Cabin Assignment - How long must I endure?

[Thatsright]

My husband and I are taking our first cruise and have booked a guarantee AA onboard the Zuiderdam's October 16th sailing (24 days from today). We have not been assigned a specific cabin as of yet (but have been booked for some time now). I was wondering...for those of you who have booked guarantees before...how close to sailing did you have to wait before a cabin was assigned to you?

Thanks.

[taszmom]

It's possible that you may not know until the you show up at the pier. Keep checking in with your TA ( or HAL whoever you booked with) or keep checking your reservation online on HAL's website.

[Thatsright]

Is checking on HAL's website when you pretend to print your immigration docs and see if your state room number is there? Is there another way?

[hdawson]

Thatsright. I sail on Zuiderdam on Oct 2nd. Only 11 more days. I still don't have my assignment. My TA called HAL yesterday and was told assignments will probably be made about one week prior to sailing.

[taszmom]

It also comes up under SHORE EXCURSIONS, however, I just tried to get in and it's not working. They are probably making some changes since the itineraries are changed.

[akeka]

We are sailing October 2nd and my sister's guaranteed cabin assignment just showed up today. She had booked a F guarantee and was upgraded to category E.

[tankerjo2]

We did a guarantee a few years ago on a HAL Panama Canal cruise...got the cabin assignment the same morning we were to depart while waiting in the lobby of our hotel which was part of the HAL fly/cruise package. Didn't like it much but we knew it could work out that way when we booked. That along with the cabin we ended up with made us decide to never book a guarantee again.

[Lois R]

hi, I had booked a guarantee and received my cabin number 7 days prior to the cruise.

[1cruiselvr]

We weren't happy with the cabin assignment we got when we booked a gty with HAL. So we always book a specific cabin now. We learned the hard way. Happy Sailing!

[Thatsright]

Thanks for the info. Looks like we will get assigned closer to a week out. Sounds like some of you were not happy with the guarantee route. Dh and I looked at the AA's on the Zuiderdam and in our opinion there wasn't one we would be unhappy with. Plus when we booked the guarantee as opposed to a specific cabin we only paid for a BA - so that is like a little upgrade right there. I think we will be happy with whatever the assignment.

[1cruiselvr]

I think the lower the category, the greater the chance for disappointment. We booked an outside and got assigned the worst cabin, first forward, configuration wasn't even normal. So it was our fault for assuming we'd get an assignment we'd be happy with and learned from the experience. Happy Sailing!

[imsulin]

Thatsright - I think you'll be very pleased with whatever cabin you're assigned! I really enjoyed my Zuiderdam cruise last year (Western), and am booked on it again for next April (Eastern). You will LOVE Half Moon Cay! Please bring me back some sand to tide me over until I'm back there next year - and have a great time!

[tankerjo2]

I think the lower the category, the greater the chance for disappointment. We booked an outside and got assigned the worst cabin, first forward, configuration wasn't even normal. So it was our fault for assuming we'd get an assignment we'd be happy with and learned from the experience. Happy Sailing!

We were assigned a handicapped cabin by an exit door on the promenade deck...door banging shut 24 hours a day...and since my wife has spent 35+ years working with DD residents and the elderly in nursing homes the last thing she wanted to see or use was a handicapped equipped unit and bathroom. We tried to move/upgrade/pay extra to change but they said they were full up so no dice. Hey we booked an inside guarantee so we took a chance and got what we paid for but never again as we filed that cruise under "lessons learned".

[RedmondCruiser]

Actually the longer you wait the better chance you have in getting an upgrade.

Sometimes Ships Inventory will take some extra effort and some times they are lazy and stuff you into whatever is open. I am also a little over three weeks form sailing on the Statendam and they assigned me the worst C grade cabin on the boat - on a C guarantee. Unlike you I have 20 sailings with HAL and they did not leave my booking open, even though it was requested. You should enjoy your cruise, the staff on the ships are very special and they always make the extra effort to please customers. Unlike the home office staff.

Noordam 1986, Rotterdam 1988, Noordam 1989, Noordam 1989, Westerdam 1990, Noordam 1991, Norway 1992, Nieuw Amsterdam 1993, Westerdam 1993, Noordam 1994, Westerdam 1994, Noordam 1995, Noordam 1995, Westerdam 1995, Noordam 1996, Noordam 1997, Dawn Princess 1997, Sea Princess 1999,Grand Princess 2000, Sea Princess 2000, Westerdam 2001, Zaandam 2002, Noordam 2003, Amsterdam 2003, Ryndam 2004, Diamond Princess 2004, Summit 2004, Vision of the Seas 2004

[Thatsright]

RedmondCruiser - what do you mean you requested to keep your booking open?

[RedmondCruiser]

RedmondCruiser - what do you mean you requested to keep your booking open?

Your TA probably requested a guarantee and also requested that an upgrade be afforded if possible. This should create and open booking that leaves the possibility of an upgrade open. Once assigned a cabin number, thats the cabin you get. This April I was assigned a cabin 2 days prior to sailing on the Diamond Princess and it was a terrific upgrade from a veranda cabin to the best mini suite catagory. So don't worry.

[1cruiselvr]

Princess upgrades more frequently than HAL. Their ships are bigger, more room for movement. We have sailed HAL many times, never an upgrade. Happy Sailing!