Corky33

I have researched extensively for a cruise this spring
and have discovered a very unusual ploy that the cruise lines use that defies understanding on my part.
How could anyone paying $3000-$6000
a couple for a 7-9 day cruise allow the cruise line to select your cabin?
In what other commercial endeavor would you hand over this sum of money and not know what you are getting in
return?
Why has the paying customer not rebelled in demanding a list of available cabins that can be
reviewed prior to selection?
If they guarantee the same
category and of course they
dangle the carrot in front, in that you will be upgraded to a higher one, if your selection is not available.
The fact that the location of your cabin can impact your complete holiday does not seem to deter people from
choosing this option.
I would like to hear from anyone who has used this route and your observations if you would use this approach on a future cruise.
Also does anyone have an opinion on why the cruise lines do not make available this basic information?
Much appreciate your input for a
first time cruiser.

maryann

People that pick a 'guarantee' would like an upgrade and if that is not possible then whatever is available in their category is fine with them.

As to the cruiselines not telling you what cabins are available, I've never had that happen in 20 cruises. If I want to know, all I do is ask and would not book with them until I knew what cabin I had and approved.

Of course that does not apply if you are going 'guarantee'.

Have a fun cruise.

Corky33

Thanks Maryann for your input.
I just accessed a cruise line and entered a category and deck but no cabins were shown available just the"guar" designation came up.
This is my beef, that there is cabins but they are kept secret for some reason and I presume made known to you only when you go to book.
Is that how you framed your answer that when you went to book the cabins were then identified?
Why can the vacant cabins not be readily available for perusal before one is ready to book and forced to commit at the last moment?

Arizona07

I'm having trouble understanding your beef. Are you saying that you want a guaranteed cabin number? Or a cabin type?

We book through a travel agent, & he sends us a confirmation including our cabin number, deck, etc. I can then find it on the deck plan.

maryann

Corky- I understand a little more - we deal with an online agency or an agency that is also online-whichever. But I talk to a person and have a deck plan on my screen - so while I'm talking to them about cabins - I'm seeing where they are located.

Then I make a decision. But if I want a 'guarantee' I pick the lowest price category that would be acceptable to me and book it. And hope for an upgrade.

More important to me is early dining-I won't go if I cannot have that.

Hope you get what you want.

Corky33

Arizona07 let me try to convey to you my beef.
Why do the cruise lines not display the vacant cabins available on each deck? That's all i'm interested in.
Why should I have to go to a TA to find out this basic info.

emd

I've been able to find out all available cabins for our upcoming RCI cruise by checking Travelocity.com

Travelocity shows all available cabins (although you have to search by each cabin type). I'm not sure if it does that for all cruiselines though.

bjboothman

Sometimes when GUAR is all that is available, it because the cruise line is essentially sold out in a number of categories and they aren't exactly sure - due to future cancellations and their ability to upgrade other GUAR bookers -- exactly which cabins will become available.

I have booked a GUAR in the past when I could get a really inexpensive room and took my chances on getting an upgrade. Never got what I would consider a significant upgrade though. I will probably not do it again, unless it's a very last minute, very cheap, cruise where GUAR is all that is available. The last time I booked a GUAR we got the very first cabin in the front of the Crown Princess which was quite a long walk from everyplace else on the ship, especially our dining room which was aft.

If I were spending $3000-$6000 I would not under any circumstances book a GUAR. That's too much money to gamble with and get a room under the disco.

Corky33

bjboothman thank you very much for your answer.
I was beginning to wonder if my origin-al post was lacking in clarity and you have indicated by your reply that you understood my beef.Again thanks for addressing my concerns and echoing sim-ilar sentiments that I expressed.

Curt

This clearly shows why you are better off working with a good travel agent that can walk you through the process...you seem to be confused and in need of help.

abram

When we book a hotel, we get a category, not a specific room, and that's OK because the hotel stays put.

The reason I like to pick our cruise cabin is that my husband gets motion sick, and we need to be midship and low.

Hold

Corky33, I think your original post was very clear and I agree with you. Even the airlines now (not all) allow you to get on line and select the seat you'll fly in before you ever get to the airport.

We've been stung everytime we've ever taken the free "upgrade". Often, its nothing more than the same exact room a deck or two higher, but in a bad location. In our case, it also placed us directly under the main show lounge and we never got rest as a result. On another sailing it put us next to a very noisy equipment room.

The only way I'd ever (maybe) take another upgrade is if I was guaranteed a true upgrade to the next higher class of rooms (ie. pay for an interior and get upgraded to an exterior room, etc.).

I think many people still remember the old "class" system of ocean liner days and consider moving up a deck as an upgrade.

FainaAgain

Doesn't matter how much I pay, I want to pick the cabin before initial deposit. There are websites that allow you to look them up.

Margaret_Hawes

Speaking from a computer point of view: it might be that a cruise line's website is not real-time. The only way you can be certain a cabin is truly available is if the site has a real-time update. If it doesn't there is too much chance of several people trying to book the same cabin at once. Confusion, frustration and hurt feelings would be the result of that. Even if the site is real-time, there is still a chance of a TA, an online customer and a reservation agent at the cruise company all going for the same choice cabin.

kfusto

It is only the hope of getting a better cabin that is the reason some of us book a guarantee.

On luxury lines where the cabins are all really nice, a GTY is a great deal, IMO, as there are no "Bad" cabins.

I just booked a GTY in the minimum suite category for 5/27 on HAL's Noordam because it was only 300 total more than a verandah on a deck that I prefer and 500 total more than the lowest assigned verandah. For this I get considerably more square footage and a few amenities.

We may luck out and get an upgrade and that would be nice but we made the decision simply because it made the differential for a suite a no brainer!

spongiebob

each time i've booked a GUAR cabin i end up with a much better cabin than expected!

Corky33

Would like to thank all for their input and perspective on my question.
Primarily my concern was the location
that you could receive ie:under the pool,beside elevators, or less desirable areas that could generate a lot of noise. It seems that one does not get to see the location that the cruise line has selected for you until you embark or do they give you a chance
to determine your own cabin from a list of available ones?
Thanks again.

kfusto

No, you are not given a choice, hence the price savings.

And yes, you can look at a deck plan prior to sailing and check out the location.

If you prefer to choose, you need to stay away from booking a GTY.