If you book a guarantee room on Princess Cruises, your cabin assignment can be made anytime from a few weeks before sailing up until embarkation day. Some passengers receive their room number well in advance, while others do not find out until check-in at the port. Regardless of timing, all guarantee cabins are assigned by sail away, so you will always know your cabin before the ship departs.
In most cases, Princess will assign guarantee cabins one to three weeks before the cruise, especially when inventory is stable. However, when sailings are full, cabins are being shuffled, or upgrades are being processed, assignments may be delayed. It is not uncommon for guests to check their app or booking daily during the final week, hoping to see a cabin number appear.
If your cabin has not been assigned by embarkation day, port staff will mark your luggage tags as “TBD” so the bags can be routed to your room once a number is finalized. This often feels chaotic to first-time guarantee passengers, but it is a normal part of the process, and your luggage will still reach you.
One of the biggest appeals of a guarantee booking is the possibility of an upgrade. Some people score a great cabin type or a higher-category room than they paid for, such as a nicer balcony or a more desirable spot on the ship. However, upgrades are not guaranteed, and luck can vary from one sailing to the next. Sometimes you may end up in a room that is technically higher category but not ideal from a comfort standpoint. For example, guests occasionally receive an ADA-accessible cabin as a guarantee assignment. These rooms are larger and designed with accessibility features, but some travelers feel they are less appealing aesthetically or aren’t set up the way they prefer.
Guarantee cabins are a bit of a gamble. Some people love the thrill of seeing what they end up with, especially when they have scored upgrades in the past. Others decide it is not worth the uncertainty and prefer the control of choosing an exact room, especially if location or layout matters to them.
If you enjoy a bit of unpredictability and prioritize price over control, a guarantee can be a fun and budget-friendly option. If the layout or location matters, booking a specific cabin may give you peace of mind.
