If we dont' like guarantee, can we go back??

[waterbugohio]

Ok, we are currently booked on Deck 3 and outside cabin on the Serenade in 4 weeks.

 

This is just our second cruise, last year we did the same ship, deck nine, on the hump. It was our 25th anniversary and we splurged. Well, we only booked this year because of the great deals on the outside cabins. But now I am second guessing myself.

 

If I upgrade to a balcony guarantee (for $50 pp) and really hate the location of the room, can I go back an outside Deck 3? I know I will run the risk of losing the other room, but will I also lose the money if I go back down??

[Ocean Boy]

You won't loose any money by going back down to the lower catagory. However, you will pay the fare that is in effect for catagory H (deck 3 ouside) on the day that you make the switch. If the cruise is selling well it is possible that you will end up paying more to get a catagory H cabin than you presently are. If the rate is lower than what you are paying for the balcony guarantee you will get the difference refunded to you.

 

Of course, this all assumes that there will be some catagory H cabins available when, and if, you decide to switch back.

[waterbugohio]

So if I do a balcony guarantee, would it be on any deck or is there a way to tell which deck?

[Ocean Boy]

So if I do a balcony guarantee, would it be on any deck or is there a way to tell which deck?

 

A balcony guarantee is just that. You are guaranteed to have a balcony. It could be on any deck. You have no idea where until you get your cabin assignment. That is one of the risks you take with booking a guarantee.

[ChipA]

The balcony gty will any balcony cabin or higher. When the room is assigned if you do not like it you can call and request to be moved to another room in the same category, a D3 to a D3 for example. You can also ask to be put back in the pool and may get a better or worse cabin. Good luck.

[waterbugohio]

There are currently three different price levels for a balcony guarantee. A E2, E3 and a X guarantee. So if we went with the X guarantee it could be any catagory?

[ChipA]

Correct. It could be higher but not likely.

[Ocean Boy]

There are currently three different price levels for a balcony guarantee. A E2, E3 and a X guarantee. So if we went with the X guarantee it could be any catagory?

 

Exactly.... any balcony catagory.

[TahoeBob]

Ok, we are currently booked on Deck 3 and outside cabin on the Serenade in 4 weeks.

 

This is just our second cruise, last year we did the same ship, deck nine, on the hump. It was our 25th anniversary and we splurged. Well, we only booked this year because of the great deals on the outside cabins. But now I am second guessing myself.

 

If I upgrade to a balcony guarantee (for $50 pp) and really hate the location of the room, can I go back an outside Deck 3? I know I will run the risk of losing the other room, but will I also lose the money if I go back down??

Not to sound harsh, but you really don't sound like the type of people who should book a guarantee. If you think there is a chance you would not be happy why in the world would go that way.

I booked a inside guarantee on the monarch once knowing I could end up anywhere, and thats just what I got. A cabin the ship. I was happy because I got what I paid for.

 

Years ago when I worked in the casino industry we would have customers who would be very unhappy whet they lost too much money. the inside joke was "what a idiot, you spend the money and then you complain to others what you did.

 

my advice to you is book the cabin you want.

[Coralc]

$50 per person? I would take the balcony guarantee. You are on Serenade,,,there aren't many bad balconies that you could be assigned to. It is possible that you could go back in the pool after assignment. It is also possible that you might be assigned one of the deck 7 cabins with the extended balcony and no lifeboat covers. They are very nice cabins, and generally reserved for the guarantees. :D:):D

[madforcruising]

Ok, we are currently booked on Deck 3 and outside cabin on the Serenade in 4 weeks.

 

This is just our second cruise, last year we did the same ship, deck nine, on the hump. It was our 25th anniversary and we splurged. Well, we only booked this year because of the great deals on the outside cabins. But now I am second guessing myself.

 

If I upgrade to a balcony guarantee (for $50 pp) and really hate the location of the room, can I go back an outside Deck 3? I know I will run the risk of losing the other room, but will I also lose the money if I go back down??

 

Which balcony room could be worth than an oceanview on Deck 3???:confused:

[robtulipe]

There are currently three different price levels for a balcony guarantee. A E2, E3 and a X guarantee. So if we went with the X guarantee it could be any category?

 

Correct. It could be higher but not likely.

On your Nov.14th cruise all of the E cabin categories are offered as guarantees so none are available for selection which to me means all are assigned although others on CC wouldn't agree with this. According to an European TA web site I use to check availability there are 10 D1 cabins available for selection. IMO if you take that X gty you will most likely be assigned a D1 cabin.

I saw exactly the same situation before booking our last cruise which was on Radiance. I booked an E gty when no E cabins were available for selection and there were plenty of D1 cabins available for selection. The next day we were assigned a D1 cabin.

I went through the same booking situation this week for our next month's X Mercury cruise. I saw all inside categories were offered as guarantees and there were plenty of outside category 4 and 5 cabins available for selection. The outside category 6, 7 and 8 cabins were also only offered as guarantees so I booked the cheapest Z inside gty and the next day was assigned an Category 5 outside on deck 8 which would have cost us over double the price or $1420 more if I had booked it as the actual category.

For that same Mercury cruise I saw a similar situation with the balcony categories. I could book a 2A regular balcony as an gty but the only cabins with a balcony available for selection were sky suites cabins. IMO the 2A gty would get a much larger Sky Suite cabin saving $1100 over selecting that actual category. I took a pass on that figuring the $2500 total greater cost would buy us two and a half more cruises at the price we paid for our Cat.5 OV cabin for this 12 night Caribbean cruise which was at $499 each plus the $74 in taxes and fees.

[waterbugohio]

Bob,

 

I used that same website (I think) and that is what I saw also. Only D1 cabins left. That is where I became confused with the Royal site. Why are they even still offering X category balcony cabins. And then for more money offering E2 and E3. Then the D1 are even more yet. There is $306 pp difference between the D1 balcony and the X guarantee, yet all I see available on other site are the D1's.

 

TahoeBob, thanks for your input. I know I should book what I want, but the prices were to good not to take the oceanview and now the closer it gets, I would still rather have a balcony. But I have to weigh out the balcony vs. the cost. If I book the D1 I want it would be an extra $612 and I am not sure if that is worth it.

[knuyens]

How did you determine all of the guarantees available on this persons cruise. your logic is brilliant and would love to know the ins and outs. rucurious@shaw.ca

[waterbugohio]

How did you determine all of the guarantees available on this persons cruise. your logic is brilliant and would love to know the ins and outs. rucurious@shaw.ca

 

I assume you are talking to Bob. I would like to know this also. I see what D1 are available and up until a couple of days ago, the E2 and E3 were still up (not guarantees at that time) But now they have all gone guarantee. Bob you can email me your thoughts also waterbugmom at hotmail

[monicajay]

 

If I upgrade to a balcony guarantee (for $50 pp) and really hate the location of the room, can I go back an outside Deck 3? I know I will run the risk of losing the other room, but will I also lose the money if I go back down??

 

Any balcony that you can get for a $100 bucks is an excellent deal. Think you are worrying way too much about location. So, you have to walk a bit or there is a bit of movement, it would be an inconvenience I could easily live with to enjoy a balcony.

 

I would book the balcony guarantee and not even give a look or a care to what they assigned me at that price.

[waterbugohio]

Monica, thanks for the input. That is also what I am thinking. When the difference was over $300 per person, I was happy where I was, but now at $100 for the both of us!!!

 

Hubby is working this morning. Will wait till he gets home and then make some phone calls.

[Ocean Boy]

Any balcony that you can get for a $100 bucks is an excellent deal. Think you are worrying way too much about location. So, you have to walk a bit or there is a bit of movement, it would be an inconvenience I could easily live with to enjoy a balcony.

 

I would book the balcony guarantee and not even give a look or a care to what they assigned me at that price.

 

And considering that Serenade is 962 Ft. long that walk to anywhere isn't that long.:)

[BroncosFan2010]

I would go for the balcony GTY over an inside room or ocean view any day! For only $50 per person, that is a steal! You run the risk of not being able to get your same cabin back, but why would you want to???

[zoncom]

You people are obsessed. But I get obsessed about the food. I almost always do GTYs. I ask for an aft, not under public or crew spaces. Always works.

[negc]

My general rule of thumb regarding "guarantees" is: look for the worst possible room you could get with that guarantee and assume that is the one you will get. If you would be content with that room, book the guarantee. If getting that room would adversely affect how much you would enjoy your cruise, don't do it. Instead, book a specific stateroom that you are certain will please you.:)

[waterbugohio]

My general rule of thumb regarding "guarantees" is: look for the worst possible room you could get with that guarantee and assume that is the one you will get. If you would be content with that room, book the guarantee. If getting that room would adversely affect how much you would enjoy your cruise, don't do it. Instead, book a specific stateroom that you are certain will please you.:)

 

But how do I find what rooms are available?? All sites just show that guarantee's are left, is there a way to find out which rooms. I have checked some of the other travel sites and they do not show which rooms.

[just4kixx]

I see 9 d1s available... all deck 9, all but 1 in the aft section of the ship. It waould be an easy decision for me... but it's not my call ;)

 

A~

9232~9238~9242~9250~9252~9534~9638~9650~9652

[waterbugohio]

OK, I did it!!

 

I just called and did the upgrade. cost me $80 for the two of us, less than I thought to upgrade from cabin 3596 to a guarantee balcony. Now I just sit and wait for RCI to assign my room.

 

I will let everyone know what I get. Thanks for all your help!!

[robtulipe]

How did you determine all of the guarantees available on this persons cruise. your logic is brilliant and would love to know the ins and outs. rucurious@shaw.ca

I just went to a German website that shows a lot more (if not all) of the cabin availability than RC's web site does but you can see all of the categories that are guarantees by simply looking on RC's web site.