Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy: What is a Guarantee Rate?

Guarantee Rates are one of the best opportunities to save money on a Disney Cruise Line fare. You give up on selecting your specific stateroom when you book, and in return, Disney gives you a significant discount on your cruise price. There are a few gotchas attached to these bookings, also known as restricted rate fares. So let’s take a quick look at how they work.

What Kinds of Disney Cruise Line Guarantee Rates Are There?

Most of the time, when you book your cruise, you’ll select your stateroom at the same time. With a ‘Guarantee’ booking, Disney chooses your stateroom for you. There are four types of Guarantee bookings.

• IGT (Inside Guarantee) – You’ll get an inside stateroom.
• OGT (Oceanview Guarantee) – You’ll get an oceanview stateroom.
• VGT (Verandah Guarantee) – You’ll get a verandah stateroom.
• GTY (General Guarantee) – You’re guaranteed a specific category but not a specific room.

Only IGT, OGT, and VGT are special rates. The General Guarantee (GTY) is a regular booking, but there is no discount for selecting it. The restricted rate categories, IGT, OGT, and VGT, are different. If you play games, you can think of them like a gacha box. When you book a VGT (Verandah Guarantee) rate, you will get a Verandah. But, taking the Fantasy as our example ship, you could get

• Category 4A: Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on deck 9 or 10
• Category 7A: Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on any deck from  5 through 9; enclosed verandah with limited views
• Or anything in between!

The risk you take: You could get assigned to a 7A stateroom, the least desirable category with a verandah. The reward Disney gives you: your stateroom will cost less than booking any specific stateroom with a verandah, including a 7A. And, you could easily be assigned to a higher, more desirable category. The one thing you will not get: a stateroom that does not have a verandah.

There are a couple of other things you’ll give up to book an OGT, IGT, or VGT rate. You must pay in full at the time of booking, and your fare is non-refundable. You also won’t be able to make changes to your sailing party at a later date. But, you’ll still be able to make choices like dinner seating time, port arrival time, etc.

Got more questions about Guarantee Rates? See The Hidden Gem of Disney Cruise Line Pricing – Guarantee Rates

Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy is for first-time Disney cruisers looking to learn about the DCL experience. Got a Disney Cruise Line term that you want to see explained? Suggest it in the comments below!