Watching the EPIC TA April 20th. For longest time ALL inside cabins are GTY.

What would be the reason for this?

People like to take a gamble and hope they get upgraded. Better chance of filling the ship when you offer low rates for GTY cabins, even if the GTY rates might have been the same for nonGTY - it's the perception that matters.

Maybe I was not clear in orig post.

You are right, but in this case, there is NO option for a higher price inside cabin to choose the location. It is all GTY.

In other words, you can't choose a better deck or location by paying more.

Hoping someone with inside knowledge can explain.

one thought - experiment to see if it causes more people to book outside cabins?

(have noticed luxury hotels experimenting with rates/inclusions/offers recently)
(airlines are always experimenting with fare strategies)

Are there any other categories open (oceanview, balcony, etc)? If so, they may not even have inside staterooms available but are trying to sell those last few staterooms of the other categories in any way possible.

I.e. Say there is a balcony cabin and a mini suite available. This close to sailing list guarantees in all lower categories plus those real rooms. This way you can grab someone that only wants a specific room OR someone who is just looking for a deal. And as soon as 2 rooms are booked - in any way - all of a sudden nothing is left available. If the specific rooms are booked, good they got what they wanted. If they booked the guarantees, the cruiseline either upgrades them to the two rooms that are available OR upgrades somebody already booked in an inside and then gives those insides to the new bookers.

Cruiselines do have give away higher category(s) of cabin for free, unless it's one of the worst ones in that group (location/noise/foot traffic, etc.) and to balance between supply & demand, last minute bargain sales will kick up a frenzy in the days as the sailaway date get closer, after cancellation & refund deadlines expired.

They do what's called an "upsell" - calling generally their best/loyal/most frequent cruisers and offer them to paid up, at a fraction of the rack rate difference - maybe at 50% off - making it attractive for those who paid for an oceanview only to now get into a balcony, or maybe a suite, etc. for far less. Usually, if you are lucky, you get a few hours to decide/discuss with your spouse or partner and go for it, or, they will skip over and call the next guest on their call list with the offer.

Thus, the sales dept. anticipated x number of cabins, usually in the lower categories to be freed up, and will run the GTY specials for new bookings - someone that originally booked an inside now find it "affordable" enough to spend an extra $100 or $150 to get an oceanview, maybe an extra $25 OBC (Onboard Credit) unadvertised - and now, those Inside Cabins are ready for a sale and assigned last minute. It's a win-win for everyone, especially the cruiseline - the ship leave the port usually well above 100% capacity - triples & quads. But, GTY are usually available only for 2 people, as they cannot ensure that a specific cabin with a third pullman and/or 4th. trestle bed that slide out from below, will be released on the upside sale.

For cruisers on a flexible schedule (semi/retired) and live close to homeports (or have plenty of miles to burn/can afford to fly last minute cheaply) and can pack and go, it's a great way to score bargains - especially off-peaks and while the kids are in classes.

Got emails & personal calls from our "cruise consultants" about last minute deals for later this month, 7 nights out of MIA to the Caribbeans for 2, inside cabins at $399 each + taxes/fees & daily service charges - on NCL's biggest ship now (until the Breakaway's arrival later this month) 4+ meals daily inclusive, except specialty dinner with a surcharge and free room services - all for under $1,300. Heck, if we lived within 1/2 or 3/4 days of driving distance to MIA - will jump right on it, grab the carryons & drag the personal bag - can barely pay for 2 RT tickets to MIA flying Y+ last minute at these prices, let alone lodging & meals for 7 nights.

The cruiseline wins, the crew members win - assured of getting tips for all the cabins, and the last minute cruisers win - scoring a bargain, and, unless there's an early storm - seas will be calm as it's not quite Hurricane season, yet. Even if that's on a Carnival branded one ...

I think it was one of two things, not counting pretty strange.

Either they are trying something new with that cruise, because it's a trans atlantic they figure it may be a different type of person than a regular cruise, and they are seeing if it drives people to higher priced cabins.

or

They had a huge amount of cabins blocked off for some reason (could be something as simple as new carpeting or it could be a massive block of people) and they don't know until close to sailing time what will and won't be available to give out.

It's highly unusual for a cruise line to totally blank out an entire section of cabins like they did here. There are many people who won't sail with a Guaranty cabin, so I don't get the reason for it either.

And before more people define what a Guaranty is, I fully understand what it is, just don't understand why every cabin on this trip is blocked out while the others dates have cabins to choose from.

Generally when I've seen a category listed as only guarantee available it's a sign that they're basically sold out of cabins, but they're still taking a few more, reservations. As the sailing gets closer, it'll sort out because there'll always be some last minute cancellations, or they'll move people to other categories, or they'll start offering move over specials to people. So they're trying to make sure there's enough reservations to fill the ship, but are probably technically oversold on the cabins.

Some of those moveover specials can get pretty decent. I know I got one about 2 days before I was leaving for my 14 day South America cruise. They were offering a mini (I was booked in a balcony) on any cruise up to 30 days, with half our fare back as refundable onboard credit, plus assistance in changing airfare. And I've definitely heard of better offers, just depends on how desperate they get. It's a fine line they walk between too few bookings, a full ship, and being oversold.