Cruise Bid Upgrade Calculator (RoyalUp, MoveUp & More)
Should you bid on a cabin upgrade? Compare your fare plus your bid with booking the better cabin outright today, then use the bid ladder to find the bid you'd be happy to win.
- Live calculator
- Bid ladder
- Free, no signup
By Joey Boleslawski — founder of Seabound Journeys, CLIA-affiliated travel advisor, and Florida Seller of Travel (Ref. No. ST15578).
Is your bid a bargain, or just the price on the shelf?
Compare your fare plus your bid with booking the better cabin outright today. That one comparison decides it, and the bid ladder shows you where the sweet spot is.
Bids are usually priced per person, based on two people sharing. Enter every figure per person and we'll total the cabin.
Cruise fare only.
Price it on the line's site as if booking now.
Some promos don't transfer.
Estimates for planning only. Prices and policies change, so check them for your sailing. Your numbers stay in your browser.
The one number that decides every bid
Upgrade bids feel like an auction, and auctions feel like a deal. Sometimes they are. Often the cabin you're bidding on is sitting on the line's website right now at a price close to what you'd pay if you won.
The one number that decides it is today's outright price for the better cabin.
Price that cabin on the cruise line's site as if you were booking it fresh. Then add up what you'd really pay if the bid wins: your fare, your bid, and any perks you'd lose. If those two numbers are close, the auction isn't saving you much, and it's costing you the right to choose your cabin.
What you win, and what you give up
What works in your favour
You're only charged if you win, so a sensible bid has no money downside. On a good night it puts you in a balcony or suite for far less than the shelf price. On a sailing that isn't selling well, low bids can win.
What the terms bury
A winning bid assigns any cabin in the category, so you lose your picked location. Some promotions and credits don't transfer. And the bids that are the best value are exactly the ones most likely to be outbid, so treat a win as a bonus, not a plan.
The ladder in the calculator shows what different bids would do to your effective discount. Somewhere between the program's minimum and the outright price there's a bid you'd be genuinely happy to win. That's the one to place.
Never pay auction prices for something that’s already on the shelf.
Quick answers
The questions readers ask most about this one.
Is bidding on a cruise cabin upgrade worth it?
It's worth it when your fare plus your bid comes in well under what the better cabin would cost if you booked it outright today. If the two numbers are close, skip the auction and book the cabin you want, in the location you want. The calculator above gives you that discount and an honest verdict.
When am I charged for a cruise upgrade bid?
Only if your bid wins. Until then it's an offer, and on most programs you can change or cancel it before the line processes bids. That makes the downside of a sensible bid disappointment rather than money.
Can I choose my cabin if my upgrade bid wins?
No. A winning bid assigns any cabin in the category you bid on, so you give up the location you picked. If you care about being midship, near an elevator or away from noisy venues, count that as part of the price.
Do I keep my perks if my upgrade bid wins?
Not always. Some promotions and onboard credits are tied to the original fare and don't move with you. Check your line's bid terms, and enter anything you'd lose in the calculator so it's counted in your real cost.