'Guarantee Cabins' Can Save You A Ton Of Money On A Cruise Trip

As the price of cruises continue to climb, frugal travelers are getting more resourceful, seeking out worthwhile ways to save on their excursions. These methods can include booking repositioning cruise deals, which last longer and come out costing less per day than an average cruise. But another way to save can be booking a guarantee cabin.

On a cruise, booking a guarantee cabin simply means the cruise line picks a suite on your behalf. The way this is done is by having the cruise line assign you a cabin closer to departure time after other travelers have picked their accommodation. However, travelers going with this option are guaranteed to be booked in a cabin in the same category they purchased or higher. For example, if you purchase a guarantee cabin on the middle decks, you can be assigned there or on the upper decks but not in a category below. One downfall is that factors such as location and view are not known at the time of purchase. While guarantee cabins come with a tradeoff, they are usually the cheapest priced options, helping you save more money on vacation.

Booking a guarantee cabin on a cruise is fairly straightforward. After selecting a cruise and filling out other details such as personal information and the number of travelers, you will be prompted to select your stateroom. Depending on the cruise line, they may provide an option specifically for guarantee cabins, but other times it may be less obvious. For example, Carnival's stateroom offerings are divided into Suite, Interior, Ocean View, and Balcony categories. Guarantee cabins are marked by text reading, "Room will be assigned." Meanwhile on Royal Caribbean, guarantee cabins are more clearly marked and even provide a brief disclaimer explaining that guarantee cabins may have obstructed views or look different than the booking photo. When booking directly through a cruise line or agency, just double check you're not falling susceptible to common cruise scams.

While guarantee cabins can be a great option if you're traveling on a budget, sometimes they may be the only options available or may not provide any additional savings. However, this scenario may not be as bad as it sounds. Even with no savings potential, booking a guarantee cabin can sometimes lead to a free upgrade to a higher category, which may make your cruise more worthwhile.