Starry Eyes

Were all gty’s assigned after all other cabins were booked (ie when cruise is sold out) and if people had access to full inventory, then it would be accurate that all others had passed by the cabins that went to the gty’s. However, that is simply untrue. First, we know some gty cabins are assigned relatively early, and most are assigned before the ship is sold out. Secondly, when booking people do not have access to all cabins. There may be hidden inventory. There are categories people may not have access to when they booked if ever (example: triple balcony cabins were never released for bookings by parties of two on a recent cruise yet I was assigned one as a gty). The other point is that, depending on pricing pattern, substantial percentage of bookings on a cruise may be gty. If only a small percentage of cabins are hand selected by knowledge cruisers (rookies might hand select inferior cabins, like right below the pool deck for convenience), the large number of gty assignments move closer to random.

At a few days before sailing, they likely have a limited number of vacant cabins and they may still have a limited number of unassigned gty bookings. With RoyalUp, the company can make money even though if the vacancies are suites and the unassigned bookings are inside gty. The best bid on the suite is accepted, in this example leaving a JS vacant. The best bid on a JS is accepted, in this example leaving a balcony vacant. The best bid on a balcony is accepted, in this example leaving an OV vacant. The best bid on the OV is accepted, leaving an inside vacant. The inside gty can now be assigned the vacant cabin. If they do not have any more inside gty’s , Royal can advertise them until the very last minute.

Well, Steph, you probably would not sign yourself “desperately seeking upgrade”; it would not match your post. I totally get your point. It is a large part of the reason bidding exists. I share many of your sentiments. I do watch for price drops that will allow me to upgrade myself (it is nice to catch one), but generally I bid. I simply bid what I feel the upgrade is worth to me. While I hope to win, I am not upset or surprised if I lose.

Dear Desperately Seeking Upgrade, Honestly if you really were truly desperate for an upgrade, you probably should have pulled the trigger at some point and upgraded yourself by paying the listed price for the cabin you desired. Though more expensive, that is the surest route to a better cabin and the route most people sailing in better cabin take now, leaving few for RoyalUp bidders. If full price was over your budget and you really, really want an upgrade, perhaps you should have bid as high as you comfortable paying. There are many other potential bidders on the ships now so it is easy to be outbid. If you bid as much as you as willing to pay and still lose, then that’s that; you stay in your original cabin. Some rando on the internet in a different cabin going for a different upgrade on a different sailing (perhaps when capacities were lower or on a ship that had cancellations for some reason or just lucky) will post about their winning low bid. And now and then randos on the internet are fibbing (to encourage others to bid low to make it easier for them to win in future? Or just for fun?) Thousands and thousands of others could post about their losing low and moderate bids; it would go on for pages and pages and pages to balance each winning minimum bid. Of course, if a minimum or low bid is all the upgrade is worth to you, that is what you should bid. In fact, sometimes the minimum might be more than the upgrade is worth to you and you don’t bid at all. There are not many cabins available via RoyalUp, so most bids lose.

During the restart, Royal did have some offer special considerations, including OBC, to lure cruisers back; you are coming back too late for that program. I’ve never booked through the casino department, so I cannot help you on that point. I think Royal does have some sales that are for “new bookings only.” So, it is possible that you will see a upgrade price after final payment, call in and hear you do not qualify. Consider yourself forewarned, so you will not be shocked or angry if it happens. If it does happen and that same price continues to show day after day, perhaps call back and see if you get the same answer; sales terms might change. Edit: Also notice that (unlike NCL) many of Royal’s best fares have “nonrefundable deposits.” Before you book nonrefundable, be sure you have the right ship/sail date. If you are forced to change your plans before final payment, try to pick a new ship/sail date so you can transfer your deposit ($100 pp fee) rather than lose the whole deposit.

Well, once several years ago when our initial destination was damaged by hurricane, we booked a gty cabin the day before sailing (I assume somebody else had to cancel their cruise due to same storm). We showed up at port with a reservation number and smiles. We booked too late to do check in so we did not have set sail pass and certainly not a cabin assignment or luggage tag. Fun and memorable cruise. More relevant: A couple months ago, we received a balcony gty assignment on Harmony 5 days before sailing. We booked that one about 30 days out😊

People learn about the requirement in different ways. A nurse mentioned an upcoming Bermuda cruise during an appointment. She had not heard of the travel authorization and asked me for the details.

Ahh, you really cannot know what rooms will be available via RoyalUp. Granted, sometimes they are the unbooked cabins, and you can see those. Others are cancellations; they could be anywhere. Other cabins become available when their occupants won their own RoyalUp bids; those could be anywhere, too. Location of RoyalUp cabins is a risk, and people should think carefully (like gty) before they decide to take that risk.

https://costco-travel-us-mbr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4142/~/does-costco-travel-participate-in-any-cruise-line-bid-to-upgrade-programs%3F Too late this time; you cannot participate due to your big box travel agency. They “own” your reservation and made the decision for you. Next time you want to book a cruise, you will know that if you book via your big box store you will not be able to bid for upgrades for any cruiseline.

Well, sometimes there are reasons to arrive early, as you know. Rocket launch traffic, desire good parking spot in ramp, early flights. If people arrive early for their own reasons, they can check the situation. If they cannot be accommodated, they can go to Grills for a Bloody Mary. Recently we did not have any boarding time check before security at Terminal 1 for Harmony. There were no gates to wait in line outside for later arrival times. There was a short wait inside for security. Honestly, it was starting to feel like pre-covid.

I think those minimum bid wins were reported far more frequently when ships were sailing way below capacity. Maybe several people will volunteer recent winning bids to help; older ones from times of low passenger counts are not so relevant. In any case, I think you should concentrate on what that suite is worth to you via RoyalUp, not what it was worth to somebody else. If you feel the extra space and the suite perks on that ship are worth $X, then bid $X.

Are you booking from the US/Canada? UK? Somewhere else? Many of us book under North American booking rules; if prices drop between booking and final payment, we can re-price. So, if the price is acceptable on that cruise today today, I’d book then watch for price drops until final payment. After final payment, watch prices if higher categories (not your own!); if price drops on a better cabin you might want to pay to upgrade your cabin. People booking in other locations have different rules (and may also have different travel protections/laws). If that applies to you, post your location. You might get different advice for an April ‘23 booking.

That would certainly be easier for her than filing with her travel insurance.

I think the OP and her cabinmate have a couple choices. If cabinmate wants to make a claim on travel insurance, the cabinmate needs to cancel; that might cause the OP to be charged the single rate. Or the cabinmate could be a no-show and the cabinmates negotiate the $ privately.

Remember to pack earplugs no matter where your assignment. I consider them a good luck charm: I’m less likely to need them if i have them.

I’ve booked quite a few neighborhood gty on Oasis class; I have not been assigned deck 14 yet. Also, I’ve had some luck swapping cabins after assignment, so even if I am assigned deck 14, I would probably keep an eye out for swaps. I noticed you posted on the Harmony Nov 7 Roll Call. If that’s the cruise, I see substantially more BW cabins on 8 and 9 than on 14. I also see as many CP cabins on 12 as on 14. I have stayed on deck 12 in CP with no noise issue in cabin interior…though I guess on the balcony the poolside music etc might be a tad louder than on deck 11 CP balcony (but anybody that picky about noise probably shouldn’t book a gty!). Also, if that is the cruise, check in will be soon and you’ll be able to use the barcode trick on your set sail pass to see if Royal has a cabin planned for you.

YMMV. Like you I have seen them released, but not always. Recently I had a balcony gty for two and I was assigned a quad cabin. The quad cabins in my category/sailing not released for bookings for parties of two (I kept watching until the end).

Be careful. Prices on those items varies. Perhaps she has locked in a good price some time ago. If she cancels now she loses that price and would have to repurchase at the prevailing rate. It could cost her some real $…or not if prices are the same. Also I believe at some point, they close the cruise planner for pre-cruise purchases and/or cancellations. I do not know the timeframe; maybe another poster will know the cruise planner details.

From other threads, I have the impression your friend will receive her refreshment and wifi package refunds quicker if she cancels them herself in her cruise planner…that’s assuming she decides she is not going while she is still able to cancel them via cruise planner. It should be refunded either way, just a question of efficiency.

Typically one is only offered the opportunity to bid up a couple meta-category from current cabin. So inside cabin meta-category may have the chance to bid on OV and Balcony meta-categories. To bid on suites, typically you need to be in an OV balcony cabin. That is not a hard and fast rule; once in a while they might break this pattern and offer different opportunities.

That’s what I’d do, too. I’d also have materials from my first cruise handy (invoice showing you booked suite as opposed to RoyalUp, sea pass card) when visiting LA on second leg.

That solos often do not qualify for gty rates on Royal is a long standing issue; at least you now know to watch out for it.

Is the double cabin a guarantee? It is common that gty cabins are not offered to solos. When that happens, not only must the solo pay a single supplement but must do so on a higher base rate, resulting in the pattern you describe. It might happen other times, but that is the most common circumstance. Is it right? Well, it does not seem right to me, but RCI has not asked my opinion. If that cruise were booked as a double, and only one person showed up, eventually one set of taxes and port fees would be refunded. Also, if that cruise were booked as a double, there is typically no charge to change the name of the second person on the reservation, so if circumstances change you could take a friend or relative. If you book as a double and the second person is a no show, a recent rule says you do not get the extra C&A points like a true solo booking.

I do not see cabins available for sale for your cruise at the moment. Sometimes that is a temporary state and sales re-open. Keep watching. Your gty is likely set up for a cabin for two, so you may not be able to add two more to your current booking. Call and ask, but do not be surprised if you hear no….or if allowed you may hear a high price.

I’m going to answer on the assumption that you will continue cruising and can do Oasis class in the future. If you do not think that is true, ignore my post. For this Thanksgiving cruise, I’d select Jewel. As it is a holiday cruise, there should be enough other kids and activities for your child. The GS is a nice touch on a full ship; hubby will likely appreciate the respite from a busy ship. The itinerary will be fun for all. For many people (especially with teens) it is easier to move from a small ship to a big ship than the other direction. Sail that itinerary you crave now while you can. Plan an Oasis class cruise in the future. The ships in that class are really rather similar, so it does not have to be the newest one (unless you want it to be). There are so many opportunities to sail that class, you will easily find another suitable opportunity. Generally, this class does not sail as interesting of itineraries as the ships are so large; they can only enter certain ports.