We will be cruising on the Norwegian Star to Mexico this December 19th. We booked a "guarantee" cabin in the lowest category of ocean view cabin (H - deck 4). When we were assigned a cabin, we were "upgraded" to a category "G". Thing is, all the "G" cabins are obstructed view on Deck 8 and are 90% obstructed by lifeboats. When I called NCL they said there is nothing they could do because reserving a "guarantee" lets them put us in any cabin at or higher than "H". I think that putting these obstructed view cabins at a higher category level than other cabins with clear views is just a scam to be able to sell these obstructed rooms. They should be the lowest oceanview category.

Am I thinking logically, or is it such a great advantage to be higher in the boat that the obstructed view is acceptable?

(For us it worked out OK... When I saw the assigned cabin I called my agent and upgraded to a balcony guarantee room and was assigned a nice cabin on Deck 10.)

GuyS,

it does indeed sound strange that an obstructed view cabin is in a higher category than a non-obstructed view one.

However, as per NCL's web site the category H cabins have portholes, while cat. G cabins have windows. Virtually all cruise lines list porthole cabins as a lower category than window cabins, even if the latter ones have an obstructed view. "Norwegian Star" only has four cat. H cabins, as per the web site. This is also not unusual, as modern cruise ships have very few porthole cabins, which are usually located near the bow, which IMHO isn't a particularly great location, anyway.

Raoul,
Thanks for your insight. Perhaps that is the answer. On the Cruise.com website (where I booked) all the oceanview cabins are shown with a 10.45 sf window, but perhaps that is a mistake on their web site because I see that the description is different on the NCL website.

Guy