footeam Posted July 9, 2022 #1 Share Posted July 9, 2022 I am on Symphony in September and got a RoyalUp offer a few weeks ago. Starting bids were $125 pp for large balcony all the way up to $5,300 pp for a Royal Loft. On Monday, I got another email and this time the prices ranged from $170 pp for the large balcony and the Royal Loft is $7420. I was all set to try and bid on a Crown Loft with a min bid of $800 pp, but when I go to bid, the min price is now $1135 pp, which is even more that the 2nd email, which listed $1120. Is this normal? I think I'll just stick with my balcony in a good location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeFan Posted July 9, 2022 #2 Share Posted July 9, 2022 I saw this too. Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted July 10, 2022 #3 Share Posted July 10, 2022 12 hours ago, footeam said: Is this normal? Min Royal Up prices can change, though usually not often. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingHogFan Posted July 10, 2022 #4 Share Posted July 10, 2022 Yel, I’ve seen them change on many sailings and the last couple cruises had a special discount that had a deadline. Always bid as soon as you get the email. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise a holic Posted July 10, 2022 #5 Share Posted July 10, 2022 18 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said: Yel, I’ve seen them change on many sailings and the last couple cruises had a special discount that had a deadline. Always bid as soon as you get the email. However, I would "assume" the upgrades go to the highest bid. Also if you are in a very desirable cabin/suite. the profit may be worth the line moving you up. If you love the cabin you are in-keep it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeykat Posted July 10, 2022 #6 Share Posted July 10, 2022 I received my Royal Up for Oasis leaving beginning of August. Junior Suite $420 pp. I love my balcony location so I am not going to bid...unless this comes down to half lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare OCSC Mike Posted July 10, 2022 #7 Share Posted July 10, 2022 18 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said: However, I would "assume" the upgrades go to the highest bid. From what I've read, it's not that simple and no one truly knows how the algorithm works. It likely factors in the cabin you're currently in, not just the bid like a standard auction. They may prefer to free up certain categories more than others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare orville99 Posted July 10, 2022 #8 Share Posted July 10, 2022 40 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said: However, I would "assume" the upgrades go to the highest bid. Also if you are in a very desirable cabin/suite. the profit may be worth the line moving you up. If you love the cabin you are in-keep it. We have won three with minimum bids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingHogFan Posted July 10, 2022 #9 Share Posted July 10, 2022 (edited) 47 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said: However, I would "assume" the upgrades go to the highest bid. Also if you are in a very desirable cabin/suite. the profit may be worth the line moving you up. If you love the cabin you are in-keep it. A lot more to it then just the highest bid. Current cabin and price originally paid for that cabin factors into it apparently. The days of bidding minimum bids and receiving a nice upgrade are about over now that ships are full again. Just don’t expect to go from a interior to a crown loft. Edited July 10, 2022 by CruisingHogFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise a holic Posted July 10, 2022 #10 Share Posted July 10, 2022 35 minutes ago, orville99 said: We have won three with minimum bids. Going from what type of cabin/suite to what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted July 10, 2022 #11 Share Posted July 10, 2022 1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said: From what I've read, it's not that simple and no one truly knows how the algorithm works. It likely factors in the cabin you're currently in, not just the bid like a standard auction. They may prefer to free up certain categories more than others. Yes like the Casino, The House always Wins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare orville99 Posted July 10, 2022 #12 Share Posted July 10, 2022 5 hours ago, Cruise a holic said: Going from what type of cabin/suite to what? JS to CLS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseygirl1416 Posted July 10, 2022 #13 Share Posted July 10, 2022 (edited) The minimum bids for suites on the email I just got are not much less than just upgrading yourself. A “fair” or “stronge” bid would be more than upgrading yourself. I guess they count on people not doing their homework. Edited July 10, 2022 by Jerseygirl1416 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise a holic Posted July 10, 2022 #14 Share Posted July 10, 2022 We are in a cls. I bid on star class. But I really love cls so I might cancel my bids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare little britain Posted July 12, 2022 #15 Share Posted July 12, 2022 On Anthem the stating bid ( JS to GS) was $100pp and now it’s $140pp. Wondering whether to submit purely to secure a space in CK 🤷♀️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leisuretraveler223 Posted July 12, 2022 #16 Share Posted July 12, 2022 Our entire economy is being crippled by spiraling inflation and people here are surprised it's actually impacting upgrade bids on cruises. There is no hope for us. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cublet Posted July 13, 2022 #17 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Hello, I think the RoyalUP is an exercise in smoke and mirrors supplemented with a good dose of BS. The price on RCI's website is 'the price' (E&OE) whereas the RoyalUP website is Plusgrade's that is only updated periodically. How do I know this? OK, this is for Celebrity, but I cancelled a X cruise three days out and rebooked because of a massive price difference. For those three days the 'old' booking was still live on Plugrade (with the previous/existing upgrade costs) whereas the new booking was not there. The 'massive price difference' was a 56% reduction and if there was any logic to the pricing structure then the up bid prices should be reduced by a similar amount otherwise those bidding were overpaying twice - first on the original price at which they booked and secondly on historical differences on cabin grade prices that were not updated. Regards, Cublet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted July 13, 2022 #18 Share Posted July 13, 2022 9 hours ago, cublet said: The price on RCI's website is 'the price' (E&OE) whereas the RoyalUP website is Plusgrade's that is only updated periodically. How do I know this? Folks here are routinely advised to check self upgrade costs and prices outside of Royal Up. RCI and Plusgrade are not in business to save you any money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cublet Posted July 14, 2022 #19 Share Posted July 14, 2022 21 hours ago, Biker19 said: Folks here are routinely advised to check self upgrade costs and prices outside of Royal Up. RCI and Plusgrade are not in business to save you any money. Hello, I don't disagree with you. What I am questioning is the oft-quoted 'algorithm' when I think it's just a finger in the air. Regards, Cublet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted July 14, 2022 #20 Share Posted July 14, 2022 2 minutes ago, cublet said: What I am questioning is the oft-quoted 'algorithm' when I think it's just a finger in the air. I don't think RCI would chance the highest overall income potential to a finger in the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare trafaelwyr Posted July 14, 2022 #21 Share Posted July 14, 2022 I just received my Royal Up email yesterday. I'm booked in an interior cabin (by my own choosing), but hey, if I can score a cabin with a balcony, that'd be very nice. If not, eh...oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum2Mercury Posted July 14, 2022 #22 Share Posted July 14, 2022 On 7/9/2022 at 7:15 PM, footeam said: I am on Symphony in September and got a RoyalUp offer a few weeks ago. Starting bids were $125 pp for large balcony all the way up to $5,300 pp for a Royal Loft. On Monday, I got another email and this time the prices ranged from $170 pp for the large balcony and the Royal Loft is $7420. I was all set to try and bid on a Crown Loft with a min bid of $800 pp, but when I go to bid, the min price is now $1135 pp, which is even more that the 2nd email, which listed $1120. Is this normal? I think I'll just stick with my balcony in a good location. Supply and demand. Likely the first time they offered large balconies, they had a glut of them -- and people upgraded. With fewer large balconies available, they raised the price. On 7/10/2022 at 11:15 AM, ONECRUISER said: Yes like the Casino, The House always Wins Oh, yes. They can only win by offering the option to upgrade. 1 hour ago, cublet said: I don't disagree with you. What I am questioning is the oft-quoted 'algorithm' when I think it's just a finger in the air. I think the "algorithm" has to do with more than a single room. I am sure they look for a pattern in which they can move this Inside to that Balcony and that Balcony up to a Grand Suite. It's about multiple people, not just you; thus, since you can never know who else is in the mix, you can never grasp the entire system. Luck is involved. I've worked with high school schedules, and I suspect it's kinda the same thing: 4th period Geometry is really overloaded ... so let's move these eight students into that small 2nd period English ... no, six bloats that class, so four to 2nd period English and four to Art. Every change we make causes ripples into other classes, and that's without money involved! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare OCSC Mike Posted July 14, 2022 #23 Share Posted July 14, 2022 6 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said: I think the "algorithm" has to do with more than a single room. I am sure they look for a pattern in which they can move this Inside to that Balcony and that Balcony up to a Grand Suite. It's about multiple people, not just you; thus, since you can never know who else is in the mix, you can never grasp the entire system. Luck is involved. Largely agree with all of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rogueperson Posted July 14, 2022 #24 Share Posted July 14, 2022 (edited) The last time I royaled up was for my March cruise this year. It was a 12 night on Enchantment. I scored a balcony on Enchantment (which are premiumly priced) for a bid of 225/person (450 total) from an interior (2V). At the time, a balcony was going for 4K for 2 people. I ended up paying 2K total for that room. Also, when i got the bid email, they were offering "discounts" on the bids, whatever that means. Edited July 14, 2022 by Rogueperson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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