Book a Guaranteed Category or Specific Cabin?

[Cras108er]

We're getting ready to book a 15-day Hawaiian Cruise on the Grand Princess. The TA have us the choice of booking a guaranteed BF cabin, which means we're guaranteed at least that category, or we could get upgraded. The other option is to book a specific cabin, of which there are six left. Which would you do?

 

On a related note, my wife is a militant non-smoker. She hates having smokers on the adjacent balconies. One of the cabins they offered was at the vert front of the ship (lido deck). I have heard the seas tend to be rough out of CA (SF). We'll be leaving in February. Will having. Cabin that high and that far forward be bad in terms of motion? Our other option was a cabin on Emerald deck. It's still forward, but not as far forward. We could also go with an inside. Thoughts? Thanks.

[rkmw]

We're getting ready to book a 15-day Hawaiian Cruise on the Grand Princess. The TA have us the choice of booking a guaranteed BF cabin, which means we're guaranteed at least that category, or we could get upgraded. The other option is to book a specific cabin, of which there are six left. Which would you do?

 

On a related note, my wife is a militant non-smoker. She hates having smokers on the adjacent balconies. One of the cabins they offered was at the vert front of the ship (lido deck). I have heard the seas tend to be rough out of CA (SF). We'll be leaving in February. Will having. Cabin that high and that far forward be bad in terms of motion? Our other option was a cabin on Emerald deck. It's still forward, but not as far forward. We could also go with an inside. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

on princess no smoking on the balconies anymore

[Pam in CA]

We're getting ready to book a 15-day Hawaiian Cruise on the Grand Princess. The TA have us the choice of booking a guaranteed BF cabin, which means we're guaranteed at least that category, or we could get upgraded. The other option is to book a specific cabin, of which there are six left. Which would you do?

 

On a related note, my wife is a militant non-smoker. She hates having smokers on the adjacent balconies. One of the cabins they offered was at the vert front of the ship (lido deck). I have heard the seas tend to be rough out of CA (SF). We'll be leaving in February. Will having. Cabin that high and that far forward be bad in terms of motion? Our other option was a cabin on Emerald deck. It's still forward, but not as far forward. We could also go with an inside. Thoughts? Thanks.

Smoking won't be an issue as there's no smoking allowed on any Princess balcony.

 

The Emerald deck balcony cabins (not mini-suites) are, I believe, obstructed view balconies. The Promenade decking goes up steps below and in front of these balconies. They are probably not very private.

 

The California Current flows from the Gulf of Alaska south to Baja California. It's a swift-moving, very cold current so when you sail to HI, you sail across the current both going and returning. It can be quite choppy for a day or two each way. If you tend towards seasickness, an upper deck is probably not the best idea.

 

Booking a GTY is always a gamble. Every booking is "will accept an upgrade" by default so not only you but most of the people on the ship are hoping for a free upgrade.

[rdsqrl]

We're getting ready to book a 15-day Hawaiian Cruise on the Grand Princess. The TA have us the choice of booking a guaranteed BF cabin, which means we're guaranteed at least that category, or we could get upgraded. The other option is to book a specific cabin, of which there are six left. Which would you do?

 

On a related note, my wife is a militant non-smoker. She hates having smokers on the adjacent balconies. One of the cabins they offered was at the vert front of the ship (lido deck). I have heard the seas tend to be rough out of CA (SF). We'll be leaving in February. Will having. Cabin that high and that far forward be bad in terms of motion? Our other option was a cabin on Emerald deck. It's still forward, but not as far forward. We could also go with an inside. Thoughts? Thanks.

If you don't care for the location of any of the available six cabins, then sure, go ahead and book a guaranty . . . but bear in mind that you could very well end up with one of those six -- or some other cabin that's equally unappealing. Only book the gty option if you truly don't care where on the ship your cabin is.

 

If motion is more of a concern, then obviously you should be looking to book a specific cabin midships on a lower deck and marking it "do not upgrade." If that has to be an inside or an oceanview cabin to get that location, then that's what you have to do. Only you know the relative priority of location v. motion v. balcony v. window . . . . The bottom line is, don't count on an upgrade to get you what you need.

 

 

[Bruin Steve]

From my experience, I NEVER expect an upgrade when booking a guarantee...Expect to get the WORST cabin in that category on the ship...

 

Now, on SOME cruise lines (Celebrity, RCCL), there is usually an incentive to booking a guarantee rate--a much lower price (We just booked a balcony guarantee on RCCL--7 night cruise, guarantee price was $300 pp lower than choosing our cabin...and, after the cabin is assigned on RCCL, you can call up and get it moved if there's an open cabin in that same category...We just did exactly that and moved to a better location...while keeping the $600 discount!)...

 

But, on Princess, from my experience, the guarantee is USUALLY at the same price...The only real incentive to book a guarantee is if the category is otherwise sold out (and, even then, expect that cabins in that category will open up bnefore sailing).

 

However, in your case, there is one other reason to book it as a guarantee: If all six of the remaining unassigned cabins are entirely objectionable (say, you really don't want to be on the lowest deck all the way to the front and all six are the first three either side on that lowest deck...or that all six are obstructed views with large lifeboats/tenders immediately in front of your window), then you can't really get much by picking which of the six you want...AND, if you get one of those six assigned to you, you haven't lost anything...BUT, there is a chance a better cabin comes open and they assign you there...OR...they sell out those six and the only cabins open at the end are in a higher category...Then you've gambled on the upgrade and won...

 

BUT, if there is, say, one of the six that IS a decent choice...and the other five are undesirable, then GRAB that one good one...

[JimmyVWine]

Smoking won't be an issue as there's no smoking allowed on any Princess balcony.

 

However...I have been on some ships where the area on Lido Deck immediately outside of the door leading to the port side hallway of cabins is a designated smoking area, and when the hallway door is opened, it creates a vacuum effect casuing the smoke to go into that hallway. The smell of smoke has been rather pronounced. At least in the hallway. Not sure if it makes its way into the cabins. So if one is super sensitive to smoke, I would check to see where the designated smoking areas are. If there is one right outside the hallway to the Lido cabins, I would take that into account.

[Gunner22aa]

You are entering a lottery when you book a guarantee cabin. You could end up with the jackpot but unlikely or you could blow your whole bet and end up with the worst possible cabin on the ship for the grade you booked in. As mentioned, Princess unlike some of the other lines does not offer any financial incentive to book a guarantee so I for one could never understand why someone would do it in the first place. I have been upgraded when booking a specific cabin. I'm not sure your chances are any better with a guarantee booking.

[Musky Ike]

You are entering a lottery when you book a guarantee cabin. You could end up with the jackpot but unlikely or you could blow your whole bet and end up with the worst possible cabin on the ship for the grade you booked in. As mentioned, Princess unlike some of the other lines does not offer any financial incentive to book a guarantee so I for one could never understand why someone would do it in the first place. I have been upgraded when booking a specific cabin. I'm not sure your chances are any better with a guarantee booking.

 

Is there anything to back this up? We have had excellent success with upgrades on Princess guarantee bookings. In fact rarely has it been in the category booked and never what I would consider the worst in that category. My guess is that the worst are those upgraded from a lower cat. but who knows? The category assigned for our next cruise is selling now for twice what we paid on a lower cat. guarantee. You will at the very least get what you paid for, so are guaranteed to a least break even. try to find that bet in the casino.:D

[JimmyVWine]

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Is there anything to back this up?

 

Unscientific such as it is, here is some data:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1902213&highlight=upgrade

[Musky Ike]

Unscientific such as it is, here is some data:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1902213&highlight=upgrade

 

I have seen this and from this "poll" it looks like better than 50/50 for upgrades from a guar. depending on room type. And that is for room type upgrades, dos not include within cabin type category upgrades. Again, try to find that bet in a casino:D Plus, this poll says nothing about upgrades from a chosen room. I'd love to examine the formula the computer use to determine who gets what:)