Booking by Guarntee with RCCL

[AdvGirl]

I have a few questions about booking a stateroom using the Guarntee program.

 

1. How soon does RCL Assign rooms

 

2. Once a room is assigned does RCL change the assignment.

 

3. If they do change an assignment - do they downgrade - keep the same or upgrade?

 

I have a RCL cruise booked for for Feb. My room has already been assigned and it is an upgrade from the base balcony rate the Guarntee is based on. My concern is the room is a connected room.

 

The reason for the concern is I booked a previous RCL using Guarntee. I got a room assigned about 4 weeks out. The room was also an upgrade from base rate which is obstructed balcony and was also a connected cabin. When I checked in I was given the room key to assigned room. By the time I got on board my room did not work. When I went to customer service I discovered my room had been changed to a non connected room higher up and more centered. So the result was a slight bump up.

 

So those of you that have used Guarntee what has been your experience?

[phillygirl2400]

Hi. We got our cabin assignment on the Anthem within a week of booking. Booked obstructed balcony guarantee X and got a D4 balcony - nice upgrade. The cabin was connected. I call my TA. He contacted RCL and they changed my cabin to a non connected on the same deck/similar location. I don't expect any other cabin change.

 

 

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[Homosassa]

There is the possibility that you may not find out your cabin assignment unto check in and any cabin you have been assigned can be changed by RCCL at anytime.

 

Don't count on any changes being an upgrade. The change, however, will never be lower than the class cabin you paid for in the guarantee rate.

 

Also, what RCCL considers an "upgrade," may not be one in your opinion.

 

I also wouldn't count on being able to request a cabin change from the one that has been assigned; that is the purpose of the "guarantee rate;" no selection of the cabin.

Edited November 2, 2015 by Homosassa

[AdvGirl]

There is the possibility that you may not find out your cabin assignment unto check in and any cabin you have been assigned can be changed by RCCL at anytime.

 

Don't count on any changes being an upgrade. The change, however, will never be lower than the class cabin you paid for in the guarantee rate.

 

Also, what RCCL considers an "upgrade," may not be one in your opinion.

 

I also wouldn't count on being able to request a cabin change from the one that has been assigned; that is the purpose of the "guarantee rate;" no selection of the cabin.

 

 

Wow to very different views of same issue. One is a positive result the other is a very pragmatic view. On a pure by the book basis the pragmatic answer is correct.

 

But more wondering like the first answer what did happen not what could. In my case worst case I get balcony totally obstructed by a lifeboat with no view of anything. But it is in RCL interest to give people positive experiences, and to show some loyalty to returning customers. So by them giving me a room so soon allows them to open up more Guarntee rooms to attract more passengers based on price.

 

So again to those who have booked and cruised with a Guarntee what has been your experience.

 

I do agree on one thing an upgrade by RCL standards may not be upgrade to you. On last second room bump in someways I was disappointed because even thought my other room was more forward and lower it was also more assessable to areas we wanted to frequent. In the long run though I was pleased with the final result just getting room changed after you board is a bit unsettling.

[39august]

You can change your assigned cabin to another in the SAME catagory if you wish. Don't count on an upgrade. That happens rarely. You can get your assignment as soon as the day you book and as late as at the pier.

[enyliram]

sailing date dec 19th indy.

i booked oct 31 saturday and cabin assignment today. deluxe balcony guarantee. assigned superior D3

[wampuscat7]

Last week I put a 24-hour hold on a room on RCI's site for a Dec cruise and it gave me a room number, even though I chose Cat. X guarantee. I ended up booking with a TA for a bit of OBC, so I don't know whether that held room would've held up through the booking process. When I booked with the TA, I was assigned a room almost immediately.

 

Today I was able to change from that room to a different room in the same category for free. (We wanted the other side of the ship.) (The UK RCI site shows more available cabins at a time than the US one.)

[Lmarie6]

We booked maybe 6 weeks out (I realize now this was LATE to book!) for our upcoming Grandeur cruise, and since it's our first time and my sweetheart isn't sure how he'd like it, we went with guaranteed inside cabin. It was only a few days later that the stateroom had been assigned and we ended up with an ocean view port side cabin, about mid-ship. It has not been changed yet, but I guess we'll see what happens when we get on the ship? This is our first time cruising so no idea what to expect! I hope we do end up with the one the site is showing.

[KiwiGal117]

I think you are good to go with that one. Sounds like the only reason they may make another shift if it is an adjoining cabin and the party on the other side requests it.

[Homosassa]

Wow to very different views of same issue. One is a positive result the other is a very pragmatic view. On a pure by the book basis the pragmatic answer is correct.

 

 

My answer is actually based on my booking of guaranteed rooms over the years (don't do the guaranteed route all the time).

 

I usually have ended up with exactly what I contracted for. The so call "upgrades" were usually in locations that I consider undesirable, no matter what the category of cabin.

 

And yes, I have had the cabins assigned at the pier or found that I was reassigned (three times on one cruise and the last change was at the pier).

[Moonarino]

Wow to very different views of same issue. One is a positive result the other is a very pragmatic view. On a pure by the book basis the pragmatic answer is correct.

 

But more wondering like the first answer what did happen not what could. In my case worst case I get balcony totally obstructed by a lifeboat with no view of anything. But it is in RCL interest to give people positive experiences, and to show some loyalty to returning customers. So by them giving me a room so soon allows them to open up more Guarntee rooms to attract more passengers based on price.

 

So again to those who have booked and cruised with a Guarntee what has been your experience.

 

In response to the part I bolded: On my very first booking with RCCL I went with a Guaranteed Suite (booked just 3 weeks ahead), and didn't know the cabin assignment until day of departure.

 

I was VIP-escorted to a Loft Suite, which is several steps up the category. So in my own limited experience (just the one time), "loyalty" didn't play into it at all. Maybe the first (of the bolded part) but apparently not the latter.

 

I've never seen any good answer to this question, even from the "pros". There doesn't seem to be any set formula or method for how or when the cruise lines assign guaranteed bookings. If there is one, it's apparently the industry's best-kept secret.

Edited November 3, 2015 by Moonarino