Would You Book GTY OX Category?

[CrazyKoi]

Hi, everyone! I'm so thankful for all of the amazing expert advice that I have already received on this forum! I am finally looking to book my cruise! (Eeeeep!) I think that we will sail on NCL Star out of Tampa on a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon. I'm pretty stinkin' excited!

Here is where I am hoping to get some expert advice.

Cruise Website A can get us into an oceanview cabin with a picture window for $1459.35 (cumulative total for both of us). This would be Midship, Deck 5.

Cruise Website B can get us into a Guarantee Oceanview(OX category... whatever that means) cabin for $1449.50 (but we get $50 more OBC with this deal).

I've heard that if the cruise oversells oceanview cabins, we could get a free upgrade. Does this happen, often?

What would YOU do? :)

 

I'm hoping to book this trip this week and really appreciate all of your expert advice!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart! :)

[triptolemus]

You're talking about a net $60 difference between choosing your own cabin and a guarantee. You will be happy picking your own cabin with Website A.

 

With a guarantee category, the ship can put you anywhere within that category (or sometimes, but rarely, a better one). This means you can end up all the way forward or aft away from the elevators. You could end up under or over some other deck which generates a ton of noise, either foot traffic, maintenance, theater, or night club.

 

That bit about upgrades if the category sells out... doesn't quite work that way. They will up-sell a paid lower category to the next higher one as opposed to giving it to you for free. Then they will sell the lower category again.

 

What would I do? Deal A - choose my cabin. I would never book a guarantee lest I wind up back on cruise critic complaining about the cabin the evil cruise line gave me...

Edited April 23, 2015 by triptolemus

[MsTabbyKats]

You only go on a honeymoon once in a lifetime. Don't be stingy....pick your cabin because you'll be spending a lot of time in it.

[triptolemus]

You only go on a honeymoon once in a lifetime. Don't be stingy....pick your cabin because you'll be spending a lot of time in it.

 

And then there's that... :cool:

[CrazyKoi]

Haha. Oh my goodness, I've never blushed so hard in my life. Lol.

[vince_g]

Have you checked the deck plans on NCL to see what's on deck 6? It is advisable to be on a deck with staterooms above and below, if possible. If there are high traffic public areas above you, there is potential for a noise problem. I don't think I'd want to be under the casino or the restaurants.

 

Are you at all interested in having a balcony? It's nice to get fresh air in the room, as well as having your own little private space outside. Depending on the ship it might not be too much more. You only live once, so enjoy.

Edited April 23, 2015 by vince_g

[CrazyKoi]

Thank you so much for pointing out the importance of looking at the deck plans. I would have never thought of that! I'm such a cruising newbie! You are right, Deck 6 has the dining room, casino, 2 specialty restaurants, a few bars and a theater! Good catch! Gosh, what would I do without all of your advice? I feel so well supported by my CC family! Thank you! How noisy would it get?

[mking8288]

Our advice to Koi is to go for Plan A - with OV on deck 5, midship but look closely at the deck 6's floor plan - the big white space is basically the ship's gallery & food storage and preparation area - plus the dish washing machines & crew-only stairs, escalators & elevators, etc. - try to get something on the starboard side (right side of the ship, forward facing) as it's least likely to be noisy in the morning at breakfast time. At night, things will be quieting down by 10 or 10:30 pm - in the morning, you will possibly hear equipments, carts & things being move around above you - not good if you two are trying to get some sleep or still in bed #wink #wink :D

Lower deck & mid-ship location is ideal for new cruisers, regardless of whether you are motion-sickness prone or not, especially if encountering rough seas & bad weather - the most stable & best staterooms to be in.

The space above with public corrdiors or hallways, etc. are generally fine as there are insulation & sound-proofing material.

Enjoy your cruise & congrats. on honeymooning on a cruise. Don't forget to turn that knob/dial outside the stateroom to signal "Do Not Disturb" - LOL ;) :p

Edited April 24, 2015 by mking8288

[theloo]

I'm not positive, but doesn't OX include the portholes? Also, the obstructed picture windows? If so, then you really should go for option A, with a full picture window.