Shareholders Benefit

[Caribbean Chris]

We just made final payment a few days ago and I sent off our email requesting the shipboard credit today with a PDF of the purchase.

 

Original poster - Please let us know what happens.

 

If I get the same response you did, I will most certainly have the travel agent become involved and will not hesitate to send a letter to top management for HAL and CCL. This would definitely leave a bad taste since, as you already know, there is no reference anywhere to a 60 day rule.

 

Thanks so much for posting this.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

If you look at the Shareholder benefit sheet on the Carnival Corporation website, there is nothing about requesting within 60 days of booking. I have printed that factsheet, and keep it with my CCL stock info. I always request the OBC within a month of sailing because I have read on these boards, they want up-to-date proof that you still own the stock. I just requested an OBC for a December 5th sailing and it has been approved. I also would like to know the results of the current poster's discussions with HAL. Perhaps a new employee??

[DaveOKC]

I mailed my request two weeks ago for a Jan 7 sailing and have not heard back from HAL (I did request in writing an email confirmation from them). I will have to check with my TA next week to see if it came through. Normally they email me back though.

 

DaveOKC

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I mailed my request two weeks ago for a Jan 7 sailing and have not heard back from HAL (I did request in writing an email confirmation from them). I will have to check with my TA next week to see if it came through. Normally they email me back though.

 

DaveOKC

If you are booked with a TA HAL never sends you the confirmation that it was applied, what they do is send a new confirmation to your TA. Of course the email itself does not tell the TA why they are getting the new confirmation unless your TA is expecting this to confirm the higher onboard credit. Chances are they received it but had no idea why and deleted it. Your TA will be able to quickly look up and see what is showing for Ship Board Credit.

[Dr_Booze]

I knew I could count on the Critters! Was 99% sure that the HAL rep was wrong but didn't want to make a big stink if I missed some fine print. Thanks y'all for your input, much appreciated! No timely response to my email reply to the rep so I'll follow up in the a.m. by phone to confirm she is mistaken and credit is still good.

 

I hope so: was planning on purchasing 100 shares of CCL for Mrs. Booze soon as share price drops a bit to also get her the OBC in cabin #2... I'll report back soon as I hear from HAL (booked with them direct, so no TA to intervene).

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Thanks Lisa for confirmation that HAL sends the OBC confirmation to the TA when you book with one. THe first time I requested the CCL credit I had booked direct with HAL so confirmation appeared on my booking info which you don't see when you book with TA. Second time, I hadn't heard so asked TA who confirmed the OBC was on my booking. Now I feel better all around. Barbara

[luvcruisn']

I did a one day cruise using an on-line TA. I called the toll-free number for World Cruise Reservations to check on whether the stock credit could be applied to this cruise or not. On the Carnival Corporation website it says $50.00 credit for "cruises of 6 days or less," but I wasn't sure if only a one day would qualify. The person at World Cruise Reservations checked on this for me, said the stock credit did apply, and then sent me a confirmation e-mail.

[DFD1]

I usually send in the obc request with a copy of my brokerage statement right after I make the booking. I don't wait until final payment.

 

Have always gotten the obc, but I usually have to call HAL to be sure it is showing on the booking. I've never gotten any confirmation unless I asked about it.

[DaveOKC]

If you are booked with a TA HAL never sends you the confirmation that it was applied, what they do is send a new confirmation to your TA. Of course the email itself does not tell the TA why they are getting the new confirmation unless your TA is expecting this to confirm the higher onboard credit. Chances are they received it but had no idea why and deleted it. Your TA will be able to quickly look up and see what is showing for Ship Board Credit.

 

I got an email confirmation in May for my Oct cruise (and I booked thru a TA). Iguess it just depends.

 

DaveOKC

[jdvmd]

Sorry to bump this month old discussion but looks like all posters were having success, while our request was rejected for not being submitted within 60 days. Here was the email reply from "World_Cruise_Reservations@HollandAmerica.com":

 

We received your request to apply the CCL Stockholders promotional shipboard credit to your booking. Unfortunately, since this is now past the allotted time send the CCL benefit request (must be within 60days from date of booking being made), we are unable to apply the shipboard credit to your booking. Your reservation was made Jul 31, 2011, request for CCL benefit must have been sent to/received by Holland America Line no later than Sep 30, 2011. - Karen Stuart, CCL Program Lead

 

I found nothing on HAL site, shareholder info, nor on CruiseCritic. Can someone point me to the fine print with 60 day deadline before I fire back on this message? All I've seen is submit within 2 weeks of departure. I submitted Nov 23 for a January 2, 2012 cruise. Thanks!

 

Never have heard of this before.

[luvcruisn']

We received your request to apply the CCL Stockholders promotional shipboard credit to your booking. Unfortunately, since this is now past the allotted time send the CCL benefit request (must be within 60days from date of booking being made), we are unable to apply the shipboard credit to your booking. Your reservation was made Jul 31, 2011, request for CCL benefit must have been sent to/received by Holland America Line no later than Sep 30, 2011. - Karen Stuart, CCL Program Lead

 

I found nothing on HAL site, shareholder info, nor on CruiseCritic. Can someone point me to the fine print with 60 day deadline before I fire back on this message? All I've seen is submit within 2 weeks of departure. I submitted Nov 23 for a January 2, 2012 cruise. Thanks!

 

I checked back in my files regarding my stock credit for my last long cruise in January, 2011. I initially booked this cruise in May 2010, and asked for the stock credit on October 20th, 2010, which was approved. I have never heard of this 60 day rule. I hope it's not true, as I have another cruise booked for March, 2012, and haven't applied for the stock credit yet.

[RMLincoln]

We just put in a deposit for a March cruise, 24 days on a Black Friday Sale... haven't gotten the booking number yet. We are also in the process of purchasing the 100 shares of CCL stock so I'm trying to get smarter about this, and thanks to all of you CCers for making me aware of this benefit... wish I'd known about it sooner, but we're moving forward on it now, the past is the past, and planning on lots of cruising ahead!

 

My question is: I see on the CCL announcement of the benefit that this OBC "cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account." Does "gratuities" mean the $11/da/per Hotel charge? Or is that the 15% bar tip? And do they really keep track of these OBCs separately, as we should have OBC from our TA's special offer?

 

On a 24 day cruise I'm sure we'd have no trouble using $250 credit beyond the daily charges but I'm wanting to be sure I understand the restrictions correctly.

 

Thanks for your help. m--

[RuthC]

My question is: I see on the CCL announcement of the benefit that this OBC "cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account." Does "gratuities" mean the $11/da/per Hotel charge? Or is that the 15% bar tip? And do they really keep track of these OBCs separately, as we should have OBC from our TA's special offer?

The "gratuities" referred to is both the $11 (soon to be $11.50-$12) per day, and the 15% charge.

The reality is that the stockholder credit is applied to your account, and all charges are applied. Credit is subtracted from charges, and you pay the balance. If you were lucky enough to have more credits than charges :eek: :confused:, you get the balance refunded in cash on the last morning.

[luvcruisn']

The reality is that the stockholder credit is applied to your account, and all charges are applied. Credit is subtracted from charges, and you pay the balance. If you were lucky enough to have more credits than charges :eek: :confused:, you get the balance refunded in cash on the last morning.

 

I'm not sure if a cash refund applies to the stock credit. Perhaps it applies to other onboard credits. I had a $50.00 stock credit for my one night cruise on the Westerdam, with an $11.00 service charge. I didn't find anything I wanted to buy in the shops, and the front desk wouldn't refund the balance. To get the remainder of the money out of my account, I had to do it as a cash advance, and pay a 3% fee on the money I was taking out. It is much easier to use up the stock credit with service charges, etc., on longer cruises.

[DFD1]

It would not surprise me if the cash refund issue was dependent on who was on the front desk when the issue came up. I've heard several cases where passengers got a cash refund...and several where they did not.

 

IMO

[bet410]

Some types of OBC don't qualify for cash refund. Other types do qualify. What doesn't qualify is any OBC awarded by HAL. So if you get OBC from HAL - either because of future cruise booking or because of the cruise you're on (e.g. grand/world voyages), and apparently, according to this thread, CCL stock, that OBC isn't refunded.

 

I think that type of OBC is used up first. Then anything that is received from other sources is used. So if you get OBC from your TA or if you purchase your own OBC and that is not spent, you get a refund.

 

I got a refund put back on my credit card after last summer's cruise. I had the OBC from CCL stock as well as what I'd gotten for a FCC booking. I'd also received some OBC from my TA (a pleasant surprise right before we sailed), and I'd purchased some for myself because I wasn't sure how much I'd go through on a 35-day cruise. I had plenty left over and welcomed the extra back onto my credit card. I checked with the front desk before disembarking and asked how the refund was handled. They told me I could get it in cash or put back on the credit card I had on file. I put it on the credit card, and it appeared as a credit as fast as it would have appeared had I had a charge on the cards! The refund paid for a shore excursion for an upcoming cruise! :)

[RMLincoln]

Thank you for the various explanations and sharing your experiences to help educate me. It sounds like the front desk does keep track of different types of OBC separately. The TAs OBC will cover the hotel daily charges for one of us and the stock OBC will buy other goodies, shore excursions etc. And I doubt that there will be any left at the end of 24 days, but it's good to know that we might get it refunded if there is a positive balance.

 

Plus I'll be checking every day for any price drops just in case there is a chance that we could get some credit in the event that happens. But whatever happens, I'm sooo excited as this will be our longest cruise yet.

 

Thank you my friends, you guys are the best!! m--

[Dr_Booze]

We received your request to apply the CCL Stockholders promotional shipboard credit to your booking. Unfortunately, since this is now past the allotted time send the CCL benefit request (must be within 60days from date of booking being made), we are unable to apply the shipboard credit to your booking. Your reservation was made Jul 31, 2011, request for CCL benefit must have been sent to/received by Holland America Line no later than Sep 30, 2011. - Karen Stuart, CCL Program Lead

 

As promised, here is the response from the same HAL rep. "Allowing" me the shareholder credit that is clearly stated in all available documentation, and the warnings about "subject to change" for a benefit that has been used by many for years is a concern.

 

Has anyone else been given similar warnings? If not, perhaps just a CYA from a rookie rep...

 

"The restriction is from Holland America Line, as we reserve the right to make any restrictions to a promotion or program based on our cruise lines needs. However, we have reviewed and discussed the letter and time line mentioned there, and are allowing the submissions to be dated no sooner than within 60days of the booking being made, and no later than 2 weeks prior to departure date. Please keep in mind the CCL program and or policy to the program is subject to change at any time per our management….we hope that you understand and appreciate that any and all programs are subject to change at any time." - Karen Stuart, CL Programs Lead, World Cruise Reservations, Holland America Line

[Mar56]

Then wouldn't they have to change it as well on their corporate documents. This just sounds strange to me. Checking with my TA today as booked in August and requested last week.

 

Mar56

[RMLincoln]

So now I should wait until within 60 days of sailing? m--

[andeesue]

Whoa, that's so confusing! You must wait at least 60 days from booking, but and no later than two weeks prior to sail date:eek: I applied for my shareholder credit far after the two months from booking. I waited for final payment and then applied, figuring that made most sense. After not getting a confirmation it had been received as I had requested, I had my TA get in touch with HAL. All was in order. I didn't want to deal with it not going through once onboard.

[Caribbean Chris]

Thanks, Dr Booze... really appreciate the follow up posting. Sounds like nothing has actually changed after all.

[hobo1937]

We are Princess cruisers who will be taking our first HAL cruise in Feb and own Carnival Corp stock. I just called the number listed for HAL on the shareowners information sheet on Carnival Corp's website as I wanted to make sure the email address listed was correct.

 

I was told that there is a new policy effective the middle of November where the request for the shareowners on board credit has to be submitted within 60 days of booking your cruise. Since our cruise was booked several months ago we are considered "grandfathered" as the new policy was not in effect at that time.

 

So for anyone who has booked cruise in November or will be doing so in the future evidently the policy has changed.

 

I also called Princess to see if they have implemented this same policy and was told NO.

[RMLincoln]

Very interesting and just the opposite of what was posted above. We booked Nov 23 so I think we will submit our request soon, within 60 days of booking; if it's denied we can resubmit it later after the 60 days. Wierd. Thanks for sharing your information. m--

[canadianbear]

This got me scared! So, I decided to e-mail our PCC at HAL and ask him. Since we had put a deposit while on our cruise in September for April 2013 I want to be clear on when I have to submit my CCL stock information. Sure don't want to miss out on that OBC.

 

Shortly after reading this before I sent a copy of the CCL stock info to the e-mail I have sent it to before but never heard back (which isn't unusual).

 

If I hear back from our PCC will advise on here.