Cabin Guarantee: Good or Bad??

Deciding to go on a cruise vacation is more planning then just saying I want to go somewhere, sometime, during such and such week. There are many more questions and answers and selecting a cabin is one of the big ones. There are so many choices to choose from- what category do you want?? Do you want an Inside, Oceanview or Balcony? Then, the question becomes, what deck would you like?? And then ok, now that you have all that where on the ship would you like to be- front, mid or aft?? (Aren’t you glad you let Ambassador Tours deal with all of this?) Every cruise line offers different categories which ultimately offer different cabins. Sometimes, not all, there may even be the option of choosing a cabin guarantee and this option seems to create more questions then any other.

I have been talking with various people lately and there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what a cabin guarantee actually is. So, I thought I would jump on my computer and explain what it actually is and put a few ups and downs to the whole process that will hopefully iron out all the confusion.

What is a cabin guarantee??
When booking a cruise and deciding which category is right for you, the next question is usually what cabin would you like or, in some instances, are you willing to take a cabin guarantee. A cruise line will offer you a cabin in the category you selected or if it is available will offer a guarantee which basically guarantees you will get a cabin in the category that you want at that price- or maybe even a better priced room- without paying more if you get a complimentary upgrade. Your actual cabin number is at the discretion of the cruise line and won't be assigned until closer to your sailing date. Basically, it is a crap shoot- you may pay one price and be upgraded to a better priced room (not necessarily a better room) or stay in the same category you paid for originally. If you are particular about the location of your cabin this option is not right for you.

Upsides to a cabin guarantee-
No matter what, you will pay a great price for the category you wanted all along- Inside, Oceanview or Balcony- with a chance to get upgraded to an even better one. This option is for the traveler that could care less where their cabin is ("I'm not going to be spending that much time in my room anyway"), the traveler that is looking for a great deal, or for the lucky. Be sure to mention that you are a past passenger (if you are in fact one), this may also help you to receive that complimentary upgrade over someone who isn't a past passenger. I have had clients pay for the minimum oceanview cabin and get upgraded to the best oceanview category. It is the luck of the draw and sometimes works in everyone's favor.

Downsides to a cabin guarantee-
There is absolutely no say in what cabin you will end up with, especially if the ship is full. The simple fact is that, guaranteed cabins are the rooms that everyone who booked a specific cabin didn't want. You could end up with a cabin in the way front, way back or under a very public lounge - and have absolutely no control over it. If location is important to you, this choice is not the right one for you. Cabin guarantees can be a pleasant surprise but can also lead to extreme disappointment if you are placed in a less then desirable location.

If you have the option to choose a cabin guarantee over an assignment the decision all comes down to LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! If you are someone that likes to be mid-ship, on a certain deck, away from the elevators, etc... It is worth it to pay the extra money and be in a cabin that you know you will enjoy. If you absolutely don't care about where you are on the ship and will have a good time anywhere, then the cabin guarantee is perfect. I have had my share of clients that have good experiences with cabin guarantees and bad- it is really the luck of the draw... Good Luck!!