Guarantee Status

[josie724]

Thinking of booking The Veendam from NYC to Bermuda. Got a GREAT price for a Verandah Suite. What are some tricks to possibly getting an upgrade in this class? Do they assign the cabin before sailing, or on sailing date? Should we check in early? Should we check in later?

[Randyk47]

Thinking of booking The Veendam from NYC to Bermuda. Got a GREAT price for a Verandah Suite. What are some tricks to possibly getting an upgrade in this class? Do they assign the cabin before sailing, or on sailing date? Should we check in early? Should we check in later?

There are really no tricks to getting an upgrade, it's the luck of the draw for the most part. I assume from you saying you've booked a verandah suite you're in a A or B category cabin which means there really isn't much to be upgraded to except the S category suites or the penthouse. Might add that say you've booked a B category cabin and you get upgraded to an A category. Well, sure it's technically a higher category cabin and therefore more expensive but in truth it's just location as it's exactly the same cabin with the same amenities, etc., but on a different and in this case a higher deck. Most guarantees are assigned cabins a week or two before the cruise. Occasionally folks get lucky and get upgraded at the terminal but it's not often so checking in early might be of only minimal advantage. The other thing that might happen is that you might be offered an up sell. An up sell is where HAL offers you a higher level cabin for a fee or charge. Some up sells are bargains, a significant discount from what the offered cabin category would have cost you if you'd booked it in the first place. Other up sells offers are for the full fare difference and not a bargain. Up sells like upgrades are a mystery to most of us as there's no consistent pattern on how, why, when, and where they're offered.

[VioletHorse]

Thinking of booking The Veendam from NYC to Bermuda. Got a GREAT price for a Verandah Suite. What are some tricks to possibly getting an upgrade in this class? Do they assign the cabin before sailing, or on sailing date? Should we check in early? Should we check in later?

There are no tricks to your room assignment. You'll get what HAL gives you. All of our guarantees have been assigned about 10-14 days before sailing, except for Princess, who assigned the room months before the sail date. Depending on how the cruise is selling, you may receive an upsell offer through your TA to a higher category, but you'll pay for that. Sometimes the offers are very good, and then sometimes not so much. We've received both, and have taken the good ones and declined the pricey ones.

My advice for the upsell is to make sure your TA is aware that you'd like to be contacted for any upsell offers. I use 2 different TAs to book our cruises (depends on which one has the best price/perks), and I always remind them to call me with any upsell offers. Should you get an offer, be prepared to accept it immediately since good ones go fast.

If you are booking a specific cabin, you'll get your cabin # when your deposit is made. Have your TA mark your reservation for any available upgrades/upsells.

[josie724]

Thank you for your replies. If we do get upgraded I understand that it would probably be just deck location, as opposed to cabin size/amenities. I was just wondering if I should pay the higher price for a higher deck level or leave it as a guarantee and take an upgrade if offered. Deck level really doesn't make much of a difference to me. By the way the category is BC. I think B and A are the same cabins but on higher levels.

Thank you for the information on the up sell. I did want to book the Deluxe Verahdah Suite, but not for almost double the price....LOL. But if they offer a REALLY good deal you never know. ;)

Haven't officially booked yet, but I think I'll book online directly through Holland America. So far they're pricing is lower than other online booking sites.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

BC -- nice cabin to book as a guarantee -- you can't go wrong with that category.