What is a GTY (Guaranteed?) Room?

[CocoKai]

Going on the Oosterdam at the end of February. We have a GTY room of the SY variety. We know it's a verandah suite but is having a GTY room rather than a room with an actual number a good or bad thing. Pros or cons?

We have only cruised with Princess in the past and we were assigned a specific room from the beginning.

Thanks for your wisdom!

[RuthC]

Rumor has it that you improve your chances of an upgrade by booking a guarantee rather than picking a specific cabin.

I understand that a guarantee is less expensive than choosing your own cabin, too. In exchange for paying less you give HAL the right to pick where you will sleep.

[jtl513]

Rumor has it that you improve your chances of an upgrade by booking a guarantee rather than picking a specific cabin.

It's true in my experience! We've booked guarantees on all four of our past cruises and been upgraded every time.

I understand that a guarantee is less expensive than choosing your own cabin, too. In exchange for paying less you give HAL the right to pick where you will sleep.

I'm not so sure about this one. For our upcoming Alaska cruise we again booked a guarantee, and four months later decided to pick a specific cabin instead. There was no increase in price. :)

[jtl513]

Rumor has it that you improve your chances of an upgrade by booking a guarantee rather than picking a specific cabin.
It's true in my experience! We've booked guarantees on all four of our past cruises and been upgraded every time.


I understand that a guarantee is less expensive than choosing your own cabin, too. In exchange for paying less you give HAL the right to pick where you will sleep.
I'm not so sure about this one. For our upcoming Alaska cruise we again booked a guarantee, and four months later decided to pick a specific cabin instead. There was no increase in price. :)

[Navy_Chief]

No rumor, all GTYs we booked, we were upgraded 4 or 5 catagories; HH to E on Rotterdam; VF to VB on Noordam. Both times, the GTY price was cheaper.

[jtl513]

But a GTY cabin is not a guarantee of an upgrade! Member Kakalina said on another thread: "We have 14 cruises total with HAL and have been upgraded on all but 3 of them. I would not call this rare. We almost always book an inside guarantee and have been upgraded to outside or better a very large percentage of the time.

I am not saying this happens for everyone but it has been our experience with HAL. Perhaps it is because we book directly with HAL??"

[Navy_Chief]

Very true jt, it does not guarantee an upgrade. So a rule of thumb, book a catagory GTY that you would be happy in if you didn't get upgraded. With that said, there were several people on our roll call that had GTY on Noordam and every one of them were "upgraded" to a VA, VB or VC. This tends to lend me to believe that for the most part, the upgrade will happen.

[European_CruiseGirl]

Very true jt, it does not guarantee an upgrade. So a rule of thumb, book a catagory GTY that you would be happy in if you didn't get upgraded.

This is quite true. Choose the lowest category GTY you would be happy staying in if you don't get an upgrade.

However do notice that not all upgrades are "upgrades" for everyone. With a guarantee cabin you might get a multiple category upgrade but end up somewhere you wouldn't want to be. For example for me the problem with GTY cabins is that I like to have a Verandah cabin on Vista ships on decks 8, 7, 6 or 5 (Navigation, Rotterdam, Upper Verandah or Verandah). I don't like deck 4 (Upper Promenade) as it's too close to the Vista Lounge, Casino etc. which are located a deck below (deck 3).

So if I just look at the lowest possible Verandah category I could book on those above mentioned decks that I like I could book a VF cabin. However if I book a VF GTY I might end up in a VD or even VA cabin on deck 4, Upper Promenade, the deck that I dislike. Still some would consider an upgrade from VF to VA a very nice upgrade. Not me on this case. :rolleyes:

The same in reverse - some don't like to be on the Navigation (8) deck as it's too close to the Lido deck for them. If a person who wouldn't like that deck would book a VF GTY s/he could end up to Navigation deck into a VA cabin and be as much upset as I would be with my Upper Promenada VA.

And some prefer very much a midship location. If you look at the Verandah deck on a Vista it has very many VE's with midship location. So naturally you might book a VE GTY and rely on that midship location on that particular deck. That would be the category/location you would be happy even if not upgraded. But what if you got an upgrade to a VB cabin - one deck up and way back (or front) of the ship? Or you would even get an upgrade to a stern or aft VA cabin? A nice upgrade category wise but not location wise for you.

I know that I can be very difficult with these cabin locations so perhaps (and most likely) this is not that big of an issue for the majority of others. However this is one thing that you have to consider before booking a GTY cabin.

So basically you have to consider:

1. as Navy Chief said: is the GTY a category that you would be happy in if you didn't get upgraded?

2. if you get upgraded are there cabin categories in some locations in which you would never want to be?

[kryos]

Rumor has it that you improve your chances of an upgrade by booking a guarantee rather than picking a specific cabin.

I understand that a guarantee is less expensive than choosing your own cabin, too. In exchange for paying less you give HAL the right to pick where you will sleep.
LOL ... my chances haven't been improved at all by selecting guarantees ... at least I've never gotten any kind of significant upgrade. I've booked inside guarantees and always ended up in an inside cabin.

But, it is true ... the price is better on a guarantee simply because you are giving more flexibility to the hotel staff in the assignment of your room. So, it all comes down to what is more important to you ... saving a few bucks on the room or having a room in the specific location onboard ship that you want. If the location of your room is not that important to you (as it generally isn't to me), then by all means ... take the guarantee. You'll definitely get a cabin in at least the category of your guarantee, and may even get something better. You'll also save a few bucks that you can put to better use in the spa or the casino. :)

Blue skies ...

--rita

[noblepa]

There was an interesting article on CC a week or two ago, regarding guarantees and how they differ from one cruise line to another.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=337

According to this article HAL does NOT discount guarantees. The "discount" comes into play when (if) you are upgraded to another, more expensive cabin category.

The authors do make the point that you should never book a guarantee and count on an upgrade; book a category you can live with if you're not upgraded.

Paul Noble

[Navy_Chief]

There was an interesting article on CC a week or two ago, regarding guarantees and how they differ from one cruise line to another.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/articles.cfm?ID=337

According to this article HAL does NOT discount guarantees. The "discount" comes into play when (if) you are upgraded to another, more expensive cabin category.

The authors do make the point that you should never book a guarantee and count on an upgrade; book a category you can live with if you're not upgraded.

Paul Noble

They may or may not discount them BUT they don't list them on their (or from what I have seen, TAs websites) website either. The GTY on HAL comes into play while running PROMOs.

[kryos]

But a GTY cabin is not a guarantee of an upgrade! Member Kakalina said on another thread: "We have 14 cruises total with HAL and have been upgraded on all but 3 of them. I would not call this rare. We almost always book an inside guarantee and have been upgraded to outside or better a very large percentage of the time.

I am not saying this happens for everyone but it has been our experience with HAL. Perhaps it is because we book directly with HAL??"


Then all I can say is you folks have been far, far luckier than I. While I may have gotten a small upgrade here and there ... from one category inside to another ... if I've booked an inside cabin, then that is exactly what I've been unpacking in ... every single time. Of course, this may be because I am usually sailing solo ... and I would imagine any upgrades are going to go to couples first.

But I can live with the insides ... and, in fact, am happy with them ... so that's why I will sometimes book a guarantee.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Navy_Chief]

We never got an upgrade to another type, just Outside to better outside and Veranda to better Veranda. Never went from Outside to Veranda or Veranda to Suite. :D

[SanDiego Single]

Then all I can say is you folks have been far, far luckier than I. While I may have gotten a small upgrade here and there ... from one category inside to another ... if I've booked an inside cabin, then that is exactly what I've been unpacking in ... every single time. Of course, this may be because I am usually sailing solo ... and I would imagine any upgrades are going to go to couples first.

But I can live with the insides ... and, in fact, am happy with them ... so that's why I will sometimes book a guarantee.

Blue skies ...

--rita
I am also a single traveler and have over 250 days with HAL. And each time I choose to go GYT I have been upgraded.

[Willia]

Going on the Oosterdam at the end of February. We have a GTY room of the SY variety. We know it's a verandah suite but is having a GTY room rather than a room with an actual number a good or bad thing. Pros or cons?

We have only cruised with Princess in the past and we were assigned a specific room from the beginning.

Thanks for your wisdom!

Your booking with Princess was not what I'd call a 'guarantee'. HAL will assign you a specific room (assuming it's available).

Bottom Line - book the guarantee in the category you know you will be happy with - for us it's aways an 'outside on the walkaround deck'. Booking late for our last cruise, there was nothing available so we took a guarantee in a Cat. B or C (can't remember which) - and lucked out - ended up with a big verandah. :D

If you're picky about location etc. book exactly what you want.

[RuthC]

Then all I can say is you folks have been far, far luckier than I. While I may have gotten a small upgrade here and there ... from one category inside to another ... if I've booked an inside cabin, then that is exactly what I've been unpacking in ... every single time.
That still is an upgrade, however. If you book a K-cat and are assigned a J-cat that is an upgrade. You don't have to go from inside to outside, or outside to balcony, etc. for it to be an upgrade. You merely have to go to a higher letter of the alphabet.

[Randyk47]

OK.....I've been waiting to ask this question and I think this thread is the right one. Granted we book B cat (or equivalent) or above and I've seen guarantees offered but not once has the guarantee been a penny cheaper than picking a specific cabin. Does the "savings" or "discounted" price really only come into play if you by chance get upgraded?

[Navy_Chief]

OK.....I've been waiting to ask this question and I think this thread is the right one. Granted we book B cat (or equivalent) or above and I've seen guarantees offered but not once has the guarantee been a penny cheaper than picking a specific cabin. Does the "savings" or "discounted" price really only come into play if you by chance get upgraded?
Randy, our last cruise was purchased under a HAL promo which was a VF GTY. The price on HALs web page was the price of the promo being advertised which was cheaper than the previous advertized price before the promo and after the promo ended, the price went up (not by much but there was an increase)

[Randyk47]

Thanks Chief.....but then I guess I'm right in saying guarantees, barring a guarantee only promo, are not available at a lower rate than picking a specific cabin in the category. I've seen promos where it where a specific cabin could be picked for the same price, again no discount from the guarantee rate. The real incentive then is some slim, but possibly improved, hope that the cruise line will upgrade you to a higher cat thereby making the guarantee look like a real bargain.

[wlfusmc]

Booked a Guar category VH through an internet travel company. Received a VA cabin on the Navigator deck on the aft of the ship. Extremely pleased. Would book this way again and hope for the best. Good luck. Will be on the Noordam on 1/6/2007.

[jtl513]

However do notice that not all upgrades are "upgrades" for everyone. With a guarantee cabin you might get a multiple category upgrade but end up somewhere you wouldn't want to be.

And it's not only deck and fwd/mid/aft that you have to consider sometimes. We originally booked a GTY for our upcoming Seward-to-Vancouver one-way, and later decided that we really wanted to be on the port side ... so we went back and picked a specific cabin.

[kryos]

I am also a single traveler and have over 250 days with HAL. And each time I choose to go GYT I have been upgraded.
Now I'm getting p*ssed. :)

HAL, are you listening? :) My turn! My turn!

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

Thanks Chief.....but then I guess I'm right in saying guarantees, barring a guarantee only promo, are not available at a lower rate than picking a specific cabin in the category.
You are correct. Basically what you are buying with the guarantee, that you are not getting with an assigned cabin, is a better chance of winding up in more cabin than you paid for. While the assigned cabin can wind up getting a free upgrade too, the guarantees supposedly have a far better chance.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

That still is an upgrade, however. If you book a K-cat and are assigned a J-cat that is an upgrade. You don't have to go from inside to outside, or outside to balcony, etc. for it to be an upgrade. You merely have to go to a higher letter of the alphabet.
Guess you have a point ... but even given that, I think I only once received an upgrade ... can't remember the letters, but it was from an inside to an inside handicapped (larger) cabin. This was on the Zuiderdam and I can only hope there wasn't a handicapped person who needed that cabin. HAL apparently upgraded me after I booked a second week on my cruise (to make it a b2b) and HAL wanted to put me into a cabin that I could remain in for both weeks of the cruise.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[GeriatricNurse]

Guess you have a point ... but even given that, I think I only once received an upgrade ... can't remember the letters, but it was from an inside to an inside handicapped (larger) cabin. This was on the Zuiderdam and I can only hope there wasn't a handicapped person who needed that cabin. HAL apparently upgraded me after I booked a second week on my cruise (to make it a b2b) and HAL wanted to put me into a cabin that I could remain in for both weeks of the cruise.

Blue skies ...

--rita


:) With Celebrity, an upgrade is always "inside to inside" or "outside to outside"!

[RuthC]

:) With Celebrity, an upgrade is always "inside to inside" or "outside to outside"!
Another good reason to stay off Celebrity. :(

[Stevesan]

:) With Celebrity, an upgrade is always "inside to inside" or "outside to outside"!

Not correct. We were upgraded from outside to a Sky Suite on Mercury, w/butler no less.:p

First timers on a cruise line seem to fare better for upgrades.

I wouldn't hesitate to sail Celebrity again if all of the stars aligned properly.

My signature obviously favors HA, but Celebrity has a lot to offer: primarily better food, both in preparation and presentation.

[Mustangs]

Originally posted by Stevesan
First timers on a cruise line seem to fare better for upgrades.


In our case, we would agree. Our only upgrade with Holland America was on our first cruise on the Volendam.

For our upcoming Noordam cruise, we booked a VF guarantee, and ended up with a VF cabin, while friends of ours who are first time cruisers ended up with a VA cabin after booking the same VF guarantee with the same travel agency.

Who Knows?!?

[noblepa]

In our case, we would agree. Our only upgrade with Holland America was on our first cruise on the Volendam.

For our upcoming Noordam cruise, we booked a VF guarantee, and ended up with a VF cabin, while friends of ours who are first time cruisers ended up with a VA cabin after booking the same VF guarantee with the same travel agency.

Who Knows?!?

The only thing anyone knows for sure about how the upgrade fairy works is that no one knows anything about how the upgrade fairy works!

I've seen others write about sure-fire ways to get upgrades. They all strike me as being much like any other sure-fire gambling "system". All of them work occasionally; none of the work all of the time.

Paul Noble

[duck tune]

DH and I had booked a specific cabin (Veranda 4045) on the Oosterdam for a 12/16/06 sailing (booked on 12/24/05) but in June I called HAL and asked if there were any SY cabins available. The TA said there were no SY cabins showing but suggested that I book a SY Guar at $220 PP more. I did and when we got a cabin assignment about a month before the cruise it was an SY but it was located midship. Unfortunately we had to cancel due to a family medical emergency. The only time we did get upgraded was in June when DH booked an Outside D for an Alaska Cruise (last minute - 6 weeks out) through an online agency and at check in we were upgraded 7 categories to a VA. IMO the higher the cabin category booked with a Guar, the less chance of getting an upgrade to a higher category.

[Shippy]

Just saw what I considered a VERY fair price for a cat.SC gar. on the Oosterdam over Easter week. I booked it because I did not think I could go wrong with that catagory.
HOWEVER.......twice before I booked guarantee and was not only NOT upgraded but got rooms with partially blocked views/balcony.
You have to weigh the amount you save. When I made this booking, there were no cat.SC's available....just the guarantee.
I called Holland and they said that they had an excess of SA & SB so we would probably get an upgrade but that really doesn't matter to me. SC is fine !
GOOD LUCK

[Barbara Hornblower]

For what it's worth, dear husband and I got upgraded from N to K on a GUAR for our New Year's Cruise...and yes, we still are suffering from withdrawal after returning yesterday! Great time was had by all. ;)