Cruise Talk: Run of the Ship?

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Topic: Run of the Ship?

LizKiddo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1167

posted 04-06-2000 10:33 PM

I've seen mention on these boards of booking a "Run of the Ship."

Would someone enlighten me as to what this is and how it is different from other bookings?

Thanks in Advance!!!

Posts: 33 | From: Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 04-07-2000 10:21 AM

I just got off of the "Norwegian Sky" Sunday. We had a "Run of Ship". We were told that we would get the best avaiable cabin, at the time of sailing. We ended up with the smallest inside cabin. But it was on a good deck, and in the middle, not above the engines or under the band! We got a fantastic price. I had never been in an inside before. I must say I didn't like it at all. But, I would do it again if I got a really cheap price and it is a nice big new ship! Our next cruise in January is going to be on Celebrity's new Millennium, with a panoramic window. But, it was twice the price!

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Scottylass
First Class Passenger
Member # 420

posted 04-07-2000 10:38 AM

Hello Mrs.Mercy,

Will you do a review on your trip?
How was Norweigan Sky?
How did you like having to carry all that luggage yourself (no Mr.Mercy there)!!!
I hope you had a "special time" with your mom. I am interested to know how things went.

Posts: 648 | From: Stirlingshire, Scotland | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 04-07-2000 12:42 PM

No one is answering the question. I also would like to know what "run of the ship" means. Does it mean that you just book a category, or do you say "I want the cheapest cabin that you have"?

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

JDCasey
First Class Passenger
Member # 1065

posted 04-07-2000 01:40 PM

"Run of the Ship" means regardless of the cabin booked, all public spaces are available for your use. Ships that serve a dual purpose, (Crossings and Cruising) revert to a classed ship during Crossings. At that time there is a reserved 'First Class' dinning room, lounge, etc... that tourist class may not use. 'Run of the Ship' sounds better than 'One Class Ship' or the earliest diasterous attempt at advertising 'A Classless Ship'

Posts: 48 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 04-07-2000 02:27 PM

I'm not a travel agent, but Run of the ship as far as booking a room means at the time of booking you are not assigned a room until the very end when the cruise line evaluates what is left over. You may not know your room until you board. I believe you can book a category and then you are at least assurred of that category or better.

We were thinking about doing it next time. We do not mind having an inside cabin. The only thing we mind is what deck we're on. We certainly don't want the lower deck.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

MHP
First Class Passenger
Member # 1101

posted 04-07-2000 02:56 PM

I always thought that "Run of the Ship" in a booking sence meant that you booked a certain category of cabin (either inside or outside or suite) and you were assigned your cabin number very close to your sailing date. I understand that you couldn't book a certain deck category if you choose "Run of the Ship". Sometimes you won, sometimes you lost in the deck they finally assigned you. There is a third category for veranda type cabin or suite so you can't jump from booking an outside basic to a suite. I have noticed that the Norway sells "Run of the Ship" categories quite frequently. Just remember on a ship like this they have a huge number of cabins that range in size in the same category, where a newer ships cabins are all basicly the same except for location.

Posts: 86 | From: Toronto, Canada | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

moocow
First Class Passenger
Member # 712

posted 04-07-2000 02:58 PM

My husband and I booked with NCL on a run of the ship special. However we were offered guaranteed inside or outside. The price difference was $50.00 per person. We took guaranteed outside and the total cost for the both of us for seven days with port charges and taxes was $1,314.00. Run of the ship for us meant any outside cabin of the ship. We knew three weeks ahead of our cabin assignment even though we were told at the time of booking, that we may not know until boarding. We were lucky enough to get a deluxe stateroom. I think if given the chance to book run of the ship again, I would take it. The prices are to good to pass up.

Posts: 13 | From: Conroe, Texas USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

tonan
First Class Passenger
Member # 971

posted 04-07-2000 03:43 PM

we booked run of ship on Voyager. With such a large ship, you can't go wrong in any of the cabins. It saved us $500 over booking a specific inside cabin. Usually run of ship gives you an inside. You take your chances and sometimes it pays off. You would rarely get an outside or balcony, but I'm sure some have lucked out before. The ships generate a list of run of ship passengers. When it's about 3-4 weeks prior to sailing, the cruise line will assign any left over cabins to the people on the list in order. From best to worse. SO the earlier you book run of ship, the better the cabin you'll get than someone who booked run of ship later. We got an inside on deck 6 near the rear of the ship. But we were on the cruise for the entire ship experience, not the cabin.

Posts: 27 | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Mary Ann
First Class Passenger
Member # 317

posted 04-07-2000 06:20 PM

I've had a similar question about inside/outside guarantees, which seem to be a very similar idea as run of the ship. On HAL, the inside/outside guarantees are actually higher than the most expensive on the early inside/outside rates. So is this only for latecomers or on other cruise lines, are these guarantee rates lower than regular room rates? And how is a guarantee different from a run of the ship? Maybe just more than the special run of the ship rates which seem to be offered only when they have extra rooms?

Posts: 32 | From: Texas, USA | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 04-07-2000 06:42 PM

Run of ship means you have a cabin - that's it. It may be anywhere on the ship in any category. Usually run of ship rates are less expensive than booking a designated cabin. Sometimes cruise lines offer run of ship inside, you will have a inside cabin, and run of ship outside, you will have a outside cabin. Sometimes a cruise line will offer a guarantee - it usually is the same price as a
specific category and you are guaranteed a cabin no lower than that category, but there is a chance of an upgrade. Princess is the best for this, I have booked a guarantee in the lowest inside category and received a 12 category upgrade!

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-07-2000 10:10 PM

Run of the Ship/Guarantee - I'm not sure that they are one and the same thing - never had 'run of the ship' but have experienced 'guarantee' - means you book and pay for a specific category, inside or outside. You won't have a cabin costing less than you paid and you might get lucky and end up in on costing a lot more.
Run of the House, when applied to hotels, means you will have a room but who knows where - could be the Bridal Suite - more likely to be the'Maids Room' - had that experience in Mexico.
Live dangerously - try it!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 04-08-2000 02:20 PM

There is Run of the ship, run of the ship inside, run of the ship outside. You pay for lets say run of the ship outside. You pay the price of the lowest cabin or even less, you are guarenteed to have an outside cabin and they upgrade you accordingly as they over sell the lower cabins and you move up. We did this on the Norweigen Wind (run of the ship outside) ended up on the promanade deck. Run of the ship inside you will be guarenteed an inside room. with just plane Run of the ship you can end up with anything! On N.C.L. they even have run of the ship suites

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-08-2000 05:09 PM

K&K - that system would seem to indicate that the line has difficulty selling its space.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 04-08-2000 05:16 PM

We have just returned from a week on the Bolero [festival cruise lines]. It was our first cruise so we have nothing to compare it to. We had the time of our lives,we are just waiting on the travel books coming out .YEP we're going back. We had an inside cabin as low and as far to the back as you could possibly go on the ship. Why if the price is not amazing would you not want an inside cabin.Remember your only sleeping and showering in it.I wonder if this cruise line has run of the ship deals? Also if I was to call the travel agent now and said we want to go back on the same ship could we do that even though the travel books are not out yet?

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 04-10-2000 10:27 AM

Green; Absolutly not! It is just they can and will sell lower rooms more often than they will the higher priced ones. It has been my experience that this happens in Hotel rooms, car rentals etc... If they only put people in rooms that they paid for they would be half empty. Full at the top end of the scale and full at the bottom end of the scale. As I have said before we have always been upgraded usually going with a cat. guarentee rather that run of the ship. We have been on 12 cruises on four different lines, booked from three weeks to six months in advance and have always been upgraded. We have sometimes gotten our room number at embarkation or some times call a week or two before sailing to get it. We like to wait until at the pier we guess the closest the losser buys the first round!

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 04-10-2000 07:30 PM

One thing you a definitely wrong about it that the cheapest cabins sell first, they are the second ones to sell out the most expensive sell first. If you want a suite on a Holland America ship going through the Panama or on one of the longer cruises you could well have to book a year ahead of time.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 04-11-2000 04:22 PM

DianaD; I believe that I am correct! perhaps it is misprinted I said they sell lower cabins more often not first. Sorry if you misunderstood.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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