Unlocking Royal Caribbean Royal Up: Smarter Bids for Dream Cabins

Are you eyeing that balcony stateroom but settled for an inside cabin to stay on budget? Wondering if there’s a way to upgrade without paying full price? Here’s the deal: Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up program lets you bid on stateroom upgrades, and when it works, you can move from an interior to a balcony or even a suite for far less than booking it outright.

I’ve been submitting Royal Up bids for years. Some succeeded, some didn’t. A handful of Junior Suites. One Grand Suite. And most recently, my most epic win: a Star Class Suite (that story deserves its own article). In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how Royal Up works, what families should know before bidding, and the strategies that can boost your chances.

What is Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up program?

Royal Up is Royal Caribbean’s bid-based stateroom upgrade program. After you book your cruise, you may receive an invitation to bid on better cabins for your sailing. You offer what you’re willing to pay, and if your bid is accepted, you move to the upgraded stateroom. If your bid isn’t accepted, you keep your original stateroom with no extra cost.

The main benefits:

• You might pay less than booking a higher category outright
• You can experience premium accommodations without the premium price
• No risk if your bid isn’t accepted
• You can bid on multiple cabin types to improve your odds

How the Royal Up bidding process works

Getting an invitation to bid depends on your sailing and cabin availability. Not every cruise qualifies, so don’t be surprised if you don’t receive an offer.

1. Receiving your invitation

After booking your cruise, Royal Caribbean checks if your reservation is eligible for Royal Up. If it is, you’ll typically receive an email invitation several weeks before your sailing date with a link to start bidding.

You can also check your eligibility by visiting Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up page and entering your last name and reservation number.

2. Placing your bid

Once you access the Royal Up portal, you’ll see available upgrade options with a sliding scale showing minimum and maximum bid amounts for each category. You select how much you’re willing to pay per person for the upgrade.

Important note: Bids are priced per person based on the first two guests in the stateroom, for the entire cruise length. If you bid $100 per person on a 7-night cruise, you’ll pay $200 total ($100 x 2 people) if your bid is accepted.

You can place bids on multiple cabin types to increase your chances. For example, if you currently have an Ocean View stateroom, you might bid on:

• Balcony stateroom
• Junior Suite
• Grand Suite

3. Waiting for results

Royal Caribbean reviews bids up until shortly before sailing. If your offer is accepted, you’ll receive an email confirmation, and your credit card on file will be automatically charged for the upgrade amount.

If your bid isn’t accepted, nothing changes. You keep your original stateroom and pay nothing extra.

4. Modifying your bid

You can adjust or cancel your bid through the Royal Up portal before it’s accepted. This flexibility lets you increase your offer if you want to improve your chances or withdraw it if you change your mind.

Be forewarned: Once a bid is approved and charged, it becomes non-refundable and cannot be canceled.

Stateroom categories available for upgrades

The upgrade options you’ll see depend on your ship and what’s available for your sailing. Here are the main categories you might be able to bid on:

Ocean View and Balcony upgrades

These popular upgrades provide either a window with ocean views or a private balcony with outdoor seating. Many cruisers consider a balcony upgrade one of the most significant improvements to their cruise experience.

Suite upgrades

Suite upgrades are the most sought-after options in the Royal Up program. Depending on availability, you might see:

• Junior Suites: Larger living areas and bathrooms
• Grand Suites: Priority boarding, concierge access, and exclusive lounge access
• Crown Loft Suites: Two-level accommodations with premium amenities
• Star Class Suites: The highest tier, including Royal Genie service and VIP perks

Each suite level comes with progressively more space and exclusive benefits that can transform your cruise experience.

Tips and strategies for successful Royal Up bids

Want to improve your chances of getting that upgrade? Here are strategies that work:

1. Bid strategically

While Royal Caribbean sets minimum and maximum bid ranges, offering just the minimum rarely succeeds. Most successful bidders report placing offers in the middle to upper part of the suggested range.

Before deciding on your bid amount, compare the regular price difference between your current stateroom and the upgraded category. Here’s an example: If a balcony normally costs $800 more per person than your interior room ($800 x 2 = $1,600 total difference), a $50-per-person bid ($100 total) is unlikely to be competitive. A $300-per-person bid ($600 total) saves you $1,000 and stands a better chance.

2. Consider timing

The timing of your bid can affect the outcome. Some cruisers report success with early bids, while others find that waiting until closer to the sailing date works better when unsold staterooms remain.

As a general rule, submit your offer as soon as you receive the invitation to ensure you’re in the system, but understand that decisions often happen closer to the sailing date.

3. Be flexible about location

When you accept a Royal Up upgrade, you give up control over your specific stateroom location. Royal Caribbean assigns the upgraded stateroom based on availability, which means you could end up near elevators, above entertainment venues, or in a different area of the ship than expected.

Worth keeping in mind: If a specific location is crucial to you (for example, you need to be near the kids’ club or want a midship stateroom), booking the cabin type you want from the start might be better than relying on Royal Up.

4. Understand group booking limitations

Royal Up upgrades apply to individual reservations, not entire groups. If you’re traveling with family or friends on separate bookings, you may not all be upgraded together, potentially splitting your group across different parts of the ship.

What families should know before bidding

If you’re cruising with kids, Royal Up comes with a few extra considerations:

Cabin proximity: Upgrades are processed per reservation, not per group. If you’re traveling with multiple staterooms, your bids may not all be accepted. This can result in your family being split up across the ship. If staying close together matters (for example, grandparents in one cabin, parents and kids in another), it may be better to book the stateroom category you want upfront.

Bed configurations: Not every upgraded stateroom sleeps the same number of guests. Before you bid, double-check that the stateroom categories shown can actually accommodate your family size. Some suites have king beds and sofa beds, while others may not sleep four comfortably.

Budget awareness: Remember that Royal Up charges are per person based on the first two guests in each stateroom. For families with multiple cabins, that means the total can add up quickly. Always multiply the per-person bid by two and by the number of cabins before deciding what you’re willing to spend.

Example: You’re traveling with two staterooms (four adults total). You bid $200 per person for a balcony upgrade. If both bids are accepted, you’ll pay $200 x 2 people x 2 staterooms = $800 total. Make sure that fits your budget.

Kids’ priorities: Sometimes, kids are happiest with location rather than luxury. Being near the Adventure Ocean kids’ club or pool deck may matter more than having concierge lounge access. Think about what will actually make your family’s cruise smoother before placing a bid.

Important rules and limitations to know

Before placing your bid, understand these key rules:

Non-refundable bids: Once your bid is accepted, it cannot be canceled or refunded. You’ll be charged immediately, so only bid what you’re comfortable paying.

No stateroom selection: You cannot choose your specific upgraded stateroom. Royal Caribbean assigns it based on availability. While you’ll get the category you bid on, the exact location is not guaranteed.

Group considerations: If staying near travel companions is important, Royal Up might not be ideal since upgrades are processed individually, not as a group.

Benefits of upgrading through Royal Caribbean Royal Up

When your Royal Up bid succeeds, you’ll enjoy several advantages:

Enhanced amenities and suite perks

Depending on your upgrade level, you might gain access to:

• Priority boarding and disembarkation
• Reserved seating at shows and activities
• Exclusive dining options
• Concierge service
• Private lounges and sun decks
• Personal Royal Genie service (for Star Class suites)

Value compared to booking directly

The bidding system often results in paying less than the published rate for higher-category staterooms. This makes Royal Up a cost-effective way to experience premium accommodations without the premium price tag.

Impact on loyalty programs

Important note: Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society points are earned based on your original booked stateroom category, not your upgraded category. If you book an interior stateroom and win a Royal Up bid for a suite, you’ll still earn points at the interior rate.

This means Royal Up upgrades give you the experience and amenities of a higher category without the loyalty program benefits. If reaching a higher Crown & Anchor tier is a priority for you, booking the suite category outright (when suites earn double points per night) will accelerate your progress faster than upgrading through Royal Up.

So, what’s the bottom line?

Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up program offers a low-risk opportunity to enhance your cruise experience through stateroom upgrades. While there’s no guarantee your bid will be accepted, the potential rewards (more space, better views, and exclusive perks) make it worth considering, especially if you can bid strategically and stay flexible about location.

If you’re traveling with multiple staterooms and need to stay close together, book the category you want from the start. Otherwise, place your bid as soon as you receive the invitation, aim for the middle to upper range, and hope for the best. At worst, you sail in the stateroom you already booked. At best, you wake up to ocean views or suite-level perks for far less than full price.

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