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GUIDE

How to understand cruise upgrade bids

Cruise upgrade bids are offers a guest makes after booking to pay more for a higher cabin category than the one reserved, and a bid becomes an upgrade only if the cruise line accepts it. Princess Cruises lists an item named “Princess Upgrade” under the “Booked Guests” heading of its site navigation, in the same list as Manage Booking and Reserve Shore Excursions. [8]

Facts checked: 18 October 2026

Key takeaways

  • Princess Cruises lists an item named “Princess Upgrade” under the “Booked Guests” heading of its site navigation, in the same list as Manage Booking and Reserve Shore Excursions. [8]
  • Norwegian Cruise Line publishes its frequently asked questions on a topic-filtered page, where readers can filter by category and search the FAQ index, and each question links to its own page. [5]
  • Before you offer more than your booked fare, price the higher cabin as a straight booking so you have a figure to compare against.

What is a cruise upgrade bid?

A bid-based upgrade starts from a booking you already hold: you keep the cabin category you paid for, and you offer to pay more to move to a higher one. A bid becomes an upgrade only if the line accepts it, so read the fare and cancellation terms attached to your own booking before committing extra money.

Princess Cruises lists an item named “Princess Upgrade” under the “Booked Guests” heading of its site navigation, in the same list as Manage Booking and Reserve Shore Excursions. [8]

Norwegian Cruise Line publishes its customer questions on a topic-filtered FAQ page: readers can filter by category or search the FAQ index, and each entry links to its own page. [5]

Where cruise lines list upgrades

Princess Cruises gives upgrades a place in the booked-guest area of its site: an item named “Princess Upgrade” sits under the “Booked Guests” heading of the navigation, beside Manage Booking and Reserve Shore Excursions. [8]

Norwegian Cruise Line’s FAQ page organises customer questions by category, with a category filter and a search box, and each question links through to its own page. [5]

How do you compare a bid with a direct upgrade?

  • Price the higher cabin as a straight booking first. The published fare for the higher category gives you a figure to compare against your offer.
  • Read the terms of the fare you already hold. Check the fare and cancellation conditions attached to your own booking before you commit more money; cruise fare types and refundability explains how those rules differ between fares.
  • Check which cabin you would actually land in. Cabins on the same ship vary by deck, size and position, so a higher category is not automatically the cabin you want; see cruise cabin categories and locations.
  • Look in the booked-guest area of the line’s site. Princess Cruises lists “Princess Upgrade” in its Booked Guests navigation, in the same list as Manage Booking and Reserve Shore Excursions. [8]

What a bid does not guarantee

  • A bid is not a confirmed upgrade: unless the line accepts an offer, you keep the cabin you booked, so plan around it.
  • A higher category is not automatically the cabin you want: cabins on the same ship differ by deck, size and position, so check the location before you offer more; see cruise cabin categories and locations.
  • The fare you already hold carries its own change and cancellation conditions; cruise fare types and refundability sets out how those rules differ between fares.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cruise upgrade bid a confirmed upgrade?

No. An offer to move up a cabin category becomes an upgrade only once the cruise line accepts it; until then you keep the cabin you booked.

How do you compare a bid with booking the higher cabin directly?

Price the higher cabin as a straight booking and set that figure against what you would offer. The fare you already hold also carries its own change and cancellation terms, which are worth re-reading before you commit more money.

Where does Princess Cruises mention upgrades on its site?

Under the “Booked Guests” heading of its site navigation, where an item named “Princess Upgrade” appears in the same list as Manage Booking and Reserve Shore Excursions. [8]

What should you check before you make an offer?

Compare the offer with the price of booking the higher cabin directly, and re-read the fare and cancellation terms of the booking you already hold. Cabin position within the higher category is worth checking too, using cruise cabin categories and locations.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026.

  1. Norwegian Cruise Line frequently asked questions, checked 18 October 2026
  2. Princess Cruises frequently asked questions, checked 18 October 2026