A fellow chatter responded to a previous post of mine regarding Glory rooms. They mentioned they were in a 6E room. I booked through a travel agent and am going with a group of people. We were offered the option of 4A, 6A, 8A. I know that the first is inside view, the next ocean view, and the next a balcony. What do the letters mean. Was our Travel Agent making extra money by only offering us the A category? Could we have gotten a better Category?

Hi Rhonda,

The numbers refer to the type of cabin. The letters refer to the deck, with A being the lowest deck for that type of cabin.

If they did not give you a cabin number at time of booking means they were booking you on a gaurantee of that deck with a chance of getting a higher deck.

No, the Travel Agent was making less money, and trying to save you money by offering you the "A" decks within the cabin types.

The cabins are identical with few exceptions on the decks. But the prices are higher the higher the deck.

We booked directly with Carnival in a cabin: Guaranteed Category 5A. What can we expect?

I was so lucky in Sept. on the Destiny, I booked a cabin with ocean view, I believe it was a 1a but I was upgraded to 1n 8A. My sister also recieved the same upgrade. If you booked though Carnival call them back maybe once or twice a month and see if they can offer you anything better. I made a total of 3 calls in about a 3 month period and went from 1 to 8,, not bad,, Oh and most important, it was at no extra cost to me.
Good Luck,, have a safe and fun cruise.
David

A category 1A is not an ocean view room. It is the lowest category of an inside room and has one upper and one lower.

Sault B
A category 5a is an outside cabin, but instead of a picture window it has two portholes. Since you booked in a "guarantee" you possibly may get upgraded. An upgrade is never 100% guaranteed that you will get moved up.

I can vouch for that, not that Cruise Fanatic needs any vouching

Have sailed 2 times in 5A because is the same price as 4A inside. I always pick my cabin though because they are limited and a little quirky.

I have been told by Carnival in the past that an upgrade from 5A is a rare thing, so I do my assignment. Part of the reasoning for it being rare is the next up is 6A which is the starting selling point for standard outside cabins.

Rare does not mean it could not happen. I have had good luck with cabin E-10 on the Empress Deck for same price as Inside Riviera on the Fantasy Class ships. Good luck, and it can be a little bouncy up front but is worth it to me for the view and the deck at that price.

Hello,

Thank you for the information.

I just discovered we have room R206 (room with window). I am a little concerned about seasickness this low on the boat. Should I be?

One really can't say what you will experience. It all depends on your sensitivity to motion and whether the seas are rough or not. I personally have never experienced the bottom deck having any more motion than the higher decks.

I have never noticed any more movement on Riviera. Some people have said is less than the top decks. I notice it more if in the main front of the ship. There are several decks under Riviera, they are just not passenger decks. You are really more toward the middle deck than you think.

Thank you for all your responses. They are very helpful to a first time "cruizer"

Do you ask for an upgrade from Carnival or do they automatically assign it? If we have already been assigned a room, what are the chances of recieving an upgrade? Should we ask? Would they upgrade to a balcony?

Hey SaultB,

If you have an assigned cabin that is what you will get. Upgrades so to speak are mostly within the decks with the same type of cabin to a higher deck.

Example Riviera to Empress etc. If you do a guarantee of that type of cabin,(means not picking your cabin) and early, most likely will be moved to a higher deck.

Not often for an Inside to be upgraded to Oceanview. Or Oceanview to be upgraded to Balcony.

Hope this helps,
IslandCruz

Cruise Fanatic,

I read your post about the differences between the 4A and 5A cabins. I didn't know there were cabins with portholes. I'm too new to cruising, I guess...something I want to change! ha!

Why aren't we told of these outside porthole cabins when we book an inside cabin, if they are the same price?? We've been on only one other cruise, and our cabin was an oceanview. My husband believes we aren't in the cabin enough to pay the difference, but if I can have 2 porthole windows for the same price, I want the windows!

And, what's the deal with the "guaranteed" cabins? You can only get upgraded if your cabin is "guaranteed"?

Thanks for helping!

Annies,
It depends what rate code you are booking at. On the Nov 6th sailing on the Imagination, they have some rate codes where 4b inside Main deck is same as 5a. But 4a inside Riviera deck is a little bit cheaper. Rate codes are past passenger, resident, supersaver, etc. I have rarely seen someone with an assigned cabin get upgraded. A lot of people choose an assigned cabin because of it's location. A guarantee means you may be upgraded, but it could be anywhere- aft, forward, bottom deck, very top deck.

Thanks Cruise Fanatic! Makes more sense to me now!

We were extremely lucky on the current cruise we have booked for 2/07 on Ecstacy. We got inside cabin anywhere on the ship for the lowest price. They assigned us to Empress deck midship. I called back about 2 months after original booking to ask that one of the cabins be assigned somewhere with the 3 beds and they upgraded me from the inside to OV at same price. I just moved from midship inside to aft outside for same price. I thought this was extremely lucky and we don't mind the back of the ship.