You can upgrade your Carnival cabin before departure or after you arrive at the ship, but the price and availability depend on which route you choose
Carnival offers cabin upgrades through three main channels: online before your cruise, by phone with a reservations agent, or onboard at the front desk after you board. The online route is usually cheapest because Carnival prices unsold upgrades to move inventory. Phone upgrades cost more but let you ask questions about specific cabin locations. Onboard upgrades happen last — you see what is actually available, but you pay the highest price for whatever remains.
The timing matters because Carnival releases upgrade inventory in stages. The best prices appear 60 to 90 days before departure. Prices rise as your sail date approaches. If you wait until you are at the ship, you are paying what Carnival could not sell at any other price point, which is often double or triple the early online rate.
Key Takeaways
- Online upgrades through Carnival.com cost the least and are available starting about 90 days before your cruise, with prices dropping further as you get closer to departure if cabins remain unsold.
- Phone upgrades through Carnival reservations let you ask about specific deck locations and cabin positions, but cost more than online upgrades for the same room category.
- Onboard upgrades at the front desk happen after you board and show you real availability, but prices are highest because you are buying what did not sell earlier.
- Upgrade pricing is per person for the entire cruise, not a one-time fee, so a family of four pays four times the per-person rate.
- Carnival does not may provide your preferred cabin number or location even after you pay for an upgrade — you receive a room in the upgraded category, but the specific cabin is assigned at check-in.
Upgrading online before your cruise
Log into your Carnival account on Carnival.com and go to "Manage My Booking." Select your reservation and look for the "Upgrade Cabin" option. Carnival shows you available upgrades in the next higher cabin categories, with the price per person for your entire cruise displayed next to each option. You can see the deck location and whether the cabin has a balcony, window, or inside view. The system does not show you the specific cabin number until after you complete the purchase and receive your updated confirmation email.
Prices change frequently as Carnival adjusts inventory. If you see an upgrade you want but the price seems high, check back in a few days — Carnival often lowers prices on unsold inventory as the sail date approaches. Set a reminder for 60, 45, and 30 days before your cruise to check for price drops. Many cruisers find the best deals appear in the final two weeks before departure, when Carnival is motivated to fill remaining upgrades.
Online upgrades are non-refundable once purchased. If you change your mind, you cannot get your money back, though you can sometimes exchange an upgrade for a different cabin category at the same price if availability allows. Read the terms on the confirmation page before you click "Complete Purchase."
Upgrading by phone with a Carnival agent
Call Carnival reservations at 1-800-CARNIVAL (1-800-227-6482) and tell the agent you want to explore cabin upgrades. The agent can see the same inventory as the website but can also answer questions about specific locations — for example, whether a cabin is near the elevator or the engine room, or which side of the ship it faces. This is useful if you get seasick or want to avoid noise from machinery.
Phone upgrades cost more than online upgrades for the same cabin category because you are paying for the agent's time and the ability to ask questions. Expect to pay 10 to 30 percent more than the online price for the same upgrade. The agent will quote you a price per person and ask you to confirm before charging your credit card. Like online upgrades, phone upgrades are non-refundable.
Agents can also tell you whether a specific cabin category is selling well or sitting empty, which gives you a sense of whether prices are likely to drop. If an agent says a category is nearly full, waiting for a price drop is unlikely to work.
Upgrading onboard after you board
Walk to the front desk (also called Guest Services) after you check in and ask about cabin upgrades. The staff can show you what is actually available on the ship — not what was available when you booked, but what remains unsold right now. You see the cabin number, the exact location, and the view type before you decide. This is the only time you know for certain what you are getting.
Onboard upgrades are the most expensive option. Carnival prices them to capture the value of last-minute decisions and the fact that you are already committed to the cruise. A cabin upgrade that cost $200 per person online might cost $400 or $500 per person onboard. Prices vary by ship, by how full the ship is, and by how many cabins remain unsold.
Onboard upgrades are also non-refundable, and you must complete the transaction at the front desk before you leave to explore the ship. If you are not certain, ask the agent if you can return later in the day to decide — some agents will hold an upgrade for a few hours, but this is not may provide.
Understanding what you actually get when you upgrade
Carnival assigns your specific cabin number at check-in, even after you pay for an upgrade. You choose the cabin category (inside, oceanview, balcony, or suite), but Carnival decides which cabin in that category you receive. This means you might pay for a balcony upgrade and end up with a cabin whose balcony faces a wall or a tender platform instead of open ocean. You cannot refuse the assignment and get a refund — the upgrade price is final.
Some cabin categories come with perks beyond the room itself. Suites include priority dining, free specialty dining, and access to the Suite Lounge. Balcony cabins on some ships include priority embarkation and disembarkation. Check your confirmation email to see what comes with your upgraded category.
If you upgrade from an inside cabin to an oceanview cabin, you lose the inside cabin you originally booked — you do not keep both. Your original cabin is released back into Carnival's inventory and may be sold to another guest.
When upgrades are not available or not worth the cost
Some sailings sell out of upgrades weeks in advance, especially short cruises and sailings during school holidays. If the online system shows no upgrades available, call Carnival to confirm — agents sometimes have access to inventory not shown on the website, though this is rare. If nothing is available, you are not charged and your original cabin remains yours.
On some sailings, upgrade prices are so high that they approach the cost of booking a different cabin category on a future cruise. If an upgrade costs $600 per person and you are traveling with four people, that is $2,400 for a few extra square feet. Compare that price to what a balcony cabin costs on a different sailing before you decide. Sometimes waiting for a different cruise date is smarter than paying inflated upgrade prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade my cabin after I board if I did not upgrade before?
Yes. Walk to the front desk after you check in and ask what upgrades are available. You see the actual cabin and pay the onboard price, which is higher than online prices. Availability depends on how many cabins remain unsold, which varies by ship and sailing date.
What if I upgrade online and then want to cancel?
Online upgrades are non-refundable once purchased. You cannot get your money back. In some cases, Carnival allows you to exchange your upgrade for a different cabin category at the same price if availability allows, but this is not may provide. Contact Carnival before your cruise to ask about exchange options.
Do I have to upgrade the same cabin category for everyone in my party?
No. You can upgrade some people in your party and leave others in the original cabin. Each person's upgrade is priced separately. If you have four people and upgrade two of them, you pay the upgrade price twice.
Will I get a specific cabin number when I pay for an upgrade?
No. You choose the cabin category (balcony, suite, oceanview), but Carnival assigns your specific cabin number at check-in. You do not know your exact cabin location until you arrive at the ship, even if you upgraded weeks in advance.
Are there any cabin upgrades that come with free perks?
Suite upgrades include priority dining, free specialty dining, and access to the Suite Lounge. Some balcony cabins include priority embarkation. Check your confirmation email to see what comes with your upgraded category.