RoyalUP? (Bid for stateroom upgrade)

[AstoriaPreppy]

Does anyone know if Junior Suites with large balconies are considered normal Junior Suites in the Royal Up system, or are classed as their own biddable category?

 

Asking because on our upcoming Anthem sailing, we can bid on Junior Suites and Grand Suites, but none of the large balcony JS. There’s also still 12 or so large balcony JS available for booking via the royal Caribbean website, so I know they exist. 

[jean87510]

what i find fascinating about people bidding on royal up is 1. expecting they will win and planning around it. 2. annoyed they won and have their new cabin in a undesirable spot. 3. trying to bid again after they win a royal up. 4. bidding the max amount. 5. not repricing their desired cabin to see if they can get it cheaper AND pick their room possibly.  Edit:  6. thinking they WON a bid and not realizing nothing is free.

 

And yes, I am guilty of at least 1 of these!

Edited February 7, 2022 by jean87510

[binro01]

20 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

what i find fascinating about people bidding on royal up is 1. expecting they will win and planning around it. 2. annoyed they won and have their new cabin in a undesirable spot. 3. trying to bid again after they win a royal up. 4. bidding the max amount. 5. not repricing their desired cabin to see if they can get it cheaper AND pick their room possibly.

You can do point five and still enjoy Royal Up for what it is. I personally did an old fashion upgrade when prices went down from a GTY Neighborhood Balcony to a 2D Oceanview Balcony for just 170.00 more.

 

Some folk who have a casino free cruise tend to be the folks who do the max bid on Royal Up to give them the best chance for the room they want at a great price, mainly because they are only invested in for taxes and port fees only.

 

I don't know about points one and two. At least that's not the impression I have received following this thread. I think it helps people's understand that it's a chance, not a guarantee, and you are at the whim of where Royal places you if you win a bid.

 

As for point three, I can see myself trying for a CLS if I get upgraded to a JS and I'm given the opportunity, mainly because I only have the option to bid up to an owners suite at this time.

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by binro01

[jean87510]

5 hours ago, binro01 said:

You can do point five and still enjoy Royal Up for what it is. I personally did an old fashion upgrade when prices went down from a GTY Neighborhood Balcony to a 2D Oceanview Balcony for just 170.00 more.

 

Some folk who have a casino free cruise tend to be the folks who do the max bid on Royal Up to give them the best chance for the room they want at a great price, mainly because they are only invested in for taxes and port fees only.

 

I don't know about points one and two. At least that's not the impression I have received following this thread. I think it helps people's understand that it's a chance, not a guarantee, and you are at the whim of where Royal places you if you win a bid.

 

As for point three, I can see myself trying for a CLS if I get upgraded to a JS and I'm given the opportunity, mainly because I only have the option to bid up to an owners suite at this time.

 

the observations of mine were from other social sites and message boards besides cruise critic.  You'd be surprised.

[swoopy2110]

On 2/1/2022 at 11:29 AM, sgmn said:

Congratulations,  

How did the whole jabs to travel and board go.  Did you have the one to board here or arrange once in USA? 

Hope we can return to USA next year 

No problems really. Verified all jabs etc. via the RCI app before leaving and wasn't asked for proof again.

I had the one to board done in the UK 2 days prior to sailing for the flight to the USA and then used the same result again to board.

 

Hope you are able to travel to the US again soon. It was great to be back in the sunshine.

[nolimits]

Boarding today,My. Bid still says pending 

is it possible to be checked in on ship and find out after Boarding 

[binro01]

1 hour ago, nolimits said:

Boarding today,My. Bid still says pending 

is it possible to be checked in on ship and find out after Boarding 

Odds are you did not get it. If you didn’t win your bid, you can try for an upgrade via the Guest Services route once you board. See if you can get in a list for an upgrade from a no-show / last minute positive COVID test cancellation. 

[pretzlaff]

On 1/25/2022 at 4:15 PM, pretzlaff said:

Booked a 4 night out of Port Canaveral for 7Feb22 last week for cheap. $200 per person for an ocean balcony. Unable to bid prior to an email offer today. 
 

The page claimed that all the bids were “50% off”, whatever that means. Still we were offered everything from a JS at a minimum bid of $15 (!) to a Royal suite. Mid grade suites had minimums of only about $100 up to the RS at $200. 
 

i bid about a quarter of the way up the scale rather than my usual $20 over the minimums. I bid $400pp for the RS.  $200pp for each of the OS and 2 bed GS. And $160 for the 1 bed GS.  I did not bid on the JS because I did not want that bid to compete with my others and a JS isn’t a big deal to us. 
 

We have gotten suites on our last 3-4 sailings thru royal up, and I really like playing this game!

No joy for us as we jump in the car to head to the port.  All my bids stayed 'pending'.  Yesterday I bid on the JS just to see if that would make a difference.  No.

 

If I had to guess what happened, I would say that booking it only two weeks out put us behind the process.  Looking at other posts, it seems like things are happening earlier than a few months ago.  It all seems to be happening 3-4 weeks out rather than during the last week.

 

Still happy with our cheap balcony.  We have 4-5 more cruises this year and should have a better bid up chance on those.

 

Cold, foggy, and rainy here in central Florida today.  Hope to find sun off the coast and a little south.

[Ourusualbeach]

27 minutes ago, binro01 said:

Odds are you did not get it. If you didn’t win your bid, you can try for an upgrade via the Guest Services route once you board. See if you can get in a list for an upgrade from a no-show / last minute positive COVID test cancellation. 

Not that it hasn't happened but I can't recall of reading of anyone that received the upgrade after checking in and being on the ship.  I laughed at some of the FB groups that I was on and all the people not unpacking until 7pm "in case they were upgraded",, that and thinking that because they bid they would definitely get upgraded.

[jilluh]

If you're in a room solo, do you pay for 2 people or just 1?

 

My situation is probably different than other solo travelers. I am going to be in a room alone because my cousin, who I had initially planned to travel with, refuses to get the vaccine. So, I haven't yet removed her from my reservation but got FANTASTIC deals for royal up, but of course they're for 2 people. Does anyone know if I were to remove her from the reservation, will I be able to bid for just 1 or do I pay for both "per person"?

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, jilluh said:

Does anyone know if I were to remove her from the reservation, will I be able to bid for just 1 or do I pay for both "per person"?

You pay the bid amount x 2 (regardless of how many are in the cabin). Don't remove her - have her be a no show.

[dmrichards26]

2 minutes ago, jilluh said:

If you're in a room solo, do you pay for 2 people or just 1?

 

 

 

The RoyalUp system is based around paying for two passengers.

 

Whether you have 1, 2, 3, or 4 people on your reservation, you will pay 2x your per-person bid.

[jilluh]

Just now, Biker19 said:

You pay the bid amount x 2 (regardless of how many are in the cabin). Don't remove her - have her be a no show.

Thank you for the advice! What is the benefit of her being a no show?

[Biker19]

Just now, jilluh said:

Thank you for the advice! What is the benefit of her being a no show?

If you try to remove her, you'll get repriced - that may or may not be better for you.

[jilluh]

3 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

If you try to remove her, you'll get repriced - that may or may not be better for you.

Ah got it - thank you again! It is a comped interior through the casino so not such a huge issue. The minimum for an ocean view is $15 pp, spacious panoramic is $20 pp, and balcony is $50 pp. Great prices for an upgrade from interior, so was thinking about going for it!

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, jilluh said:

It is a comped interior through the casino so not such a huge issue.

Then you do want to change to solo - to ensure you get the extra C&A points.

[mndity]

Cruising on Freedom 2/28.  Got my upgrade from Interior to a Balcony last Friday (2/4).  Nice surprise for minimum bid!!  Freedom must be fairly empty.

[MadamG2U]

We are on 2/28 Freedom got up grade Jr. Suite to Grand Suite 

[brillohead]

My next cruise isn't until April 23rd on Symphony, and I got a Royal Up email today.  Wow, never got one that far in advance before, I don't think!

[Cruising to Retirement]

Just got an upgrade from a Small Inside Cabin (160 sq. ft. on Deck 8 to a Spacious Panoramic Outside on Deck 12 with floor to ceiling windows - 280 sq. ft for just $50. per person..($100. total). Mariner of the Seas 2/12 Sailing  (5 Night)--- Do Not over Bid- Not Necessary,  $50. was the absolute minimum... 

[Ashland]

10 hours ago, brillohead said:

My next cruise isn't until April 23rd on Symphony, and I got a Royal Up email today.  Wow, never got one that far in advance before, I don't think!

It can vary. We've received the offer as early as 3 months out.

[bucfan2]

For anyone willing to jump thru all of the necessary protocols and willing to cruise w/ them, what a great time to experience (potentially) significant upgrades for very little $$.  Take advantage of the times before the 'winner' of the race is determined (protocol easement vs. bankruptcy).  Note: some believe they can stay alive on 30-50%, port fee only cruises and $100 upgrades from an interior to oceanview balcony or oceanview balcony to GS lol.

Edited February 8, 2022 by bucfan2

[nolimits]

We. Boarded Independence yesterday I bid to go up from 2bedroom suite to royal suite.Oriny we where 4 people the MIL canceled so really didn’t need both rooms but 2 bathrooms is nice.

My bid read pending till 6 Pm, We unpacked at 2:30 . Didn’t show expired till This AM.I do want to by RS and see if it’s occupied. Maybe my bid just wasn’t enough !

 

[pretzlaff]

10 minutes ago, nolimits said:

We. Boarded Independence yesterday I bid to go up from 2bedroom suite to royal suite.Oriny we where 4 people the MIL canceled so really didn’t need both rooms but 2 bathrooms is nice.

My bid read pending till 6 Pm, We unpacked at 2:30 . Didn’t show expired till This AM.I do want to by RS and see if it’s occupied. Maybe my bid just wasn’t enough !

 

We are here aboard with you. I got five emails last night at 7:05 showing each of my five suite bids being unsuccessful. 
 

I, too, wanted that RS. Let’s go bribe the state room attendant in that area to tell us if anyone is in the room. 

[nolimits]

LOl. If know one took we could just bid among the 3 of us