RoyalUP? (Bid for stateroom upgrade)

[actuarian]

1 hour ago, bthodges said:

Just got the Royal up email for our adventure 6 night western Caribbean on 12-16-18. The 2 of us are currently in a promonade interior room that we got from a interior guarantee selection for 920$ total from our TA. Our offers are 

 

oceanview-50$/pp

ocean view balcony- 150/pp

panaromic suite- 300/pp

junior suite- 350/pp

 

based on the suite prices are they worth it for those prices? What all do the suites get above the stateroom categories below it?

IMHO, the one that is a good deal is the Panoramic Suite at $300.  Those rooms are enormous and, unlike junior suites, they come with the same full perks as grand suites.  Of course, there are only two panoramic suites on the ship so, assuming that they both come available, there can be only two winning bids for panoramic suites. 

 

This is clearly the exact same software that is used for the Celebrity Move-Up auctions and my wife and I have twice had successful bids in those.  Both times, we "moved up" from Aqua Class to a Sky Suite (a suite on Celebrity that is the same size as a Royal Caribbean Junior Suite but has the same perks as a Royal Caribbean Grand Suite).  However, to win, we had to bid more than the minimum. 

 

This is a real auction, almost like an eBay auction and, in order to win, you have to outbid everyone else who is bidding on the same room category.  The cruise line does not tell us how they break ties.  If you have winning bids on more than one category, all but one get thrown out but, again, they do not tell us how they decide which one to accept. 

 

There are a few other quirks in the system that the cruise lines seem to consider trade secrets.  For example, if cruiser A is booked in a Junior Suite and and cruiser B is booked in a Grand Suite and they both bid on the same Owner's Suite, their bids are not really comparable since A is bidding on a double-category upgrade and B is bidding on a single-category upgrade.  They must have some way of adjusting the bids to account for the fact that, even though they are both bidding on the same room, they are bidding on upgrades that have unequal values.   (This is something that eBay does not have to deal with.) Based on my own experience, I believe the system gives a very strong preference to bids that are for a single-category upgrade and that winning bids for double-category upgrades (like my example A) are uncommon. 

[cruise wizard]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Mine is checked, nothing yet

 

Check Laura's e-mail since she does most of the cruising............just a suggestion.

[sdear]

On ‎11‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 8:48 AM, John&LaLa said:

 

She doesn't seem to have much luck. 😉  I got the opt in completed through the Casino. C&A can do it as well

I got the email today for our cruise this Sunday.   I called Casino Royale to see if there were upgrades available and they said the ship is "full" according to what she sees.   So curious why I got an upgrade email if the ship is full .   

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, mringenoldus said:

Actually, Next Cruise and the Loyalty Ambassador were very interested as they had not been provided any prior information. Ambassadors had their initial conference introducing the program call this afternoon. The ambassador is going to place a call to his support services person to better understand how to address the issue  as to the D+/P complimentary upgrade.

 

There is most definitely is a minimum opening bid and the program presents identically to the NCL upgrade process. I always feel it is important to provide information - as long as it is correct information.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, you missed my point.  NextCruise sells new bookings, they do not service existing ones.  Asking them about this is just not as something they are involved with.  

 

As far as the LA, how exactly have they been explaining the lack of lack of D+/p upgrades since the upsell phone calls began? Really no difference. 

 

Now my advice to folks is dont get caught up in the hunt for a deal.  That's how eBay gets you.

 

I see this as an opportunity and I intend to participate.  Looking forward to it, actually 

[John&LaLa]

5 minutes ago, sdear said:

I got the email today for our cruise this Sunday.   I called Casino Royale to see if there were upgrades available and they said the ship is "full" according to what she sees.   So curious why I got an upgrade email if the ship is full .   

 

Call Casino Royale on a cruise further out and see if there are any upgrades?

[Iowa_Vike]

Heading out on EOTS on Dec. 10th and just got my Royal Up email.  Currently in a Grand Suite and will stay there.  Here are the up charges. 

UPGRADE OPTIONS priced per person for the entire length of your cruise

Royal Suite Enjoy our Royal Suite with a comfortable bedroom, a spacious living area and a private balcony plus extra perks for suite guests.   From $400 USD pp  SEE DETAILS     Owner's Suite These luxurious suites offer a comfortable bedroom, separate living area and a private balcony.   From $200 USD pp  SEE DETAILS

[Wilson]

We received the Royal Up email for our 12/09 sailing on Freedom. We are currently in an OS and were offered the Villa Suite and the Royal Suite. The Villa is 4 bedrooms, but it's just the two of us, so it was not even a consideration. We will probably not get it, but we submitted  the minimum offer of $400 pp for the RS. 

[Andy C]

2 hours ago, twangster said:

 

I haven't minded not getting any promotional emails because I check my booked cruises often and watch the cruise planner for sales.  Not getting any promotional emails has had zero impact, until now.  They've basically excluded me from this upgrade system.

 

What a charlie foxtrot as RFerrington would say 🙂 

 

Maybe they excluded us because we exposed the fact that pinnacles have access to the "exclusive" suite experiences that we now know are not exclusive.  

 

You may all recall that if you are traveling in a suite, pinnacles will have priority in Coastal Kitchen and the Suite Lounge over suite paying guests even when the pinnacle is not staying in a suite.  

[jrljel]

On 11/27/2018 at 9:09 AM, Host Clarea said:

 

I also remember a fixed price of $400 to upgrade from a balcony to a JS on a 7-night cruise.

Lol!! I remember the same deal going from a junior suite to a grand suite and sweet it was! That was the best deal ever and I've never ever forgotten it. To bad that still doesn't exist!

 

 On another note, Hyatt and the large casino hotels have been doing this for years. It's not a bad deal with them but I have lots of questions like everyone else with this from Royal. Maybe it will go the way of dynamic dining!

[A&L_Ont]

 

4 hours ago, steveru621 said:

TA is a good question.  Will my TA get a larger commission?  Will I get larger incentives from my TA?

 

It looks like RC takes the payment directly not my TA. If they don’t notify my TA, I’m not sure I’d get my % back. That being said first I have to “win” and auction. 

 

4 hours ago, smplybcause said:

No one knows for sure if Royal is following a similar format, but I would assume they are because why bid on a GS or higher if you don't get access to Coastal Kitchen, etc. 

 

Agree 100%.

 

 

 

[Ashland]

On 11/26/2018 at 11:53 AM, molly361 said:

They will send you an email if you and your sailing are eligible

It's doubtful I'll get a chance at this. I'm booked in a JS for my May Med/Greece (Vision) and my Oct Snowbird (Adventure) as both cruises anything above my JS is not available. Right ?

[A&L_Ont]

I also wonder if this new system will make guarantees a thing of the past.

 

Someone said it earlier today, “the upgrade fairy has become a mercenary”.

[Clarea]

1 minute ago, A&L_Ont said:

I also wonder if this new system will make guarantees a thing of the past. ...

 

I think guarantees will still be around.

[A&L_Ont]

2 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I think guarantees will still be around.

 

Yes, I think so too but they won’t be as common and maybe offered early on.  Then let the bidding begin, there are no friends at an auction. 

[Charles4515]

8 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

 

It looks like RC takes the payment directly not my TA. If they don’t notify my TA, I’m not sure I’d get my % back. That being said first I have to “win” and auction. 

 

 

They are notifying the TA. They CCed my TA the email.

[A&L_Ont]

5 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 

They are notifying the TA. They CCed my TA the email.

 

Sounds promising. My TA is a big box store so hopefully it will come through to me. But as I said first I’d have to win. 

[John&LaLa]

46 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

 

Check Laura's e-mail since she does most of the cruising............just a suggestion.

 

Just did, no luck.  She does have an email from Royal Marketing that I don't have.  Last Chance to save on UBP for our upcoming Rhapsody.  However, at the bottom is a link to manage emails, so I clicked it.  Slightly different look than I'm used to seeing, but it looks good to go.  Need to call C&A.

 

FWIW, I did receive the we're extending Cyber Monday email yesterday, so my email seems OK as well.

 

[LB_NJ]

17 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

I also wonder if this new system will make guarantees a thing of the past.

 

Someone said it earlier today, “the upgrade fairy has become a mercenary”.

 

I assume they will still sell guaranteed rooms however, I assume you will almost never get an upgrade from the guarantee level (unless you bid on it).

[John&LaLa]

Stopped by the Subscription Center and found this.  No idea what any of it is, but I think i'll check everything.  Could be the basis for a new thread. 

 

[sdear]

23 minutes ago, Ashland said:

It's doubtful I'll get a chance at this. I'm booked in a JS for my May Med/Greece (Vision) and my Oct Snowbird (Adventure) as both cruises anything above my JS is not available. Right ?

Our cruise this Saturday is supposedly sold out, but I got an email to upgrade bid today .  We are in a JS, and they offered bids on an OS, GS, or Royal suite.  

[John&LaLa]

32 minutes ago, jrljel said:

Lol!! I remember the same deal going from a junior suite to a grand suite and sweet it was! That was the best deal ever and I've never ever forgotten it. To bad that still doesn't exist!

 

 On another note, Hyatt and the large casino hotels have been doing this for years. It's not a bad deal with them but I have lots of questions like everyone else with this from Royal. Maybe it will go the way of dynamic dining!

 

Not sure why, this does no affect the cruise experience as far as I can tell.

[bthodges]

Wonder how long they will give us to bid on them and when they will decide who gets them

[A&L_Ont]

This is one of my offers for January on Allure. I didn’t bother bidding as we have a nice enough cabin already and who needs the RLS for two. Let’s not fool ourselves either, that minimum price isn’t get gonna get the job done.  Especially when you know where got in and what the cabins usually average for pricing. 

 

I think RC is treating this more as a Hedge Fund, or a Hedge Cabin. Someone backs out before, or after final payment and RC  have a list of potential people looking to anti up.  They don’t even have to spend time calling future guests. 

 

Those prices are in Canadian as well.

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2018 by A&L_Ont

[John&LaLa]

35 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

It looks like RC takes the payment directly not my TA. If they don’t notify my TA, I’m not sure I’d get my % back. That being said first I have to “win” and auction. 

 

Royal takes your payment direct on a NextCruise deposit. 🍺

Edited November 29, 2018 by John&LaLa

[John&LaLa]

28 minutes ago, Ashland said:

It's doubtful I'll get a chance at this. I'm booked in a JS for my May Med/Greece (Vision) and my Oct Snowbird (Adventure) as both cruises anything above my JS is not available. Right ?

 

For now, long way off still.