Definition: Cruise ship cabins often are in many categories. Some ships have over 20 from which to choose! When you book a cabin category guarantee, you do not get to select a specific cabin, but are guaranteed to get a cabin in the category you have paid for or even a higher category. So, you are booking a cabin category, but often do not know the specific cabin until a few days before your cruise.

If you are guaranteed at least the category you are paying for, why doesn't everyone book a guarantee cabin? Many cruisers prefer to be mid-ship or near the forward or aft elevators. Others prefer either a higher deck near the pool or a lower one near the the main restaurant or casino. Using a cruise ship deck plan, they can choose a specific cabin on the ship that is in their preferred location. They know well in advance just where they will be sleeping! On the other hand, those who book a cabin category guarantee might get lucky and get an upgrade to a suite or from an inside cabin to an outside one.

Every cruise traveler needs to decide which is more important to them, and whether they want to gamble on a cabin category guarantee or select one in advance.

Examples: When booking a cruise ship cabin, guests can either choose a specific cabin or suite on a ship, or choose a guarantee cabin category.