What "If" we are not able to cruise, and take the FCC / OBC

[beshears]

I have a feeling I will get some flack on this, but I'm going to ask if you have "thought" of this.  My son was talking with me, and there were 8 of us that were to cruise, so there was a lot of money that went out.  Yes, the FCC with the OBC sounds great!  But "what if", something comes up where we are not able to do the cruising within the time limit, or if (remember ANYTHING is possible) the cruise line/s go bankrupt??? At least I (I was the one that paid for everything) would have ALL my money back, but not the OBC, which I could  live without.  As my son said, after all this epidemic is over, cruise lines will probably be "begging" people to cruise again, and having different specials going on. It is just something to THINK about!

[Joe817]

I think many, if not most of. us, had had those kinds of thoughts, even if fleeting thoughts. Yes there is every possibility that you may lose some, if not a lot of money. So will we....but not all. That is the risk we take when we try to take cruises. The OBC? Pfffftttt.  Unless you bought it in some way, it was 'free stuff' given to you, so you have not lost anything. 

 

Hang in there. It may get rougher than it is now. We are all in this together. 👍

[Elaine5715]

People had the same thoughts about flying after 9/11. Cruising had some black eyes after the Triumph and Splendor incidents, but here we all are anxiously awaiting news when we sail next.

[TNcruising02]

I think people who are very nervous about cruising or the thought of losing money should just choose the refund when their cruise is cancelled.  Choosing a FCC is a risk, but paying for anything that you will use later is a risk.  I'm ok with that and the $600 OBC was a great incentive to rebook.  But I know some people are very concerned and I think they might be better off getting the refund instead of constantly stressing about it.

[bahacca]

We have until Dec 31 to decide. I'm waiting. I may need that money if my husband loses his job. Or we may luck out and have cruises start up again later this year and I can rebook. 

[Joebucks]

Anything is possible. However, the thought that Carnival goes away and/or will not honor these is unlikely especially as our President seems to have a good relationship with them. If it goes on too long, I could definitely see them extending the credit.

 

Some people will look back and wish they took the credit. Some people will panic right now. Pick your poison.

[jesskuhmarie]

While I don't think it will be the case, I've definitely had the thought of what if Carnival doesn't make it out of this and now they are holding onto over $2-3k of my money that I may never get back if they go bankrupt. Unfortunately for me, I paid primarily with Carnival gift cards so I went ahead and used the FCC to rebook another cruise for next year since I wouldn't be getting my actual money back anyways, just gift cards. If I hadn't paid most of it on gift cards though, I probably would have seriously considered getting the actual refund and waiting to rebook once things are at least back up and running again.

[beshears]

Thank you for  YOUR responses.  At this point, I still have not talked with my PVP, but I think in the long run for us, since I paid for everyone, I think I will just have the money put back on my credit card.  I am NOT hoping Carnival or any other cruse line goes out, but for "just in case," I believe this will be the route I take.  At least this way, I never expected any OBC, so I'm not losing anything. 🙂

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, beshears said:

Thank you for  YOUR responses.  At this point, I still have not talked with my PVP, but I think in the long run for us, since I paid for everyone, I think I will just have the money put back on my credit card.  I am NOT hoping Carnival or any other cruse line goes out, but for "just in case," I believe this will be the route I take.  At least this way, I never expected any OBC, so I'm not losing anything. 🙂

My PVP told me everyone on the booking needs to be on the new cruise to get the FCC and OBC.  I wanted to rebook minus one person in the cabin and she said then I would need to take the refund

[JaxsMama]

7 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

My PVP told me everyone on the booking needs to be on the new cruise to get the FCC and OBC.  I wanted to rebook minus one person in the cabin and she said then I would need to take the refund

I am thinking about doing the opposite.  Was supposed to be me and hubby but now want to take our son. When I called they claimed I could use the fcc to pay for all 3 of us but I wondering if that's really true. 

[SLCfirsttimer]

18 hours ago, beshears said:

I have a feeling I will get some flack on this, but I'm going to ask if you have "thought" of this.  My son was talking with me, and there were 8 of us that were to cruise, so there was a lot of money that went out.  Yes, the FCC with the OBC sounds great!  But "what if", something comes up where we are not able to do the cruising within the time limit, or if (remember ANYTHING is possible) the cruise line/s go bankrupt??? At least I (I was the one that paid for everything) would have ALL my money back, but not the OBC, which I could  live without.  As my son said, after all this epidemic is over, cruise lines will probably be "begging" people to cruise again, and having different specials going on. It is just something to THINK about!

I've had the same thought. I am hopeful that with the significant number of cancellations that have occurred, and the possibility that they will extend even further across all ships, that Carnival will allow those of us who have cancelled and selected the FCC to request a refund OR extend the time to use the FCC by at least 6 months, if not a full year to allow for some form of recovery for both Carnival and for those of us who may need to adjust to some significant life changes.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, JaxsMama said:

I am thinking about doing the opposite.  Was supposed to be me and hubby but now want to take our son. When I called they claimed I could use the fcc to pay for all 3 of us but I wondering if that's really true. 

Yeah, I think you can add more, just not subtract.  Otherwise a booking with 4 person could be used for a solo cruiser

[Denverdonkeys]

I took the FCC, but I paid with gift cards, so it's basically the same from a loss in a bankruptcy standpoint.

 

If I paid for people other than my family (like you seemed to have done), I would take a refund.

[eileen2664]

1 hour ago, Elaine5715 said:

My PVP told me everyone on the booking needs to be on the new cruise to get the FCC and OBC.  I wanted to rebook minus one person in the cabin and she said then I would need to take the refund

Our initial cruise was supposed to start 4/4 but we just rescheduled for 6/20 (crossing everything possible that it doesn't get cancelled).  We had multiple cabins and were booked thru a big box store, had no problem w/ having one person in one of the cabins take the refund instead of the FCC.  They issued a refund for him, used the FCC for the other two and ended up paying a difference of like $2.  The OBC is showing up as well. 

[beshears]

Yes, I had a feeling that if I "re-booked", to get the FCC and OBC, it would have to be the same people that were going with me, before the cruise was cancelled.  Since one of the people cancelled out, and I did pay for everything, I believe in the long run for ME, just getting the money back on my credit card should be fine.  I know the 7 of us still want to go, but in the long run, I believe this will be my choice.

[shof515]

On 4/1/2020 at 4:29 PM, Elaine5715 said:

My PVP told me everyone on the booking needs to be on the new cruise to get the FCC and OBC.  I wanted to rebook minus one person in the cabin and she said then I would need to take the refund

 

My and my travel partner was scheduled to cruise in may on the legend. that cruise is canceled. my travel partner can no longer go on any more cruises. i already have a future cruise booked for my self as a solo. If i chose the FCC and OBC offer, what will happen since there is now only one person on the new booking?

[Liljo22]

They may reorganize but I don't see any of the major lines liquidating.  The assets they have are not easily movable for liquidation.  All the cruise lines are struggling so its not like Royal will have enough liquidity to buy the Vista fleet and its not like they would want to anyways.  That means creditors will be more willing to negotiate for Chapter 11 and not Chapter 7.  If that were to happen, I could see it being more of a prepackaged bankruptcy that would allow the line to keep FCC in place.  It does the creditors no good if cruise passengers are upset because they lost out on FCC.  

[bahacca]

On 4/1/2020 at 1:49 PM, SLCfirsttimer said:

I've had the same thought. I am hopeful that with the significant number of cancellations that have occurred, and the possibility that they will extend even further across all ships, that Carnival will allow those of us who have cancelled and selected the FCC to request a refund OR extend the time to use the FCC by at least 6 months, if not a full year to allow for some form of recovery for both Carnival and for those of us who may need to adjust to some significant life changes.

I don't understand this. I was in the first batch cancelled. We have until December of this year to decide if we want FCC or a refund. And we can use the FCC up until December of 2022. If people jumped and rebooked without considering the current state of affairs and uncertainty, that isn't Carnival's fault. I'm holding out, Maybe even until Dec. 31, to make the decision based on how this all plays out. I would think if you opted for FCC and that NEW booking is cancelled, it would "reset" your options. If it doesn't, it should. 

 

[SLCfirsttimer]

31 minutes ago, bahacca said:

I don't understand this. I was in the first batch cancelled. We have until December of this year to decide if we want FCC or a refund. And we can use the FCC up until December of 2022. If people jumped and rebooked without considering the current state of affairs and uncertainty, that isn't Carnival's fault. I'm holding out, Maybe even until Dec. 31, to make the decision based on how this all plays out. I would think if you opted for FCC and that NEW booking is cancelled, it would "reset" your options. If it doesn't, it should. 

 

I cancelled before Carnival cancelled the cruise. We were given the option to cancel ahead of Carnival making the decision suspend operations which we did. We have only until March 31, 2021 to use our FCC per the email we received from our travel agent. What I am saying is that if the suspension of operations continues into the summer, it would be great if Carnival expanded the timeline for those that cancelled before they suspended operations to extend how long they have to use the FCC or change their decision to take the FCC and instead receive a full refund.

[bahacca]

Now I understand. Having cancelled prior to Carnival cancelling, you are getting less time to use FCC, of which time that would typically be available to use the FCC is now unavailable. I see your point of view now.

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, shof515 said:

 

My and my travel partner was scheduled to cruise in may on the legend. that cruise is canceled. my travel partner can no longer go on any more cruises. i already have a future cruise booked for my self as a solo. If i chose the FCC and OBC offer, what will happen since there is now only one person on the new booking?

I was told then you must take the refund.....or book them with you and have them be a "noshow".  Your end cost will be the same

[NCTribeFan]

My 4/21 HAL cruise (only cancelled this past Monday although Canada closed it's ports weeks ago the ship (Zaandam) has been at sea, unable to dock, and has had deaths on it!!).  That offer is only FCC for 125% of the fare (and my fare was a low casino rate) and $250 OBC.  BUT, even if I take the FCC offer rather than a refund, if I change my mind before the term end of 12/31/21, I can get the refund instead.  So, for me, there's no reason not to take the FCC/OBC.  If I don't find a replacement cruise I want, I can just change my mind and get the refund.

 

My Legend Med/TA B2B was just cancelled.  I'm using the FCC/OBC from the Med sailing and applying it to my Breeze Jan 2021 sailing.  Will take the FCC/OBC offer also for the TA and just wait and see.  Who knows what may happen.

 

And I have a boatload of gift cards I've purchased that need to be used.  They were going to pay a big chunk of that B2B.

 

I think it's silly to speculate about cruise lines going out of business.  We have enough to worry about right now than trying to guess what's going to happen with the economy and big business.

[skiorcruise]

My late September cruise was canceled.  My initial response is to take the future cruise credit (FCC) and the $600 OBC.  Does anyone know how FCC works?  We have paid about $1500 of the $3000 cruise price.  Final payment is due in June.  Do we need to make the payment in June to fully pay for the cruise and  $3000 FCC  or will we get $1500 FCC without making that payment?  I booked through Costco Travel, and their phones have been super busy.

 

Thanks for anyone who has an answer.  

 

Dave

[LaRue1975]

Don’t worry about final payment, your cruise was cancelled so you have plenty of time to choose a full refund or book your replacement cruise which will include the $600 OBC. Start searching future cruises online, contemplate your circumstances and decide if rebooking or a refund is the right choice for you. 

Edited April 4, 2020 by LaRue1975

[Sugar67]

11 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

My Legend Med/TA B2B was just cancelled.  I'm using the FCC/OBC from the Med sailing and applying it to my Breeze Jan 2021 sailing.  Will take the FCC/OBC offer also for the TA and just wait and see.  Who knows what may happen.

 

Were you able to apply the FCC/OBC to an existing reservation or is January 2021 a new booking?  TIA