Upgrading your cruise cabin on Celebrity Cruises can take your entire vacation experience from great to unforgettable. Whether you’re dreaming of a private balcony, a spacious suite, or access to exclusive lounges and fine dining venues, moving up from your original stateroom category can transform your time at sea into something truly luxurious.
Celebrity Cruises is known for its premium service, world-class dining, and beautifully designed ships. But one of the best-kept secrets among repeat cruisers is how easy — and often affordable — it can be to upgrade your stateroom, especially if you know when and how to do it.
This comprehensive guide walks you through every method of upgrading your cabin on Celebrity Cruises — from the official MoveUp program and loyalty member perks to onboard offers and last-minute deals. You’ll also learn insider tips on how to get the best possible upgrade for less money and how to maximize the value of your cruise fare.
Before diving into how to upgrade your cabin, it’s essential to understand Celebrity Cruises’ cabin hierarchy. Each class of accommodation offers different levels of comfort, amenities, and privileges.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the major categories:
Inside Staterooms – These are the most affordable cabins, with no windows or balconies. They’re great for budget travelers who spend most of their time exploring the ship.
Ocean View Staterooms – Offer a window or porthole view of the sea, giving you natural light and a glimpse of the ocean.
Veranda (Balcony) Staterooms – Include a private balcony, perfect for enjoying morning coffee or evening sunsets in peace.
Concierge Class Staterooms – Include priority boarding, better location, and additional amenities like a pillow menu and premium bath products.
AquaClass Staterooms – Tailored for wellness lovers, with exclusive access to the Blu restaurant and the Persian Garden thermal suite.
Suites (The Retreat) – The top-tier accommodations offering personal butler service, premium dining in Luminae, and exclusive access to The Retreat Lounge and Sundeck.
The goal of an upgrade is to move up within this hierarchy — for example, from Ocean View to Veranda, or from a Veranda to a Suite in The Retreat.
Celebrity Cruises’ MoveUp program is the most popular and official way to upgrade your cabin. It’s a bid-based system where you can offer an amount you’re willing to pay for an upgraded stateroom category.
After you’ve booked your cruise and your reservation is confirmed, Celebrity Cruises may send you an email invitation to participate in the MoveUp program. This typically happens a few weeks before your sailing date.
Here’s the process step-by-step:
Receive the Invitation: You’ll get an email with the subject line like “You’re eligible for a Celebrity Cruises upgrade!”
Choose Your Upgrade Options: The email will include categories available for bidding — for instance, upgrading from Ocean View to Veranda or from Veranda to AquaClass.
Place Your Bid: Each upgrade category will have a slider showing the minimum and maximum bid amounts. You decide how much to bid per person, based on your budget and desire for the upgrade.
Submit and Wait: After submitting your bid, you’ll receive a confirmation. If your offer is accepted, your credit card will be charged, and your new stateroom assignment will be sent.
Enjoy Your Upgrade: If successful, you’ll receive all the perks of your new category — dining, amenities, and lounge access included.
Bid higher than the minimum. While it’s tempting to lowball, slightly increasing your bid can make a big difference.
Be flexible. Don’t bid only for the most expensive suites; sometimes moving up just one or two categories can drastically improve your experience.
Check often. If you didn’t get an email, log in to the MoveUp portal through your Celebrity Cruises account to see if you’re eligible.
Timing matters. Bids are reviewed closer to sailing, typically within 5–10 days before embarkation.
If you prefer more control than a bidding system, you can often upgrade your Celebrity Cruises cabin before the sailing date by contacting Celebrity Cruises or your travel agent directly.
You can call the Celebrity Cruises reservations department or your travel advisor to ask about available upgrades. If your sailing date is approaching and certain cabin categories have empty rooms, you might be able to upgrade for a discounted rate compared to the original price difference.
Celebrity Cruises frequently sends email offers to booked guests. These offers can include upgrade promotions, such as moving to a higher category at a reduced fare or as part of a package deal.
Log in to your My Celebrity account, go to “Manage Reservation,” and look for upgrade options. Sometimes, the system automatically shows discounted upgrade prices a few weeks before departure.
If you booked through a travel agent, they can sometimes negotiate better upgrade offers or have access to special promotions that aren’t publicly advertised.
Even if you didn’t upgrade before sailing, you can sometimes upgrade your cabin once onboard the ship.
After boarding, visit the Guest Relations Desk or Loyalty Ambassador early in your cruise. If there are available higher-category rooms, you may be able to pay an onboard rate to move.
The earlier you ask, the better — as unoccupied staterooms may fill quickly.
You can personally inspect the ship before deciding.
Sometimes, the cruise line offers significant last-minute discounts to fill empty suites.
You might even get free or low-cost upgrades if you’re celebrating a special occasion like a honeymoon or anniversary (though this is never guaranteed).
If you’re a frequent Celebrity Cruises guest, joining the Captain’s Club loyalty program can increase your upgrade opportunities.
Preview and Classic – Entry-level tiers that receive basic perks and upgrade emails.
Select and Elite – Members in these tiers sometimes receive early access to MoveUp invitations or discounted upgrades.
Elite Plus and Zenith – Top-tier members enjoy priority waitlisting for premium cabins and can occasionally be offered complimentary upgrades.
Always include your Captain’s Club number when booking.
Keep an eye on member-exclusive promotions.
Speak to the onboard Loyalty Host — they sometimes can offer special rates for loyal passengers.
Yes, but they are rare and not guaranteed. Complimentary upgrades typically happen when the ship is oversold in lower cabin categories and the cruise line needs to reassign guests to higher-level rooms to free up space.
Book early. Guests who book early and pay in full sometimes get priority when automatic upgrades happen.
Avoid guaranteed cabins. While guaranteed fares may save money, you lose control over cabin selection and are less likely to get upgraded voluntarily.
Sail during off-peak seasons. Fewer passengers mean better odds of room reassignments or discounted upgrades.
Mention special occasions. Politely noting a honeymoon or milestone celebration at check-in can occasionally result in a surprise upgrade.
One common question cruisers have is whether it’s cheaper to book a higher cabin from the start or wait to upgrade later.
Here’s what you should consider:
Early Booking Deals: Booking higher categories early often comes with added perks like onboard credit, drink packages, or Wi-Fi — which can make the price difference worth it.
Upgrade Bids: If you’re flexible, bidding through MoveUp may give you a suite-level experience for far less than booking it outright.
Last-Minute Upgrades: Onboard upgrades can be a gamble — great if available, but not guaranteed.
In short, if you absolutely want a balcony or suite, book it early. But if you’re open to risk and flexible with your cabin choice, bidding or last-minute upgrades can yield exceptional value.
Sail in shoulder seasons. Cruises in early spring or late autumn tend to have lower occupancy, increasing upgrade chances.
Avoid peak holidays. Christmas, summer, and New Year sailings rarely have spare cabins.
Use a reputable travel advisor. Agents often have access to unpublished fares and upgrade offers.
Check the ship’s deck plans. Choose cabins near suites — if your section gets reclassified or upgraded, you might be among the first moved.
Bid smartly. Study past accepted bid amounts from cruise forums to gauge realistic bidding ranges.
Travel off the beaten path. Itineraries like repositioning cruises or long transatlantic crossings often have more available space.
When your upgrade is accepted, you’ll receive an updated e-ticket and cabin assignment.
Here’s what changes — and what doesn’t:
Your onboard benefits update automatically to match the new category (e.g., Blu restaurant access for AquaClass).
Your drink and Wi-Fi packages remain the same unless you’re upgraded to a category with an included package (like The Retreat).
Your cabin location may change — you could be moved to a different deck or side of the ship.
Your original fare promotions usually remain intact unless otherwise stated.
Make sure to recheck your luggage tags and boarding documents after an upgrade confirmation.
To make the process clearer, here are a few real-world examples:
Example 1: Ocean View to Veranda via MoveUpA guest who booked an Ocean View cabin on the Celebrity Beyond receives a MoveUp email offering a Veranda upgrade. The minimum bid is $150 per person, and the guest bids $250. A few days before sailing, the bid is accepted, giving them a balcony cabin worth $800 more than their original fare.
Example 2: Veranda to AquaClass through Pre-Sailing OfferA couple booked a standard Veranda cabin six months in advance. Two weeks before departure, Celebrity sends a promotional email offering AquaClass upgrades for $200 per person. They call and accept the offer, gaining access to Blu dining and the Persian Garden.
Example 3: Concierge Class to Suite OnboardDuring embarkation, the ship still has two unbooked Sky Suites. The guest asks Guest Relations about onboard upgrades and pays a reduced $600 per person to move up to a suite with access to The Retreat.
These examples show that each path — bidding, pre-sailing offers, or onboard negotiation — can deliver great results depending on timing and availability.
While upgrading can enhance your cruise, there are a few pitfalls to avoid:
Don’t overbid blindly. Always check typical price differences first.
Don’t expect guaranteed perks. MoveUp upgrades are “room-only,” so they may not include all suite-level inclusions.
Don’t forget travel insurance. If you upgrade, make sure your policy covers the new cabin cost.
Avoid waiting too long. Once cabins sell out, upgrade options disappear.
If your goal is the pinnacle of the Celebrity experience, upgrading to The Retreat (available on most modern ships) is the way to go.
When you upgrade to a suite within The Retreat — such as a Sky Suite, Celebrity Suite, or Edge Villa — you receive exclusive benefits that completely change the level of service.
Private restaurant (Luminae)
Exclusive Retreat Lounge and Sundeck
Dedicated butler and concierge
Premium drink and Wi-Fi packages
Priority boarding and disembarkation
These perks make The Retreat feel like a boutique hotel within the ship. For many cruisers, the upgrade cost is worth it for the elevated privacy and service alone.
Upgrade costs can vary depending on:
Ship and itinerary
Season and demand
Length of cruise
Cabin category difference
On average, here’s what you might expect:
Upgrade TypeTypical Additional Cost (Per Person)
Inside → Ocean View$100–$200
Ocean View → Veranda$200–$400
Veranda → Concierge/AquaClass$150–$350
Veranda → Sky Suite$500–$1,000+
Suite → Higher Suite$800–$2,000+
Keep in mind these prices fluctuate, especially when bidding through MoveUp. Sometimes, guests report winning balcony upgrades for under $150 per person, while others pay much more depending on demand.
Upgrading your cabin on Celebrity Cruises can elevate your entire vacation experience — from waking up to ocean views to enjoying world-class spa access and private lounges. The process is flexible, offering options for every budget and preference.
If you’re strategic — watching for MoveUp invitations, checking for last-minute deals, or leveraging your Captain’s Club status — you can secure a dream cabin without overpaying.
The key is to stay proactive, monitor your booking, and make decisions early. Whether you end up in a spacious Veranda stateroom or an all-inclusive suite in The Retreat, the extra comfort and perks will make your voyage on Celebrity Cruises even more unforgettable.
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