1st time guarantee

[Boytjie]

Member kakalina has gotten something like 16 upgrades on 18 guarantees. Counting a reservation we made for our DD/DSiL, we've gotten upgrades on all six of our guarantees.

 

Wouldn't it depend a lot on what level you booked a guarantee for? Fewer cabins in that class would mean a better chance of upgrading. On a Vista/Eurodam you would have a better chance of an upgrade when booking a VH than if you booked a VC.

[jtl513]

Wouldn't it depend a lot on what level you booked a guarantee for? Fewer cabins in that class would mean a better chance of upgrading. On a Vista/Eurodam you would have a better chance of an upgrade when booking a VH than if you booked a VC.

Probably. I'm sure that most everyone who books a VH or SZ guarantee gets an upgrade. On the Vistas I did not want to take a chance on a deck 4 forward VH or VF, so we booked VE twice and VD once, and ended up in a VA in a nice location each time. For my DD/DSiL we booked an H guarantee and they got a C. Our R&S class guarantees were for low-step outsides and we got moved up a few steps each time.

[brewster007]

Well I really wanted a cabin at the very back of the ship for our December Mexico trip but I could not get one. I guess they were already taken. Anyway I did not want to risk a forward cabin so even though I had purchased a VF guarantee I phoned the TA today to see what HAL could assign me. Anyway after some disucssion and negotiations I was able to get a VD cabin near the aft of the ship (no price difference or no new booking needed). Cabin 4152 I believe. I do not know if this will prevent me from getting a potential upgrade but if it does I am ok with that knowing the location of the cabin.

[NetwrkEng]

Well I really wanted a cabin at the very back of the ship for our December Mexico trip but I could not get one. I guess they were already taken. Anyway I did not want to risk a forward cabin so even though I had purchased a VF guarantee I phoned the TA today to see what HAL could assign me. Anyway after some disucssion and negotiations I was able to get a VD cabin near the aft of the ship (no price difference or no new booking needed). Cabin 4152 I believe. I do not know if this will prevent me from getting a potential upgrade but if it does I am ok with that knowing the location of the cabin.

 

And you did the right thing. I always book guarantees now and if lighthing did strike and I actually got one of the 2 SZ cabins (Vistas) I would be fine with it. That's the key, you MUST be ok with the worst cabin (personal taste comes into play) within the category you booked.

[brewster007]

And you did the right thing. I always book guarantees now and if lighthing did strike and I actually got one of the 2 SZ cabins (Vistas) I would be fine with it. That's the key, you MUST be ok with the worst cabin (personal taste comes into play) within the category you booked.

 

Yea I really feel like I did do the right thing. I feel so much better knowing we won't be in a foraward cabin and given we already have a balcony an upgrade isn't as important to me.

[brucory]

Probably. I'm sure that most everyone who books a VH or SZ guarantee gets an upgrade. On the Vistas I did not want to take a chance on a deck 4 forward VH or VF, so we booked VE twice and VD once, and ended up in a VA in a nice location each time. For my DD/DSiL we booked an H guarantee and they got a C. Our R&S class guarantees were for low-step outsides and we got moved up a few steps each time.

 

I agree with this John... After having trawled for lots of opinions, it seems as though those most willing to gamble with guarantees, are most successful. I guess it comes down to the bottom line. We would rather risk an upgrade than be stuck with a VH or VF, but generally, the pricing for those are our max. So far, so good....

 

PS. I'm with you on the earplugs, though I do think they may be more addictive than caffeine or nicotine.... :D :D :D

[harryjr]

Brewster, seems like you already got a decent upgrade with the VD for the same price as a VF. You'll be really happy with 4152--we were just a few doors down in 4136 on the Westerdam. The BIG balcony is awesome.

[HEYJUDE1]

No VFs have any obstructions ... unless you consider the lifeboats below the deck 5 VFs as obstructions. I don't. :)

We booked a VF deck 5 on the Eurodam. Can you please tell me more about the view? It was a surprise from my hubby for a first time cruise. I saw the life boats and thought..oh my...

 

Thanks

Judy

[HEYJUDE1]

No VFs have any obstructions ... unless you consider the lifeboats below the deck 5 VFs as obstructions. I don't. :)

I am so glad to hear the life boats do not pose a problem! I am on deck 5 VF. Hubby booked the cruise as a surprise and when I knew we were above the boats I cringed!

[jtl513]

We booked a VF deck 5 on the Eurodam. Can you please tell me more about the view? It was a surprise from my hubby for a first time cruise. I saw the life boats and thought..oh my...

I am so glad to hear the life boats do not pose a problem! I am on deck 5 VF. Hubby booked the cruise as a surprise and when I knew we were above the boats I cringed!

Here is a picture looking up from a dock toward the deck 5 VE & VF cabins. They are the ones with the orange ceilings, a reflection off the lifeboat roofs. As you can see (I hope) you can't look straight down to the water (or dock) up close to the ship, but it really isn't a very blocked view IMO. The ones forward of midship are a bit better than the ones aft, over the tenders, because the tenders are a bit higher.

 

[Scorpiorose]

gosh, I just don't know what to do now.....I'm guaranteed VF. Should I call and try to get a non guaranteed VF that is set mid ship without a metal rail if I can???

[jtl513]

gosh, I just don't know what to do now.....I'm guaranteed VF. Should I call and try to get a non guaranteed VF that is set mid ship without a metal rail if I can???

I would. :) Or move up to a VE guarantee, so you definitely can't get the metal-wall railing.