RoyalUP? (Bid for stateroom upgrade)

[marci22]

5 minutes ago, rockmom said:

I just received a RoyalUp offer for my 5/19 sailing on Allure.  We are currently in a hump balcony on deck 12, and had booked it right when they opened those bookings, so we got a great deal.  Don't think we'll be bidding since there are only 2 of us and even for the JS, without the extra points there isn't much of an 'upgrade' there.  FYI, when looking on the UK and other sites, it doesn't appear there are suites left other than one CLS, and this sailing looks to be very close to sold out. Starting bids are as follows: 

 

CLS $900pp

OS $750 pp

GS $450pp

JS $150pp

Spacious OV with balcony (sleeps 6) $100pp

Interesting same price for GS as my 5 night but $100 cheaper pp for JS. 

 

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, marci22 said:

Currently suites showing as sold out but may bid anyway to enjoy the wait like when you have a lottery ticket. Wouldn't bid on balcony as I like my current location.

 

Everything is sold out on our TA last time I looked, but several of us are getting UP confirmation 6 weeks out

[marci22]

33 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Everything is sold out on our TA last time I looked, but several of us are getting UP confirmation 6 weeks out

Interesting. I think my prices are high for a 5 night. I can still get into concierge lounge with D+ on Anthem. No double points. I would love priority debarkation but not for $900.

[liberiben]

I’m crossing fingers BIG time. The Star Loft for our May 12 Oasis is still available on RCI and I’ve put in a bid on RoyalUp! I’m currently in a CL but only slightly over minimum on the bid. That might be my downfall. 

[KG1924]

We just got our email this morning for our 5/17/19 sailing on the Adventure. I did just go in to check my email preferences yesterday and somehow I only had Celebrity checked off (odd as we really don't even look at Celebrity). My sister is also on this sailing and received hers 2-3 weeks ago-I don't know the specifics of hers because she has 2 suites side by side w/ an inside as well (they have a big family 🙂) so they weren't interested in upgrading/moving.

We are currently booked in a regular ocean view balcony on deck 8-booked as a balcony guarantee so we got a great rate and lucked out with a great location near the forward stairs.

 

Our offers:

Grand Suite-2 bedroom: From $1000

Grand Suite: From $600

Junior Suite: From $250

Spacious Ocean View Balcony: From $75

*We are just the two of us and this is an 8 day sailing

 

I'm going to check with my husband tonight but I'm quite sure we won't even attempt. We've always done balconies and it's more then enough for us. I tried checking what current pricing is on these cabins and they're showing sold out other then the Spacious OV Balconies.

[Clarea]

1 minute ago, KG1924 said:

We just got our email this morning for our 5/17/19 sailing on the Adventure. I did just go in to check my email preferences yesterday and somehow I only had Celebrity checked off (odd as we really don't even look at Celebrity). My sister is also on this sailing and received hers 2-3 weeks ago-I don't know the specifics of hers because she has 2 suites side by side w/ an inside as well (they have a big family 🙂) so they weren't interested in upgrading/moving.

We are currently booked in a regular ocean view balcony on deck 8-booked as a balcony guarantee so we got a great rate and lucked out with a great location near the forward stairs.

 

Our offers:

Grand Suite-2 bedroom: From $1000

Grand Suite: From $600

Junior Suite: From $250

Spacious Ocean View Balcony: From $75

*We are just the two of us and this is an 8 day sailing

 

I'm going to check with my husband tonight but I'm quite sure we won't even attempt. We've always done balconies and it's more then enough for us. I tried checking what current pricing is on these cabins and they're showing sold out other then the Spacious OV Balconies.

 

The $500 for the JS upgrade for an 8-night cruise is about $100 more than we would pay for that.

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

The $500 for the JS upgrade for an 8-night cruise is about $100 more than we would pay for that.

No discount for the lack of double points?

[KG1924]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

The $500 for the JS upgrade for an 8-night cruise is about $100 more than we would pay for that.

Thanks Bob-that's good to know since we don't normally look at suites much I would have no idea what a "good" price would be.

 

[rachelfran]

7 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

The $500 for the JS upgrade for an 8-night cruise is about $100 more than we would pay for that.

Doesn't the upgrade cost depend on what you paid for the cruise to begin with?

[Clarea]

4 minutes ago, rachelfran said:

Doesn't the upgrade cost depend on what you paid for the cruise to begin with?

 

I don't know how Royal comes up with their upgrade numbers.

 

For us, the difference between a balcony and JS is worth about $50 per day, total.

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, liberiben said:

I’m crossing fingers BIG time. The Star Loft for our May 12 Oasis is still available on RCI and I’ve put in a bid on RoyalUp! I’m currently in a CL but only slightly over minimum on the bid. That might be my downfall. 

 

Personally, I went all in. Go big or go home. 😉

[mab10]

On 3/19/2019 at 11:02 AM, sandebeach said:

I got my acceptance email last night. Sailing on the Anthem to Bermuda on May 25. On March 6 I bid $900 for a Sky Loft suite (bid range was $700-$1300). After checking on what it would cost to just upgrade (the SLS was $7,800 for two), I increased my bid to $1,000/pp on March 7, and got my Congratulations email on March 18. 

We’re on the same sailing!

Is there more to the algorithm RCI uses than bid amount? We’re in a JS and made the same bid you did for a Sky Loft suite (and Owner’s) and haven’t received an email and just noticed there’s no more Sky Loft suites or Owner’s suites available. Curious if anyone knows if it’s also based on status, number of people in the cabin, or if it’s completely random.

Edited March 20, 2019 by mab10

[Clarea]

9 minutes ago, mab10 said:

We’re on the same sailing!

Is there more to the algorithm RCI uses than bid amount? We’re in a JS and made the same bid you did for a Sky Loft suite (and Owner’s) and haven’t received an email and just noticed there’s no more Sky Loft suites or Owner’s suites available. Curious if anyone knows if it’s also based on status, number of people in the cabin, or if it’s completely random.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

The cruise line has not publicly revealed any details of the bid selection algorithm.

[sandebeach]

23 minutes ago, mab10 said:

We’re on the same sailing!

Is there more to the algorithm RCI uses than bid amount? We’re in a JS and made the same bid you did for a Sky Loft suite (and Owner’s) and haven’t received an email and just noticed there’s no more Sky Loft suites or Owner’s suites available. Curious if anyone knows if it’s also based on status, number of people in the cabin, or if it’s completely random.

I am wondering if it is random. I had previously put in mid-range bids on 6 different cabins for my Symphony Cruise last week and was so sad when I got 6 Rejected emails the night before sailing!

[mab10]

53 minutes ago, sandebeach said:

I am wondering if it is random. I had previously put in mid-range bids on 6 different cabins for my Symphony Cruise last week and was so sad when I got 6 Rejected emails the night before sailing!

I anticipate the same thing happening to us and I’ll be so sad, too! 

[jimvern1966]

1 hour ago, sandebeach said:

I am wondering if it is random. I had previously put in mid-range bids on 6 different cabins for my Symphony Cruise last week and was so sad when I got 6 Rejected emails the night before sailing!

I was just going to ask how late in the Royal Up game we would find out we were winners or not. Honestly I just did it for fun, perfectly happy with my inside cabin but we'll see what happens.  Sailing April 6th on the Rhapsody of the Seas;)

[Derbie]

I just received a Royal Up offer on Tuesday, and we leave this Sunday on the Oasis.  We can bid up starting at $50 for a boardwalk balcony, then up from there all the way to Junior Suite starting at $400 pp.  The boardwalk balcony states "exclusive amenities available only to Park View or Boardwalk View balcony stateroom." Any idea what the amentities are surrounding this room? Right now we have a ocean view.  Any suggestions?  We are traveling with a group of people in five rooms. I don't think they would have a breakdown, if we were to win and leave the area.  I just wanted suggestions on bidding, if I choose to go this route, and why did the offer come so late in the game?  Any ideas?  Thanks to all you folks!

[grapau27]

12 minutes ago, Derbie said:

I just received a Royal Up offer on Tuesday, and we leave this Sunday on the Oasis.  We can bid up starting at $50 for a boardwalk balcony, then up from there all the way to Junior Suite starting at $400 pp.  The boardwalk balcony states "exclusive amenities available only to Park View or Boardwalk View balcony stateroom." Any idea what the amentities are surrounding this room? Right now we have a ocean view.  Any suggestions?  We are traveling with a group of people in five rooms. I don't think they would have a breakdown, if we were to win and leave the area.  I just wanted suggestions on bidding, if I choose to go this route, and why did the offer come so late in the game?  Any ideas?  Thanks to all you folks!

Central Park is lovely but both that and the Boardwalk balconies can be noisy.

They are indoor balconies which are overlooked from above decks and facing balconies on the other side with very little privacy afforded.

Some in here have said the exclusives are a bottle of wine and a meal in Jamies.

We always get an ocean view balcony for peace and quiet and views of the sea.

Hope you have a lovely cruise.

 

[molly361]

1 hour ago, Derbie said:

I just received a Royal Up offer on Tuesday, and we leave this Sunday on the Oasis.  We can bid up starting at $50 for a boardwalk balcony, then up from there all the way to Junior Suite starting at $400 pp.  The boardwalk balcony states "exclusive amenities available only to Park View or Boardwalk View balcony stateroom." Any idea what the amentities are surrounding this room? Right now we have a ocean view.  Any suggestions?  We are traveling with a group of people in five rooms. I don't think they would have a breakdown, if we were to win and leave the area.  I just wanted suggestions on bidding, if I choose to go this route, and why did the offer come so late in the game?  Any ideas?  Thanks to all you folks!

You get lunch at Johnny rockets and the soda package. I have also heard that those cabins can be noisy

[mattb31]

Just got one for our May Symphony Sailing. We are in a Boardwalk Balcony, here are the starting rates:

 

• $400pp for JS
• $250pp for Ultra Spacious Large Balcony
• $200pp for Spacious OV Balcony
• $100pp for OV Baclony

[marci22]

Guess this program is not going away. Too many people bidding. My cruise had multiple larger suites available maybe two weeks ago and they are all gone now. Still offering bids for GS and JS even though none showing as available.

[Biker19]

10 hours ago, jimvern1966 said:

I was just going to ask how late in the Royal Up game we would find out we were winners or not. 

The denial e-mail seems to come about 6PM on the day before sailing - the acceptance e-mail is anytime before that.

[nelblu]

17 hours ago, marci22 said:

Interesting. I think my prices are high for a 5 night. I can still get into concierge lounge with D+ on Anthem. No double points. I would love priority debarkation but not for $900.

Just ask Guest Services for a lower debarkation # and you'll be off as quickly as priority. 

[marci22]

5 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Just ask Guest Services for a lower debarkation # and you'll be off as quickly as priority. 

I guess I assumed that with The Key you would have a dedicated escort off the ship? We usually do self-debark so we get off early, but it's chaotic. When the concierge brought us off we waited in a dedicated lounge and he called the elevator and took us off in groups. It was much calmer.

[nelblu]

1 minute ago, marci22 said:

I guess I assumed that with The Key you would have a dedicated escort off the ship? We usually do self-debark so we get off early, but it's chaotic. When the concierge brought us off we waited in a dedicated lounge and he called the elevator and took us off in groups. It was much calmer.

Sorry, I thought it was for a cabin upgrade and not the benefits accrued with the "Key" program.