Booked a guarantee/ Got the shaft

[the2ofus]

I'm wondering if the OP is aware that there are dividers between the balconies. In my experience, even if the day is windy, and/or the ship is moving fast, it is always somewhat sheltered on the balcony. Also, HAL balconies are a bit deeper than those on some other cruise lines so the wind might not be as noticeable. I have been about 5 cabins back on S class ships and never noticed a problem with the wind.

 

One definite plus is that they are at almost the end of the corridor so will have very little traffic past their cabin.

[cusyl]

Can anyone tell me something to make me feel better about this cabin because right now I'm ticked!

You could give your cruise to me if you're too unhappy...:)

You will probably be fine, don't worry be happy!

[rucruizin]

What's a "little wind" when you live in New Mexico? You should be used to it!:D

 

I'm just kidding you since I live in the southern part of the state and the wind gusts are up to 50 m.p.h. today!:eek:

 

LOL! DesertDiva I have to correct you though. We live in Central NM and the wind gusts are supposed to be 65 today. My point exaclty...I want to get away from the wind.:D

 

I'm going to go and enjoy no matter what.

 

Thanks for all your positive responses, I"m getting over my initial reaction with your help.

 

Our experience with the other cabin was terrible, the winds when the ship was moving were horrible. The chairs and table would get knocked upside down by the wind and it created a wind tunnel effect that blew things INSIDE the cabin all over the place when you opend the door.

 

good point about different ship designs, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[bepsf]

Our experience with the other cabin was terrible, the winds when the ship was moving were horrible. The chairs and table would get knocked upside down by the wind....

 

Bear in mind that the verandah furniture on HAL isn't the cheap plastic Home Depot crap found on the verandahs of the other line's you've sailed...

 

HAL furniture on Volendam is good quality heavy stuff: metal framed chairs w/ mesh seats & backs and teak-topped tables - so no blowing around in rough weather...

[Oceanwench]

I've only sailed on the Vista ships, but I've been in the first forward cabin on three occasions. That's where they put the HC cabins that my DH requires!

 

There are partitions between balconies, but still there was a lot of wind.

It was fine most of the time. On sea days I was able to sit out on the balcony and relax and read.

 

Sometimes at night it seemed a little windier -- maybe the ship was moving faster? A few times when I opened the door to the balcony I felt like I was being sucked out along with the drapes!

 

But several of my cruises have had rough weather, gale-force winds, etc. so the conditions were bad for everyone.

 

All in all, I like the forward cabins and will continue to book them on future cruises!

 

Very often people with guarantees get the HC cabins, a hotel manager on one of the ships told me. He said people often do not want those cabins, as they may have no bathtub, or a smaller sink area, etc.

 

Seems to me that a guarantee gets you what is left over, what no one else booked. You are sailing during the peak of spring break, so you'll probably have a pretty full ship.

[rucruizin]

It's too bad if graurantee's on HAL get the "leftovers." We've had guarantee's on other cruise lines and have found the opposite to be true. We had a similar situation when we booked on Princess and they gave us a nice upgrade to a very spacious cabin.

 

We always book our cabin choice whenever available.

 

Another friend of mine who always sails HAL said they had a guarantee ONCE...and would never do it again, EVER!

 

Oh well, live and learn. We had a good deal to begin with but the DH really wanted a balcony. We paid $1500 to upgrade to the guarantee.

 

Maybe I'll like the cabin. It is just downstairs from the gym and I do plan on spending a lot of time there.

[Oceanwench]

It's too bad if graurantee's on HAL get the "leftovers." We've had guarantee's on other cruise lines and have found the opposite to be true. We had a similar situation when we booked on Princess and they gave us a nice upgrade to a very spacious cabin.

 

But isn't that what a guarantee implies? That you are guaranteed a cabin of the type you book, or better? So if you book a balcony cabin [i'm not good with the alphabet soup of VAs, VBs, etc.], you'll get a balcony cabin somewhere.

 

If people who pay more [aren't guarantees cheaper?] to book specific cabins have all the "best" locations taken, then it just stands to reason that people who have guarantees will get the leftovers.

[HeatherInFlorida]

We sailed in the farthest forward verandah cabin on the Maasdam (port side) and we loved it! We never had a wind problem. Maybe you were on a cruise with particularly high winds, but I wouldn't worry about it at all. I'll be stunned if you return and say winds were a problem.

 

You definitely didn't get "shafted" because as everyone says you booked a "guarantee" and you're getting one of the guarantees in your category.

 

But I do have to say that $3500 sounds high for a BC unless you booked at the very last minute and all the prices shot up. Either that or you're going on a very long cruise? Otherwise, if you were "shafted" I'm afraid it was by your TA:o .

 

I bet you'll end up having a wonderful cruise and I only wish it were me in any cabin:) !!! Have fun and let us know how it all went for you.

[mama d]

ru,

Hope that you find that the cabin is more than you expected.

Relax, enjoy,

and do not open your door after the third day if someone says "Stick out your finger Hansel". ;)

[Crazy]

Okay my friends --- I am totally confused. I booked a SZ GUAR on the Westerdam sailing June 11. I know I haven't been assigned a suite because my TA hasn't called me. This is the first time I have ever booked a "GUAR"-- so does this mean I get the leftovers.

 

It was one of Holland America's specials to book before a certain date.

 

Really doesn't matter to me -- I just like the cruise.

 

n.b. I do like this board as I have been able to get valuable information.

[seadrifter]

Okay my friends --- I am totally confused. I booked a SZ GUAR on the Westerdam sailing June 11. I know I haven't been assigned a suite because my TA hasn't called me. This is the first time I have ever booked a "GUAR"-- so does this mean I get the leftovers.

 

It was one of Holland America's specials to book before a certain date.

 

Really doesn't matter to me -- I just like the cruise.

 

n.b. I do like this board as I have been able to get valuable information.

 

Crazy - there are two SZ superior verandah suites on the Westerdam. To my way of thinking, you have a very good chance of being upgraded to an SY or higher. Leftovers in this case are only good. I wouldn't worry if I were you. Have a wonderful time on the Westerdam (our first HAL cruise was on that ship).

[Jemima]

It's too bad if graurantee's on HAL get the "leftovers." We've had guarantee's on other cruise lines and have found the opposite to be true. We had a similar situation when we booked on Princess and they gave us a nice upgrade to a very spacious cabin.

We always book our cabin choice whenever available.

Another friend of mine who always sails HAL said they had a guarantee ONCE...and would never do it again, EVER!

QUOTE]

 

The cabins that are assigned are those that have not been selected by those booking specific cabins. If you booked a BC guarantee, that simply guaranteed that there would be a BC or higher left for you. I doubt it works differently on other cruiselines.

 

We always book guarantees. Guarantees usually end up with a little higher catergory, but not always. It depends on what people have booked. I always think in terms of the lowest possible cabin we could get and that way am not disappointed with our assignment.

[Oceanwench]

I always think in terms of the lowest possible cabin we could get and that way am not disappointed with our assignment.

 

That is a very good way to approach it! And maybe the Upgrade Fairy will visit!:)

[DesertDiva]

A guaranteed stateroom allows you to book the minimum stateroom category that you feel comfortable in, but allows the cruise line to either upgrade you to a higher category or place you in a stateroom anywhere within the minimum category you've booked.

 

Booking a guaranteed stateroom allows you to "gamble" on getting an upgrade, while still reserving a minimum stateroom category that you have preselected.

 

The bad news is that you have virtually no control over your stateroom location. The good news is that you could end up midships in a great stateroom. However, be aware it is possible you could end up at the bow or stern of the ship, an obstructed view stateroom, etc...

 

The bottom line is that "there is no guarantee to a guarantee." For those that gamble and understand "Vegas odds," booking a guaranteed stateroom is very similar.

[rucruizin]

The way I understand guarantee...

 

Ok, now this is just what I have heard so I might be wrong.

 

On the Volendam there are 4 BC cabins on the entire ship. When we booked we were told that there were no balcony cabins available but we were put on a waitlist.

 

Someone on the boards recently said that they JUST booked this same cruise on the Volendam for the same date. They said they booked a BC guarantee....

 

So with (4) four of this type cabins available they sell balcony cabins to a certain point and then everything else is booked on a guarantee. Like a BC, the lowest category balcony cabin. Hypothetically...they sell say 50% of the cabins and everything else is booked only as a guarantee.

 

Once final payment is made and sail date comes closer HAL, or whoever...takes into consideration cancel's, etc and sees the inventory available. They then assign cabins to all those who booked that guarantee.

 

So there maybe I don't know...25-100 people who purchased a BC guarantee because that was there only option. Now there are only 4 of those cabins so how is it decided who gets what?

 

Is it based on first come first served? If I upgraded to the guarantee in January and 10 people booked the BC guar. after me then the higher categories go to the one's who booked first? OR, do they give the higer categories to past guests and first time guests get "leftovers?"

 

On Princess when we received the nice upgrade it was the same type thing... only 4 of the BE cabins and 50 people booked it. I don't believe that those were "leftovers."

 

If my TA had said to me...the only balcony cabin available is #6106 in BC cat. and it's $$$. I probably would have weighed the options and said, OK. BUT I would have continued to watch and see if other cabins came available and then asked to be moved.

 

The guarantee is for the benefit of the cruise lines. As demand goes up they can sell guarantee cabins for any price they want and stick you in any cabin they want. Otherwise, they would continue to book cabin #'s until the ship was full and no cabins were left.

 

Like I said before...live and learn.

[Joanandjoe]

As one of the posters pointed out, guarantees are only of category, not location. We've had one guaranteed cabin, on the Celebrity Horizon, for the same reason as Rucruizin (whom, we hope, does not really rue cruising!): it was all that was avaialble. We got lucky: our room was in a quiet spot, rather than directly over a lounge. For our Noordam cruise, we originally booked a specific SY cabin, and put in an instruction "no upgrades to SS". Why? Because we wanted a deck that was between two passenger decks, rather than below the deck with the Lido. For an SZ guarantee on a Vista ship, one could get a quiet room or a very noisy one if one is upgraded.

 

As it turns our, our TA found a paid upgrade to a full suite (specific room) for a minimal additional amount, and we grabbed it!

[rucruizin]

As one of the posters pointed out, guarantees are only of category, not location. We've had one guaranteed cabin, on the Celebrity Horizon, for the same reason as Rucruizin (whom, we hope, does not really rue cruising!): it was all that was avaialble. We got lucky: our room was in a quiet spot, rather than directly over a lounge. For our Noordam cruise, we originally booked a specific SY cabin, and put in an instruction "no upgrades to SS". Why? Because we wanted a deck that was between two passenger decks, rather than below the deck with the Lido. For an SZ guarantee on a Vista ship, one could get a quiet room or a very noisy one if one is upgraded.

 

As it turns our, our TA found a paid upgrade to a full suite (specific room) for a minimal additional amount, and we grabbed it!

 

Sorry Joanandjoe but i don't understand the rue cruising comment???

 

We are R U as in are you cruisin? not rue...

 

Sure would love to have a TA's perspective on guarantee's in general.

[jhannah]

The cabins that are assigned are those that have not been selected by those booking specific cabins.

Not necessarily. If someone booking a specific cabin was offered an upgrade because HAL needed the lesser grades to sell, then you might end up being assigned into the cabin they vacated so your cabin could be sold to someone else.

 

rucruizin --

rue1 Pronunciation Key (r)

v. rued, ru·ing, rues

v. tr. To feel regret, remorse, or sorrow for.

[infopaul]

rucruzin, call now and ask for an upgrade, your TA should have asked for that when they made the booking. It still might not be what you want....but let me tell you a little story.

 

I booked a guaranteed cabin with a verranda for about 3k. I had asked for an upgrade not much unlike your situation. When I arrived, the ship was only about two thirds full. Back then I was merely just another handsome face. When I arrived and to my suprise upon checking in they asked if I wanted the upgrade. I said yes hesitantly. I had forgotten I had requested it. I thought upgrade meant up the price. Well they told me when I get to the front desk to let them know. Being one of first few cruises I was ever on, I said OK. It was a little unnerving for me then because like many people when you get your documents you look to see where your cabin is. I liked being close to the elevator and everyone was telling me to book in the middle because i'll get seasick. I really don't get seasick. So the story goes, a stewart came and was to escort me to our room and we starting going up the elevator. That didn't bother me because back then I thought that was were all the cabins were. But as we started walking down the hallway; I was starting to get a bit nervous. We were walking and walking and getting further from the elevators. It was a long walk. The stewart making small talk was telling me there's not that many passengers on this ship and as we passed the 2nd bank of elevators, I turned to him and asked "if I don't like my room can I get the other one back". With a smile on his face... well, low and behold we finally get to the cabin he opens the door and WOW, the room was as big as my Manhatten apartment. It seemed I was given the PS for a 14 day cruise. You would think that was the end of the story though but it's not. I was on that DAM ship for almost a whole week before I realized there was an elevator around the corner from me. I had been walking amidship taking the elevator before I had realized what was up. Meantime I was complaining to my better half. A litlle foolish - Yeah. I still think it's a long walk...Paul:)

 

Sometimes you just never know! I hope this helped.

[dakrewser]

The way I understand guarantee...

 

 

It's a little more complicated than that. When you book a specific cabin HAL will also ask if you're interested in an upgrade should it be available.

 

As sailing date gets closer, the line will offer deals on the lowest priced cabins in order to fill the ship. If they sell, people in that category already will get "bumped up" (I believe the GTY come after the "I'll take an upgrade" folks). This happens all up and down the categories until the boat is full or all sales are finished. Now, if the PH is still empty, no one will likely be upgraded to it. THe ship will sail with empty suites before it sails with empty insides on the lowest deck.

 

So when booking a GTY look at all the cabins in that category - if you'd be unhappy in any of them, either go with a higher category or book a specific cabin.

[rucruizin]

The problem..the option..

 

We wanted a verandah ,No verandah's available.

 

We booked an oceanview, we were offered a balcony guarantee for more money.

 

An oceanview/a balcony, we took the balcony. We were never asked if we wanted to upgrade if it was available.

 

Now the ship is sold out, no chance for an upgrade. We are on the ground floor with nowhere to look but up. The only chance for anything to move is if someone has to cancel their cruise last minute.

 

Ok, I'd rather stay where I'm at even if I'm unhappy than to wish upon someone that they have to cancel their cruise this late in the game.

[Jemima]

Now confused. Rucruiszen: I'm understanding now that you booked an outside cabin, that there were no balconies available at the time you booked, and that you were later offered a paid upgrade to a balcony BC cabin?

If so, that's not the same as a guarantee.

[FRANKIEDNYC]

:cool: I always book a cabin up forward and never had a problem. it's the quietest place on the ship, unless the ship anchors out. than the noise of the anchor chain gets you up. As far as the wind is concerned it depends on the direction of the wind and we have no control over that. enjoy.

[AAAAmerican]

Was that not a movie? Your not booked in an air shaft?

 

A guaranteee is just that booking that will allow a minumm level of room.. amximum as you see here is the best room on the ship.

 

So yes it is a chance your paying for.. :eek:

 

The lines do make more booking with this tool filling berths up quicker...

 

Airships do it too....

 

If you never want to chance it then don't. If you want it do it.

 

:D

[kryos]

If people who pay more [aren't guarantees cheaper?] to book specific cabins have all the "best" locations taken, then it just stands to reason that people who have guarantees will get the leftovers.

My TA swears by guarantees, though I disagree with her.

 

The whole principle of a guarantee is that you have a better chance of getting upgraded to a better category cabin than what you paid for. For example, you book an inside guarantee and you wind up with an outside cabin, though it is on a very low deck ... in a less favorable location ... perhaps right next to the elevators or in a spot where you have a high traffic area right above you.

 

I don't think guarantees get the "leftovers" ... they just get the leftovers from the higher cabin class, which is kind of fair because they are not paying for that cabin class. So, if I get upgraded from my normal inside cabin to an ocean view, I kind of can't be upset that I got an obstructed view cabin. I still came out ahead (theoretically) of what I actually paid for ... the inside cabin.

 

I'm not crazy about guarantees myself because as stupid as it sounds, I don't want to be upgraded from my inside cabin. I have a migrane problem and those inside cabins can be a Godsend when you really want to get rid of that headache before dinnertime. I also like my rides "rough" and always prefer a cabin location as close to the front of the ship as I can get. So, for me ... guarantees hold no special attraction. But, for others who want a better cabin than they can afford to pay for, guarantees can sometimes work out great. They get a better cabin (maybe a balcony) when all they paid for was an ocean view. So, of course, they can't complain if that balcony is not in the exact location they would have preferred. The people who paid more are gonna have dibs on the best locations ... and that's understandable.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita