The cheapest cruise fare isn’t always the best value. Sometimes spending a little extra can make a surprisingly big difference, whether that’s a better cabin, more flexibility or a few worthwhile perks.
Over the years, I’ve come across some upgrades that are well worth considering when the price is right. Here are five I’d always look out for, including a couple that might surprise you.
1. MSC Cruises: Aurea Experience
If there’s one upgrade I always look at when booking an MSC Cruises holiday, it’s the Aurea Experience. And on longer sailings, particularly those with several days at sea, I think it can be one of the best-value upgrades available.
MSC offers different experience levels, with Aurea sitting above Bella and Fantastica. While there’s a collection of additional benefits, two in particular make it worthwhile for me: flexible dining and access to the thermal area of the MSC Aurea Spa.
With Aurea, you get My Choice dining, which means you’re not tied to an early or late dinner sitting. Fancy staying out on deck a little longer? No problem. Want to eat earlier because you’ve got plans for the evening? You can. It might sound like a relatively small benefit, but having that freedom throughout your cruise makes a real difference.
Then there’s the spa. Aurea includes access to the thermal area, which can be a fantastic perk on ships with particularly impressive spa facilities. You also get access to the exclusive Top Solarium, priority boarding and a few welcome extras. Suddenly, that additional cost starts to look quite reasonable.
My advice: Always compare the price of a Fantastica balcony with an Aurea balcony before booking. If the difference is relatively small, particularly on a longer itinerary, it’s an upgrade I’d seriously recommend. However, if you’re rarely going to use the spa or are perfectly happy with fixed dining times, you may be better off saving the money.
2. Virgin Voyages: Splash of Romance
This is one of my favourite examples of a cruise add-on that can deliver considerably more value than you might initially expect.
Virgin Voyages‘ Splash of Romance package is designed with couples in mind, although you certainly don’t need to be celebrating an anniversary or honeymoon to enjoy it. It brings together a collection of benefits, including priority boarding, a three-hour thermal spa visit for two, a bottle of Champagne delivered through Shake for Champagne, daily cold-pressed juices and an exclusive cocktail event. On one of my sailings, the cocktail gathering was held up on the top deck, with a singer-guitarist performing a live acoustic set. Enjoying a drink out on deck with live music in the background was a lovely way to start the evening, and certainly more memorable than your average drinks reception.
There’s also a selection of chocolates delivered to your cabin. Personally, I wouldn’t buy the package for those, but the other benefits make a much more convincing argument.
For me, priority boarding is one of the biggest attractions. Getting on board earlier, settling in and making the most of that first afternoon is a great way to start your holiday. Add in a visit to Virgin’s Redemption Spa, which is a lovely place to spend a few hours, and you’re already getting some really worthwhile experiences.
It’s particularly interesting for anyone who doesn’t have Virgin Voyages loyalty benefits, such as Deep Blue Extras, where some of the advantages may overlap. If you already enjoy priority boarding through your loyalty status, the package becomes less compelling.
My advice: Think about what you’d actually use rather than simply adding up the advertised value of everything included. If you’d happily pay for a spa visit, enjoy Champagne and appreciate priority boarding, Splash of Romance can be well worth the cost. Just check your existing loyalty privileges before purchasing.
3. Norwegian Cruise Line: Club Balcony Suites
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Club Balcony Suites are another upgrade I think people sometimes overlook, particularly on the Breakaway Class ships.
Despite the name, these aren’t traditional suites with all the privileges you might associate with Norwegian’s exclusive Haven accommodation. They’re an enhanced balcony cabin category, often offering a little more space and, on certain ships, a noticeably better bathroom.
And it’s the bathroom that I think makes these cabins particularly appealing, especially for someone booking their first cruise. Cruise cabin bathrooms are notoriously compact, so having a larger, more comfortable space with a more generous shower can make a surprising difference. On Norwegian’s Breakaway Class ships, Club Balcony Suites feature larger bathrooms with double sinks and spacious showers, a welcome improvement when you’re getting ready for dinner or returning from a busy day ashore.
There are a few additional perks too, including a complimentary valet laundry service, sparkling wine on arrival, treats delivered to your cabin and earlier access to dining reservations. They’re nice extras, but for me, it’s the improved bathroom and overall comfort that really make the upgrade worth considering.
My advice: Always compare the price of a standard balcony with a Club Balcony Suite on Norwegian’s Breakaway Class ships. The difference can sometimes be surprisingly small, and if you’re new to cruising or simply appreciate a little more space, it’s money that could be very well spent. Just remember you’re not getting the exclusive facilities or butler service associated with The Haven.
4. Royal Caribbean: The Key
Royal Caribbean‘s The Key takes a slightly different approach. Rather than upgrading your accommodation, it’s an optional package that brings together a collection of priority benefits and little conveniences designed to make your cruise more enjoyable.
I’m generally not a fan of paying extra for Wi-Fi on a cruise. Part of the appeal of being at sea is having the opportunity to disconnect, and I don’t particularly like the idea of spending money just to stay glued to my phone. However, The Key is one package where I can see the attraction, because Wi-Fi is just one part of what’s included.
Alongside one-device VOOM internet access for each person purchasing the package, The Key offers priority access at embarkation during a designated arrival window, an exclusive welcome lunch, reserved seating at selected shows and faster access to certain onboard activities. There are additional benefits too, including priority departure at tender ports and an exclusive breakfast on the final morning. Exact inclusions vary by ship and itinerary, but the idea is to make some of the busier parts of a Royal Caribbean cruise a little more straightforward.
On Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class ships, with their hugely popular attractions and spectacular entertainment, I can see how these privileges could be particularly useful. Boarding earlier, avoiding some of the queues and enjoying a few exclusive experiences has genuine appeal, especially during busy school holiday sailings.
And although I wouldn’t normally rush to purchase an internet package, having VOOM included makes the overall proposition more attractive. For anyone who was already considering paying for Wi-Fi, The Key could represent particularly good value if the difference in price is relatively small.
My advice: Look at the total cost of The Key and consider which of the benefits you’d actually use. If you were going to purchase VOOM Wi-Fi anyway, compare the two prices before making a decision. Keep in mind that everyone aged six and over sharing a cabin generally needs to purchase The Key, so the cost can add up for families. When the price is right, though, it’s an upgrade that could be well worth considering.
5. Oceania Cruises: Concierge Level Veranda
Oceania Cruises already includes an impressive amount in its fares, so you might wonder whether upgrading from a standard Veranda Stateroom to Concierge Level is really necessary. I think it’s certainly worth checking, particularly if you’re planning a longer cruise or one with a good number of sea days.
The first thing to understand is that you’re not necessarily getting a dramatically bigger cabin. In fact, on some Oceania ships, the standard Veranda and Concierge Level accommodation is virtually identical in size. Instead, you’re paying for a collection of additional privileges. These include up to three complimentary bags of laundry per stateroom, unlimited access to the Aquamar Spa Terrace and priority online speciality restaurant reservations. You also receive an expanded room-service menu, including lunch and dinner selections from The Grand Dining Room.
For me, the laundry is actually one of the biggest selling points. On my last Oceania cruise, I made the most of it by having all my washing done a couple of days before disembarking. Arriving home with a suitcase full of clean clothes rather than a mountain of laundry waiting to be tackled was absolutely brilliant. It’s one of those small conveniences you don’t necessarily appreciate until you’ve experienced it.
Concierge Level also includes access to a dedicated Concierge Lounge on selected ships, although I wouldn’t consider this a major reason to upgrade. It’s an interior lounge, and while it’s handy for grabbing a soft drink from the fridge as you’re passing, Oceania ships have so many beautiful bars and lounges elsewhere on board that I’d much rather spend my time enjoying those.
For me, it’s the practical benefits that make Concierge Level worthwhile. The complimentary laundry, spa access and priority restaurant reservations can all be genuinely useful, particularly on longer sailings.
My advice: Don’t automatically assume Concierge Level is considerably more expensive than a standard Veranda. Compare both fares, particularly on longer itineraries, and think about how often you’d use the extra facilities. If you’re booking a shorter, port-intensive cruise and aren’t particularly interested in the spa, the standard Veranda might be all you need.
These are just a few of the upgrades I always think are worth checking when booking a cruise. The price difference can vary enormously between sailings, but every now and then you’ll find one that’s almost too good to pass up. And those are the ones I love finding.
