Badgeaz Posted September 12, 2018 #1 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I'm thinking of booking for dec this year 10 day southern early dec it would be just me and the wife. Right now on the website it's $500 per person.We are currently booked on princess same time frame. My wife is on princess with her mom in alaska and they are hating princess. My question is has anyone booked a,sail away and gotten better than they thought for cabin asssignment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniacal Cruiser Posted September 12, 2018 #2 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I am sure someone has. Remember when you book a Sail Away rate you will booking a general class of cabin (or better) such as Inside, Ocean View, Balcony. You re not booking a specific level of cabin such as Ii, I2, IA, etc. When you book a sail away you can get ANY cabin of that class or higher ANYWHERE on the ship. Window, Portals, and/or balconies may be obstructed view. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norovirus595 Posted September 12, 2018 #3 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I've gotten great rooms on sailaway...and some terrible rooms. That's the price you pay for that lower rate...the total uncertainty and lack of control. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mking8288 Posted September 12, 2018 #4 Share Posted September 12, 2018 OP, well, you are still nearly 3 months from sailing - if you are booking a Sail Away ("no-frills) GTY stateroom, i.e. Inside or OV, I am guessing - they might or might NOT assign you a specific cabin now or close to sailing; and, you are okay with that. Well, you might still get a second chance, under the Upgrade Advantage bidding offer option, if there are still unsold inventories in the higher categories for you to consider to bid for. Maybe with a barely minimum, poor bid or just slightly more; and, see whether they will accept your proposed bid and upgrade ... no extra frills but also not losing anything. The amount, is very likely, still less than a straight booking or upgrade price, to offer to NCL to accept or hold & consider. IMHO. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboy Posted September 12, 2018 #5 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I'm thinking of booking for dec this year 10 day southern early dec it would be just me and the wife. Right now on the website it's $500 per person.We are currently booked on princess same time frame. My wife is on princess with her mom in alaska and they are hating princess. My question is has anyone booked a,sail away and gotten better than they thought for cabin asssignment You'll get a good cabin and it's a great price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenTX4NYC Posted September 12, 2018 #6 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I'm thinking of booking for dec this year 10 day southern early dec it would be just me and the wife. Right now on the website it's $500 per person.We are currently booked on princess same time frame. My wife is on princess with her mom in alaska and they are hating princess. My question is has anyone booked a,sail away and gotten better than they thought for cabin asssignment I always book a sail away [balcony] and typically get a room better than the bottom of the class in terms of balconies. I actually called last night because the sail away for our cruising is now about $70 per person less than what we paid and they said if they had a room available to make up the price difference they would upgrade us... but they don’t. It’s all good, we got pre-paid gratuities which are worth more than the $70 pp and they aren’t offering it now, so we are still ahead. Anyways, you really can’t go wrong with a sail away unless you have a very specific room request... if you’re flexible, you’ll save a boat load and have a great time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare JamieLogical Posted September 12, 2018 #7 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I have never booked a Sail Away, because I am all about that drink package! However, I did book a GTY once. I booked a GTY IC (which is one of the lower inside categories) and ended up getting into a nice I1 on Deck 10. However, I then won an Upgrade Advantage bid and ultimately ended up in a BA on Deck 10. If you don't care about the Free at Sea perks, then Sail Away can be a great deal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WickedRed Posted September 12, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I've done the sailaway interior a couple times and a gty inside once. Honestly, the worst room I've had was with the GTY had me above the theatre on the Dawn. Even that wasn't all that bad, just some muffled noise for a couple hours IF I was in my room during a show. If you don't mind leaving the risk of room choice to chance and the perks don't thrill you, then go for the sailaway. Bring ear plugs just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_DeA Posted September 12, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I've used the Sailaway rate a few times and never had a bad room. It's the luck of the draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havenfan Posted September 12, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 12, 2018 You have no certainty and will not be able to indulge your preferences when booking a GTY but you are not actually more likely to get the worst* possible cabin, particularly if you book the GTY or Sail Away when all the other cabins in that category are sold out. NCL sell the GTY in that situation because they expect to upgrade someone out of the category. When they do so, they do not put the open cabin back onto the system and ask if anyone would like to move; they just give that open cabin to whomever has the GTY booking. So you could end up with the best* cabin in the category if the previous holder gets an upgrade. It really does become a complete lottery. * I am using "best" and "worst" to represent whatever your preferences may be, since there is little agreement on what people prefer in a cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Itchy&Scratchy Posted September 12, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I purchased a Sail Away inside last week on Jade (November cruise), and just got an assignment today. I think we'll hate it - it's on deck 11 right under the buffet on deck 12. What could they possible HATE about Princess? Or did you mean - they hate the cabin placement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badgeaz Posted September 12, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted September 12, 2018 They are hating the food. The entertainment and the long lines getting back onto the ship after excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gymbomb Posted September 12, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I will never do any kind of guarantee room again unless I know I am ok with the location of every room in that category and above. The cruise where we were woken up multiple times every night because our room was right above the hydraulic machinery in the laundry room was the last time I will ever do that! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Itchy&Scratchy Posted September 12, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 12, 2018 They are hating the food. The entertainment and the long lines getting back onto the ship after excursions. they are hating PRINCESS FOOD? If there is anything not to hate about Princess - it's usually food. : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mef_57 Posted September 12, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I booked Sail Away balcony for November and was assigned 8th floor family balcony. But it is over the theatre rather than over the disco, so I'm good...as long as the people on the other side of the connecting door are into loud parties every night. It isn't by the elevators, nor by a service room. You might later be offered an upgrade bid, but no guarantee there either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted September 12, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I’ve booked a lot of sail away cabins (cruise every month). Sure I’ve gotten some good cabins. ALWAYS the same catagory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badgeaz Posted September 12, 2018 Author #17 Share Posted September 12, 2018 Very much appreciate the input. This cruise is about the interiary. Not the cabin selection. And I have noticed there are some Oceanview cabins still avaliable. So a,free upgrade would be ok also. I'll know more tomorrow when my wife pulls into ketichan if we are cancelling our princess booking for same time frame 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maniacal Cruiser Posted September 12, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I booked Sail Away balcony for November and was assigned 8th floor family balcony. But it is over the theatre rather than over the disco, so I'm good...as long as the people on the other side of the connecting door are into loud parties every night. It isn't by the elevators, nor by a service room.You might later be offered an upgrade bid, but no guarantee there either. We prefer close to the elevators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Itchy&Scratchy Posted September 12, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 12, 2018 Very much appreciate the input. This cruise is about the interiary. Not the cabin selection. And I have noticed there are some Oceanview cabins still avaliable. So a,free upgrade would be ok also. I'll know more tomorrow when my wife pulls into ketichan if we are cancelling our princess booking for same time frame which Princess are they on now and which Princess ship would you be on on your next trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badgeaz Posted September 12, 2018 Author #20 Share Posted September 12, 2018 They are on ruby now. We will be on the crown in December Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrieBajan54 Posted September 12, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 12, 2018 As a solo, I always book Sail Away which allows me to cruise more often. Not interested in so-called FREE stuff which would mean booking the next category up and roughly $1000 more. Have always ended up with good cabins (knock on wood :) ). My cruise in a few weeks, the Sail Away category was IX and I was assigned category ID on deck 10. Great location with cabins above and below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libra1012 Posted September 12, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 12, 2018 We normally book sail away cabins. Recently on 8/31 sailing of the Dawn. Booked a sail away oceanview. Was assigned OB oceanview cabin. Pleased with this cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MINILvr Posted September 12, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I have my first sail away cabin booked for April. I am stalking NCL daily to see if I have a cabin assignment. :) I am not super worried about our location, I just want to be on a ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruzPrincess Posted September 12, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I booked a sailaway for my upcoming Alaska cruise on the Bliss. I don’t drink, so I decided I didn’t need the amenities for an extra $1000. I bought a dinner package for $87. I was assigned an inside cabin that was pretty far forward, but not bad in any way as far as I can tell. I bid for an upsell and was given a mid-ship balcony. I’m really happy with how it all worked out. I was on the Ruby Princess for 2 cruises last year and both cruises were fine. At one port in Alaska, Juneau maybe, many of the excursions come back at the same time and the lines to get back on the ship can be horrible if you get in that mix. I’m sure that could happen on any ship if timing is unfortunate. For me, it was bad last year because it was pouring rain the whole time. They had two lines to reboard. Princess is fine for me and it’s my normal cruise line of choice, but I’m really liking NCL lately. I hope you enjoy it. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grayce Posted September 13, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 13, 2018 I booked a sailaway interior room for our upcoming Gem cruise. We were assigned a IA cabin on deck 10. Very pleased with the location. Sent from my SM-T380 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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