GTY cabin ?

[BethA]

I would guess that most cruises are going out close to full but this is only because of the specials that DCL offered earlier to do this...$99 bounceback, kids free, kids 50% and the increased number of FL resident rates and military discounted cruises.

the kids sail free and 50% of course cam out a year too late for us-Brandon just turned 13

 

[sueernieb]

We booked two category 12s on the Magic July 25 and that is what we got-two category 12s. Can't complain since that is what we booked but it does make you wonder how they make their decisions.

Sue

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Upgrades.

Whilst it’s often said there isn’t any logic to upgrades, there is some, but only on DCL’s side, as posted above, I agree there isn’t any logic on the cruisers side.

So Rule 1 never ever books a Cat that you will not be happy with, as statistically you will have that room Cat.

But the logic on DCL side.

GTY, Guarantee rooms have a slighter higher chance of upgrade, slightly not a lot, but do have an increased chance. DCL guarantee you that level of Cat or higher. This covers them ‘’overbooking’’ on a Cat level or on an overall cruise. People cancel, transfer, pay for upgrades, DCL are very good at this and go by statistics, the same as an airline overbooks, but can get it wrong. If they do its far easier to upgrade a GTY, than someone who wanted a certain room, often people like the same room cruise by cruise, for location etc. GTY’s are allocated in bulk around 35 days to 30 days, this has always been the case, I have followed quite a few cruise meets threads, but they can happen in small amounts before or upto cruise day.

Cat 12’s. The logic is these hold 3 only, but are the lowest cruise price, so not to disadvantage anyone they accept 4 people booking in a room that only holds 3, so automatic upgrade. It comes with many strings i.e. you can’t have adjoining rooms.

Often if a cruise is selling slower, the use Cat 12 as a back door discount, if they lower all Cat level prices people ask for refunds, so they overbook Cat 12 as a discount, and again this causes more upgrades. Again the same as a plane, if business or first class isn’t selling, they sell more economy, and people will get an upgrade/

More operational reasons. Say all Cat 5s are sold out bar one room, someone wants to book with adjoining or connecting rooms for two rooms, your booking is next to the empty one left. You get upgraded, and they can accept the booking for two.

Cancellations. Mentioned before, but if they get a lot of last minute cancellations in higher Cat rooms they will upgrade.

Length of cruise.3/4 night cruisers book more inside rooms less outside rooms. Longer cruises 7, 10,11,12 14 etc, book more outside verandah rooms. So less upgrades on longer cruises, more on shorter cruises.

Room issues your booked room develops an issue, maintenance, or is down for routine work, they will move you.

Statistically speaking the lower the Cat the more staterooms there are to upgrade to, therefore, in theory the greater chance of upgrade. Higher Cats such as Cat 4 only have 22 places to go to for an example and only 3 levels above, often booked well in advance.(*) See below.

VIP's now if at short notice VIP's want to cruise on your trip, they might bounce you on, VIP's tend to go for the higher Cats so remote, but Aly and AJ, on my last cruise were booked to do shows only in Aruba and stayed on for the rest of the cruise in the rooms next to me. (Cat 4's),

So after that explanation what can you do about it,? Well little, recently there is reported to be more upgrades available at the port, these are paid upgrades and due to the economy, you if you like poker, can hold out for one of these if its available on your cruise, but don’t ask said book a room you will not be happy to cruise in, but apart from that its all the cruise operators way, not anything you can influence.

(*) as above,
Upgrade chances.

• cat 12 to 10 or higher: 715 rooms
• cat 11 to 10 or higher: 715 rooms
• cat 10 to 9 or higher: 619 rooms
• cat 9 to 7 or higher: 384 rooms
• cat 8 to 7 or higher: 384 rooms
• cat 7 to 6 or higher: 354 rooms
• cat 6 to 4 or higher: 102 rooms
• cat 5 to 4 or higher: 102 rooms
• cat 4 to 3 or higher: 22 rooms
• cat 3 to 2 or higher: 4 rooms
• cat 2 to 1 only 2 rooms available (the only place you have to go from here)
• cat 1 sorry, you do not need any upgrade

 

[lbgraves]

the kids sail free and 50% of course cam out a year too late for us-Brandon just turned 13

The kids free pin code was for kids under age 17.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2136270&highlight=free

 

[BethA]

The kids free pin code was for kids under age 17.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2136270&highlight=free

I did not think this was still available when we booked--at least the TA did not mention it to me-we just booked about 3 weeks ago for July30,2009