A Virgin Voyages cabin upgrade can happen in several ways — through a bid, a paid cabin change, or a guarantee fare assignment. Each method operates on different rules, different timelines, and different fare eligibility. Knowing which path applies to your booking is the difference between a smooth upgrade and a missed opportunity.
This guide breaks down every upgrade path available to Sailors, when each one applies, and how to build a timing strategy around them. For deep dives on specific methods, we link to dedicated guides throughout.
Each upgrade path has its own cost structure, timing window, and level of control. Here’s how they compare before we break each one down.
| Method | Cost | Timing Window | You Choose the Cabin? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level Upgrade (bid) | Your offer amount (per cabin) | ~45 days to 48 hours before sailing | No — Virgin assigns within category |
| Manual upgrade | Fare difference at current rate | Up to 46 days before sailing (fare-dependent) | Yes — based on availability |
| Lock It In guarantee | $0 additional | Cabin assigned up to sailing day | No — Virgin assigns |
Level Upgrade is Virgin Voyages’ bid-based upgrade system, powered by Plusgrade. Starting as early as ~45 days before your voyage, eligible Sailors can submit an offer — a dollar amount per cabin — for a higher category. Virgin reviews all bids and notifies Sailors of the outcome no later than 48 hours before sailing.
The offer is incremental — you’re bidding the additional cost above what you already paid, not the full cabin price. You can hold multiple bids on different categories simultaneously, but Virgin will only charge you for one. All cabin categories except the Massive Suite are eligible. If accepted, the amount is non-refundable and your cabin is assigned by Virgin within the upgraded category — you don’t pick the exact room.
Level Upgrade is the most accessible cabin upgrade path for most Sailors, and the bidding mechanics, payment rules, and community-reported results deserve their own deep dive. Our complete Level Upgrade bidding guide covers strategy, timing nuances, and what Sailors are reporting about winning bids.
Pro Tip: A $1 authorization hold appears on your card when you submit a bid — not a charge. Community reports describe temporary pending activity that disappears if your bid isn’t accepted. Monitor your credit card and email closely within the final 48 hours, since that’s when most decisions land.
A manual upgrade is the most direct path — contact Sailor Services or your First Mate and pay the fare difference to move into a higher cabin or category. Unlike Level Upgrade, you can often choose a specific cabin based on what’s available.
Eligibility depends entirely on your VoyageFair Choices fare tier. For bookings made on or after October 7, 2025: Lock It In and Base fares (standard cabins and suites) cannot change cabin assignments once booked. Essential and Premium fares (standard cabins) allow changes up to 46 days before the voyage. Non-Lock It In suite fares (RockStar and Mega RockStar) allow changes up to 46 days before sailing, subject to availability and fare differences. Payment is due at the time of modification, and any fare difference is based on the rate at the time of change — not what you originally paid.
Pro Tip: Sailors who booked on or before October 6, 2025 face a specific risk — making a manual cabin change after October 7, 2025 moves the reservation into the new VoyageFair Choices fare structure and reprices at the current rate. For legacy bookings, Level Upgrade bidding is often the smarter path because it lets you keep your original booking perks intact. A dedicated manual upgrade guide with full fare-by-fare rules is coming soon.
Lock It In is Virgin Voyages’ discounted guarantee fare. You book a cabin category, but Virgin assigns your specific cabin — potentially up to the day you sail. The trade-off for that lower price is zero flexibility: no cabin changes, no refunds on the cruise fare, and no guarantee of location within your category.
The upgrade angle comes from Virgin’s Ticket Contract, which states they may — at their discretion — upgrade a Lock It In booking to a superior category at no extra cost. This isn’t something you request or control. It happens when Virgin needs to rebalance inventory or fill higher-category cabins.
One important nuance: community reports show inconsistent eligibility when Lock It In Sailors try to access Level Upgrade bidding. Some see “not eligible” on the upgrade portal until they receive an email invitation or until their cabin is assigned. Our Lock It In upgrade eligibility guide covers the current state of this policy and what Sailors are experiencing. For a full breakdown of how Lock It In compares to Base fare, see our Lock It In vs Base comparison.
Each upgrade path has a different window, and choosing the wrong method at the wrong time can cost you money or close off options entirely.
If you know you want a higher category, the most predictable path is booking it directly. You’ll see exact pricing, pick your cabin, and lock in the rate before it climbs. Manual upgrades reprice at the rate at the time of change — not what you originally paid — so waiting can get expensive if the sailing gains popularity. Use our cabin comparison guide to evaluate which category fits your priorities, and our guide on when to book to watch for pricing trends.
This is your last window for manual cabin changes if you booked an Essential or Premium fare on standard cabins. If you’ve been watching prices and spot a cabin you want, contact your First Mate or Sailor Services before the 46-day cutoff. After that, manual changes are off the table for standard cabin categories.
This is typically the Level Upgrade bidding window. Submit your bid(s) early in this period — you can modify or cancel up to 72 hours before sailing as long as the bid hasn’t been accepted. Bidding early gives you flexibility to adjust your offer amount or target category before the window narrows.
Level Upgrade decisions are made here. Your bid is either accepted or not — and once accepted, it’s non-refundable.
Pro Tip: If your card is declined when Virgin processes an accepted bid, you have 24 hours to resubmit — but there’s no guarantee the upgraded category will still be available. Make sure the card on file has sufficient credit and isn’t flagged for unusual charges before the 48-hour window opens.
For Level Upgrade bids, the policies and perks of your original VoyageFair Choice carry over to the upgraded cabin. Book a Base fare and win a bid for a Sea Terrace? You keep Base fare policies in your new cabin. One exception: if a lower-category cabin bids into a RockStar or Mega RockStar Suite, the booking shifts to follow that suite category’s policies and perks — including the Mega RockStar Bar Tab and other suite benefits.
For manual upgrades, your booking is repriced at the rate at the time of change, so your fare tier and its perks may change depending on what’s available and how the new fare is structured.
One additional edge case worth knowing: if your original booking includes Voyage Protection and your Level Upgrade bid is accepted, you’re responsible for paying the incremental Voyage Protection amount that results from the higher cabin fare.
Virgin Points bookings: Upgrades aren’t available when booking with Virgin Points. However, Virgin Voyages may reach out closer to sailing with the option to upgrade for an additional cash payment.
Flexpay bookings: You can still upgrade, but you’ll need to re-apply for a new Flexpay loan to cover the upgraded fare.
Three upgrade paths, three different trade-offs. Level Upgrade bidding gives you the broadest shot at moving up without repricing your entire booking. Manual upgrades offer cabin-level control but are limited by fare type and timing. Lock It In guarantees can deliver a surprise bump when Virgin needs to rebalance inventory. The right strategy depends on your fare tier, how far out you are from sailing, and how much flexibility you want.
If you want help mapping out your upgrade options — or you want a First Mate watching prices and availability on your behalf — reach out to the Serious Sailors™ team. It’s all part of booking made easy with Serious Sailors.
