Anyone who cruises regularly will tell you that they would love to get a visit from the “Upgrade Fairy” and nab a balcony or suite for free. But they will also tell you that it’s unlikely to happen.
It’s one of the most asked about myths in the cruising world. The idea that a lucky passenger might be bumped from an interior room to a suite might get talked about on social media, but Carnival’s Heald is warning against believing these stories.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, took to Facebook Live this morning to talk about this common question. His wit and charm were on point in the video as he clearly stated that while the upgrade fairy might have a name and an office in Miami, her wand hasn’t been getting much use lately.
The Myth of the Upgrade Fairy
Heald addressed a question from a cruiser named Louis, who wondered how to finally land a free upgrade after 15 cruises.
“I’m here to out the upgrade fairy, who is actually a man called Richard and he works at the mothership in Miami,” Heald joked. “It is a gentleman or a lady running around the office… with a wand going, ‘You get an upgrade! Oh! You’re from Cleveland? Upgrade!’”
Heald then stated that the chances of receiving a complimentary move from an inside cabin to a balcony are “very slim and slight, if they happen at all.”
Cabins Are Full
You can’t give something away if it isn’t available. And while most cruise lines do offer upgrade deals if there is a higher tier available before the sailing, they certainly aren’t free. With demand the way it is, that balcony or suite will get filled.
The primary reason comes down to simple math. The cruise industry is seeing record-breaking demand, and Carnival is currently leading the way, according to Heald.
“For 2026, with so many of our cruises already sold out…it means that our bookings are the strongest in the industry,” Heald explained. He said that because ships are consistently sailing at full capacity, there simply aren’t empty cabins to move people into.
“Please don’t hold out on getting a free upgrade… bookings are the strongest in the industry and many of the cruises are already sold out.”
Upsells vs. Upgrades
While free upgrades are typically not going to happen, Heald clarified that upsells are still very much a part of the process. An upsell is an offer to move to a higher category for a discounted price, which is something Louis had experienced on a recent Alaska sailing.
“You may get an upsell, of course, they do happen,” Heald noted, though he mentioned that the formula for who receives these offers is “very complicated” and handled by the corporate office, not by himself or the crew on the ship.
Oh, and making up an excuse as to why you need that free upgrade isn’t going to work either.
Heald specifically warned guests not to try and use personal connections or medical excuses, like claustrophobia, to bypass the system at the Guest Services desk.
Bottom Line
Heald finished his “3 minute video” by encouraging cruisers to shift their focus away from the room they didn’t get and toward the vacation they did book.
“Why can’t people be happy with the cabin that they have chosen?” he asked. “Just be happy with the room you’ve chosen because you’re gonna have a wonderful time whether you’re staying in an inside cabin, a balcony, or a suite.”
In short, if you want a balcony for your next cruise, your best bet is to book it from the start.
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