One of the easiest ways to save money on your cruise fare is to book a guarantee or GTY stateroom. This means that instead of selecting your cabin, you let the cruise line do it for you at a lower price. Guarantee cabins can be great options for flexible cruisers who want to save money on their cruise cabin.
As the name implies, a guarantee stateroom guarantees you a room on the ship within your chosen category, whether interior, ocean view, balcony, or suite. However, it doesn't guarantee you a specific cabin or location. Typically, you will be assigned a stateroom closer to your departure date.
Because these cabins are assigned after many passengers have paid to choose their exact room, you could end up with a cabin in an undesirable location, such as near the forward of the ship or a noisy elevator bank.
I've booked GTY cabins countless times on my cruises to save money. Sometimes, it's worked out in my favor! For example, when reserving a stateroom on Icon of the Seas, the cheapest balcony option was a Surfside Guarantee.
However, I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my cruise countdown to see we had been assigned a Central Park infinite veranda instead!
Still, it isn't always a home run; guarantee cabins have pros and cons. The biggest advantage of booking a guarantee stateroom is the lower price, but if you're picky about your cabin's location, you might not care about the savings.
When you select a GTY stateroom, the exact cabin, number, and location will be assigned by your cruise line
Once the stateroom has been assigned, it cannot be changed, so you're out of luck if you don't like the location or configuration. For example, you could be assigned a connecting cabin even if you're traveling as a couple and don't know the party in the adjoining stateroom.
You are guaranteed a cabin in at least your chosen category, so if you book an ocean-view GTY stateroom, you won't be assigned an inside cabin.
However, if you book a guarantee interior stateroom, you could be upgraded to an ocean-view cabin based on availability. Don't get your hopes up, though. Being bumped to a higher stateroom category is rare.
When booking a guarantee cabin, it's also essential that you don't mind where you end up. If you suffer from motion sickness, a GTY stateroom might not make sense because you could be assigned a cabin at the front of the ship where the motion is more prominent.
Similarly, if you are booking a guarantee stateroom with a view, there's a chance that the view could be obstructed by a lifeboat or another structure. This may not matter as much if you're sailing to the Bahamas or the Caribbean; however, would you mind a blocked view when sailing somewhere as scenic as Norway or Alaska?
Generally, you aren't subject to any differences in service and have access to the same amenities throughout the ship. In fact, your cabin steward won't even know that you booked a guarantee stateroom because there's no mention of this anywhere on your cruise card.
The only exception is MSC Cruises, as there are three different "experience" levels that you can select when booking your cruise. Each has different perks based on the price. For example, Bella, the lowest tier, does not let you choose your cabin. Additionally, less is included with this fare than the Fantastica or Aurea experiences.
You can't get free breakfast delivered to your cabin for free, but you can relax by the pool, dine in the same main dining rooms, and enjoy all the entertainment offerings.
Your exact stateroom may be assigned as far out as a couple of weeks before the scheduled departure date or as close as a few days before
The cruise line is not required to assign your cabin by a specific date. However, you'll rarely arrive at the terminal without a stateroom assignment because cruise lines must submit passenger manifests a few days before departure.
When you receive your cabin is influenced by factors like the sailing's popularity, availability, and category. You won't receive an email or notification when your stateroom is assigned. Instead, you must check the website or app to see if your reservation has a specific cabin number tied to it.
You can browse the ship's deck plans to see where it's located and what amenities are close once given a stateroom assignment.
Generally, I received my GTY cabins a few weeks before the sailing, but my cabin was assigned well over three months prior to my April 19, 2025, cruise on Icon of the Seas.
Should you book a GTY stateroom?
Guarantee cabins can be a great way to get a better rate on your cruise fare. The difference could help justify other add-ons like specialty dining and shore excursions! However, the biggest risk is that you could end up in a less-than-desired location or with an obstructed view.
Because guarantee cabins are meant to help fill in the gaps of unsold staterooms, they can be located anywhere on the ship. Your cabin could be directly underneath the lido deck, close to the casino, or far from an elevator bank. There's also the possibility that you could be assigned a connecting cabin.
Moreover, though obstructed views aren't the end of the world, a partially blocked balcony can impact your overall cruise experience, especially if you value having a clear view of the sea.
Certain mega-ships, namely Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Class, also have interior-facing balconies, so if you choose a GTY Neighborhood cabin, you could be assigned a stateroom that overlooks Central Park, the Boardwalk, or Surfside. If you have a preference, you're better off selecting your cabin when booking.
Something else to consider is whether you're doing back-to-back cruises. If you book two consecutive cruises with guarantee staterooms, you may be assigned different cabins on each voyage. This means you'll be required to move staterooms on the turnover day.
In short, GTY staterooms are like gambling. You could end up with a spacious stateroom or be assigned a cabin that doesn't meet your expectations. If you're traveling with a family, for example, and want connecting staterooms, you need to book them rather than crossing your fingers and hoping you'll get lucky.
I've had experiences with both! I was once assigned an accessible inside cabin on Symphony of the Seas. I loved the large stateroom, as the cabin was over 100 square feet larger than standard interior cabins. The location was convenient, too.
However, I've also been randomly assigned noisy, connected cabins and staterooms in the front of the ship, where I've felt the vessel rocking all night.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
