Early Saver OBC now nonrefundable

[NavarreCruiser]

Just a heads up to all you cruisers who use the early saver booking option, the onboard credit you receive for price reductions is now nonrefundable.

A little background, many times in the past we have booked early saver and received price protection in the form of onboard credit. Since we were receiving a refund of our own money this credit was always refundable. This was not the case on our recently completed Triumph Journey cruises starting on 10/24 and 11/4.

 

We booked both these cruises while onboard the Fascination on 5/9/14, with final payment due on 8/10/15 and 8/21/15. On 6/10/15 we checked fare viewer and found a $400 price reduction on each cruise (yahoo!). We called the Diamond desk for our reductions. Even though final payment date was still 2 months away I had made final payment on the 1st cruise, but not on the second.

Hilda at the Diamond desk reduced the final payment amount owed on the 2nd cruise and gave us $400 OBC on the 1st (10/24) cruise. Because final payment due date was still 2 months away, on the paid off 1st cruise, I could have asked for the $400 reduction to be credited back to the credit card. But I didn’t because the OBC was always refundable in the past.

 

When we boarded the Triumph our sail and sign printout indicated that all of our OBC was nonrefundable. I went to guest services and they emailed the Miami office with my inquiry. Twice the accounting office responded that the $400 OBC was appropriately nonrefundable. Guest Services allowed me to use their phone to call the Diamond Desk in an effort to try, in my opinion, to correct the accounting department error.

 

To my shock the Diamond person said, incorrectly, that early saver price protection OBC has always been nonrefundable. She did confirm that I could have requested a refund to our credit card on 6/10/15 which would have given us our money back without worrying about refundable vs. nonrefundable OBC. She did say that they would make a special case exception and make the OBC refundable since it occurred before final payment.

 

I just spoke to the Diamond Desk again this morning and she confirmed Carnival's lie that early saver price protection given in the form of OBC is and ALWAYS HAS BEEN NONREFUNDABLE regardless of when it is given.

[heatherbelle]

I usually cash out Non refundable OBC in the casino to get my hands on the money or use it for tips.

[Badfinger]

I just went to the kiosk and withdrew over $1200 in ES OBC. No fussing with chips.

[ladygal4.4]

That's what I always get a price reduction before final payment. Onboard credit was never refundable

 

 

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[soccersharon]

...Onboard credit was never refundable

 

 

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That's what I remember too - always non-refundable.

[BenjiRodney]

I never knew it to be refundable. Then again I have never had a problem spending it all and them some on the ship.

[Who Cares?]

Just a heads up to all you cruisers who use the early saver booking option, the onboard credit you receive for price reductions is now nonrefundable.

A little background, many times in the past we have booked early saver and received price protection in the form of onboard credit. Since we were receiving a refund of our own money this credit was always refundable. This was not the case on our recently completed Triumph Journey cruises starting on 10/24 and 11/4.

 

We booked both these cruises while onboard the Fascination on 5/9/14, with final payment due on 8/10/15 and 8/21/15. On 6/10/15 we checked fare viewer and found a $400 price reduction on each cruise (yahoo!). We called the Diamond desk for our reductions. Even though final payment date was still 2 months away I had made final payment on the 1st cruise, but not on the second.

Hilda at the Diamond desk reduced the final payment amount owed on the 2nd cruise and gave us $400 OBC on the 1st (10/24) cruise. Because final payment due date was still 2 months away, on the paid off 1st cruise, I could have asked for the $400 reduction to be credited back to the credit card. But I didn’t because the OBC was always refundable in the past.

 

When we boarded the Triumph our sail and sign printout indicated that all of our OBC was nonrefundable. I went to guest services and they emailed the Miami office with my inquiry. Twice the accounting office responded that the $400 OBC was appropriately nonrefundable. Guest Services allowed me to use their phone to call the Diamond Desk in an effort to try, in my opinion, to correct the accounting department error.

 

To my shock the Diamond person said, incorrectly, that early saver price protection OBC has always been nonrefundable. She did confirm that I could have requested a refund to our credit card on 6/10/15 which would have given us our money back without worrying about refundable vs. nonrefundable OBC. She did say that they would make a special case exception and make the OBC refundable since it occurred before final payment.

 

I just spoke to the Diamond Desk again this morning and she confirmed Carnival's lie that early saver price protection given in the form of OBC is and ALWAYS HAS BEEN NONREFUNDABLE regardless of when it is given.

 

Any and all OBC is fully refundable by taking it out at the casino. Easy peasy.

[Cruisesfun65]

Any and all OBC is fully refundable by taking it out at the casino. Easy peasy.

 

^^^ This!

[cruizinisthebest]

Any and all OBC is fully refundable by taking it out at the casino. Easy peasy.

 

Ed Zacchary!;

 

Or use the kiosk.

[vamartha]

I've always cashed it out using the casino method.

[LSUcajunmom]

Ditto^^^

[Who Cares?]

Ed Zacchary!;

 

Or use the kiosk.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what Kiosk? I've always used the casino method so I don't know about a kiosk.

[ready2cruzagain]

OP, Early Saver OBC has always been non-refundable....here is a link to the rules.

 

http://www.carnival.com/core/requestforms/priceprotection.aspx

 

To submit a Price Protection request, please complete the claim form below. We'll review your claim within two business days and if it meets the Price Protection requirements, you will have the choice of requesting an upgrade commensurate to the price differential (subject to availability), or we will process a non-refundable onboard credit for the fare difference

 

 

I am before final payment and seen a price reduction a couple of weeks ago, called to have the extra applied to my credit card instead of getting obc.

 

I was informed that Carnival will only give obc now if your cruise is paid off before final payment is due. Carnival will no longer issue a credit back to the credit card. Got this from 2 different CSR's.

 

From now on, I will not pay my cruise off early.

Edited November 17, 2015 by ready2cruzagain

[cruizinisthebest]

If you don't mind me asking, what Kiosk? I've always used the casino method so I don't know about a kiosk.

The kiosks are self service machines and I believe they are on every Carnival ship now. You can print out statements, deposit money to your account, withdraw money, and yes cash out your S&S accounts at the end of your trip. I've always seen them located right by guest services and another by the fun shops. Very useful machines.

 

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[Who Cares?]

The kiosks are self service machines and I believe they are on every Carnival ship now. You can print out statements, deposit money to your account, withdraw money, and yes cash out your S&S accounts at the end of your trip. I've always seen them located right by guest services and another by the fun shops. Very useful machines.

 

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Haven't seen them before and didn't know that was a viable alternative. So, if you take the OBC from a kiosk, does it give you cash and then put a charge against your S&S card like the casino does?

[bakersdozen12]

What is exactly is the Diamond Desk? Just curious.

[cruizinisthebest]

Haven't seen them before and didn't know that was a viable alternative. So, if you take the OBC from a kiosk, does it give you cash and then put a charge against your S&S card like the casino does?

You just use the machine's withdraw cash option to cash out. For example on the last night of my trip, I withdrew all of the balance left but $5.00, which I purposely left there since any balances $5 or less go to St. Jude. The screens are super easy. You'll see.

 

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[Who Cares?]

You just use the machine's withdraw cash option to cash out. For example on the last night of my trip, I withdrew all of the balance left but $5.00, which I purposely left there since any balances $5 or less go to St. Jude. The screens are super easy. You'll see.

 

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Thank you. I'll check it out on the Valor next year.

[AdrenalineRush]

What is exactly is the Diamond Desk? Just curious.

 

It's perk of being Diamond(200 days at sea) They normally go above and beyond when it comes to customer service. Plus they are aware of all the amenities,where the regular 800# folks might have to check with supervisors.

 

http://www.carnival.com/loyalty/termsandconditions.aspx

 

CCL’s Diamond Desk at 1(855)386-8437 only. The Diamond Desk is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, Sunday CLOSED.*

Edited November 17, 2015 by AdrenalineRush

[ATL_Miami_Cruiser]

From now on, I will not pay my cruise off early.

 

Same here! I wait until the VERY last minute about 2 days before final payment. I normally have a few thousand in Carnival gift cards on standby, but I refuse to pay until I'm certain no other drops will occur before that date.

[RuthlessBoss]

I understand non refundable OBC if it's part of a promotion. But how can it be non refundable if the price reduction occurs after you've paid the fare? It's YOUR money:eek:

[ready2cruzagain]

I understand non refundable OBC if it's part of a promotion. But how can it be non refundable if the price reduction occurs after you've paid the fare? It's YOUR money:eek:

Because it is a part of the ES rules. No other cruise line has anything like ES. It has always been this way and if one books ES then they should be aware that they need to use the obc.

 

If you book another rate and after final payment there is a price drop, you are not entitled to anything where as with ES you at least get an non refundable obc to use.

[tlw440]

We have got refunds before.:confused::confused::confused: