Booked Gty...already Rec'd Room #!

[luvtravel]

We booked a verandah room .. GTY .. on the Oosterdam in January to Mexico about 1 week ago. Was surprised to find on HAL's website that we have already been assigned a cabin. Our guarantee was for a VF and this was is an A (on the Rotterdam Deck)....so guess it is an upgrade (would appreciate if anyone can confirm that)...but the cabins are identical; only difference appears to be that the A is on a higher deck...which I know isn't always better ride-wise. Anyway, wondered if this early cabin assignment is unusual and wonder if it means that our upgrade opportunities are over (of course I was hoping for a suite upgrade!!). Any comments welcome..thanks!

[lougee1043]

We booked a verandah room .. GTY .. on the Oosterdam in January to Mexico about 1 week ago. Was surprised to find on HAL's website that we have already been assigned a cabin. !

just curious --- when are you sailing???? ---we are going on the 6th and have yet to receive our cabin number

[jtl513]

... a VF and this was is an A (on the Rotterdam Deck)....so guess it is an upgrade (would appreciate if anyone can confirm that)...but the cabins are identical; only difference appears to be that the A is on a higher deck...which I know isn't always better ride-wise. Anyway, wondered if this early cabin assignment is unusual and wonder if it means that our upgrade opportunities are over (of course I was hoping for a suite upgrade!!). Any comments welcome..thanks!

I think a VF to VA upgrade is great, that you most likely won't be upgraded further, and that getting an assignment more than 15-18 days before sailing is pretty unusual. :)

We've been on the Noordam Rotterdam deck very far aft and on the Westerdam Navigation deck very far forward, and only 1 night out of 20 did we notice much motion.

[luvtravel]

of January. Last HAL cruise we took was to Alaska this past May - on the Oosterdam also.
We also had a GTY category and a few days before we received our documents did we have a cabin assignment. Wonder if this early notification means the ship is getting full and they can already assign -- perhaps someone will have an idea.

BTW, we almost booked the 6th...after I was initially told by two online TA's that there were no more verandah's available on the 13th. That same day I called back to have one recheck in case there was a cancellation...and there was one. Now I've noticed all the online websites I check are still selling verandah's for the 13th...so who know how it all works. I like booking a GTY because of the upgrade possibility....but we do book a category we'd be happy with incase no u/g comes through.

I know you'll have a wonderful cruise on the 6th....a great getaway after the holidays!

[GarySuzy]

We are sailing on the Volendam the 2nd of January and have already been assigned a room and the internet TA we booked through is still showing Verandah cabins still available. Who knows how it all works.

Gary

[goforfun]

Luvtravel,

Check out the roll call for the January 13th Oosterdam cruise. We're having a get together and would love to see you there!

[Marie321]

We are on the Westerdam, 12/31/06 cruise to the Caribbean. We booked a GTY balcony, category VH. We received our room notification this morning and have a VC on the veranda deck. WooHoo!!

[SanDiego Single]

I will just sit here patiently and wait for them to get to us on the 1/5/07 sailing. Yeah right. I will check every day until I get the room and then I will pace the floor in anticipation of the cruise. But once I am on board please don't bother me while I sit in my chair by the pool with my tall tropical drink and a large hat. :)

[GarySuzy]

I will just sit here patiently and wait for them to get to us on the 1/5/07 sailing. Yeah right. I will check every day until I get the room and then I will pace the floor in anticipation of the cruise. But once I am on board please don't bother me while I sit in my chair by the pool with my tall tropical drink and a large hat. :)

Is the large hat for you or the Tall Tropical Drink?:D

[SanDiego Single]

Is the large hat for you or the Tall Tropical Drink?:D


It will be for both of them. Its just that big!! :)

[lougee1043]

I will just sit here patiently and wait for them to get to us on the 1/5/07 sailing.

arent you on the 1/6 odam sailing

[cruznon]

That's a great upgrade. The view from the higher decks are terrific! Lucky you!

[HighSeas77]

I see a lot of talk about room assignments and categories. Gaurantee bookings are great if you don't mind not knowing where you'll be assigned and don't mind finding out until the last minute....normally.

These type of bookings are not good for those with specific needs or requests for stateroom assignments.

Also, when looking at the category assigned, please note that the rooms within a category (deluxe verandah for example) are same. So, a VF category room is the same as a VD, VC and VB. The main difference is location, but the rooms remain the same. Some are triples etc...but they remain the same. VA's are a little larger, thought not by much.

What you should be looking for is an upgrade from a deluxe verandah (if you booked that cat) into say a SS (superior veranda suite). This is assuming that you're booked on a Vista class ship, though this holds true on the other ships too....just the categories change.

You will generally save money this way though.

[Schplinky]

I think some of the VF cabins have a steel railing instead of clear plexi on the balcnies, so your view of the water may have improved with this upgrade, also. Additionally, some of the VF's have shower only; no tub.