I want to pick my cabin

[twodjs]

We opted for a guarantee one time and suggested our friends do the same for an Alaska cruise. Be very careful if you do this - you must be happy with the worst cabin in that catagory, or don't risk it. Remember, you will get the cabin no one else wanted (or be very lucky if the ship is simply not very full). We all ended up with very small cabins at the front near the anchor. Dreadful, noisy cabins. We will never forget and felt terrible for giving bad advice to our friends. Lesson learned. We will NEVER again book a guarantee!

[thinfool]

We opted for a guarantee one time and suggested our friends do the same for an Alaska cruise. Be very careful if you do this - you must be happy with the worst cabin in that catagory, or don't risk it. Remember, you will get the cabin no one else wanted (or be very lucky if the ship is simply not very full). We all ended up with very small cabins at the front near the anchor. Dreadful, noisy cabins. We will never forget and felt terrible for giving bad advice to our friends. Lesson learned. We will NEVER again book a guarantee!

 

While it is too bad you had this bad experience, it appears that you didn't really understand how the guarantee arrangement works.

 

Cruise lines routinely advertise the lowest inside fare available as a teaser to attract eyeballs. Sadly, customers are led to believe that category is the only category that can be booked as a guarantee.

 

Simply not true.

 

Guarantees are available in nearly every class of cabin, which means that 'bottom of the barrel' cabins would not be assigned to someone who booked a cabin class in the balcony range.

 

A competent TA or a phone call to the cruise line can result in a guarantee booking that is more in line with your preferences.