Cruise cabin upgrades may be available through promotions, bids and loyalty programs
Travelers can seek higher-category staterooms through several booking options, though availability varies by sailing and cruise line.
One traveler said Princess Cruises moved her family of five at no charge from two adjacent balcony staterooms to a multi-room Family Suite aboard Caribbean Princess.
Cruise-focused travel advisors may have partnerships that provide complimentary upgrades, discounted fares or onboard credits at no additional cost to guests, according to the report. It says advisors are compensated through commissions.
Cruise Critic executive editor Chris Gray Faust identified several periods when upgrade promotions may appear: when cruises initially go on sale, usually a year to a year and a half before departure; Wave Season from January through March; and Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.
Another option is a cabin guarantee. Under that arrangement, a traveler chooses a stateroom category rather than a specific cabin number and is guaranteed accommodation in the selected category or a higher one, according to the report.
The report also identifies upgrade opportunities through Celebrity Cruises’ Captain’s Club, Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Society, Norwegian’s Latitudes Rewards and MSC’s Voyagers Club. Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises offer stateroom upgrade bidding programs. The report lists off-seasons as June through early November for Caribbean cruises, November through April for Mediterranean cruises, and late November through early March for European river cruises, while noting that December Christmas market sailings can be popular.