Guarantee Backfires!

[VegasRealtor]

:d We (dw And I) Lucked Out. Sometimes, The Upgrade Fairy Sprinkles Her Stuff On You. Let Me Explain.

 

I Took A Chance And Booked A Vh Guarantee (super Low Price, By The Way!) On The W'dam 12/3. We Were Assigned Cabin #4001, Which Indeed Was A Vh, Steel Balcony Railing And All. I Called Our Ta And Asked Her To Contact Hal To See If We Could Upgrade. She Happened To Be On Another Line Waiting For A Hal Rep, Said She'd Call Me Right Back. She Called, Hal Offered Us An Upgrade To An Sz For A Very Small Additional Amount Of Money. Of Course, I Jumped On It In A Hurry.

 

When We Arrived At Check-in, Our Counter Person Said She Could Not Find Our Room On The Computer (gasp!) And Summoned Her Supervisor. Low And Behold, We Were Upgraded To An Sa, #7066. It Happened To Be Next To The Elevator, But We Were Not Bothered By That At All. All The Suite Perks (we've Had Sa's Many Times In The Past) For A Great Price! What Luck! Sometimes, A Guarantee Works!

 

All In All, A Great Cruise - Imho, Hal Service, Quality Of Food, Cleanliness, Condition Of The Ship, Freindliness Of Staff, Etc, Has Remained As High As Ever! Can't Wait Til The Next One!

 

Dave;)

[RevNeal]

My family of 4 is booked on the Holiday sailing of the Westerdam. We wanted two cabins. When we booked last March (along with my parents and siblings and their families), we were able to secure a balcony cabin on the Upper Verandah deck, but there were no inside cabins available in the same vicinity. We agreed to take a guarantee on a "K" category, figuring if a K became available close to us that would be fine, otherwise the cabin would likely be upgraded, possibly to an outside. The cabin number finally posted this morning, and our second cabin in now on the Main deck (5 decks below) at the complete opposite end of the ship! Apparently there are five "K" category cabins down there, I didn't even know existed. When I looked at the deck plans, I only saw the K cabins on the Upper Verandah. All the other family cabins are located on the upper decks. I'm really upset. Our second cabin might as well be on another ship! We can't share stuff the way we always do, and it really isn't fair to a family to split us up this way. I know we took a gamble on the guarantee, but this simply is not fair. I've contacted HAL and my TA is trying as well, but I'm told the ship is sold out. This is really not what I expected.

 

Perhaps my sympathy circuits are shorted out, or something, but I just don't see what is so unfair about this situation. You booked a K-category guarantee and you got a K-category cabin ... that's about as fair as fair gets without getting something for which one didn't pay. Oh, I DO understand your disappointment about not being in close proximity to the other members of your party, but that's the chance one takes in booking a guarantee. You should have known this eventuality could happen, and you should have done your research on the location of all the Ks before you booked one. Yes, I know, I don't sound very sympathetic ... I don't because I'm NOT. I reserve my sympathy for those who have something really unfair to whine about, not for those who got precisely what they booked.

 

What I am truly surprised about is that there were still some Main Deck Ks available. Since you didn't do sufficient research before booking, I'm certain that you don't realize the wonderful boon you've netted. With your guarantee booking you have managed to obtain one of the few really BIG inside cabins to be found anywhere aboard a Vista ship. Those 5 Main Deck Ks, along with the Main Deck Js forward of the Atrium, are HUGE ... MUCH larger (on the order of ~60 square feet larger) than the Ks up on the higher decks. Specifically, those Main Deck Ks are either 207 or 194 sf (depending on which specific cabin you have received) while the Ks up on the Upper Verandah Deck are TEENY TINY, at just 146 sf. Indeed, regardless of which Main Deck K you've received, it's going to be LARGER than your V category balcony cabin (which will be 176 sf). In short, these Main Deck Ks are prime real-estate for the inside-cabin-lover and they are almost always the very first to sell out. Trust me, I know. You couldn't have ask for a NICER K-category cabin if you had booked the cabin-number specifically. Those who stay in it will be VERY pleased with its size ... much more so than if they had been shoe-horned into a TINY little K on the Upper Verandah Deck. True, you'll have to walk to the aft elevators and ride down or up to go from one cabin to the other ... but, after eating your way across the Caribbean you'll need the exercise.

[WeLoveCruising]

RevNeal,

You're right (duh). When I said the verandah deck category K's were more desirable I didnt realize they're on a Vista. Yes, there is a big size difference in those cabins. I still think many of the K insides across from the verandahs were taken by families wanting to stay across from each other - especially on a holiday sailing.

[Ventura]

I am truly humbled by the responses I've read, and I've learned my lesson about using this strategy in the future. As I mentioned before, at the time we booked there were no K cabins available on the Upper Verandah, and that was the only reason we agreed to the guarantee. And yes, I do have a wonderful travel agent who is a cruise specialist and knows her stuff. Because we were part of a group booking, this was the best way of hopefully grabbing a K cabin nearby if and when it became available. Although we were not necessarily looking for an upgrade, we knew that this was also a possiblilty. I've been back and forth with my TA and HAL all day trying to come to a resolution. I now understand that these guaranteed cabin assignments are made randomly and HAL does not consider links to other bookings. Had that been the case, this scenario may not have happened. The good news is, my TA and HAL did come through in the end. Our guaranteed cabin is now back on the Upper Verandah very close to our confirmed cabin. I got lucky (I admit it), and fair (or not), we'll be celebrating the entire cruise!

 

Ventura

[hammybee]

Let's look on the bright side, I think the 16 and 20 year olds will be absolutely delighted with their cabin and independence and your trust in them.

[newmexicoNita]

My family of 4 is booked on the Holiday sailing of the Westerdam. We wanted two cabins. When we booked last March (along with my parents and siblings and their families), we were able to secure a balcony cabin on the Upper Verandah deck, but there were no inside cabins available in the same vicinity. We agreed to take a guarantee on a "K" category, figuring if a K became available close to us that would be fine, otherwise the cabin would likely be upgraded, possibly to an outside. The cabin number finally posted this morning, and our second cabin in now on the Main deck (5 decks below) at the complete opposite end of the ship! Apparently there are five "K" category cabins down there, I didn't even know existed. When I looked at the deck plans, I only saw the K cabins on the Upper Verandah. All the other family cabins are located on the upper decks. I'm really upset. Our second cabin might as well be on another ship! We can't share stuff the way we always do, and it really isn't fair to a family to split us up this way. I know we took a gamble on the guarantee, but this simply is not fair. I've contacted HAL and my TA is trying as well, but I'm told the ship is sold out. This is really not what I expected.

 

Ventura

I feel your pain, but this is the chance you take. We just got off the amsterdam, many we talked to got great upgrades, one person from M inside to C outside. What did we get? Upgraded from G to G, aft, as far back as you can get and our friends were on the Prom deck, far forward. It worked out just fine. Sure, it may not be what you had hoped for, but we all know what to expect when we book a guaranteed cabin. I hoped up to the end we would get an upgrade. As soon as I got over the disappointment I totally forgot about it and we had a great time. Someone mentioned when cruising there must be a person over 21 in the cabin. This, normally isn't the case when there are family members. It is too bad you couldn't be a little closer together, but when the ship is sold out, it is sold out. NMnita

[newmexicoNita]

I don't know what to tell you. Surely, I feel for you, but when you take a guarantee, that's exactly what you get. A guarantee for AT LEAST that cabin category SOMEWHERE on the ship. Sounds to me like HAL gave you exactly what they were obligated to. If the other two in that second cabin are young children, sounds like you and your spouse are gonna have to split up ... one stay in the K cabin with one kid, and the other kid up in the Veranda cabin with the other parent. You can't leave kids unsupervised in a cabin by themselves ... especially when that other cabin is in a totally different area of the ship. HAL won't allow that.

 

As for not being able to share things ... I don't understand. Even if you were all located on the same deck, you would still have to go around the ship to do things together. So, use the phone in this case. "Meet you up in the Lido in ten minutes." "Meet you out by the aft pool at 10:00," etc. Even a couple of sets of walkie talkies would work for this purpose.

 

If the ship is sold out, you're stuck. If not, maybe your TA can work out a paid upgrade for the K cabin to get the other two in your party closer to you. Otherwise, if that's not possible, you might as well start thinking about ways to make the situation work ... because short of cancelling your cruise, it's gonna have to.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

that is exactly what we did: use the phone, meet ya here or there, come to our cabin for a drink, etc. We had no problems. NMNita

[kryos]

The good news is, my TA and HAL did come through in the end. Our guaranteed cabin is now back on the Upper Verandah very close to our confirmed cabin. I got lucky (I admit it), and fair (or not), we'll be celebrating the entire cruise!

Yes, you are very, very lucky ... or, you have an excellent TA. Either way ... enjoy your cruise!

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Pam in CA]

Glad to hear it worked out for you. Unfortunately, it was a learning experience and a misconception many people have, i.e., that booking a GTY will get them an upgrade. As the others have said, you got what you paid for. A GTY is a gamble. If you want a cabin in a specific location, you should book it and not leave it to chance or spending a day or two on the phone with your TA and HAL. I wonder if the people in the cabin you've now been assigned to are just as happy.

[JLC@SD]

I am truly humbled by the responses I've read, and I've learned my lesson about using this strategy in the future. As I mentioned before, at the time we booked there were no K cabins available on the Upper Verandah, and that was the only reason we agreed to the guarantee. And yes, I do have a wonderful travel agent who is a cruise specialist and knows her stuff. Because we were part of a group booking, this was the best way of hopefully grabbing a K cabin nearby if and when it became available. Although we were not necessarily looking for an upgrade, we knew that this was also a possiblilty. I've been back and forth with my TA and HAL all day trying to come to a resolution. I now understand that these guaranteed cabin assignments are made randomly and HAL does not consider links to other bookings. Had that been the case, this scenario may not have happened. The good news is, my TA and HAL did come through in the end. Our guaranteed cabin is now back on the Upper Verandah very close to our confirmed cabin. I got lucky (I admit it), and fair (or not), we'll be celebrating the entire cruise!

 

Ventura

......another testimony on the value of using a good TA:) ........(and...no.... I am not a TA):

[RevNeal]

I wonder if the people in the cabin you've now been assigned to are just as happy.

 

If it were me, and I had been first been assigned a K on the Upper Verandah Deck only to be moved to a K on Main Deck, I would be ecstatic. I would consider such a change in cabin assignment to be an upgrade in quality of cabin (going from a 146 sf "Standard" cabin to a 207 sf "Large" cabin is an upgrade).

 

In this case, what probably happened was that HAL had some vacancies up in the outside cabin categories, and so they were offering upgrades for people who had booked specific Ks to move up to outsides, thereby opening up Ks in the area the OP wanted. And, that enabled them to downgrade the OP from a "Large" K to a "Standard" K on the Upper Verandah Deck. :rolleyes:

 

I guess this goes to show that what would be a downgrade for one person (me) is an upgrade for another person (the OP's family). It all has to do with what one considers of greatest importance. In this case, location beat out size of cabin (they lost 60 square feet but they gained proximity between cabins). I hope it was a win-win for everybody.

 

(As an aside, I fear that we may hear whining when the OP comes back and reports on how itsy-bitsy the K was.)

[newmexicoNita]

If it were me, and I had been first been assigned a K on the Upper Verandah Deck only to be moved to a K on Main Deck, I would be ecstatic. I would consider such a change in cabin assignment to be an upgrade in quality of cabin (going from a 146 sf "Standard" cabin to a 207 sf "Large" cabin is an upgrade).

 

In this case, what probably happened was that HAL had some vacancies up in the outside cabin categories, and so they were offering upgrades for people who had booked specific Ks to move up to outsides, thereby opening up Ks in the area the OP wanted. And, that enabled them to downgrade the OP from a "Large" K to a "Standard" K on the Upper Verandah Deck. :rolleyes:

 

I guess this goes to show that what would be a downgrade for one person (me) is an upgrade for another person (the OP's family). It all has to do with what one considers of greatest importance. In this case, location beat out size of cabin (they lost 60 square feet but they gained proximity between cabins). I hope it was a win-win for everybody.

 

(As an aside, I fear that we may hear whining when the OP comes back and reports on how itsy-bitsy the K was.)

Good reasoning and yes, the OP is lucky to have a good TA. NMNita

[kryos]

I guess this goes to show that what would be a downgrade for one person (me) is an upgrade for another person (the OP's family). It all has to do with what one considers of greatest importance. In this case, location beat out size of cabin (they lost 60 square feet but they gained proximity between cabins). I hope it was a win-win for everybody.

Exactly. That's why I would imagine that if you are traveling in a group, it is probably always best to select specific cabins to ensure being together. But someone traveling alone ... everyone in one cabin ... the guarantee might very well work out to their advantage in getting them more/better cabin for their buck.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[billsrobb]

I too am glad that everything worked out okay for you. I will be sailing on the Volendam and I yesterday book a guarentee on the FF deck hoping that the upgrade ferry will visit me. If she doesn't its no big deal if she does it will be a welcome surprise. I will have a long wait to find out as I don't sail till Nov 2007.

Robb

[Jim Gallup]

On every Cruise Line a guarantee cabin is the same. You agree to take a cabin that nobody else is willing to buy in return for a lower price from the cruise line. Essentially, you are buying leftovers.

There is nothing wrong with that idea, so long as you understand it.

 

If you get more than you bargained for, congratulations. You should be pleasantly surprised and thrilled.

If you get what you bargained and paid for - leftovers - you should be happy.

[pog27]

I disagree with what some of you are saying. You don't always end up with "the cabin no one else wants" but at the same time you don't get to pick the location of your cabin. It's also not true that HAL disregards linked bookings when assigning guarantee cabins. On the Westerdam last month I booked 2 VH guarantees and was upgraded to 2 VA cabins on the navigation deck next door to each other. I ended up swapping one of them for an aft cabin and the HAL rep told me "are you sure you want to do this? We assigned you cabins next door because your reservations are linked." It just wasn't possible in this case because there were no K cabins available on that deck. Guarantees are a risk if you are picky about a particular cabin or location but from my experience and what I've read on here it does often pay off.

[Jim Gallup]

POG27,

So true. You don't ALWAYS end up with the cabin that nobody wants. Sometimes you get really lucky and get a great cabin at a bargain price. But that's all about luck and gambling. As in any type of gambling - you cannot wini if you cannot lose. To book a guarantee cabin and hope for something better is a wonderful thing - especially if you win. But to book a guarantee cabin and get exactly that is hardly unfair. "Unrealistic expectations" comes to mind.