2nd Time a Charm - or did we take to much of a gamble?

[Nicole03162024]

My husband and I were married in March 2024 and were scheduled to take our Honeymoon Cruise in September of that same year (I had work obligations that would not allow me to travel before that). In May 2024 my brand new husband was diagnosed with a form of inoperable Brain Cancer. Immediately, he went into treatment and we unfortunately had to cancel our honeymoon cruise. Royal was absolutely amazing during this time, refunding our entire trip, even our non-refundable deposit. 

Fast forward to September 2025, and my husband has progressed enough with his illness (still not in remission but out of the woods) that his Drs gave us the OK to begin to travel again! We immediately researched and decided on the 11 Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Cape Liberty leaving on January 4th 2026 on board Odyssey of the Seas.

I am a Loyal to Royal cruiser through and through. Been on 5 cruises in a variety of different stateroom categories (minus interior, just not for me, I need at least a window lol). After weighing all the pros and cons, we ultimately decided this time to take a huge gamble and book a Guaranteed Balcony stateroom. 

Here we are now, roughly 60 days out and I am starting to get a little bit of anxiety since we have not been assigned our stateroom yet. I am aware that it can literally be the day before we embark for them to assign, but I am just so curious to know where we are! 

Looking for all the stories, good and bad, from anyone who has gone the guaranteed route. Did you regret it? Did your gamble end up paying off? Please tell me all the stories!

Thanks,

Nicole

[Atlantix2000]

There are numerous posts about when people get their guarantee assignments.  A quick site search on "guaranteed" or "GTY" will find them.  I think the consensus is a few weeks before the cruise but it can vary from many months to the day you board.

[WAAAYTOOO]

I booked a GTY balcony reservation for SY 2-22-26 and that room was assigned a couple of weeks ago.  I was surprised that I got an assignment that quickly.  I was even able to move my assigned room to a better location (same category) since there were still rooms available in that category.  I am very pleased with this particular GTY.  I have had worse luck (getting stuck with a connecting room, for instance) in the past, but this one worked just like you hoped all of them will !

[need2cruz]

I did a guarantee ocean view balcony for an 8 night January cruise on Odyssey in 1/24.  I was worried I'd get one of those obstructed view cabins on the 6th floor, but we ended up getting an upgrade of a large Oceanview balcony on the 12th floor.  You do have to be prepared to get one of those obstructed view cabins, though.  I think you and your husband will love the ship no matter where your cabin is assigned.  The Solarium, 270, and gym all  have really amazing views.  

[teddy]

We cruise in guaranteed cabins quite a bit and rarely do we have a cabin assignment until the 20-30 day mark. 

[Ryan79]

You do have to remember that you will be assigned what amounts to a leftover cabin…one that no one else wanted to book. Yes, you can absolutely get a great cabin with a GTY cabin. My advice is to go with the expectation that you will get an obstructed view, connecting cabin, or below the pool deck or WJ. That way if you get one of those, you won’t be disappointed and if you don’t get one, it will be a pleasant surprise. 

[PhillyLady]

Welcome to this blog!  You will find many experienced cruisers, and lots of RC experts.

It is wonderful to hear that your husband is making progress, and that his health improvement will now allow you to celebrate a well-deserved honeymoon!

A belated congratulations on your marriage.

Your cruise is right after the holiday season, so it may just be that RC is trying to deal with all the holiday bookings first. I checked your sailing date, and it looks like there are at least twenty balcony cabins still available.  Many people who sail out of Cape Liberty (like I can), just drive there, so they should not be too bothered by these new flight cancellations. 

I have booked a guarantee in the past, and I was actually quite pleased with my assignment.  I did get notified pretty quickly (a few months in advance). I have also done the  upgrade bid process, and "won" a  nicer cabin that way as well.  That notification was closer to the cruise.

Are you working with a travel agent? I believe that if you are really unhappy with your guarantee assignment, you may be able to negotiate a substitute cabin. 

Remember it will be chilly on the way down and back up going from NJ to the Caribbean. 

Well, hopefully you will mainly be in the cabin only in the evenings, so enjoy your ship and the pretty port visits, and relax and celebrate!

Best wishes!!

 

P.S.  Make sure to take a few professional cruise photos for your honeymoon scrapbook!