Guarantee Status

[rvalente74]

I'm not sure it's the same outside of U.S., but best cruise fare shown is not gty booking. After you select a category (inside, outside,etc) then either some cabin choices will be provided or Guarantee. There is no difference in the reservation process but most of the time there is no GTY option as it is up to Celebrity to decide which cruises/categories they will offer it. Another helpful way is to use a travel search engine to check cruise prices and cabin choices. They will show the gty as an option as well. Hope this helps. I know it can be confusing. Also, TA's know if a gty booking type is available so you can always call and ask.

 

Would mind sending an image of this GTY option next time you see one? (if its not much trouble, of course...)

[TravelerThom]

Would mind sending an image of this GTY option next time you see one? (if its not much trouble, of course...)

I don't know how to post an image, but as I write this, Celebrity Eclipse 25 Jan 2014 cruise is offering Cat.Z insides GTYs (there are also specific rooms available; you have to scroll down to find the GTYs).

 

Thom

[roothy123]

I booked a guarantee inside last year because it was the cheapest option available, and I really didn't care what cabin I got. I was kind of hoping to be upgraded a deck or two, or even better yet, to on oceanview, but it never happened. Oh well, at least I didn't pay a lot for the cruise, and the room turned out to be just fine, except for the noise near by. (It was right next to a space used by the staff for food staging, etc. and the door banged shut every time someone came out with a tray!)

[rvalente74]

I don't know how to post an image, but as I write this, Celebrity Eclipse 25 Jan 2014 cruise is offering Cat.Z insides GTYs (there are also specific rooms available; you have to scroll down to find the GTYs).

 

Thom

 

Thank you Tom!!! Now I saw it!

And I found others, those are really great deals!

 

thanks again!

[excitedofharpenden]

I am confused.:confused:

I've read a few posts where people have booked a guarantee. When assigned their cabin, they didn't like it. So, they say, that they were able to change the assigned cabin to another one in the same category. Naturally, only if other cabins were available in the same category.

Has this happened to you? I'd like to know. It would make a big difference to me.

It's something that doesn't apply in the UK. Not sure if it is the same in Canada. Once you are assigned a cabin under a GTY you can't swap. They are getting very tight on anyone within Celebrity trying to do it. However I've done a booking via a US travel agent and no issue.

 

Phil

[TravelerThom]

Thank you Tom!!! Now I saw it!

And I found others, those are really great deals!...

Welcome. Note that while GTYs often offer good pricing (and I have taken GTYs and been happy) it really pays to check out a range of accommodations when you are narrowing in on a cruise. I have seen cruises where Ocean View specific cabins were cheaper than inside GTYs [all I can figure out is that while Insides are below their sales objective (hence the GTYs), OVs are WAY below their sales objective and they have lowered OV even move prices to move those cabins]. To eleborate on checking out a range of accommodations, on sister line RCI where I get a balcony discount, it often is cheaper for me to take a balcony with the discount than it is to take an inside.

 

In addition to GTYs, Celebrity also has (had?) TBDs (To Be Determined). I'm not sure that I've seen TBDs recently, but in the past I have seen them and even seen GTYs and TBDs on the same category on the same sailing. See http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1340714 (and my comment in Post 9 of this thread) if you want a further discussion on this.

 

Thom

[chessbriar]

I booked a suite gty on X and was assigned a Royal suite. I booked a Suite gty on RCCL assigned a Grand Suite. I've booked balcony gtys and assigned CC cabins.

 

I book the cabin I will be happy with, but if for a savings or small price difference up, I will move up to a gty. I have been well taken care of by the cruise lines.

[rvalente74]

Welcome. Note that while GTYs often offer good pricing (and I have taken GTYs and been happy) it really pays to check out a range of accommodations when you are narrowing in on a cruise. I have seen cruises where Ocean View specific cabins were cheaper than inside GTYs [all I can figure out is that while Insides are below their sales objective (hence the GTYs), OVs are WAY below their sales objective and they have lowered OV even move prices to move those cabins]. To eleborate on checking out a range of accommodations, on sister line RCI where I get a balcony discount, it often is cheaper for me to take a balcony with the discount than it is to take an inside.

 

Thom

 

Got it.

Thanks again!

[Thegolden]

We booked a guaranteed room when taking a trip out of spain to Italy an we were upgraded to a mini suite. Guaranteed rooms do offer more, you can follow the price to get a price reduction and then you don't have to worry about your cruise. Since we really do not mind where they put us I have no issues with saving money.:)

[Tiggertastic]

I have to admit that it is a chance we take in the UK, as another poster said, once we get it assigned in the UK, you cannot move it. We got an aqua guarantee once as it was cheaper than the balcony cabins but got the very front one under the gym where they did spin classes etc - so as long as we were out by 9am we missed the noise

 

Hey, we loved the shower - take the good with the bad

[kevinyork]

Our first X cruise this year was a Balcony Guarantee which was 35% less expensive than a 2D at the time. Booked it and within 5 days were allocated a 1A on the hump. We were very pleased.

[teecee60]

It's something that doesn't apply in the UK. Not sure if it is the same in Canada. Once you are assigned a cabin under a GTY you can't swap. They are getting very tight on anyone within Celebrity trying to do it. However I've done a booking via a US travel agent and no issue.

 

Phil

 

I have to admit that it is a chance we take in the UK, as another poster said, once we get it assigned in the UK, you cannot move it.

 

Why would Celebrity choose to have different rules in different countries? Seems like an awful lot of hassle that would cost a lot in time, training, money and customer satisfaction.

 

I may be confused but how could using a travel agent in the US result in any differences as opposed to using a travel agent in a different country?

 

Could it be that Celebrity HAS to conform to different rules/laws/requirements in those different countries? Anybody in the know?

Edited December 3, 2013 by teecee60

[kevinyork]

Why would Celebrity choose to have different rules in different countries? Seems like an awful lot of hassle that would cost a lot in time, training, money and customer satisfaction.

 

I may be confused but how could using a travel agent in the US result in any differences as opposed to using a travel agent in a different country?

 

Could it be that Celebrity HAS to conform to different rules/laws/requirements in those different countries? Anybody in the know?

 

Competition is higher in the US. Also in the UK we are more used to bookings being final with no adjustments afterwards. On our holidays deposits are totally non refundable under any circumstance.

 

I remember our first cruise with RCI booked in the UK where we booked two cabins on a guarantee basis and they were allocated cabins at opposite ends of the ship despite closer, same grade cabins, being available. I had to fight tooth and nail to get them see reason and their response was ' you should not have booked guarantee cabins'.

[jkgourmet]

Twenty plus cruises and all we've EVER done is book an inside guarantee. The savings are significant enough to allow us to travel more often, or when we are home, spend more on other luxury, lifestyle choices.

 

We don't care where the cabin is located. We're not light sleepers or prone to seasickness.

 

Our time in the cabin is usually spent showering, changing clothes, sleeping or occasionally watching TV before a nap. We enjoy the atmosphere and fine service we receive in the lounges, poolside, casino, on the deck, etc. We meet new people, or enjoy each other's company in some quiet corner. Our vacations are about being OUTSIDE our room, not locked in it. (This applies to our feeling about hotel rooms as well, with just a few exceptions made for a very special view.)

 

Now, I admit, if we were allowed to bring our own booze and wine on board (and it was easy to do), we might pop for a balcony and enjoy that for cocktails. But for many of the itineraries we select, the weather wouldn't allow much of that anyway.

 

Everybody is different, but for us the cost of these cabins just doesn't make sense.

 

Maybe this way of thinking is part of the reason why we were able to retire at age 62.5 and 52? Yeah, I kinda think so. :)

[xarm0x]

Hi all, I've been reading the forums for a while but never felt the need to post - but this topic is right up my street.

 

I booked a balcony guarantee on the Eclipse last summer and was astounded when I was offered a S2 Sky Suite by Celebrity! The difference in cost was huge, and I'm now waiting for a balcony guarantee on Eclipse for the Canary Islands in October and praying for the same outcome!

[Erinchita]

Hi all, I've been reading the forums for a while but never felt the need to post - but this topic is right up my street.

 

I booked a balcony guarantee on the Eclipse last summer and was astounded when I was offered a S2 Sky Suite by Celebrity! The difference in cost was huge, and I'm now waiting for a balcony guarantee on Eclipse for the Canary Islands in October and praying for the same outcome!

 

 

Wow, such luck! I hope the same happens to me, going on my 3rd X cruise in April and booked a GTY veranda for my first time. My parents are in a 1B veranda so we can always hang in there if we end up with obstructed...but fingers crossed for the upgrade fairy!