Pushing out final payment

[LisaLeone]

So, I'm aware this is up to the cruiseline, but what do you think the chances will be of flexibility on the final payment date? 

 

We have a cruise on August with 3 cabins. My final payment is May 1. For the first (and last) time, I went the NRD route. If I cancel now, of course I get FCC but I would prefer a refund rather then 3 separate certificates. I certainly don't want to risk more. My TA is, I'm guessing, overwhelmed and doesn't make the rules but I'm curious if more experienced minds on here can give some insight. Any idea of options I might be unaware of?

 

I took a risk and it may be coming back to bite me.

 

Such challenging times. I hope all are staying well.

[jelayne]

Others have reported that Celebrity isn’t budging on their final payment date.

[Georgia_Peaches]

It's quite the conundrum.  The likelihood of your cruise occurring in August is slim to none IMO so making final payment means more money is tied up in Celebrity until they cancel and then begin the refund process.  Were I in your shoes, I would not give Celebrity any more of my money only to have them hold on to it for a while.  If you think you will cruise again sometime in the future, my advice is to take the FCC before making final payment.  Like @jelaynesaid, Celebrity isn't budging on the final payment date.  They are counting on those final payment dates to keep revenue flowing...even if it's for the short term.

[TMLAalum]

We went the NRD route for our August RCCL Jewel cruise out of Copenhagen. Our 2021 Celebrity cruise also was booked with a NRD. If the cruises are cancelled, is the NRD returned?   Even should these cruises proceed, we are over 70 and would be required to get a physician's clearance per current policy which cmplicates the use of a FCC.

 

Health-wise we have no disqualifying pre-existing conditions, but what is the likelihood of any doctor wanting to risk signing-off on such a "release"?

 

I fear that our cruising days may be over......

[39august]

If the cruise line cancels a cruise I believe you get all your money back, including NRD. If I am wrong, I hope someone will correct me. Celebrity is even refunding their cruise insurance back on cruises they cancelled.

[davekathy]

4 minutes ago, 39august said:

If the cruise line cancels a cruise I believe you get all your money back, including NRD.

Correct. 100%. 

[mchell810]

1 hour ago, 39august said:

If the cruise line cancels a cruise I believe you get all your money back, including NRD.

 

True, but if you cancel before Celebrity then its FCC (minus $100 p/p).  If the final payment is due before Celebrity cancels then the OP has to make a decision about giving more money to Celebrity. Personally, I wouldn't.  I have a final payment due late in July; I'm hoping to things are closer to normal by then.

[toucan49]

7 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

It's quite the conundrum.  The likelihood of your cruise occurring in August is slim to none IMO so making final payment means more money is tied up in Celebrity until they cancel and then begin the refund process.  Were I in your shoes, I would not give Celebrity any more of my money only to have them hold on to it for a while.  If you think you will cruise again sometime in the future, my advice is to take the FCC before making final payment.  Like @jelaynesaid, Celebrity isn't budging on the final payment date.  They are counting on those final payment dates to keep revenue flowing...even if it's for the short term.

I've read that the CDC recommends cruise lines don't operate for the next 100 days....

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 minutes ago, toucan49 said:

I've read that the CDC recommends cruise lines don't operate for the next 100 days....

That is correct.

[treehugr]

19 hours ago, LisaLeone said:

So, I'm aware this is up to the cruiseline, but what do you think the chances will be of flexibility on the final payment date? 

 

We have a cruise on August with 3 cabins. My final payment is May 1. For the first (and last) time, I went the NRD route. If I cancel now, of course I get FCC but I would prefer a refund rather then 3 separate certificates. I certainly don't want to risk more. My TA is, I'm guessing, overwhelmed and doesn't make the rules but I'm curious if more experienced minds on here can give some insight. Any idea of options I might be unaware of?

 

I took a risk and it may be coming back to bite me.

 

Such challenging times. I hope all are staying well.

@LisaLeone - Sorry for your dilemma and hope you are staying well too. Question - Are you ok with going on the cruise if all restrictions are lifted by your sailing date, or would you prefer to stay away and get the refund? If you are content / comfortable with sailing, you may have the flexibility to wait X out until they do finally cancel, in which case you would get a full refund. Obviously the one draw back would be the final payment, but you would get it all back eventually. That was the position we took in the end and waited out X until the cruise was eventually cancelled. Good luck to you.  

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, toucan49 said:

I've read that the CDC recommends cruise lines don't operate for the next 100 days....

True, but bear in mind that there are two conditions that would result in a shorter period for the recommendation being in force: the Secretary of Health and Human Services declares that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency; or the CDC rescinds or modifies the order.

[LisaLeone]

Friends, thank.you for the kind and thoughtful replies. I know many are in the same position. Honestly, if it was only one cabin, it wouldn't be a second thought...I would cancel and take the FCC. The fact we were also.taking our adult children is what complicates 

I know it the cruise line policy to apply FCC per cabin but wouldn't it be lovely if it all came back in one lump some to whomever paid? A gal can dream....

There are certainly far bigger problems in the world.

[az_tchr]

8 hours ago, TMLAalum said:

We went the NRD route for our August RCCL Jewel cruise out of Copenhagen. Our 2021 Celebrity cruise also was booked with a NRD. If the cruises are cancelled, is the NRD returned?   Even should these cruises proceed, we are over 70 and would be required to get a physician's clearance per current policy which cmplicates the use of a FCC.

 

Health-wise we have no disqualifying pre-existing conditions, but what is the likelihood of any doctor wanting to risk signing-off on such a "release"?

 

I fear that our cruising days may be over......

An August cruise?  Chance is slim to none.

With cruising shut till. the middle of July do you think that things magically are normal?  How long to get crew back in place.

As to the doctor's note - please go back to when Celebrity started it.  They clearly stated it was a temporary measure.  It was put in place as a last hope to keep cruising.  Do you think they can operate losing about 20% of their customers?  No way in heck.  Relax . . . this will end late this year.

[Ronin23]

52 minutes ago, az_tchr said:

An August cruise?  Chance is slim to none.

With cruising shut till. the middle of July do you think that things magically are normal?  How long to get crew back in place.

As to the doctor's note - please go back to when Celebrity started it.  They clearly stated it was a temporary measure.  It was put in place as a last hope to keep cruising.  Do you think they can operate losing about 20% of their customers?  No way in heck.  Relax . . . this will end late this year.

It will end when there is a vaccine in place, no sooner. That’s not likely to be this year. 

[NantahalaCruiser]

11 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

True, but if you cancel before Celebrity then its FCC (minus $100 p/p).  If the final payment is due before Celebrity cancels then the OP has to make a decision about giving more money to Celebrity. Personally, I wouldn't.  I have a final payment due late in July; I'm hoping to things are closer to normal by then.

Such is true for departures after July 31st, for departures on or before July 31st, the current policy is a FCC in the full amount of the NRD - not minus $100 pp

[Ronin23]

6 minutes ago, NantahalaCruiser said:

Such is true for departures after July 31st, for departures on or before July 31st, the current policy is a FCC in the full amount of the NRD - not minus $100 pp

Isn’t it up to August 31st?

[LisaLeone]

2 hours ago, Ronin23 said:

Isn’t it up to August 31st?

Currently, it's until September 1st and, yes, the $100 per is waived. Guessing that will be getting pushed out by a good bit. 

And , for those who celebrate, Happy Easter!

[zanderblue]

8 hours ago, Ronin23 said:

It will end when there is a vaccine in place, no sooner. That’s not likely to be this year. 

 

Do you mind sharing the source of this information, please?

[Georgia_Peaches]

2 hours ago, zanderblue said:

 

Do you mind sharing the source of this information, please?

The problem with some responses on CC is that from time to time, members state their opinion as if it were fact.

 

I think for some, they will likely not cruise until there is a vaccine.  However, this will not apply to everyone and IMO, cruising will resume before there is a vaccine.  Science is hopeful that a vaccine will solve the problem, but the truth is, nobody knows until the vaccine trials are over.

[luvstosail]

22 hours ago, 39august said:

If the cruise line cancels a cruise I believe you get all your money back, including NRD. If I am wrong, I hope someone will correct me. Celebrity is even refunding their cruise insurance back on cruises they cancelled.

We were just told yesterday that Any booking with a NRD will not receive the deposit monies back. I waited over 40 minutes to speak to a resolution specialist and had the same answer given to me. I was furious with this answer. We have 34 Celebrity cruises in our history and have never cancelled a cruise before. We understand NON Refundable, but does the management there understand Corona Virus and the implication on peoples lives it has created. Anyway we ended up choosing a cruise so far out in 2021 so as not to loose our deposit. My $200.deposit will just sit there for another year. Meanwhile we still have a few cruises next year also, that I'm not certain we have any desire to go on. JMHO

[graysonman]

Our final deposit was due today (April 12). We chose to change our booking to basically the same cruise and itinerary ( a couple of port changes ) until next Summer of 2021. Celebrity waived the change fee so only out $200 until then. Cruise price was basically identical.

[Arubalisa]

On 4/11/2020 at 9:25 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

It's quite the conundrum.  The likelihood of your cruise occurring in August is slim to none IMO so making final payment means more money is tied up in Celebrity until they cancel and then begin the refund process.  Were I in your shoes, I would not give Celebrity any more of my money only to have them hold on to it for a while.  If you think you will cruise again sometime in the future, my advice is to take the FCC before making final payment.  Like @jelaynesaid, Celebrity isn't budging on the final payment date.  They are counting on those final payment dates to keep revenue flowing...even if it's for the short term.

 

This is exactly what our family intends to do with our 3 cabins booked B2B on the Infinity for Christmas and New Years. We will push the cruises out to late 2021 rather than make final payment on a cruise which may or may not sail. 

[Iamcruzin]

On 4/10/2020 at 10:22 PM, LisaLeone said:

So, I'm aware this is up to the cruiseline, but what do you think the chances will be of flexibility on the final payment date? 

 

We have a cruise on August with 3 cabins. My final payment is May 1. For the first (and last) time, I went the NRD route. If I cancel now, of course I get FCC but I would prefer a refund rather then 3 separate certificates. I certainly don't want to risk more. My TA is, I'm guessing, overwhelmed and doesn't make the rules but I'm curious if more experienced minds on here can give some insight. Any idea of options I might be unaware of?

 

I took a risk and it may be coming back to bite me.

 

Such challenging times. I hope all are staying well.

They need those final payments to help sustain them. At this point the cruise lines know damn well that sailings will not happen May and June yet they haven't canceled and refunded the passengers. They need any income to literally stay a float.

[Denny01]

If your TA isn’t available (overwhelmed?), then that TA isn’t an actual Travel Agent/Advisor, they are a booking site who only assists you to make a reservation. Suggest you not use that group again.  

 

I think we are all starting to learn what happens when you use an 800-agent or website because it has ‘good deals’, that they aren’t TA’s. I use to book on my own and then get the reservation through some Big Box thing until I had to make some changes and now use a local TA. I’ve posted this on a few threads, and I’m Not a TA or trashing the booking websites.....well maybe a bit of trash-talk! 

 

Den

[fstuff1]

is final payment still 90days before sail?

(my cruise is 8/16/20 so 5/16 is final payment?)

 

edit:

meant 3months.

cant do math.. lol

Edited April 12, 2020 by fstuff1