I’m always looking for a great deal when I travel and it’s easy to be seduced by the perks that involve free drinks, specialty dining, discounted flights and everything else the cruise line offers for you to book.
Have you noticed they offer guaranteed staterooms at a discounted rate?
What does guarantee stateroom mean?
Let’s break it down. In simple terms, a Guarantee Cabin or Stateroom means that you are booking an unassigned cabin within a certain category or class of cabin.
The cruise line “guarantees” to provide you with a cabin in that specific category or higher.
Will you get an upgrade?
Maybe, but chances are you may go from an inside Category F to an inside Category B, which is essentially the same stateroom on a different floor.
You may also be in a stateroom location that is not appealing to you; front or back of ship, next to an elevator, under the nightclub, etc.
It’s important to remember that by booking a guarantee stateroom you are agreeing to accept any stateroom the cruise line gives you within the category or above.
If you have no problem where your stateroom is located, such as the front, back, being in a noisy location, or having an obstructed view or overhang, you might save a few bucks.
Questions regarding a guarantee stateroom:
1. Why would anyone want these cabins?
They usually cost less. If you would like to save a little money, and you don’t spend a lot of time in your stateroom, then it probably doesn’t matter where you are on the ship.
You may be one of the lucky ones to be upgraded to a higher category, but you also know you will not be downgraded to a lower category stateroom.
If you are adventurous and like a bargain this may a good option for you, but if you are prone to motion sickness or prefer a quiet stateroom this is not a good choice for you!
2. What’s in it for the cruise line?
Cruise lines know that not everyone who reserves a stateroom will sail. There will be cancellations up to sailing.
They sell the Guarantee Staterooms at a discounted rate to ensure a ship is at full capacity.
It also gives them the ability to shuffle people around, opening up space in stateroom categories with more demand.
A guarantee stateroom helps the cruise line fill the least desirable staterooms. Sometimes you may get an upgrade to a higher category, but it is ultimately up to the cruise line.
They will assign your guarantee stateroom anywhere an opening is available.
You need to ask yourself, is a guarantee stateroom worth it?
Will you save enough money? Cruise lines often offer discounts for guarantee staterooms. Check to see if the discount is worth not knowing where your stateroom will be located.
What are your chances of an upgrade? The chance of an upgrade is just that… a chance.
Can you accept a stateroom that no one wants because it’s an inconvenient location, near an elevator or under a noisy deck?
I’ve booked a guarantee stateroom a few times. Sometimes it’s been fine and sometimes it was a disappointment.
I booked a guarantee ocean view and got a view of the lifeboat!
In the end it depends on how picky you are with the type and location of your cruise cabin.
Have you cruised in a guarantee stateroom before? What was your experience with it? Let us know in the comments below.