Courtesy Holds are being phased out

[MaritimeR&R]

According to the rep - Freedom is among one of the first and the phase-in is just starting. I noticed the "hold" button missing the latter part of last week when I first started looking for a Nov. 2016 cruise.

 

Perhaps we should start a list of ships not offering a hold.

[DKNYC]

Undercat and Daytoncruiser

Thanks for your responses on other lines with courtesy holds. Did not notice last time I booked with them.

Denise

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[STANMELB]

Perhaps we should start a list of ships not offering a hold.

 

Could not do a hold on the Oasis for April 2016 yesterday.

[MaritimeR&R]

Perhaps we should start a list of ships not offering a hold.

 

Freedom of the Seas - Nov 2016

Oasis of the Seas - April 2016

[Havingfun2010]

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.

 

Unless it is a short notice trip, all the above becomes a "mute" point because you put you deposit down, than get all your approvals. If something goes "wrong" than cancel and get you deposit back.

 

I understand both sides, but if RCCL determines that courtesy holds are causing other paying customers with cash in hand from making the purchase than it is a good business decision. I don't know many places that will hold a product for 24 hours while you think about it.

 

More than likely the process has been abused, and so it is being removed. I also know people who booked and canceled with no issues when "plans" changed.

 

Just like you can cancel the cruise, but try cancelling the airline ticket!

[LMaxwell]

Unless it is a short notice trip, all the above becomes a "mute" point because you put you deposit down, than get all your approvals. If something goes "wrong" than cancel and get you deposit back.

 

While you are correct, I prefer not to make a payment just to have to wait for it back, if at all possible. It will just make things slightly less convenient for me to book.

[Paulette3028]

That's true, but in my first post, I mentioned that the phone reservation agent was quoting me a much higher price than what I was seeing online, so I had to put an online courtesy hold on the cabin, and then the agent over the phone was able to secure the lower price for me (On her end, she was not seeing the same price as I was). The point of my post was that a courtesy hold is useful for another reason besides the common one.

 

Then, I was questioned by the post I quoted why I was calling the agent in the first place. I don't really understand the reason for questioning me regarding that except to nitpick, and my second post (the one you quoted) was addressing that.

 

I prefer to book a cruise over the phone rather than online. Simple as that. This particular booking was complicated for a number of reasons, one of which was converting the next cruise certificate. I was using multiple credit cards to pay, my travel companion (my cousin) has a hypenated first name and I wasn't sure how to enter it since I couldn't use special characters, etc. I felt more comfortable doing it over the phone than online.

 

 

I thought that maybe the Courtesy Hold button wasn't working and that is what created the need to call them -- that was all. It has seemed that the Courtesy Hold button is inconsistent on the website in the first place.

[Paulette3028]

While you are correct, I prefer not to make a payment just to have to wait for it back, if at all possible. It will just make things slightly less convenient for me to book.

 

Like you, I don't like to make a payment for something that I am unsure of. However in booking now 19 of our 20 cruises (our first booking was totally done by another couple who we were cruising with) we have used it twice.

 

Neither time, to first secure vacation time, or check on airfare or check whether others wanted to cruise with us -- both times it was more specific.

 

One time we actually were unsure we wanted the cabin that was available. We had waited later than normal to book our Thanksgiving cruise and cabin selections were somewhat limited at that moment. So we used the Courtesy Hold, decided the next day to book it -- then the Royal Carib sales rep called to 'help us book what we had put on hold' -- we asked him if the cabin we really wanted might be available yet not showing on the website.....it wasn't. So we did the booking -- then a few days later the cabin we did want opened up and the rep let us know.

 

The other time we used the Courtesy Hold, was simply because Royal had announced a new sale starting on the embarkation day for our Indy cruise. So the night before our cruise we put a Courtesy Hold on the cabin we wanted for an upcoming cruise....we went to the Loyalty Ambassador as soon as they opened to book the cruise with the cabin we had on Hold, for a better price and with an OBC and lower deposit.

 

I will be sorry to see it go, but it on a few occasions has it had a big effect on what we do.

[John&LaLa]

Inventory held back because of long term phantom bookings tie up considerably more inventory than a rotating 24 hour hold

[Paulette3028]

Inventory held back because of long term phantom bookings tie up considerably more inventory than a rotating 24 hour hold

 

"Inventory held back" by the cruise line?????? -- what do you mean by "long term phantom bookings"???

 

Please elaborate for those that simply don't understand your point.

 

A quick 24 hour hold period, turns over very quickly, so if a cabin isn't booked with a paid deposit it simply goes back into available inventory.

[John&LaLa]

"Inventory held back" by the cruise line?????? -- what do you mean by "long term phantom bookings"???

 

Please elaborate for those that simply don't understand your point.

 

A quick 24 hour hold period, turns over very quickly, so if a cabin isn't booked with a paid deposit it simply goes back into available inventory.

 

Sorry, I was in a hurry making coffee.

I was referring to the practice of doing a full booking for multiple trips and deciding later which one to take. It's a pet peeve of mine and as long as their is no penalty to cancel bookings, it will always be there. This ties up inventory at a far greater rate than 24 hour holds.

 

I believe it can only get worse with the new on board booking promo of taking OBC up front to match your deposit. As always, just my opinion

Edited September 21, 2015 by John&LaLa

[MaritimeR&R]

Called Casino Royale this morning and upgraded my D2's to JS's on my B2B for $250. more on each sailing, so I am happy.

While I was on the phone I questioned them regarding the discontinuing of "holds" on cabins and RC's rationale for implementing it. This is what I was told:

 

1- Yes, it is definitely going fleet wide

2- Phasing-in will take place over the next few months

3- The ships selected for discontinuing "holds" are not being done by class, ie, All Voyager, etc. They are random.

4- Both the removal of inventory and subsequent non-booking as well as resentment from the different internal departments (casino, loyalty, consumer sales, etc.) over revenue and commissions from bookings being switched between departments are the reasons. For example, A hold placed online is credited to one department, but then the consumer calls loyalty to finalize it and the credit/commission is switched over to loyalty.

Apparently, this causes a lot of resentment and paperwork internally.

5. - As a result of the implementation, new hours for certain departments like Casino Royale and Loyalty may be instituted. This is still in the talking stage.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited September 21, 2015 by MaritimeR&R

[Paulette3028]

Sorry, I was in a hurry making coffee.

I was referring to the practice of doing a full booking for multiple trips and deciding later which one to take. It's a pet peeve of mine and as long as their is no penalty to cancel bookings, it will always be there. This ties up inventory at a far greater rate than 24 hour holds.

 

I believe it can only get worse with the new on board booking promo of taking OBC up front to match your deposit. As always, just my opinion

 

OK got it....I do believe in getting the coffee right in the morning otherwise it can ruin the entire day (LOL). I wholeheartedly agree with your pet peeve.

 

I would not do it, since that ties up my money on deposits on cruises I may not be taking. I guess some people have more money to tie up than I do.

[Paulette3028]

Called Casino Royale this morning and upgraded my D2's to JS's on my B2B for $250. more on each sailing, so I am happy.

While I was on the phone I questioned them regarding the discontinuing of "holds" on cabins and RC's rationale for implementing it. This is what I was told:

 

1- Yes, it is definitely going fleet wide

2- Phasing-in will take place over the next few months

3- The ships selected for discontinuing "holds" are not being done by class, ie, All Voyager, etc. They are random.

4- Both the removal of inventory and subsequent non-booking as well as resentment from the different internal departments (casino, loyalty, consumer sales, etc.) over revenue and commissions from bookings being switched between departments are the reasons. For example, A hold placed online is credited to one department, but then the consumer calls loyalty to finalize it and the credit/commission is switched over to loyalty.

Apparently, this causes a lot of resentment and paperwork internally.

5. - As a result of the implementation, new hours for certain departments like Casino Royale and Loyalty may be instituted. This is still in the talking stage.

 

Hope this helps.

 

There should be better internal ways to resolve this problem than hurting the customer, is my personal opinion.

Every time a buiness hurts/inconveniences a customer, and your competition still offers what a company has taken away, that company runs the risk of losing the customer....a company should never easily give a customer a reason to leave.

[MaritimeR&R]

There should be better internal ways to resolve this problem than hurting the customer, is my personal opinion.

 

One would think so. The Casino Rep also said that other Cruise Lines are also dealing with the same problem and are changing. She was not specific as to which Lines. I would assume those that RCI owns will be following the same path shortly: Celebrity, Azamara, etc.

[FloridaPalms]

It does not appear to be limited to any "random" or specific ships but rather to their itineraries. The courtesy hold option still appears for all itineraries I've checked except for Caribbean/Bermuda/Bahamas. I don't know why they started with them or if it will eventually be rolled out to the others like MaritimeR&R stated.

 

I do know I'm not particularly happy about it. :(:(:mad:

 

I don't use a TA. I like to "shop around" and have used the courtesy hold quite a bit. Not every hold resulted in a booking but probably most, if not all, of my cruises started with a hold. I like to "shop" in the late night hours but, if I need to call in for any reason to book the hold, I like to do that in the morning. Also, you are (or were) limited to a maximum of 4 cabin holds at a time so I don't see how these 24 hour holds really had that big an impact on inventory.

 

I don't know about the Casino Royale sales staff, but I thought the CVPs and C&As didn't get commissions. :confused:

 

There has to be a better solution.

 

~ Judy

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Sorry, I was in a hurry making coffee.

I was referring to the practice of doing a full booking for multiple trips and deciding later which one to take. It's a pet peeve of mine and as long as their is no penalty to cancel bookings, it will always be there. This ties up inventory at a far greater rate than 24 hour holds.

 

I believe it can only get worse with the new on board booking promo of taking OBC up front to match your deposit. As always, just my opinion

 

And since onboard booking deposits are lower, and now for the cabin, you don't have to put out as much money in deposits....especially for Suites...which used to be $450pp.

 

•5-7 night cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $50

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $100

◦Grand Suite and above: $200

 

•8-10 night cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $100

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $150

◦Grand Suite and above: $300

 

•11-14 night cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $150

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $200

◦Grand Suite and above: $400

 

•15 nights or longer cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $200

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $250

◦Grand Suite and above: $500

Edited September 21, 2015 by suzyluvs2cruise

[molly361]

I agree- The new Onboard booking program encourages (not sure if that is the right word) phantom bookings with the lower deposits.

Edited September 21, 2015 by molly361

[John&LaLa]

And since onboard booking deposits are lower, and for the cabin, you don't have to put out as much money in deposits....especially for Suites...which used to be $450pp.

 

•5-7 night cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $50

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $100

◦Grand Suite and above: $200

 

•8-10 night cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $100

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $150

◦Grand Suite and above: $300

 

•11-14 night cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $150

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $200

◦Grand Suite and above: $400

 

•15 nights or longer cruises

◦Interior/Oceanview: $200

◦Balcony/Junior Suite: $250

◦Grand Suite and above: $500

 

Exactly, drop $100 on a great balcony, spend the matching OBC on current trip, then let the booking expire at final payment. Horrible business model

[molly361]

Sorry, I was in a hurry making coffee.

I was referring to the practice of doing a full booking for multiple trips and deciding later which one to take. It's a pet peeve of mine and as long as their is no penalty to cancel bookings, it will always be there. This ties up inventory at a far greater rate than 24 hour holds.

 

I believe it can only get worse with the new on board booking promo of taking OBC up front to match your deposit. As always, just my opinion

 

I agree and plead guilty. Sometimes when booking more than a year out I am not sure which date will work best.

Edited September 21, 2015 by molly361

[John&LaLa]

I agree and plead guilty

 

I don't think we've ever overbooked a cruise. We have moved a couple (medical and once booked wrong year) and Royal cancelled a couple (Rhapsody).

 

Once I book one, I want to go. :D

[Clarea]

I agree and plead guilty. Sometimes when booking more than a year out I am not sure which date will work best.

Also, if the prices would not change so radically, I would not be feeling like I better book it (even though I'm not sure I can go) because it might be $1000 more tomorrow!

[orville99]

I believe that would not be legal in the US. This already happens in the UK -- where it is allowed. Katherine

 

It's already a widespread practice in the Travel and Leisure industry in the U.S. Hotels and resorts (and most travel brokers) have clear non-refundable deposit policies on a significant percentage of their bookings.

[John&LaLa]

It's already a widespread practice in the Travel and Leisure industry in the U.S. Hotels and resorts (and most travel brokers) have clear non-refundable deposit policies on a significant percentage of their bookings.

 

I got out of a non refundable B&B deposit by threatening to involve VISA. They relented. This was 6 months out so I really didn't feel bad.

[CptSticky]

I don't think we've ever overbooked a cruise. We have moved a couple (medical and once booked wrong year) and Royal cancelled a couple (Rhapsody).

 

Once I book one, I want to go. :D

My TA sometimes uses the word "placeholder". My problem is I'm like you. I tend to own them after they are booked:o