RCCL Visa Rewards Question

[mickey-mouse]

For 125,000 points you can get either "Companion Fare on a 7-Night Caribbean cruise" or

"5- to 7- Night Caribbean cruise for two". I was wondering how for the same number of points you can get fare for 1 vs 2 people? Are these comparable rewards?

[sr4mjc]

From Royal's site:

 

125,000 point

5 to 7 night Caribbean or Mexican Riviera cruise for two (minimum available oceanview stateroom).

 

Companion fare on a 7 night Alaska cruise (minimum available oceanview stateroom).

 

Companion fare on a 9 to 12 night Caribbean cruise (minimum available oceanview stateroom).

[KJHorton]

No, it is :

 

5 to 7 night Caribbean or Mexican Riviera cruise for two (minimum available oceanview stateroom).*

 

Companion fare on a 7 night Alaska cruise (minimum available oceanview stateroom).*

 

Companion fare on a 9 to 12 night Caribbean cruise (minimum available oceanview stateroom).*

[mickey-mouse]

No, it is :

 

5 to 7 night Caribbean or Mexican Riviera cruise for two (minimum available oceanview stateroom).*

 

Companion fare on a 7 night Alaska cruise (minimum available oceanview stateroom).*

 

Companion fare on a 9 to 12 night Caribbean cruise (minimum available oceanview stateroom).*

 

So am I wrong in thinking that the cruise for 2 is a better deal for the same points?

[seasickinmich]

I booked a balcony room and then used the 125,000 points for a window room deducted from my balance. I ended up getting over $1,600 off. My balcony room end cost was under $500.

[KJHorton]

I think you have to look at the prices of the cruises and make that determination. I have never even looked at the price of an Alaskan sailing so I can't answer.

[sr4mjc]

So am I wrong in thinking that the cruise for 2 is a better deal for the same points?

 

Depends, you have to look at the pricing of the cruise. Try and get the closest to the max value of the award. Because I'm sailing in September, I used the 15,000 reward for an inside/outside upgrade for my Alaska sailing on the Radiance. The difference is $160pp now, so my award capped at $300 off my cruise. 2% reward on my 15,000 points.

[kitcad]

How far in advance of booking a cruise do you need to start the process?

[Clarea]

How far in advance of booking a cruise do you need to start the process?

You don't have to apply the Visa points redemption before you book. You can book the cruise first, and sometime later apply for the Visa points redemption.

[rt1092]

The points are best used on the more expensive cruises. In the summer or over the holidays. If you use the points towards a companion fare during the cheaper rate times you are better off just using them for onboard credit. And paying the casino 3% for a cash advance.

I'm using the 75,000 copmanion fare on the Oasis in 2 weeks. The grand total for a B1 cabin, including taxes & tips for 2 is $1338. For 7 nights. I saved $1049 dollars.

[printingchick]

The thing about using the cabin upgrade option is that, if you redeem it early on, and the price drops, it becomes a nightmare to negotiate the lower fare.

 

EXAMPLE: I booked and INSIDE cabin and used my points to upgrade to an OCEANVIEW cabin. Traded in my points WELL in advance of the cruise. Turned out to be an unpopular sail date and the price dropped. When my TA called to request the lower fare, they wanted to give me ONLY the price drop for the OV cabin. Reservations is ONLY aware of the cabin you have RESERVED. They have no visibility of the fact that you PAID for a lower level cabin and used POINTS to be upgraded. It took a LOT of calls to different departments to get everyone on the same page. Since then, to avoid confusion, I simply use the points for an over-all discount, NOT a cabin upgrade.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

The thing about using the cabin upgrade option is that, if you redeem it early on, and the price drops, it becomes a nightmare to negotiate the lower fare.

 

EXAMPLE: I booked and INSIDE cabin and used my points to upgrade to an OCEANVIEW cabin. Traded in my points WELL in advance of the cruise. Turned out to be an unpopular sail date and the price dropped. When my TA called to request the lower fare, they wanted to give me ONLY the price drop for the OV cabin. Reservations is ONLY aware of the cabin you have RESERVED. They have no visibility of the fact that you PAID for a lower level cabin and used POINTS to be upgraded. It took a LOT of calls to different departments to get everyone on the same page. Since then, to avoid confusion, I simply use the points for an over-all discount, NOT a cabin upgrade.

 

I had a similar nightmare. It ended up with the price drops that I would have been better off to not use the points for anything but OBC. After that experience I now just redeem mine for OBC.

 

Since I can get a better return on other travel cards now anyway I just use my RCI VISA for RCI purchases and use my Discover Miles Card to take $$$ off the cruise itself and the hotel and use my SouthWest Visa for flights.