Changing room number with an assigned GTY

[Ja2012]

Tonight I called to change my room number that I received with my GTY booking and the Royal agent told me because I booked at a lower rate then the current rate I would have to pay the difference. The explanation I received: because I booked a GTY rate under an XD category and the new room number has a 1D category, I’m technically changing categories even though deck plans show both rooms are 1D. After a 5 minute hold I finally received the new room but I’ve never had to push for the change. 
 

Was this always the policy but never enforced or is this something new?

Edited August 4 by Ja2012

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, Ja2012 said:

Tonight I called to change my room number that I received with my GTY booking and the Royal agent told me because I booked at a lower rate then the current rate I would have to pay the difference. The explanation I received: because I booked a GTY rate under an XD category and the new room number has a 1D category, I’m technically changing categories even though deck plans show both rooms are 1D. After a 5 minute hold I finally received the new room but I’ve never had to push for the change. 
 

Was this always the policy but never enforced or is this something new?

My TA would have changed me free within the same category. He says it's a simple matter of hitting a few keys, he dosnt even have to call it in. At least that's my u understanding. 

 

Its not a policy, call back and ask again, some will do it some are lazy. No such policy I've ever heard of.

[Ken at the beach]

5 minutes ago, Ja2012 said:

Tonight I called to change my room number that I received with my GTY booking and the Royal agent told me because I booked at a lower rate then the current rate I would have to pay the difference. The explanation I received: because I booked a GTY rate under an XD category and the new room number has a 1D category, I’m technically changing categories even though deck plans show both rooms are 1D. After a 5 minute hold I finally received the new room but I’ve never had to push for the change. 
 

Was this always the policy but never enforced or is this something new?

You just got an agent that was not familiar with how things should be done.  Nothing has changed regarding the policy of changing rooms.

[Ocean Boy]

I've been able to change to different room in the same category as the gty assigned room with no problem.

[perfect match]

I recently booked a suite guarantee and have found my room number through the barcode trick. We got a JS which is what I expected. I have no problem with the JS and will stay with it if I have to but I’d really prefer a different location.

 

Do I have to wait for my current room assignment becomes official before I can call and try to switch locations, or if a JS in a location I would prefer becomes available can I go ahead and call now to make the switch.
 

Right now it really doesn’t matter because there none available but I’d hate to miss the chance to switch if a JS I’d prefer does show up. 
 

Thanks.
 

 

[Another_Critic]

You have to wait until a GTY assignment is official before switching cabins.

[perfect match]

I figured that’s what the policy would be but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. It’s still a JS which I didn’t have before and at half the price they had been previously asking for choose your own room. Previously the asking price even for a guarantee was more than we wanted and the room is a JS no matter where it is. 
 

Thank you for your reply. 

[dani negreanu]

4 hours ago, perfect match said:

but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask

 

I had my previous TA call with the cabin # I wanted to switch to, after being assigned the GTY.

 

If you give them the "alternative" number (without mentioning GTY, it worked for me twice...).

 

Might try with: "I'd like to switch from # [if you have the #, even before you got the "official" notice] to this #".

 

BTW, I've been already assigned my GTY # for my next cruise, never got an "official" notice....😕 

[leaveitallbehind]

There are no special tricks required to make a GTY change. The program is simple. Once a GTY stateroom is assigned, if you want to switch to a different location, simply contact whomever you booked through and tell them you would like to have a different location assigned.  They will check available inventory and make the change for you at no charge.

 

The guidelines are that the move is based on current inventory availability at the time of your request and it will based on moving within the same sub-category as that stateroom originally assigned. They see your booking number and assigned stateroom when you make the request.

 

Done it several times, most recently a few weeks ago on an upcoming cruise. Very simple and no smoke an mirrors.

Edited August 4 by leaveitallbehind

[RFerrington]

10 hours ago, perfect match said:

I recently booked a suite guarantee and have found my room number through the barcode trick. We got a JS which is what I expected. I have no problem with the JS and will stay with it if I have to but I’d really prefer a different location.

 

Do I have to wait for my current room assignment becomes official before I can call and try to switch locations, or if a JS in a location I would prefer becomes available can I go ahead and call now to make the switch.
 

Right now it really doesn’t matter because there none available but I’d hate to miss the chance to switch if a JS I’d prefer does show up. 
 

Thanks.
 

 

It never hurts to call and ask.  In order for a GTY room to be officially and finally "assigned" it must be authorized and executed by the Revenue Department.  Once Revenue moves it from a GTY to assigned category, it's official and you have the option to move into a different suite/cabin of the SAME category, if one is available.  Until Rev does it's magic, nobody at Royal can make a switch.

 

I had this exact scenario (sans the bar code trick, since it was too early to use the bar code trick) happen a week or so ago on a XS (STE GYT) that I had for an Enchantment sailing in January 25.  It was a casino comp and the agent told me that the room had been unofficially assigned and told me which room it was.  I asked to be moved to a different J3 that was showing available.  The Agent called Revenue, who made the assignment official, and then moved me to the new J3 of my choice.  I was actually very surprised that they did all of this, but they did.  It never hurts to ask.

[Arzeena]

6 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I had my previous TA call with the cabin # I wanted to switch to, after being assigned the GTY.

 

If you give them the "alternative" number (without mentioning GTY, it worked for me twice...).

 

Might try with: "I'd like to switch from # [if you have the #, even before you got the "official" notice] to this #".

 

BTW, I've been already assigned my GTY # for my next cruise, never got an "official" notice....😕 

I too have been assigned for an October cruise. Did not get any notification but I called for a question on something else and the CnA rep on the phone also said they are checking if a cabin # can be assigned. And came back with our assigned cabin #. Great location and very happy with what was assigned. App and website also now shows cabin #.

[RFerrington]

11 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

I too have been assigned for an October cruise. Did not get any notification but I called for a question on something else and the CnA rep on the phone also said they are checking if a cabin # can be assigned. And came back with our assigned cabin #. Great location and very happy with what was assigned. App and website also now shows cabin #.

While I had success for our January EN sailing, not so much for a GTY I have pending for Brilliance in November.  😔  I called and tried to get that one "confirmed" (and possibly moved) but no luck....so it really depends on who you get on the other end of the phone, which is always the case !

[leaveitallbehind]

8 hours ago, RFerrington said:

While I had success for our January EN sailing, not so much for a GTY I have pending for Brilliance in November.  😔  I called and tried to get that one "confirmed" (and possibly moved) but no luck....so it really depends on who you get on the other end of the phone, which is always the case !

It isn't dependent on who you talk with as it is just based on available inventory within the assigned sub-category. But the original stateroom needs to be confirmed as assigned first before you can move it - which is the caveat.  If they can't move it it's because there is no remaining available inventory in the assigned sub-category.

Edited August 5 by leaveitallbehind