Should I be bummed about this?? (my BE guarantee was assigned a room)

[SweetEmi]

I was so thrilled!! I booked a BE balcony after finding it for only $174 for both of us more than the II I originally booked last November. I booked the guarantee because since there are only 4 of the BE and it is the lowest balcony room...I was of course hoping for an upgrade... :D

 

However, I kept looking every day and it wasn't but a few days after I booked the guarantee that the registration page had me with a room number of 8012. Does that now cut down on my chances of an upgrade??

 

Final payment is due here in 3 weeks (Yippee!). Think maybe something nice will happen after that??

 

I just don't know how to feel about this turn of events. I'm thrilled about the balcony room and the price I got. If I end up in 8012 - I'll still be thrilled. I'll be much more thrilled with a room closer to the middle...and even up a few floors...(not asking for much...lol)

 

Thanks...

Emi

[mmceachn]

Hi SweetEmi

On my last Dawn cruise I also booked a BE with hopes of an upgrade and ended up in a bb...9222. ON the proir Dawn cruise we booked an N and ended up on deck 8 inside in a J .

The May cruise was my second time on the Dawn and first balcony ever and of course before I got my cabin assignment I had hopes of the upgrade fairy granting me a BA or even a suite but it was not to be. I don't know why but I have the idea

that the free upgrades on the Dawn are few and far between and since we got what we paid for we were happy.

I think that everyone who books a GTY has high hopes of a super duper upgrade but I don't think that the truly awesome upgrades happen very often on NCL

I think that they try to "Upsell" first.

A woman whom I work with did the Carnival Triumph Bermuda cruise last year and was upgraded seven catagories from a regular outside to a balcony suite.

Needless to say she was a happy camper.

What ship are you going on?

If it is the Dawn, deck 8 is a great location. You will have a great time

no matter where your cabin is.

[SweetEmi]

Sammy: Thanks! I'm on the Star. A year before the cruise, I booked 11579, same room as I had last year on the Star but on the other side...Inside room but all by itself with no neighbors and I loved it and didn't want to give it up unless it was to a balcony room. It took about 7 months, but I finally found what I wanted to upgrade myself.

 

I'm thrilled with the balcony and will be regardless. I'm a bit worried about the movement that close to the front of the ship (bow?) but I bought myself a Relief Band and have confidence in it. Deck 8 isn't bad unless you are where everyone stands when they want to get a tender. I understand it can be kind of crowded by your room sometimes (at least that's what I've read on here).

 

If I keep working hard, maybe I can take an upsell if one is offered, but if not - Yippee!! I at least have a balcony room!

 

Emi

[mmceachn]

I doubt that you will have a problem with movement

Our deck 9 cabin was three cabins from the very aft of the ship

and we had some rought seas returning to NY. You definitly felt the movement but it was not a problem. I always bring bonine and have never had to use it.

I was wishing for a more mid ship cabin myself, but it never was an issue and the money that I would have spent for an upgrade was available for excursions and extra tips for the hard working staff.

As you can tell I am thouroghly hooked on cruising and love a bargain

but I would sleep on a lifeboat and be happy on one of the newer ships

The older ships are a different story. On the Majesty I always like to pick my cabin and pay the price to be in the section of the ship that I prefer.

The advantage of deck 8 forward is that the forward elevators are seldom as crowded as midship or aft and it is just a couple of flights down to the theater for the shows if you choose to take the stairs. It should be nice and quiet and being the first balcony up front, you won't have to deal with the issue of secondhand smoke from somewone else's balcony blowing back on seat days, if that is an issue for you .

I spent a lot of extra money for the balcony on my last Dawn cruise because it was my 50th birthday but I can honestly say that although I LOVED having the balcony, the extra that I paid would have paid for another cruise on our sailing.

It sounds like you got a great deal (from one bargain hunter to another)

[shoreguy]

Emi

 

I am surprised that you have a cabin assigned already. I know you requested a gty booking. I would check to make sure that your TA or NCL booking agent did in fact do that. You would not be the first member who requested a gty and ended up with an traditonal asigned cabin booking.

 

If you booking is not in fact a gty you will bew one of the last to get upgraded since it will appear that you requested that cabin assignment.

 

 

If you really are concerned with the BE I just checked the booking engine at NCL.com for your cruise. The difference between the current BE gty and a BB is $50. Your call $174 for A BE or $224 for the BB (or less if your TA works with you)

[SweetEmi]

Sammy: I carefully (perhaps way too carefully to some) weigh all the options and then if something good comes up, I have a good idea what to do. And...I didn't know smoke was a big problem but I quit smoking in January so actually second hand smoke is kind of a problem for me because it makes my mind say "hmmmm, that smells good!" :eek: lol!!

 

Shoreguy: Yeah...I definately HAD gty for a few days because like I said I was looking at my registration page every day and about 3 or 4 days went by and then suddenly it gave me 8012. I was wondering if they know by looking at my booking that I originally booked a gty and would take that into account when they started giving away upgrades.

 

The bad part is I booked through an online agency and I don't know if anyone at NCL will talk to me or not. I was planning on calling the agency though on Monday to see how I go about paying my balance due because that comes up in about 3 weeks. We'll see then, I guess, what they have to say.

 

But...regardless...when I'm sitting on the balcony, even if it's windy or partially obstructed or whatever or walking around my room that is 20+ sq feet bigger, I'll be a happy cruiser!!

 

I "ordered" a special flower arrangement to celebrate the new room in Acapulco... :D Won't have it for the first 2 days though, but that's okay....

 

Emi

[zimmerjulie]

Sweet Emi,

 

This June on the Star, deck 4 was the area where people were crowded in to exit the ship. It was the least bad on tender day, when people were called down to exit by number instead of the big crush all at one time (like Victoria). Also, the central stairway/elevator tower near the atrium was VERY busy for disembarkation in the ports, but the forward one was much less busy.

 

We enjoyed being on deck 8, but we had an aft cabin, so it probably doesn't compare to yours very well as far as traveling about the ship goes.

 

When it came to distace from midship for motion-of-the-ocean issues, we felt as little movement in our cabin as we did in the more midship areas. We had calm seas, though.

 

GOOD LUCK with your upgrade! Can anyone else add to the info pool here about whether they booked a GTY, were assigned a cabin number, then received an upgrade/change down the line? When one of my group cabin reservations was inadvertantly changed to a GTY, it was assigned a cabin number as well, shortly after getting the designation GTY (and about 6 months prior to sailing). I do not know what would have happened as far as upgrade, as my goal was only to re-obtain the cabin on deck 8 that I had earlier reserved by number (which I did).

 

I recently read a post where someone booked a GTY, then saw that a cabin number had been assigned. The assumption was that the NCL or the Travel Agent had made a mistake and booked the specific category, as opposed to a GTY. (I do not think that person ever saw a confirmation that said GTY in the first place). Perhaps they put a cabin number in ASAP, then have a provision for upgrading down the line, if loads permit.

 

Either way, have a great return to the STAR and a great Mexico cruise!

[mmceachn]

I know

I can tend to overanalyze as well. But if a small detail that you could change would make a difference in your enjoyment then why not explore the possibilities

It doesn't cost to ask.

On my two Dawn sailings there were too many wonderful dessert choices offered for me to bother with soft serve ice cream but there is another thread going on right now among some people who are very unhappy the Mr Softee machine is not operational on the Dawn and only hard ice cream is offered.

I don't know when I finally decided that I needed to stop planning and start packing for my last cruise.

[SweetEmi]

Julie: You're right!! It is on the 4th floor. I think I confused myself with the lifeboats...Cool...regardless, though it would have no effect where the cabin is, which is way up front.

 

I think maybe the first couple of days down from San Pedro to Acapulco it can get a bit rough...though that is just something I think I read somewhere...But, knowing me - I may be off and running around the ship most of the time anyway.

 

Thanks for the good wishes.

 

Sammy: I leave for my vacation in just UNDER 3 months now (woo hoo!) I couldn't stand it anymore and got out the suitcases and started throwing in stuff like the little clock, the night light, walkie talkies, stuff like that...lol!! When I get back - I think I'll get a plastic tub and put in cruise/vacation items that I don't use any other time.

 

I promised myself that I would not pack clothes a month ahead of time like I usually do...they get too wrinkled...

 

Emi

[gardencat]

We had booked a GTY for our cruise (on Star) in May. I know it was booked as guarantee because that is what came up on our confirmation docs.

 

When we made our final payment (early Feb.) and we received a 'confirmtion of final payment' a cabin number had been assigned. I called my TA and asked if that was definate at that point and she said that if we had been assigned a specific number that was it, we were not being upgraded.

Our cruise documents came about 5 weeks before the cruise and sure enough they had the same cabin number.

[zimmerjulie]

Hey, if this is the case, why don't you give the TA a call and ask if they will have NCL change the booking back to GTY and get a new confirmation. I know it can be done, (or at least it could 6 months ago) as mine was changed to GTY after it was assigned a number.

 

As long as you are not in any penalty period, it might be worth a try, if the agency will go to bat for you. I am curious to see if they are willing to take up this sort of thing for their customers.

 

On the other hand, deck 8 is a good place to be, as opposed to higher decks...less time on the elevators, or less flights of stairs, to get to the "action" decks, and "forward" means less crowded access to gangways. If you plan to spend time in the casino, show theater, spinnaker lounge, library, cinema and/or karoake lounge (no pupu), 8012 may not be a bad spot.

 

We liked being aft for proximity to the Versailles and the Kids' Crew, so we would probably want to spin the wheel again if we were in your shoes.

[TheDivineMsM]

Emi~~

 

l have to share!!

 

As you know, l've been on the Star twice in an inside. This time, for the Dream, l booked the lowest grt. outside. Well, a month later, my TA called an offered me an eight catergory upgrade for $200.00! Have to pay double tho (single supplement.) BUT, now l am in the highest balcony catergory with a consierge yet!:rolleyes:

 

So..hang in there..the nicest things happen when we least expect them!!

[SweetEmi]

Ms M: Hey...thanks for the good thoughts! How wonderful about your upgrade!! I'm still hopeful. (so that means you are paying $400?? - still sounds like a great deal to me!)

 

Julie: Gonna call them on Monday and see what happens. I'll try to see if I can be put back on gty....

 

Gardencat: Well...I'll see what I can find out on Monday. Final payment is still 3 weeks away...maybe I can get something good to happen before then and if not - maybe after that - they'll offer me a good deal.

 

Aloha!!

Emi

[kapoho2]

Emi,

 

For our cruise on the WIND in Sept. we also booked a GTY. We booked the least expensive inside...and several weeks later were assigned a cabin.. a 1 or 2 cat. updgrade. This was the earliest I had ever been assigned a cabin. We always book GTY and at times have been pleasantly surprised. However, we are always prepared to be assigned exactly what we had paid for.

 

I think what is going on these days, is that the internet gives people a lot more info. It seems everyone is calling the cruise lines now and bargaining for an upgrade. There are many people who are willing to pay for an upgrade. That leaves those of us who like to take the gamble with a GTY assigned to pretty much the category we purchased. I was a travel agent for years, and cruiselines used to upgrade pax for loyalty, etc. But now, the cruiselines are being innundated by callers with their credit cards out...ready and willing to pay for an upgrade. Can't blame the cruise lines, as this is revenue for them. I don't consider these an "upgrade".....rather an upsell. The true "upgrades" seem to be few and far between these days. I think before the wealth of info on the internet....upgrades were a gift from the cruise line. But now, there are not many "gifts" for them to give away. Just my thoughts!!

 

Laurie

[SweetEmi]

Well...I switched from the II room to a BE (balcony) by cancelling the first one I booked directly with NCL and booking online with the agency I found. It cost $174 more for both. I thought that was wonderful and still do. I'm absolutely fine with the BE and so if I stay there, cool. I would have picked a room if I knew I would only have the gty for like 4 days...lol!!! However, there are only 4 BE rooms and they are 2 right next to each other and 2 on the exact place other side of the ship. So, there really isn't much differnence.

 

I ordered flowers to be delivered to me in Acapulco to spruce up the room. Last year on the Star, a CC member, Cruisin Mama, went on the cruise the week before us and had flowers in their room that the got in Hilo and she left them for me!! I loved it and it was fun having them there. That was part of the reason I looked into flowers for this Mexico trip. Plus we now have a bigger room!!

 

Emi

[cruise pup]

"A woman whom I work with did the Carnival Triumph Bermuda cruise last year and was upgraded seven catagories from a regular outside to a balcony suite."

 

Carnival has run sales whereby you book an outside and get a balcony, so that's not so unusual. The fact that it was a suite makes it fantastic!

 

NCL upgraded me on Spirit for my Alaska cruise but at the time I was assigned a cabin I don't think it was selling well (it is now sold out). I booked a BF guaranty. A few weeks later I noticed that the BC's were going for the same rate, so my t.a. called them and I was changed to BC guaranty which technically isn't an upgrade. After I made final payment I checked my online registration form and saw that I was assigned a BA cabin. I haven't been able to believe my eyes with this booking because there was no single supplement which is why I was able to afford a balcony cabin in the first place. Even my airfare went down $100! NCL doesn't give singles a break the way they used to. I found this by pure luck.

[SweetEmi]

CruisePup: Wow! Great on your upgrades! Good thing you were keeping on top of it. So, basically - you had a gty and then saw you were assigned a room in a better category?? Wish that would have happened in my case.

 

I have noticed that on websites that do sales and discounts, sometimes the week I'm on (11/13) is not listed though the ones around it are. I don't if that is good or bad for someone in one of the 4 lowest balcony rooms or not...lol!! Oh..well, we'll see.

 

Thanks!

Emi

[cruise pup]

I really don't think it's a "better" cabin. I still only went from balcony to balcony and I believe they all have the same layout. Being up higher isn't necessarily better. I'm directly below the deck with the pool, gym and buffet which could mean noises early in the morning. Last year I sailed on HAL and a couple at my table were miserable because their cabin (a better category than mine) was directly below a galley and they were woken up every morning at about 6 am. Fortunately I'm directly below the mah jong room so unless the tiles are really loud I don't anticipate a problem. The best thing about my cabin is that it has a single queen bed instead of 2 twins, so there will be no crack down the middle (I almost made a rude joke but I think I'll skip it). To me the real upgrades are when you go from inside to a suite or such. That actually happened on the Grand Princess and to this day my t.a. doesn't know how it happened but why question it. I think you did a wise thing and booked the lowest priced balcony since you obviously wanted a balcony. You still saved considering others paid more the same layout.

[WDWfan13]

I'm confused about the upgrade precedure...if I already have a cabin assigned then I can't get an upgrade?

[TheDivineMsM]

You may...if you are willing to pay for it. It is called an 'upsell'.

[jla418]

Hi SweetEmi,

 

I know the ships are vastly different, but 2 years ago I was on the NCL Sea only 2 cabins from the front on deck 7. We had very rough weather the first night out of Miami and the ship did pitch and roll quite a bit.

 

Call me crazy but I actually enjoyed it and think I slept better with the movement! I enjoyed the entire cruise and would not hesitate to take a cabin at the front of the ship again.

 

I'm booked in a BD gty for the Star for the 10/12 Mexican Riviera. I can't wait for the trip!

 

I hope you have a wonderful Cruise!

[kapoho2]

Emi,

 

I think you did your homework and kept on top of things. GREAT deal for the rebooking for a balcony cabin. You will love it. We had a balcony once..on a New Year's cruise. We had booked the least expensive inside (even that was a STRETCH for us...have you ever seen the prices for a New Year's cruise....yikes!!)....but were upgraded to a balcony 3 days before sailing. I was a travel agent at the time, and I was working at the agency on Christmas eve. A fax came in....advising of my upgrade!! What a great Christmas present. I know this was because I was a travel agent, who had booked a full fare cruise price for this holiday sailing. It was a "gift" from the cruise line. Well......it turned out it was a gift in disguise. One day, while entering our cabin, we were literally accosted by our "neighbors" from the cabin next door. They asked us if we realized that we had gotten "Grandma's" cabin. Seems Grandma had to cancel at the last minute...and they were offended that someone had been assigned that cabin. What was the cruise line to do??? Let the cabin (balcony) go empty??? Or make someone VERY happy with a last minute upgrade? I still think about how nasty those folks were. But, I also know that I booked tons of cruises for my clients with that cruise line, and having a balcony for a week probably led me to book many more with them. It was a win-win last minute decision for the cruise line.

 

I have also recieved complimentary upgrades at the pier. Again, just book what you will be comfortable with and enjoy!

[Shawn5]

Sammy: Thanks! I'm on the Star. A year before the cruise, I booked 11579, same room as I had last year on the Star but on the other side...Inside room but all by itself with no neighbors and I loved it and didn't want to give it up unless it was to a balcony room. It took about 7 months, but I finally found what I wanted to upgrade myself.

 

I'm thrilled with the balcony and will be regardless. I'm a bit worried about the movement that close to the front of the ship (bow?) but I bought myself a Relief Band and have confidence in it. Deck 8 isn't bad unless you are where everyone stands when they want to get a tender. I understand it can be kind of crowded by your room sometimes (at least that's what I've read on here).

 

If I keep working hard, maybe I can take an upsell if one is offered, but if not - Yippee!! I at least have a balcony room!

 

Emi

 

Dear SweetEmi -

 

Do you recall how much noise from up above there was while you stayed in your cabin - #11579 - on the Star? We have this cabin reserved for later this year...but heard that the cabins in this area get noise from pool deck 12 above, i.e. people moving deck chairs around, poolside bands, crews powerwashing, etc. What do you recall about this cabin? Also...it looks a little bigger than other inside rooms on the deck chart...is it?

 

Thanks,

Shawn

PS - If possible, please email me at Shawn@Ross-Campbell.com

Thanks.

[YaMamma]

In January I booked a BE GYT category (oceanview w/balcony) for the Sun in April, 2005. This was through a well known online "agency". I assume this means I am theoretically in 1 of 4 rooms on the Viking Deck of the Sun (rooms 8076, 8078, 8278, 8276) which is what I WANT. We received confirmation paperwork from the online agency which lists us in a BE GYT category (no room assigned).

 

I have not yet Registered at the NCL website. My question is, when I *DO* register at NCL, is this when I get a room assigned? My cruise isn't until April. I actually WANT one of the four rooms listed in the BE GYT category. What is the best way for me to actually get one of those rooms and NOT get an "upgrade"? Is it better to wait to register on NCL? Should I do it now?

 

My first cruise......thanks for your assistance!

[CruiserfromCT]

Can you tell me more about Room 11579...I see that it's all by itself, but what is surrounding it? Is it a larger cabin than other insides? I see it is a 'sideways' cabin as well...any information you can share is appreciated....