What's wrong with these four staterooms - cheapest category of a type?

[BradWalt]

Within one stateroom "type" (example, "Balcony") there may be seveal categories, where the stateroom size and amenities are the same but the deck location may differ. I noticed that sometimes the cheapest category has only 4 staterooms.

Example, on the Norwegian Pearl, the cheapest "Mini-Suite" category has only 4 staterooms, Deck 11 aft. But the stateroom right next door is in the next category up (same-size "Mini Suite") and suddenly you're paying considerably more. Both categories are under a restaurant.

WHy do they only offer only 4 in the cheapest category? Is there really something wrong with them? On Deck 10, the staterooms in the aft aren't cheaper than their neighbors...

Or are they assigned that way as promotional tools (always kept available to attract cruiusers who thnk they're going to get "snapped-up" quickly, perhaps?)

Insights anybody ?

(Same goes for the 4 balcony staterooms on Norwegian Pearls Deck 8 bow)

[Gregswife]

Maybe it is like real estate - location, location, location...I have no idea as to what the difference would be though....

[Dan]

I think you hit on it with the promotional thing. They have a few that they can advertise and quite often people that book those will get an upgrade so the cheap ones are still available later on for advertising purposes. They typically aren't in prime locations so the hope is that people will just book the higher grade cabins to begin with.

[BradWalt]

Thanks Dan - although I was hoping someone would tell me that they were the Pearl's famous "Haunted Staterooms." So if I have one of these rooms and get upgraded, I'm not going to see a difference? (except, that I'm just a few doors closer to the elevators?)

This is my first cruise and I want to learn all about any "hidden" problems with the bargain staterooms: mystery noises, vibrations, directly under the bowling alley, etc.

I've already been warned about being directly off the elevators.

[hazelson]

Ooooh! A Haunted Stateroom - that's the one I would pick :o)

We have been pretty much directly off the elevators - and I loved it. Didn't hear any noise at all and I could find my room in no time lol.

[JohnG]

The aft most and forward most cabins on any deck are less expensive than the cabins in the middle, and the only real difference is a bit farther to walk from the elevator. The lower the deck, the lower the price. For whatever reason, people like to be on the higher decks. If you are prone to motion sickness, the best place is the lower decks in the middle. That is where the least motion is, and also where the less exoensive inside and oceanview cabins are. Of course the balconies are higher, but even among balcony cabins, the lower the deck, the lower the price.

That being said, the points made above about having a few cabins in a low priced category, inside, oceanview or balcony to advertise at a low price and then keep selling them and upgrading earlier buyers, is a practice used by all lines. Nothing wrong with that. Everybody is getting at least what they paid for, and possibly better. But the lower price of the slightly less desireable cabin keeps drawing people in.