Winning RoyalUp bids after return to full capacity

[Biker19]

Just now, sargemrs said:

How late is this process started?  New to RCL.

The offers start just inside final payment (90 days out) and come as late as the last week. You can keep going to the site and try it at any time between those dates.

[sargemrs]

Just now, Biker19 said:

The offers start just inside final payment (90 days out) and come as late as the last week. You can keep going to the site and try it at any time between those dates.

AHH thanks for that!!  In your experience, does it make any difference on success, whether you booked with a TA or directly with RCL?

[Biker19]

Just now, sargemrs said:

In your experience, does it make any difference on success, whether you booked with a TA or directly with RCL?

No, though some TAs don't participate so if booked with one of those, you can't bid.

[sargemrs]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

No, though some TAs don't participate so if booked with one of those, you can't bid.

Okay.  Appreciate it~

[nemesees]

Thanks. I searched on RCL site and brought me to a fill in last name and booking number and then told me it’s too soon. Must try within 30 days from sail date. Thank you.

Edited March 28, 2023 by nemesees

[Biker19]

54 minutes ago, nemesees said:

Must try within 30 days from sail date.

That is a generic "error" you get for a host of reasons - if not eligible to bid you'll probably get same error inside 30 days.

Edited March 28, 2023 by Biker19

[nemesees]

57 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

That is a generic "error" you get for a host of reasons - if not eligible to bid you'll probably get same error inside 30 days.

You’re probably right. Could be because I have a guaranteed balcony cabin which has yet to be assigned?

[Yinster]

3 minutes ago, nemesees said:

You’re probably right. Could be because I have a guaranteed balcony cabin which has yet to be assigned?

Haven't an unassigned guaranteed balcony cabin won't be the reason  as there have been plenty of people who didn't know their cabin number but had the option to Royal up. 

[Biker19]

37 minutes ago, nemesees said:

You’re probably right. Could be because I have a guaranteed balcony cabin which has yet to be assigned?

No, a GTY booking won't preclude Royal Up eligibility.

[Jenna1983]

We threw in another for spacious OV balcony and it took about 10 days vs my 5. But there’s still 56 spacious OV balcony on Deck 9 for our sailing. They’re not lowering prices either with about three weeks to sailing. 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Jenna1983

[dleahy4444]

On 4/6/2023 at 6:24 PM, Jenna1983 said:

We threw in another for spacious OV balcony and it took about 10 days vs my 5. But there’s still 56 spacious OV balcony on Deck 9 for our sailing. They’re not lowering prices either with about three weeks to sailing. 

We are a month away from our sailing and the entire ship has been sold out for the last two weeks. The sailing doesn’t even show up on the website. Im trying to royal up into star class which has fewer staterooms to begin with so im not very hopeful. I haven’t seen any postings of successful bids from sky class to star class on a sold out sailing.

[mark22mac]

I received my royal up bid this past Feb. Went from a junior suite to a grand suite on the Symphony. I personally like junior suites better than a grand suite but i did it for the extra perks. Especially the suite sun deck.

Edited April 8, 2023 by mark22mac

[Cruisin'4Us]

What information is provided about the "upgrade" that a passenger is bidding on?

 

Is it always one category higher than your current category, or can it be more than one category higher?

 

Are any specifics given about the category, cabin number, general location on the ship, etc., that you are bidding on?

 

If your bid wins, is the cabin number provided to you immediately?  If you don't like the upgrade assigned, can you keep your original cabin instead?

Edited April 8, 2023 by Cruisin'4Us

[Wineaux007]

32 minutes ago, Cruisin'4Us said:

What information is provided about the "upgrade" that a passenger is bidding on?

 

Is it always one category higher than your current category, or can it be more than one category higher?

 

Are any specifics given about the category, cabin number, general location on the ship, etc., that you are bidding on?

 

If your bid wins, is the cabin number provided to you immediately?  If you don't like the upgrade assigned, can you keep your original cabin instead?

In my experience on an upcoming cruise, we are in a JS.  I was given the opportunity for 3 separate bids to higher categories.  You can either bid on all three or just one or two of them.  You will know your bid was accepted when they charge your credit card (if you get card notifications).  Check your cruise planner for your new cabin number/assignment.  You can't go back because others will have had the opportunity to bid on the JS you are vacating.  If you don't like the cabin you receive, you can only change if another one in your same category becomes available.

[Tree_skier]

I've had 8 cruises since the restart (7 RCL and 1 NCL) and bid for upgrades on 6 of them.  I am 0 for 6.  If it were not for the odd report here that someone had won a bid I wouldn't believe that any one is winning a bid.  

Edited April 8, 2023 by Tree_skier

[Tree_skier]

On 3/28/2023 at 9:10 AM, Biker19 said:

No, though some TAs don't participate so if booked with one of those, you can't bid.

I've heard that report.  I'm curious if there was ever a reason discovered why a TA would not want to participate in the program? What disadvantage is there to them?

[Yinster]

2 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I've heard that report.  I'm curious if there was ever a reason discovered why a TA would not want to participate in the program? What disadvantage is there to them?

Only speculating but my first thought would be commission. As the royal up is done by an external company, the TA will get no commission if you are successful. It is also extra time and work for them to inform you if you are interested in simply buying an upgrade as the majority of people will not think to do that after paying full payment. 

 

Other discounter TA will not have the chance to participate because they are already getting cabins at a very high discount 

[Yinster]

3 hours ago, dleahy4444 said:

I haven’t seen any postings of successful bids from sky class to star class on a sold out sailing.

I'm hoping to be the first. You are correct since there are fewer star class cabins and if they are all sold out, you need to be the highest bid if one becomes available. Simple case of odds

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

What disadvantage is there to them?

Extra work in paperwork. The profit margin is likely so small they can’t be bothered with the extra work. TAs do get the commission on the extra spent on Royal Up by the customer. 

[cruiseboy89130]

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

I've heard that report.  I'm curious if there was ever a reason discovered why a TA would not want to participate in the program? What disadvantage is there to them?

Stupid bidding questions all day long.....that take up their time!

 

Edited April 8, 2023 by cruiseboy89130

[ClaireA1978]

We got inside cabin to ocean view balcony on Jewel was very happy-we bid the absolute minimum price. That was Oct 21 tail end of lockdowns

[nemesees]

What I suspect happens, 3rd party TAs that do not sell their block of cabins by a certain time will have to return those blocks to the cruise line who will then try to sell via RoyalUp. The loss is expected to be made up thru casinos, shops, spas, packages and other money making venues.

Meanwhile, cabin sales will continue the regular way for those that want to select the deck and location. Just a thought.

[sandebeach]

9 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

I've had 8 cruises since the restart (7 RCL and 1 NCL) and bid for upgrades on 6 of them.  I am 0 for 6.  If it were not for the odd report here that someone had won a bid I wouldn't believe that any one is winning a bid.  

It had been a while since I won a Royal Up bid but yesterday my Royal Up was accepted. Went from an OV balcony to a junior suite on the Odyssey TA. 

[Wineaux007]

18 minutes ago, sandebeach said:

It had been a while since I won a Royal Up bid but yesterday my Royal Up was accepted. Went from an OV balcony to a junior suite on the Odyssey TA. 

If this is this coming Odyssey TA, we are in a JS and RoyalUp bid to GS.  I guess someone else's bid was accepted to free up that JS, and ours was too low.  🙃  

[Cruise a holic]

Since ships are now sailing at capacity, odds for getting an upgrade have declined.  However, if you for example are in an inside cabin, and bid on a balcony  or oceanview, with a reasonable bid, you might be lucky.  If you truly want to upgrade, best to pay for it and do at retail.