Royal Caribbean Picks Your Room

[SummersOff4Me]

We always choose our cabin when we cruise.  To save some money, we are considering an inside cabin that Royal Caribbean will choose.  If you have chosen a cabin this way, were you please with what you were assigned?  Did you ever get assigned a room that was better than an inside one, such as an ocean view. Thanks for sharing any experiences that you have had with this!

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, SummersOff4Me said:

If you have chosen a cabin this way, were you pleased with what you were assigned?

Assignments are so random that not sure what anyone else got will matter much for you. Assume you can get assigned any cabin on the ship but more likely one of the categories which still shows availability.

[GetToLivin]

I've only booked GTY's when they are a suite GTY because I know I'll be happy with the lowest category (Jr Suite) and ecstatic if it's anything better (and once, yes, I had a suite GTY which landed me a Grand Suite). Personally, I've never done a GTY below that category because I do care about location on the ship and since there are soooooo many cabins in the lower categories it really is a crap-shoot regarding where you'll end up.

[miyanc]

13 minutes ago, SummersOff4Me said:

We always choose our cabin when we cruise.  To save some money, we are considering an inside cabin that Royal Caribbean will choose.  If you have chosen a cabin this way, were you please with what you were assigned?  Did you ever get assigned a room that was better than an inside one, such as an ocean view. Thanks for sharing any experiences that you have had with this!

I have booked rooms that they picked many times.  Mostly the room selection is overrated.  When needed and when I could afford, or if cheap enough or from the time I booked to the time I cruised I have upgraded.  The price goes up and down.  when down I get credit or use it to get a better room.  I have many times gotten upgraded rooms.  Its not always what you think. Yes its happened that you go from inside to outside view, but more often you go from 1 category to another within a class.  Its not as simple as inside out balcony or suite.  Each category has many levels that the cruise company, or many here online, view as better or worse.  However, if you have cruised and decide you wanted something specific for personal reasons or hate something for practical reasons, then letting them pick a room will result in a gamble not worth taking.  If you view the room as a means to cruise, and don't care the result by all means.  I would not book an inside guarantee unless you are prepared to get the worst room.  Then if you get something better, bonus.  a little vacation victory.  

[silentbob007]

Only once in the many many guarantees I’ve booked have I been upgraded to a different category. If you honestly don’t care where you end up and are happy with the worst cabin in that category, it is a good way to save money. If you absolutely have to be midship or near an elevator it is better to just pick your own room. 

Edited July 5, 2023 by silentbob007

[Norwich Cruiser]

We’ve booked guaranteed cabins on a few occasions and always been happy with the cabin we were given always the category we booked.

 

However my daughter with an absolute last minute booking was once upgraded from a guaranteed inside to a junior suite.

[Tatka]

We don’t book inside guarantee with RCI as upgrade to ocean under promenade deck would be a downgrade to us. We don’t need a window, but need location. Also with betting system chance of placement to higher category is slim.

[Bruin Steve]

I, generally, like to choose my cabin...Mostly because I have certain preferences...

I like balconies, but don't want an obstructed view...I also have a strong preference for midship, or, at least, close to elevators for convenience sake.  And, if I can work it, I like those cabins with larger than standard balconies...And I, generally, like to cruise in balconies, or, at times, suites...

 

That said, on rare occasions--due to either lack of availability or due to extremely large differences in price, I will book some sort of guarantee...

 

For our upcoming August Quantum Alaska cruise--where we are taking our daughters plus son-in law and other daughter's boyfriend--we booked three balconies with guarantee rates.  But to avoid obstucted views, we booked higher level "unobstructed" balcony guarantees...We ended up with three cabins all fairly close together near midship on deck 13...Very happy with the assignments.

 

For our two World Cruise segments next July/August, we again went with guarantees.  This time, it was a question of the little choice of assigned cabins left after RCCL sold off a large portion of the ship to full world cruise bookings and larger segment bookings before opening to smaller segments.  All they had available when they opened it up to us were a few very poorly located OVs at the front of the ship and a bunch of insides (though they later opened a few balcony guarantees but at extremely high prices).  With the choice of booking a known poorly located OV or taking an OV guarantee, we opted for OV guarantees.  Figured it could be, at worst, one of those forward-most remaining OVs...OR, we might get lucky and get a better located OV...or get really lucky and get upgraded--though we've rarely been upgraded on a guarantee before (though ONE TIME, we were assigned a larger balcony cabin on a balcony guarantee rate).  We'll just wait and see this time.

 

Of course, I'm prepared for anything.  Just get me on the ship and I'll make the most of it.  No balcony?  I'll learn to use the public decks a little more.  Far forward or aft?  I'll get a little more needed exercise.  After all, all of the cabins get the same food and entertainment and go to the same ports.  And, if we use the cabin mostly to sleep and change clothes, it matters little.  It's all good.

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Bruin Steve

[WeatherFx]

We booked Inside Guarantee once and was assigned worst room on the ship IMHO, Deck 2 as far forward in the bow as you could go. Ended up re-booking and picking our interior stateroom. Would never do that again. However, Balcony Guarantee is fine and have done that several times.

[Mick B]

Again, this comes down to your circumstances.

 

We pick our own interior cabins because...

1) they are fairly cheap

2) we can pick one about 100 ft behind the aft lifts which is far enough away to be in a quiet area and also to be fairly steady in case of stormy weather.

3) to not be at the very front or rear - again to avoid issues with bad weather.

4) to not be below or above or next to a busy/noisy area such as above the theatre/pub or below the dinning room or swimming pool equipment area.

5) to be located where we have good quick access to the ship as we don't want to be walking for ages to get to where we need to be each day. Also important for anyone who is not good on their feet as some of the bigger ships have quite a fair walk even to the lifts.

 

Bear in mind that if you do get a GTY then you may get a room assigned fairly quickly and you can then check it on the ships map and you may find it OK. If not, you could try the Royal Up, but that may cost you more money and not guarantee a better choice of location. You could wait until you are onboard and then go to guest services and see if there is a better room available, but if the only rooms are in a higher category you may have to fork out $$$. So in the end you may have been better off choosing your room in the first place and knowing where you are going to be.

 

I have booked a GTY a few times where the price difference is quite big and have been given fairly good rooms. These have mainly been for shorter cruises in calmer seas. I would not risk a GTY for a TA though!

 

Mick.

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Mick B

[OCSC Mike]

Used to book them all the time. You can be placed anywhere & upgrades are rare.

 

Be aware that if booking from the US, once assigned, you can switch to any available cabin in your exact same category with a simple phone call. This was one reason we didn’t mind them, especially when ships weren’t so close to full further out. I would switch to what we considered a more desirable location nearly every time.

[firefly333]

I'd like to know why royal rarely let's solos book gtys. I used to book them all the time on other lines but royal doesnt have gty option when booking solo. 

 

Maybe too many with the DP340 code so they dont want solo to get discounted and also lower prices. Always seemed unfair to me to not let solo book gty. Yes I know use a fake 2nd person, but why.

[Ocean Boy]

12 hours ago, miyanc said:

 I would not book an inside guarantee unless you are prepared to get the worst room.  Then if you get something better, bonus.  a little vacation victory.  

An inside is probably the category where I would have the least concern booking a guarentee. Once the door closes you have no idea where you are located anyway.

[Cruisegoer]

When you book a GTY you have to be accepting in your mind that you're going to be in the worst possible cabin in that category, any upgrade is considered Gravy.  Your loyalty status certainly can help you out but when ships are sailing at capacity you might just get what you paid for.

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, Cruisegoer said:

Your loyalty status certainly can help you out

 

How so?

[cruiselvr04]

I’ve done a guarantee a couple of times.  Not great locations or a lot of noise.  Unless you’re booking a full ship and that’s all that’s left I’d pay the extra and pick my room.  If you book a guarantee plan to be happy with whatever you get.  

[Cruisegoer]

39 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

How so?

Historically those with a guarantee who have higher statuses get a higher category in that cabin class (so maybe an inside on deck 7-8-9 vs deck 1-2).  Again, it all depends on availability but that can literally be hundreds of reservations.  I will say getting an upgrade out of the cabin category you've paid for does not generally happen, sure it's possible but not frequent considering the upgrade/bidding process in place.

[firefly333]

14 minutes ago, Cruisegoer said:

Historically those with a guarantee who have higher statuses get a higher category in that cabin class (so maybe an inside on deck 7-8-9 vs deck 1-2).  Again, it all depends on availability but that can literally be hundreds of reservations.  I will say getting an upgrade out of the cabin category you've paid for does not generally happen, sure it's possible but not frequent considering the upgrade/bidding process in place.

I'd like to see the stats on this. 

 

Historically from what you have seen or have you seen any comparisons or stats?

[topnole]

16 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I'd like to see the stats on this. 

 

Historically from what you have seen or have you seen any comparisons or stats?

Yeah.  How would anyone know this?

[Bruin Steve]

31 minutes ago, Cruisegoer said:

Historically those with a guarantee who have higher statuses get a higher category in that cabin class (so maybe an inside on deck 7-8-9 vs deck 1-2).  Again, it all depends on availability but that can literally be hundreds of reservations.  I will say getting an upgrade out of the cabin category you've paid for does not generally happen, sure it's possible but not frequent considering the upgrade/bidding process in place.

I'm not so sure about that...

I am Diamond Plus...As I reported earlier, I've rarely seen any bump.  I've been in roll call threads where I've been given a guarantee assignment in the lowest category of my guarantee while newbie first time cruisers have reported some sizable upgrades.  I believe it's simply luck of the draw.

[topnole]

16 hours ago, SummersOff4Me said:

We always choose our cabin when we cruise.  To save some money, we are considering an inside cabin that Royal Caribbean will choose.  If you have chosen a cabin this way, were you please with what you were assigned?  Did you ever get assigned a room that was better than an inside one, such as an ocean view. Thanks for sharing any experiences that you have had with this!

It is a total crap shoot.  No prior experience for you or us will predict your situation.  Assume the worst and hope for the best.  I have booked guarantees before.  Some worked out fine, and others, not so great.  Highly unlikely to do it now.  

 

[Cruisegoer]

27 minutes ago, topnole said:

Yeah.  How would anyone know this?

Sorry I'm offering my personal 35 years of prior cruise experience. I don't have statistical information for you......I hope you can still manage to sleep at night. God Bless 🥰

[Cruisegoer]

27 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

I'm not so sure about that...

I am Diamond Plus...As I reported earlier, I've rarely seen any bump.  I've been in roll call threads where I've been given a guarantee assignment in the lowest category of my guarantee while newbie first time cruisers have reported some sizable upgrades.  I believe it's simply luck of the draw.

I think I've qualified my statements, I've never stated anything saying that other factors don't play a role. Maybe you're just particularly "unlucky".

[Jbluebird]

We booked a balcony guaranty for our upcoming cruise because it was the only balcony option available at the time of booking.  We got our room assigned within a couple weeks.  It's not bad because while it's over the casino, it's directly mid-ship, which I love.  It is a partial obstructed view, but it's just the top of a lifeboat so you can't look down, but you can still look straight across.  In reality, we're not going to be in our room very often because we're in port 9 of 12 days and I usually just sit on the balcony to have a glass of wine or read. We also have a Royal Up bid in for both a Junior Suite and Grand Suite so we'll see what happens.

[topnole]

1 hour ago, Cruisegoer said:

Sorry I'm offering my personal 35 years of prior cruise experience. I don't have statistical information for you......I hope you can still manage to sleep at night. God Bless 🥰

I’ve been cruising longer than 35 years and I can tell you from my experience, it’s a total crap shoot.  
 

Don’t worry I sleep just fine.  But you are essentially making stuff up, so no need to act surprised if someone asks how you would know something. Did you expect to post bogus info and no one say anything?  How would you know they give better cabins to those with status?  The answer is clear now that you don’t.  Instead you made a definitive statement about how they do it based only on your experience and not the millions of other cruisers.  Well, I can guarantee you there are many with a very different experience than you.  
 

It is a benefit for those reading this thread for this false information to be corrected.   Don’t act like anyone is overreacting if they correct your false statement.  You don’t know how

they assign cabins, so why pretend like you do and confuse others in the process.