How do you feel about a Guaranteed Category booking as opposted to a definite cabin assignment?

Probably cancellations. It would be nice if they kept track of anyone who needed the handicap cabin but was unable to get it so booked another room -- kinda like a "guarantee HC" program. If one becomes available, they contact everybody on the list before making it available to the general guarantee list.

For me - I need to reserve the specific room. I hate the long-term internal nags of "I wonder if I will get a suit, or will it be an interior under the kitchen?" for several months.

After reading many posts on different forums regarding the difficulty of booking an accessible cabin, it amazes me that these cabins can end up in the guarantee pool. Maybe a last minute cancellation??

We always book specific rooms in an area that we choose. Even though there is a considerable cost difference I do not think we could take the chance with a guarantee room.

Wow, another old thread resurrected, but still interesting.

We book specific rooms after seeing what's above, below and nearby, so that we get a room that will likely be nice and quiet for sleeping.

Regardless of who you book through, always check the deck location..what's above and below.. so you don't get stuck under the pool deck, or worse!

Did this for the first time on our 12/4/17 cruise to Havana for an ocean view cabin; were pleasantly surprised as we were uograded to a better deck. great deck, great cabin. Will probably do it again!

I always book guarantee cabins, as they are the cheapest. We have received some good upgrades. But I guess we have been lucky have not got a stinker of a cabin yet.

Twice I've taken the risk and booked Guaranteed, and both times I was very happy with the cabin I got--one was an "end unit" which I prefer, the other was a handicapped end-unit, a DOUBLE score! I really like handicapped cabins because I'm only 5-8 and shrinking, and I really like the folding seat in the shower and grab bars all around for hanging stuff. Plus, the less wall space I have to share with another passenger, the better. Of course, it's no fun being next to a steward's closet either.

I've booked a guarantee balcony on Carnival 4 times. The first time we were upgraded to a Grand Suite, The second time a mid ship upper grade cabin, the third time a terrific cabin off the back of the ship. Unfortunately the last time we got a mid ship cabin just below the Lido deck. A lot of noise scrapping chairs at all hours. It's a crap shoot, we won 3 out of 4 times.

It is often said that the chance of getting an upgrade is better when booking a guarantee. That has not been my experience. We have had only two upgrades - both were significant upgrades on Cunard - and they were upgrades from staterooms that we had specifically chosen. We have never had an upgrade from a guarantee, other than occasionally a one category which meant the same size cabin just a bit closer to midships. Our last guarantee was for Princess Grill on the Queen Mary 2 for a transatlantic. Even though we booked almost a year in advance, we were assigned the second worst stateroom in that category, meaning so far forward we were almost under the bridge. There were two nights of Force 10 gales and we definitely felt it. I will now book a guarantee only if it is all that is available at the time of booking.