Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line does not typically have open staterooms available on embarkation day and there is no way to upgrade at the Guest Services desk.
- Social media is full of hacks, tips, and tricks to secure cruise vacation upgrades, but experienced cruisers share very different stories.
- The best advice is for guests to budget for and book the stateroom they are most interested in and consider any upgrade offer a bonus.
Every cruise traveler has heard of the “upgrade fairy” and different tips, tricks, and hacks to secure a stateroom upgrade. These are prevalent through social media and seem so simple as to be foolproof.
Unfortunately, “fool” is the operative word, as it is very unlikely that guests can secure upgrades just by asking, even if they are willing to pay an upgrade price.
One guest reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, explaining the tips they had heard and asking about any possibilities for upgrades on their next cruise. They did not, however, get the answers they’d hoped for either from Heald or other guests.
“I was reading on [social media] that sometimes it’s possible to upgrade your cabin if there are some still available and it can be done for a reasonable fee the day of embarkation at guest services? Is this true?” the guest asked.
“How much is a ‘reasonable fee’ so I can get an idea of what an upgrade may cost? Hopefully Carnival is not being greedy here. … I can only afford to cruise three times a year and always in an inside room.”
The guest shares that their next cruise is the October 10 departure of Carnival Radiance, a 3-night Baja Mexico itinerary from Long Beach with a visit to Ensenada.
Heald quickly responded to the incorrect information because upgrades, in fact, are not typically possible.
“Everyday I am answering questions people ask me for upgrades, every day. And I always have to say the same thing. And that is that I am sorry I cannot help and that most of the time there are none because the cruise is sold out,” he explained.
“We do not offer upgrades from the Guest Services Desk. In fact, we used to have a sign there that used to say ‘No Upgrades Available.'”
Heald says that if any upgrades are available, they are “few and far between” and are offered to select guests based on a very complicated algorithm.
Guests Share Their Upgrade Stories and Warnings
After more than 25 Carnival cruises, I have never been offered an upgrade. I have, however, seen the “No Upgrades Available” and similar signs, such as “Ship Is Fully Booked” and “No Cabins Available” signs, at the Guest Services desk on embarkation day.
Other guests were quick to jump on the original commenter’s post and note that a very easy way to have a better stateroom. Instead of booking three cruises each year, take two and use the extra money for a balcony cabin.
“Pick what cabin you want at the time of the booking,” one guest replied, a sentiment echoed by many others.
Other guests shared their own stories of less-than-desirable upgrades. Many times, the “upgraded” staterooms might be in less desirable locations, such as right underneath the gym or galley. These staterooms can be much noisier, especially through the nighttime hours.
Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Cabins and Suites – What Are the Options?
“I got an upgrade offer yesterday from a balcony to an extended balcony three floors down and at the opposite end of the ship. Not an upgrade if you ask me,” one guest said.
More From Cruise Hive
Upgrade offers might arrive either by email or a phone call. Interested guests should act quickly if they do get such an offer, as the deals are often very limited and first-come, first-served.
Costs for upgrades vary depending on the nature of the offer, the ship’s capacity, and how close the sailing date may be. Upgrading and switching staterooms might also cancel any other offers a guest booked with, so it is important to be careful when taking advantage of such deals.
