We plan our cruises months ahead, and we pick our cabin carefully. For a while, we also bid on Royal Up, Royal Caribbean's upgrade auction. We won a Junior Suite for $115 a person, and then we stopped bidding. Here's what happened and why we went back to choosing our own cabin.
Our Royal Up Experience on Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas: What $115 Got Us
We bid $115 per person ($230 total) to move from our balcony to a Junior Suite on Freedom of the Seas in July 2021. We didn't find out we'd won until we were already in Florida.
The Junior Suite was huge and private, and the perks started before we boarded. We checked in at a separate suite area and were through in about five minutes. Our travel partners in a regular balcony took twenty. Our cabin steward was over the top, too. He'd see us walking back with our arms full and run to open the door.
That bid was low, and we knew it. Freedom was on her fourth sailing out of the US after cruising restarted, and she was at about 30% capacity. The odds of winning at almost any price were high.
What We Didn't Expect
Royal Up picks your cabin, and you can't change it. Ours was on deck 10, right under the pool deck and the buffet. Reviews warned that deck chairs and late-night parties could keep you up. We tried to change the location before we sailed, and they don't let you. Then we tried to turn the upgrade down. They don't let you do that either.
It worked out because the ship was so empty. We only got woken up once, by deck chairs being moved. Rod would have bid again. Melody wasn't so sure. On a full ship, in that same cabin, she thinks we wouldn't have slept much.
How Royal Up Works
Who can bid: Once you're booked, check your reservation on the Royal Up page. Eligible sailings show the upgrade categories you can bid on.
The slider: Each category shows a minimum and maximum bid. You pick a number in between.
Per person: Bids are per person, based on two guests. A third or fourth guest in the cabin doesn't pay the bid.
Changing your mind: You can change or cancel a bid any time before it's accepted.
Timing: Royal Caribbean can accept a bid up until about two days before you sail.
When you win: Your card is charged right away, and the upgrade can't be refunded or reversed.
More than one bid: You can bid on several categories at once. Only one can win.
The Fine Print
You can't choose your cabin. It could be forward, aft, or under the pool deck.
Crown & Anchor points are based on the cabin you originally booked, so a suite upgrade doesn't earn suite points.
Gratuities go up. Moving into a suite changes your daily gratuity from $18.50 to $21.50 per person.
Your original perks stay. Onboard credit or packages from your booking carry over, but you don't get new ones for the upgraded category.
Use a credit card. Future cruise credits don't apply. Check your card's expiration date before you bid. If the charge is declined, the upgrade goes to the next guest.
The Bid Formula We Used
When we were bidding, we priced both cabins at the refundable rate and bid in the lower half of the gap. Here's an example from a 4-night Freedom sailing we priced out:
Our balcony: $448 per person
Junior Suite: $938 per person
The gap: $490
Our top bid: under $245 per person (half the gap)
We wanted to keep the difference for the next trip. If the bid won, great. If it didn't, we still had the cabin we picked on purpose.
Why We Stopped Bidding
After Freedom, we decided we'd rather choose our cabin and stay in it. Melody picks our cabins carefully, close to the places we go and away from noise. Royal Up takes that choice away, and a bigger cabin in the wrong spot isn't worth it to us.
Now we book the cabin we want from the start. If we want a suite, we book the suite or upgrade the regular way, so we still get to pick the location.
If Royal Up still appeals to you, book a cabin you'd be happy in for the whole sailing and treat the bid as a bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Royal Up worth it?
It can be, if you bid low and don't mind where your cabin ends up. Our $115-per-person Junior Suite was a great deal. We stopped bidding because we'd rather choose our own cabin.
Can I cancel my Royal Up bid?
Yes, any time before it's accepted. Once it's accepted, it's final.
Do I pay if I don't win?
No. Your card is only charged if your bid is accepted.
Can I pick my upgraded cabin?
No. Royal Caribbean assigns it, and you can't swap it after you win.
Keep Planning
The ship where we won: Freedom of the Seas Ship Log
See the cabin: We got the ROYAL UP! Embarkation & Jr Suite Cabin 1356 Tour
Our bid math on video: The One Royal Up Hack Cruise Lines Don't Want You to Know
Tell us in the comments: Would you roll the dice on Royal Up, or pick your own cabin?
