On the morning Denise and I were sailing on MSC Euribia, I got an email about my $475 bid for a Premium Suite Aurea. MSC had declined it. We kept our original stateroom, and my card wasn’t charged.
I was fine with the outcome. What surprised me was how hard it was, even as a travel advisor, to tell what I’d actually get if my bid went through. A cruise line can give you a slider with a dollar amount, but you still have to decide what the cabin is worth to you.
The scenario I gave AI
Denise and I already had a balcony cabin we were happy with. One of the upgrades I considered was the Suite Aurea with Terrace & Whirlpool, for which MSC’s bidding screen showed an upper limit of $1,180 per cabin. I asked AI to compare the two cabins and suggest a reasonable bid based on what we’d gain.
What I compared
Our balcony cabin
Suite Aurea with Terrace & Whirlpool
Estimated interior space
183 sq. ft.
291 sq. ft.
Estimated outdoor space
65 sq. ft. for a typical balcony
280–323 sq. ft. of terrace
Main reason to upgrade
We already had private outdoor space
A much larger terrace and a private whirlpool
The biggest difference was outside. If we planned to spend a lot of time on the terrace and use the whirlpool, I could see paying more. If we expected to spend most days ashore, we already had a balcony for morning coffee or a drink before dinner.
The AI suggested $350–$450 total for the cabin, with $400 as its pick. It would consider $500–$600 only if we expected to use the terrace and whirlpool often. Those were estimates of what the upgrade might be worth to us. MSC’s minimum and the bids from other passengers were unknown.
The $475 bid I ultimately submitted was for the Premium Suite Aurea, a separate category. The comparison gave me a way to think about what I’d pay, even though I ended up bidding on a different cabin category.
Who decides whether you win?
Plusgrade, a privately held Montreal company backed by General Atlantic and La Caisse, formerly CDPQ, provides MSC’s bidding platform. Plusgrade says its software looks at available inventory and submitted offers to recommend upgrades. MSC Cruises, part of the Aponte family’s privately owned MSC Group, retains discretion over which bids it accepts. La Caisse · MSC Group · Plusgrade · MSC Upgrade Terms
Is it fair?
I think the payment rules are fair. The bidding process could be clearer. My $475 offer covered the cabin for the entire cruise. MSC could accept it up until departure. If it did, my card would be charged automatically and the upgrade payment would be final. MSC’s program also says guests can’t choose a specific cabin or location. MSC Upgrade FAQ
I didn’t expect MSC to show me everyone else’s bids. I did expect enough detail to judge what I was offering to buy. How much larger would the cabin be? What kind of balcony would I get? Which features came with every cabin in that category? If you picked your original stateroom for its location, those details matter. I’d also like MSC to explain how much weight it gives the bid amount. My email told me the outcome and left the reason open.
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you already like the cabin you booked and would be happy with any cabin in the category you’re bidding on. If there’s a price to confirm the upgrade directly, I’d compare it with the bid. A bigger balcony might be worth real money on a cruise with several sea days. On a port-heavy trip, I might get more out of spending that money ashore.
If I’m paying extra for a whirlpool, a particular deck, or a cabin near family, I’d book a confirmed cabin that meets that requirement. And before I hit submit on any bid, I’d ask myself one question. If my card is charged today, will I be happy with whatever cabin I’m assigned in this category?
For Denise and me, $475 was what I was willing to spend on the Premium Suite Aurea. We were happy to sail in the cabin we’d already chosen. I’d bid again under those same conditions.
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