We Booked Gty Cabin have questions

[onyxmom]

Hi

It has been so long since I have been on these boards, I forgot my username and password.. I had to change both... My Fiance and I booked on the Dawn March 30-April 6th 2008... We want a ocean view but there were none available on the deck we want ( higher than the 5th deck) Anyway I have cruised on the Norway and on The Sun both times booked cabins. A suite on the Norway, and got upgraded to a Suite after booking a balcony cabin on the sun... I am a bit worried about the Gty cabin.. Have there been any disaster stories? I was told by NCL they only give you what you request or better... What are some things that could happen? I know about the obstruted view and am keeping my fingers crossed but is there worse that could happen?

 

This is my Fiance's first cruise, I want it to be perfect for him... did we make a mistake with the Gty cabin?

 

Also the adult soft drink card, does NCL still offer this? I think I saw on the NCL site it was 8.00 or more per day per person???

 

And finally what is the dawn like? I am so excited about this.. As I said I have done the Sun and sailed the Norway but this is the first on the Dawn and do not know much about the ship....

Sorry for all the questions, but any info would be a big help

Thanks so much to all of you

[pieshops]

you could wind up with the worst cabin in that category or a the worst in any category higher.

[pieshops]

you could wind up with the worst cabin in that category or a the worst in any category higher.

[ZoneHPH]

i re-read your post, but am not sure what GTY cabin you booked. but let's use the inside cabins as an example. and let's also say you booked the highest category inside. typically this would be a great cabin in a higher deck.

 

but let's say NCL bumps you up for a 2 category upgrade. that pushes you into the lower category oceanview...possibly porthole....so that ultimately brings you back down to a lower deck. some may see this as being a negative (lower deck)...while others may see it as a positive (from no window...to being able to see outside).

 

one thing is for sure...if you book Category X as a GTY...you will not be booked less than this category.

[ute_fan]

It sounds like you probably booked an outside guarantee. The lowest category outside view on the Dawn is a cat H, so you won't be assigned to any of the inside cabins, which are all "lower" categories. You might get an H -- which is a porthole view -- or you might get any of the "higher" categories, but probably not more than a picture window. If you're lucky, you might end up with a balcony, but it's not likely.

 

When you say that you want an ocean view higher than deck 5, there are very few available on the ship. A few category 6 pictures windows, but not many. Most of the "outside views" are on deck 4 and 5. By the time you get higher up on the ship, most of the "outside view" cabins were constructed as balconies. The newer ships have a much higher percentage of balcony cabins than the older ships did, which is probably the reason that you couldn't find an ocean view higher than deck 5.

 

There is still a soda card available, and the current price is $8.63 per day, for the entire length of the cruise, which I think is outrageous. If you drink more than 4 sodas a day, it may be worth it. Otherwise, take your own soda onboard with you or just buy them with your meals.

 

No opinions on the Dawn, as I haven't sailed that ship yet. Have a great cruise!

[beachchick]

onyxmom: I can't help but think that you might be better off booking a specific category and cabin, even if it's not on the exact deck you want. You wonder if you might end up with a "disaster." I guess it depends on your definition of disaster. If you consider getting the minimum you paid for (say, the worst located cabin in exactly the category of your GTY) to be a disaster, then you could have issues with your cabin assignment.

 

I certainly understand why you'd want your fiance to have a perfect first cruise. I'm sure you realize though that you might set yourself up for some significant stress and possible disappointment. Perhaps it would be good to give your fiance an idea of realistic expectations (nice, clean cabin; terrific service; tasty food; fun activities), rather than perfection. It sounds to me like you're already stressing over it.

 

Of course you have great memories of getting such a terrific upgrade in the past, but I'm sure you know that an upgrade like that is the exception and not the rule. Yes, you might end up on a lower deck with a regular OV GTY, so the question is whether you would consider that worse than an obstructed view. I don't know the Dawn, but it's possible that there are OV cabins that also have obstructed views. It's certainly possible that you could be assigned absolutely the best cabin in the best OV category. That would be great, and it does happen. You might even get that uncommon upgrade to a balcony--that would be fantastic.

 

Is it at all possible that you could consider booking a specific (not GTY) balcony cabin? Your cruise is quite away off, so keep checking those fares. You never know when a super deal might pop up for a higher category. Just imagine how much your fiance would love having a balcony for his first cruise...He'd be hooked for sure! I hear great things about the Dawn. I know she is a sister ship of the Sun, so that at least gives you a frame of reference in terms of layout and such. Reviews of the Dawn are very good. I'm sure you'll both have a great time.

 

beachchick

[nets33]

I've booked guaranteed cabins on most of the cruises I have taken and have never felt it to be a "disaster". I was never upgraded from an oceanview to a balcony but I have always recieved a higher cabin category.

 

My opinion has always been that since I really spend so little time in the cabin I don't really care where I am on the ship. I prefer to have a window so that I can see the sun in the mornings. I had an obstructed view on my cruise to Alaska and was not dissapointed. We spent most of our time on deck where the views were the best.

 

If you prefer a certain deck, view or type of cabin you should book it. It's really a matter of what you want.

[salty dingo]

Obstructed view cabins are a different (less expensive) category of cabin than the unobstructed ocean view. If you book a regular oceanview guarantee, you will not get an obstructed view.

 

If you book a guarantee at the less expensive obstructed oceanview level, you may get an obstructed view.

 

It all depends on how you book your guarantee. The rule always is: you will always get at least the category you paid for and may receive an upgrade to a higher category (or you may not.)

[mitsguy2001]

One thing that no one has mentioned is that with a guarantee, you could end up with a cabin in a very noisy area, or in an area with a lot of motion. That's why I always book a specific cabin.

 

One issue though is that most newer ships tend to have the oceanview staterooms in noisy locations, usually on the bottom deck, or below a public area. I did not have that problem on the POH, since I was able to get an oceanview on Deck 5, below other cabins. But on all other NCL ships in that category, it would have been below the casino, which would have been noisy. If I was booked on, say, the POAm, I might have to book a balcony in order to be in a quiet area, since all of the oceanviews on that ship appear to be in noisy areas.

 

I should ask (both for the original poster, myself if I book another cruise in the future, and others): if you have to book an oceanview cabin that is below public areas (such as on the POAm, Dawn, Star, Pearl, Gem, etc), which public areas are the least noisy? I know that the bottom deck should be avoided if possible, since on my POH cruise, I met a woman who was on Deck 4, and she said the room was extremely noisy.

 

Keep in mind that even though people say that you are "not in your room very much", you do have to be able to sleep in the room, so you do need a room that is quiet and doesn't have excessive motion.

[beachchick]

One thing that no one has mentioned is that with a guarantee, you could end up with a cabin in a very noisy area, or in an area with a lot of motion. That's why I always book a specific cabin.

 

One issue though is that most newer ships tend to have the oceanview staterooms in noisy locations, usually on the bottom deck, or below a public area. I did not have that problem on the POH, since I was able to get an oceanview on Deck 5, below other cabins. But on all other NCL ships in that category, it would have been below the casino, which would have been noisy. If I was booked on, say, the POAm, I might have to book a balcony in order to be in a quiet area, since all of the oceanviews on that ship appear to be in noisy areas.

 

I should ask (both for the original poster, myself if I book another cruise in the future, and others): if you have to book an oceanview cabin that is below public areas (such as on the POAm, Dawn, Star, Pearl, Gem, etc), which public areas are the least noisy? I know that the bottom deck should be avoided if possible, since on my POH cruise, I met a woman who was on Deck 4, and she said the room was extremely noisy.

 

Keep in mind that even though people say that you are "not in your room very much", you do have to be able to sleep in the room, so you do need a room that is quiet and doesn't have excessive motion.

 

Right. Remember the threads about being under the gym with all the late night and early morning machine and weights noises?:eek: No thanks.

 

Plus, when people write "you're not in your cabin very much" what they're really saying is "we're the type who are not in our cabin very much." They're speaking for themselves. Not everyone is out of the cabin all the time (except for sleeping, showering, and changing, of course). Some people do want a cabin that is comfortable for spending more time. That's one reason we won't cruise in less than a balcony cabin. That balcony is very important to us. I don't expect it to be important to everyone. It's all a matter of personal preference.

 

beachchick

[family cruisers]

Hi - My b/f and I went on our first cruise together last year (getting ready to go again in 13 days )

Anyway, we booked a gty last year and when the cabin was finally posted on NCL website I checked out the location of the cabin and noticed a symbol next to the room # . Turns out the beds could not be pushed together.

[mitsguy2001]

Right. Remember the threads about being under the gym with all the late night and early morning machine and weights noises?:eek: No thanks.

 

Plus, when people write "you're not in your cabin very much" what they're really saying is "we're the type who are not in our cabin very much." They're speaking for themselves. Not everyone is out of the cabin all the time (except for sleeping, showering, and changing, of course). Some people do want a cabin that is comfortable for spending more time. That's one reason we won't cruise in less than a balcony cabin. That balcony is very important to us. I don't expect it to be important to everyone. It's all a matter of personal preference.

 

beachchick

 

Plus, as I said, even if you are the type that is almost never in the cabin, you still need to be able to sleep there. And it would be a shame for your trip to be ruined because you can't sleep and are too tired to do anything.

[Houstonusa]

We sailed on the Dawn a few years ago and had a wonderful time.

 

Lots of deck space.

 

Wonderful Ship.

 

 

Enjoy !!!!!

[onyxmom]

Hi

Thanks to all of you for all of the input. We booked a catagory C which is oceanview with a picture window tried to get deck 6 ... The NCL rep told us we would not be on a lower deck... we would be in a ocenview on 6 or higher. Cat C is the highest level outside cabin before the balcony rooms. I am keeping the GTY.. The worst that would happen is a bit of noise. As long as it is a cruise it is ok with me. Also the soda card price has increased ! I am thinking since we are both Diet Pepsi drinkers we will bring some on board with us.

 

Thanks again for your input happy Cruising