guaranteed vs. assigned???

[Juliah67]

I don't understand how this works (new cruiser here). We booked a room and TA said it was a guaranteed room. We're sailing on 5/29 Glory. Thanks, Juliah

[GottaLuvCruising]

That means that your stateroom will be assigned at a later date. You may know which one when you receive your documents, but perhaps not until you reach the pier. With a guarantee, you will get a stateroom in your category or higher. You have a reasonable chance of being upgraded to a higher category than the one you booked.

The drawback is that you don't know which stateroom you have and you have no choice of location. Most people prefer mid-ship, but we usually book a guarantee and end up all the way forward or all the way aft. That works for us because it is quieter with fewer people walking by our door. We like (and need) the extra exercise. And we always enjoy our (free) upgrade!

[imatarb]

We booked an inside guarantee, so we'll be happy with either an upgrade or the one we paid for, so we'll see! I think it's sort of fun this way!

Lisa and Mark http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Monarch of the Seas - '94
Royal Majesty - '96

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[weswas]

We always book a guarntee and have never been disappointed. And we agree it is fun to see where you will end up! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

UNTIL WE SAIL AGAIN.......
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[Cotton]

Each cruise, I have booked an assigned cabin. I like knowing exactly where I'll be.

However, on my next cruise, I'm going for a guarantee - just so there'll be a "surprise element". It really won't matter to me, as I've been midship as well as three cabins from the front. Liked 'em all.

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003

[M. St. Louis]

I've been wondering this too. Just exactly *how* does this upgrade thing happen? I've got guaranteed inside 1A on Saturday.

Do I have to ask them at the dock? "Ahem, it's my wife's birthday, can we get an upgrade?" Or do they just see the grey tags and do it automatically?

--
Carnival Celebration - Apr. 10, 2004
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[GottaLuvCruising]

M. St. Louis,

Your stateroom is assigned before you reach the pier. If you get upgraded, it is automatic. It really depends on how full the ship is and which category staterooms are left. By booking a guarantee, you allow the cruise line the flexibility to sell whatever staterooms people want (and are willing to pay for). You take a gamble that more people will book the lower categories and the cruise line will fill a higher category stateroom will the guarantee booings.

[Cyt4SoreEyes]

Hi Julia... welcome to the CC boards!!! Don't worry hun you will be ok!! Just keep them toes crossed for the upgrade to higher cabin category. You are guarenteed the room on the deck I told you they can't put you any lower only higher ok!! Now unlike the person who has 1A guarentee they will more than likely get room on first two decks because most of the 1A's that are thrown out and about on some of the higher decks are first to go because of the prices and their location. NO WORRIES!!!!! WE BE CRUISIN SOON..ITS GONNA BE A BLAST!!

Cyt

Atlantic
Oceanic
Norway
Enchantment of the Seas
Destiny
Voyager of the Seas
Conquest March 30th 2003
Glory May 29th 2004

[serene56]

If you have grey tags.. when you get to the pier head to a porteer and ask him where your cabin assinemnt is. He will then give you new colored tags toplace on your luggage so that it finds you.

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[katgar]

At Port Everglade (FLL), they didn't give us new tags, just had us cross off the TBA and write in our room number. Mom and I had booked an 8A gty and ended up in a cat. 11 suite! I wish I was still there!


Carnival Legend 3/20/04
SEABREEZE 4/97

[msabol]

I recently booked a cruise on the Carnival victory for a low level inside room gty for March 27 sail date. What are our chances of getting an upgrade? :)

[Cotton]

Hi msabol. First post? Welcome. Booking a guarantee is a gamble. Period. If you'll be happy with the category you picked and not expect something wondeful, you'll be fine. I, for one, will NEVER book a guarantee again.....but some folks get wonderful upgrades.

(I have an earlier post on this thread, from back in April, when I was excited about booking guarantee. Disregard it.):rolleyes:

[MrPete]

All my previous cruises I booked exactly where I wanted to be.

My last cruise, I booked an 8A guarantee, so I hoped to at least be on deck five with a balcony, but at worst I'd end up on deck 4. I ended up on deck 8 in a very choice location.

[mathgal]

To me, finding the cheapest price for "anything" is a game so we have booked inside guarantee cabins for both of our cruises. The first cruise we were upgraded one deck (from 4A to 4B)...not a great upgrade, but OK.

On our cruise this past summer we once again booked an inside guarantee and were upgraded to a 5A porthole room. I was so disappointed because in my mind the porthole cabins were ones that people usually avoided. We were the fourth cabin from the front of the ship on the lowest deck (another reason for disappointment.)

Guess what I found out...I "loved" the porthole cabins!! They have a huge ledge under the portholes...large enough to sit in and look out the windows. Also hubby used the ledge to dry his scuba equipment after diving. As far as being on the lowest deck...two of our four ports were "tender ports" and our cabin was so convenient to where the tenders were boarded! We did have to climb more stairs, but I looked at that as a positive to help get rid of some of those added calories!

Although I loved the porthole cabin, I will probably still just book a guarantee cabin for upcoming cruises. After all...if I pay more than I need to then I've lost "the game"!!! ;)

[waterbound]

We've done a few cruises with assigned cabins and a few with guarantees.. It just depends if you are wanting to know where you will be or if you want to be surprised... Our last cruise we did a guarantee and booked an inside cabin.. we ended up getting upgraded to an outside cabin with window... so that was really nice.. it was the first outside cabin we've had.. We are cruising again in March but decided to book with assigned because we are doing balcony this time and we have to have 2 cabins and we want them right near each other rather than leaving it up to chance.. Our luck they would end up being on different decks! There was a special the day we booked and we were upgraded from 8A to 8C at no extra charge.. so that alone is a good deal.. so no complaints here.

[kimjoe]

I have never booked a gtee room until my next cruise whice is less then 3 weeks away ( Triumph Eastern Carribean)
I have always booked an assigned room.
I booked a 8a gtee balcony, and ended up with 8e balcony
on Panaroma deck. Im happy with the upgrade!
What Ive been told on these boards, is be happy with what you purchased and be thrilled with an upgrade!
Just wanted to add my recent experience
Happy Cruising!!!!!!
Kimjoe

[FlyingFantic]

My DH, son & I booked a Category 4A GUAR for the Spirit this past January. When we finally arrived to our cabin door, we were pleased to have an Ocean View Cabin! We since have booked another GUAR for the Triumph in January! No matter what happens, you'll have a great time!

[kujobie]

I have booked guaranteed room assignment on all three of my cruises and have been upgraded all three times. Always within the same category but as many as 5 levels up, which is not really a big deal. An inside is an inside, it doesn't matter much what deck you're on. You can definitely save $$ if you don't mind where your cabin is. To be honest, I never noticed a differrence in the amount of motion in relation to location on the ship. These newer ships don't rock like a fishing boat does. If you are susceptible to motion sickness, the lower, midship cabins experience the least amount of movement.