flacousa Posted July 10, 2014 #1 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I saw a cruise we like to take and the lowest advertised price is if we let Carnival pick the balcony cabin the day of boarding, does anyone cares to share their experience good and bad letting them choose. The savings are around $200 for both of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winddawn Posted July 10, 2014 #2 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Booking a guarantee is a great way to save money as long as you are not particular about where you are located on the ship. And sometimes you get a nice upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freedom2014 Posted July 10, 2014 #3 Share Posted July 10, 2014 We did guarantee balcony on our July 13th cruise we got cabins on the 8th deck midship ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgttami Posted July 10, 2014 #4 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Booked a balcony guarantee and got an Owner's Suite (on RCL). Friends recently booked on Carnival and got an Ocean Suite. You just never know and if you really don't care, go for it! You can't get less than a balcony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted July 10, 2014 #5 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Booked a balcony guarantee and got an Owner's Suite (on RCL). Friends recently booked on Carnival and got an Ocean Suite. You just never know and if you really don't care, go for it! You can't get less than a balcony. wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOPPERTESTER Posted July 10, 2014 #6 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Search the boards and find what most consider to be the worst balcony on the ship. Assess if you are willing to pay the rate they quote you for a balcony guarantee for that cabin. Be pleasantly surprised if you receive an "upgrade" to a better balcony from the one you thought you might get. Don't whine if you do get the balcony you thought you might get. Generally, you will get a better balcony but there is the possibility you could get that "gem" of a balcony like rolling a 7 at the craps table. I avoid balcony guarantees, pay a small premium, to be sure I get an acceptable cabin. I only book a balcony guarantee if that is the only rate left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfadj Posted July 10, 2014 #7 Share Posted July 10, 2014 we have done a guaarantee cabin about 5x now with 2 more coming up and we have always gotten at least what we paid for. For $ 200 will do g in heartbeat. Than again how much time will you really spend in cabin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjcruiser Posted July 10, 2014 #8 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Changed from ES/Mil rate with an IS cabin to the pack-n-go rate and BL guarantee. We have gone over the deck plans, and there's really no bad balcony (IMO). I like to choose my own room and location, but am willing to take a gamble this time. We're not in the room much anyway, except for maybe a nap early evening before dinner, and after the club/disco closes, so if we get a room over a venue, its not going to be a big deal. Hopefully, we'll get a nice upgrade to a Spa BL, but I'm sure I'll be satisfied with what I get. Happy sailing!!!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthlessBoss Posted July 10, 2014 #9 Share Posted July 10, 2014 we have done a guaarantee cabin about 5x now with 2 more coming up and we have always gotten at least what we paid for. For $ 200 will do g in heartbeat. Than again how much time will you really spend in cabin? I've never done a guarantee. As far as time spent on one, sometimes it not hours on end. It does provide peace of mind to have an area to escape to. I've had a few insides when I had to choose to cruise or not, but those insides drive me right out of the cabin.:mad: I must travel solo, so cost is prohibited unless I have a cabin share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizinisthebest Posted July 10, 2014 #10 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Never done an assigned cabin OP, but from everything I see on here, folks seems to be more happy than not with what they get. I would go for it and save the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flacousa Posted July 10, 2014 Author #11 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Never done an assigned cabin OP, but from everything I see on here, folks seems to be more happy than not with what they get. I would go for it and save the money. OK going with the majority and keeping my fingers crossed, will report when we get back about what balcony cabin we got. Thanks to all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovefuninthesun Posted July 10, 2014 #12 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Booked a balcony guarantee and got an Owner's Suite (on RCL). Friends recently booked on Carnival and got an Ocean Suite. You just never know and if you really don't care, go for it! You can't get less than a balcony. Very cool! I always say I am going to be "brave" and try it, but I always wimp out!:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WindsorFred Posted July 10, 2014 #13 Share Posted July 10, 2014 We book 8-12 months out ES. We're very selective with our balcony location, deck 7 or 8 midships on the port side. Don't think a GTY would work for us. Might save a few $'s but we'd probably end up under Lido or AFT/FWD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnival_Brides Posted July 10, 2014 #14 Share Posted July 10, 2014 We had a GTY balcony for our Honeymoon. We weren't particularly bothered by where we could be put (at least, at the balcony category). We went in expecting an obstructed view balcony, but were pleasantly surprised to be assigned an aft-extended view balcony. The cost savings was nearly $450 over what we would've paid by picking it ourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poundcake09 Posted July 10, 2014 #15 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Since trying a Balcony, I'm spoiled now and Love my Lido Balcony. I am however contemplating try the Gt. Balcony. I must admit I'm kinda nervous that I'd be the one to get the Crappy Cabin. I hear the Good stories about the upgraded balconies. I could only Pray that I would be that Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostsoulcruiser Posted July 10, 2014 #16 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) I have a balcony guarantee on my upcoming vacation. Can anyone share information on when Carnival informed them on the cabin assignment? I am just curious. Edited July 10, 2014 by lostsoulcruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnival_Brides Posted July 10, 2014 #17 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have a balcony guarantee on my upcoming vacation. Can anyone share information on when Carnival informed them on the cabin assignment? I am just curious. We booked six weeks before sailing and got our assignment three weeks before sailing. With GTYs they can keep you in the dark until you get to the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flacousa Posted July 10, 2014 Author #18 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have a balcony guarantee on my upcoming vacation. Can anyone share information on when Carnival informed them on the cabin assignment? I am just curious. According to the website it is assigned on boarding day, it is understandable since they want to keep all available cabins for the customers who want to pay extra to pick their cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bplazo Posted July 10, 2014 #19 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have to pick my room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostsoulcruiser Posted July 11, 2014 #20 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Good info. Thanks for the responses. I'll just let the suspense build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey1950 Posted July 11, 2014 #21 Share Posted July 11, 2014 I have a balcony guarantee on my upcoming vacation. Can anyone share information on when Carnival informed them on the cabin assignment? I am just curious. Just do what I did for my last cruise I called and said ( is there any chance of knowing my room number yet ) within a few minutes I knew. Maybe, I just got lucky but what do you have to loose?? Go on call.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tncap Posted July 11, 2014 #22 Share Posted July 11, 2014 We are having to move a sailing in September up by two weeks and will be doing our first balcony guarantee. I really wanted a cove. :( Hopefully we won't get Vista deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WetToes Posted July 11, 2014 #23 Share Posted July 11, 2014 We've done this several times and haven't been disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostsoulcruiser Posted July 11, 2014 #24 Share Posted July 11, 2014 Just do what I did for my last cruise I called and said ( is there any chance of knowing my room number yet ) within a few minutes I knew. Maybe, I just got lucky but what do you have to loose?? Go on call.... Good idea; I'll try this about 10 days before the cruise. After all, I just cannot print luggage tags without room numbers:p We are having to move a sailing in September up by two weeks and will be doing our first balcony guarantee. I really wanted a cove. Hopefully we won't get Vista deck. Good luck; I poke around the booking site as if I am a new customer to see which balconies are still available for cruisers willing to select their own cabin. A thought if you are interested in seeing what is available for your vacation. I do not know if this correlates to anything yet. We've done this several times and haven't been disappointed. I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I went into this with my eyes open. It is a balcony and a cruise, that usually equals a good vacation. Thanks for the comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WetToes Posted July 11, 2014 #25 Share Posted July 11, 2014 " ... balcony and a cruise, ...". I feel the same way. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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