Next cruise program changing again!!

[whitshel]

Just learned that the Next Cruise program will be changing, I'm not sure when but here is the scoop.

 

When you book you "decide now" cruise your OBC pretty much stays the same as it was, $100 for a balcony 7 night cruise, but instead of getting the obc on the cruise you booked, you get it on the cruise you are on now!:D Your deposit for the new cruise will be the amount of your obc. So if you get an OBC for $500 (suite on a longer cruise) your deposit will be $500 for that cruise, if you get $100 obc your deposit will be $100. Now the caveat to the deposit is that it is non-refundable as should be expected.

 

Again only for Decide now option!!

[tserface]

I guess a lot of people must be signing up for cruises and canceling. Maybe this is intended to make them feel like they have more to lose since it feels like they already have some $$$ in the deposit that they don't get back.

 

I wonder if you also lose the deposit if you change the reservation.

 

Tom

 

Just learned that the Next Cruise program will be changing, I'm not sure when but here is the scoop.

 

When you book you "decide now" cruise your OBC pretty much stays the same as it was, $100 for a balcony 7 night cruise, but instead of getting the obc on the cruise you booked, you get it on the cruise you are on now!:D Your deposit for the new cruise will be the amount of your obc. So if you get an OBC for $500 (suite on a longer cruise) your deposit will be $500 for that cruise, if you get $100 obc your deposit will be $100. Now the caveat to the deposit is that it is non-refundable as should be expected.

 

Again only for Decide now option!!

[Clarea]

I...I wonder if you also lose the deposit if you change the reservation....

That would be my question too.

[Big_G]

Is this an option right now? I thought I read somewhere that it is.

[molly361]

Does your $100 OBC get reduced to the Open Booking amount of $25 if you change it like it does now?

 

Also, I thought that even though the Open Booking deposits are non refundable that folks do get them refunded as long as the Open Booking gets turned into an actual cruise

Edited March 18, 2015 by molly361

[cruisenfever]

Just learned that the Next Cruise program will be changing, I'm not sure when but here is the scoop.

 

When you book you "decide now" cruise your OBC pretty much stays the same as it was, $100 for a balcony 7 night cruise, but instead of getting the obc on the cruise you booked, you get it on the cruise you are on now!:D Your deposit for the new cruise will be the amount of your obc. So if you get an OBC for $500 (suite on a longer cruise) your deposit will be $500 for that cruise, if you get $100 obc your deposit will be $100. Now the caveat to the deposit is that it is non-refundable as should be expected.

 

Again only for Decide now option!!

Your source of information is from where?? The maximum OBC you can get is $400.

 

Effective March 15, 2014, the new OBC amounts when booking a Next Cruise on board (formerly known as a Future Cruise booking).OBC is per cabin.

Length of

Cruise ............... Interior.............. Oceanview.............. Balcony .............. Suite*

5-7 days .............. $25 ..................... $50 ...................... $100 ................. $200

8-10 days ............ $50..................... $100...................... $150.................. $250

11-14 days........... $75 .................... $150 .................... $200...................$300

15 + days ........... $100.................... $200...................... $250...................$400

*Includes JS cabins and above

Edited March 18, 2015 by cruisenfever

[cruisenfever]

Thanks Ellen. Makes some sense now.

 

Edit to add: Looks like the greater amount in OBC for GS and above could be the start of the new Suites Benefits that has been promised.

Edited March 18, 2015 by cruisenfever

[molly361]

I called C and A and was told that you can pick whether you want the OBC on your current cruise (then it would be non-refundable) OR you can get it on the cruise that you are booking just like it is done now. If you pick that option the deposit IS refundable.

 

She also told me that you can make 1 change without the OBC being reduced to the next cruise amount.

Edited March 18, 2015 by molly361

[icsys]

This has already been discussed from a UK perspective here, but I would still like to see links to some form of official announcement that lists the Ts&Cs.

 

Since the program changed last March there has been NO incentive to book onboard and even less to purchase a certificate.

Maybe, just maybe, this could make it worthwhile again.

Edited March 18, 2015 by icsys

[39august]

The incentive to book a future cruise while on board is the OBC for that new booking. I just got $200 OBC a couple of weeks ago. Now, I agree there is no incentive to make an open booking currently as the most for a 7 night is $25. Giving OBC for the cruise you ON, isn't much incentive to me. I always have OBC for any cruise between my TA and my Visa points. This sounds pretty strange to me.And now the deposit is going up as well?

Edited March 18, 2015 by 39august

[jticarruthers]

Seems like you are basically buying OBC for the cruise you are on by committing to a new cruise.

 

Pay $100 Deposit, get $100 OBC "instantly" which reduces my bill for the cruise I am on so the net effect on my credit card right now is $0 but I end up with a reservation for a future cruise.

 

Doesn't seem like a bad deal, its non-refundable but since I am not really out of pocket anyway not sure that's a big deal to me.

[orville99]

If true this will free up my time on every cruise because I will never visit a Future Cruise desk again. IMO, about as dumb an idea as RCL has ever come up with.

[whitshel]

If true this will free up my time on every cruise because I will never visit a Future Cruise desk again. IMO, about as dumb an idea as RCL has ever come up with.

 

I guess I don't get what the difference is if you get the obc now as opposed to later? Why not have it now and use it instead of tying up your money in a deposit?

[trev71]

I booked my upcoming cruise while on my last cruise. I like the benefits I got but I wont be doing it again if this the final out play

[molly361]

I called C and A and was told that you can either get the OBC on the cruise you are on and the deposit would be non refundable.

 

OR

 

You can do it the way it is now and get the OBC on the cruise that you booked and the deposit IS refundable

[snorkelman]

Last October on the Allure I discovered this garbage - $25 OBC for an open booking. I did it because I was already there, but I no longer will waste time on future cruises for that paltry sum.

[gaylemh]

I called C and A and was told that you can either get the OBC on the cruise you are on and the deposit would be non refundable.

 

OR

 

You can do it the way it is now and get the OBC on the cruise that you booked and the deposit IS refundable

 

That's what I was told last week too.

[critterchick]

If true this will free up my time on every cruise because I will never visit a Future Cruise desk again. IMO, about as dumb an idea as RCL has ever come up with.

 

Unless you could use $100-500 on the cruise you're on. We usually can use an extra $100, but I would want to see the fine print regarding moving the sailing over.

Edited March 18, 2015 by critterchick

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Currently on Radiance. Can confirm what Molly said. JS is now with Balcony for OBC. Will post rates later.

[molly361]

Currently on Radiance. Can confirm what Molly said. JS is now with Balcony for OBC. Will post rates later.

 

The rep told me that you can make one change without the OBC reverting to the $25 open booking amount. If you get a chance can you see if you can get confirmation of that? Thanks

Edited March 18, 2015 by molly361

[racerxspeedy]

They had the "instant OBC" offer on last weeks Jewel cruise. It was promoted by the CD at the top tier sail away. No one commented on this at the time. The main comment was that the prices were high now so they were holding off booking.

[JMG]

The rep told me that you can make one change without the OBC reverting to the $25 open booking amount. If you get a chance can you see if you can get confirmation of that? Thanks

 

In Feb on the Quantum we were told that we could not make any changes to our sail date/ship. The cruise would be cancelled and all benefits forfeited. We politely walked away without making a booking!

[Big_G]

IMO, about as dumb an idea as RCL has ever come up with.

 

Why? :confused:

[WeatherFx]

Here is the text of the new policy.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS

Book your next cruise while onboard and earn up to $500 in INSTANT credit to spend during your cruise vacation right then and there! Plus, it's combinable with your Crown & Anchor Balcony & Suite Discount or the CAS Exclusive Savings and the limited time local offer to make it the BEST deal anywhere! Will you spend your $500 in the Spa and Salon or the Photo Gallery or on an Internet Package or all of the above? See the Cruise Sales Team onboard to get your free INSTANT onboard credit as soon as you step onboard.

 

 

NextCruise Confirmed Booking: Select your ship and sail date at the time of booking. A $50 to $500 non-refundable deposit per person is required to partake in the Next Cruise program when booking 5+ night voyages. The deposit schedule is the same as the Onboard Credit Schedule and is determined by category of stateroom and length of voyage. Reservations may be cancelled but deposit would be forfeited as it is non-refundable. Reservations may be changed to another ship or sail date up to 90 days prior to Holiday sailings and 75 days for all other sailings. Changes to reservations are applicable primarily to US, Canadian, United Kingdom, Ireland, European & Australian guests. Not all countries follow this cancellation/change policy. Onboard credit has no cash value, is not redeemable for cash and will expire if not used by 10:00PM on the final night of the cruise. Next Cruise offers are not combinable with the following rates: Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, weekly Sales Events, Net Rates or Shareholder Benefits. They are combinable with Crown & Anchor Balcony and Suite discounts and Savings Certificates. We value our relationships with our Travel Partners and unless we are advised ahead of time, your Decide Now confirmed booking will be attributed to the Travel Partner associated with your current cruise booking. However if you wish to have your booking reflect an alternative arrangement, please advise at the time of booking and a form will be provided for you to sign as authorization. Amount of Instant Onboard Credit ranges from $50 - $500 per stateroom and is determined based on category of stateroom and length of voyage (minimum 5 night sailing). Maximum one Instant Onboard Credit per stateroom is to be applied to the current cruise. Once deposit/Instant Onboard Credit is locked in, that will fulfill the Deposit / Instant Onboard Credit for the current cruise. Once the deposit / Instant Onboard Credit is applied, the only remaining benefit is the limited time combinable North American offer at the time of booking (excluding China product). You may change your ship or sail date, but your onboard credit is subject to repayment out of your onboard deposit if you book a lower category or shorter sailing. Program applicable to new individual Royal Caribbean bookings made after March 6, 2015. Bookings may be transferred into non-contracted groups and full deposit may be required. Individual enrollment may be converted and applied to a group booking. International deposits and requirements may vary. Please see your Cruise Sales Team for details and deposit policies. For those guests that choose to have their Onboard Credit on their future voyage, if the original ship and sail date selected while onboard is changed in the future, we reserve the right to adjust the onboard credit amount to the Open Booking model between $25 - $100 per stateroom based on length of cruise. After the Offer Period for any North American Offer that is combinable with your Next Cruise Booking has expired, the Offer will be removed from the booking if the guest cancels and reinstates the booking, applies a fare change, or changes the ship or sail date of the booking; certain other changes to the booking may also result in removal of the Offer. Additional deposits may be required for Grand Suites and above. At least one name must remain the same on the booking. Offer is subject to change without notice, capacity controlled, and may be withdrawn at any time. Royal Caribbean International reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. © 2015 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registry: The Bahamas.

[WeatherFx]

DECIDE NOW (PICK SHIP/SAILDATE)

 

On Board Credit Break down

.................... I/O.....B/JR....GS+

5-7 Nights...... $50.... $100.. $200

8-10 Nights... $100... $150.. $300

11-14 Nights.. $150... $200.. $400

15+ Nights..... $200... $250.. $500