Cruise Auctions, Explained
Upgrade bids, charity and online auctions, and art at sea — know the rules before you bid.
Ask Before You BidCruise auctions come in more shapes than most travelers expect. You might be invited to bid for a balcony after booking an inside cabin, see a week at sea in a school fundraiser, find a cruise listed on an online auction site, or wander into an art auction on a sea day with a glass of champagne in hand. This site explains each one, so you know the rules before you bid.
We do not run auctions and we never publish bid amounts or “winning numbers.” Bid results depend on the sailing, the date, the cabins left and how many other guests bid, and no outsider can see that data. What we can do is explain how each kind of auction works, from the cruise lines’ own terms, and help you judge whether a bid is worth it.
The Four Kinds of Cruise Auctions
Upgrade bidding
Several big lines invite booked guests to bid for a higher cabin category. Rules differ line by line.
Compare the programs →
Online and charity auctions
A cruise as the prize in an online or fundraising auction. Read what is included before you bid.
How to bid safely →
Art auctions at sea
Onboard art auctions, most often run by Park West Gallery, on several major lines.
How they work →Upgrade Bids: The Auction Most Cruisers Meet
The cruise auction you are most likely to see is an email inviting you to bid for a better stateroom. Royal Caribbean (RoyalUp), Celebrity (MoveUp), Norwegian (Upgrade Advantage), Princess (Princess Upgrade) and MSC (MSC UpGrade) all run programs like this. You choose a higher category, set an amount within the range offered, and wait. If the line accepts, your card is charged and your cabin changes. If not, nothing happens.
The details matter more than the headline. Some lines charge the bid per person for the first two guests; some treat solo travelers differently; deadlines run from days to hours before sailing. Our line-by-line comparison sets out the rules as each line publishes them, and we give the Princess cruise upgrade bid and the MSC cruise upgrade bid pages of their own.
For every other way to get a better cabin, from guarantee fares to paying the difference, our sister site Cruise Upgrades covers the full picture.
Five Rules for Any Cruise Auction
Know the real price
Get a quote for the same sailing and cabin first. A bid or auction price means little without it.
Read what is included
Taxes, port fees, gratuities, flights and dates are where auction cruises most often surprise winners.
Count every guest
Per-person bids add up quickly for two or more travelers.
Expect no refunds
Accepted upgrade bids and auction wins are usually final.
Never wire money
Legitimate cruise auctions do not ask for wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Cruise auctions sit alongside the regular deals calendar: Wave Season and Cruising for Less track the published offers, and the Mister Cruise cruise-offers newsletter sends the ones worth acting on. When you want a straight comparison, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will price the same cabin so you can judge any bid against it.
eCruise Auctions is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
Before you bid, ask our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise what the same cabin costs to book outright — then let us book everything for you, not a call center. Meet Mister Cruise →
Frequently Asked Questions
What are cruise auctions?
The phrase covers several different things: cruise lines’ programs that let booked guests bid for a better cabin, online and charity auctions where a cruise is the prize, and the art auctions held on board many ships. Each works differently, and each has its own fine print.
Can I win a cruise cheaply at an auction?
Sometimes a charity or online auction sells a cruise for less than its normal price, but often it sells for more, because bidders get excited or want to support a cause. Always compare the winning price with a quote for the same sailing.
Does it cost anything to place an upgrade bid?
On the major lines’ programs, your card is charged only if your bid is accepted. Once accepted, the charge is generally final and non-refundable, so bid only what you are happy to pay.
Can my travel advisor bid for me?
Invitations and bids usually go through the guest’s own email and account. Your advisor can help you decide whether to bid and compare the bid with simply paying to move up.
More Cruise Sites From Our Network
Thinking of Bidding?
Send us the sailing and the category you are eyeing. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will tell you what it costs to book outright — free.
Ask Before You Bid