After booking an MSC cruise, you may receive an email offering the chance to bid on a better cabin. Instead of paying the normal price to change categories, MSC UpGrade lets you choose how much you are willing to pay for an upgrade.
A winning bid could move you from an interior cabin to a balcony, from a balcony to a suite, or even into the MSC Yacht Club. However, the program comes with an important tradeoff: MSC chooses your new cabin.
You cannot select the deck, location or cabin number. Once MSC accepts your offer, the upgrade is final and your credit card is charged immediately.
That can make MSC UpGrade a great deal for flexible cruisers, but it is not right for everyone. Before submitting an offer, you should compare the bid with the cost of upgrading directly and decide whether you are comfortable giving up your current cabin assignment.
What Is the MSC UpGrade Program?
MSC UpGrade is MSC Cruises’ cabin-upgrade bidding program. The bidding process is generally handled through the Plusgrade platform, which operates similar upgrade programs for airlines, cruise lines and other travel companies.
Eligible passengers can submit offers for higher cabin categories before their cruise. MSC reviews the offers and may accept one based on cabin availability, demand and other factors that MSC does not publicly disclose.
Possible upgrade options may include:
- Interior to ocean view
- Interior to balcony
- Ocean view to balcony
- Balcony to suite
- Bella or Fantastica accommodation to an Aurea cabin
- A standard cabin or suite to the MSC Yacht Club
The categories available to you depend on your original reservation, the ship and the inventory MSC makes available for bidding.
Receiving an invitation does not guarantee an upgrade. It only gives you the opportunity to submit an offer.
How Do You Become Eligible to Bid?
MSC may email an upgrade invitation to eligible guests after the cruise has been paid in full.
Upgrade invitations typically show up between 30 and 90 days before departure, although MSC does not promise a specific invitation schedule. Some passengers may receive an offer earlier or later, while others may never receive one.
You can also check your eligibility directly through MSC’s official upgrade page by entering your booking information. This can be worth trying even if you did not receive an email.
Eligibility can depend on several factors, including:
- Your ship and sailing
- Your original cabin category
- Remaining cabin inventory
- How the reservation was booked
- Whether the cruise has been paid in full
- Whether your reservation is eligible for the program
Not every cruise or reservation participates in MSC UpGrade.
If you booked through a travel agent, you may also be able to ask the agent whether your reservation qualifies.
How MSC Upgrade Bidding Works
The bidding process is fairly straightforward.
First, open your MSC UpGrade invitation or check your eligibility through MSC’s website. You will see the higher cabin categories available for your reservation.
You can then enter an offer for one or more categories. Each category has a minimum and maximum bid range.
For example, you could submit separate bids for:
- An ocean-view cabin
- A balcony cabin
- An Aurea balcony
- A suite
- A Yacht Club Interior Suite
- A Yacht Club Deluxe Suite
After selecting your offers, you enter a valid credit card and submit the bids.
MSC does not charge the card when the offer is submitted. The card is only charged if MSC accepts one of your bids.
You can generally change or cancel a pending offer until MSC accepts it. Once accepted, the upgrade is final.
Can You Bid on More Than One Cabin Category?
MSC allows eligible passengers to submit offers for multiple upgrade categories.
Bidding on several categories may increase the number of possible upgrade outcomes, but you should only bid on categories you would genuinely be happy to receive.
For example, you may prefer a Yacht Club upgrade but also be willing to accept an Aurea suite. You could submit separate offers for both.
MSC will only accept one offer for the reservation. You will not be charged for multiple upgrades.
A lower-category bid should not be treated as a harmless backup. If MSC accepts it, the charge is final and you may no longer be eligible for the higher category you originally preferred.
What Does the Bid-Strength Meter Mean?
The MSC UpGrade tool may include a slider that rates your offer from weak to strong.
This can make it look as though a stronger offer has a predictable chance of being accepted. However, MSC does not publicly explain how the meter is calculated or whether it is based on actual winning bids.
The meter appears to show where your offer falls within the available bidding range. It should not be treated as a guarantee or a forecast.
A strong bid can still lose if no cabins become available. A weak bid could potentially win if demand is low and MSC has unsold inventory.
The slider is also designed to encourage higher offers. Do not increase your bid simply because the meter labels your original amount as weak.
Decide what the upgrade is worth to you first. Then submit an offer within that limit.
Is an MSC Upgrade Bid Per Person or Per Cabin?
This is one of the most confusing parts of the MSC UpGrade program.
The bidding screen may display an amount per person, but the offer is normally calculated for the first two passengers in the cabin.
If you bid $300 per person, the total offer would generally be:
- First passenger: $300
- Second passenger: $300
- Third passenger: No additional upgrade bid
- Fourth passenger: No additional upgrade bid
- Total upgrade cost: $600
The amount covers the entire cruise. It is not charged per night.
MSC’s published wording has sometimes described the bid as both per person and per cabin. The best way to avoid confusion is to check the total amount shown before submitting the offer.
The final review screen should show the full amount that will be charged if MSC accepts your bid.
Do Third and Fourth Passengers Upgrade for Free?
MSC calculates the upgrade offer using the first two passengers in the cabin. Third and fourth passengers sharing the same reservation generally receive the upgraded cabin category without an additional bid charge.
This can create especially good value for families.
For example, suppose the total bid for an upgrade is $1,000.
For two passengers, the effective upgrade cost is $500 per person.
For four passengers, the effective upgrade cost is $250 per person.
The third and fourth guests are not receiving a separate free cruise or package. They are simply included in the upgraded cabin without an additional upgrade-bid charge.
The upgraded cabin must also be able to accommodate everyone on the reservation. A cabin designed for two passengers cannot be used to upgrade a family of four.
Higher hotel service charges or other expenses may still apply to all passengers.
How Do Upgrade Bids Work for Solo Cruisers?
Solo upgrade pricing can be confusing because MSC generally bases its cabin pricing on double occupancy.
Solo passengers have traditionally reported that a per-person bid was doubled, matching the amount that would have been charged for two passengers.
However, the Plusgrade interface may sometimes display a total cabin offer instead of a per-person offer. This can vary by reservation, market or version of the bidding system.
Solo travelers should carefully review the final amount before submitting a bid.
Look for wording such as:
- Per person
- Per cabin
- Total offer
- Total amount due if accepted
Do not assume the number shown on the first screen is the final charge.
When Are MSC Upgrade Bids Accepted?
MSC upgrade decisions are typically finalized within the final few weeks or days before departure. Many passengers receive a decision around 48 to 72 hours before sailing.
However, that is not a guaranteed deadline.
MSC may accept an offer earlier, and its published rules allow an offer to remain active until the cruise departs.
You should consider a bid active until one of the following happens:
- MSC accepts it
- MSC rejects it
- You cancel it
- The cruise departs
Do not leave an offer active unless you are still prepared to pay it.
If you decide to upgrade directly through MSC or your travel agent, cancel any pending bids immediately. Otherwise, MSC could still accept one of them.
What Happens When MSC Accepts Your Bid?
If MSC accepts your upgrade offer, several things happen quickly.
MSC sends an acceptance email, charges the credit card provided with the offer and assigns a new cabin.
The upgrade charge is final, non-refundable and non-transferable.
You cannot reject the upgrade because you dislike the cabin number, deck or location. You also cannot ask MSC to restore your original cabin simply because you changed your mind.
Your reservation should update to show the new cabin category and cabin number. If you upgraded into Aurea or the MSC Yacht Club, the related experience benefits may take additional time to appear in the booking.
Because MSC can accept an offer at any time, make sure the credit card:
- Has enough available credit
- Will not expire before the cruise
- Is not locked
- Will not automatically block the charge as possible fraud
What Happens if Your Bid Is Rejected?
If MSC does not accept your offer, you keep your original cabin and are not charged.
There is no penalty for submitting an unsuccessful bid.
Continue planning around the cabin you originally booked until MSC confirms an upgrade. A pending offer does not mean an upgraded cabin is being held for you.
You may not receive a rejection until very close to departure, particularly if MSC is waiting to see whether cabins become available.
Can You Choose Your Upgraded Cabin?
No. MSC selects the cabin after accepting your bid.
A successful offer guarantees the upgraded category, but it does not guarantee a specific:
- Cabin number
- Deck
- Ship location
- Distance from elevators
- Bed placement
- View
- Noise level
- Connection to another cabin
A balcony upgrade could place you in a cabin that is:
- Far forward or aft
- Under the pool deck
- Above a lounge or theater
- Near an elevator
- Far from an elevator
- Connected to another cabin
- Equipped with an obstructed or partially obstructed view
The exact outcome depends on the category offered and the remaining cabins MSC has available.
Before bidding, ask yourself whether you would be happy with the least desirable cabin in the upgrade category.
If the answer is no, it may be better to upgrade directly and select a cabin yourself.
Who Should Think Twice Before Bidding?
MSC UpGrade works best for passengers who are flexible about cabin location.
You should be more cautious if:
- You selected your current cabin because it is quiet
- You want to remain midship
- You are sensitive to motion
- You need to be near an elevator
- You need an accessible cabin
- You are traveling with connecting cabins
- Your group has cabins beside or across from one another
- You require a specific bed arrangement
- You need to remain near friends or family
- You would be unhappy with an obstructed view
- You may cancel or change the cruise
A higher cabin category is not always a better cabin for every passenger.
A midship interior cabin in a quiet location may be more comfortable for you than a balcony at the very front of the ship under a busy public deck.
What Happens to Your Original Promotions?
The promotions and packages included with your original reservation generally remain attached to the booking.
That could include:
- A drink package
- Wi-Fi
- Onboard credit
- A promotional fare
- Included dining
- Other benefits tied to the original booking
A standard upgrade does not usually add the promotions that would have come with booking the new cabin category directly.
For example, moving from a Bella interior cabin to a balcony cabin does not automatically convert the reservation into a new promotional package.
The major exceptions are upgrades into Aurea and the MSC Yacht Club.
Do You Receive Aurea Benefits After an Upgrade?
If MSC accepts an upgrade into an Aurea cabin, the reservation should receive the benefits associated with the Aurea experience.
The exact benefits can change and may vary by ship, but they may include features such as:
- Flexible dining
- Access to the thermal area
- Priority benefits
- Access to a reserved outdoor area on eligible ships
- Other Aurea inclusions
Check the current Aurea benefits for your ship and sailing when evaluating the bid.
A bid into an Aurea cabin is more valuable than a basic cabin-category upgrade when you plan to use the additional benefits.
Do You Receive Full Yacht Club Benefits?
A successful upgrade into the MSC Yacht Club includes the full Yacht Club experience.
It is not limited to receiving a different cabin or gaining access to the private Yacht Club venues.
Depending on the ship and itinerary, Yacht Club benefits generally include:
- Butler service
- Concierge service
- Priority embarkation
- Access to the Top Sail Lounge
- Access to the Yacht Club restaurant
- A private Yacht Club sundeck
- Premium drinks
- Wi-Fi
- Private or priority areas
- Other Yacht Club services and amenities
This is one reason Yacht Club upgrade bids can be especially appealing. You are bidding on a much broader experience rather than only a larger room.
A Yacht Club bid may also provide particularly strong value for a family of three or four because the bid is calculated using the first two guests.
What Happens to Prepaid Drinks, Wi-Fi or Spa Services?
Be careful when bidding into Aurea or the MSC Yacht Club if you have already purchased services separately.
For example, you may have prepaid for:
- A drink package
- An internet package
- Thermal-area access
- Other services now included with the upgraded experience
Do not assume MSC will automatically refund a prepaid service simply because the upgrade includes something similar.
This can reduce the real value of the bid.
Suppose you have already paid $600 for drinks and Wi-Fi, and you submit a $2,000 Yacht Club bid. If MSC does not refund the original packages, your real additional spending is still $2,000 even though some Yacht Club benefits now overlap with items you already purchased.
Include those prepaid costs when comparing the bid with the cost of booking Yacht Club directly.
Can Linked Reservations Upgrade Together?
MSC evaluates each reservation separately.
If your family or group has two cabins, each reservation must submit its own upgrade offer.
MSC could:
- Accept both bids
- Accept only one bid
- Reject both bids
- Place both upgraded cabins on different decks or in different parts of the ship
Linked reservations do not guarantee that everyone will receive an upgrade or remain near one another.
This is especially important for families using connecting cabins or parents with children booked in a nearby room.
Do not assume you can move everyone into the upgraded cabin if only one bid is accepted. The new cabin must have enough approved capacity for every passenger, and canceling the second reservation could trigger normal cancellation penalties.
Can You Change or Cancel an Upgrade Bid?
You can generally modify or withdraw a bid while it is still pending.
Use the link in the upgrade invitation or confirmation email to access your offers.
Once MSC accepts an offer, you can no longer change or cancel it.
Because acceptance can occur without additional confirmation, you should not use the bidding system to test a price unless you are prepared to pay it.
Submitting the bid gives MSC permission to charge the card if the offer is accepted.
Are MSC Upgrade Bids Refundable?
Accepted upgrade bids are generally final and non-refundable.
The upgrade amount is also non-transferable. You cannot move it to another cruise simply because your plans change.
If you voluntarily cancel the cruise, the upgrade bid may be lost in addition to any normal cruise cancellation penalties.
If MSC cancels the cruise or cannot provide the upgraded accommodation, different refund rules may apply.
The important takeaway is that you should treat an MSC UpGrade bid as a firm purchase, not a temporary reservation.
Could Your Hotel Service Charge Increase?
Your upgraded category or experience may carry a higher hotel service charge.
MSC may add the difference to your onboard account, meaning the upgrade bid may not represent the complete additional cost.
This is most relevant when upgrading into a premium experience such as Aurea or the MSC Yacht Club.
Check the service-charge rules for your sailing and include any potential difference when deciding how much to bid.
Do You Earn Voyagers Club Points From an Upgrade?
MSC says accepted upgrades can earn Voyagers Club points associated with the upgraded cabin category.
The exact number of points can depend on the new category, cruise length and current Voyagers Club rules.
This can be a small additional benefit, particularly when upgrading into a suite, Aurea accommodation or the MSC Yacht Club.
However, Voyagers Club points should not be the main reason to submit an expensive upgrade offer.
How Much Should You Bid?
There is no guaranteed winning formula.
MSC does not publish its acceptance algorithm, average winning offers or the number of competing bids.
The best strategy is not to guess the lowest amount MSC will accept. Instead, determine the maximum amount the upgrade is worth to you.
Before bidding, compare:
- Your original cruise fare
- The total bid for the first two passengers
- The current price of upgrading directly
- The benefits included with the new experience
- The value of any prepaid services that overlap
- The possibility of higher service charges
- The risk of receiving an undesirable cabin location
Your bid should be an amount you would be happy to pay if MSC charged your card immediately.
Do not raise an offer solely to move the strength meter from weak to fair or strong.
Compare the Bid With the Cost of Upgrading Directly
Always check the current price of the upgraded category before submitting a bid.
Cruise fares change frequently. In some cases, the cost of directly changing your reservation may be close to, or even lower than, the minimum bid.
A direct upgrade may also allow you to choose your cabin.
You can contact MSC or your travel agent and ask how much it would cost to move into the desired category.
Compare:
- Original cruise fare plus the upgrade bid
- Original cruise fare plus the direct-upgrade price
- Current retail price for the upgraded category
- Benefits included under each option
- Cabin-selection flexibility
If the bid saves only a small amount, selecting the cabin directly may be worth the extra cost.
Sample MSC Upgrade Bid Calculations
Consider an interior-to-balcony offer displayed at $250 per person.
For two passengers:
- First passenger: $250
- Second passenger: $250
- Total upgrade bid: $500
For a family of four:
- First passenger: $250
- Second passenger: $250
- Third passenger: No additional bid
- Fourth passenger: No additional bid
- Total upgrade bid: $500
- Effective upgrade cost per passenger: $125
Now consider a Yacht Club bid displayed at $1,000 per person.
For two passengers:
- Total bid: $2,000
- Effective cost per passenger: $1,000
For four passengers:
- Total bid: $2,000
- Effective cost per passenger: $500
The family example may look like an excellent value, but you still need to compare it with the full Yacht Club fare, cabin capacity, prepaid packages and the possibility of additional service charges.
Is an MSC Upgrade Bid Worth It?
An MSC upgrade bid may be worthwhile when:
- The bid is substantially less than a direct upgrade
- You are flexible about cabin location
- You would accept any cabin in the offered category
- You are upgrading three or four passengers
- You value the Aurea or Yacht Club benefits
- You have not already purchased overlapping packages
- You are comfortable with a non-refundable charge
It may not be worthwhile when:
- The bid is close to the normal upgrade price
- You carefully selected your existing cabin
- You need connecting or nearby rooms
- You require a specific location
- You have already prepaid for several included services
- You may need to cancel or change the cruise
- You are increasing the bid only because of the strength meter
The Bottom Line
MSC UpGrade can be a great way to move into a better cabin or even the MSC Yacht Club without paying the full published price.
The strongest opportunities are often the upgrades that add meaningful benefits, such as Aurea or Yacht Club, or offers where a family’s third and fourth passengers are upgraded without an additional bid.
However, there is no guarantee that the upgrade will be a bargain.
MSC chooses your new cabin, the accepted bid is final, and the upgraded room may be in a location you would not have selected yourself.
Book a cabin you would be happy keeping. Then treat MSC UpGrade as an optional opportunity rather than part of your core cruise plan.
The best bid is not necessarily the highest amount you can afford. It is the highest amount you would willingly pay for the least desirable cabin you could receive within that category.