Cruise Cabin Upgrades: RoyalUp vs Norwegian, MSC and Celebrity

After booking a seven-night Voyager of the Seas cruise for US$259 per person, I started wondering: could I keep the low fare and upgrade my cabin later?

That led me to cruise upgrade bidding programs. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC and Celebrity all offer them, but the price you see does not always mean the same thing. I haven’t been able to submit a RoyalUp bid for my sailing yet. I’ll save that experience for a separate article. For now, here is what I found when comparing the four programs.

If your bid is not accepted, you keep your original cabin and pay nothing extra.

Cruise Upgrade Programs at a Glance

The Biggest Difference: Per Person or Per Cabin?

A small-looking bid can turn into a much larger payment.　For RoyalUp, Norwegian Upgrade Advantage and Celebrity MoveUp, a $150-per-person offer means $300 for the cabin, even when travelling solo. Third and fourth guests in the same cabin do not pay the upgrade bid.

MSC’s Canadian website currently lists its offers per cabin. A $150 cabin offer would therefore mean $150 for the upgrade.
These amounts cover the whole cruise, rather than each night, and are added to the fare you have already paid. Always check the currency and final total before submitting. A per-cabin bid is easier to calculate, but it does not necessarily mean the upgrade is cheaper.

Royal Caribbean: RoyalUp

RoyalUp lets you check eligibility using your surname and booking number. If your reservation qualifies, you can submit offers for the categories shown.　One detail worth knowing: an upgrade category may appear even when it is currently sold out. Royal Caribbean can keep bids in case a cabin becomes available through a cancellation.

You can generally change or cancel an offer until two days before departure, but only while it has not entered Pending or Accepted status and your card has not been charged. Once accepted, the upgrade payment is non-refundable. Crown & Anchor points remain based on the cabin category originally purchased. Higher gratuities may also apply to every guest in the booking, depending on the upgraded category.

Norwegian: Upgrade Advantage

Norwegian’s program follows a similar bidding model, but its current rules allow decisions much closer to sailing. NCL says an offer can be accepted as late as departure day. An unaccepted offer can generally be changed or cancelled until five hours before departure, provided your card has not been charged.

Once accepted, the payment is non-refundable. Your existing promotions stay with your booking, but the upgrade does not automatically add new promotional offers. Certain sailings or bookings may also involve additional tax or travel-protection charges.

MSC: UpGrade

MSC Canada says eligible guests with a paid booking may receive an upgrade invitation by email. Availability depends on the voyage and cabin category. An offer can be accepted any time after submission through departure. You can change or cancel it before acceptance and payment; after acceptance, the upgrade is non-refundable.

There is also a useful distinction between a better cabin and a different MSC experience. Normally, you retain your original experience and promotions. MSC Canada lists upgrades to Aurea or Yacht Club as exceptions, with the associated experience benefits included. A higher hotel service charge may also apply to the upgraded category.

Celebrity: MoveUp

Celebrity advertises MoveUp for eligible reservations within 90 days of departure. Once eligible, a bidding banner appears in Manage Reservation. Offers can generally be changed or cancelled until two days before sailing, provided they have not been accepted and charged. Accepted upgrade payments are non-refundable.

A suite upgrade does not necessarily include everything advertised with a new suite booking. Celebrity specifically says MoveUp upgrades from non-suite cabins do not receive Premium Drinks and Premium Wi-Fi. Captain’s Club points remain based on the original cabin category, and higher gratuities may apply to every guest in the booking.

Is Bidding Better Than Paying for an Upgrade Directly?

Before bidding, I would ask the cruise line or travel agent for the cost of changing to the cabin I want.

Here is a hypothetical example:

For a $50 saving, I would want to know whether the direct upgrade lets me choose a cabin location. That could matter more than the small price difference. For me, a higher category is only part of the decision. I would also consider the deck, nearby public areas and whether I would be happy with whatever cabin is assigned.

Would I Book an Inside Cabin and Hope for an Upgrade?

Yes—provided I would still enjoy the cruise in the inside cabin. That is how I am approaching my Voyager booking. I am happy with the fare I paid, and an upgrade would be an optional extra.

If a balcony were essential to my trip, I would compare balcony fares at booking instead. I would also set a maximum upgrade budget before opening the bidding page, so an inexpensive cruise stays inexpensive. My next step is to check the RoyalUp options for my own sailing when they become available. Then I can compare the actual offers with the cost of upgrading directly.

Program information checked October 9, 2026. Your booking’s offer page and applicable terms should be checked before bidding.