Yes it is another upgrade/cabin assignment question

[Bettyboop66]

We are booked on the 12/7 Noordam cruise in a VD category guarantee. I have a few questions if anyone can help....we booked our cruise about 7 months ago and were told that the only way to book was guarantee and that we wouldn't be able to pick our cabin which is what we usually do. We haven't sailed with HAL for several years and instead of questioning the company that we used to book we just went with it. This may have been a mistake but it's done now, and since we could get the category we wanted we just went with it and booked the guarantee. I should say that this will be our 10th cruise and we have always used the same company and never had any trouble. But now that the cruise is almost here and I've been watching for cabin assignments and we still don't have one I'm getting a little nervous. We were told that HAL would tie our reservations together so that we might possibly have cabins next to each other. No promises, but they would try. After keeping an eye on cabins available I don't think that is going to happen, from what I can tell there are no cabins next to each other that are still available. My DH is hoping that this means we might get an upgrade so that our cabins will be together, but I get the feeling that because we are "tied" together an upgrade is probably not going to happen. Has anyone had an experience like this? I really don't care about an upgrade, not that I wouldn't LOVE it, but I woud like to be by my inlaws, it makes things easier. I hope that I've made some sense asking my questions and thanks for the help.

[wwinfl91]

I don't know the answer to your question but I sympathize with your concern. We are sailing on the Eurodam on Nov 15 2008 and in order to get the lowest price our TA went with a VH guarantee for this cruise. As of a few minutes ago we are still not assigned a cabin. Our TA says this is good news as late assignments usually mean bigger upgrades. I am sitting here hoping she is right.

The advantage with going with a guarantee is the chance of an upgrade but the advantage of asn assigned cabin is that you know where you will be on your cruise.

I do not understand your TA requiring you to do a guarantee when you will be traveling with others that you want to be near. I would sure look into other TA's or booking directly with the cruiseline as an option for future cruises.

For right now all you can do is sit and wait and see what the computers do at HAL as far as your cabin placement will be. Evidently that is "who" decides who gets what cabin on a particular cruise. Hopefully "HAL" won't be running the system when they decide.

Hope it works out and you have a great next cruise.

[jtl513]

Most guarantee assignments are done between 21 and 14 days out, so you still have about 9 to 16 days to wait. But ... you may not know until you get to the pier.

The only time we and relatives had "tied" guarantee reservations on the same cruise we both got upgrades, but were 7 decks apart. It was easy enough to coordinate plans via the telephone when necessary.

[kimberly82]

I booked months ago with a cabin NN guarantee (I believe this is the cheapest!). I sail in less then 2 days, and just got my cabin number today. It is a "Large" instead of "Standard" cabin, and is "M" instead of "NN". So I guess that is an upgrade. Hope that helps. I did call Customer Service yesterday to ask about the cabin number. I don't know if that is why I got the possible upgrade.

[EBJarvis]

We are sailing on the Westerdam on November 16th and booked Guarantee VF cabins. My sister and her husband are also sailing with us, and booked Guarantee SY cabins. We recently received our cabin assignments and while we are not near each other, we both received upgrades and are on the same deck. We've been upgraded to a VA cabin on the 8th deck, and they have been upgraded to a SS Cabin on the same deck. Since we're right under the pool area and they are right next to the outside elevators, not so sure if these are the best "upgrades". But, we'll see ... we don't spend too much time in our rooms other than to change and sleep, so I'm not all that concerned. We're on a cruise together and that's all that matters to me.

I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or not, but when I filled out the Holland America on-line questionnaires, somewhere it did ask if we were traveling with another party. In addition, when I booked the Cabana on Half Moon Cay, I added their names to the cabana list as well.

Maybe if you add them to your travel party, they will at least put you on the same deck. We knew this time we wouldn't be next to each other as we always book specific cabins, but at least we're on the same deck!

Enjoy your cruise ... it 'll work out no matter what.

[cruisencrazy]

We booked two VF guarantee cabins on Oosterdam for Christmas. About two weeks ago, we got our cabin assignments of VC, two cabins next to each other. We were also offered an upsell to SZ guarantee for just a little more, so we grabbed that. Now we are back to not having a cabin assignment. Now our ship is sold out, so I would think we wouldn't have to wait much longer to see what we got. Let us know what happens please.

[matondo]

I would call my TA and have them call HAL and find out what is going on. I called our TA about an upgrade for our in-laws. According to her records the in-laws had yet to be assigned and before she even found out the reason for my call she volunteered to call and see if they a cabin assignment for them.

IMHO I would stick with a VD I think the balconys are deeper. We have also had a VA and it seemed more shallow. Of course it could just be my failing memory LOL. Now if they want to put you in a suite well, I sure wouldn't complain.;)

[Bettyboop66]

Thanks for all the help, I'm sure that we'll have a great time no matter what cabins we get. I think this will be the last time we book a guarantee though. We like picking our own cabin. But either way, we'll be on a cruise having a great time. I guess that no one else was told the entire ship was to be booked as a guarantee. One more question....if you don't get your cabin assignment until you get to the pier, what do you do about luggage tags where you are supposed to put the stateroom number?

[Love the beach]

On our last 3 HAL cruises we booked guarantees. The first time we were travelling with another couple , booked VH's and were given VC's next door to one another. The second time we were travelling with 8 other couples, booked VE's and were given VB's all next to one another. and the last time we were travelling with 4 other couples but one had to have a handicapped cabin, so that was not a guarantee but a specified cabin and the rest of us booked HH's (3 night cruise to nowhere-didn't need a balcony). We were upgraded to H's all on the same deck but not together.
Have a great cruise!

[travelscot]

To Bettyboob, If you are not assigned a cabin number before you get to the ship you leave your cabin number blank on the luggage tab and when you arrive at the pier the people there will find out for you the cabin number and then you can complete the labels. At least that is what happened to us when boarding the QM2 in Southampton.

[RuthC]

To Bettyboob, If you are not assigned a cabin number before you get to the ship you leave your cabin number blank on the luggage tab and when you arrive at the pier the people there will find out for you the cabin number and then you can complete the labels. At least that is what happened to us when boarding the QM2 in Southampton.
It works the same way on HAL.

[jtl513]

Maybe if you add them to your travel party, they will at least put you on the same deck.We had linked reservations with our DD/DSiL and were put on different decks.

Now our ship is sold out, so I would think we wouldn't have to wait much longer to see what we got.It doesn't matter if the ship is sold out or not - most guarantee cabins aren't assigned earlier than about 3 weeks out. Right now HAL is working on assigning cabins for late Nov and early Dec cruises, and you probably won't know yours until early Dec.