Guaranteed Cabin... Is it like a game of Poker?

Not sure recently how many times I have had the conversation with customers about a guaranteed cabin, but thought that this would be good to share.

So lets start, what is a guaranteed cabin, well it means you will get at least a cabin of the category you book on but we do not know exactly which cabin it will be. Each cruise line has different descriptions, but if you book a guaranteed inside you will get at least an inside, a guaranteed suite means you will get a suite.

Simples!

But is it like a game of poker and can you improve the odds?
How many D8 inside cabins are there on Cunard ships, how many A7 cabins are there on QE and QV or how many BF cabins are there on some princess ships? Well, the answer is not many and they are generally sold on a guarantee basis; don't know why, probably so the lead price advertised by the cruise line is low.

So choosing one of these or other guaranteed cabins may increase your odds of getting an upgrade, you might get a Royal Flush! or you might just have to stick. If you want to win it you have got to be in it!

Bit of anecdotal evidence, booked one of my regular customers last Sunday, I will call him Mr W. onto Queen Victoria. Mr W does book late and look for the good cabin at the right price and we had a long discussion about what to do, he took a guaranteed Balcony cabin (A6).

I have just had the upgrade notice and he has got an A1 balcony in an excellent midships position, what a result!

I have seen others, and not just from Cunard or Princess.

This approach is really no good if you want a specific cabin, want to be on Port or midships etc but if you have no preference then is it worth your gamble?