Guarantees

[AFT_LOVER]

Search isn't working right now, so I will ask quickly. Last week NCL had guarantees flying with a great promo saving folks $600 a couple on 12/6 Jewel W Carribean.

 

It is a BD balcony, and you get a better stateroom than what you purchased which could be a BC-BA. Folks tell me suites happen quite often since they want to sell the balconies to fill the ship. When I booked a BA all we got was a mini which as nothing since it is a balcony from the upgrade fairy.

 

So who purchases guarantees & what has happened with your reservations so folks all know.

[cliffd64]

Search isn't working right now, so I will ask quickly. Last week NCL had guarantees flying with a great promo saving folks $600 a couple on 12/6 Jewel W Carribean.

 

It is a BD balcony, and you get a better stateroom than what you purchased which could be a BC-BA. Folks tell me suites happen quite often since they want to sell the balconies to fill the ship. When I booked a BA all we got was a mini which as nothing since it is a balcony from the upgrade fairy.

 

So who purchases guarantees & what has happened with your reservations so folks all know.

 

Occasionally I have purchased guarantees... and it's a mixed bag usually. Depending on the situation you can end up better, or worse. It is a risk you need to be willing to assume... much like the stock market. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.

 

For example... if you pick a guarantee II category (superior inside) you may end up with an outside cabin located on a lower deck like deck 4 or an obstructed outside, which to me would not be an upgrade at all, but of course on the category chart, that would be a higher category than II, so they would have delivered what was promised (at least II, or higher).

 

However, other times it has worked out quite well and we had ended up in a nice cabin at a higher category than what we had purchased.

 

Right now, I am waiting for a cabin assignment in a guaranteed balcony class on the Dawn for November... The repositioning cruise is approaching "sold-out" status so the chances are quite good that we will end up in a nice balcony at least... maybe a mini-suite... probably not a penthouse... but you never know if all the planets align properly we may get lucky...

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

Several years ago when finances were different, we did a GTY with HAL, booked an inside and were above the moon when we got a window...then we booked a GTY with Celebrity and got a 4 category upgrade. It was a fun gamble. I say that it is an opportunity to get more than what you paid for, as long as you are OK if you happen to get exactly what you paid for. It's fun to check every day for your cabin assignment. :)

 

Now we book what we want with regards to cabin type/location so that the opportunity for disappointment is minimized...I recall paying $399 for that HAL Gty cruise years ago and how great a cruise it was...coming home thrilled with the experience...and telling everyone that would listen that I actually had a window! :) Funny how things change, simple things made me happy; we went to 5 star resorts in Maui a couple of months ago, I came back and said "it was fine"...when did I become jaded?...I digress.

 

If you're open minded about location and cabin type, I say go for it. It is a fun little gamble with not much to lose.

[cliffd64]

Just got our cabin assignment for November... :

 

Booked the BE GTY, (lowest level balcony guarantee) and received a BB balcony on deck 10... so basically a 3 category upgrade as a result of the guarantee. :D

[snorklinbarb]

To the OP:

Where did you get this info?

 

"It is a BD balcony, and you get a better stateroom than what you purchased which could be a BC-BA. Folks tell me suites happen quite often since they want to sell the balconies to fill the ship."

 

First off, if you book a BD gty you are guaranteed a BD or better so you MIGHT get as high as a BC, BB or BA. Nothing automatic there. I have booked BA gty twice and never got a mini or suite. I've booked lower insides and gotten higher deck insides and this current trip booked a BE gty and was assigned a BC. As Cliff says, all luck of the draw.

 

I've seen at least 2 long threads about this in the last few months and don't recall anyone being bumped up to a suite. Usually they've gone to better category balconies or very occasionally a minisuite, so we're very curious who is telling you that "suites happen quite often.":confused:

 

This just hasn't even been close to the experiences I've read here time after time. If your expectations are that high, it could cause major disappointment. We've all read story after story of someone booking a gty and then coming on to complain when they don't like the assignment.:rolleyes:

[jingle5616]

It is a crap shoot, and I often spin the dice. I just got my cabin assignment for my October Star cruise. I booked a BE and received a BD. Really not an upgrade at all. Both are shrouded balconies. I probably should have waited another week or so and I would have gotten a BC. All in all, for the price I paid, I'm not displeased. But if you disappoint easily , don't do it, just get what you want.

 

Jingle

[AFT_LOVER]

a BA guarantee to get an oceanview rate was a great deal when we got a mini, tho it really is nothing more than 20 sq ft bigger. Same bed, same furnishings, same futon for a couch. Not a suite, so why they do not call it a deluxe balcony & price it with balconies. EPIC does.

 

But my PCC told me to take the BD guarantee since it was $600 a couple off with the promo she had. So we took it. It is our 30 th anniversary, I am getting the Romance package but a diabetic husband needs a sugar free cake (Splenda). She told me we will be very happy with this sailing.

[lovey62]

Hi!

We have a guarantee balcony BE. You said it is fun to check in daily as to one's cabin

assignment. How do I do that? I booked with a TA for a cruise on the Star.

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

Hi!

We have a guarantee balcony BE. You said it is fun to check in daily as to one's cabin

assignment. How do I do that? I booked with a TA for a cruise on the Star.

 

Just go on NCL.com and enter your booking information and your cabin assignment (if assigned) should be reflected.

[MrLee]

:D

Occasionally I have purchased guarantees... and it's a mixed bag usually. Depending on the situation you can end up better, or worse. It is a risk you need to be willing to assume... much like the stock market. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.

 

For example... if you pick a guarantee II category (superior inside) you may end up with an outside cabin located on a lower deck like deck 4 or an obstructed outside, which to me would not be an upgrade at all, but of course on the category chart, that would be a higher category than II, so they would have delivered what was promised (at least II, or higher).

 

However, other times it has worked out quite well and we had ended up in a nice cabin at a higher category than what we had purchased.

 

Right now, I am waiting for a cabin assignment in a guaranteed balcony class on the Dawn for November... The repositioning cruise is approaching "sold-out" status so the chances are quite good that we will end up in a nice balcony at least... maybe a mini-suite... probably not a penthouse... but you never know if all the planets align properly we may get lucky...

 

 

I was just on the site Cliff and the only thing they had left were 2 inside, 1 AC and inside guarantee. All OV and balcony were gone. Cross your fingers. :D

[midorigal]

We booked an OV category C guarantee (only gty were available for C)...final payment was this past Friday and we got our cabin assignments already. We are on deck 6 in cat. C, the deck where there are only 4 cabins. It should be interesting. I was secretly hoping for an upgrade to balcony. I think our cruise is sold out now, it's the New Year's cruise. Maybe we would have better luck if our cruise was not during the holidays.

[Luckyroot]

We booked an OV category C guarantee (only gty were available for C)...final payment was this past Friday and we got our cabin assignments already. We are on deck 6 in cat. C, the deck where there are only 4 cabins. It should be interesting. I was secretly hoping for an upgrade to balcony. I think our cruise is sold out now, it's the New Year's cruise. Maybe we would have better luck if our cruise was not during the holidays.

 

 

Oh are you on the Dawn? We had those cabins (there were 4 couples traveling together) and we LOVED it!! Close to everything! Nice and quiet and, obviously, no foot traffic other than the folks in those cabins.

 

The only negative is that the room stewards come from one of the other decks (I think deck 5) and they paid little to no attention to us. Rooms were the last made up in the AM and first in the evening. And that was it. But it was good enough for us. When we wanted ice, we went right next door to the casino.

 

Tip: There is a door at the end of the hallway that goes into the theater. Use it sometime when you're leaving, folks will think you're really special LOL

[bob brown]

We usually book the lowest priced gty we can get. We only use the cabin to sleep, use the bathroom, and change clothes. We are all over the ship, so the cabin doesn't matter to us.

One time, on HAL, we were given an upgrade to an outside. Great, I thought. That is until my elderly mother tried to climb into the bathtub, which has unusually high sides. Couldn't do it. I went to desk and requested 'downgrade' to an inside, which have stall showers. Guess what? None available! Fortunately, another passenger overheard my dilemna and offered to swap cabins for their inside. This we did, and the desk made it official, and gave all new keys and arranged swap.

[cliffd64]

:D

 

 

I was just on the site Cliff and the only thing they had left were 2 inside, 1 AC and inside guarantee. All OV and balcony were gone. Cross your fingers. :D

 

We got our assignment as I mentioned up above.. it was a BB (from the BE guarantee :) ) so this time we rolled the dice and won :)

[vegasmar10]

Hi Rick,

We just booked NCL Star for 11/14..Mexican Riviera, on a Guar. Cat H. Haven't cruised NCL for over 20 years! You rated the Star at 10+++....tell me why, please. We have been Celebrity loyal for past few years, decided to give up formal nites and designated dining time and check this out. We are 2 senior couples from Sun City Anthem..not far from you! We know it's a gamble, what the heck, we just shower and sleep in the cabin. The fun is the ship! Any advice as to which places to dine, what to order that's special, where to go for entertainment (piano singalong bar?) or oldies type music, and anything else you can add. How about the ports..any ideas? Can't wait to get on this with Jim, he hasn't had a vacation for quite awhile! Thanks in advance..

 

Marilyn:confused::)

[rickechambers1@aol.com]

Hi Rick,

We just booked NCL Star for 11/14..Mexican Riviera, on a Guar. Cat H. Haven't cruised NCL for over 20 years! You rated the Star at 10+++....tell me why, please. We have been Celebrity loyal for past few years, decided to give up formal nites and designated dining time and check this out. We are 2 senior couples from Sun City Anthem..not far from you! We know it's a gamble, what the heck, we just shower and sleep in the cabin. The fun is the ship! Any advice as to which places to dine, what to order that's special, where to go for entertainment (piano singalong bar?) or oldies type music, and anything else you can add. How about the ports..any ideas? Can't wait to get on this with Jim, he hasn't had a vacation for quite awhile! Thanks in advance..

 

Marilyn:confused::)

 

Hey Neighbor!

I rated it a 10+++ because we had the Garden Villa and it was priceless. I think we are probably THE most boring cruisers ever! We eat in our cabin almost exclusively, hence, we usually get a room with an actual proper dining room. We typically sun/read all day, play cards or watch a movie at night...sometimes go to a show. That's pretty much it. For us it is just nice to get away and watch the waves, but we don't really do much else...usually don't even disembark. On this cruise, we only disembarked in Puerto Vallarta where we checked into the Marriott Casa Magna; stayed there for a few hours and used the pool, beach, had lunch and then back to the ship--some people thought we were nuts to rent a hotel room in the middle of a cruise. :)

 

We usually (except this past year...bought a second home) vacation pretty often (probably 4-6 weeks a year) but if we want a beach vacation, we have a vacation place in Aruba, so we just fly there...for us, the ship is the destination when we cruise. :) Oh my goodness, after reading this again, I am the most boring 38 year old alive. :) Have a GREAT time!

[midorigal]

Hi Ruth,

 

Thanks for the tips! We are actually on Star, are the Star and Dawn sister ships? My DH will get a kick out of going through a "special" door by the theater. When you say we can just go get ice in the casino, is there an ice machine? Actually, my only fear (beside motion sickness since we are in the front) is that we are too close to the casino...haha!

 

Glad to know your experience was a good one!

 

Alice:)