Guarantee upgrade -- when??

[tomculb]

We just signed up for a VH guarantee on the Westerdam to Alaska in June. Reading these boards I've been assured that unless I'm a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant, I'll get an upgrade. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but I'm impatient. When am I likely to get that wonderful email asking whether I'd prefer the port or starboard penthouse? :p

[Boytjie]

When is your cruise? Final assignments don't take place until about 3 weeks (or less) before the cruise.

[YubaSutter]

We got our cabin assignment 9 days before cruise day. If you're expecting a penthouse for a VH guarantee, don't hold your breath.

 

It's a guarantee cabin, not a guarantee upgrade.

[styles27]

I booked a guaranty for our May 6th cruise and received my cabin assignment (upgraded 2 categories) 3 weeks before our cruise.

 

I noticed the upgrade before they sent me an e-mail.

 

I was checking my account on the HAL site every day and one night noticed there was a stateroom # where before there wasn't anything.:)

 

I received an e-mail 2 days later telling me I had been assigned a cabin. Not sure why it took so long for them to e-mail but that's okay.

 

 

Edit to add....I almost always book guaranty and I've received an upgrade every single time I have.

[catl331]

an upgrade is usually within the same type of room; i.e. veranda. Alaskan cruises are very popular. Hopefully your upgrade won't be to a room under the kitchen or Lido pool if there are verandas there.. You must take your upgrade. That is the biggie about going guarantee. If I every got upgraded to a penthouse, I would never come out of it except on the last day. The heck with the ports!!:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

People have gotten upgrades 3 weeks from their cruise.

Some people have gotten notice of their cabin assignments just days before their cruises.

And then a couple of people did not get their cabin assignment until they got to the pier.

Be patient -- you will get a cabin.

[jt58203]

One never knows about an upgrade. Haven't done an Alaskan one yet but when I booked a slightly higher category than you (VF guarantee) 6 months out on the Zuiderdam partial Panama Canal cruise I thought for sure I would get one. It didn't happen but I still had a great cruise.

 

I checked HA's website, along with others, daily for available cabins. It always showed many available verandahs. HA must have upgraded past passengers or offered upsells to people in oceanviews. About 3 weeks prior to the cruise date I got my cabin assignment & shortly after I got an upsell offer to either a superior verandah suite and I forget which other category. You will need to act fast on any upsell offers. I waited a few days, maybe it was a week, debating whether it was worth the investment to me and when I finally decided to call HA the entire ship was booked except for a few insides. Good Luck whatever you do.

[Fawkes66]

Booked for May 2 (yep, sailing day after tomorrow :D). Got an upsell offer on April 11, which we didn't take. Then our cabin assignment arrived on April 21, so 11 days out. From a FF gty to a D. Location wise a great upgrade!

 

Last cruise we got really lucky, but I never knew why or who to thank for it, and I wouldn't count on it EVER to happen again. We booked a VF and received an upgrade to SY gty 2 months before sailing. Two weeks before sailing we received our assignment: SS. Like I said, we couldn't believe our luck and we definitely don't count on it ever to happen again.

 

Good luck to you and happy sailing!

[PathfinderEss]

We just signed up for a VH guarantee on the Westerdam to Alaska in June. Reading these boards I've been assured that unless I'm a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant, I'll get an upgrade. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but I'm impatient. When am I likely to get that wonderful email asking whether I'd prefer the port or starboard penthouse? :p

If you hear those words of upgrade or upsell, it will happen a few weeks out from your cruise all the way until you get on board.

[KirkNC]

We just signed up for a VH guarantee on the Westerdam to Alaska in June. Reading these boards I've been assured that unless I'm a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant, I'll get an upgrade. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but I'm impatient. When am I likely to get that wonderful email asking whether I'd prefer the port or starboard penthouse? :p

 

Check your junk mail, probably several offers in there :eek:.

[Padraic]

We just signed up for a VH guarantee on the Westerdam to Alaska in June. Reading these boards I've been assured that unless I'm a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant, I'll get an upgrade. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but I'm impatient. When am I likely to get that wonderful email asking whether I'd prefer the port or starboard penthouse? :p

 

I'm surprised that no one noticed your smiley face! As to your question, you should have already received your upgrade unless the outstanding warrant is just late in the mail!;)

[mcka]

I also am sailing on the Westerdam, but on May 12. I booked a VH guarantee as well, and I still do not have a room assignment. I'm getting anxious too! :)

[PathfinderEss]

I also am sailing on the Westerdam, but on May 12. I booked a VH guarantee as well, and I still do not have a room assignment. I'm getting anxious too! :)

 

Patience, you'll get a cabin number and maybe an uprade soon.

[ariawoman]

an upgrade is usually within the same type of room; i.e. veranda. Alaskan cruises are very popular. Hopefully your upgrade won't be to a room under the kitchen or Lido pool if there are verandas there.. You must take your upgrade. That is the biggie about going guarantee. If I every got upgraded to a penthouse, I would never come out of it except on the last day. The heck with the ports!!:D

 

You'd have to come out of it, else you'd miss all the FOOD! lol

[catl331]

I'm surprised that no one noticed your smiley face!

I think everyone knew there was a lot of tongue in the cheek there. :)

 

You'd have to come out of it, else you'd miss all the FOOD! lol

Nope! Room service!

[Jassy]

I also am sailing on the Westerdam, but on May 12. I booked a VH guarantee as well, and I still do not have a room assignment. I'm getting anxious too! :)

 

We sail May 13 on the Amsterdam, with an SB guarantee. Received our stateroom assignment (and slight upgrade to SA) just this afternoon.

[rimau]

I also am sailing on the Westerdam, but on May 12. I booked a VH guarantee as well, and I still do not have a room assignment. I'm getting anxious too! :)

 

Same cruise, same booking. See you there. We may be next each other in those VH cabins.

[fatcat04]

I wouldn't expect to hear a peep from HAL until 3 weeks out at the earliest and you may not find out until you get to the port the day of sailing.

 

The cardinal rule of "guarantee" bookings: Don't book it unless you will be happy in it. Upgrades are never a guarantee with a "guarantee." :p;)

 

Happy upgrade thoughts your way and I know your cruise will be lovely. :)

[mcka]

Same cruise, same booking. See you there. We may be next each other in those VH cabins.

 

Yep, We'll probably be 2 of the 4 in those cabins. lol. oh well. You'll have to let me know when you get your room assignment and if you got an upgrade or not.

[luvcruisn']

I received my cabin assignment about 5 days before sailing, and this time no upgrade on my J inside guarantee cabin. My J cabin location was very good, though, it was the third cabin down from the laundry, and right near the exit to the Lower Promenade deck, so I did enjoy the cabin. I didn't hear any noise from the laundry, and it was very convenient to get my laundry done. This was one of the few times that I have not received an upgrade when I booked a guarantee cabin. I have never been offered an upsell - perhaps they don't offer them to solos who book inside guarantee cabins.

[Jackiealu]

We have a VF guarantee on the Noordam sailing on May 18th, and still no cabin assignment. I check the HAL website many times per day hoping to see a number there. I am not that concerned about an upgrade, I am just so excited for our cruise that I want to see an official number!

[GoofyDog]

We have a N Guarantee (inside) on Zaandam May 13... and we have no cabin # assigned yet.... Let's go HAL!!! Get it assigned! LOL!! :D:D

[sullaRaffaello]

I originally had an inside M guarantee for my May 13th Prinsendam voyage. After the price dropped $800 after final payment, I asked to get it. They said no, the best they could do was give me a minimum outside H guarantee, which was priced around $400 less after the price drop than what I paid originally for the inside M. Around a week and a half ago, they finally assigned the cabin, which is an outside F. So, I don't know what an F was priced at either before or after the price drop, but it is an upgrade from the original inside.

[serendipity1499]

We just signed up for a VH guarantee on the Westerdam to Alaska in June. Reading these boards I've been assured that unless I'm a convicted felon with an outstanding warrant, I'll get an upgrade. It hasn't been 24 hours yet, but I'm impatient. When am I likely to get that wonderful email asking whether I'd prefer the port or starboard penthouse? :p

 

I'm taking this a tongue in cheek:D & hope you will not be disappointed if you don't get an upgrade..[U]Agree the wait will try your patience![/U]

We loved Alaska & hope you will too..

Enjoy your cruise!

Cheers..Betty

[rimau]

MCKA, I just got our cabin. VA. Under the rear pool but I would not expect that to be an issue on an Alaska cruise.