Royal Caribbean offers upgrade bids

ROYAL Caribbean International is reinvigorating its RoyalUp “bid-based stateroom upgrade program,” under which already booked passengers can make offers to upgrade to a higher category cabin.

The fully commissionable scheme initially launched almost four years ago (CW 18 Jan 2019), with cruisers able to make their bids between 45 and 75 days prior to sailing on eligible departures.

Royal Caribbean takes care of all the upgrade arrangements, while travel partners receive full commission on the upgrade amount for successful bids, apart from initial bookings made under a net price code, which will not earn commission on the upcharge.

Passengers with reservations that are eligible for the program will receive a RoyalUp email in the lead-up to their departure, which will offer a selection of stateroom and suite categories along with their associated minimum bids.

Customers who want to upgrade can select a dollar amount they are willing to spend on the upgrade, and put a credit card on file which will only be charged if the offer is accepted.

Passengers are notified by email if their bid was accepted at least two days before sailing.

The RoyalUp offer amount is per person for the full duration of the cruise, with offers based on two occupants per stateroom, with only the first and second guest being charged.

Successful bids will be charged immediately they are accepted, and upgrade amounts paid are final and non-refundable.

Crown & Anchor loyalty points will be earned based on the category of the original booking, not the upgraded category.

It’s also possible to check if a particular booking is eligible for an upgrade offer by entering details at royalcaribbean.com.

The program’s relaunch comes in the lead-up to the imminent arrival of Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas in local waters, with the ships to operate their first Australian seasons in three years this summer.