Experiences getting rooms switched onboard?

[Cheburashka]

I made the mistake of booking a GTY room and got a total stinker. It and all of the many rooms around it get multiple 2/3 reviews due to excessive engine & kitchen noise, and I have an ear disorder that makes me oversensitive to noise. They won't change it for me now, obviously, due to it being GTY.

What experiences have people had with changing rooms onboard due to room problems and/or due to asking at Guest Services upon arrival?

P.S. Please don't preach to me about not booking GT if I can't be happy with an awful stateroom. It's rude and I also have already learned not to ever book GT again. TIA.

 

[starry_solo]

Not onboard.

At the port, you can see if you can upgrade to a different room (if available). Not sure where at the port, since I've never done it before, but it can be done at the port. No idea about the cost.

 

[Girl of the South]

I was offered a different cabin on the Magic TATL when I complained about a clanging noise. They were very nice about it and even sent me some chocolate covered strawberries! It was also a GTY (?) - ocean view cabin.

 

[cvjw]

Our last 2 cruises had no upgrades available. Not sure if DCL holds some cabins back for maintenance or quarantine issues.

Maybe take a white noise machine and a small fan to drown out the engine noise?

 

[Clarkson U]

I made the mistake of booking a GTY room and got a total stinker. It and all of the many rooms around it get multiple 2/3 reviews due to excessive engine & kitchen noise, and I have an ear disorder that makes me oversensitive to noise. They won't change it for me now, obviously, due to it being GTY.

What experiences have people had with changing rooms onboard due to room problems and/or due to asking at Guest Services upon arrival?

P.S. Please don't preach to me about not booking GT if I can't be happy with an awful stateroom. It's rude and I also have already learned not to ever book GT again. TIA.

I might take a signed letter from my treating physician on letterhead about your medical condition as a basis for trying to get a different room.

You ask for upgrades at the port. You can call DCL of rooms are still available they may let you upgrade if you tell them why and pay the full fare differential now.
Worth a shot in my book if more than 3 days out from sailing!

 

[Cheburashka]

I might take a signed letter from my treating physician on letterhead about your medical condition as a basis for trying to get a different room.

You ask for upgrades at the port. You can call DCL of rooms are still available they may let you upgrade if you tell them why and pay the full fare differential now.
Worth a shot in my book if more than 3 days out from sailing!

Okay, I will bring a doctor's note. That's a good idea.

DCL won't change the room, either to upgrade or even downgrade it. I have tried. They won't even give me an earlier PAT so I can have an earlier try onboard to change rooms.

 

[Cheburashka]

Our last 2 cruises had no upgrades available. Not sure if DCL holds some cabins back for maintenance or quarantine issues.

Maybe take a white noise machine and a small fan to drown out the engine noise?

That's a good idea, but in my case making more noise would be worse for my ears. I don't need an upgrade, just something different, even lower category would be fine. The cruise is far from sold out. I appreciate the suggestion.

 

[soniam]

Can you wear earplugs? I know sometimes those don’t actually help with sensitive ears or tinnitus. Just as a last case in case you can’t change the cabin. Good luck

 

[mamaburrito]

Any chance it’s on the Wonder? I was in a horrible room near the elevators and there was a mechanical sound all night long. We thought it was alarm. It took two days of complaining before they moved us.

 

[Girl of the South]

Where on the ship is your cabin? Is it on a lower deck? I think you’ll have better luck at least trying the cabin and then voicing a specific complaint, rather than telling phone support you already don’t like the cabin based on a few reviews. I was able to switch.

 

[Cfabar1]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is GTY?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is GTY?

Guaranty booking. You don't select a room, just a type (or, possibly, a category). DCL then assigns the room.

 

[auntlynne]

It’s going to come down to availability. If the ship Is full…

 

[SailingScout]

We had a OGT last summer in Europe. Going in I expected it to be fine, the few reviews I read were neutral. However, we were below a galley and it was so loud starting after the second dinner seating ended. We made it 3 nights before calling to inquire about a switch and were able to move to a different room on the same floor. We were even gifted a bottle of champagne and stuffed animals for our kids, which was above and beyond. So, I echo what the poster above says about giving it a chance before trying to switch.

 

[Cheburashka]

Where on the ship is your cabin? Is it on a lower deck?

Deck 2 on the Magic. Under the galley and above the engine. Room after room in that entire area has low reviews and noise complaints.

Good point about them maybe being more willing after I've tried it. I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Cheburashka]

Any chance it’s on the Wonder?

Magic. I was already a bit concerned about the post-dry dock reports she was getting.

 

[mamaburrito]

I wonder if it’s in the same area as mine was. I saw reviews but kept telling myself at least it’s on the ship. Nope. Two nights of no sleep took its toll on us. Somehow on a sold out ship they found us a room.

I don’t think I’ll ever do a GT room again unless the deal was too good to pass up.

 

[Girl of the South]

FWIW I was in a cabin on Deck 1 once. Just the two little port holes. At first I was disappointed but it was really nice! Not many cabins, empty elevator . . . In case they offer you that deck.

 

[princesscinderella]

I had friends that sailed with us that switched to a family veranda from a regular one on first day at guest services on the ship, not at the port. She didn’t realize the size difference between the two and they wanted the extra space, they paid the difference.

 

[OpieDoodle]

I would ask at port, if its not a full ship they may have upgrades available you can pay for. If that doesn't work then I'd hope for the best for when you get on the ship. Once you get to your room then maybe see how bad it really is and reach out to guest services at that point.