RoyalUP? (Bid for stateroom upgrade)

[rolloman]

On 2/7/2023 at 11:15 PM, fredmdcruisers said:

Yes. Some have said R Up is pretty much over with full ships again.

It does not matter if the ship is full... whoever came up with the idea is a corporate genius.  For example, all they need to do is hold back one suite in the inventory...then the process begins of upgrading cabins begins bottom to top with the existing passengers. Creating found revenue on an otherwise sold-out sailing. 

[Starry Eyes]

16 minutes ago, rolloman said:

It does not matter if the ship is full... whoever came up with the idea is a corporate genius.  For example, all they need to do is hold back one suite in the inventory...then the process begins of upgrading cabins begins bottom to top with the existing passengers. Creating found revenue on an otherwise sold-out sailing. 

Rather than holding back a suite, I think it is more likely that RoyalUp allows them to maintain higher suite prices even as the cruise date approaches.  They can sell the suite at full price if there is a motivated last minute buyer (the full suite price is generally substantially more than the sum of the RoyalUp bids). If the suite does not sell or very high bids are submitted, the suite goes to RoyalUp, with a potentially cascade of winning bidders until an inside cabin is vacant or allocated to an inside gty booking.

[Engineroom Snipe]

8 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

Rather than holding back a suite, I think it is more likely that RoyalUp allows them to maintain higher suite prices even as the cruise date approaches.  They can sell the suite at full price if there is a motivated last minute buyer (the full suite price is generally substantially more than the sum of the RoyalUp bids). If the suite does not sell or very high bids are submitted, the suite goes to RoyalUp, with a potentially cascade of winning bidders until an inside cabin is vacant or allocated to an inside gty booking.

 

I tend to agree with your hypothesis more than holding a suite open.

 

Royal-Up will have an existing standby price of a bid waiting for acceptance. RCI will be given that price information from Royal-Up and can keep the suite price as high as possible until sold or debarkation.

 

This also works into the idea that a last-minute cancellation or no show has a purchaser on standby who is already authorized and prepared to be on board.

 

Again, we speculate and hypothesize but it is fun to try and understand the "system." 

[Starry Eyes]

15 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

 

I tend to agree with your hypothesis more than holding a suite open.

 

Royal-Up will have an existing standby price of a bid waiting for acceptance. RCI will be given that price information from Royal-Up and can keep the suite price as high as possible until sold or debarkation.

 

This also works into the idea that a last-minute cancellation or no show has a purchaser on standby who is already authorized and prepared to be on board.

 

Again, we speculate and hypothesize but it is fun to try and understand the "system." 

In that fun loving, speculative spirit, I’d extend your hypothesis about a standby-by price: it might be a sum.  The stand-by price might include the whole cascade of bids that be fulfilled if an upper level cabin went into the RoyalUp system. If the vacant suite is an OS, the bid from a person in a GS may not look impressive in isolation, but there is a nice bid for a GS from a JS dweller, and a nice bid for the JS from a balcony dweller, etc. If the OS goes to RoyalUp, the whole cascade of winning bids is collected, so that would be my interpretation of the stand-by price.

[CruiseMomTX]

 

This will be our 6th Royal cruise since Thanksgiving and finally got a Royal Up!!  We originally used a casino offer to book a balcony on the Radiance 10 day 2/27 sailing and while on the Adventure last week we saw a Jr Suite open and were able to move to that with no extra money, they actually said we have to get approval since its showing cheaper than your current room.  After that we got an email saying our Royal Up bids were cancelled and we decided not to worry about seeing if we could try to Royal Up again.  Well a night or two ago I decided why not and bid $530 total for a 1 bedroom grand suite and just now got the email saying our offer was accepted!!! We are excited and know it won't have the same perks you would get on an Oasis class ship but a bigger room anyway.  So tell me what perks we will get and how can we get in touch with the concierge for dinner reservations if that's a perk on the Radiance.  We bought the UDP.  Our new cabin is 1048.

[rolloman]

4 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

In that fun loving, speculative spirit, I’d extend your hypothesis about a standby-by price: it might be a sum.  The stand-by price might include the whole cascade of bids that be fulfilled if an upper level cabin went into the RoyalUp system. If the vacant suite is an OS, the bid from a person in a GS may not look impressive in isolation, but there is a nice bid for a GS from a JS dweller, and a nice bid for the JS from a balcony dweller, etc. If the OS goes to RoyalUp, the whole cascade of winning bids is collected, so that would be my interpretation of the stand-by price.

That stand-by price you speak of can go away with a simple click from the passenger bailing out of the system. I say they have a set algorithm they follow and if everything lines up the system won't hesitate to implement the upgrade. My previous post was only an example to explain a full ship will not necessarily halt the program. Through the Royalup program they can effectively squeeze as much juice out of the lemon as they can until the bitter end. Personally, I like the current system as the old way back in the day was to talk to the pier coordinator at check in and see what kind of a deal you could work out. This system also eliminates a few thousand people standing in line on day one at Guest Services asking the same question lol....

[Starry Eyes]

8 minutes ago, rolloman said:

That stand-by price you speak of can go away with a simple click from the passenger bailing out of the system. I say they have a set algorithm they follow and if everything lines up the system won't hesitate to implement the upgrade. My previous post was only an example to explain a full ship will not necessarily halt the program. Through the Royalup program they can effectively squeeze as much juice out of the lemon as they can until the bitter end. Personally, I like the current system as the old way back in the day was to talk to the pier coordinator at check in and see what kind of a deal you could work out. This system also eliminates a few thousand people standing in line on day one at Guest Services asking the same question lol....

Sure, that hypothetical stand-by price would be dynamic.  It would drop if a top bid in cancelled and the computer calculated the standby price with the next highest bid combination.  Similarly, it might rise if a higher bid was posted or when someone increased their bid.  That the situation can often change with a simple click would explain why PlusGrade removes the cancel/modify button from some bids it seems to be seriously considering; a simple click is no longer an option.

 

[rolloman]

4 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

Sure, that hypothetical stand-by price would be dynamic.  It would drop if a top bid in cancelled and the computer calculated the standby price with the next highest bid combination.  Similarly, it might rise if a higher bid was posted or when someone increased their bid.  That the situation can often change with a simple click would explain why PlusGrade removes the cancel/modify button from some bids it seems to be seriously considering; a simple click is no longer an option.

 

Lol...it is a race to the click...deal or no deal.

[BND]

We just got another RoyalUp email for our 8 April EN cruise.  It's been sold out for a bit.  Not sure how long because I hadn't checked, but like all cruises out of Baltimore, it's sold out now.   People are questioning why bother bidding and I agree.  Besides always picking the cabin and location we want, the odds of getting an upgrade are pretty small.  We're in a JS and there's not many cabins above that on EN.  

[rolloman]

2 hours ago, BND said:

We just got another RoyalUp email for our 8 April EN cruise.  It's been sold out for a bit.  Not sure how long because I hadn't checked, but like all cruises out of Baltimore, it's sold out now.   People are questioning why bother bidding and I agree.  Besides always picking the cabin and location we want, the odds of getting an upgrade are pretty small.  We're in a JS and there's not many cabins above that on EN.  

Pretty small when you bet the minimum...put a healthy bid in and then get back to me. 

 

[Engineroom Snipe]

2 hours ago, BND said:

We just got another RoyalUp email for our 8 April EN cruise.  It's been sold out for a bit.  Not sure how long because I hadn't checked, but like all cruises out of Baltimore, it's sold out now.   People are questioning why bother bidding and I agree.  Besides always picking the cabin and location we want, the odds of getting an upgrade are pretty small.  We're in a JS and there's not many cabins above that on EN.  

Always matters where your starting point is located.

 

I have a spacious cabin in November on the Enchantment of the Seas EXACTLY where I want the location to be. I could be offered a Junior Suite for $200 more and not even give it a thought.  My cabin has a 180 square foot balcony next to an $8,000 Grand Suite. Would I like a Grand Suite, YES!  Do I want to pay five times what I paid for a Grand Suite, NO!

 

Every thing is relative in life. My bed onboard is the same as a much larger suite. My balcony is actually larger than the GS next to me. I am happy to be cruising.

 

As so many have expressed, I hope everyone gets an upgrade of their dreams but if you want a specific type of room on a special voyage, do not leave it to chance.

 

Just purchase it and know what you have is want you want.

[BND]

8 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Always matters where your starting point is located.

 

I have a spacious cabin in November on the Enchantment of the Seas EXACTLY where I want the location to be. I could be offered a Junior Suite for $200 more and not even give it a thought.  My cabin has a 180 square foot balcony next to an $8,000 Grand Suite. Would I like a Grand Suite, YES!  Do I want to pay five times what I paid for a Grand Suite, NO!

 

Every thing is relative in life. My bed onboard is the same as a much larger suite. My balcony is actually larger than the GS next to me. I am happy to be cruising.

 

As so many have expressed, I hope everyone gets an upgrade of their dreams but if you want a specific type of room on a special voyage, do not leave it to chance.

 

Just purchase it and know what you have is want you want.

The JS we have is the same one we had last July and we picked it because it has a larger balcony than other JS.  I guess due to it's location.  A GS, OS or RS on EN are in locations we don't like. They're all at the front of the ship.  For us, there is no added benefit of a GS or higher, except size.  EN doesn't have all the bells and whistles for suites that larger ships do and we've been in the CL on EN and we prefer the DL.    The rest of our booked cruises for this year and into '24 are b2b's and I am not risking our cabins for that.  For all of them we have the same cabin on each leg.  

[BND]

9 hours ago, rolloman said:

Pretty small when you bet the minimum...put a healthy bid in and then get back to me. 

 

On EN?  How much has pretty much nothing to do with on a ship that has about 20 total GS and above and only 10 are GS.  Ship always sails sold out and I have yet to meet anyone onboard (or on any of our roll calls) who has won a bid on EN to a suite.   By healthy, you mean pay what it would have cost in the first place to book a higher category?  If I wanted to do that I would have booked it to begin with.  It is a lot more likely to win on a larger ship.  

Edited February 24, 2023 by BND

[Engineroom Snipe]

14 minutes ago, BND said:

The JS we have is the same one we had last July and we picked it because it has a larger balcony than other JS.  I guess due to it's location.  A GS, OS or RS on EN are in locations we don't like. They're all at the front of the ship.  For us, there is no added benefit of a GS or higher, except size.  EN doesn't have all the bells and whistles for suites that larger ships do and we've been in the CL on EN and we prefer the DL.    The rest of our booked cruises for this year and into '24 are b2b's and I am not risking our cabins for that.  For all of them we have the same cabin on each leg.  

 

You literally found your "happy place", enjoy. 😁

[Cruise a holic]

9 hours ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Always matters where your starting point is located.

 

I have a spacious cabin in November on the Enchantment of the Seas EXACTLY where I want the location to be. I could be offered a Junior Suite for $200 more and not even give it a thought.  My cabin has a 180 square foot balcony next to an $8,000 Grand Suite. Would I like a Grand Suite, YES!  Do I want to pay five times what I paid for a Grand Suite, NO!

 

Every thing is relative in life. My bed onboard is the same as a much larger suite. My balcony is actually larger than the GS next to me. I am happy to be cruising.

 

As so many have expressed, I hope everyone gets an upgrade of their dreams but if you want a specific type of room on a special voyage, do not leave it to chance.

 

Just purchase it and know what you have is want you want.

On the older ships like the adventure and the enchantment IMO a large Jr. suite is perfect. No real suite perks that are important. However on a ship that is Oasis class a big difference.  Years ago, I would agree with you, but since we now only book suites it is a big deal.  It makes the trip so much nicer having a true suite lounge, deck and restaurant.  Not to mention the other perks.  However it all depends on your budget of course.  If you can afford it- do it.  If not don't.

[Sigyn]

This is the first time I'm sailing with Royal Caribbean. I booked a neighborhood balcony guarantee stateroom two days ago. Just received an email with RoyalUP offers. Not familiar with it, but have bid on room upgrades on other cruise lines. I've now read some of this thread, and read other articles on the process. Trying to keep this bonus cruise inexpensive since it's a mother-son extra vacation we're squeezing in between the holiday cruise we just did and our Alaskan cruise in July.  I'm willing to make a small offer on a balcony that fronts the ocean, but not much, so I don't know if there's really a purpose. There are only 13 ocean-front regular balconies left for this sailing that leaves on April 1. 

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, njsmom said:

I'm willing to make a small offer on a balcony that fronts the ocean, but not much, so I don't know if there's really a purpose

Up to you if/how much an OV balcony is worth.

[Sigyn]

42 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Up to you if/how much an OV balcony is worth.

Yup. Not a whole lot.

[Starry Eyes]

4 hours ago, njsmom said:

This is the first time I'm sailing with Royal Caribbean. I booked a neighborhood balcony guarantee stateroom two days ago. Just received an email with RoyalUP offers. Not familiar with it, but have bid on room upgrades on other cruise lines. I've now read some of this thread, and read other articles on the process. Trying to keep this bonus cruise inexpensive since it's a mother-son extra vacation we're squeezing in between the holiday cruise we just did and our Alaskan cruise in July.  I'm willing to make a small offer on a balcony that fronts the ocean, but not much, so I don't know if there's really a purpose. There are only 13 ocean-front regular balconies left for this sailing that leaves on April 1. 

I know you booked recently.  Have you completed your check-in to get a boarding time and set sail pass?  If so, use the “barcode trick” to see if your future cabin number is already coded.  Sometimes knowing my gty assignment influences my RoyalUp bid (amount of bid or if I like the assignment not to bid on certain upgrades)

[Sigyn]

10 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

I know you booked recently.  Have you completed your check-in to get a boarding time and set sail pass?  If so, use the “barcode trick” to see if your future cabin number is already coded.  Sometimes knowing my gty assignment influences my RoyalUp bid (amount of bid or if I like the assignment not to bid on certain upgrades)

I did. It still says GTY after the dash. No room number yet. Thanks for suggesting it, tho. It sounds like a good trick!

[nyletak]

Hey everyone,

 

I signed into my account today and was given the option to bid on my cruise leaving May 11th. I didn't know this was an option until now. As of right now there is no "minimum bid", the scale just says "no offer to xyz price", is this likely to change once people start bidding?

 

We are already in a large ocean view balcony room, and we really didn't want to spend any more on this cruise. If I were to offer something insanely small like 50-75 dollars per person, do I have a shot? LOL or just not bother. And I read somewhere its better to bid later vs earlier. Any tips/tricks? 

[Cruise a holic]

1 hour ago, nyletak said:

Hey everyone,

 

I signed into my account today and was given the option to bid on my cruise leaving May 11th. I didn't know this was an option until now. As of right now there is no "minimum bid", the scale just says "no offer to xyz price", is this likely to change once people start bidding?

 

We are already in a large ocean view balcony room, and we really didn't want to spend any more on this cruise. If I were to offer something insanely small like 50-75 dollars per person, do I have a shot? LOL or just not bother. And I read somewhere its better to bid later vs earlier. Any tips/tricks? 

If you can afford it- bid why not.  As they say-" you got to be in it to win it!"

[Biker19]

3 hours ago, nyletak said:

As of right now there is no "minimum bid", the scale just says "no offer to xyz price", is this likely to change once people start bidding?

Did you actually try to bid? The min usually jumps to some min amount. The min does change, but rarely. You can bid whenever you want, unlikely to make a diff.

[tj_shopper]

About two weeks ago, I received a Royal Up email to bid on my cruise on Enchantment for May 15, 2023.  My daughters are each in an inside cabin and the minimum to bid for a balcony was $260 per person minimum.  I went ahead and placed a bid for each of them for a balcony.  My husband and I have a balcony and the minimum bid for a  Junior Suite was $210 per person.  I went ahead and placed the minimum bid for my cabin.

 

Fast forward to today and while checking the status of our bids, I noticed that the balcony bid for each of my daughters is now at a minimum of $85 per person.  I did reduce my bids for their balcony to $150 per person.

 

On the flip side, my sister who also has a balcony decided to bid for a Junior Suite.  When she went into bid, the minimum for the Junior Suite is now at $385 per person versus the $210 per person minimum I had two weeks ago.

 

Does anyone know why this occurred?  I did take a look to see if our cruise is sold out and it is not.  Currently, there are 102 unsold inside cabins, 62 unsold outside (windows) cabins, 0 baconies, 32 unsold Junior Suites, 2 Grand suites, 3 Owners Suite and 1 Royal Suite available.  What do you think are the olds of us winning our bids?

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, tj_shopper said:

Does anyone know why this occurred? 

No one other than RCI and Plusgrade knows the criteria used to set pricing. Keep checking the inventory and you'll likely see a large drop in inventory when wins are handed out (usually the same day). Good luck.

Edited March 14, 2023 by Biker19