How do the free upgrades work?

At the time of your booking you will be asked if you will accept a free upgrade should one become available.
The big question is do you say YES or NO.

Upgrades are entirely random and not controlled by being a past passenger or having booked first. Requests can not be taken, such as "I will take it if away from the lift or at the back of the deck" you have no control over the free upgrade.

Some things to bear in mind:
a - If travelling with others it is very unlikely you will be moved together so you could end up on different decks/ends of the ship or even standard of cabin (eg: One couple may get upgraded to an Oceanview or Balcony and the other just up one deck in the same cabin type). And we often find this causes problems as one party feels "cheated as their friends got upgraded higher then them".
b - If you dont like your new cabin you can NOT be moved back.
c - The cabin could be anywhere, so if you are booked midship, we suggest declining the upgrade. You could be moved to the cabin at the very front but one deck higher. If on an Inside Deck 10 or an obstructed view Deck 8 - you could be moved to a porthole Oceanview on Deck 4. A window oceanview on Deck 5, may be upgraded to a porthole on Deck 8.

Upgrades mean "to a higher priced cabin", and depending on your requirements this may not always be a better cabin.

However if you really don't care where your cabin is - upgrades can be beneficial! And sometimes you can be upgraded to the "BEST" cabin on a deck, but it is very much potluck.

It needs to be looked at this way as a general rule - The Oceanview/Balcony has not probably not been sold because of price or bad location, so they will upgrade a desirable Inside/Oceanview cabin to these ones as they know it will be easy to onsell the more desirable cabins.
So if you like your cabin and travelling with friends always decline the upgrade. If like me your cabin is just a bed and the loaction does not matter I say take your chances!

Happy Kruizing!
Kirsty