If you've booked a cruise, but later decide you aren't happy with your cabin selection, can you get an upgrade or cabin change? The answer is YES! While it is advised to book your preferred cabin from the beginning, there are ways to change or upgrade your cabin before sailing if you wish. None of these are necessarily guaranteed, but here are several methods for making that change to your cruise booking.
Call The Cruise Line
At any time after booking, you can call the cruise line to ask about changing or upgrading your cabin type. If your desired cabin is available, most of the time all you need to do is pay the difference to make the change. This can be costly, but sometimes the difference is small. It really just depends on what you paid already vs what the current going rate is.
Bid on an Upgrade
Most cruise lines will email you at some point after you book to offer you the chance to bid on an upgrade. If you choose to bid on the upgrade, you'll simply follow the instructions in the email to place your bid. If your bid is accepted, your credit card will automatically be charged, and your booking will be updated with your new cabin number. The downside to this is that you can't choose your cabin, so you might get an obstructed view balcony or a cabin in a less desirable area. Also, there's no timeline for when you bid will be accepted. Your bid could be accepted any time until the day of sailing, or it could be declined altogether. The upside to this is that if your bid is accepted, there's a chance you'll end up with a higher category than your bid. For example, your bid for an ocean view cabin could be accepted, but you'll be assigned a balcony cabin.
Ask Guest Services Onboard
Onboard upgrades are becoming less common, but they do happen occasionally. When you board the ship, consider asking at guest services if you can upgrade to a better category. The is less likely to result in an upgrade than the previous two methods, but it might be worth a try. You will still be asked to pay something, as free upgrades are pretty much unheard of nowadays.
Book a "Guaranteed" Category
If you book a guaranteed cabin without a specific cabin number, there's a chance you'll get upgraded if your cabin category sells out. For example, if you book a guaranteed interior cabin, but the cruise line sells out of those interior cabins, you'll be assigned a higher category. This is probably the least expensive way to get an upgrade, but it definitely isn't the most reliable.
If you book a guaranteed cabin without a specific cabin number, there's a chance you'll get upgraded if your cabin category sells out. For example, if you book a guaranteed interior cabin, but the cruise line sells out of those interior cabins, you'll be assigned a higher category. This is probably the least expensive way to get an upgrade, but it definitely isn't the most reliable.
Book during a "Free Cabin Upgrade Promotion"
Sometimes cruise lines offer special promotions that promise a free cabin upgrade when you book. These are often run as flash sales or limited time promotions, and the best way to find out about these deals is to sign up for the cruse line's email promotions and follow them on social media.
Sometimes cruise lines offer special promotions that promise a free cabin upgrade when you book. These are often run as flash sales or limited time promotions, and the best way to find out about these deals is to sign up for the cruse line's email promotions and follow them on social media.
Finally, it is important to remember that if a particular category or cabin level is important to you, the best thing to do is to just go ahead and book that in the first place. Never count on being upgraded in the future because none of these methods are guaranteed. Do you have other methods for upgrading your cruise cabin? Leave a comment and let me know how you secure those upgrades!
