As your cruise departure nears, you might be dreaming of having a bit more space to sprawl out, or maybe of a balcony, soaking tub, or even the Owner’s Suite. The good news is: Cruise lines want to upsell you, and they’re often willing to do it for less than you’d think.
Not that long ago, upgrades on cruises were a matter of loyalty and luck. However, an increasing number of cruise lines now offer guests the chance to bid on superior unsold cabins at a lower rate (much like how airlines auction off business- and first-class seats at a discount). It’s a scheme that allows the cruise company to earn additional money (and free up some of the easier-to-sell lower-priced cabins) while giving travelers a chance to enjoy upgraded accommodations for below-the-shelf price.
Here’s what you need to know about how to bid for discounted cruise cabin upgrades—and actually win.
How does cruise upgrade bidding work?
While the various cruise lines have different names for their bidding programs (like Level Upgrade, RoyalUp, and MoveUp), they all operate the same because they’re all managed by a company called Plusgrade (the same bidding company that airlines use).
In the weeks and months leading up to a sailing—usually before the final payment deadline—cruise lines may send guests an email notification inviting them to bid for an upgrade. However, if they don’t receive an email, cruisers can go directly to the upgrade bidding page on the cruise line’s website and input their reservation number to get the ball rolling.
Upgraded cruise cabins may come with other added perks—for instance, if you book into the Retreat on Celebrity ships, the suites include access to a private restaurant, lounge, and sundeck.
Courtesy of Ryan Wicks/Celebrity Cruises
Usually, the cruise line will have short descriptions and photos of the room upgrades available, and you can bid on as many categories of rooms as you want—don’t worry, you can only win once. (But remember, these bids are how much you’re willing to pay per person, based on double occupancy.) Some cruises also let you rank your preferences, so be sure to do that as well, if given the option. From there, you’ll be asked to provide your credit card information. If your bid is accepted, the funds will automatically be withdrawn.
Once you’ve submitted your bid, keep an eye on your email for any updates from the cruise line. It might come right away, or it may not come until the day of departure. Most cruise lines allow you to modify or withdraw your bid within a specified timeframe before the bidding window closes (which varies by company), but you can’t change your mind after the bid has been accepted.
There’s usually a minimum bid the company will accept, so unfortunately you can’t offer five bucks and get an upgrade. Remember, bidding for an upgrade is essentially a gamble. While many passengers have successfully secured upgrades at a fraction of the retail price, there’s no guarantee that your bid will be accepted. If your bid is unsuccessful, you’ll still be accommodated in the cabin you originally booked.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is known for its ornate staterooms and suites.
Photo by Pam McLean/Courtesy of Uniworld
How much does it cost to bid on a cruise upgrade?
There’s no magic number that will score you an upgrade—it all depends on what other people bid.
When placing your bid, consider factors such as the current availability of higher-tier cabins (the more available, the better your chances of getting an upgrade for less), the popularity of your sailing date (shoulder season sailings usually see less demand), and the likelihood of other passengers bidding for upgrades. Typically, even bidding slightly more than the minimum can greatly increase your chances.
While you want to be competitive, avoid bidding more than the upgraded cabin is worth to you. If you’re not careful, you could end up bidding more than the room originally sold for, so check the current price of that category before placing a bid. Lastly, note that you often don’t get to choose the location of your upgraded cabin on the ship, so if you’re prone to seasickness and want to stick to midship cabins (where the pitching and rolling associated with choppy waves is felt less) or want to avoid being under the nightclub, you may want to hold off.
Bid on a stateroom or suite with a balcony when sailing on Oceania Cruises—you won’t regret it.
Photo by Josh Lewis/Courtesy of Oceania Cruises
Cruise lines that offer upgrade auctions
Most of the cruise companies that offer bid-to-upgrade programs are larger brands, including:
- Alaskan Dream Cruises (by email invite only)
- AmaWaterways
- Azamara
- Celebrity Cruises
- Cunard
- MSC
- Norwegian
- Oceania Cruises
- P&O Cruises
- Princess
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Royal Caribbean
- Silversea
- Uniworld
- Virgin Voyages
Click the links above to see each cruise line’s complete bidding program and policies.
This story was originally published in March 2024, and was updated on March 28, 2025, to include current information.