Confused about suite guarantee on Mariner

Now I'm really confused. When I decide to put my deposit on a cruise to Alaska next year, can I request a certain cabin and can the travel agent guarantee that I get it? Also, how does one get invited to the Captain's cocktail party?

In the majority of cases you will get a suite number and that is YOURS. You will know this number when you book.

The new way of doing guarantees works like this.

When they sell out of a category lets say H they then sell a few H guarantees. Look at these as a "waitlist" for an H. People cancel and the cruise line knows that. So when an H cancels one of those H guarantees will be assigned to that cancelled cabin. They are doing this all the way up through all the categories.

It used to be different. You would get an H guarantee early before all the H cabins sold within a contract that TA's had. Then they would not assign those guarantees until right before the cruise and these most often winded up with an upgrade because all the lower categories were sold out. Some of those booked that way are still out there.

Today the odds of an upgrade with a guarantee have lessened tremendously.

The exception being when they want to sell a particular sailing. Rather than reduce the price they will offer the lowest categories on a guarantee. This means there are a LOT of guarantees out there so many will obviously be upgraded.

EVERYONE on board is invited to the Captains Welcome Aboad cocktail party. It will be announced and you will know where to go and when. In fact it will almost always be 6.30 pm on the second night of the cruise.

So, if you want a G cabin,you should go for a G guarantee? Or on a Mariner, if a C is sold out, a "C" guarantee?

No, if you want a G cabin buy a G cabin. Buy the type of cabin you want and get a cabin number.

You cant get a guarantee anyway unless you just happen to "hit" that magic window where they are sold out of G cabins and are offering G guarantees. It often is only a one day time frame.

I dont like guarantees anymore. I think they are not good. I like cabin numbers. You know I used to be big on guarantees because of the good opportunity for an upgrade. Now I dont think they are good at all. You will probably land up in the category you paid for and with no choice of cabin. Just what is left or cancelled.

If you do get upgraded a category it is most likely to be the less desirable cabin left in that category.

Take a guarantee only when you have to do so and only because you are set on paying that particular cabin price and wont pay for the next category up where you can get a cabin assignment.

Only exception to that is when they are offering tons of guarantees to fill up a ship. Then the dynamics change and it becomes like guarantees of the past. Lots of them so good chance of a nice upgrade. It is always a risk though and you must recognize that. The TA has NO influence in the assigning of these cabins. It is assigned and then that is it. If someone tells you they are sure they can get you a good cabin RUN dont walk. Might should not have said that but you get my drift. The assignment is done by RSSC period.

Thanks!

Another negative aspect of suite guarantees is that you MAY get upgraded, but to a suite less desirable that the class for which you were guaranteed. Example. On the Voyager, we had a G guarantee. This was one of those "full ship" situations, and we were upgraded all the way to a C, which is right above the stern with larger balcony. BUT the Voyager vibrated like the dickens above the stern, and we wish we had been assigned the G in a different location. The Navigator is another ship on which I would not book a guarantee, as she has vibration problems in some areas. The Mariner, however, is free of these problems as far as I know, so I might go for a guarantee on her.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard,
This question has nothing to do with guarantees, but you have raised our concern about vibration on the Navigator. We were on the same cruise with you on the Voyager, April 2004, in cabin 838, luckily with no vibration. However, as you pointed out the vibration in the Horizon Lounge and La Veranda Restaurant was significant. We are booked on an extended Navigator cruise in 2005. Your comments regarding your experience on the Navigatior would be most helpful.
Gail & Rich

Gail and Rich:

Hi again! Our last Navigator cruise was in April, '03 to Bermuda. Our cabin number was 617, a balcony, and there were several board members in the suites near and in the row with it. There were no vibration problems in those suites. There was occasional vibration in the Compass Rose, but not a "cruise ruining matter" The vibration in the show lounge, which is right above the screws, was really bad every time we visited it when the ship was under way. It actually was accompanied with a grinding noise that made it difficult to hear the lecturers. But the show lounge is the only place where we encountered bad vibration problems. This does not mean there were not other places with this problem --- just that we did not happen upon them.

Hope this helps,
Richard

Richard
We are booked in cabin 627 five cabins from where you were so this is somewhat reassuring. Thanks so much for your valuable input.
Gail

Gail, I was in the same area of the ship in the Baltics and never noticed the vibration in the cabin. Likewise on deck 9. Only time I even noticed it was in Portofino, and once during the day during a lecture in the show lounge. I am booked again for next June, so obviously it didn't put me off.

Gail - 627 is in a beautiful location. You should have no problems with strange noises or vibration where you are (unless you're very unlucky with neighbors) :D Have a great time on your cruise!

Masaki

Gail and Rich:

Actually 627 should be better than 617, as it is closer to the middle of the ship. All the odd-numbered suites on dock six are good. Very convenient location as well. The even numbered suites on that deck are those strange ones with no balcony, and windows that look out over a deck where (IMO) a balcony should be! One for the "what were they thinking" books!

Thanks,
Richard