Finding cabin assignment with "guarantee"

[mimicsr]

We are less than two weeks until sail date and still don't have our cabin number. I keep checking with the HA website for booked guests, the immigration form, and it keeps saying "GUAR" Is this unusual, or is there another place on the web site I should be going to for this info?

[ODECCIT]

We are less than two weeks until sail date and still don't have our cabin number. I keep checking with the HA website for booked guests, the immigration form, and it keeps saying "GUAR" Is this unusual, or is there another place on the web site I should be going to for this info?

 

 

Keep checking we got ours 10 days before sail date.

[Ted&Molly]

We are less than two weeks until sail date and still don't have our cabin number. I keep checking with the HA website for booked guests, the immigration form, and it keeps saying "GUAR" Is this unusual, or is there another place on the web site I should be going to for this info?

 

Your situation is not unusual. Although it is rare, some passengers do not know their cabin numbers until they arrive to board. If you do not have it three days or so before you depart, you may wish to check with your TA or HAL Reservations (if you booked directly) to confirm that your booking is in order. Double check your booking receipt to be sure it shows your correct booking number, voyage number, and a zero balance due on the fare. The immigration form is the best place to check for your cabin number. As soon as it is assigned, it is posted immediately on your immigration form. I know this for sure because I am the owner of a travel agency and when I book a GUAR cruise for myself, I check the website regularly for my cabin. When HAL faxes the cabin assignment to my office, I check the immigration form online immediately--and there it is! Also, it is my impression--and it is only an impression--that the later the assigment, the more likely you will receive an upgrade. No guarantees, of course.

[RuthC]

We are less than two weeks until sail date and still don't have our cabin number. Is this unusual?

It's quite the norm, as a matter of fact. Your cabin should be assigned any time now; it's not uncommon for it to be assigned 1-2 weeks before sailing.

It's possible for a cabin to be assigned several weeks before sailing, or not to be known until you check in, but that's not how it usually plays out.

[mimicsr]

Ted&Molly: Thanks. You have eased my mind somewhat. We've received our docs and have our Imm. form all filled out. The docs show a zero balance so I'm sure we're okay there. I just wanted confirmation that the Imm. form was the best place to check. I'll keep on checking every morning until sail date. On one of the other lines (Carnival, I think) you can find out by acting like you want to order a special service like wine package, etc. but with H.A. I didn't see any way to do that. Here's hoping the upgrade fairy pays us a visit, but if she doesn't, that's okay, too. Just get me on the ship!!

[mimicsr]

I just checked again and we got our cabin assignment, and yes, it is an upgrade, if you can call it that. We like inside cabins and prefer to be higher in the ship with an inside than lower with an outside. So they upgraded us from a Cat. K inside to a Cat. D outside. It's right in the middle of the ship starboard side, but on the very lowest deck, darn!! I told my TA to put a notation on our booking that if we were to be upgraded at all, to please not make it a lower deck, but I guess it was no use. Do you think I should see if we can change back to a K inside or just let it go. We might end up with a Cat. K but clear to the back or front. We've been pretty lucky with guarantees in the past, but maybe we'd just better book a high inside and leave it at that.

[DAllenTCY]

A category "K" to a "D" is an upgrade. If you have such particular ideas about where you want your cabin to be, you shouldn't be purchasing a guaranteed cabin!

David

[newmexicoNita]

I just checked again and we got our cabin assignment, and yes, it is an upgrade, if you can call it that. We like inside cabins and prefer to be higher in the ship with an inside than lower with an outside. So they upgraded us from a Cat. K inside to a Cat. D outside. It's right in the middle of the ship starboard side, but on the very lowest deck, darn!! I told my TA to put a notation on our booking that if we were to be upgraded at all, to please not make it a lower deck, but I guess it was no use. Do you think I should see if we can change back to a K inside or just let it go. We might end up with a Cat. K but clear to the back or front. We've been pretty lucky with guarantees in the past, but maybe we'd just better book a high inside and leave it at that.

No matter what you told your TA, if you book a guar and get an upgrade that is what you should be happy with. I don't think the cruiseline has time to sort out all special requests when upgrading. Most people would be very happy to go from inside to outside. If I were you I would keep what I have. I do agree about the lower deck. We have had it a couple of times and it isn't the best but you feel less motion and being mid ship is important to many. WE are on the Amsterdam, have guar and didn't get upgraded at all, even though none of the catagories are sold out. We are happy with the location of our cabin as we have never been completely aft.NMnita

[mimicsr]

Both of you are, of course, right. And I really don't mean to be a complainer. As was said, if I really prefer inside and high up, that's what I'll book in the future. However, we have gotten some really good upgrades in the past, still keeping us high in the ship, and we really don't mind an inside cabin. I like it TOTALLY dark when I'm sleeping, so insides suit us fine. I'm just glad to be cruising, no matter where. I just wanted a little input as to whether to pursue it, and I have decided to leave it alone and enjoy the view!! Thanks to all.

[mimicsr]

Both of you are, of course, right. And I really don't mean to be a complainer. As was said, if I really prefer inside and high up, that's what I'll book in the future. However, we have gotten some really good upgrades in the past, still keeping us high in the ship, and we really don't mind an inside cabin. I like it TOTALLY dark when I'm sleeping, so insides suit us fine. I'm just glad to be cruising, no matter where. I just wanted a little input as to whether to pursue it, and I have decided to leave it alone and enjoy the view!! Thanks to all.

[Ted&Molly]

I just checked again and we got our cabin assignment, and yes, it is an upgrade, if you can call it that. We like inside cabins and prefer to be higher in the ship with an inside than lower with an outside. So they upgraded us from a Cat. K inside to a Cat. D outside. It's right in the middle of the ship starboard side, but on the very lowest deck, darn!! I told my TA to put a notation on our booking that if we were to be upgraded at all, to please not make it a lower deck, but I guess it was no use. Do you think I should see if we can change back to a K inside or just let it go. We might end up with a Cat. K but clear to the back or front. We've been pretty lucky with guarantees in the past, but maybe we'd just better book a high inside and leave it at that.

The tone and substance of the latest responses to your query are less than helpful. As an experienced cruiser, I am sure that you are fully aware of all the points raised. Your TA should have told you that she/he can request a conditional upgrade, but that there is no guarantee (and IMO it is very unlikely) that HAL will honor it. As you know, HAL sets the terms of your booking, and you can take it or leave it. One of those terms is that a GUAR booking means that you are guaranteed a cabin in a category no lower than the one booked. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to impose further conditions on those terms. I hope your TA did not lead you to believe that you could, thereby raising false hope. I won't comment on the pros and cons of different locations on the ship--that's really irrelevant. You know what you want and the fact that it is not the "mainstream" preference (outside vs. inside), that's your business. Bottom line: you have nothing to lose by instructing your TA to fax in your request for a change, but the realistic odds of obtaining it are not in your favor. At least you have enough notice so that you have time to reconcile your disappointment and prepare a positive frame of mind to maximize your enjoyment of the trip.

[cruisequeen10]

I just checked again and we got our cabin assignment, and yes, it is an upgrade, if you can call it that. We like inside cabins and prefer to be higher in the ship with an inside than lower with an outside. So they upgraded us from a Cat. K inside to a Cat. D outside. It's right in the middle of the ship starboard side, but on the very lowest deck, darn!! I told my TA to put a notation on our booking that if we were to be upgraded at all, to please not make it a lower deck, but I guess it was no use. Do you think I should see if we can change back to a K inside or just let it go. We might end up with a Cat. K but clear to the back or front. We've been pretty lucky with guarantees in the past, but maybe we'd just better book a high inside and leave it at that.

 

We had booked a guarantee MM category (inside) and received the D (outside). Of course I thought this was a downgrade from being so high up to being on the bottom. Our cabin was just down from the show lounge and right under the casino. Well I thought this was going to be horrible, but it was the best cabin we have every had. Also, the outside elevators (scenic) we had mostly to ourselves the whole week.