Just booked Cat. 11 Gty status, how does this work?

[vicnmickey]

Just booked Cat 11 for May 22nd-May 29th Western on Magic. We got a great rate so couldn't let it pass. I am not familiar with Gty status. When will you get to know your cabin #? What if you don't like where your at? We booked thru Dreams this time! Can't wait to sail again

 

[Favorite Auntie]

With at cat 11 gty, that means that you will be in at LEAST a cat 11, maybe higher. I don't think you have much to say if you dont like where they put you, since you gooked a gty...but you will be on the MAGIC, how bad can it be?? I am in room 6049 right now and my parents are in 5000 and so far neither of us have any complaints. You will find out your room number when you get your final cruise docs about 60 days out. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[disneyfan551]

I've been thinking about booking this category next time, too. We just cruised last week and loved it. My dh has to know by the end of the week, when we need to book his vacation weeks for next year. So, now, I'm trying to find out which itinerary seems to be the "best". Any suggestions are welcome!!

 

[Jestocost]

Actually, you should have your cabin number available as soon as your booking is confirmed and well before your docs arrive. Your travel agent should be able to tell you soon if not right now. If you don't like your specific location for some reason, you can request a reassignment or even a specific cabin in the same category. Since you booked through a TA, you'll probably need to go through them to request a change.

Cat. 11 cabins also apparently are more likely to get the mysterious free upgrades, as there is more demand at that price level and they can "resell" your cabin and move you up in some cases. Such upgrades are nice if and when you get them, but shouldn't be expected.

 

[kcashner]

I'll echo that cat 11 seems to upgrade more frequently than others. My TA explains that it doesn't do DCL any good to sail with empty cabins. Thus, if cat 11 sells out but other categories are still open, they can upgrade previously booked cat 11 passengers (generally making them happy), and continue to sell cat 11 spaces, frequently even at discount prices. As long as they get what it costs them to operate the cabin (food/laundry costs), DCL comes out ahead and has more happy customers. So many of the costs of the cruise are "fixed" for DCL (fuel, personnel costs, etc.) that even if all they make is on the "extras" like shore excursions, drinks, photos, etc...that's better than making nothing. When we've been upgraded, it has happened after our docs arrived. We were called by the travel agent and instructed to write the new cabin number on the ID tags for our luggage. She also said that we had been upgraded, but had the right to refuse it if we wanted our originally booked cabin. We had 24 hours to finalize cabin assignment.

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Vic, we're on the same cruise. Booked the Cat 11 as well. We booked back in June so we do have an assigned cabin. Like everyone else has said, DCL will assign you at least a Cat 11. We've done GTY on Cat 10 and it worked out just fine.

As others have said, at least we're on the Magic.

See you there.

 

[Muushka]

OK. I thought I knew all the abbreviations. What is a GTY ??

 

[GenieDana]

GTY is an abbreviation for guaranteed.

Our last cruise, our party had originally booked four CAT-10 GTY rooms. All were upgraded to CAT-6 (free upgrade) when our docs arrived.

Since in GTY, you aren't beholden to a particular cabin, which gives DCL the flexibility to move/upgrade you to make room to sell the less expensive staterooms in the lower categories to fill the ship. However, some get upgraded and some don't.

It would make a nice poll/survey here to inquire what CAT originally was booked, and what ugrade DCL handed out in the end (and the sailing date). A lot who have have been on this board since the beginning say there is no pattern to what DCL decides to do. I would hazard to guess there is a pattern, if the data were available to analyze it.

Perhaps your sail dates will increase your chances?

 

[Muushka]

Thanks GenieDana, for the GTY answer.

Yes, it would be interesting to see which CATs/sail dates get upgraded.

 

[disneyfan551]

GenieDana... who did you book your gty room through?

 

[MrsPete]

Ckahsner --- I suppose travel agents handle the details differently.

We went through AAA, and they only listed us as GTY - no cabin number. I asked when we'd be assigned a cabin, and we were told that we'd get that information when the documents arrived. Actually, I called at 60 days out to reserve the dolphin excursion, and that was when I learned my cabin number. We were upgraded to a category 9, which was a nice surprise.

 

[Phrebert]

What about category 12 rooms, do they upgrade those sometime?

 

[disneyfan551]

From what I've read on the DIS, cat. 12 rooms are the most frequently upgraded. This allows Disney to sell the cheaper rooms again. You just never know...

 

[firsttimemom]

We're guaranteed for a Cat 6 on the 5/23/04 4-night cruise. At least that's what AllSeas told me when I booked it last monday- I'm still waiting for the confirmation to come through. I had 2 other travel agents before that tell me that category was sold out.

Liz

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Just curious:

1. What is the difference between GTY category 12 and just category 12?

2. Anyone has ever got an upgrade even it is not a GTY booking?

 

[fred ferdlap]

Okay we did the Gty 10. And now I know why not in the future. My reservation sat there for a few days after paying in full until they found us a room. Yes you can get an upgrade. But rooms change on a daily basis. (check orbitz it shows the cabins).

We got the cabins cat 10 under the wavebands. yes right under. After doing a little research decided that was not where we were going to spend our vacation. We upgraded. Now those cabins get shoved to the next GTY 10 in line.

I now realize that I do care a little which cabin I have. Just a little.