Courtesy Holds are being phased out

Just got off the phone with the D+ desk at C&A because I wanted to place a courtesy hold on several cabins for different sailings until I could reach the Casino desk tomorrow. He said that RC is phasing out courtesy holds starting with several of their ships and that it will be going fleet wide shortly.They transferred me to the consumer sales desk to see if they would make an exception. They said "no." :(

Just got off the phone with the D+ desk at C&A because I wanted to place a courtesy hold on several cabins for different sailings until I could reach the Casino desk tomorrow. He said that RC is phasing out courtesy holds starting with several of their ships and that it will be going fleet wide shortly.They transferred me to the consumer sales desk to see if they would make an exception. They said "no." :(

Did they say why

No, other than it is a new policy they are implementing.

Just got off the phone with the D+ desk at C&A because I wanted to place a courtesy hold on several cabins for different sailings until I could reach the Casino desk tomorrow. He said that RC is phasing out courtesy holds starting with several of their ships and that it will be going fleet wide shortly.They transferred me to the consumer sales desk to see if they would make an exception. They said "no." :(

Maybe this is why. Maybe they've got hundreds if not thousands of cabins tied up overnight on regular basis and have determined a high percentage aren't booked the next day.

Maybe this is why. Maybe they've got hundreds if not thousands of cabins tied up overnight on regular basis and have determined a high percentage aren't booked the next day.

I was looking to book a B2B on one ship. Wanted to place a hold on either a D2 cabin or a JS for those sailings, so four cabins in all until tomorrow morning when the Casino desk opens whereupon I was definitely booking one cabin type or the other. I was willing to put a deposit on either the Js's or the D2s but wanted a hold on the other cabin class until I could see what would be the better deal via the Casino. I think they could have been more accommodating, given that I have never placed a hold and was willing to put a deposit down.

I think it is a bad idea to eliminate courtesy holds. They allow people to get some preliminary planning done; look at airfare, find out of they can take the time off of work, etc., and still get the cabin they want. This forces people to have all of those ducks in order before even shopping and I don't think that is necessarily practical.

I think it is a bad idea to eliminate courtesy holds. They allow people to get some preliminary planning done; look at airfare, find out of they can take the time off of work, etc., and still get the cabin they want. This forces people to have all of those ducks in order before even shopping and I don't think that is necessarily practical.

Maybe this is why. Maybe they've got hundreds if not thousands of cabins tied up overnight on regular basis and have determined a high percentage aren't booked the next day.

I use the courtesy holds a lot. Maybe they could require a deposit of say$25 and if you book the cruise you get your money applied to the down payment if not you loose it. This way could make money and stop people from holding a lot of cabins.

All of that in a 24hour period.....:rolleyes:

What is the matter with you??? Some of us need to contact our bosses for time off; may want to call family members see if they want to go on the cruise, take a cursory look at airfare. I don't know why you have to be so negative in your response.

I think it is a bad idea to eliminate courtesy holds. They allow people to get some preliminary planning done; look at airfare, find out of they can take the time off of work, etc., and still get the cabin they want. This forces people to have all of those ducks in order before even shopping and I don't think that is necessarily practical.

All of that in a 24hour period.....:rolleyes:

That isn't much in my book but whatever. I agree with LMaxwell. We use the courtesy hold on almost every booking but we're only holding one cabin and I've never not booked after placing a hold.

I like the courtesy hold. It gives me a chance to talk to our pet sitter to see if she is available and to discuss it with my wife.

What is the matter with you??? Some of us need to contact our bosses for time off; may want to call family members see if they want to go on the cruise, take a cursory look at airfare. I don't know why you have to be so negative in your response.

Again and all of that in 24 hours:confused::confused::confused:

Maybe this is why. Maybe they've got hundreds if not thousands of cabins tied up overnight on regular basis and have determined a high percentage aren't booked the next day.

This seems like a likely reason. I do like the idea of a courtesy hold but I can see why they would like to get rid of it.

I did an online booking this week and I was surprised that the Courtesy Hold button/link was not available on my booking. Since I book our own airfare, hotels etc-I find that the hold gives me 24 hours to get that all lined up. Generally when a hold expired and was not booked--an agent would call and see if you were interested--which allowed further discussion and a deposit to occur.

Wound up placing a deposit on the D2's for the B2B. Will see tomorrow when Casino Royale desk opens up what the rates are for both the D2 cabins and the JS cabins and either switch the booking to a JS casino rate or just get the casino rate for the D2's.

Being able to place a hold would have simplified the process. Am sorry to see that option disappear.

This is going to suck for folks who use a TA that's closed on Sundays. A lot of sales happen on weekends and if you can't get a hold of your TA and there's no hold anymore, you are forced to book with RCI or miss out. Hmm.... now that I think of it, I wonder how many holds happen after final payment and RCI wants to cut down on those.:rolleyes:

What is the casino rate? Are you a member of m life or just a big roller? Just curious.

Again and all of that in 24 hours:confused::confused::confused:

It might take you longer:confused:, but for some people it only takes is a day.

What is the casino rate? Are you a member of m life or just a big roller? Just curious.

Casino Rates are given to players who are members of Casino Royale. I am not sure if MLife players get their rates via Casino Royale or through MLife directly.

I don't consider myself to be a "big roller" and was surprised when I was asked into the Club several years ago.

Again and all of that in 24 hours:confused::confused::confused:

Yes. Not very hard to do these things in 24 hours

- Check time off of work

- Check if family wants to come

- Discuss with spouse

- check budget

- Check airfare

It is very common.

What is the matter with you??? Some of us need to contact our bosses for time off; may want to call family members see if they want to go on the cruise, take a cursory look at airfare. I don't know why you have to be so negative in your response.

could you do that in 24 hours?! it is a minimum 72 hours before DH finds out whether his leave is approved. airfare more than x months out you cannot even look at.

Wound up placing a deposit on the D2's for the B2B. Will see tomorrow when Casino Royale desk opens up what the rates are for both the D2 cabins and the JS cabins and either switch the booking to a JS casino rate or just get the casino rate for the D2's.

Being able to place a hold would have simplified the process. Am sorry to see that option disappear.

That is what people are going to end up doing - paying the deposit on anything they are interested in, then cancelling when needed. Maybe RC will find this creates more problems/work issuing refunds all the time and they will bring the courtesy hold back:rolleyes:

As long as you are still well before the credit card statement/cut off date - it really wouldn't make that much of a difference if you held one for a few days then moved the reservation or cancelled.

Another possible reason for the elimination of the courtesy holds could be the number of people that put holds on cabins when they already have one booked in order to seep cure a price drop when their TA is closed either at night or on the weekend.

Again and all of that in 24 hours:confused::confused::confused:

Absolutely, and perhaps you should be less judgmental. For me, LMaxwell's list of tasks is at most a few hours of work, max. It's evident these tasks take some people longer, but that's no reason why NOBODY should have the benefit of a courtesy hold...

I think bouhunter hit the nail on the head through as to why the courtesy holds are going away. Probably ran some numbers and saw that too few cabins were being booked from the courtesy holds to justify continuing the policy and tying up inventory. As far as I'm concerned as a customer, removing them is a consumer unfriendly policy that I strongly oppose.