Celebrity introducing nonrefundable deposits?

[Swissmiss6253]

I assume that all deposits are non refundable before checking the T&C. I don't get this expectation of price drops being applied to existing bookings either. You book early to get an advantage, choice of cabin and guaranteed spot. Qantas have never called me (and you have to pay air fares in full) to tell me the price has gone down and give me an option to rebook.

 

On this board outside of the Australian NZ section, it is not unusual at all to read of people changing bookings and cancelling bookings that they have taken "just in case". Seems like a perfectly reasonable business response

[leaveitallbehind]

As long as they offer a refundable option at a slightly higher price, I would book the refundable early, then convert to the non-refundable close to final payment. If the rates go down I can take advantage of it. If the rates go up such that the non-refundable is higher then the original refundable then stay with it. Over time I would expect that the costs would still work on better with the refundable and taking advantage of any drops.

 

I don't believe it works that way. Having two booking rates offered at the same time with one allowing a refundable deposit and the other not is not the same as a future price drop, which would allow a change in rate. You can't use the refundable rate to book and then switch later to the non-refundable under the interpretation of a price drop. As I understand it the cruise lines are treating the different rate at booking as a service charge, and once you choose your booking preference that is the rate at which you are booking. I would think any future price drops would have to affect that specific rate choice in order result in a favorable change. I would guess the financial minds at the cruise lines have already considered your strategy and probably somewhere in the fine print address it.

[Mynki]

Afternoon here , plenty of gardening this weekend, absolutely lovely weather.

 

Sorry that you wanted to try and take a swipe and did not even bother to answer the questions I posed. Ah well, glad I am the happy one.

 

Your question was answered. You simply don't understand the answer.

 

The fact that I've booked multiple cruises with non refundable deposits should tell you that I don't have an issue with it. I simply evaluate the offerings from the UK and the US and make a decision based on details at the time. That might result in a booking with a non refundable deposit.

 

Anyway, chill out, I now you feel violated having to rebook whilst losing a deposit. I'm sure the butt hurt will get better in time, so it's all good. :)

[NantahalaCruiser]

I don't believe it works that way. Having two booking rates offered at the same time with one allowing a refundable deposit and the other not is not the same as a future price drop, which would allow a change in rate. You can't use the refundable rate to book and then switch later to the non-refundable under the interpretation of a price drop. As I understand it the cruise lines are treating the different rate at booking as a service charge, and once you choose your booking preference that is the rate at which you are booking. I would think any future price drops would have to affect that specific rate choice in order result in a favorable change. I would guess the financial minds at the cruise lines have already considered your strategy and probably somewhere in the fine print address it.

All is currently speculative - including whether or not Celebrity is actually considering non-refundable deposits.

 

If they do choose to introduce NR deposits, then there are multiple ways they could do it. Simplist way is the generic hotel model - offer both NR & R and do your yield management by varying both the price and availability of each class of deposit without constraining the right to cancel a R and rebook.

 

But they may choose a more complex way if they can improve their bottom line - we shall eventually see.

[Jade13]

This will be an incentive to book onboard since in most cases the deposit is $100.00 per person. It would also make me think twice about moving to an outside agents group rate which would require a full deposit. You could still transfer to your favorite agent, but I would be thinking carefully about which rate option to choose.

 

 

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[Mynki]

My comment wasn’t ‘aimed’ at any one. I was just telling it how it is here. When we book we pay a non refundable deposit of £300 (about $400). So it has to be a good price drop to lose that and benefit. Having said that we have done just that on one occasion.

However I am still of the view that one should book cruises one wants to take and not book speculatively, with the intention of cancelling before final payment.

 

Merly, I'm in the UK like you so understand the procedure.

 

However, like me, you also have the choice to book elsewhere where there may not be non refundable deposits.

 

Speculative bookings will still be made well after the change. Perhaps if you can't beat them, join them?

[leaveitallbehind]

All is currently speculative - including whether or not Celebrity is actually considering non-refundable deposits.

 

If they do choose to introduce NR deposits, then there are multiple ways they could do it. Simplist way is the generic hotel model - offer both NR & R and do your yield management by varying both the price and availability of each class of deposit without constraining the right to cancel a R and rebook.

 

But they may choose a more complex way if they can improve their bottom line - we shall eventually see.

 

I was using the newly introduced RCI program as example with the assumption that as Celebrity and RCI are both under the same parent company that if Celebrity would decide to do this it may well be through a similar program as RCI.

[Luvcrusn]

All is currently speculative - including whether or not Celebrity is actually considering non-refundable deposits..

 

The fact that they are doing it beginning November 1 is not speculative. How they are handling it and what the specifics are is speculative. I have an email from my TA who is a large online agency that does a high volume of business with Celebrity stating that the non-refundable deposits are beginning on November 1. It also encourages its customers to book before them to maintain the opportunity to book with refundable deposits before the deadline.

[ghstudio]

The fact that they are doing it beginning November 1 is not speculative. How they are handling it and what the specifics are is speculative. I have an email from my TA who is a large online agency that does a high volume of business with Celebrity stating that the non-refundable deposits are beginning on November 1. It also encourages its customers to book before them to maintain the opportunity to book with refundable deposits before the deadline.

 

We don't know if non-refundable deposits will be the only way to book or it could be that non-refundable deposits at a lower price is a (limited time?) sales promotion. There's also a very big difference between a $25-50 pp non-refundable deposit and one that's $500pp.

 

Lots of speculation....no facts other than a date when something will happen. Until something's announced, the best bet (based on your personal financials) is to book what you think you might want....and then let the chips fall where they may.

[Pitboss32]

disregard

Edited October 30, 2017 by Pitboss32

[Luvcrusn]

We don't know if non-refundable deposits will be the only way to book or it could be that non-refundable deposits at a lower price is a (limited time?) sales promotion. There's also a very big difference between a $25-50 pp non-refundable deposit and one that's $500pp.

 

Lots of speculation....no facts other than a date when something will happen. Until something's announced, the best bet (based on your personal financials) is to book what you think you might want....and then let the chips fall where they may.

The following was in my TA'S email. I've blacked out all of their identifying information since we're not allowed to post that. IMPORTANT UPDATE:

 

 

 

Celebrity has alerted us that their current Big, Better, Best promotion, where you have been receiving ALL THREE of the perks above on most sailings through April 2019, will be ENDING on 10/31/17.

Beginning 11/01/17 they will be offering the choice of ONLY ONE of these perks.

 

Additionally, in the month of November, they will be introducing NON-REFUNDABLE deposits.

I'd like to believe it's not true but their history is accuracy as to what they announce about Celebrity. The details of it are speculative. We'll have to wait and see.

[westcoastcruiser]

I booked a future cruise while on board today. I inquired about the implementation of nonrefundable deposits Nov 1 at the time of my booking. The future cruise rep who did my booking stated that they have not been told about this change and the only info she knows is what she has been told by others on board.

 

I am not disputing this change but merely reporting what I was told today.

 

Perhaps those closest to the situation are the last to find out???

[BosoxI]

One example of necessity to book far ahead is a B2B in the same cabin

That's a bit of an annoyance but not the end of the world. We've done it more than once and, really, going from a suite to a non-suite is the real pain

[stromer]

There is another thread on this topic. I called Celebrity and read their cancellation policy and it says completely refundable up to 75 to 90 days before cruise depending on the cruise particulars. This is for the US. So I don't know how this information gets out there.

[Cruise Junky]

There is another thread on this topic. I called Celebrity and read their cancellation policy and it says completely refundable up to 75 to 90 days before cruise depending on the cruise particulars. This is for the US. So I don't know how this information gets out there.

 

It was an e:mail from a very high volumne Travel Agent saying that they had been advised by Celebrity this was coming into effect...Tomorrow. Today is still October.

[Luvcrusn]

There is another thread on this topic. I called Celebrity and read their cancellation policy and it says completely refundable up to 75 to 90 days before cruise depending on the cruise particulars. This is for the US. So I don't know how this information gets out there.

See post 86 below.

[helen haywood]

If anyone books on board starting tomorrow I'd be certain to read the fine print regarding the deposit, especially if the on board sales reps aren't aware.

 

 

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[NantahalaCruiser]

It was an e:mail from a very high volumne Travel Agent saying that they had been advised by Celebrity this was coming into effect...Tomorrow. Today is still October.

Well, Today is now November and it is not yet in effect on the website.

[Luvcrusn]

Well, Today is now November and it is not yet in effect on the website.

The website says I must complete pending items before checking in. My check in is 100%complete, I have my XpressMusic pass, E-docs, and luggage tags in hand and sail in 26 days. Enough said about the website!

[ISABELLA]

Well, Today is now November and it is not yet in effect on the website.

It might be not on X website for another 6 months. Can't trust what they post on it.

Last year they had an obsolete information for 8 months till I called in to verify and they realized that it was still there...

[SusieV]

I wouldn't mind a two tiered deposit system as long as they handled the nonrefundable deposit like Carnival's Early Saver program. I have no interest in sailing Carnival but for them plunking down a nonrefundable deposit and being willing to pay fees for any change, they get price drops until 2 days until sailing I believe.

 

I'd book nonrefundable deposits under those conditions. Not if you can't get price drops or the like.

[Cruise Junky]

Well, Today is now November and it is not yet in effect on the website.

As has been pointed out, it's apparently attached to their next promo. It's not a permanent change.

[JonnyCT81]

I wanted to wait until today (1 November) to post in case anything last minute was posted on my side...I am a travel agent and Celebrity Specialist and I have not been told anything about this. I would definitely be in the loop if a major policy change like this was going to be made, and all of my documentation and information hasn't stated anything. The only thing that has changed is the current promotion, with the Go Better Perks being reduced back to one, with guests 3 & 4 getting 50 percent off.

 

I am not sure who sent the email before, but I feel that they made a mistake, as I have reached out to several people in my community and no one knows anything about upcoming non refundable deposits being implemented with Celebrity...that's not to say that might happen in the future, but as of right now there hasn't been any communication given for the near future of a major policy change such as this. ;)

[Cruise Junky]

I wanted to wait until today (1 November) to post in case anything last minute was posted on my side...I am a travel agent and Celebrity Specialist and I have not been told anything about this. I would definitely be in the loop if a major policy change like this was going to be made, and all of my documentation and information hasn't stated anything. The only thing that has changed is the current promotion, with the Go Better Perks being reduced back to one, with guests 3 & 4 getting 50 percent off.

 

I am not sure who sent the email before, but I feel that they made a mistake, as I have reached out to several people in my community and no one knows anything about upcoming non refundable deposits being implemented with Celebrity...that's not to say that might happen in the future, but as of right now there hasn't been any communication given for the near future of a major policy change such as this. ;)

 

Celebrity have confirmed it's going to be attached to an upcoming promotion. The Travel Agency that sent out the email is massive.

[Pitboss32]

I wanted to wait until today (1 November) to post in case anything last minute was posted on my side...I am a travel agent and Celebrity Specialist and I have not been told anything about this. I would definitely be in the loop if a major policy change like this was going to be made, and all of my documentation and information hasn't stated anything. The only thing that has changed is the current promotion, with the Go Better Perks being reduced back to one, with guests 3 & 4 getting 50 percent off.

 

I am not sure who sent the email before, but I feel that they made a mistake, as I have reached out to several people in my community and no one knows anything about upcoming non refundable deposits being implemented with Celebrity...that's not to say that might happen in the future, but as of right now there hasn't been any communication given for the near future of a major policy change such as this. ;)

 

While the new Season of Saving promotion will revert back to 1 perk, there is also tierd savings per person (1st/2nd guest) based on type of room booked. Interior $100 pp, Oceanview/Veranda is $200 pp, CC/AQ is $300 pp and suites are $400 pp (with GoBest included). Yes, 3rd/4th is 50% off.