Pros and Cons of a Guaranteed Cabin on a Cruise

American consumers love two words above all others: "Free" and "Guaranteed". So when you start to book your next cruise vacation, you might be pleased to find out that there is a "Guaranteed Cabin" option to select rather than the traditional reservation. In most cases, this means that you are guaranteed the lowest-price cabin you can tolerate, and you might be upgraded if a larger or more luxurious suite becomes available.

According to CruiseMates.com, however, many people assume that a Guaranteed Cabin is as good as a guaranteed upgrade, which is not always the case. Such a reservation only gives the cruise like the option of upgrading you, and if they don't have anything available or if they choose someone else who has also booked a Guaranteed Cabin, you'll be stuck in the room size you initially requested.

Pros

Obviously, there are several benefits to booking a Guaranteed Cabin on a cruise. For one thing, even the possibility of an upgrade is better than no possibility at all, and you won't be charged extra if you happen to land in one of their most luxurious suites. Plus, you'll still have a room regardless of the level of amenities, so it isn't like you might have to miss your vacation.

The Guaranteed Cabin on a cruise is also an option that some people take advantage of because it allows for maximum flexibility. You might receive free drinks or food coupons for choosing this option, even if you don't receive a free upgrade. Since cruise lines are always having trouble with reservations, they prefer customers who are willing to go along for the ride.

Cons

The major downside to booking a Guaranteed Cabin on a cruise is that you don't get to choose your stateroom, whether you get an upgrade or not. In other words, even if you are stuck in your lowest-priced room - in other words, the one you paid for - you could wind up at stern or bow, or in some other undesirable location.

Furthermore, the Guaranteed Cabin option doesn't give you the ability to plan well for your trip. You would probably bring more luggage if you had a larger cabin, but since you don't know if you've been upgraded until you arrive, there's no way for you to plan accordingly.

Factors that Influence Upgrades

There are several things that might affect whether or not the Guaranteed Cabin designation scores you an upgrade, and it can vary depending on the cruise line you choose. In some cases, the company will give preference to passengers who have cruised with them before, or they might upgrade a passenger who books before everyone else. Alternatively, you might get an upgrade if your travel agent books exclusively with that particular cruise line.

In other words, there are really no guarantees when it comes to booking a Guaranteed Cabin on your cruise.

Source:

CruiseMates.com, Guaranteed Cabin