Future cruise deposit = on board credit

What is the current status of making a future cruise deposit and getting OBC without making a booking at the same time. There is some discussion that it is now necessary to book a cruise immediately -- where as in past we (in the USA) could book at anytime in the next 4 years??

We purchased future cruise deposit last August and booked for November. In. November we tried to do the same and were told this was not possible unless booking an actual cruise. We have just been on a P&O cruise and advised the same. Such a shame :(

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On the other hand, we bought Future Cruise Deposits on QV last November.

This must be a new policy. We've done open bookings in the past while on board and received some OBC. We'll be on the QM2 again in June, and I will ask then.

Cunard UK say:

A Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) allows passengers to secure the on board booking benefits to apply to a future booking without having to commit whilst on board.

FCDs are valid for 1 calendar year. The FCD should be applied to a future booking within the calendar year.

Once you have chosen your cruise you can book by speaking to our Customer Contact Centre on 0843 374 0000 or by speaking to your Travel Agent.

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/before-you-sail/FCD

What is the current status of making a future cruise deposit and getting OBC without making a booking at the same time. There is some discussion that it is now necessary to book a cruise immediately -- where as in past we (in the USA) could book at anytime in the next 4 years??

Terms and conditions regarding future cruse credits differ. USA and UK bookings are priced differently and terms and conditions are not the same.

Information regard FCC on the Cunard website is not something I would trust. Bottom Line: get the terms and conditions stated clearly in writing when and if you purchase a future cruise credit on board.

Salacia

Cunard UK say:

 

A Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) allows passengers to secure the on board booking benefits to apply to a future booking without having to commit whilst on board.

 

FCDs are valid for 1 calendar year. The FCD should be applied to a future booking within the calendar year.

 

Once you have chosen your cruise you can book by speaking to our Customer Contact Centre on 0843 374 0000 or by speaking to your Travel Agent.

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/before-you-sail/FCD

copied from https://ask.cunard.com/help/before-you-sail/FCD

Terms & Conditions

• Each person on the booking must have an FCD in order to secure the OBC
  
• FCDs are loaded against the passengers URN. When you have decided on a cruise, this can be booked either through a Travel Agent or Directly with Cunard Line, this doesn’t have to be through your existing Travel Agent.
  
• Combinable with the Cunard Fare and Early Saver Fares only (subject to the cruise of your choice being available)
  
• Can only be made on board
  
• They are non transferable and cannot be transferred between brands (e.g. between Cunard Line and P&O Cruises)
  
• They may only be used against new bookings
  
• They can be used against a cruise of any duration or value
  
• Future Cruise Deposits cannot be redeemed against Net Rate, Flat Rate, Late Saver or any other promotional fare
  
• *Must be used within 1 calendar year of the date of creation
  
• Cunard Line standard booking conditions will apply
  
• on board spending money cannot be redeemed for cash
  
• Cannot be refunded or transferred if you cancel your booking
  
• Each person on the booking can only use one FCD. You cannot have more than one FCD per person on a booking. If there are two people on a booking they must each purchase an FCD in order to receive the benefits.
  

Am I correct, did I read a post just recently were the poster says that both Cunard & P&O have now discontinued FCD's, future cruise deposits, or have I misunderstood this ?

I'm unable to find it, can anyone point me to it please.

Am I correct, did I read a post just recently were the poster says that both Cunard & P&O have now discontinued FCD's, future cruise deposits, or have I misunderstood this ?

I'm unable to find it, can anyone point me to it please.

Post #12 on this thread

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2470115

Post #12 on this thread

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2470115

Ah ! Thank You.

I've just spoken/emailed with a Cunard onboard voyage sales manager. They assure me the FCD procedure has not changed .......something confusing with the information Tangoqueen was given :confused:

I bought one a couple of weeks ago while on board QE. There was no need to book a cruise. As stated above, you must make a booking within one calendar year to use it, though the cruise itself can be beyond one year.

In the Australia/NZ market the FCD's are fully refundable if not used, so it was a no brainer to buy one. However this may not be the case in other markets.

I can only go off what I was told whilst on board Queen Elizabeth in November on a cruise to the Canaries. We enquired on the last sea day and the guy we spoke to barely looked up from his computer screen even though we were sat down with him. He told us that the obc was no longer available unless we booked an actual cruise. He had also told the guy before us the same. We repeated the request as he stuck to the same response. Afterwards I wondered if he was mistaken or had misunderstood so whilst on Britannia in the Caribbean last week we went and asked the same question and got the same answer.

I hope we have been misled as enjoyed the benefits of the FCD. I will be on P&O again in May and hopefully Cunard in July so will continue to ask the question.

I hope others have had more luck onboard.

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I can only go off what I was told whilst on board Queen Elizabeth in November on a cruise to the Canaries. We enquired on the last sea day and the guy we spoke to barely looked up from his computer screen even though we were sat down with him. He told us that the obc was no longer available unless we booked an actual cruise. He had also told the guy before us the same. We repeated the request as he stuck to the same response. Afterwards I wondered if he was mistaken or had misunderstood so whilst on Britannia in the Caribbean last week we went and asked the same question and got the same answer.

 

I hope we have been misled as enjoyed the benefits of the FCD. I will be on P&O again in May and hopefully Cunard in July so will continue to ask the question.

 

I hope others have had more luck onboard.

 

 

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Hello Tangoqueen,

Can you confirm, if in your posts you are referring to 'OBC' ? (onboard credit) that is no longer available unless one already has a cruise booked...... or, are you referring to 'FCD's' ? (future cruise deposits ) that are no longer available unless a guest already has a cruise booked.

Your posts above are a little confusing. :)

Hello Tangoqueen,

Can you confirm, if in your posts you are referring to 'OBC' ? (onboard credit) that is no longer available unless one already has a cruise booked...... or, are you referring to 'FCD's' ? (future cruise deposits ) that are no longer available unless a guest already has a cruise booked.

Your posts above are a little confusing. :)

Hi Bell Boy, mmmmmm now you're confusing me lol.

I am referring to requesting to purchase a "Future Cruise Deposit" whilst onboard in order to benefit from the additional obc. Previously we had purchased FCD for £50pp without booking an actual cruise at that time and had 12 months in which to book.

We have now been told by both Cunard and P&O whilst onboard that this option is no longer available and in order to benefit from the FCD an actual cruise needs to be booked whilst onboard.

Hope you're this makes sense to you. If not that could be the reason why we have been unsuccessful onboard!

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Hi Bell Boy, mmmmmm now you're confusing me lol.

 

I am referring to requesting to purchase a "Future Cruise Deposit" whilst onboard in order to benefit from the additional obc. Previously we had purchased FCD for £50pp without booking an actual cruise at that time and had 12 months in which to book.

 

We have now been told by both Cunard and P&O whilst onboard that this option is no longer available and in order to benefit from the FCD an actual cruise needs to be booked whilst onboard.

 

Hope you're this makes sense to you. If not that could be the reason why we have been unsuccessful onboard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This appears to be not true and a lot of confusion created. There is a post on FB from P&O saying that they have not stopped FDC's.

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This appears to be not true and a lot of confusion created. There is a post on FB from P&O saying that they have not stopped FDC's.

 

 

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This has been followed up by someone else and P&O are saying there is a change. You can now only buy FCD's for anyone on the cruise with you. You cannot buy for family or friends who are not on that cruise.

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Hi,

I made an open cruise booking when I was aboard the QM2 in early October 2016. At the time, I paid $300 (US) and was told that I would receive the onboard credit. Also, my travel agent was sent a written confirmation indicating that I will receive the credit.

Chuck

Today's update......I emailed Christopher Edgington, VP Marketing, P&O Cruises explaining the situation with regard to the confusion around the Future Cruise Downpayment I had experience onboard Britannia. He quickly responded and I was contacted by Rosy Sims, Business Manager - Onboard Sales who in turn arranged a call from Shelley, Personal Cruise Specialist to give me the opportunity to set up a Future Cruise Downpayment.

I have been very impressed as usual with the Southampton team and this has swiftly been resolved.

That just leaves me to decide whether to contact Cunard about the November cruise when I was refused the chance to purchase FCD on Queen Elizabeth.

Starting to feel a bit unlucky but I have been reassured that this should not happen and there is currently no plan to change.

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So it seems that the only change is that one must be onboard the ship to be eligible to purchase and have the FCD allocated to oneself or a fellow passenger. It never seemed plausible to me that the change was to remove the OBC incentive as to do so would make the purchase of a FCD superfluous.

This is what it says on Cunard's website:

Who can purchase an FCD? FCDs can only be purchased by guests travelling on board. Guests travelling on board cannot purchase an FCD for a friend or family member that is not travelling.

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/before-you-sail/FCD

This is what it says on Cunard's website:

Who can purchase an FCD? FCDs can only be purchased by guests travelling on board. Guests travelling on board cannot purchase an FCD for a friend or family member that is not travelling.

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/before-you-sail/FCD

But that is not how it used to be. Attached is a print taken from Cunard's website last September. I've highlighted the section that clearly states that the FCD could be purchased for a friend or family member that is not on board.

For reasons best known to Cunard, the FCD is now restricted to those who are on board at the time of purchase. The redemption of the FCD and the pertaining OBC that is attracts remains as before.

Cunard Future Cruise Deposit [Printed].pdf

I remain confused.

In the US market, it used to be that we could put down a future cruise deposit ($300 = $150 OBC) which was good for 4 years. Booking only needed to be done at anytime in that four year time period. Also, if we did not book in the 4 year time period we could get the deposit back in full. HAS THAT CHANGED?????

I bought one a couple of weeks ago while on board QE. There was no need to book a cruise. As stated above, you must make a booking within one calendar year to use it, though the cruise itself can be beyond one year.

 

In the Australia/NZ market the FCD's are fully refundable if not used, so it was a no brainer to buy one. However this may not be the case in other markets.

I am from Australia was told onboard st the Future Cruise Sales desk that the FCD was not refundable.

I am from Australia was told onboard st the Future Cruise Sales desk that the FCD was not refundable.

Mine (purchased a couple of weeks ago) clearly states that it is refundable. I must admit that I assumed that Australia was the same as New Zealand in this respect ... but possibly not.

This thread clearly indicates that there is a lot of misinformation out there!

I remain confused.

In the US market, it used to be that we could put down a future cruise deposit ($300 = $150 OBC) which was good for 4 years. Booking only needed to be done at anytime in that four year time period. Also, if we did not book in the 4 year time period we could get the deposit back in full. HAS THAT CHANGED?????

Clearly this is the law in the US but not in the UK and so you get different T&C's.

The change to only those actually on board with you when you purchase your FCD's is also happening on P&O.

However it does occur to me that you could just buy extra FCD's for yourself and share them round the family when on board. Well certainly the benefits. A little complicated perhaps but certainly doable

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