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Location, location, location. General advice on what cabins are the best for you
- I don't plan to spend much
time in my cabin. What's the most affordable way for me to get on the
ship?
- Do the cruise lines ever give
free upgrades?
- Where is the best location
for my cabin if I'm concerned about the ship's motion?
- Is an oceanview cabin worth
the extra money?
- How many people can I get
in my cabin?
- Is there any difference between
cabins on the lower decks and cabins on the higher decks?
I don't plan
to spend much time in my cabin. What's the most affordable way for me
to get on the ship?
Very good question, and one we hear quite
often. The most affordable way to get on the ship other than stowing away
is to book an "inside guarantee." The rate is often a little
lower than the rate for the lowest category on the ship. You will not
receive a cabin number when booking. It will be assigned as late as the
day of sailing. And your cabin assignment could be in any category on
the ship. You could receive the lowest category on the ship or the highest.
You never know. However, expect an inside cabin. The drawback is that
you don't know where you'll end up. It could be the front, back or middle,
so if that's a concern to you, we recommend avoiding this pricing program.
Since most cabins on today's ships only
differ by the fact they're on a different deck, most folks don't mind
taking a chance of where they end up. Most of our clients who take advantage
of this deal are quite satisfied with their accommodations. If you seriously
plan to spend little time in your cabin, then consider this promotion.
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Do the cruise lines
ever give free upgrades?
Everyone either knows someone, met someone
on a ship, or they themselves have been upgraded to a higher category
than they paid for. Yes, it does happen and but not as frequently as people
think. How do upgrades work? Who knows? We're still trying to figure it
out, but here's our theory.
Most upgrades go to passengers who book
early and buy the lowest category on the ship in the form of a "Category
Guarantee." A "Category Guarantee" means that when you
book your cruise, you are not assigned a cabin number, you are simply
guaranteed that category or better. Since most people who cruise simply
want to get the best price, "Guarantees" are a great way to
fill the ship with people looking for a good rate.
The cruise lines always sell more guarantees
in a category than there are cabins in that category. For example, the
lowest rate on Celebrity Cruise Line's Zenith is a Category 12, inside
cabin. There are approximately 6 category 12 cabins. However, on each
sailing, Celebrity will sell between 40 and 60 Category 12 guarantees.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that 34 people are going
to get a free upgrade. Usually these upgrades are given on a first come
first serve bases.
Most upgrades are often from low inside
cabins to higher inside cabins, or low outside cabins to higher outside
cabins. Rarely do passengers get upgraded from inside to outside but it
does happen. But don't book an inside cabin expecting a free upgrade to
an outside. It probably won't happen.
If you are assigned a cabin when you deposit
on your cruise, your chances of an upgrade are very small. If you are
traveling in a quad, your chances are very rare in that there are relatively
few quad cabins on a sailing. Cabin assignments on guarantees are usually
made between a few weeks and the day of sailing. If you don't like the
cabin they give you, tough luck, you're stuck. So if you're afraid of
being at the front, back, top, bottom, under the dining room, then don't
take the chance. Take an assignment at time of booking.
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Where is the best location
for my cabin if I'm concerned about the ship's motion?
While motion sickness shouldn't be a major
concern on today's ships, you should still know the best way to avoid
it if possible. If it's available, you should request a cabin that is
relatively close to the middle of the ship. If you can imagine a see-saw
in the play ground, it's the ends that go up and down, not the middle.
(No, cruises are not like see-saws). You should also look for a cabin
that's closer to the bottom of the ship, not the top. The higher you are,
the greater the potential to feel a left to right rolling motion. Example,
the top of a tall palm tree will always sway more in the wind than the
bottom of the tree.
Again, today's ships are fully stabilized
making your cruise comfortable in virtually any location. As a matter
of fact, if motion discomfort were such an issue, the suites on a ship
wouldn't be at the top and near the front.
To make sure you get the best cabin for
you, book early, book early, book early. If you wait, you'll have less
to choose from.
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Is an ocean view cabin
worth the extra money?
Our clients tell us the the biggest advantage
of having an ocean view cabin is that it makes your cabin seem so much
bigger. It's amazing what natural light will do for a room. It also gives
you some perception of time. When you wake up at 7:00 am in an inside
cabin, you can't tell if it's 2 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon.
For them an ocean view cabin is worth it for this reason alone. Want to
know what the weather's like? Open your curtain. With an inside cabin,
you throw on some clothes, run outside and run back again.
On the other hand, our other valued clients
say the opposite. "Who needs a window. I'm only going to be in there
when I sleep anyway. I could use that extra money on shore excursions,
my bar tab, or my next cruise."
Who's right? They both are. It's really
up to you. Ocean view cabins generally cost about $100 more per person
for a 7 or 10 night Caribbean cruise and about $200 more per person for
a European or Exotic itinerary. Our agents will be glad to discuss the
features and benefits of both types of cabins without pressuring you into
something you don't want.
The only itinerary where we highly suggest
an ocean view cabin is Alaska. With daylight hours approaching 20 - 22
hours in the peak season, it's wonderful to be able to enjoy it from your
cabin.
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How many people can
I get into my cabin?
Most cruise ship cabins are built to accommodate
two passengers. However, there are many on each ship that can accommodate
three and four passengers. Carnival and Disney both have ships that sleep
five in one cabin. These cabins are obviously very popular among families
and go quickly during family vacation times. So book them early if you
need them.
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Is there any difference
between cabins on the lower decks and cabins on the higher decks?
On today's newer ships, there are basically
four types of cabins:
Inside Cabins - these
are cabins without windows
Ocean view Cabins - basically the same size as inside
cabins only they have port holes or picture windows.
Deluxe Cabins - about the same size as an ocean
view cabin, except it may have a private balcony which adds to the overall
square footage of the cabin.
Suites - significantly larger than other cabins
on the ship, often with a private balcony or verandah.
You find the Deluxe Cabins and
Suites on the higher decks of a cruise ship, so, yes, there is a difference
here. However, Standard Inside Cabins and Ocean view Cabins are basically
the same on any deck. For example, a Category 4, Inside Cabin on Carnival's
Fantasy on the Riviera Deck is the same size as an Ocean view Category
9 on the Empress Deck. The difference become evident in the Cat 11 and
Cat 12 Demi-Suites and Suites.
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