Pros and cons of a "guarantee" cabin

[kimlovesfl]

What are everyone's experiences with choosing a guarantee cabin, and not getting your assignment until close to departure? We just went on the CB, booked it last minute, I booked a guarantee cabin to get the low rate, and within 30 minutes of completing the booking, I had a cabin assignment, and better than the section I chose (mid-ship as opposed to aft). Someone else on that same cruise booked far in advance, and didn't have her cabin assignment until 2 days prior to departure.

 

I don't care exactly where in the ship I am located (fore or aft, high or low deck) as long as I have an unobstructed view. Do I save money by booking this way?

[cb at sea]

The "pro" is getting the category you find acceptable at a lower price...sometimes, (rarely, but still....) you might get something better than what you thought!

 

Cons are being put in an area that you wouldn't have chosen....

 

If you are ok with anywhere...a GTY is a great way to save some money. If you're picky and want a specific cabin or area, it's best to pay the price and not "throw the dice"!!!

[dorisis]

It is a great way to save money if you really don't care about type or location of cabin Just book the lowest type cabin that would be acceptable and let them surprise you. We have done it a few times and were always happy with the cabin we got.

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

I have done this, but I don;t think it's worth the money you save. You might end up in a very noisy cabin, or near the garbage disposal (like happened to me). Afterall, they are looking to sell those cabins in a location that haven't sold themselves. Not to say that you might end up with a perfectly fine cabin at a great rate, but for me, it's my vacation and I would prefer to know in advance that I am going to be comfortable with my cabin

[cadventure]

Unless you're a frequent cruiser on the same ships it's difficult to know the configuation of each cabin and all it's idiosynchrocies. We'e always gone the "assigned" route and someimes chose them based on recommendations of our cruise specialist. Sometimes the room has been great, other times smelly, noisey, etc. Our up-coming cruise is with a balcony room, unassigned, so we'll see how it compares.

[crystalspin]

Pro: save money (except on Princess where the fare is the same and the only reason I can come up with for choosing 'guarantee' is addiction to gambling...)

Con: the cruiseline's idea of an upgrade may not agree with your own.

 

We have always picked our own cabin -- even with a last-minute upsell I got to choose between the rooms that were left -- up until now. We were seduced by a nice package through an online-and-mailed-flyer travel company for a transAtlantic... I found out that this company had blocked out all insides of a particular sub-category that has a certain configuration, and I would be happy with any one of them. So we booked an inside! Yay, right? Only on the documents, I see that it is a "that-category-GUARANTEE". Which implies, if the company has sold all of the original block of insides, we might get another type of room. Some would say, it can only be better than an inside on the Main Deck! But as we are going to be calling this small space home for almost a month, I'd rather have a spacious inside than a standard tunnel-like OV.

 

But it will be what it will be...

Edited February 12, 2015 by crystalspin

[kimlovesfl]

Actually, the price for a guarantee cabin on the Regal Princess was less than for an assigned cabin. I booked a guarantee unobstructed oceanview, and I think I'll be ok with whatever cabin I get in that category. If not, well, I just won't do that again.

[OzKiwiJJ]

I've just booked a very cheap inside guarantee cabin. I'me expecting to get one of the worst cabins on the ship. I'm going to pack my earplugs plus seasickness meds, and maybe find a white noise app for my phone just in case. Why did I do this? I means I can cruise again next month instead of ??? :D:D:D

Edited February 14, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[Surfdiva83]

I'm always afraid of trying. For us we only vacation twice a year and I don't want to chance it to save a little money. On our current cruise it's a difference of around $200 between a guarantee and selecting our cabin location.

[crystalspin]

@SurfDiva

 

Have always thought the same way! but with the larger ships and/or better stabilizers, it seems like choosing the mid-ship cabin was not SO important... and the inside rate was so good from the "package" dealer/TA we used, we're trying it this once.

 

For the Canal trip we have booked (refundable deposit) for next year, it was very important to me that we got the perfect pair of adjoining cabins so I booked way out and got my pick. We're taking my sister and BIL who have never cruised!

[first_time_30th_birthday_]

I have booked my first ever cruise with MSC. I was told by TA that cabin was guaranteed balcony, and I didn't have a choice of cabin. When I went as if I was going to book the same cruise on the MSC website, it had a drop down list of cabins to choose from, with no mention of it being a guarantee. When I questioned the TA, he told me that even if I had been given a choice, it would have been subject to change between now and then. I have logged onto the MSC website since booking, and have currently been allocated cabin 9132 on the MSC Fantasia. I have been told though that this is subject to change. Is this a good cabin to have? Also is it normal to only be given the option of a guarantee cabin, especially when there is no mention of this on the MSC website? I did book a special promotion of free flights and a free upgrade from outside to balcony.

Edited February 17, 2015 by first_time_30th_birthday_

[crystalspin]

It sounds to me like your TA used (or made his own) a 'package' or 'bundle' with the included flights... possibly the OV to Balcony was only for guarantee, I have seen that on other lines.

 

I saved $1000 buying a bundled offer, over what it would have cost me for the same thing -- shuttles, a room the night before sailing, and two one-way flights -- and a guarantee room. Saved more over choosing the cabin! And when I talked to the TA's rep while making the booking, found out their block of inside rooms were all ones I would find agreeable.

 

I drew up the MSC Fantasia deck plans and 9132 seems a very nice stateroom! Just fore of midships (makes for a smoother ride) and midway between sets of elevators/lifts -- and neither is very far, you will just choose which way to go depending on what you are headed for. MOST IMPORTANT -- you have other cabins above and below you -- no dining rooms or showrooms! So it indeed looks like your guarantee worked out for you.

 

As far as it being changed -- keep an eye on the booking bag, every day or two. If it is changed (to something you like less well), your TA may be able to get it changed back IF he gets right on it.

Edited February 17, 2015 by crystalspin

[Folk Singer]

It is a great way to save money if you really don't care about type or location of cabin Just book the lowest type cabin that would be acceptable and let them surprise you. We have done it a few times and were always happy with the cabin we got.

 

we have had the same good experience.

[jodym]

We have gone guaranteed a few times and only got a 'bad' one once. Usually not the worst cabin on the ship, which is a pleasant surprise. Once we got right under Lido and heard rolling carts overhead all evening - usually up until midnight or 1 am. I either dropped off to sleep then or it stopped, not sure which.

[ExpatBride]

I booked an inside guarantee on RCCL a few years ago and ended up in a depressing little cabin on a lower deck near the front of the ship. It wasn't what I'd hoped for, but I paid my money and took my choice, and I had no right to complain.

 

I just booked a guarantee balcony cabin on NCL for June and ended up with a 9th floor cabin, port side, near the front of the ship. It's supposedly one of the larger cabins in the category with a slightly larger balcony. It's not a brilliant location, but for the price, I think I did ok.

 

I'm not an experienced enough cruiser to have strong cabin preferences. For stability reasons, I'd prefer mid-ship, but beyond that I'm clueless and for me, I don't think it's worth a premium to choose my cabin.

[Hlitner]

The only "Pro" is saving some money and the savings vary from nothing to some major dollars. Some would argue that a guarantee gives you a better chance of an upgrade, but the reality is that in most cases (and there are exceptions) any upgrade will be in a similar type cabin as to your guarantee (such as outside to a higher cat outside). But here is the ugly truth about guarantees. In a cruise that comes close to selling out, the better located cabins will tend to go early in the booking process. When guarantees are finally assigned cabins they get what is left over and this is often cabins in the least desirable parts of the ship. Personally, we have done very well with guarantees because DW and I love cabins up near the bow...and these are generally the least popular cabins.

 

As to location, one should generally consider what is above, around, and below their cabin. A cabin above the Casino or a lounge that is open late brings the possibility of late night noise. A cabin directly below the pool deck gives you the chance of noise from above (scraping chairs, loud voices, music, etc). A cabin near a laundry room might bring more foot traffic and related noise. Carnival has some cabins they quietly designate "Night Owl" cabins which are within earshot of their disco and these can sometimes be assigned to those who do a guarantee.

 

Hank

Edited March 29, 2015 by Hlitner

[crystalspin]

Well, for my satisfaction with the "possible rooms" in above message #12, it did NOT work out in my favor. The TA company oversold those inside cabins that I liked (which were on the lowest passenger deck) and HAL put me in a MUCH smaller upper deck inside which it called an upgrade because of the higher location. The only seating aside from the bed was a straight-backed chair and a vanity stool!

 

So to get a small sofa we had to take an upsell (to OV), spending half of our "saving"... but considering the ship is sold out on the website, we were lucky there was anything to move to at all.

 

I will never take a guarantee again, which means I will never book with a "bundler" for a cruise, again. Live and learn.

[OCruisers]

It would drive me crazy to not know my exact cabin in advance. :o

Any money we'd save by booking a guarantee would so not be worth it to us.

LuLu

[GreeneyedJean]

Same here I need to know my Cabin number because I prefer a higher deck. If cruising Carnival need deck 7 or higher.

[OzKiwiJJ]

I booked an inside guarantee on RCCL a few years ago and ended up in a depressing little cabin on a lower deck near the front of the ship. It wasn't what I'd hoped for, but I paid my money and took my choice, and I had no right to complain.

 

 

We were very happy with our last minute (well, month) inside guarantee on Rhapsody of the Seas. We ended up in a "large interior" under the MDR, mid aft on deck 3. Great location and very quiet except when there was a parade in the MDR. However since we'd picked late traditional dining this wasn't a problem as we only heard the noise while getting ready for dinner. :D

 

We were allocated our cabin within a few days of booking but, at the time, had no idea whether it would be good or not. It was very good indeed. for us.

Edited April 1, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[marimonroefan]

I booked a guarantee balcony cabin on the Carnival Breeze for a cruise leaving in three weeks. I've always had a balcony and never tried guarantee before. Honestly, I'm sorry I did - yes there was a $100/person savings but I still don't know my cabin #. Furthermore, I always stay on the 7th floor or above. When I booked - I wasn't thinking about the fact that the Breeze has cove balconies on the 2nd floor. I get wicked motion sickness - getting stuck on the 2nd floor of the ship at water's edge is the worst possible scenario for me. Wish I never did this - going to keep my fingers crossed that I don't end up in a cove - but I've read about people not getting their assignments until 2 days before the cruise departs. I won't even have time to get all the drugs I will need from my doctor to survive 8 days at the bottom of the ship. This is not worth it! Never again!

[yaduck]

I have done suite guarantee twice on Celebrity Millennium and saved thousands over regular pricing, the first time I received an upgrade to a Royal Suite (room confirmed 3 weeks before sailing) and the second S1 center (room confirmed the day I booked). So from my experience, I would say doing guarantee can be well worth the unknown room.

[texansandy]

We're booked on NCL Pearl for the May 17th sailing to Alaska and booked a guarantee mini-balcony because the price was better. However, this is our first time to cruise and we didn't have a clue at the time what a guaranteed room meant. :confused: Thanks to this forum, I now know. We did get our cabin assignment weeks ago though. Cabin 11134 which is deck 11, aft starboard. It's close to stairs and elevators (which we like) and below The Great Outdoors and Garden Café.

 

Anyone know anything about this location and if it if good? Also, is there any chance that the cabin # will change between now and sailing time?

[marimonroefan]

13 days before sailing and still no room assignment- this stinks. I can't participate in my group's door decorating contest because I have no room number.

[kaysterleb]

Its 3 weeks until our cruise, our ship is sold out, so when will we be assigned our cabin? We rolled the dice this time doing the guaranteed--never again. This is an RCL cruise anyone else experienced this?

Edited April 14, 2015 by kaysterleb
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