Lets all get on the same page about what a gty room means with Celebrity

[thecruise_guy]

Lets all get on the same page about what a gty (guarantee) room means with Celebrity. I have heard too many people complaining that they did not get a good room or did not get to be by their friends room when they both have chosen guarantees. A guarantee room means Celebrity drops all that category’s rooms in a hat and the system chooses one for you. It does not matter if you have “special notes” in the reservation or not, the system will not “try to place you together”. The lesson is, guarantee room means random room, so if you get a room by your traveling party, you got lucky. Celebrity agents and travel agents should always tell you this up front and not make any promises. I have heard some travel agents say that they can make special requests that Celebrity keep the rooms together; they cannot. I just want to educate those that may not have a complete idea or understanding about what the guarantee room means.

[wwcruisers]

Are you sure all that complaining you heard was here?:confused: I even did a quick search on threads about guarantee cabins, and I don't see that as a common source of confusion. Most folks who book guarantee cabins seem to have concerns about (a) when their cabin will be assigned, and (b) whether they can change, if they don't like it. A few questions about possible upgrades, too -- but, that's about it. I think that most folks understand that, if you want a particular cabin, in a particular location (for whatever reason) -- you need to book that specific cabin, rather than rely on the luck of the draw. :cool:

[thecruise_guy]

Are you sure all that complaining you heard was here?:confused: I even did a quick search on threads about guarantee cabins, and I don't see that as a common source of confusion. Most folks who book guarantee cabins seem to have concerns about (a) when their cabin will be assigned, and (b) whether they can change, if they don't like it. A few questions about possible upgrades, too -- but, that's about it. I think that most folks understand that, if you want a particular cabin, in a particular location (for whatever reason) -- you need to book that specific cabin, rather than rely on the luck of the draw. :cool:

 

Agreed, thankfully I don't see too much here, just from talking to folks on the ships I hear a lot about the gty confusion. So I thought I would go ahead and clear it up for those who may not ask but may not know.

[FlorenceItaly]

Lets all get on the same page about what a gty (guarantee) room means with Celebrity. I have heard too many people complaining that they did not get a good room or did not get to be by their friends room when they both have chosen guarantees. A guarantee room means Celebrity drops all that category’s rooms in a hat and the system chooses one for you. It does not matter if you have “special notes” in the reservation or not, the system will not “try to place you together”. The lesson is, guarantee room means random room, so if you get a room by your traveling party, you got lucky. Celebrity agents and travel agents should always tell you this up front and not make any promises. I have heard some travel agents say that they can make special requests that Celebrity keep the rooms together; they cannot. I just want to educate those that may not have a complete idea or understanding about what the guarantee room means.

 

Imo, a guarantee on ANY cruise line means realizing that you may be assigned the worst room on the ship. We have done guarantees, but, we realize the risk. On some cruise lines, once assigned you MAY be able to change to a different room in the same category IF available. I was able to do this with my guarantee room with Celebrity leaving on Monday. With that said, if they would have not allowed this, I would have accepted it with grace because this is what booking a guarantee means. The only reason I did ask for a change is because my research revealed it was just a few steps away from where the crew go to smoke. Thank you for starting this thread. I do think it is important people realize what a guarantee means. Also, sometimes the incentive for some to book a guarantee is for a possible upgrade. Imo, this is a rare occurance.

[wwcruisers]

Agreed, thankfully I don't see too much here, just from talking to folks on the ships I hear a lot about the gty confusion. So I thought I would go ahead and clear it up for those who may not ask but may not know.

 

LOL -- sounds like some of the folks you've talked to onboard could benefit from joining Cruise Critic. I know that I learn at least one new thing every day, on these boards! :D

[thecruise_guy]

LOL -- sounds like some of the folks you've talked to onboard could benefit from joining Cruise Critic. I know that I learn at least one new thing every day, on these boards! :D

 

Lol! yes I always recommend that when I talk to folks because it definitely helps to learn new things. There is so much that goes into cruising, so the more prepared you are the better :)

[Mynki]

We booked a GTY room and were promptly allocated what in my opinion was the worst room in its class of the remaining cabins. I accepted that was likely when booking though.

 

However I then learned via cruise critic that if you book through a US travel agent you can call up and request another room. We did and we got what I consider to be the best room in class so was very happy.

 

If we had booked through a UK travel agent we would have been stuck with the room allocated to us initially. Not that that is a real issue, it's just nice to get lucky and take advantage of the US option.

[lenbest]

how did you change your uk travel agent to an american one?

[Mynki]

how did you change your uk travel agent to an american one?

 

That cruise was booked through a US travel agent originally.

 

I'm just highlighting the point that you can't change rooms if booking a GTY through a UK TA to avoid potential confusion in this thread.

 

Hope that makes sense. :)

[rwb]

The OP is correct. The assignment of guarantee cabins is done by a computer and does not take into account Captains Club status, special requests, or anything else. Whether the assigned cabin is good or bad is purely a matter of chance -- but obviously it will be one that no one has booked. We've done it twice this year and were assigned excellently-located C2 cabins on a CC guarantee. But we were lucky to get a cabin we would gladly have paid the full price for.

 

Bottom line: you are getting a discount in return for entering a cabin assignment lottery. If you aren't willing to take the risk, don't enter the lottery.

[cynbar]

Thanks to the Op for pointing this out. I have to agree I have not seen too many posts complaining about not being placed near their travel companions, but I have surely seen a lot complaining about the location of their guarantee. People need to realize that they book a guarantee to save money (or get a cabin in a sold out category), but they take their chances on which cabin it will be.

[RickT]

I too have heard many complaints about cabin assignment when booking a guarantee. Stuff such as "I got the worst cabin on the ship", "everyone got a better cabin assigned than I did", "why didn't I get an upgrade, I was told a guarantee always gets an upgrade" yada yada yada.

 

I've booked many a guarantee and have low expectations that thankfully have never been met (I've usually done OK with cabin location but not too well in the upgrade category). Only once have I had to call Celebrity to get moved to a different cabin in the same category. All in all I've saved thousands by booking a guarantee and am willing to take the risk that the worst cabin on the ship is better than staying home :D

[GUT2407]

One reason WE don't go guarantees any more.

[ehfl]

I haven't found this to be a big issue. People rarely complain about getting a lower price on a cabin that is essentially the same as that of those who pay a higher price. We always take the guarantee when available and have never had a problem or issue.

[Mynki]

The OP is correct. The assignment of guarantee cabins is done by a computer

 

What verifiable proof is there that this is true?

[villauk]

What verifiable proof is there that this is true?

 

None. They possibly save the worst cabins for the UK market, omitting new cruisers first (want them to be wowed :D), as they can't swap :rolleyes: :D. What would be the point of dishing those undesirable cabins to the US when pax will only change them for better locations :cool:. I know I have ;).

 

All in all, it's not rocket science. Be prepared to accept the worst possible cabin in the category (also factor in that X have 'reassigned' certain category types to suit on cruises where they have overbooked GTYs) and you'll be fine ;).

[Mynki]

None. They possibly save the worst cabins for the UK market, omitting new cruisers first (want them to be wowed :D), as they can't swap :rolleyes: :D. What would be the point of dishing those undesirable cabins to the US when pax will only change them for better locations :cool:. I know I have ;).

 

All in all, it's not rocket science. Be prepared to accept the worst possible cabin in the category (also factor in that X have 'reassigned' certain category types to suit on cruises where they have overbooked GTYs) and you'll be fine ;).

 

Completely agree that if you're getting a discounted deal then you should be happy with any cabin in the class you book.

 

We did get lucky last time, we were allocated 6120 (S2) on Millennium but managed to change it to 6145 (S1). Our TA called Celebrity who allowed this. It's certainly not what we expected or believed we even deserved as to book the specific cabin would have been £700 more EACH. I can only assume this was because this particular cruise was not selling particularly well a few months out.

[cruise love]

Booked a guaranteed ocean view on Soltice for Jan and was assigned a balcony cabin

Also boked a ov guarantee on R Carribeen for March and assigned a balcony

Luck me

[cindy1957]

I have a mental strategy. I only book a guarantee in a category I can live with matter what. Example CC class. Not because of the perks but because of location. Then no matter what I will be happy. No upgrades so far above the class I paid for with my guarantees but saved hundreds of dollars. Which we spend on specialty dining [emoji6]

 

 

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[drakes2]

We booked a GTY on the upcoming Scandinavia/Russia cruise and within 2 days was assigned a 2D, probably one of the worst obstructed cabins, called Celebrity and they offered to put me back into the GTY pool (was not aware this could be done) next day back in the same cabin, again was put back in the pool, two days later another crappy cabin, the first one got booked. Finally realized only 2 left in that category, then the next day was upgraded to a 2C, still not the best but they allowed me to pick the cabin I wanted, in fact it's the one opposite the cabin I will be on in two weeks, but on the starboard side, I was happy as that cabin would have cost me another $540. per person. Still lots of time left if I want to change but chances are slim of getting another upgrade.

I have a mental strategy. I only book a guarantee in a category I can live with matter what. Example CC class. Not because of the perks but because of location. Then no matter what I will be happy. No upgrades so far above the class I paid for with my guarantees but saved hundreds of dollars. Which we spend on specialty dining [emoji6]

 

 

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[amyr]

I wonder how much the GTY cabin assigning process has changed with the new upsell procedures in place?

 

We booked our first ever guarantee over a month ago. We booked with another couple using the same travel agent and booked at the same time. We are Elite, and they've never cruised with Celebrity (or RCI for that matter). We both booked a 2D GTY, made full payment right away, and they were assigned a 2B within two weeks on Deck 7. I would have been delighted with the assignment. About a month to go, and we still don't have a cabin.

 

The only cabins currently available are CC and AQ class cabins, either along the aft or in the very front. The occasional 2B, 2C, or 1B has popped up, but they're usually gone pretty quickly. I assume they're trying to upsell folks into CC and AQ? I hope so -- I'd love to slide into some vacated 2B or better.

 

We're happy with whatever we get, though I hope we don't get AQ because we're traveling with the other couple and they won't have Blu. We'd just go to the MDR with them I guess. We don't care if our cabin is anywhere near theirs.

 

I would have never booked a GTY if cabin mattered to us. It usually DOES matter, I'm one of those who knows the ships well and spends time figuring out which side will have more (or less) sun depending on itinerary, etc. This trip is a last minute putter around the Caribbean, so no big deal. If it did matter? I'd be beside myself because our friends got assigned and we didn't. That's why I would never book a GTY if cabin mattered at all. You just shouldn't do it.

[DirtyDawg]

The OP is correct. The assignment of guarantee cabins is done by a computer ....

 

And since that computer is serviced by Celebrity's IT department, no wonder there are lots of complaints.;)

 

As for guarantee's in general, it just like going to the casino even before you board the ship; You pays your money and you takes your chances.

[2psoki]

Booked a GTY on a Panama Canal cruise 3 years ago. We were about 6 weeks from the sail date. Booked thru USAIRWAYS travel. Travel agent suggested we book a CC so we would not have an obstructed view. We agreed. We were very happy. We snagged an AFT facing cabin for the 14 day cruise. But GTY is just that.....A guarantee that you will have a cabin on the ship when it sails.

[rwb]

What verifiable proof is there that this is true?

 

None, just relying on a statement at a stockholders meeting when the question was asked informally of Michael Bayley back when he was the VP of Hotel Operations for RCCL. I had just been assigned an excellent cabin within hours of paying for a guarantee 90 days before the cruise, and was pleased both times. I wondered if it was because they knew I was a stockholder or if Captains Club rank was considered. The answer was that there was no human intervention, although complaints about the resulting assignments might well take into consideration other factors.

Edited December 20, 2015 by rwb

[lienf]

My cousin and I booked separately 2 gty 2A cabins thru a special from our travel agent. This was a couple of months ago for a Reflection March cruise. We have both been assigned 1C cabins next to each other, which we were hoping for. Just a fluke? My wife and I are elite so I can understand the upgrade, but my cousin has never cruised Celebrity.