The Upgrade bidding

[yellow-submarine]

This is a recurring topic so I thought I will share this for those haven't yet got the email and they are wondering
 

• Received the upgrade bidding email 79 days before the sailing.
• Some says that if you are not signed up to 3rd party marketing, you don't get the email. Well I un-checked that and still got it.
• Not only the person who booked the cruise gets the email but all passengers including my kids. So watch out for this.
• The bidding is not managed by MSC it is outsourced to a 3rd party company PlusGrade
• As many on this and other forums mentioned before that communication between the two companies are poor. I can second that. My case proves that. They offered an upgrade on a Christmas sailing where there is not a single cabin available, not even a two bed cabin and we are a family and have a back to back itinerary

 

These were the upgrade prices at booking (I am a nerd who makes and keeps excel tables) and minimum and maximum bidding prices per person (up to 2 person):

 

Ocean View
Upgrade price at booking: £240
Minimum bid: £120
Maximum bid: £305

Balcony
Upgrade price at booking: £440
Minimum bid: £485
Maximum bid: £670

Balcony Aurea

Upgrade price at booking: £750
Minimum bid: £730
Maximum bid: £910

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by yellow-submarine

[yellow-submarine]

FAQs:
 

Q. What is MSC UpGrade?
A. MSC UpGrade is a bid-based stateroom upgrade program where your clients can score fantastic upgrades on select cabins and voyages.

 

Q. Is the MSC UpGrade offer amount per person per day or for the entire duration of the cruise?
A. MSC UpGrade offer amount is per person for the entire duration of the cruise. Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom – only the first and second guest will be charged.

 

Q. Does the MSC UpGrade upgrade include any additional promotions?
A. The MSC UpGrade upgrade does not include any additional promotions. However, you get to keep whichever promotions you already have.

 

Q. How do MSC UpGrade offers work if I am part of a group or traveling with another reservation?
A. Each MSC UpGrade offer is considered individually, MSC Cruises (MSC) cannot guarantee that all reservations traveling together will be upgraded. Under the circumstance that all reservations are upgraded, MSC cannot guarantee that all he upgraded cabins will be close together.

 

Q. Can I reject the MSC UpGrade upgrade after it is accepted?
A. No, once your bid is accepted, your card will be charged immediately, and the upgrade amount paid is final and non-refundable.

 

Q. What happens with the promotions I already have if I am upgraded through MSC UpGrade?
A. You get to keep the promotions you already have based on the stateroom category originally booked. However, no additional promotions will be added to your reservation.

 

Q. Can I choose the location or specific features of the MSC UpGrade upgrade cabin?
A. No, your cabin location and attributes will depend on availability. MSC cannot guarantee a specific cabin number assignment within the upgraded category.

 

Q. How much do I bid through MSC UpGrade if my reservation includes more than 2 guests?
A. If your reservation includes multiple guests, the offer amount submitted will be per guest but only for the first and second guest on the reservation.

 

Q. Can I modify or cancel my MSC UpGrade offer after I submit it?
A. You may modify or cancel your offer provided that it has not already been accepted by MSC and provided your credit card has not been charged.

 

Q. When will I know if my MSC UpGrade offer got accepted?
A. Your offer can be accepted anytime from the moment it is submitted up until 2 days prior to voyage departure.

 

Q. If I have two reservations can I bid only once through MSC UpGrade and if accepted, cancel the second reservation and move the guests into the upgraded cabin?
A. No, if you have two cabins you will need to submit two separate bids and they will be considered independently. MSC cannot guarantee that both reservations will be upgraded. In the case that one

of the reservations gets upgraded, you cannot move the he other guests into the upgraded cabin. All reservations cancelled within the penalty period will be subject to cancellation fees.

 

Q. Why did I or someone I’m traveling with not receive an invite to bid on a MSC UpGrade stateroom upgrade?
A. To receive an email invitation to bid on a stateroom upgrade guest must be opted-in to MSC Marketing e-mails. To opt-in, to receive emails guests can sign up on our website, opt-in through the online check in process or within My Reservations section of website.

 

Q. If my MSC UpGrade offer is accepted, will I earn MSC Club points at the rate associated with my upgraded stateroom category?
A. No. Accepted offers will earn MSC Club points at the original stateroom category purchased, and not the category of the upgraded stateroom. The terms and conditions of your original cruise booking will remain in effect following the acceptance of an Offer, including MSC Club Terms and Conditions. The best way to earn points quickly is to purchase the upgraded cabin category in your original booking.

[dexddd]

The third party sends even if sold out for data purposes.

 

NCL started around 2016.  There is probably a 1,000 page post about experiences.

 

MSC generally not much savings.

[Hydrotx]

Thanks for posting this. I'm around 140 days out from our next cruise and was wonder when the bid opportunities may show up. 

[clarky213]

Have you compared the current pricing against the Bid amount as it may have increased significantly since you booked your cruise.

[Essiesmom]

I booked my Seaside cruises almost within final payment.  I bid up on both, and won Aurea balcony both times.  I compared the total fare plus bid to the current booking price, and it was a considerable saving.  Also, the total fare plus upgrade for the B2B cruises totaling 7 days was less than what I paid for my previous cruise of 7 days on Summit to Bermuda in an inside cabin.  EM

[yellow-submarine]

@clarky213 There is no "current pricing" as this cruise is fully booked for 5 months now.
Sure you can compare it to current prices but if that is more expensive than what it could have been at the time of the booking you are still in loss.
And of course on off-peak cruises it is easier to get a low bid accepted. But still comparing that to current prices is not a good base point.

Edited October 25, 2023 by yellow-submarine

[Essiesmom]

I don’t know that either of my cruises were off peak.  Celebrity Summit was June 4-11, Seaside was August 13-20.  EM

[yellow-submarine]

@EssiesmomWhat was your winning bid vs pre-book price on MSC? 

[Essiesmom]

I don’t know what the pre-book price was because I was only interested in low price and booked inside gty.  And I never book with any packages as I seldom drink.  But my bids were low…for me it’s not a really, really want upgrade.  It’s just a form of gambling, I guess.  EM

[thepie]

I'm 7 days out from sailing and was offered an up grade I bidded on the yacht club grand deluxe. I am in an aurea suite. Looks like the YC  is fully booked. I was wondering how that was possible. I guess I wont get my hopes up then after reading your post, thanks.

[lcpagejr]

7 hours ago, thepie said:

I'm 7 days out from sailing and was offered an up grade I bidded on the yacht club grand deluxe. I am in an aurea suite. Looks like the YC  is fully booked. I was wondering how that was possible. I guess I wont get my hopes up then after reading your post, thanks.

I am cruising over Thanksgiving week and have received 2 separate upgrade bid emails in last month. I am in YC and it is full. On a previous MSC YC cruise I also received a upgrade bid.....     I was told MSC uses this as a marketing tool as well and keeps a record of your cabin type  interests.  Don't be surprised if you get a decline email as you are waiting in line to board.  This happened to me on our last cruise!!