Cabin number assigned if booking guarantee

We gave only been on two cruises and both times we selected our cabin number at the time of booking. This time I came across an online deal so booked a guarantee. I see we have a cabin number assigned already so I was wondering if this really is a guarantee? It isn’t a huge deal, I just thought with a guarantee we might have some chance of a slightly higher cabin category but with a cabin assigned that seems less likely? The cabin is an HH oceanview. Thanks much!

We gave only been on two cruises and both times we selected our cabin number at the time of booking. This time I came across an online deal so booked a guarantee. I see we have a cabin number assigned already so I was wondering if this really is a guarantee? It isn’t a huge deal, I just thought with a guarantee we might have some chance of a slightly higher cabin category but with a cabin assigned that seems less likely? The cabin is an HH oceanview. Thanks much!

When is your cruise?

How soon after you booked did you see the cabin number?

Not until August - we have only given a deposit so far as final payment is not due until the end of the month. The cabin number showed up right away.

Recommend you call whomever you booked thru (HAL or TA) and make sure your reservation was entered as a guaranteed cabin not an assigned cabin.

It sounds to me like you don't have a guarantee, and if so your chances of an upgrade are considerably lower.

It sounds to me like you don't have a guarantee, and if so your chances of an upgrade are considerably lower.

Absolutely agree. This is not a "guaraentee".

I also have a question about the cabin assignment, guess it's better tag along this thread.

Last week we booked a 14-day Alaska cruise on Zaandam in the coming August. Originally I was planning to book online by myself (first time with HAL, cruised before with Disney, Princess and Celebrity). Then I came across this question during the process after I chose the cabin number: Are you flexible for your room assignment? (Can't remember the exact wording, but this was what the question meant.) And fine printing explained that I might have a chance to be assigned to a different cabin in either the same or higher category. I was kind of confused, so gave up and called my TA to deal with the booking. I told her about that and she said usually HAL may give you an Upsell later, but Upgrade would be extremely rare.

So I'm curious to know: Have any of you experienced HAL cruiser ever received an upgrade (not upsell) even your reservation was not a Guarantee one?

Thanks,

CZ

I also have a question about the cabin assignment, guess it's better tag along this thread.

 

Last week we booked a 14-day Alaska cruise on Zaandam in the coming August. Originally I was planning to book online by myself (first time with HAL, cruised before with Disney, Princess and Celebrity). Then I came across this question during the process after I chose the cabin number: Are you flexible for your room assignment? (Can't remember the exact wording, but this was what the question meant.) And fine printing explained that I might have a chance to be assigned to a different cabin in either the same or higher category. I was kind of confused, so gave up and called my TA to deal with the booking. I told her about that and she said usually HAL may give you an Upsell later, but Upgrade would be extremely rare.

 

So I'm curious to know: Have any of you experienced HAL cruiser ever received an upgrade (not upsell) even your reservation was not a Guarantee one?

 

Thanks,

CZ

Real upgrades do happen, but not often.

Upgrades are most often actually "assignments" for guarentee bookings.

Nice cruise, one we take every year at least once. Hope you have a great time!!

Yes, you can be offered either an upgrade (free) or an upsell (not free) with a specified room assignment. Whether this will happen is dependent on many things including how full the cruise is, is there a lot of guaranteed cabins to be assigned, the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day.

Yes, you can be offered either an upgrade (free) or an upsell (not free) with a specified room assignment. Whether this will happen is dependent on many things including how full the cruise is, is there a lot of guaranteed cabins to be assigned, the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day.

An excellent explanation!

Yes, you can be offered either an upgrade (free) or an upsell (not free) with a specified room assignment. Whether this will happen is dependent on many things including how full the cruise is, is there a lot of guaranteed cabins to be assigned, the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day.

Too funny:D.

I also have a question about the cabin assignment, guess it's better tag along this thread.

 

Last week we booked a 14-day Alaska cruise on Zaandam in the coming August. Originally I was planning to book online by myself (first time with HAL, cruised before with Disney, Princess and Celebrity). Then I came across this question during the process after I chose the cabin number: Are you flexible for your room assignment? (Can't remember the exact wording, but this was what the question meant.) And fine printing explained that I might have a chance to be assigned to a different cabin in either the same or higher category. I was kind of confused, so gave up and called my TA to deal with the booking. I told her about that and she said usually HAL may give you an Upsell later, but Upgrade would be extremely rare.

 

So I'm curious to know: Have any of you experienced HAL cruiser ever received an upgrade (not upsell) even your reservation was not a Guarantee one?

 

Thanks,

CZ

We have close to 300 cruise days on HAL & always choose our own cabin...We prefer mid-ship outside cabins.. We've never been offered an up-grade, but it may be because we usually book with one or two more couples & HAL may have decided not to offer upgrades for that reason, or the TA may have marked all the reservations "Do not upgrade"..

Of those cruises we were by ourselves only 3 times (Bermuda, Alaska, & SA/Antarctica) & only offered a Up-sell once to either a veranda or a lanai on our Bermuda cruise.. We took the Lanai because we enjoy the Promenade Deck so much.. To be fair we booked the Alaska cruise in conjunction with an escorted land tour through a wholesaler & did not use our own TA..

Not sure if our own TA did or did not mark our reservation to SA/Antarctica "Do not upgrade", as we booked early & chose an excellent outside cabin very close to the mid-ship elevators..

IMO if you want an up-grade you should call HAL or your TA & tell them you would like to know if they are going to offer up-grades...But be careful, as your up-graded offer may not be as desirable as the cabin you now have..

Yes, you can be offered either an upgrade (free) or an upsell (not free) with a specified room assignment. Whether this will happen is dependent on many things including how full the cruise is, is there a lot of guaranteed cabins to be assigned, the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day.

Agree, that is very funny!!:):)

Thanks, Everyone, for taking time answering my question.

Take Us Away, it's so funny when you said:"... the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day." so hilarious:)

If you are going on Alaskan cruises or other very popular ones, don't be waiting for upgrades or upsells. You are lucky to have a room. Booking a cruise like the ones between Thanksgiving and Xmas gives you a chance to upgrade.

Many things can happen when booking cruises. My aunt and uncle selected and booked a cruise to Alaska on HAL (about 10 years ago) I believe on the Statendam with another couple. Just a week before the cruise they were contacted by HAL and asked if they could cruise a month later that the ship was oversold. They were upgraded to a suite and the cruise was free. Their friends couldn't make the change, so they went on the original cruise booked.

My first HAL cruise I booked a guarantee inside. We were assigned a cabin number about 3 weeks before the cruise. I had our luggage tags filled out and our documents printed. When we arrived at the dock in Seward, there was a bit of a muddle, as they couldn't find us at all, but could clearly see I had my HAL documentation. They finally placed us in an Ocean View cabin at no additional charge.

So strange things can/and do happen whether you book a specific cabin or just a guarantee. I have only cruised 7 times, and that was my only guarantee. I prefer to pick the cabin I want, and have never had that selected cabin changed, nor the good luck my Uncle had in getting a free cruise.

Hope you have a great cruise, whatever you decide to do.

If you are going on Alaskan cruises or other very popular ones, don't be waiting for upgrades or upsells. You are lucky to have a room. Booking a cruise like the ones between Thanksgiving and Xmas gives you a chance to upgrade.

I don't think that is necessarily true. The most reasonable upsell I've ever seen was on an alaska cruise in aug 2013. I ended up in the penthouse for a pretty spectacular price. While I don't think its a good idea to count on that it can happen.

Thanks, Everyone, for taking time answering my question.

 

Take Us Away, it's so funny when you said:"... the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day." so hilarious:)

BUT, it does seem to be a consideration with HAL!!!

I don't think that is necessarily true. The most reasonable upsell I've ever seen was on an alaska cruise in aug 2013. I ended up in the penthouse for a pretty spectacular price. While I don't think its a good idea to count on that it can happen.

I agree.

We had our best upsell from an N to a VB for $108 per person last year to Alaska (7 days).

Some cruises sell well, some don't. Upsells vary!

Wow, it seems good luck does existing in terms of Upgrade.

I've been on probably 9 cruises, and it never happened. This is time our 14-day Alaska will be the two weeks right before Labour Day (Aug 23 - Sep 6), so I guess it's still counted as busy season. I'm happy with the room we chose and no expectation towards Upgrade.

It's definitely nice to hear everyone's experience. Totally love this forum. :)

Wow, it seems good luck does existing in terms of Upgrade.

 

I've been on probably 9 cruises, and it never happened. This is time our 14-day Alaska will be the two weeks right before Labour Day (Aug 23 - Sep 6), so I guess it's still counted as busy season. I'm happy with the room we chose and no expectation towards Upgrade.

 

It's definitely nice to hear everyone's experience. Totally love this forum. :)

Just for clarity, mine was an upsell not an upgrade i.e. I paid for it. When you choose a room you are way less likely to see an upgrade.

The Upgrade Fairy waved her wand over us only once, in the Med, at the dock! We went from an (assigned) verandah to a Signature Suite. We've only had a guarantee once, an inside, but we did get a higher floor, still an inside, also in the Med. We booked a guarantee BB once, got a room number when we booked (although I still swear she said it was a guarantee), and never moved, again in the Med. On our other cruises, we have always booked a specific stateroom, and never moved.

Who knows the mind of the Upgrade Fairy?

We've had four cruises with HAL. On our first cruise we were upgraded for free on the day of cruise cruise or day before, I had printed out my tag a couple of days earlier. We picked our cabin. I think we may have got upgraded because our cruise price dropped a lot and I had a TA who was unavailable after we booked so maybe we had paid more and weren't compensated?

The second cruise, which I booked directly through HAL, I got upgraded but only because again the cruise price dropped a lot but this time I was able to call HAL and ask.

The other two cruises, no upgrades but got the cabin I wanted and was happy with. Next cruise is in June, first guarantee so I'm hoping for an upgrade!

Yes, you can be offered either an upgrade (free) or an upsell (not free) with a specified room assignment. Whether this will happen is dependent on many things including how full the cruise is, is there a lot of guaranteed cabins to be assigned, the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day.

You ain’t jus’ whistlin’ Dixie :). My scheduler must have had indigestion – or WORSE! I’m a 3-star, booked an inside gty in February for my upcoming trip on Amsterdam. Assignments were made and I received an MM, the aftmost one, down in steerage. WORST gty assignment I’ve ever received. Then a HAL newbie on our roll call booked an inside gty on April 20 (ship “officially” sold out that same week) and received a well-positioned K on Main. Go figure.

Oh, I almost forgot to add: I've previously done my own bookings and, as I said, have had great results with gtys in the past. This time I booked with an online TA. Never again!

Whether this will happen is dependent on many things including how full the cruise is, is there a lot of guaranteed cabins to be assigned, the phase of the moon, and what the scheduler had for lunch that day.

You ain’t jus’ whistlin’ Dixie :). My scheduler must have had indigestion – or WORSE!

OMG, you 2 are hilarious!! :D I'm laughing so hard, way too funny!! :D

You ain’t jus’ whistlin’ Dixie :). My scheduler must have had indigestion – or WORSE! I’m a 3-star, booked an inside gty in February for my upcoming trip on Amsterdam. Assignments were made and I received an MM, the aftmost one, down in steerage. WORST gty assignment I’ve ever received. Then a HAL newbie on our roll call booked an inside gty on April 20 (ship “officially” sold out that same week) and received a well-positioned K on Main. Go figure.

 

Oh, I almost forgot to add: I've previously done my own bookings and, as I said, have had great results with gtys in the past. This time I booked with an online TA. Never again!

Thx for posting this info. There has been a couple of posters on here that claim they know how assignments are made. They claim that mariner status, amount paid, and when you booked come into play with assignments. I've noticed otherwise and here is another clear example of this.