfan]

On 10/15/2022 at 6:35 PM, neverbeenhere said:

you are ineligible 

Are the others,  like internet agencies, eligible?

[Cruzinforpeace***]

52 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Method 1. If you have an Apple device, add your set sail pass to your Apple wallet. Numbers will now appear under your bar code. The numbers after the dash represent your cabin.

 

Method 2. Scan the bar code with a QR scanner from another device and that should also show you the numbers.

 

NOTE: If you see "GTY" instead of numbers, you truly haven't been assigned yet. One tip off is that if you don't see a muster station on your set sail pass then you almost definitely don't have an assignment yet.

It looks like we are assigned according to the “trick”. Deck 3 by the casino.  Looks like a connecting cabin too.  Fun fun fun.  Oh well, this is the risk you take with a GTY.  At least it’s basically midship and low. Not a bad deal in November during hurricane season in the Atlantic.  We shall bring a very loud sound machine🤪.  I lived below the water line in a tiny inside cabin when I worked on ships; actually loved the sound of the waves hitting the walls as I fell asleep in complete darkness. 

[OCSC Mike]

Just now, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

It looks like we are assigned according to the “trick”. Deck 3 by the casino.  Looks like a connecting cabin too.  Fun fun fun.  Oh well, this is the risk you take with a GTY.  At least it’s basically midship and low. Not a bad deal in November during hurricane season in the Atlantic.  We shall bring a very loud sound machine🤪.  I lived below the water line in a tiny inside cabin when I worked on ships; actually loved the sound of the waves hitting the walls as I fell asleep in complete darkness. 

 

Remember, once officially assigned, you can switch to any cabin in the same exact category for free provided any are available. I just switched one myself yesterday for a cruise on Monday.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

1 minute ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Remember, once officially assigned, you can switch to any cabin in the same exact category for free provided any are available. I just switched one myself yesterday for a cruise on Monday.

Good to know.  Thank you!

[mpdog42]

On 10/17/2022 at 10:14 AM, StephPS79 said:

If no one has mentioned it, you can modify or change your bid anytime before 2 hours prior to departure.

 

how does one do that?

 

 

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/

[DaKahuna]

7 minutes ago, mpdog42 said:

how does one do that?

 

 If you booked direct with Royal Caribbean, call them and ask to be moved.  Best is if you check available cabins by doing a mock booking and find one in the same category that you like and ask to be moved to a specific cabin number.

 

IF you booked through a TA, have the TA call Royal on your behalf.  Again, having a cabin you prefer that is showing available will help tremendously.  Must be the same category as the assigned cabin.  

 

[StephPS79]

15 hours ago, mpdog42 said:

how does one do that?

 

If you placed a bid, you get a confirmation email which has a link to cancel/modify your bid.

[tpcwags]

On 10/17/2022 at 5:01 PM, coaster said:

Just look outside Royal Up before you do it. Fall sailing prices seem to be dropping quickly after final payment. Royal Up minimum bids are stuck at high levels. Can go from balcony to jr suite right now for under $300 total on our Grandeur sailing next month direct with Royal. Royal Up wants a minimum bid of $500. Plus you get to pick your cabin outside of Royal Up.

 

Just be smart and don't always default to Royal Up to upgrade. I think it is because Royal Up is a third party vendor and just can't adjust their prices lower as rates drop. A disconnect between current Royal pricing and Royal Up's rates that do not reflect price drops on Royal's side.

This is excellent advice. I had a $75pp upgrade bid from OV Guarantee to Spacious OV but was tracking pricing for Grandeur 11/13 cruise and called my TA today and was able to upgrade for no additional cost. I cancelled my Royal Up bid.

[OCSC Mike]

Some of the winning bid reports I'm seeing (elsewhere) for my Indy cruise Monday boggle my mind. I kinda feel bad for inexperienced cruisers who don't check prices or realize what a good price is. At least they'll have a great time but the frugal shopper in me is weeping.

[jean87510]

I cancelled my bids on my Allure cruise Saturday as I'm in a spacious OV balcony already, have the key, have UDP, diamond status so get their lounge, no suite points and don't care about coastal kitchen.  It would have been $1010 extra for a JS alone.  All suites have been sold out for months so i couldn't compare prices.  I think I should be ok without an upgrade.  Just couldn't justify it this time.

[Starry Eyes]

3 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Some of the winning bid reports I'm seeing (elsewhere) for my Indy cruise Monday boggle my mind. I kinda feel bad for inexperienced cruisers who don't check prices or realize what a good price is. At least they'll have a great time but the frugal shopper in me is weeping.

Well, I guess if those cruisers are posting their winning bids, they are happy.  Frugal frequent cruisers may look differently at the situation than those non-frugal, non-frequent cruisers posting winning bids.  Perhaps maximize their infrequent days on a ship is more important to them than getting a great deal.  If they are happy, I’ll be happy for them (and as a shareholder, I should hope they spend freely on board, too)

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

Well, I guess if those cruisers are posting their winning bids, they are happy.  Frugal frequent cruisers may look differently at the situation than those non-frugal, non-frequent cruisers posting winning bids.  Perhaps maximize their infrequent days on a ship is more important to them than getting a great deal.  If they are happy, I’ll be happy for them (and as a shareholder, I should hope they spend freely on board, too)

 

They are definitely happy and I get your point. I wasn't suggesting they need to be frugal; I'm just such a bargain hunter by nature, my brain can't handle when people don't maximize value. Splurging is a personal decision and people should spend their money however they want. It's getting a bad deal that triggers me, lol.  As an example, someone who won a RoyalUp from an interior to an OV (window, not balcony) could have upgraded last week to an OV balcony for almost the exact same price (there were an abnormally high number of balconies left at a very low price for 2 full days). Other posters realized this (many b/c they used a TA) and upgraded for very little money.

 

P.S. My original post also wasn't meant to be super serious.

[Starry Eyes]

32 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

They are definitely happy and I get your point. I wasn't suggesting they need to be frugal; I'm just such a bargain hunter by nature, my brain can't handle when people don't maximize value. Splurging is a personal decision and people should spend their money however they want. It's getting a bad deal that triggers me, lol.  As an example, someone who won a RoyalUp from an interior to an OV (window, not balcony) could have upgraded last week to an OV balcony for almost the exact same price (there were an abnormally high number of balconies left at a very low price for 2 full days). Other posters realized this (many b/c they used a TA) and upgraded for very little money.

 

P.S. My original post also wasn't meant to be super serious.

Yeah, I get it.  I come from a long line of bargain hunters and took up the habit at an early age.  My earlier post was not meant to be critical.  Had the posters on the other site solicited advice sooner, no doubt you’d have suggested checking upgrade prices vs RoyalUp.  

[OCSC Mike]

Just now, Starry Eyes said:

Yeah, I get it.  I come from a long line of bargain hunters and took up the habit at an early age.  My earlier post was not meant to be critical.  Had the posters on the other site solicited advice sooner, no doubt you’d have suggested checking upgrade prices vs RoyalUp.  

 

That's the wort part... people were actively sharing stories of how inexpensive it was to upgrade to a balcony during those 2 days I mentioned last week. Those who weren't cruise savvy and didn't know to check prices on their own should have been tipped off. Oh well.

[AtSeaAlways]

On 10/7/2022 at 12:59 PM, carlosalonsor said:

For me it's a strange situation. 

 

I booked directly with RC and I keep getting the 30 days error message, however there are other fellow cruisers in the same sailing who have been able to bid.   

This is a thing- feels like a software bug.  I booked two five day Consecutive cruises direct /web 28 days ahead of sailing.  The first one gave the 30 day error the second one allowed bids.  I got the link out here.   If it lets you bid I got an email back per cabin type bid a week before sailing.  The email mentioned the onboard team reviewing the bid.  My bid was accepted like two days pre sailing.  Interestingly the cabin we won - OV -yaa- had the loyalty benefit sheet from another guest on the bed.  So RoyalUP feels like an overlay on current systems.  

[CFLRetired]

We're new to Royal up.  Today we received our first email for Royal Up for a December sailing.  There are no suites available on any travel site including Royal Caribbean's, but on the Royal Up email it's offering bidding on every suite category.   Is this normal?  Are they planning ahead just in case of cancellations or could their system be behind on bookings?   I was thinking of bidding, but didn't know if it would be a waste of time?

[Biker19]

4 hours ago, CFLRetired said:

Is this normal? 

Are they planning ahead just in case of cancellations?

Yes.

That and they can collect marketing info (how much people are willing to bid).

[Fisherwoman]

On 10/7/2022 at 9:25 AM, 1bravesfan said:

I should have done my research before putting in a bid.  I bid the minimum on a suite and grand suite.  It would be a bummer to miss out on some of the Suite Perks if they were to accept after the ship had sailed.

 

 

If you get upgraded after sailing, do you not get the suite perks (e.g. Coastal Kitchen)?

[OCSC Mike]

56 minutes ago, Fisherwoman said:

If you get upgraded after sailing, do you not get the suite perks (e.g. Coastal Kitchen)?

You get everything except double points (assuming you were previously booked below a JS).