Do guarantee rates ever go down?

[Moonspinner]

We are looking at a guarantee rate but the cruise is still more than 4 months out. The ship looks empty. Do guarantee rates ever go down? Or are they final?

 

[lanejudy]

Are you looking at a specific category GTY? Or a restricted rate?

The first is basically a regular rate, offered once most of the category has sold. The latter is a sale price. It’s possible another lower *GT will be offered but there’s really no way to know for sure if that will happen. If the price is right and you are sort of tied to those dates, I’d book now. If you are flexible with dates or even willing to pass on that cruise, you can wait to see if a better offer comes along.

 

[Moonspinner]

Are you looking at a specific category GTY? Or a restricted rate?

The first is basically a regular rate, offered once most of the category has sold. The latter is a sale price. It’s possible another lower *GT will be offered but there’s really no way to know for sure if that will happen. If the price is right and you are sort of tied to those dates, I’d book now. If you are flexible with dates or even willing to pass on that cruise, you can wait to see if a better offer comes along.

That’s interesting. I did not realize there was a difference. When I click on it, it says IGT. They also, however, for a few hundred more have a “guaranteed room” rate, which just gives you a regular rate category but you don’t get to pick your room. I’m not sure why anyone would pick that over the IGT rate. Then for $24 dollars more, there is just a regular rate where you get to pick your room. Confusing to me!

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

That’s interesting. I did not realize there was a difference. When I click on it, it says IGT. They also, however, for a few hundred more have a “guaranteed room” rate, which just gives you a regular rate category but you don’t get to pick your room. I’m not sure why anyone would pick that over the IGT rate. Then for $24 dollars more, there is just a regular rate where you get to pick your room. Confusing to me!

It may be that the guaranteed room category is for a deluxe inside, whereas IGT you could get standard or deluxe inside, just depending on what's left. I know our most recent IGT booking, some folks got the deluxe while we got the standard. That's a difference of a split bathroom (at least on Magic class) so I could see someone caring about that.

As to whether rates go lower than IGT/OGT/VGT, usually not but DCL is offering some surprising deals right now. The most recent friendship day offer did put those rate classes lower for certain sailings than they otherwise had been, but only for a week.

I definitely wouldn't bank on a lower rate showing up after DCL has dropped I/O/VGT for a sailing, but it's not impossible.

 

[lanejudy]

That’s interesting. I did not realize there was a difference. When I click on it, it says IGT. They also, however, for a few hundred more have a “guaranteed room” rate, which just gives you a regular rate category but you don’t get to pick your room. I’m not sure why anyone would pick that over the IGT rate. Then for $24 dollars more, there is just a regular rate where you get to pick your room. Confusing to me!

Well, there are some subtle or not-so-subtle differences between the rates:

• IGT = restricted rate, pay-in-full at time of booking with no cancellation option, limited in what changes can be done (adding guests, etc.); guaranteed any room of the broader category (interior) or higher
• GTY = regular rate, usually offered after most rooms of that specific category have been booked, allows DCL flexibility in room assignments, as long as it isn't past PIF you have the regular cancellation policy; guaranteed a room in that specific category (number/letter combo) or higher
• Regular = regular cancellation policy; select your own stateroom in the specific category

I've never seen regular rates and GTY for the same specific category, so I assume while these are all offered for "interior" staterooms the offerings you see may be for different categories. Some guests have a real preference of stateroom location and willing to pay extra for that. Others want the lowest fare available and no concern about stateroom location.