Guaranteed Staterooms

[lespaul55]

A few questions for anyone who has had guaranteed staterooms before. We've always had our rooms assigned when we booked, this is the first time we have a guaranteed room. DU is our TA.

When did you find out your room number? Was it as late as the pier? Our cruise is June 29th with the balance due on April 29th, I'm hoping we will know by then...

Have you ever had an upgrade from the guaranteed room? We had tried to get some Cat 3 suites but they were sold out.

If you cruised with a group with guaranteed rooms, were they able to keep you together? We have requested cabins together, we have a group of 10 going.

Thanks, Leslie

 

[iloverags2]

We did guaranteed category on our last Disney cruise and also on a Carnival Cruise a few years ago. Both times we found out our room assignment when our documents arrived in the mail, and both times we were upgraded. Can't remember the Carnival upgrade, but with Disney we had a category 10 guaranteed and were upgraded to a category 7 (navigator's verandah). Not bad considereing we paid only $299 per person for that cruise!

Since you have a large party, not sure what the chances of upgrade are if they are trying to keep you together. Hope this helps.

 

[Mjasp]

Hello again, I'll get this straight yet. When booking Can you ask Disney for a category 9 guarantee, and hope to be upgraded?
Or is the luck of the caller?

 

[Kaa]

If there are staterooms available for the category you request, you will be assigned a stateroom. It is not automatic that reservations with category guarantees are upgraded. It seems to me that lately those people booking earlier are being upgraded to make room for those with category guarantees. That is just my opinion.

 

[albiats]

On our first cruise, we were in a Guaranty status for Category 9. We booked it just before 30 days from the sail date so we had to pay in full.

When the documents were delivered, I checked the stateroom number and then found it on the deck plans. I was surprised and delighted to find that it was a category 6 cabin, even though it wasn't pointed out by my TA or DCL.

Their evil plan worked and on every cruise since then, we've booked a Category 6. We've never been in a Guaranty Status since then, and we haven't been upgraded on the three additional cruises after that one.

Do you suppose they made an entry in their computer that we were upgraded once and we'll never be upgraded again? Interesting theory.

 

[iloverags2]

I think it's more luck of the caller. One thing I did try, was booking the same exact cruise with both Disney direct and with AAA travel agency. When booking with Disney, I received just a category guarantee...with AAA, the room was assigned. The calls to both were made within 15 minutes of each other. It seems there is more of a chance of getting just the guarantee when booking directly with Disney.

When we got our 3-category upgrade, we had booked only 3 weeks in advance, so not sure what the time frames are other than maybe they were just trying to sell out the cruise.

We haven't had problems with booking a guaranteed category without room assignment since. It really is all luck of the draw, but do try to get it if you can.

Oh yes, one time when I made ressies directly with Disney, the woman I spoke with was wonderful. She noted on the reservation we would be open to an upgrade. This only happened once...others say they can't notate that, so really depends on who you talk with also.

 

[TnRobin]

Please let me emphasize here that having a guaranteed room status does not guarantee you a upgrade. Nor does having an assigned room elimiate you from any potential upgrades. (My one and only upgrade happened with an assigned room)

Upgrades are not common. They do happen occasionally and it is wonderful. I have seen upgrades happen over the past 3 years here and there is no rhyme or reason as to who is given the upgrades.

 

[daltonsdodisney]

We booked our May cruise in Dec. and I booked a room for my family and one for my parents, so I was surprised to see that we had a room guarantee and they had an assigned room. I didn't think much about it, but later found out our cruise is sold out, so I called my DU person and told her we were hoping to be next to each other. I now doubt that is possible. She said all cat.11 rooms were booked and we had a possibility of an upgrade. That's great and all, but I think I'd rather be near my parents. Of course, my husband may think otherwise! lol!

 

[Mjasp]

Go for the guarantee!!! I'm sure your parents will LOVE sitting on your veranda.

 

[Casey's mom]

We booked a last minute cruise for our 10th anniversary last June -- about 3 weeks in advance. We paid in full at the time for a Cat 10 guarantee. I kept checking the Disney website for a cabin to be assigned to us and after a few days we had been upgraded to a Cat 5 on deck 7. It was very lucky and we had a great trip!

 

[tpmorley]

We have a cat. 11 GTY room for May 23rd cruise, so I have my fingers crossed for an upgrade. For those of you who got a cat. upgrade, I was wondering if the resort is also upgraded?