New to Royal Carribean-guaranteed balcony question

I would never again let the cruiseline book. Too much margin for displeasure. I allowed them to book us for our lift and shift cruise on Symphony in December. We ended up in the middle of the ship, a long walk from both sets of elevators. I probably could have asked to be moved, but my wife wanted to stay.where we were...we were not thrilled.

If you book a Balcony Guarantee, the only "Balcony" you are guaranteed NOT to get is a virtual, because they are considered interior rooms.

You may be able to specify a Oceanview, Central Park, or Boardwalk Guarantee, dependent on how early you book.

A classic example of you get what you pay for. If you want to know or pick you pay for it. If not you roll the dice and land where you may in whatever is open.

Thanks,

Doing the at home Covid tests later. If all goes according to plan (ie: ALL negative tests) then we'll be getting on the plane tomorrow for sunshine and warmth. Not too stressed, and I'm glad I won't be standing out like a sore thumb in the grocery store anymore by being one of only a very few who are continuing to mask up.

BTW...Good tips. I always have the deck plans up on my screen while booking, and I never accept a cabin on a deck that's not sandwiched between two other cabin decks. I don't ever want to be above or below bars, dining rooms, kitchens, pools, or any other potentially noisy area again. I also avoid the cabins that are right outside the elevators. I was once below the lido deck and had to listen to the crew shuffling deck chairs at night while I was trying to sleep, and you know how badly I need my beauty sleep.

See Ya.

[quote=Yankee47]

Yeh...AB and I are on the same page...how boring!!! (what ARE you DOING in here anyway??? I thought you left!!! hehehehe)...I guess i should add...if you're having second thoughts, heres the plan, since you're way ahead (which is usually a good thing from the selection point of view) eyeball a deck plan, and jot down 4-5 cabins you think you may like..you can also get a good idea of the price difference...then, and only then CALL RCL, tell em whats going on, see whats actually available, (don't click on anything) and in the same call, book one and cancel the other...here's a trick..stay online while they do it, so you can see which cabin they''re wanting to give you, if none of the ones you selected are available......if you used a TA let THEM do it, and specify where you want to be...again...YOU eyeball the deck plans...not someone else..good luck....

And AB??? BONVOYAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeh...AB and I are on the same page...how boring!!! (what ARE you DOING in here anyway??? I thought you left!!! hehehehe)...I guess i should add...if you're having second thoughts, heres the plan, since you're way ahead (which is usually a good thing from the selection point of view) eyeball a deck plan, and jot down 4-5 cabins you think you may like..you can also get a good idea of the price difference...then, and only then CALL RCL, tell em whats going on, see whats actually available, (don't click on anything) and in the same call, book one and cancel the other...here's a trick..stay online while they do it, so you can see which cabin they''re wanting to give you, if none of the ones you selected are available......if you used a TA let THEM do it, and specify where you want to be...again...YOU eyeball the deck plans...not someone else..good luck....

And AB??? BONVOYAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes it works out, sometimes not. Like Y47 said, a ton of people book that way all the time.

It's a

Personally, I'm a bit of a control freak and I want more say to what & where my vacation accommodations are going to be, so I will pay the extra $$ for ME to guarantee I get the cabin I want. That being said I have an acquaintance who once had a balcony overlooking Central Park. She found it very enjoyable over the usual inside cabins she typically books. However, she is a "go with the flow" type of person.

Here's my two cents. This is a vacation that you are going to spend thousands of hard earned dollars to take. If you're really concerned that your "guaranteed" cabins location is not going to give you the enjoyment that you want (and deserve), then spend the extra money and take control over where you want to rest your head at night and the view you'll want to enjoy during the day..

You can't ensure anything. As it clearly states on their website, THEY will decide your cabin location at their discretion at any time right up to boarding.. All the lines have similar programs, to use cabins that are either unsold (after they offer upgrades), or frankly cabins that nobody wants...because they have great views of lifeboats or other obstructions, or are under or next door to noisy venues...you get the idea...you traded off a cabin location of YOUR choice in exchange for a cheaper rate...I hope its worth it...Some folks do it all the time..GOOD LUCK!!!