Oceanview vs. Balcony Guarantee Experiences on Spirit class?

[CanTex]

What is your experience when booking OV guarantee on Spirit class? Likely to get upgraded higher than 6A? 7A? Balcony? Is it worth it to book balcony guarantee?

We're looking firming up plans for our "cruise after next" (Celebrity Galaxy repositioning to Galveston this Oct.) The Legend 8 day southern itinerary out of FLL sometime next January or February looks most interesting to us at this time, but I'm leery about Martinique from what I read here (we've never been there).

Thanks!

[serene56]

If you dont care about the location of your cabin then you should book a quarantee. Yes, the chances of being upgraded are there--but the chance of getting place under the casino is there too. Its all the luck of the draw. Booking gauarantee is also cheap[er

Going NOWHERE
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[CanTex]

Thanks. We've done guarantee before, just wondering of the odds are better on this class of ship since there's so few cat. 6 vs. 8, such that the premium for a balcony guarantee isn't worth it(especially booking 8-9 months out).

[cruzenbabe]

We were on the Spirit this past February, had a 7a guarantee (obstructed balcony). When we got to the pier we found out we were upgraded to an 8c. We were one flr. beneath the buffet and it was the best cabin we ever had. We could just walk to the buffet to eat and also the pools. Didn't have to worry about elevators. From our balcony, I looked down to were the 7a's were positioned and said wow we were really upgraded.

We paid for our cruise 1 1/2 week before sailing, so who knows how upgrades are given out. This was our 2nd carnival cruise and it was the best so far.

As far as Martinique. take an excursion. We enjoyed this island and did the Unlimited Rum Punch Boat Tour. Went to a beach and also stopped at a bat cave. The ride was fun and once everyone started drinking we all became friendlier. Upon arrival, they had a band of women performing for us when we came off the ship. Got everything on video tape. We encountered friendly people on our visit. Maybe some people were less fortunate.

I've read a lot of negative comments from people on these boards regardng Martinique. If you've never been there before you owe it to yourself to see this island.

I've read on these boards people saying I'm staying on the ship because "I heard" it's not a good place to visit. I would never spend my hard earned money and let other people views stop me from seeing this beautiful country.

Hope you enjoy your cruise.

[momofmeg]

If you look in the Carnival book at the diagram of ships You will see there is only like one deck with ocean views plus the obstructed views where the life boats are-so you have a very good chance of getting upgraded to a balcony, especially if you book like 6 months before departure.
we booked our cruise like 6 weeks before so we went with a guarantee 8A and ended up with a 8E extended balcony. We could have booked an ocean view and probally would have ended up with a balcony but we felt we would be taking a chance that close to sailing.

Carnival Tropicale 10/15/98 Western Caribbean
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Pacific Princess 09/29/02 Bermuda
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[CanTex]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone! I think we'll go with the OV this far out and hope for the best!

I also think we'll stick with the Southern itinerary and go with an open mind to Martinique. The Legend does the Western route on alternate sailings... time for some variety for us.

[steveNcindy]

Cantex - have you checked out the CC group cruise on the Legend Jan 6, 2005. It is doing the southern and was easily the best price I found for this cruise as prices have already gone up since March. There are lots of great people already booked and should be a great time.

We booked a Balcony Guarantee on our first cruise and loved the balcony. Would be hard to go back now to being without one.

Carnival Legend 02/04

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