Prebooking onboard- worth it?

[Robrph]

Leaving on the Golden this Saturday and considering pre-booking for a future cruise. For all those who have done this: what are the perks? Can the booking be transferred to our regular T/A? I've been told a booking can be changed for any cruise up to two years in advance, retaining the credits- is this correct? Thanks.

[coiran]

It's really a "no-brainer" - you don't have to book a specific cruise - you can book a "blind" cruise and get specific when you decide to book through your TA - you get the $100 reduced deposit and get cabin credits depending on the length of cruise and type of cabin booked - if you don't cruise within 4 years you can get your $'s back. We usually book at least two whenever we cruise.

Ron

[catmand]

Can't add much to what Ron said but just as an example:

On board Star September 2003 booked two "open" cruises deposit total $400.00 ($200.00) each cruise.

We used one in October 2004 and got $200.00 on board credit ($100.00 p/p)

We have Golden booked in April 2007 also will get $200.00 on board credit.

So for two cruises over close to a four year period we have had just $400.00 tied up and also got a total of $400.00 on board credit. (remember the on board credit differs depending on type of cabin and length of cruise, ours are balcony and 10 day trips.

also as Ron said it is a "no-brainer".

[critterchick]

I agree with Ron. If we don't have a specific cruise in mind when we book, we just book an "indefinite" cruise, make up our minds later and have the booking number applied to the reservation.

[Robrph]

thanks- it DOES sound like a no-brainer. When booking, can you just specify an " indefinite, open" cruise, or do you have to at least book something definite at the time of the deposit?

[Robrph]

sorry- just reread the replies again and I have my answer. Thanks again.

[edste]

Your TA can pick up your deposit at any time. We've done it many times.

edna

[coiran]

The deposit is only $100 per cruise - per person - you only have to book one ($100) to hold a cabin - when you decide where you want to go and finalize a booking with your TA, you can pay another $100 at that time for the second party - you both will still get all of the cabin credits alowed.

Ron

[alolewis]

Don't forget though there is some cost of having your cash tied up as the deposit, earning you no interest or anything. Not much but should be considered when deciding. I did an open ended booking on my last cruise, not to take advantage of the credits, etc. but so I will take another cruise. You know how it is, you always plan to "someday", etc... but other things get in the way, this way I probably will book another cruise instead of asking for the deposit back.

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

Now that we have figured out how it works, we use future cruise deposits each time we sail. We don't book a specific cruise, only make the "future cruise" deposit while on-board. It's only $100 to hold a cabin as someone posted already, then you pay the additional $100 (for the second person) when you decide where you want to go. You have four years and you can get your money back.

 

Also, our TA said that we can change our mind and use the deposit for another future cruise anytime before final payment is due.

 

It's a no-brainer for us.

[MichTraveler]

Our biggest mistake was booking only 1 instead of 2 FCC a few cruises ago. We booked the future cruise, but then wanted to book another one before we got back onboard. (Yeah, we plan in advance -- we're anal!) Our TA found a way to apply one of the FCCs to the cruise we had a deposit on. So we had to pay higher deposit, we still got some extra OBC once we bought the FCC. Last time on the ship, we got 3 FCCs just in case. No-brainer.