Learning About Cruise Cabin Guarantees

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Learning About Cruise Cabin Guarantees

Thursday, 13 November 2008

Is it worth it to book a “cabin guarantee” when planning a cruise? This money-saver guarantees you a stateroom somewhere on the ship in the category you choose, but it won’t be assigned until close to the departure date. You may even have the chance to upgrade – but usually, you’re out of luck when it comes to picking where your room will be.

According to Smarter Travel, the advantages (or lack thereof) to cabin guarantees depend entirely on the cruise line. Some lines, like Cunard, Carnival, and Costa, offer lower fares if you book this way – but others, such as Disney, Crystal, and Holland America, charge the same for guarantees as they do for traditional bookings.

The real attraction is that you have a chance to upgrade – if your category is full, you might get upgraded. But there’s also the risk that someone else, probably a member of the line’s points program, will get an upgrade while you’d get their cabin.

Basically, it comes down to this – if you won’t be happy unless you have a specific cabin assignment (say, one with a balcony), then booking a guarantee is a bad idea. But if you’re flexible, and the line charges less for a guarantee, then go for it.

For more about guarantees, and the specifics of the most popular cruise lines, check out the smartertravel.com site.

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