Guaranteed Staterooms

[Epinz300]

Hey All!  

 

If my wife and I book a GTY balcony room and we get one in an area of ship that we don't like or we see a stateroom available before sailing, are we allowed to ask to switch it?  If so, would we go through Royal or our TA?

 

[OCSC Mike]

28 minutes ago, Epinz300 said:

Hey All!  

 

If my wife and I book a GTY balcony room and we get one in an area of ship that we don't like or we see a stateroom available before sailing, are we allowed to ask to switch it?  If so, would we go through Royal or our TA?

 

Your TA can ask for you to be switched to any cabin available in the SAME EXACT category if there are any. I've done this in the past and as recently as July.

[Morecruisesplz]

12 hours ago, Epinz300 said:

Hey All!  

 

If my wife and I book a GTY balcony room and we get one in an area of ship that we don't like or we see a stateroom available before sailing, are we allowed to ask to switch it?  If so, would we go through Royal or our TA?

 

Don't buy a GTD then. You paid less for NOT being able to pick your cabin IMHO.

[Ourusualbeach]

13 hours ago, Epinz300 said:

Hey All!  

 

If my wife and I book a GTY balcony room and we get one in an area of ship that we don't like or we see a stateroom available before sailing, are we allowed to ask to switch it?  If so, would we go through Royal or our TA?

 

Royal seems to be on the habit of assigning staterooms closer to sailing lately and many times there are none available to switch to once yours is assigned.  If location is important then pay more and select your room. 

[Spurschick]

17 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Royal seems to be on the habit of assigning staterooms closer to sailing lately and many times there are none available to switch to once yours is assigned.  If location is important then pay more and select your room. 

Same with Royal ups - I have seen people that bid on Royal up and won, but don’t like the cabin assigned but there is no inventory left to switch cabins. 

Edited October 12, 2022 by Spurschick

[gobblegobbletilluwobble]

I recently booked a GTY balcony 6 weeks before sailing and got a stateroom assigned a week later, but it was a connecting room.  So I called my TA and got it switched to a non-connecting cabin in the same category.

[emeraldcity]

If it's a quantum class ship, you might want to think twice about choosing a balcony guarantee. We got 6186 on the Odyssey. The price difference was considerable, so I accept this was the result and we didn't let it spoil our vacation.

 

 

[mek]

2 hours ago, emeraldcity said:

If it's a quantum class ship, you might want to think twice about choosing a balcony guarantee. We got 6186 on the Odyssey. The price difference was considerable, so I accept this was the result and we didn't let it spoil our vacation.

 

 

No biggie IMO.  For the right price I would take that in a heartbeat.

[Mum2Mercury]

On 10/11/2022 at 10:52 AM, Epinz300 said:

Hey All!  

 

If my wife and I book a GTY balcony room and we get one in an area of ship that we don't like or we see a stateroom available before sailing, are we allowed to ask to switch it?  If so, would we go through Royal or our TA?

 

You can ask, but you may or may not receive.  

By the time they assign guarantee rooms, most of the other rooms are going to be claimed.  

If you used a TA, your TA must make the request -- if you yourself handled the ressie, you would make the request.  

 

Personally, we've LOVED our assigned rooms and the savings -- but I will admit it drove me nuts waiting to know the room number.  

 

I do have one theory about assigning rooms:  I think you're more likely to get a mid-ship room with a guarantee.  Why?  Because they cost a bit more, so they're likely to stand empty.  

[djkk]

I booked a neighborhood balcony for the Oasis this month. The cabin was assigned two weeks before the sailing. It is too late to change the cabin, since the cabins are sold out in the category. I would not choose guarantee again since I am not happy with my assignment ( deck 14, Boardwalk). In years past, it seemed they assigned cabins much earlier, so it was relatively easy to switch if you were not happy. I will do my best to have a great time regardless. Happy Sailing!

[ihate2cruise]

8 hours ago, emeraldcity said:

If it's a quantum class ship, you might want to think twice about choosing a balcony guarantee. We got 6186 on the Odyssey. The price difference was considerable, so I accept this was the result and we didn't let it spoil our vacation.

 

 

I'd be okay with this. Not my ideal but, for the price compared to choosing myself, I'll take it. We really don't sit out on our balcony, it just nice to be able to see outside and step out to catch a breath of fresh sea air. More $$$ to spend on drinks, excursions, casino and souvenir's 😉

[mek]

44 minutes ago, djkk said:

I booked a neighborhood balcony for the Oasis this month. The cabin was assigned two weeks before the sailing. It is too late to change the cabin, since the cabins are sold out in the category. I would not choose guarantee again since I am not happy with my assignment ( deck 14, Boardwalk). In years past, it seemed they assigned cabins much earlier, so it was relatively easy to switch if you were not happy. I will do my best to have a great time regardless. Happy Sailing!

Not being snarky - just curious - with what location would you have been happy? 

[djkk]

I would be happier with a lower deck, not under the sports court. Actually, a central park balcony cabin would've been my first choice. Next time I'll pay for it.😀

[mek]

20 minutes ago, djkk said:

I would be happier with a lower deck, not under the sports court. Actually, a central park balcony cabin would've been my first choice. Next time I'll pay for it.😀

Sorry you were disappointed.  Whenever I book a guarantee, I locate the worst cabin I could possibly be assigned and that isn't a problem, then I go with it, but they aren't for everyone.

[Woody14]

11 minutes ago, mek said:

Sorry you were disappointed.  Whenever I book a guarantee, I locate the worst cabin I could possibly be assigned and that isn't a problem, then I go with it, but they aren't for everyone.

I am totally with you.   My default is if the price I am looking at is the same or less than the category below I will take it as a win.  I have the attitude that the worst balcony is better than an ocean view.  (the worst ocean view is better than an inside) once in a while it does bite me but rarely, mostly I have appreciated my obstructed view balcony for the price of an ocean view (or less).

[mek]

11 hours ago, Woody14 said:

I am totally with you.   My default is if the price I am looking at is the same or less than the category below I will take it as a win.  I have the attitude that the worst balcony is better than an ocean view.  (the worst ocean view is better than an inside) once in a while it does bite me but rarely, mostly I have appreciated my obstructed view balcony for the price of an ocean view (or less).

I got really lucky on our Allure cruise that sails this Saturday.  It was a cruise originally booked in November, 2019 on Oasis and has been canceled/rescheduled 3X.  When I decided on this date the offer on a guarantee OV balcony was just too good to pass up and when we got our cabin assignment, I was thrilled - deck 6, the first cabin on the aft hump.  I told my husband I probably couldn't have picked a better location if had paid for assigned cabin.