Cruise experts share tips and tricks for scoring a room upgrade on your next sailing.
So, earlier this year, we were pleasantly surprised when two days of rough seas actually paid off.
You don’t need to feel queasy on your cruise, though, to score an upgrade.
A woman looking up at cruise cabins.Credit:Oscar Wong/Getty Images
Travel + Leisureasked the experts for their best strategies for scoring a free (or low-cost) room upgrade.
Here’s what they had to say.
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Book a guaranteed cabin.
View of a bedroom and patio on a cruise ship.Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images
When you book this category, you wont be assigned a specific stateroom until right before your departure.
The drawback here is the cruise line chooses your room.
Monitor price drops.
Luggage on a cruise ship dock.Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty Images
A cruise line may drop prices on specific stateroom categories if a sailing hasnt sold out.
Join a loyalty program.
Some loyalty programs offer upgrades when theres a need to move inventory on a specific sailing, says Baker.
A couple on a cruise ship.David Sacks/Getty Images
Joining theAzamara Circle Loyalty Programcan boost a guests chances of a free stateroom upgrade.
Translation: Now may not be the best time to ask for a free stateroom upgrade.
Apply onboard credit toward an upgrade.
Passengers are frequently offered onboard credits during promotional cruise sales.
Work with a travel agent specializing in cruising.
Finding the right travel agent will also help you with your quest.
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Make it known youre celebrating a special occasion.
Remember to put a note in your reservation or remind your travel agent what youre celebrating on the journey.
Watch for promotions.
Use your travel credit card.
Check yes on an auto upgrade.
This frees up lower-grade staterooms, which are easier to sell, says Clabbers.
With an auto upgrade, theyll likely reward a frequent guest or a key travel agency partner first.
Communicate legitimate complaints.
They frequently hold back a few cabins for this occurrence.
Take part in a bidding program.
Many cruise lines offer bidding programs for room upgrades.
While not free, in some cases, you could score a room upgrade for $20.
Some offers are accepted immediately, others a few days before sailing.
The good news is theres no cost to you unless your bid is accepted.
Pay for an upgrade after booking.
Plus, for this throw in of upgrade, you may be able to choose your room.
These deals typically allow for the choice of staterooms from available rooms.
Identify upgrade-friendly cabins.
Going from an interior stateroom to a balcony is a double upgrade and harder to score, says Baker.
Youll have a better chance of getting a free balcony upgrade by booking an outside cabin.
Youll also increase your chances of an upgrade if different grades are within your booked category.
The cruise line could upgrade you within a category to free up lower-priced rooms.
Consider a repositioning cruise.
A cruise lines goal is to sell every stateroom on the ship.
Look for a surprise in your inbox.
Sometimes, an automatic upgrade simply happens.
