Guarantee Cabin as a Solo passenger - am I being unreasonable?

[JessyCruises]

Am I being unreasonable? 
 

We are sailing on 5/5/22 on Ovation. We have three cabins. My sister is sailing solo and originally booked a Studio Interior.  So she would have gotten 2 pts per night with the double pt promo.  In August 2021, we noticed that an Interior Guarantee was only about $10 difference so I called Casino Royal to see about upgrading her.  I specifically asked if the guarantee cabin would be a double occupancy because she wanted to be able to get 4 pts per night (2 per night for solo and then the double promo).  I was told yes it would be a full size cabin and she would get the quadruple pts.  We made the change and she has been patiently waiting since that time for her assignment. 
 

She got the assignment today and it was the same studio interior cabin # she had originally booked way back when so instead of getting the 4 pts per night she has been expecting, she will only get 2. 
 

I am currently on the phone with RCL to see about getting this resolved and they are saying I have to pay to upgrade her to an assigned double occupancy stateroom.
 

This makes no sense to me.  I was told when I upgraded her that her guarantee was for a double occupancy and she was charged double cruise fare for the GTY cabin.  If she paid that supplement, should she not get the cabin? Or at least the points?

[leaveitallbehind]

First, you are correct from all I have read and heard, that Studio bookings offer only single points as they are intended to be for solo travelers. But with the double C&A points offering she would receive the 2 points you reference.

 

Second, she should be able to book any double occupancy stateroom at a solo rate which  - outside of promotions - typically would be with a 100% supplement, less the second port fees and taxes.  With this she should receive one extra point per night for two total, and in theory double that with the C&A promo.

 

If the assigned stateroom is the original Studio but at the increased GTY price, then it would seem a mistake was made IMO.  She should have paid whatever solo rate the GTY would offer and should have been assigned the standard interior stateroom, with the associated solo booking points.  At least that is how it would track with me.

 

The question I have is booking this (and the promo rate) through Casino Royal.  That may have some impact based on T&C's that may be affecting this?  I am not familiar with how that would work and wonder if maybe that could be throwing her a curve?

 

I think all you can do is continue to try to work this through RCCL and hope it works out for you.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2022 by leaveitallbehind

[Starry Eyes]

I do not know what happened with your sister’s reservation, but I have seen many times when gty rates were offered to doubles yet were not offered to solos.  Sometimes when gty rates are much better, some solos even book a fictional cabinmate (who will be a no show, obviously) to secure the gty rate.

[JessyCruises]

37 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

First, you are correct from all I have read and heard, that Studio bookings offer only single points as they are intended to be for solo travelers. But with the double C&A points offering she would receive the 2 points you reference.

 

Second, she should be able to book any double occupancy stateroom at a solo rate which  - outside of promotions - typically would be with a 100% supplement, less the second port fees and taxes.  With this she should receive one extra point per night for two total, and in theory double that with the C&A promo.

 

If the assigned stateroom is the original Studio but at the increased GTY price, then it would seem a mistake was made IMO.  She should have paid whatever solo rate the GTY would offer and should have been assigned the standard interior stateroom, with the associated solo booking points.  At least that is how it would track with me.

 

The question I have is booking this (and the promo rate) through Casino Royal.  That may have some impact based on T&C's that may be affecting this?  I am not familiar with how that would work and wonder if maybe that could be throwing her a curve?

 

I think all you can do is continue to try to work this through RCCL and hope it works out for you.

 

 

 

 

Thanks.  The casino offer just just an additional $100 off so it would not affect the T&Cs

[JessyCruises]

So I eventually spoke to Gabriel in resolutions.  They said the best they can do it put her back in the guarantee pool and hope she gets a regular cabin assigned. Fingers crossed I will not have to call back

[leaveitallbehind]

31 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

So I eventually spoke to Gabriel in resolutions.  They said the best they can do it put her back in the guarantee pool and hope she gets a regular cabin assigned. Fingers crossed I will not have to call back

That IMO would be the correct solution.

[brillohead]

If she paid a Single Supplement, she should NOT be assigned a Studio room.  

If this happens again, ask to be bumped up to resolutions.  

[JessyCruises]

Just now, brillohead said:

If she paid a Single Supplement, she should NOT be assigned a Studio room.  

If this happens again, ask to be bumped up to resolutions.  

That is what I did.  They would not switch her to a double occupancy cabin and said the best they would do is put her back into the guarantee pool

[brillohead]

4 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

That is what I did.  They would not switch her to a double occupancy cabin and said the best they would do is put her back into the guarantee pool

Did you double-check the category code of her guarantee?  That right there should tell them that she shouldn't be in a Studio room.

I'm guessing you didn't use a travel agent... This is the kind of thing a TA will handle for you.

[Jimbo]

Just  remember this  after all  this:

 

 

 

[CruiserEK]

Are GTY cabins normally offered to solo cruisers or double occupancy only? I was able to book a GTY Neighborhood Balcony cabin as a solo passenger last month through the cruise line. I recently checked again just to see if the price dropped and found the GTY option is not available for solo guests only double occupancy.

[JessyCruises]

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

Did you double-check the category code of her guarantee?  That right there should tell them that she shouldn't be in a Studio room.

I'm guessing you didn't use a travel agent... This is the kind of thing a TA will handle for you.

I was told today the cAtegory was ZI.

 

I don’t use a travel agent as most of my cruises are comps through the casino so it is just easier to deal with it on my own. 

[JessyCruises]

12 minutes ago, CruiserEK said:

Are GTY cabins normally offered to solo cruisers or double occupancy only? I was able to book a GTY Neighborhood Balcony cabin as a solo passenger last month through the cruise line. I recently checked again just to see if the price dropped and found the GTY option is not available for solo guests only double occupancy.

I am not sure, I normally book as a couple and ours are usually comps so we cannot use guarantees

[brillohead]

2 hours ago, JessyCruises said:

I was told today the cAtegory was ZI.

 

I don’t use a travel agent as most of my cruises are comps through the casino so it is just easier to deal with it on my own. 

That's NOT a "studio" category, so a studio should not be assigned.  

Have you confirmed that it was repriced with the single supplement and the new category?  You say you were "told" that it was that category, but I'm unclear whether you've actually seen the booking confirmation to know if anything was ever changed.

 

[JessyCruises]

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

That's NOT a "studio" category, so a studio should not be assigned.  

Have you confirmed that it was repriced with the single supplement and the new category?  You say you were "told" that it was that category, but I'm unclear whether you've actually seen the booking confirmation to know if anything was ever changed.

 

This was the booking right before she changed to a guarantee.  

This was the invoice we got after the change to the GTY.

 

This is the guest booklet we got today after they unassigned the cabin showing Z1.

 

This afternoon she ended up getting assigned the same cabin again.  Called back and was told the same thing - can’t do anything but pay for an upgrade.  I just sent an email to the ex-co address to see if they can assist.

 

Edited April 5, 2022 by JessyCruises

[brillohead]

Hopefully you can get the casino rep to work something out, because a ZI room with a single supplement applied (which this obviously is, b/c they did the 60% off, which is the discount on the second fare) should be a double-occupancy room.  

 

[smplybcause]

5 hours ago, CruiserEK said:

Are GTY cabins normally offered to solo cruisers or double occupancy only? I was able to book a GTY Neighborhood Balcony cabin as a solo passenger last month through the cruise line. I recently checked again just to see if the price dropped and found the GTY option is not available for solo guests only double occupancy.

 

In my experience it is rare to find a gty option for a solo person. 

[JessyCruises]

46 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Hopefully you can get the casino rep to work something out, because a ZI room with a single supplement applied (which this obviously is, b/c they did the 60% off, which is the discount on the second fare) should be a double-occupancy room.  

 

 

I am glad my sister and I are not going crazy as that is how we were reading it too.  I have now done my part by calling and emailing.  Hopefully it works out for her

 

[Ourusualbeach]

8 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

 

I am glad my sister and I are not going crazy as that is how we were reading it too.  I have now done my part by calling and emailing.  Hopefully it works out for her

 

Here's  an idea.  Can you add a second guest to the booking.  It should only be for the taxes.  Have them be a no show and get the taxes back or if there is time cancel them off before sailing and after the room is assigned. 

 

By adding a second guest they will have to assign you double occupancy cabin.

[JessyCruises]

Just now, Ourusualbeach said:

Here's  an idea.  Can you add a second guest to the booking.  It should only be for the taxes.  Have them be a no show and get the taxes back or if there is time cancel them off before sailing and after the room is assigned. 

 

By adding a second guest they will have to assign you double occupancy cabin.

I believe it is too late now that it is assigned.

[Ourusualbeach]

7 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

I believe it is too late now that it is assigned.

Can't  you get put back in the pool. 

[JessyCruises]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Can't  you get put back in the pool. 

They did not offer it after the 2nd call.  

[Ourusualbeach]

1 minute ago, JessyCruises said:

They did not offer it after the 2nd call.  

Too bad 

[JessyCruises]

Just now, Ourusualbeach said:

Too bad 

If the person I emailed cannot do one of the things I asked (either get her in a double cabin or get her the quad pts in the cabin she has), I will see if they can get her back in the pool.

[ONECRUISER]

1 hour ago, smplybcause said:

 

In my experience it is rare to find a gty option for a solo person. 

Agree. Seen dozens these myself, but that is over last 7-8 years. Almost always close to or after Final