Cabin assignments not what requested

[DJTexas]

:eek: We booked a cruise 12/4 on Radiance of the Sea. We booked with another couple. We requested our cabins be near each other. Today, we received our cabin assignments. Our friends got upgraded and we didn't. Our cabins are about as far apart as they can be on different decks. Our TA told us there is nothing they can do and to ask for reassignment when we check in. Has this happened to anyone else and if so, how did it work out? Any suggestions??

[ebonybee]

How did your friends get "upgraded?" Did they do this and just didn't tell you? Maybe they decided that being next to each other would be just too much togetherness.

[stretch]

Fire your TA. They are obviously not earning their commission.

 

Stretch

[DJTexas]

The couple we are traveling with wants our cabins together. We've traveled together for years. They are just as dissapointed as we are. The TA said people get picked for upgrades for random reasons. What now???

[negc]

Stretch is right. When the line notified your TA that they were upgrading your friends, (s)he should have checked with both of you to see if it was agreeable, and if not, told the line that the upgrade was being declined. I think it is rare that a cruiseline upgrades a client without consulting with them first. I would insist that my travel agent tell the line that it was unacceptable and, if it is indeed too late to change things back to the way they were, negotiate some sort of perk to make it less onorous.

However, it does sound like you did not book specific cabins and in fact may have booked guarantees. If that is what you did your travel agent should have told you that something like this could happen when the line finally made room assignments. Before you blame the cruise line make sure you know all of the facts about the original booking request.

 

I think you are also within the period where passengers can cancel without penalty, so some rooms could open up by the time that final payments are due and it doesn't make sense to wait until you board before trying to correct the situation. Sounds like the TA doesn't want to take the time or make any effort to help. If that is the case, keep it in mind when you plan your next trip and find a better agent.

[geoherb]

My question is why did you just receive your cabin assignments instead of receiving them when you booked the cruise? Did you book guarantee cabins? If so, I'm not sure there's much to be done other than going through your TA and seeing what your TA can do with the cruiseline.

 

When my parents have traveled with friends, they picked out specific cabins that were near each other. Their friends wanted an outside cabin, but my parents were OK with an inside one. They were on the same corridor, about five cabins away from each other.

[GranysT]

Wow, what a bummer. Not to rain on your parade,but if they can't find 2 cabins next to each other for a Dec cruise,and its only July? I'm afraid trying for reassignment when you get to the ship,will be an exercise in futillity as well. All ships are filling up,earlier and earlier,it now seems. Crusing has become the "HOT" mode of travel once again.

[Guest Jaxmania]

Your TA could have requested "no upgrade". We do it every cruise and have never had a problem.

Cabin and location are important to us so we pick our cabin when we book the cruise

Sounds like getting together will be a little more inconvenient but I hope you still have a great cruise.

[Merion_Mom]

I just looked at RC's website, and there are lots of E category cabins near each other, D, too, and OV. The only missing links are insides and JS. If you want an OceanView (window) or E or D category, there should be no problem. Ask your TA what the heck is going on.

 

Carol

[Jimbo]

If your travel agent can't make it good just cancel and rebook with RCCL yourself. You are well outside of the 70 days before final payment is due, you should be able to get all your money back inless you booked with a travel agency that charges a fee to cancel.

 

Jimbo:)

[CARIBBEAN01]

If you were booked as gty there is nothing you can do you have to take what the computer found for you. I dont book gty's because cabin location is very important to us but alot of people dont care and its works for them. ...

[TEXASMUNK]

If you booked GTY, you went into the "pool"...your agent should have known that.

 

When your friends got upgraded, your TA would have been advised. Dumping the problem back on you stinks.

 

I would not call the TA, I would go in sit down, get RCI on Speaker phone and see if you can work through the problem.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

If you are traveling together the reservations should of been linked together as well. Maybe your TA didn't do that or RCI didn't notice it. But if linked together both should of been upgraded. Either both or none should of been upgraded.

 

I agree with Jimbo, cancel it out if your outside the penelty period and rebook dirsct with RCI and have them link them together.

 

***

[Ella2]

I'm confused as to whether you BOOKED your cruise on 12/4 or are SAILING on 12/4.

 

Since you just got cabin assignments I'm assuming that you BOOKED on 12/4 and are sailing soon? A few things:

 

1) If you both booked as a GUARANTEE there is absolutely no way that your TA could request that your cabins be together, that's the whole point of a GTY...you take whatever is available in that cabin category, and sometimes you get upgraded.

 

2) HOWEVER, if you DID request rooms together and were not AWARE that you were being booked in a guarantee status, then you have a HUGE issue with your TA. That's just wrong.

 

3) The other scenario is that you DID get cabins assigned at the time of booking and for whatever reason your friends were upgraded. Again, assuming your friends booked through the same TA, they should have been NOTIFIED regarding an upgrade and given the opportunity to decline it, if that is what they wanted.

 

Again, I'm just guessing based upon what you have stated so far, but it does seem like your TA can try and do MORE for you, depending upon the situation.

 

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your cruise. The Radiance isn't THAT big so even if you and your friends aren't next to each other, you will not be that far away either, right? :)

[hermang]

:eek: We booked a cruise 12/4 on Radiance of the Sea. We booked with another couple. We requested our cabins be near each other. Today, we received our cabin assignments. Our friends got upgraded and we didn't. Our cabins are about as far apart as they can be on different decks. Our TA told us there is nothing they can do and to ask for reassignment when we check in. Has this happened to anyone else and if so, how did it work out? Any suggestions??

We have had 2 similar situations. the second which is for our upcoming Alaska Cruise - we are traveling with 2 other couples. we are in 6048 they are 6056 and 6058. No problem we do not have to be in adjoining cabins - would have been nice - but we can walk 20'. We were told that we should ( for Alaska) move to the other side of the ship. Our TA said that after 6/19 when cabins went back into the pool she would try to do that. When 6/19 came - she told us that she could get 3 cabins were available BUT they could be on different decks and possibly bad locations and certainly not close to one another. We opted to stay put.

 

Second case - and this is hysterical -

 

Several years ago ourselves and 2 other couples were booked to go on the Dawn Princess. Our one friend DEMANDED we be all together and for argument sake call them cabin 1,2 and 3. We were in Cabin 1, the damander was in 3 and our other friend was in 2. Friend 2 backed out. When we boarded the Dawn, Friend 3 went ape**** that The TA and Princess were IDIOTS because they should have moved Her next to us instead of having a total stranger between us - Besides he smoked a Cigar in the Veranda.

 

Not to make lite of your situation but in the first case we were told by the TA of the consequences.

[sherry7]

Second case - and this is hysterical -

 

Several years ago ourselves and 2 other couples were booked to go on the Dawn Princess. Our one friend DEMANDED we be all together and for argument sake call them cabin 1,2 and 3. We were in Cabin 1, the damander was in 3 and our other friend was in 2. Friend 2 backed out. When we boarded the Dawn, Friend 3 went ape**** that The TA and Princess were IDIOTS because they should have moved Her next to us instead of having a total stranger between us - Besides he smoked a Cigar in the Veranda.

 

I'm guessing you never took another cruise with Friend 3, right? ;)

[jenrie]

:eek: We booked a cruise 12/4 on Radiance of the Sea. We booked with another couple. We requested our cabins be near each other. Today, we received our cabin assignments. Our friends got upgraded and we didn't. Our cabins are about as far apart as they can be on different decks. Our TA told us there is nothing they can do and to ask for reassignment when we check in. Has this happened to anyone else and if so, how did it work out? Any suggestions??

don't wait until you check in as if the ship is fully booked there is no chance of a change my advice is go on line and see what is available decide what cabins you both would like then armed with this information go back to your T.A. and ask again. If they still will not help you then phone RCCL yourself and request a change to the cabins you have chosen.I don't see that there will be a problem we have changed our bookings lots of times after the initial booking and I have always found RCCL to be very helpful.

Jenrie

[cruisedoctor]

DJTexas, unfortunately not all travel agents are well versed in booking cruises. Here's a scenario that is very common. Mrs. Jones tells the travel agent she wants to sail on the msFairseas, on April 1st, and wants the least expensive ocean view stateroom. Her agent call the cruiseline and asks for a quote on the least expensive OV stateroom. Many times the cruise line will be offering a "category guarantee" at a lower rate than for a "category room assignment", so that's what they quote the agent on.

 

Now, the reservationist may not make the distinction clear enought to the agent. Or, the agent didn't listen well enough and realize he was being quoted a guarantee rather than a specific category. Or, the agent didn't know what a guarantee meant. The end result is the the client is booked into a guarantee rather than a specific category.

 

Or, another common occurence, is where a travel agency or agent will use the lower price of a "guarantee" booking in order to get the client's business, if they feel the client is price shopping at many agencies, and doesn't bring up the topic of room assignment unless specifically asked.

 

The problem with booking a guarantee, is that the cruise line's room assignment is final, and they rarely will make a change. Their reasoning, is that the passenger has traded their right to choose for a lower fare.

 

Whenever you book a cruise you should receive a booking confirmation or invoice within a few days from the travel agency showing exactly what was booked for you, and listing your room assignemnt (unless you book a guarantee). If you have special requirements, like wanting adjoining cabins, or side by side cabins, you should be in on the decision making process of choosing the cabins. If you are new to cruising, then you should seek out an experienced cruise specialist who can help guide your decision making.

 

If you have booked under a specific category stateroom assignment, RCL just doesn't go ahead an upgrade you without your consent. The only time they will upgrade without notice, is if you are book under a guarantee. I'll bet you that you and your friends were booked under a guarantee...and it just happens that the computer decided to assign your friends a stateroom in a different category than yours.

 

I'm sorry that you find yourselves in this situation. It could be worse. Carnival has one category of stateroom that has bunk beds. And, this is the least expensive category on the ship. The cruise staff on these ships will tell you how many times honeymoon couples find themselves booked into one of these bunk bed staterooms...because their travel agent was ignorant of the bedding in this category, and just asked that the client be assigned into the least expensive stateroom. Sleeping solo in bunkbeds on one's honeymoon isn't very romantic.

 

I wouldn't wait untill boarding to see if a change could be made. These days ships are sailing at around 105% capacity, and the chance of finding two staterooms side by side or near to one another isn't very likely on the day of sailing.

 

Don't let this spoil what will likely be a wonderful vacation. Good luck!