What is a Cruise Cabin Guarantee?

Many times you when booking a cruise, you will be offered a cabin guarantee. What does that mean? Will it save you money? Will you be upgraded? Will you be able to change the cabin if you don't like it?

This is a description from Cruise Critic:
"Guarantee: A "guarantee" cabin selection is one in which you pay for the cabin category you are willing to take but you allow the cruise line to select the cabin for you. You are guaranteed to get accommodated in at least the category you have selected; you will never get a lower category. But, by choosing a guarantee you have an excellent chance of being upgraded to a slightly higher category, usually within the same cabin type (inside to inside, outside to outside, verandah to verandah etc.). Beyond that, while it does happen, it's rare to be upgraded to a higher cabin type. Trust me: Taking the lowest category inside on a guarantee will not result in your being given a deluxe verandah suite. It just won't happen. But ... you might get very lucky and end up with an outside cabin and a lovely big window.

On the other hand, you might not only end up in the category you paid for, you might get a cabin in a location that you just never would have chosen for yourself; at that point, you can't complain about it, either.

Look at it this way: A guarantee category cabin is for gamblers. If you're feeling lucky and you know what the downside might be, and you can accept that, a guarantee can be a really good deal. If, on the other hand, you'd be miserable getting that cabin all the way at the very front of the ship at the lowest level, or that inside that just happens to be next to the crew quarters or the engine room, you'd be better off just choosing your cabin at the outset."

So if you want to save money and feel that a cabin is only for sleeping in, a cabin guarantee might be a way to save some money. If you need a cabin near an elevator or close to friends or family cruising with you, this is not a good option.

It is always best to book your cruise with a travel professional who can guide you toward the ship, the itinerary and the cabin that is right for you.