Turn down a cruise cabin upgrade? You might think it sounds ridiculous — and you're right. If a cruise offers me a free suite, I'm certainly not going to say no.
The sad truth is free upgrades are rare. The days of surprise upgrades from your cozy inside cabin to a spacious balcony room are mostly over.
Nowadays, cruise lines expect you to pay for your cruise ship cabin upgrades. Free upgrades, when offered, are hardly ever as good as they sound and are typically from one room to another within the same cabin category.
If you're going to pay good money for an upgrade, be positive your new digs are much better than the original room you picked. If they're not, tell the cruise line they do not have a deal. Here are five reasons to turn down a cruise ship cabin upgrade.
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You can't pick your cabin location
An upgrade is essentially the same as booking a guarantee cabin — a type of room where your cabin category is guaranteed, but your specific room location is not. You agree to let the cruise line pick your cabin in exchange for giving you a discount on that room. You give up the right to control where on the ship your cabin is located.
If you're prone to seasickness and prefer a midship cabin on a lower deck, you might not want an upgrade that could land you at the very front or back of the ship where it's rockier.
If you're sensitive to noise and specifically chose a room far away from the elevators and the noisy Lido Deck, you will want to say no to a cabin upgrade that can't guarantee a quiet locale.
Travel groups that purposefully booked rooms near each other should not accept upgrades that would split them among different decks.
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When that cruise ship cabin upgrade offer arrives, think about how strongly you feel about where your cabin is located. If location is important, you will want to turn down the upgrade offer.
It's too expensive
Not all cruise cabin upgrades are free. Typically, the cruise line will offer the upgrade at a discount, meaning you'll pay less for the upgraded room than it would cost to book it outright, but more than what you paid for your original cabin.
No matter how good a deal that seems, if money is tight, don't take the upgrade. Save your vacation budget for tours and shoreside fun or onboard treats like date-night restaurants and fun co*cktails.
After all, you'll get a bed and bathroom no matter which cabin you choose, but you won't have as much fun if you have no budget left to spend once you're on board.
Related: 15 ways that cruisers waste money on ships
You booked a specific cabin type
Some travelers need specific cabins. Cruisers who use a wheelchair or have mobility difficulties purposefully book accessible cabins with roll-in showers and wider doorways. Families book connecting cabins or designated family-friendly rooms with an extra bathroom or that can sleep five or six. Wellness enthusiasts book spa cabins for their Zen-like decor and thermal suite perks.
If you have booked a specific type of cabin for a reason, do not accept an upgrade offer. Usually, the cruise line cannot guarantee they will upgrade you from one accessible or spa cabin to a nicer one. In addition, upgrade offers apply to a single cabin, not a pair of connecting rooms.
You might not get all the perks
Complimentary perks are a popular booking incentive used by several cruise lines. Depending on the type of cabin you book, you're rewarded with onboard credit or your choice of several freebies, such as an included drink package or shore excursion credit.
When you accept an upgrade offer, you won't receive the booking perks associated with the higher-category room (though you will receive any room-based perks, like concierge access or priority debarkation). Worse, you could actually lose the perks you already have.
RELATED: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
How? If you booked a cruise and then notice that prices have fallen, you can give yourself an upgrade by rebooking a nicer cabin at a lower price. In doing so, you will often lose your previous booking perks and be eligible only for the current promotion.
For example, if you booked a promotion offering free Wi-Fi and a $100 onboard credit, but the current offer focuses on low prices and a $50 onboard credit, you might lose the internet package and half the onboard credit when you rebook to upgrade your cabin.
Decide whether the trade-off between a nicer cabin and your existing booking perks is worth it. If not, don't go for the cabin upgrade.
The upgrade isn't good enough
You should only say yes to a cruise cabin upgrade if it will get you a nicer cabin. However, what a cruise line deems a better cabin might not actually be worth more money in your eyes.
For example, cruise lines break down all the cabins within the same category (for example, all outside cabins) into subcategories, based on location, layout, size and perks. A midship inside cabin on an upper deck might be deemed more desirable and priced higher than an inside cabin on a lower deck at the back of the ship.
A cruise line might offer you a same-category upgrade, moving from one balcony cabin to a "better" balcony cabin, rather than to a mini-suite. If you don't care about cabin location, don't take the cabin upgrade. You'll end up paying more for a room that's essentially the same as the one you booked for less.
If the upgrade is free, or if the new cabin comes with extras you will use (such as concierge access or spa perks), consider saying yes. However, if the cost of the upgrade is not worth whatever benefits the new room has, politely decline the cruise cabin upgrade.
Bottom line
In many cases, a cruise ship cabin upgrade will get you a better cabin — roomier accommodations, a better ship location, and maybe extra perks. However, not all upgrade offers are desirable, especially if what you value in a cabin type and location is not what the cruise line will give you. Don't hesitate to say no to an upgrade if the offer does not represent good value for your money.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
