Carnival Cruise Cabin Upgrade Guide | Everything to Know

Process of booking a Carnival Cruise is exciting but landing into a better cabin than you have paid for can make the journey even more memorable. Having knowledge about how to get an upgrade room carnival offer can make your cruise journey much more comfortable when you want to move from interior room to an oceanview or from balcony to suite. Continue reading this guide to get full knowledge about the process, the available options and some tips to make the process smooth and stress free.

How to Upgrade Your Carnival Cruise Cabin or Suite?

There are two main ways to upgrade your cabins for a Carnival cruise or upgrade your Cabin Suite: Log into your Carnival VIFP account, and contact Carnival Guest Services or your travel agent. The process of the upgrade through these methods is very simple and you are informed about them below:

Check Your Carnival VIFP Account

This is the first point that should be checked; after all, it doesn't need anyone to call, it's free, and it is fast.

• Sign in to your Carnival VIFP account via the Carnival website or app.
• You will find "Your To-Do List" or the pre-cruise offers section relating to your booking.
• Check what Carnival is offering to upgrade when considering this sail.
• When an offer appears, consider the added cost and new category before taking the bait.
• Please be aware that as time grows nearer to your sail date, there may be new offers available; check back from time to time.

Call Carnival or Your Travel Agent

When you don't see anything in your account or you are interested in inquiring about upgrade options upfront, this is your next move.

• If booked through travel agent please contact travel agent, if booked direct call Carnival Guest Services 1-800-438-6744.
• Inquire about any other cabin category for your type of sailing.
• Ask them how much the difference is between your current Cabin and the upgraded Cabin.
• Check if there are any change fees as you may have exceeded your last payment date.
• Make the decision and confirm promptly as availability is frequently changing and a good offer might not last.

A Note on Timing

• Before final payment: You normally have the most flexibility, and may be able to cancel and rebook another cabin on your own for the current price plus any change fee, too.
• After final payment: Upgrading becomes more complicated after pay-up, as the tiered cancellation penalties of Carnival begin to kick in. Communication should be done through a phone representative or, preferably, the travel agent, who can assist in trying to reduce any switch fees.

If you take advantage of these venues correctly, and you respond swiftly enough, you can enhance your odds of finding an improved cabin on your Carnival cruise.

Types of Cabin Upgrades You Can Get

The cabin divisions of the Carnival are normally interior, up to suite, with a few divisions within each. An upgrade might be simply with the same category but getting a better deck position or to a completely new category. Let's break it down;

Cabin Category	What It Offers	Typical Upgrade Path
Interior	Budget-friendly, no window	Go to oceanview or balcony.
Oceanview	A window that faces the sea or a porthole with a sea view	Move to balcony
Balcony	Outdoor areas for personal use and sea breeze.	Move to extended balcony or Cove Balcony or move to suite.
Suite	There's an extra room, first boarding, lots of storage	Move to a higher-grade suite, ship-dependent

Once you know which category you want to compete in, you will be able to make a better estimate of whether or not it is worth buying a paid upgrade room carnival ticket at this time, or if there is a cheaper one out there in the lead-up to your sail date.

Does Carnival Have a Bidding Program?

NO! Carnival is not a true bidding system where you place an offer, and compete with others for the position you are bidding for. There's no auction and you don't put your own price up. Instead it works like this:

• Passengers who are selected usually after their payment date, may be sent a targeted email or an online offer for upgrading.
• It's a fixed price as determined by Carnival which doesn't allow negotiation or bidding up or down.
• Cabin upgrades are given on a first come first served basis, meaning that if they're available, the applicant who accepts one first will receive it.

Carnival's upgrade offers might not have the competitive bidding, but they do offer a simple choice for those passengers who would like to upgrade their cruise stay for guaranteed better rooms for a set rate.

Guarantee Cabins: A Clever Way to Land a Better Room

Guarantee Cabin is a form of booking in which you pay for a particular class of room (in this case balcony), but can't pick a specific cabin number and the information is distributed by Carnival in order of proximity to sailing. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

• The upside: When the category that you booked for sells out before the cabin being assigned to you then you might be moved to a higher cabin without charging you for maintaining the balance.
• The downside: The location of the cabins is out of your control and you may find yourself near an elevator, near the ship's engines, or at the front or rear where you will be more likely to notice the ship's movements.
• Who it suits best: It's ideal for those who don't mind taking a chance at a bump up in category for a potential free time in exchange for not being picky about where they are located.

Booking this option is best for those guests who are open to surprises as this will make your journey memorable and you will get a upgraded experience without breaking your banks. 

Can You Upgrade at the Port or Onboard?

You can't upgrade or downgrade on the day of departure or on board the ship as the ship is full and cabin assignments are finalized long before departure. One thing no one would do at Carnival is walk over to Guest Services at the terminal and hope to have a better room to stay in!

It is important to make any upgrade stateroom carnival request in advance via your VIFP account, via phone, or your travel agent, prior to your sail date. When it comes to upgrading your cabin, it's best to inquire ahead of time or look for offers rather than at the port to upgrade.

Best Time to Ask About a Cabin Upgrade

Everybody knows that time is important but it is more than people realize. The easiest thing to do here would be to think of it as this:

• Right after booking, before final payment: Best time for flexibility & reduced change fees.
• As the sail date approaches: Cabin availability on full sailings is quickly reduced and there is a tendency for the cost of available cabins to escalate.
• Close to departure: Occasionally better cabins may open up as a result of a last minute cancellation; therefore, it is advisable to check your VIFP account and your email periodically close to departure.

For Carnival Upgrade Cabin option you are advised to take a step as soon as possible and always keep an eye on the available options. You can easily get room upgrade of your choice by acting quickly. 

Conclusion

The key for finding a better cabin on your Carnival cruise is to time, have a little patience and know where to look! From viewing your VIFP To-Do List, to calling Guest Services or booking a guarantee cabin, there are little things that you can do now for a bigger upgrade later. Check out your account today and set sail in a meaningful cabin for a perfect vacation.