Should I book onboard?

According to Cruzer Two's post, the deposit is still not refundable.

 

Quote from my copy of the Future Cruise Deposit (dated 11-5-2014):

 

"Terms and Conditions:

 

5. The Future Cruise Deposit should be applied to a booking that sails four (4) years from the date of purchase and will be automatically cancelled and refunded if not used within that time. "

 

I think that Cruiser Two's post may be referring to the option of you trying to get it refunded within the four years - you cannot do that, but must wait for them to send it back to you after four years.

 

If you still are not comfortable, you should call HAL or their Mariner Society directly to clarify.

Edited July 26, 2016 by DaveOKC

Quote from my copy of the Future Cruise Deposit (dated 11-5-2014):

 

"Terms and Conditions:

 

5. The Future Cruise Deposit should be applied to a booking that sails four (4) years from the date of purchase and will be automatically cancelled and refunded if not used within that time. "

 

I think that Cruiser Two's post may be referring to the option of you trying to get it refunded within the four years - you cannot do that, but must wait for them to send it back to you after four years.

 

If you still are not comfortable, you should call HAL or their Mariner Society directly to clarify.

 

Thank you for the clarification.

On my May/16 cruise, there was no difference to booking on board or purchasing FCDs. For cruises purchased onboard, one received double the OBC. When I questioned the FCC about that promotion and told her that I usually purchase FCDs, and waited for the ZPM offer, she told me that the onboard booking bonus was the ZPM offer. So, check with the FCC to see what promotional deals are offered and compare. If it's the same as I experienced above, then, if you have the time, book onboard as you planned.

 

Thanks! Now I know what questions to ask onboard!

On my May/16 cruise, there was no difference to booking on board or purchasing FCDs. For cruises purchased onboard, one received double the OBC. When I questioned the FCC about that promotion and told her that I usually purchase FCDs, and waited for the ZPM offer, she told me that the onboard booking bonus was the ZPM offer. So, check with the FCC to see what promotional deals are offered and compare. If it's the same as I experienced above, then, if you have the time, book onboard as you planned.

 

We were on Westerdam in March. We booked a cruise on Oosterdam and purchased several FCC. We booked the Oosterdam cruise to get the double OBC. We didn't book more cruises because we were waiting on the release of the new cruises. We did receive a ZPM email but that bonus expired in May.

 

After the Caribbean cruise were released a couple of weeks ago, we called our PCC to book a cruise on Rotterdam. She gave us the ZPM bonus on the Rotterdam cruise even thought the bonus had expired. She also said that the reason the on-board consultants were doubling the OBC bonus was that they were applying the ZPM without waiting for the email invitation.

We were on Westerdam in March. We booked a cruise on Oosterdam and purchased several FCC. We booked the Oosterdam cruise to get the double OBC. We didn't book more cruises because we were waiting on the release of the new cruises. We did receive a ZPM email but that bonus expired in May.

 

After the Caribbean cruise were released a couple of weeks ago, we called our PCC to book a cruise on Rotterdam. She gave us the ZPM bonus on the Rotterdam cruise even thought the bonus had expired. She also said that the reason the on-board consultants were doubling the OBC bonus was that they were applying the ZPM without waiting for the email invitation.

 

That's good. The same thing happened to me this week when I booked a 2018 cruise.

 

And yes, unless you tell them otherwise the future cruise deposit is assigned to the TA you booked the current cruise with, so just tell them to keep it unassigned.

 

HAL assigns Future Cruise Deposits to specific TA? I knew they would automatically (unless you say otherwise) assign a booking made on board to the TA you booked that cruise with but I wasn't aware they assigned FCD bought on board.

HAL assigns Future Cruise Deposits to specific TA? I knew they would automatically (unless you say otherwise) assign a booking made on board to the TA you booked that cruise with but I wasn't aware they assigned FCD bought on board.

 

This has been my experience and what others have reported. Also, I think it refers to this on the form you fill out onboard to purchase the FCD.

This has been my experience and what others have reported. Also, I think it refers to this on the form you fill out onboard to purchase the FCD.

 

We booked a cruise on Westy through a TA.

 

We booked one cruise and bought four FCD while on the Westy.

 

On our first visit with the PCC we bought 4 FCD. Transferring these was not discussed.

Later in the cruise, we booked another cruise. We asked for the booking to be held at HAL until we decided which TA to transfer it to.

Note, the FCD were purchased before we told HAL not to transfer the booking.

Since our return, we booked another cruise with the PCC who applied two of the FCD we purchased on-board.

How was the PCC able to apply the FCD if it had been assigned to a TA?

I also booked a cruise and purchased an FCD on my May/16 cruise. The FCD is tied to my mariner number and stays on account for the four years. AFAIK, it does not go to a TA. For the cruise booked, I had to sign a special form to have the cruise booked to my HAL PCC rather than the TA used for the May/16 cruise. I have now transferred that cruise to the same TA as the May/16 cruise to get additional OBC.

We booked a cruise on Westy through a TA.

 

We booked one cruise and bought four FCD while on the Westy.

 

On our first visit with the PCC we bought 4 FCD. Transferring these was not discussed.

Later in the cruise, we booked another cruise. We asked for the booking to be held at HAL until we decided which TA to transfer it to.

Note, the FCD were purchased before we told HAL not to transfer the booking.

Since our return, we booked another cruise with the PCC who applied two of the FCD we purchased on-board.

How was the PCC able to apply the FCD if it had been assigned to a TA?

 

I cannot say for certain what happened in your case as it depends on how the PCC filled out the FCD forms.

I cannot say for certain what happened in your case as it depends on how the PCC filled out the FCD forms.

 

You may be correct. I just pulled the form I received for the FCD. It has a block in the upper right corner entitled "Future Cruise Deposit Confirmation" where it lists the Travel Agent I used to book the cruise on Westerdam. The confirmation for the cruise I booked has my name in that block.

 

I'll find out for sure. I just sent an email to my PCC asking her.

This has been my experience and what others have reported. Also, I think it refers to this on the form you fill out onboard to purchase the FCD.

 

It does indeed. You need to initial if you DON't want it assigned to existing TA.

I cannot say for certain what happened in your case as it depends on how the PCC filled out the FCD forms.

 

Dave: I emailed my PCC. Here's the story:

 

Me: Quick question. Are FCD purchased on board transferred to the Travel Agent that booked that cruise? I know cruises booked on board are transferred unless you request otherwise.

 

PCC: FCD’s are assigned to your mariner number and have nothing to do with a TA. You can use them regardless of where you book a cruise.

Dave: I emailed my PCC. Here's the story:

 

Me: Quick question. Are FCD purchased on board transferred to the Travel Agent that booked that cruise? I know cruises booked on board are transferred unless you request otherwise.

 

PCC: FCD’s are assigned to your mariner number and have nothing to do with a TA. You can use them regardless of where you book a cruise.

 

I emailed my PCC and got basically the same response. If we have the same PCC, she must be wondering what the heck is going on!!!:D

I emailed my PCC and got basically the same response. If we have the same PCC, she must be wondering what the heck is going on!!!:D

 

I didn't mention to Sarah that I was trying to answer a question on cruise critic.

 

What I told her was this: I told her I had noticed that in the upper right hand corner of the FCD, in the “Future Cruise Deposit Confirmation”, it listed the name of the Travel Agent I booked the Westerdam with.

 

I asked if that meant that our FCD have been assigned to that Travel Agent?

[quote name='RocketMan275']Dave: I emailed my PCC. Here's the story:

Me: Quick question. Are FCD purchased on board transferred to the Travel Agent that booked that cruise? I know cruises booked on board are transferred unless you request otherwise.

PCC: FCD’s are assigned to your mariner number and have nothing to do with a TA. You can use them regardless of where you book a cruise.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for checking this out. Good to know.

[quote name='RocketMan275']I didn't mention to Sarah that I was trying to answer a question on cruise critic.

What I told her was this: I told her I had noticed that in the upper right hand corner of the FCD, in the “Future Cruise Deposit Confirmation”, it listed the name of the Travel Agent I booked the Westerdam with.

I asked if that meant that our FCD have been assigned to that Travel Agent?[/QUOTE]

Different PCC. I didn't mention CC either.

I did learn something new, though from my query to my PCC. I mentioned previously that when I booked my upcoming cruise during my last cruise, I signed the special form to make sure my PCC was credited for the booking. I was told today that could only be done because she had made the original arrangements for the current cruise. Otherwise, it would have had to have been credited to the TA on file for the current cruise.

[quote name='Alberta Quilter']Different PCC. I didn't mention CC either.

I did learn something new, though from my query to my PCC. I mentioned previously that when I booked my upcoming cruise during my last cruise, I signed the special form to make sure my PCC was credited for the booking. I was told today that could only be done because she had made the original arrangements for the current cruise. Otherwise, it would have had to have been credited to the TA on file for the current cruise.[/QUOTE]

Essentially the same thing my PCC told me.
She said that I can book a cruise through her and transfer the cruise to my TA with no issues.
She said I can book a cruise through the on-board consultant and transfer that cruise to my TA with no issues.
She said that what I cannot do is book a cruise on board and transfer that cruise to her (my PCC).

Essentially, the on-board consultant and the PCC are both act like PCC and one cannot transfer between PCC.

[quote name='RocketMan275']Essentially the same thing my PCC told me.
She said that I can book a cruise through her and transfer the cruise to my TA with no issues.
She said I can book a cruise through the on-board consultant and transfer that cruise to my TA with no issues.
[B]She said that what I cannot do is book a cruise on board and transfer that cruise to her (my PCC).[/B]

Essentially, the on-board consultant and the PCC are both act like PCC and one cannot transfer between PCC.[/QUOTE]

Bolding mine. I did book a cruise onboard and did sign the special form to assign it to my PCC, even though the cruise I was on, while making those arrangements, was booked in the name of the TA. The only reason I could do that was because the current cruise was originally booked by the PCC. I only transferred it to the warehouse TA to get additional OBC, a couple of weeks before final payment. So, it can be done; it just depends on who originally booked the cruise (HAL or a TA).

I don't know if I would have received my casino discount if I had booked on board, as opposed to waiting a bit when I got home ;)

[quote name='kazu']I don't know if I would have received my casino discount if I had booked on board, as opposed to waiting a bit when I got home ;)[/QUOTE]

I think you would. At least, the FCC should be checking for it at the time of booking, according to what the FCC said in her presentation on my May/16 cruise. Of course, there are good and not so good FCCs, in my experience. Luckily, we had one of the very good ones on that cruise.

[quote name='Alberta Quilter']I think you would. At least, the FCC should be checking for it at the time of booking, according to what the FCC said in her presentation on my May/16 cruise. Of course, there are good and not so good FCCs, in my experience. Luckily, we had one of the very good ones on that cruise.[/QUOTE]
Agree on the FCC's ;)

I don't see how in reality. The casino discount I got was because of my "donations" on the Westerdam I was told. I doubt that would be tallied until the cruise ended :confused: I didn't even know I had it!