Balcony TBA

[auburn77]

We are going on Mardi Gras for the first time in August and could only find balcony cabins to be assigned (we booked months ago). We never book these assigned cabins because we are very particular about location, but decided we would go anyway and just accept the worst. After all these months, they are still showing only TBA balcony cabins. This just seems strange to me. Are they overbooking balconies? If they had enough TBA balconies to book for months, shouldn't they have had some cabin numbers we could choose?

[mz-s]

Carnival is doing more and more guarantee rates these days. I have personally had good luck with guarantee rooms. But there's always the chance you'll get a room right under the theatre or directly above guest services I suppose.

[BoozinCroozin]

People with balconies on my cruise in June are getting upgrade offers like crazy. They are giving upgrades to higher decks and nicer views to get more money. Giving the less desired cabins to the GTY category. Gives the people that paid a little more an opportunity to pay more for a better location maybe. This is my guess.

[asalligo]

11 hours ago, auburn77 said:

We are going on Mardi Gras for the first time in August and could only find balcony cabins to be assigned (we booked months ago). We never book these assigned cabins because we are very particular about location, but decided we would go anyway and just accept the worst. After all these months, they are still showing only TBA balcony cabins. This just seems strange to me. Are they overbooking balconies? If they had enough TBA balconies to book for months, shouldn't they have had some cabin numbers we could choose?

Always scared to let Carnival choose my cabin. Please come back and let us know where they placed you. 

[csm5986142]

In our experience, we were assigned our TBA balcony approximately 75 days prior to the cruise.  We were assigned a cove balcony in a pretty good location (so good experience overall) but I still prefer to choose my own cabin unless the price difference is significant.

I would encourage people not to book TBA cabins expecting to possibly upgrade if they don't like the assigned location.  In our case all balcony rooms were sold out over a month prior to the cruise, and the other few options left (inside and ocean view) were not good locations.  

[jsglow]

I will simply answer this way.  We have done numerous TBA cabins.  Assignments are most typically made within 30 days of the actual cruise; sometimes the week before and there are examples of folks not knowing until they arrive at the pier.  I'd be very surprised to see you assigned a cabin fully 5 months out.  You likely won't have one until at least July.

 

As others have indicated, Carnival has months of 'upsell' ahead of them before they assign you. You mentioned that you are 'very particular'.  My strong advice is that you avoid checking as much as possible.  We've never gotten a 'bad' cabin (always generic 'average'), but we're not that particular.  I will say that we only do TBAs for either obstructed views or ocean views.  On most cruise lines, that's a very homogeneous product.  

[auburn77]

I know all about the risks of a TBA. I'm just wondering why they have apparently sold nothing but TBAs in this cabin category for many months and there are still TBAs available. Wouldn't that mean that there are a lot of balcony cabins available? If there were that many balcony cabins available, then why sell so many as TBAs?

[Elaine5715]

8 minutes ago, auburn77 said:

I know all about the risks of a TBA. I'm just wondering why they have apparently sold nothing but TBAs in this cabin category for many months and there are still TBAs available. Wouldn't that mean that there are a lot of balcony cabins available? If there were that many balcony cabins available, then why sell so many as TBAs?

Because people think they are getting a better deal with a guarantee and also many believe a guarantee could get a upgrade to a suite even. 

[kingston13]

It is likely because TAs book blocks of rooms and Carnival will assign them once they are released.

 

[auburn77]

On 3/14/2023 at 2:14 PM, kingston13 said:

It is likely because TAs book blocks of rooms and Carnival will assign them once they are released.

 

What about people like me that don't ever go thru a TA and would pay extra for an assigned cabin?

[auburn77]

The bookings for this cruise are apparently now closed, which I assume means it is fully booked. However, I looked at my booking info and it shows twin beds with no way to edit. Another thing I've never seen. Is there a category of balcony with only twin beds?

 

[csm5986142]

Just now, auburn77 said:

However, I looked at my booking info and it shows twin beds with no way to edit.

 

I noticed this with our TBA Balcony too - you will be be able to edit the bed arrangement as soon as the room is assigned.

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, auburn77 said:

The bookings for this cruise are apparently now closed, which I assume means it is fully booked. However, I looked at my booking info and it shows twin beds with no way to edit. Another thing I've never seen. Is there a category of balcony with only twin beds?

 

Yes, usually handicapped room, though

[BoozinCroozin]

Based on our June cruise, people with booked balconies are getting upgrade offers to more desirable decks and views. They probably paid $200-$300 more than the GTY people. If they can get an extra $200 to upgrade, they move them to the better locations and the TBA get the lifeboat, overhang type views. I am not saying they are bad, just that is what I am seeing in my cruise group. They could be because they are random: above or below a nightclub, right below Lido where chairs are dragged all night, over the kitchen where they are cooking at all hours etc. 

[auburn77]

Once again, I understand the risks of booking a TBA. That was not my point. In my many cruises with Carnival, I have not seen only TBAs available that many months out and continuing to be the only choice for those many months.

I would have gladly paid more to book a cabin location of my choice.

[mz-s]

I have never seen it so that you can only book guarantee rooms.

 

Carnival's booking engine absolutely encourages guarantee rooms, but for a test cruise on Mardi Gras I was able to go back and pick a different rate code so I could pick my own room (at a higher rate).

[ray98]

1 hour ago, auburn77 said:

Once again, I understand the risks of booking a TBA. That was not my point. In my many cruises with Carnival, I have not seen only TBAs available that many months out and continuing to be the only choice for those many months.

I would have gladly paid more to book a cabin location of my choice.

 

If it is already showing sold out I would assume you are drastically overestimating the amount of cabins that were available when you started looking even if it was months ago.  Carnival knows they can get more $$$ by allowing people to pick their cabins, if they have the inventory to do so while still having a cushion to managing existing bookings they will do so.

[auburn77]

On 3/18/2023 at 1:00 PM, ray98 said:

 

If it is already showing sold out I would assume you are drastically overestimating the amount of cabins that were available when you started looking even if it was months ago.  Carnival knows they can get more $$$ by allowing people to pick their cabins, if they have the inventory to do so while still having a cushion to managing existing bookings they will do so.

Actually, I checked again today and it isn't sold out. Still showing balcony TBAs available. I have to assume that all the good locations were sold out a while back and they've just got a lot of really lousy balcony locations left on the ship and this is the only way to sell them.

[BlerkOne]

Did you book a casino or other offer? Many default to TBA cabins unless you tell it otherwise. You should be outside of final payment and able to switch since you are willing to pay more. What sailing? I see all kinds of balconies.

[auburn77]

Just an update. Yes, I booked thru a casino offer. It only showed TBA, but I finally found a button that said 'another room'. I still don't know why all the categories were not shown without this step. To be sure, I called to pick a specific cabin. I was told the cabin would be about $330 more than the original TBA. I told him to book it. Then, the Carnival rep told me that my future cruise credit was figured incorrectly when I first booked and I was credited an additional amount equal to about $330. I therefore got my assigned cabin choice for about $10 less than the original TBA.

With Cheers for about $100 more, but probably wouldn't get my money's worth.

 

[serene56]

you will not be assigned until closer to sailing.   Id keep an eye on the price and if its the same price to pick my own-- id be picking my own 

[auburn77]

On 3/29/2023 at 11:54 AM, serene56 said:

you will not be assigned until closer to sailing.   Id keep an eye on the price and if its the same price to pick my own-- id be picking my own 

You may be right, but I am satisfied with the extra money it cost to choose my location. If I wait, I may not have the opportunity to choose and may end up in a terrible location for 7 days. It's well worth it to me to choose. I've now got a great cabin location.

[Tink10]

We booked a casino offer on a GTY balcony about a month ago for a September cruise on Venezia. I was a little shocked that our cabin was assigned last night. Unfortunately, it was a cove balcony on deck 2 across from the elevators. We probably should have waited, but hubby saw the location and said "Upgrade to the suite"

 

It was a gamble going with a guarantee, but we were willing to give it a shot.