Tell me your guarantee success/fails

[jaxfl]

Actually don't think I will ever do a GTY again. With my eyes closed I could have picked a better Balcony cabin than they did. Sure it in between decks and should be OK for the cruise but really in the aft area and just a plan balcony cabin when less than 5 cabins away there are still 5 aft extended that have been available for the last 2 months. They are still available as of this morning. So who is going to get them..... the person that waits until the very last minute to book a GTY balcony on this cruise instead of someone that plans ahead. Oh and there are also still 16+ jr. or Grand suites available also.... this is not a good way to go.

[hlb76]

Jaxfl ... maybe its just way to early but I dont understand your complaint? What ship and room # did you get? I like being in the aft of thd ship personally. Its usually our go to. Booking a gty does not entitle you to an aft or a site. You may get lucky though. Your gty cabin could also change closer to sail date.. I think

[wicruisin]

Just did it today with great results. Had 3 spa cabins booked for Christmas cruise. I could save $2100 by switching to gty (thus losing the spa benefits). 18/20yo in one cabin, 15 yo twins in second, and DH and I in third. Since with a gty, you don't know where you'll be placed, they made us switch one twin with mom, one with dad. A few hrs later, our rooms were assigned. All three rooms on same hallway with a few rooms in between AND $2100 in savings!!

 

 

I switched our kids from an interior to an ocean view-figured there would be less a chance of them being on a completely different floor-and we still saved over $500. Keeping my fingers crossed that they end up relatively close to us.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[jaxfl]

Jaxfl ... maybe its just way to early but I dont understand your complaint? What ship and room # did you get?

 

Sensation, U215

 

My complaint is really 2 fold. One why would they leave the best cabins open for the late people that the only reason they book in the first place is that the cabins are reduced so far down in price that they are almost free and not give them to the people that actually cruise the line because they like the ship and have cruised with them many times before. Number Two they dropped the price on my category of balcony after the Halloween Sale when I bought, but will not let me get OBC or a free upgrade.

[legion3]

If you truly don't really care which cabin you get then it sounds like an awesome value. We could save $500 on our current booking but we have a rare (only 8) Spa Balcony quad cabins and want spa access, if we do a gty we could still buy a spa access pass but that cuts into the savings and is not guarranteed that I would get one.

 

We need to book a quad which limits us in choices of cabins as there are fewer quads as compared to 2 person cabins and or 3 person cabins.

 

also I suppose it could depend on ship, I would not want to get a cove under a noisy part of the galley or one of the balconies on deck 6 of the dream/Breeze class of ships or under or over a late night music joint.

[hlb76]

Sensation, U215

 

My complaint is really 2 fold. One why would they leave the best cabins open for the late people that the only reason they book in the first place is that the cabins are reduced so far down in price that they are almost free and not give them to the people that actually cruise the line because they like the ship and have cruised with them many times before. Number Two they dropped the price on my category of balcony after the Halloween Sale when I bought, but will not let me get OBC or a free upgrade.

 

I'm sure they leave those cabin for those who are willing to pay for them. They are prime cabins. If not one pays for them and they sell out of standards balconies they can move gty into them. I think they try to upsell before they just give them away to gty cabins as well. Thats why they are still available. If they dont sell they will fill them using whatever they need to upsell/moving gty to those.

 

As far as the Sale you booked under. All sales have penalties/rules that go along with them. The only time you are price protected is ES and even that comes with its penalties/rules.

 

Not to be snarky but sounds like this program is not for you. You seem to think you are entitled to more than the offer could provide. You did book a category and sounds like you are booked with in the same category you paid. If you want to upgrade to the premium balcony I'd call and pay the difference.

[hlb76]

If you truly don't really care which cabin you get then it sounds like an awesome value. We could save $500 on our current booking but we have a rare (only 8) Spa Balcony quad cabins and want spa access, if we do a gty we could still buy a spa access pass but that cuts into the savings and is not guaranteed that I would get one.

 

We need to book a quad which limits us in choices of cabins as there are fewer quads as compared to 2 person cabins and or 3 person cabins.

 

also I suppose it could depend on ship, I would not want to get a cove under a noisy part of the galley or one of the balconies on deck 6 of the dream/Breeze class of ships or under or over a late night music joint.

 

I'm also a little nervous about it as we are on the breeze. I would take a cove no issue. I really don't want a deck 6 balcony. I've never sailed the breeze but I have heard a few stories about issues with the promenade below.

[jaxfl]

I'm ..... If you want to upgrade to the premium balcony I'd call and pay the difference.

 

Yes you see that is the problem. I did call and ONLY if I upgrade to a Suite and pay more will they allow me to move. TO another balcony...no, But then they will not let me have the dropped Suite price. I would have to cancel this whole thing and start over...and pay the penalty for cancelling. Got to love the rules.

 

And you are correct this GTY Program is not for me.

Edited November 20, 2014 by jaxfl

[alligirl78]

We booked ES on our upcoming Dream cruise and jumped out of ES (we had already upgraded from an interior to a Deluxe OV with ES) and into the balcony GTY pool with the 35 hr sale. Our room was assigned yesterday and we're in 7447, Empress balcony, rooms above and below and far enough aft that the Lanai has tapered off. I couldn't be more pleased. It's almost to the back of the ship but we're young; we can walk :)

[DTC]

Never understood why ppl think the back of the ship is so far from everything!! We love aft. Everything we do seems to be aft. In January we were in a Grand Scenic view room all the way forward. All we did do was walk!!! To dinner, to comedy shows. Basically everything!!! We prefer aft. Just our preference!! Happy sailing!!

 

First time booking gty balcony on our upcoming Pride cruise. We were going to book obstructed anyway so figured we'd try gty and maybe even get something better! Hopefully not forward!![emoji57]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[crusnbee]

I am one that does not like the aft as I am more prone to seasickness back there. Never have any issues when we are forward. That is a shame too because we have had aft balconies and they are AWESOME....

 

Did GTY on inside rooms several times and had no issues, actually got upgraded to an outside once. Did GTY on balcony once and ended up right above the piano bar, which was always busy at night. It wasn't terrible, but I would have preferred a place with less noise.

[AQW]

Just got our latest GTY assignment - 6E, midship Empress deck, cabins below us but under the galley... we'll see how that works out. For $25/night, we'll manage. ;)

 

Our friends got aft Upper deck with cabins above and below, category 6C.

[wiskt]

If you have multiple rooms, you can try this.

 

- LEAVE ONE ROOM with their room picked (preferably the person with the highest VIFP level.... like a Platinum member)

- have the other rooms book under GTY but LINK their booking numbers to the FIXED room's booking number for dining times.

 

More than likely the GTY rooms will be placed on the same floor as the FIXED chosen room to keep you together. I have seen this many times and it could save some people money. Depending on your group, say its family you could just total all the room costs and split it evenly amongst yourselves as if you all had a GTY room + ONE not GTY.

[gck1249]

We booked a Balcony GTY, not a 8A GTY so knew there was a chance to get an obstructed 7A on the Pride. And sure enough as we had family members in a 7A we got assigned a 7A obstructed just 4 doors down. While we would have liked a better balcony on a higher deck with a full view, this is mid ship and near family so it will work out fine. I have never had a life boat blocking my view so not sure how these cabins are but we will still be able to go outside, get fresh air, and see the ports when we arrive, so I'm good.

 

I think to book a gty you just have to be open to what you get and know sometimes it will work out great, other times, ok, and sometimes, just not what you like. If you like a certain location and cabin category and the savings won't make up for not getting that, then you are better off paying the extra to be happy.

[south-carolinagirl]

We booked a Balcony GTY, not a 8A GTY so knew there was a chance to get an obstructed 7A on the Pride. And sure enough as we had family members in a 7A we got assigned a 7A obstructed just 4 doors down. While we would have liked a better balcony on a higher deck with a full view, this is mid ship and near family so it will work out fine. I have never had a life boat blocking my view so not sure how these cabins are but we will still be able to go outside, get fresh air, and see the ports when we arrive, so I'm good.

 

I think to book a gty you just have to be open to what you get and know sometimes it will work out great, other times, ok, and sometimes, just not what you like. If you like a certain location and cabin category and the savings won't make up for not getting that, then you are better off paying the extra to be happy.

 

How do you specify a certain category of balcony when you are a gty?

[aprilbs1960]

Bought during the recent 35 hour sale

Nothing yet in room but did get my mdr time set for 6. It says confirmed. I was on the wait list. First time on carnival and sailing in 68 days. Hoping for good luck!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[gremlinbangles]

We went from an assigned cabin to a guarantee because of the obc. We were assigned a cabin 33 days out. 8b mid ship. Would like to be a deck higher but we are not directly over a bar or club so should b ok.

[gck1249]

You don't, that's the problem. You pick either an inside, outside, or balcony guarantee, and Carnival assigns the category and cabin to you. As some ships have Balcony cabins that have an obstruction and you take the chance that you are going to get one of those with a Balcony Gty. The only chance you are taking with an inside or outside is the deck you get and cabin location. There is no place to put notes in on what you want.

 

With us we were in an inside cabin, when they had a sale the balcony guarantee cabins were the same price so we upgraded and had nothing to lose.

[CTMills]

We just booked on the Carnival Freedom for May 30 during the 35+ hour sale. We booked a balcony guarantee and saved $388 versus the Early Saver rate and this rate was so cheap that I'm pretty sure the Early Saver won't drop below what we paid. I am very OCD and like having everything planned out accordingly, so this is a huge struggle for me, especially since they told me it would most likely be 10 days prior to sail when we would find out our stateroom. My husband just keeps telling me, we're on the ship and have a balcony, who cares where it is! So, I'm excited, plus I have more to look forward to once we find out what our room is, I keep checking to see if they've assigned it yet, lol!

[NoDayButToday]

We switched our assigned oceanview on the Pride to a balcony guarantee under the 35 hour sale because it gave us $300 in onboard credit and a better room. The way we saw it, no matter what we would have fresh air and a little extra privat space for us. We got our room assignment the same day (93 days out) and we did get an obstructed view balcony-but it's one of the ones with the smaller boats, so not AS obstructed as it could be, and it has a wall on 1 side instead of a partition, so we will be a little limited there too-but we also have only cabins above and below us instead of the casino like we had in our oceanview, and a balcony means fresh air, so we couldn't be happier!

[stjohnbeachlover]

We just booked on the Carnival Freedom for May 30 during the 35+ hour sale. We booked a balcony guarantee and saved $388 versus the Early Saver rate and this rate was so cheap that I'm pretty sure the Early Saver won't drop below what we paid. I am very OCD and like having everything planned out accordingly, so this is a huge struggle for me, especially since they told me it would most likely be 10 days prior to sail when we would find out our stateroom. My husband just keeps telling me, we're on the ship and have a balcony, who cares where it is! So, I'm excited, plus I have more to look forward to once we find out what our room is, I keep checking to see if they've assigned it yet, lol!

 

I can certainly relate. I like to plan everything on my trips and also changed to Balcony guarantee during the 35 hour sale. We sail in 49 days and I am checking my booking every day to see if I have been assigned a cabin yet. I gave up an inside on panorama so I hope the balcony isn't in too bad of a spot (like under the theater or other entertainment venues).

[sanmarcosman]

Carnival Inspiration assigned to Deck 7 Empress, very quiet and convenient location.

[gck1249]

It seems most people booking a GtY BL on the Pride are getting the 7A obstructed cabins. I just looked today and there are plenty of regular balcony cabins still available.

Edited November 23, 2014 by gck1249
wrong post

[nissach]

It seems most people booking a GtY BL on the Pride are getting the 7A obstructed cabins. I just looked today and there are plenty of regular balcony cabins still available.

 

We are on the Pride December 21. We took advantage of the 35 hour sale, gave up our 4K and took a gty balcony room. Two days later were assigned an 8E (I think) on Panorama deck just below the spa; with a little OBC to boot. No complaining from me, we are thrilled with are room assignment. :)

[nydney1]

We booked the Dream for Feb 1 Oceanview GTY. nothing yet. But I am checking every day. I figured you really can't go wrong with Oceanview.