Book a cat. BL and here's what you COULD get

I have seen the question asked before about what type of cabin you could get and I never really knew for sure. I know now. My brother booked a BL for our upcoming cruise on the Magic and just got his cabin assignment, a 7C right under the galley :( I TRIED to warn him that he could get any balcony on the ship, but I was thinking a bad location like an 8A at the very front of the ship. I didn't realize that the 7C's on the new builds or the 7A's on the Spirit class were considered options for a BL booking.

When he tried to call and get changed to a different 7C (not under the galley) he was told all he could do was pay to upgrade to a "standard" balcony, so by their own admission the category 7 balconies are substandard, yet they continue to assign them.

Just a word to the wise - BUYER BEWARE !!!!!

I don't understand why you are surprised. He booked a balcony room for as cheap as possible and got a cheap as possible balcony.

Your brother received what he paid for, a discount because he took a risk on the cabin location. These cabins are discounted because many passengers choose not to book them. This is why we always pay more to choose our cabin.

I would be paying for the upgrade!

I was under the galley in an ocean view and it wasn't bad like I thought it was. I could not hear to much of nothing outside of hall way noise. But if he booked a guarantee cabin that's what he got.

They continue to assign them because no one wants them. A guarantee is the cheapest route (usually). So if people that pay more don’t want them they go into the mix for the more budget conscious. What do you suggest they do with the cabins? Not sell them at all? Boot people out of the cabins they picked themselves and paid more for? That’s a risk you take. I am very picky about my cabin so I would never do a guarantee.

As far as them saying he could upgrade to a “Standard balcony”, they were referring to the rate as in not a guarantee or if a 7C is a Cove then a “regular” Balcony. They were not saying the cabin itself was substandard.

Many people actually prefer Coves. Now being under the galley is a bit of a negative but that's what happens when you book a guaranty. We've done guarantys about half of the time we've booked a cruise. We've always been sufficiently pleased with our eventual cabin assignment. So I guess we're not too picky and benefit by getting the lower rate. If one wants a specific location, pay to get it.

I have seen the question asked before about what type of cabin you could get and I never really knew for sure. I know now. My brother booked a BL for our upcoming cruise on the Magic and just got his cabin assignment, a 7C right under the galley :( I TRIED to warn him that he could get any balcony on the ship, but I was thinking a bad location like an 8A at the very front of the ship. I didn't realize that the 7C's on the new builds or the 7A's on the Spirit class were considered options for a BL booking.

 

When he tried to call and get changed to a different 7C (not under the galley) he was told all he could do was pay to upgrade to a "standard" balcony, so by their own admission the category 7 balconies are substandard, yet they continue to assign them.

 

Just a word to the wise - BUYER BEWARE !!!!!

Thank you for the warning. I don't see why people need to throw in the "Told-you-so" when all you're trying to do is help warn other that this can happen when you take the risk.

It's helpful to hear other people's experiences. Isn't that what this board is all about?

Thank you for the warning. I don't see why people need to throw in the "Told-you-so" when all you're trying to do is help warn other that this can happen when you take the risk.

 

It's helpful to hear other people's experiences. Isn't that what this board is all about?

I would agree with you as I often think that some of the people on the Boards tend to jump down people's throats - however, I think the negative comments are a result of the OP insinuating that CCL did something wrong by tricking her brother into taking less than what he paid for. Perhaps it would have been better received had she said that she tried to warn her brother that taking a guarantee could mean that he'd get a cabin he wasn't thrilled with & that is what happened, rather than making it sound like CCL cheated him.

I would agree with you as I often think that some of the people on the Boards tend to jump down people's throats - however, I think the negative comments are a result of the OP insinuating that CCL did something wrong by tricking her brother into taking less than what he paid for. Perhaps it would have been better received had she said that she tried to warn her brother that taking a guarantee could mean that he'd get a cabin he wasn't thrilled with & that is what happened, rather than making it sound like CCL cheated him.

I agree and this is why I responded the way I did. I’m not bashing the OP in any way or jumping down their throat. It’s the portion of the quote I am referencing below especially the last sentence that sort of rubbed me the wrong way. Carnival is not deceiving anyone nor are they assigning a “substandard” cabin. It holds the amount of people that they promised and it is within the category booked. Now if there was something physically wrong with the cabin (not just location) or it was an inside cabin when they booked a balcony, then it would fall into the substandard category. It just so happened to be luck of the draw for this particular sailing. It’s not like they block off a bunch of rooms in the “worst part” of the ship specifically for guarantees.

I also agree that it is “Buyer Beware” and that’s why I would never book a guarantee. You need to prepare for the worst location and hope for the best. It’s not worth it to me so I’ll pay a little more.

When he tried to call and get changed to a different 7C (not under the galley) he was told all he could do was pay to upgrade to a "standard" balcony, so by their own admission the category 7 balconies are substandard, yet they continue to assign them.

Just a word to the wise - BUYER BEWARE !!!!!

through the years people would argue with me that that situation is not possible.

like booking an inside guarantee and getting the cabins with bunk beds.

Yes it is possible and here is living proof.

balcony guarantee means just that-- any balcony cabin on the ship

when is your cruise? and can he ask to be put back in the guarantee pool? how much will it cost to upgrade to another call of balconies

I have seen the question asked before about what type of cabin you could get and I never really knew for sure. I know now. My brother booked a BL for our upcoming cruise on the Magic and just got his cabin assignment, a 7C right under the galley :( I TRIED to warn him that he could get any balcony on the ship, but I was thinking a bad location like an 8A at the very front of the ship. I didn't realize that the 7C's on the new builds or the 7A's on the Spirit class were considered options for a BL booking.

 

When he tried to call and get changed to a different 7C (not under the galley) he was told all he could do was pay to upgrade to a "standard" balcony, so by their own admission the category 7 balconies are substandard, yet they continue to assign them.

 

Just a word to the wise - BUYER BEWARE !!!!!

Sounds like your brother learned a valuable lesson. I hope he has a good experience and enjoys his cruise anyway. Some cabins under the galley are better than others depending on exactly what happens in the area directly over an individual cabin.

It's a good reminder about booking guarantee cabins. Carnival has to fill those less-than-desirable cabins somehow. And some people are more bothered by noise than others, so its a personal choice that could be beneficial price-wise to some people who are heavy sleepers, but not so desirable to light-sleepers. Hopefully your brother will find a way to enjoy the money he saved on his booking doing something he enjoys on the ship.

Yep a risk I’m certainly not prepared to take.

I'm really surprised that a balcony is directly below the galley! I haven't studied all of the cabins, obviously.

We had an inside cabin below the galley on a European Cruise. It was only a problem for light sleepers in the early hours. We were all able to take naps in the afternoons and fall asleep at night. It was an intense itinerary and we were a family of four in the cabin. The kids were 8 and 4. We had a wonderful cruise!

I have heard from other people who had issues regarding noise from various sources. Your brother might just be the lucky one. He can plan how he will handle it. I bet earplugs and a noise-machine recording on his phone will be all it takes.

Even when I choose my cabin, I'm worried that I am making the wrong choice.

Renee

I have seen the question asked before about what type of cabin you could get and I never really knew for sure. I know now. My brother booked a BL for our upcoming cruise on the Magic and just got his cabin assignment, a 7C right under the galley :( I TRIED to warn him that he could get any balcony on the ship, but I was thinking a bad location like an 8A at the very front of the ship. I didn't realize that the 7C's on the new builds or the 7A's on the Spirit class were considered options for a BL booking.

 

 

 

When he tried to call and get changed to a different 7C (not under the galley) he was told all he could do was pay to upgrade to a "standard" balcony, so by their own admission the category 7 balconies are substandard, yet they continue to assign them.

 

 

 

Just a word to the wise - BUYER BEWARE !!!!!

You make it sound like they put one over on you BIL

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I guess it's just luck of the draw. We have booked a balcony guarantee three times in the past and got great locations two out of three times. One doesn't always get a poor location. My experiences bear that out.

Are there any other Cove Balconies available if you look like you're making a new booking? If so, they can usually move you. If not, then the person he talked to is correct, and the only way to get a different cabin would be to upgrade. If there are Coves left, it would be worth a shot to call again and hope you get someone sympathetic.

We booked a guarantee BL on next month's cruise. We had never booked a guarantee balcony and have always booked an aft. We were assigned to a cove under the galley. So, when they called me with a great upgrade deal to a suite, I jumped on it.

We would not be in a suite if not for the guarantee. But, that said, I will pick my cabin location next time.

You make it sound like they put one over on you BIL

 

 

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In my eyes they did. In the past any category 7 balcony cabin would not have been included in the pool for BL cabins. This obviously has changed over the years. The fact that the Carnival Supervisor stated that he could pay to upgrade to a "standard" balcony speaks volumes to the fact that they do not consider the cat. 7 balcony cabins as "standard" and therefore should not be included in the pool of available cabins.

through the years people would argue with me that that situation is not possible.

 

like booking an inside guarantee and getting the cabins with bunk beds.

Yes it is possible and here is living proof.

 

balcony guarantee means just that-- any balcony cabin on the ship

 

when is your cruise? and can he ask to be put back in the guarantee pool? how much will it cost to upgrade to another call of balconies

Thank you. that was the point of my original post, to let people know that this is NOW possible. It was not done in the past. We sail on 8/25 and to upgrade to a cat. 8A would cost $179 per person. I DID try to warn him, but I was thinking he would get stuck with an 8A at the very front of the ship or an 8B right under the casino or disco. I never imagined he would get anything other than a full, regular balcony.

Are there any other Cove Balconies available if you look like you're making a new booking? If so' date=' they can usually move you. If not, then the person he talked to is correct, and the only way to get a different cabin would be to upgrade. If there are Coves left, it would be worth a shot to call again and hope you get someone sympathetic.[/quote']

 

We already tried to go this route. There IS a Cove balcony available in a little better location, but in order for him to be moved there he would need to pay an upgrade fee of $169 per person (because now he is picking his cabin rather than being a BL). Just seems like it would be an easy fix to try to appease a new cruiser, but the supervisor didn't see it that way :(

They can't have their cake and it too.

Either pay more and choose where you want to be or pay less and take what they give you.

We already tried to go this route. There IS a Cove balcony available in a little better location, but in order for him to be moved there he would need to pay an upgrade fee of $169 per person (because now he is picking his cabin rather than being a BL). Just seems like it would be an easy fix to try to appease a new cruiser, but the supervisor didn't see it that way :(

Years ago when I first started cruising in the 90's I always booked BL guarantee thru my PVP and we always got a great location. Over the years with newer ships and other changes we have opted to select our cabin and we have no regrets. There have been MANY changes in the cruise industry over the years, as expected.

$169 pp is not a huge price to pay for a upgrade to a cove but if it is not in his budget then it is a big price.

Cruise lines are filling up cabins so no need to appease a new cruiser, buyer be aware of what you are booking.

We have found that booking Early Saver selecting our own cabin location and watching for price drops has worked for us all these years.

Have a great cruise!

We already tried to go this route. There IS a Cove balcony available in a little better location, but in order for him to be moved there he would need to pay an upgrade fee of $169 per person (because now he is picking his cabin rather than being a BL). Just seems like it would be an easy fix to try to appease a new cruiser, but the supervisor didn't see it that way :(

Carnival is doing nothing wrong. If cabin placement is important to you, then you pay for it. If you book a guarantee cabin, you are getting the discounts that come with saying I really don’t care where I am. Like you said, he wants a better location. That is an upgrade, so he needs to pay for the upgrade.

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I would agree with you as I often think that some of the people on the Boards tend to jump down people's throats - however, I think the negative comments are a result of the OP insinuating that CCL did something wrong by tricking her brother into taking less than what he paid for. Perhaps it would have been better received had she said that she tried to warn her brother that taking a guarantee could mean that he'd get a cabin he wasn't thrilled with & that is what happened, rather than making it sound like CCL cheated him.

You have a good point and you made it so respectfully. :)

On the Dream class ships (Dream, Magic and Breeze) we have always booked a Cat 7 Cove Balcony of our choosing. Not all Cat 7's are bad. I always look at the deck plan to ensure that I don't pick one under the galley which in my opinion would be a bad choice.