Assigning Guarantees

[gliles]

Ok, I know this has been asked before but this is only the 2nd or 3rd guarantee we have done, the last one was on Carnival and we didn't find out from the web site what our cabin was ahead of time. I can't remember how we checked but a week out, one wasn't able to do it. So we found out at the pier and got an ok upgrade.

Do you think we will know a week ahead of time from the immigration or shore ex link of our assignment? I am just looking for opinions from experience. Also, I check it every day, is it something that they do overnight so if I check in the morning should I not bother looking the rest of the day? Any ideas? I know, "If you want to know what cabin, pick one" but we did a BC which is the lowest balcony and figured any upgrade would be better and the BB, BA, etc were all much more expensive so we took a chance. If we get the BC that will be fine and we don't really care that much but it is more fun to obsess on the cruise knowing where on the ship you will be so humor me, give me your opinions please and I promise when we get the assignment, I will tell you what it is...like you really care :eek:

[ekerr19]

Gretchen-

We have always found out at least 14 days in advance, a few times - much sooner. I always ask my TA, she always knows before the HAL website has been updated.

You are right, it is always fun to know - it makes it that much more a reality. :)

Good Luck!

[HeatherInFlorida]

Gretchen, I have no idea ... but I do know that there are so few BC cabins that you're bound to be upgraded, right? So you can't really go wrong in any of the BBs or BAs. Whatever it is, let us know. I've never quite dared go with a "guarantee" because I don't like being way in the bow or way in the stern. I figure midships at least I'm always half way to where I'm going:o .

Hey! I'm old ... getting everywhere in half the time is important to me;) !!!

[gliles]

Thanks ekerr and Heather. Dh said the same thing about the BCs, there are only 4 so the odds are good. They don't have a bathtub so the main reason I want an upgrade is for the tub, I am a bath person but again, if we didn't do a guarantee, we would have had to just do an outside moneywise so I'd trade a balcony for a tub anytime.

We don't care where on the ship we are but you make a good point about being half way to wherever you are going, never really thought of it that way. We can use the exercise though. We actually booked 2 BC guarantees (one for my sister and her partner and one for us) and an NN guarantee for the DD but I know she won't care. Ideally we will all be on the same deck but I know that's doubtful. There are very few NNs also (only 2 I think) so good odds for her as well. She has the cabin to herself so she has it made. The insides have been sold out for quite some time now.

We are just over 2 weeks away now so I guess it can come through anyday, I'll ask the TA to check as well.

If we don't find out until we get to FLL, that's ok too.

[RuthC]

I've done two guarantees. The first one was on the Immigration page nine days before sailing (I had just been locked out of the Shore-ex page). My TA was informed by HAL, too, and gave me a call.
The second time I found it via the Shore-ex route about 14 days before sailing.

Your's should be assigned any time now.
Good luck on the upgrade! Have fun regardless.

[gliles]

I've done two guarantees. The first one was on the Immigration page nine days before sailing (I had just been locked out of the Shore-ex page). My TA was informed by HAL, too, and gave me a call.
The second time I found it via the Shore-ex route about 14 days before sailing.

Your's should be assigned any time now.
Good luck on the upgrade! Have fun regardless.
Thanks Ruth, we will. I feel stupid for obsessing on it but I WANT TO KNOW!! Which is odd because I know we won't get a suite or any BIG upgrade because we don't have that many days on HAL and I would assume that there are more deserving people for the big upgrades, as a matter of fact, I would hope that they would give the upgrades to the more deserving but I just want to look at the brochure and know where we are. I also want to know how far I am gonna have to walk at 3am to make sure DD is in her room :eek:

[Tinknock50]

Thanks Ruth, we will. I feel stupid for obsessing on it but I WANT TO KNOW!! Which is odd because I know we won't get a suite or any BIG upgrade because we don't have that many days on HAL and I would assume that there are more deserving people for the big upgrades, as a matter of fact, I would hope that they would give the upgrades to the more deserving but I just want to look at the brochure and know where we are. I also want to know how far I am gonna have to walk at 3am to make sure DD is in her room :eek:
On my Sept. 19th cruise to Alaska, I talked to a woman who was a 1st timer on HAL and she was upgraded from a regular balcony to a suite! (yes for free)

[Thatsright]

We booked a guarantee ba on the Zuiderdam for the 16th and found out our room via the immigration page 17 days out. As of yesterday my (stupid) TA said that my room had not been assigned (but I know better). We got an AA -

L

[gliles]

We are leaving on the 24th and still it says 000. When did yours show up for the 16th?

Oops....sorry duh, I see you said 17 days out...so it should be any day now.

[gliles]

On my Sept. 19th cruise to Alaska, I talked to a woman who was a 1st timer on HAL and she was upgraded from a regular balcony to a suite! (yes for free)
Wouldn't that be "suite" :p

[mickey]

gliles:
Noticed on another board that you are an interliner. I'm assuming the balcony you booked was available at an interliner rate. From past experience, HAL does not upgrade interliners. We have 84 day on HAL and another 11 days booked over the holidays. We've used different interline agents and booked with HAL directly. Guarantees on outside rooms always wound up being the lowest deck and the cabins at the very front or back of the ship with portholes instead of windows. Now we book the lower promenade deck, obscured or partially obscured. Much better locations. We've spoken to many other interliners and no one has ever gotten an upgrade from HAL, other lines,yes. Royal Caribbean gave us the the highest rate balcony cabin on a cruise to Alaska two years ago. Good Luck! and let us know when you get back how you made out.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Okay, I give. What is an "interliner"?????:confused:

[gliles]

gliles:
Noticed on another board that you are an interliner. I'm assuming the balcony you booked was available at an interliner rate. From past experience, HAL does not upgrade interliners. We have 84 day on HAL and another 11 days booked over the holidays. We've used different interline agents and booked with HAL directly. Guarantees on outside rooms always wound up being the lowest deck and the cabins at the very front or back of the ship with portholes instead of windows. Now we book the lower promenade deck, obscured or partially obscured. Much better locations. We've spoken to many other interliners and no one has ever gotten an upgrade from HAL, other lines,yes. Royal Caribbean gave us the the highest rate balcony cabin on a cruise to Alaska two years ago. Good Luck! and let us know when you get back how you made out.
Hmm, We did get a few category upgrade on Carnival bookings twice through an interline company. Then we booked the Owner's Suite on the Norway and my daughter and her friend in an inside upper/lower. I ended up upgrading her (paid) to a slightly larger inside with 2 lowers and NCL later upgraded them to the highest category outside, they had a really awesome cabin, I was quite happy. We of course couldn't be upgraded since we were in the highest as it was. I am not sure why HAL would be different but what the heck, I will be happy with what ever we get. The only other HAL we did was also through the same interline agency but we didn't do a guarantee but got a heck of a deal on an outside for a 12 day cruise, it was a really nice cabin. We shall see and I will let you know, the saving grace is that the categories we did, there are very few (4 BCs and 2 NNs).

[HeatherInFlorida]

Okay, I give. What is an "interliner"?????:confused:
Gretchen? Did you see my question? Can you 'splain?

[Pudgesmom]

Heather,

Employees and relatives of airlines and other travel companies can book through in-house or "interline" agencies. Sometimes the trips or tickets are "space available," and sometimes a space is guaranteed. (postivie space) A discount is offered. I have found that the prices offered are not usually substantially less than what a good shopper will find elsewhere.

I have done equally well with my own travel agent and the internet. My husband is an airline pilot.

Beth

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thanks, Beth!!!! My curiousity was peaked!!!:D

And thanks Mickey, too!!!

[mickey]

Heather:
An interliner is someone who works in the travel industry. We're given special rates on cruises. They're usually ones that aren't selling out. From some of the other posts, as to fares paid, our rates are not always that great. We usually only get HH catagory which is guarantee or obscured or partially obscured.

[gliles]

I have done equally well with my own travel agent and the internet.That has not always been my experience, we have gotten excellent deals but then again it depends on where in the airline you work as far as availability to information. It's true that sometimes you can find a good deal through a regular TA or online agency but our last cruises have been excellent deals through our interline agency, it doesn't hurt that we live in the mecca of interliners with AA being one of the largest employers, Delta until recently and Southwest also having a large presence here.

Pudgesmom - you may want to check again. When I first started we got really good deals but then when the economy was doing well, we found that we did just as well on our own so to speak but now that fuel is so high and the economy is bad, we are finding really good deals on hotels, cruises, etc. once again. I agree that for many years we found the same deals elsewhere but lately, the last 3 cruises, we coudn't find anything better than what we got through our local Interline agency. It comes and goes I guess. Then again with your husband being a pilot you don't need the good deals like we do! :rolleyes:

[gliles]

And Heather, sorry...I completely missed your question. The interesting thing is that we get discounts on cruises, hotels, car rentals, FedEx, etc. but don't reciprocate in all cases. I guess it is because of our ability to communicate with the traveling public. I worked on the "front lines" for many many years and now am an analyst but I still appreciate so much the deals we get.

[Pudgesmom]

Gretchen,

We're from DFW, too. Live in Southlake. It looks like we'll be traveling the Oosterdam two weeks after you do the eastern itinerary. I hope you'll give us the scoop on your trip, shore excursions, etc.

Beth

[gliles]

Gretchen,

We're from DFW, too. Live in Southlake. It looks like we'll be traveling the Oosterdam two weeks after you do the eastern itinerary. I hope you'll give us the scoop on your trip, shore excursions, etc.

Beth
Absoutely! I am so excited. I'll give you all the lowdown. Please read my previous edited post about deals. I don't know how long your DH has been flying but I will say that at 37 years being an interliner (between myself and my father..DH is as well) I have seen the discounts come and go many times. I am sure you can guess which TA I use since they are located right in your beautiful town. For many years we went out on our own for cruises, all inclusives, etc but right now, the interline deals are pretty good. Don't give up on them and sign up for the email specials. I wish I could do last minute trips like I want to, some of those deals are truly incredible.

What category did you book? You'll have to tell me about your trip as well, ok? If you want me to sneak around and get a pix of your cabin, I can do that.

[Pudgesmom]

I know the agency. We've been doing the SWA thing for 18 years. We have teenagers in school, so can't always travel on a moment's notice anymore.:(

We are booked in an SS virtual-suite. We're looking forward to the big veranda, and the jacuzzi tub. Both of us have at least 4 books to read.

Beth

[gliles]

I know the agency. We've been doing the SWA thing for 18 years. We have teenagers in school, so can't always travel on a moment's notice anymore.:(

We are booked in an SS virtual-suite. We're looking forward to the big veranda, and the jacuzzi tub. Both of us have at least 4 books to read.

Beth
How nice, we have one left in school, whew...we almost made it! Actually the other 2 are in college but they are on their own :D it's actually our jobs that keep us from traveling at a moments notice :(

[CrabbyHarper]

For our Nov 9 cruise on the Maasdam we booked a BB guarantee. I will be happy with a BB or higher. There are few BBs so we will probably get a B or A - that's ok, too. Can't find out our cabin numbers yet (Four people, two cabins) and I just hope that we will be close.

For our cruise in Apr 04 we booked a BC guarantee and wound up with a B.

For a Celebrity cruise we took in Oct 02 we booked the highest category of regular outside and our great TA got us a free upgrade to a balcony - just two weeks before we sailed.

So good stuff DOES happen!

[gliles]

For our Nov 9 cruise on the Maasdam we booked a BB guarantee. I will be happy with a BB or higher. There are few BBs so we will probably get a B or A - that's ok, too. Can't find out our cabin numbers yet (Four people, two cabins) and I just hope that we will be close.

For our cruise in Apr 04 we booked a BC guarantee and wound up with a B.

For a Celebrity cruise we took in Oct 02 we booked the highest category of regular outside and our great TA got us a free upgrade to a balcony - just two weeks before we sailed.

So good stuff DOES happen!
Thanks, hopefully I will know any day now!

[gliles]

We got an L for the NN guarantee and 2 Bs for the BCs, I am happy...I will have a tub and a real balcony. The 2 BC are next to each other and the L is across the hall so they must have made an effort to keep us together which we asked that they don't because we didn't want to limit out upgrade opportunity but oh well, my 18 year old will be oh so happy to be right across the hall from us :D

[HeatherInFlorida]

Gretchen, I'm so glad you got something you're happy with so now you can relax and plan everything else!!!:D

[gliles]

Gretchen, I'm so glad you got something you're happy with so now you can relax and plan everything else!!!:D
Thanks Heather but now I don't have anything to obsess about!

It's odd because when I go to the shoreex page and enter the booking number for the inside, it comes up but when I enter either of the balcony guarantees it says the names don't match so maybe they are still working on it? I ended up going to the immigration page to see the cabins.

[ekerr19]

We got an L for the NN guarantee and 2 Bs for the BCs, I am happy...I will have a tub and a real balcony. The 2 BC are next to each other and the L is across the hall so they must have made an effort to keep us together which we asked that they don't because we didn't want to limit out upgrade opportunity but oh well, my 18 year old will be oh so happy to be right across the hall from us :D
Gretchen, that sounds perfect for your situation! We thought of actually booking that configuration on the Volendam - we still may change to it - so we can have a balcony. I think you will find it very beneficial to have your daughter across the hall from you. We had our boys in their own cabin 4 -5 decks down from us and it was a pain! Especially making sure they were getting ready for dinner, not staying up all night to play video games etc., or coming in late at night (or early in the AM) - my oldest was 23 at the time, he and my 14 yr old shared their inside cabin. I was very surprised by how roomy it was.

[gliles]

Gretchen, that sounds perfect for your situation! We thought of actually booking that configuration on the Volendam - we still may change to it - so we can have a balcony. I think you will find it very beneficial to have your daughter across the hall from you. We had our boys in their own cabin 4 -5 decks down from us and it was a pain! Especially making sure they were getting ready for dinner, not staying up all night to play video games etc., or coming in late at night (or early in the AM) - my oldest was 23 at the time, he and my 14 yr old shared their inside cabin. I was very surprised by how roomy it was.
Yes, we are pretty happy about it. I had just told DD yesterday that there was a really good chance that we wouldn't be anywhere near each other so it's funny how it worked out.

[HeatherInFlorida]

If I'm counting right, this is my 999th post so I'm going to post again to get my 1000th on a thread where people know me.:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

If I'm counting right, this is my 999th post so I'm going to post again to get my 1000th on a thread where people know me.:D
Okay, here goes!!! My 1000th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gretchen, I'm so confused about your cabin numbers. You say sometimes it shows up as one thing, sometimes another? When do you actually go anyway? I want to be sure to say "bon voyage"!!!

[gliles]

Okay, here goes!!! My 1000th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gretchen, I'm so confused about your cabin numbers. You say sometimes it shows up as one thing, sometimes another? When do you actually go anyway? I want to be sure to say "bon voyage"!!!Woo Hoo, 1000 posts!

We leave 2 weeks from today. What I was saying is that if I go to look on the shoreex page it can't match the booking number to our names except for the inside booking. I had to go to the immigration form to get the assignments. Must be some maintenance they are doing. We do have 2 Bs and one L and we did BCs and an NN so it's a decent upgrade for all 3. Since my sister's cabin is next to ours, maybe we'll see if they can remove the partition between the balconies. I had ignored all mention of that before because I didn't think there was any way in h*ll that we would end up next to each other.

I think I'll go sweettalk DH into getting my jumbo suitcase out of the attic so I can start making piles and getting ready. I am so excited.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I am so totally stupid ... it's right there on your countdown clock. Oh boy! Anyway, that worked out great for you and I'm quite sure they can open up that balcony. I was going to get adjoining cabins with the friends who are going with us, but then I decided to give them some privacy since they are sort of a "new" couple;) . So they're about 5 doors down from us.

[ekerr19]

I think I'll go sweettalk DH into getting my jumbo suitcase out of the attic so I can start making piles and getting ready. I am so excited.
Gretchen,

Make sure you weigh the suitcase after it has been packed! Our large suitcases hold WAY too much to make it under the weight limit, which seems to be dropping daily! Just got back from So Cal, the limit on Frontier Airlines is now 50 lbs per bag! Used to be 70...

You work in the travel industry, I think... so you may already know all this, but I have paid overwieght fees so many times that I am think of going with all bags 24" and no greater. Our two 30" bags we don't (can't) even use anymore... :(

We fly on British Air, 11/1/04 to Rome, the weight limit is 50 lbs per bag - of course with DH in his cast, we will be packing very LIGHT!

[ekerr19]

Heather-

Congrats on the 1,000th post! You GO girl! :D

[gliles]

Gretchen,

Make sure you weigh the suitcase after it has been packed! Our large suitcases hold WAY too much to make it under the weight limit, which seems to be dropping daily! Just got back from So Cal, the limit on Frontier Airlines is now 50 lbs per bag! Used to be 70...

You work in the travel industry, I think... so you may already know all this, but I have paid overwieght fees so many times that I am think of going with all bags 24" and no greater. Our two 30" bags we don't (can't) even use anymore... :(

We fly on British Air, 11/1/04 to Rome, the weight limit is 50 lbs per bag - of course with DH in his cast, we will be packing very LIGHT!
Yes, we ran into that the last cruise, it was over by a couple pounds so they ignored it thankfully. We could have moved some stuff around if we needed to though. The problem with my huge suitcase is that it is heavy even when it's empty!