GTY Assignments? Upgrade Luck?

[Bostonjetset]

In late 2023, we booked an inside guarantee for a sailing later this month on the Magic. We are veteran cruisers but this is our first with DCL. We’re not picky about staterooms and will be okay with whatever we get; we just want to try out DCL and Lighthouse Cay.

However, now the ocean view guarantees are selling for less than we paid for our inside guarantee so I asked our TA if DCL could change us to one of those since we were not assigned a room yet. Many other lines will do this even after final payment but she said DCL does not do that. I guess it is what it is even though it’s disappointing. I was wondering if any of you have ever just been allocated an ocean view cabin in cases like this though?

 

[dreamer17555]

I think you are looking at an oceanview guaranteed with restictions which has to be a new booking. And you will 99% chance be given an inside room. You might be able to upgrade at port for a cheaper amount but the Magic is small so I would not count on it.

The only time DCL was really upgrading people from inside to oceanview or oceanview to verandah for free was during the relaunch post covid when they needed certain staterooms for quarantine space

 

[Bostonjetset]

I think you are looking at an oceanview guaranteed with restictions which has to be a new booking. And you will 99% chance be given an inside room. You might be able to upgrade at port for a cheaper amount but the Magic is small so I would not count on it.

The only time DCL was really upgrading people from inside to oceanview or oceanview to verandah for free was during the relaunch post covid when they needed certain staterooms for quarantine space

Yes it’s the GTY restricted for new bookings which is what my TA said. I guess DCL is a whole different animal that other cruise lines.

I wouldn’t really say it’s a “free” upgrade if I paid $1900 for an inside and the ocean views are now selling for $1700. I don’t expect money back or anything. I was just hoping for a better cabin since they already have my money anyway and I booked a GTY in the first place so didn’t get any special benefits. NCL, Holland America, and Cunard have all allowed this so i was surprised DCL didn’t. But I’ll enjoy my cruise either way.

 

[dreamer17555]

Yes it’s the GTY restricted for new bookings which is what my TA said. I guess DCL is a whole different animal that other cruise lines.

I wouldn’t really say it’s a “free” upgrade if I paid $1900 for an inside and the ocean views are now selling for $1700. I don’t expect money back or anything. I was just hoping for a better cabin since they already have my money anyway and I booked a GTY in the first place so didn’t get any special benefits. NCL, Holland America, and Cunard have all allowed this so i was surprised DCL didn’t. But I’ll enjoy my cruise either way.

Restricted rates coming out after the paid in full rate is common (happened to me twice this year alone). But there is no 100% chance they will be offered and booking early gives you a chance to book experiences as soon as your window opens where most of those booking on restricted fares are going to miss out on certain things like Palo brunch and mixology because they book their cruise after everyone.

 

[cvjw]

Yep. Been there done that. Many times. Best to not look at the restricted guarantee rates after booking your cabin. Just book what you want to start with and not look back!

 

[Bostonjetset]

Yep. Been there done that. Many times. Best to not look at the restricted guarantee rates after booking your cabin. Just book what you want to start with and not look back!

Lesson learned. Not sure how many Disney cruises will be in our future anyway as we travel many for the ports and DCL fares are often double or even triple other lines. I couldn’t see myself paying their prices on a port-intensive European cruise for example. However, if we do sail with them again we will likely wait until after final payment as we aren’t picky about cabins and we booked a GTY anyway.

As a Disney fan I wanted to at least sail with them once to get the experience and check out one of the private islands. Again, whilst it’s a disappointment it won’t ruin our trip or anything.

 

[cvjw]

Lesson learned. Not sure how many Disney cruises will be in our future anyway as we travel many for the ports and DCL fares are often double or even triple other lines. I couldn’t see myself paying their prices on a port-intensive European cruise for example. However, if we do sail with them again we will likely wait until after final payment as we aren’t picky about cabins and we booked a GTY anyway.

As a Disney fan I wanted to at least sail with them once to get the experience and check out one of the private islands. Again, whilst it’s a disappointment it won’t ruin our trip or anything.

There are downsides to waiting until the restricted rates come out - it is usually after PIF date, so you will be the last to book dining, excursions and extras. Not a deal breaker for us, but you can miss out on things.

When we sail as a party of 2, restricted guarantee rates work. When we book 2 cabins when we bring our sons, we like to book early so we can get all the extras we want. We took them last January and when the restricted rates came out, we could have sailed for about $1400 cheaper. Best not to look!

 

[Dug720]

Upgrade is in the eye of the beholder. I did an 8BGTY once and they "upgraded" me to a 4E. Yes, most people would have been elated with that, but those cabins are a) lower than I like, b) more mid-ship than I like, and c) all connecting (just a personal pet peeve - I've honestly had more sound from a non-connecting room before - I just don't like the door messing up the nice smooth wall). After that, I made up my mind no more GTY of either type (small category unrestricted or broad category restricted).

But the general rule of thumb is to book the category you'll be happy in. If you're not going to be happy in an inside cabin, don't book it GTY and hope for an upgrade. Your case is the new category requires a new booking so you'd need to cancel the old one to book the new one - that's why you can't just switch to the new option. But unlike RCCL and X which tolerate people calling to complain about their GTY assignment and moving them to another in that category, DCL is very much you rolls the dice and takes your chances.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes it’s the GTY restricted for new bookings which is what my TA said. I guess DCL is a whole different animal that other cruise lines.

I wouldn’t really say it’s a “free” upgrade if I paid $1900 for an inside and the ocean views are now selling for $1700. I don’t expect money back or anything. I was just hoping for a better cabin since they already have my money anyway and I booked a GTY in the first place so didn’t get any special benefits. NCL, Holland America, and Cunard have all allowed this so i was surprised DCL didn’t. But I’ll enjoy my cruise either way.

I believe ncl will only allow you to upgrade if the cabin actually costs more than what you paid, and it’s not restricted to new bookings only.