Mini-suite guarantee

[sandradeen]

So we have booked with a Guarantee Mini-Suite on the Pacific Princess? Is there any advantage to this? Is there a difference in Mini-suites where we might get a better cabin this way? Any possibility of getting upgraded further (not sure what the other categories are)?

Thanks for your help!

[paul929207]

The advantage of aguarenteed cabin is that the price is usually lower. Which cabin you get is completely up to Princess. You need to be sure you will be happy if you get the "worst" cabin in that category.

 

As to an upgrade, yes it is always possible. However, no one has ever explained how upgrades are given out. Most beleive it is done by the upgrade fairy. And she does it on a whim.

[chrysalis]

there is not much room for an upgrade....the only place to go is to one of the 10 Owner's Suites...nice upgrade if you get it, but you would tend to think that the people offered an upgrade to a suite would be those that paid for an "AA" category.

[sandradeen]

there is not much room for an upgrade....the only place to go is to one of the 10 Owner's Suites...nice upgrade if you get it, but you would tend to think that the people offered an upgrade to a suite would be those that paid for an "AA" category.

What is AA category?

[chrysalis]

What is AA category?

 

the top category of mini-suites.....check the ship's deck plans to see what I mean

[sandradeen]

We ended up getting an AA category, so I guess that is pretty good!

[GottoCruise]

The advantage of aguarenteed cabin is that the price is usually lower.

 

The price is not lower if you guarantee a mini-suite in a Category?? :confused: - it is the same price as if you choose a cabin! - and I think you have to choose a Category to guarantee.................

(at least with Princess - some other lines may have different choices)

[sandradeen]

No, the GUARANTEE options was less than picking a specific category, within the room type, on this cruise, anyway,and from what I have normally seen, until you get very close to the cruise...maybe more of a gamble when you're further out?. Otherwise we would have picked a room.

[dforeigner]

No, the GUARANTEE options was less than picking a specific category, within the room type, on this cruise, anyway,and from what I have normally seen, until you get very close to the cruise...maybe more of a gamble when you're further out?. Otherwise we would have picked a room.

 

With other lines yes, but are you sure with Princess?

[BurBunny]

You actually did select a category, though you might not have been aware of it. Certain categories, once they're full, will continue to be sold as Guarantee. For example, in a mini-suite, these would be the AE and AF categories. You selected the pricing, the only option shown to you was Guarantee, and you chose that without any choice for an assigned cabin. This is not technically a mini-suite guarantee category (Princess doesn't have those like other lines sometimes do), but is an AE or AF (or even AD or AC, etc) guarantee. If you book an AF on Guarantee, it does function as a mini-suite guarantee as you're guaranteed at least an AF, the lowest mini-suite. But if you take an AD guarantee, you're guaranteed at least an AD mini.

 

Functionally it's similar to a type guarantee, but it's truly a category guarantee.

[sandradeen]

We may be confusing terminology here?

We picked a room type (mini-suite) but not a category (AC, AB, etc).

It was less expensive this way vs picking a specific stateroom. (yes, on Princess, through an online travel agent)

[vince_g]

You actually did select a category, though you might not have been aware of it. Certain categories, once they're full, will continue to be sold as Guarantee. For example, in a mini-suite, these would be the AE and AF categories. You selected the pricing, the only option shown to you was Guarantee, and you chose that without any choice for an assigned cabin. This is not technically a mini-suite guarantee category (Princess doesn't have those like other lines sometimes do), but is an AE or AF (or even AD or AC, etc) guarantee. If you book an AF on Guarantee, it does function as a mini-suite guarantee as you're guaranteed at least an AF, the lowest mini-suite. But if you take an AD guarantee, you're guaranteed at least an AD mini.

 

Functionally it's similar to a type guarantee, but it's truly a category guarantee.

 

 

Thanks for trying to explain that to the OP. You and I know you are correct... the OP is misinformed and obviously isn't reading what you wrote or doesn't believe it.

[dforeigner]

We may be confusing terminology here?

We picked a room type (mini-suite) but not a category (AC, AB, etc).

It was less expensive this way vs picking a specific stateroom. (yes, on Princess, through an online travel agent)

 

You have to pick a category whether AD or AA in order to book a mini suite. You have have decided not to pick a specific room. But you still need to pick a category regardless of the type of room.

[JPO]

Not all mini-suites are alike as I found out to my sorrow ... I booked an AF mini on the Island only to find out that those cabins do not have a balcony.

[dforeigner]

Not all mini-suites are alike as I found out to my sorrow ... I booked an AF mini on the Island only to find out that those cabins do not have a balcony.

 

I forgot that some ships have those. Huge room but no balcony.