***FCC and OBC -- Questions and Issues re onboard and future cruise credit***

[kgb46]

I had a Mardi Gras cruise for September and it was canceled by Carnival.  I got $502 in FCC and $200 in OBC if I changed to another cruise by mid February.  So we booked the Vista out of Galveston for May 9th.  On the 12th of March I cancelled and moved the booking to October on the Horizon out of Miami.  They transferred the FCC and the OBC since that was due to the Mardi Gras debacle.  After I got all situated and everything done they cancel the May cruise and offer OBC of &600 plus a FCC.  That is retroactive to May 6th and later if you had already canceled and booked a new cruise.  I was told by my PVP that I would probably get to keep the $200 FCC since that was basically on Carnival for having to cancel the 1st cruise.  But she asked me to call her later when things settle down and we would get that added to the new cruise.  But we did not discuss FCC.  From what I have been told on FB the amount is the same as what your penalty would have been if canceling.  We were at $500 penalty when we changed cruises.  Does this sound correct?  

[Host Carolyn]

I would rely on what your PVP is telling you over what you are hearing on Facebook?? Each person's booking, cancellation, refund etc is based on their particular set of circumstances. Everyone here is very helpful for the most part but you need to get confirmation at some point from your planner. I hope if you check back later as she suggested it will be resolved! Very busy time for these folks...

Edited April 13, 2020 by Host Carolyn

[loven2cruise]

I filled out the form and was approved for Early Saver price protection and, since paid in full, got an email stating what the new OBC will be.  Is that email enough?  Nothing has changed on our booking on the website as far as the larger OBC.  I don't want to call if I don't have to because of the long call waits, but nothing is showing up about our new OBC.

 

Thanks!

[ypcat]

Print your cruise documents, it should show on there.

[loven2cruise]

You're awesome!  Don't know why I didn't think of that!  It's on there!  Thanks!!

[RHilla619]

Long story short, I was supposed to be on the Pride in June on a "comp" from a land based casino. Did not want to go at this point, got impatient and on Friday called in to rebook the same ship/itinerary for June of 2021. All good they moved my booking without any fees/penalties and I still got to keep the "comp". Seeing today Carnival canceled through the end of June..

 

Wondering has anyone rebooked before being officially canceled, and had success calling in to get the OBC applied retroactively. Thinking I might be SOL, but may be worth a phone call. 

[SNJCruisers]

9 minutes ago, RHilla619 said:

 

Wondering has anyone rebooked before being officially canceled, and had success calling in to get the OBC applied retroactively. Thinking I might be SOL, but may be worth a phone call. 

Call in when you can hopefully get through and you will not be SOL.  read the last paragraph of the email that Carnival sent out.  There is another thread that it's on.  It says that this letter supercedes and that that anybody that cancelled on their own since March 6 can take advantage of the FCC and OBC offer. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2745680-carnival-cancels-na-sailings-till-june-27/?tab=comments#comment-59817315

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by SNJCruisers

[TechDiva]

My original cruise was supposed to be for May 23, 2020.  I called about 1 1/2 weeks ago to rebook for July 2020, as I wasn't comfortable with cruising in May.  I did not expect to get any OBC as my cruise hadn't been canceled at that point.  Surprisingly, as I was talking to the Carnival rep, she stated that I qualified for $600 OBC, without my mentioning anything about it.  I thanked her tremendously for it.

However, since it doesn't show on my new booking (although I've seen other posts say that it wouldn't show yet), and just out of an abundance of caution, I completed the form listed in the cancellation letter anyway.

Interestingly enough, apparently my original cruise wasn't "really" cancelled (although it doesn't appear in my cruise manager) because I did get the letter this morning stating that it was canceled.

I would say to just apply for the OBC anyway.  You'll need both your original and the new booking numbers.

[firefly333]

17 minutes ago, RHilla619 said:

Long story short, I was supposed to be on the Pride in June on a "comp" from a land based casino. Did not want to go at this point, got impatient and on Friday called in to rebook the same ship/itinerary for June of 2021. All good they moved my booking without any fees/penalties and I still got to keep the "comp". Seeing today Carnival canceled through the end of June..

 

Wondering has anyone rebooked before being officially canceled, and had success calling in to get the OBC applied retroactively. Thinking I might be SOL, but may be worth a phone call. 

If you cancelled, then they have been firm in the past about not giving what you would have gotten had you waited for carnival to cancel. Instead you cancelled yourself. I wouldn't count on it. 

 

Since you cancelled, I'd say no. 

Edited April 13, 2020 by firefly333

[TechDiva]

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

If you cancelled, then they have been firm in the past about not giving what you would have gotten had you waited for carnival to cancel. Instead you cancelled yourself. I wouldn't count on it. 

 

Since you cancelled, I'd say no. 

 

Not accurate.  This is stated on the Carnival website:

 

"Carnival will honor this offer for any guests who were previously booked on these voyages and canceled their booking on or after March 6, 2020."

[IcanSeaclearlynow]

36 minutes ago, RHilla619 said:

Wondering has anyone rebooked before being officially canceled, and had success calling in to get the OBC applied retroactively. Thinking I might be SOL, but may be worth a phone call. 

Yes.  We cancelled our 4/25 March 9th before things amped up & official email.   Rebooked for March 2021.  Our long time  PVP kept saying he was working on getting us our $600 OBC.  After a few emails & calls to him & what I felt was the runaround, I called carnival direct & within 30 min had the 600 OBC in our account.   Probably would have been a shorter time on the phone but I called in the afternoon.  If you want something done, gotta do it yourself 😉

[TAIC1234]

I was caught up in the Carnival Vista engine issues situation last year and consequently came out of it with a 50% FCC which I was applying to a 7 day in June that was canceled as of today.  My intentions are to take the 100% FCC and the $600 OBC per cabin of which I have two.  What I am questioning is will my 100% FCC consist of the total value of the 7 day cruise? Only the amount that I am actually out of pocket due to the 50% Vista FCC?  I would hate to somehow lose the Vista FCC. I know it's a question best answered by my PVP, and I am waiting for him to give me a call, but I was just wondering if anyone else out there is or was in the same situation I am in?

 

Thanks in Advance.

[Thecat3902]

We figured our cruise to Mexico would be cancelled and we have decided to take the FCC because we paid in gift cards. We are wanting to rebook for February that same itinerary but the cruise is now cheaper than what we paid for our June sailing. If the cruise credit is more than what the new booking is what do we do with the excess credit? Will we be able to use it on the ship, would we lose it, or can the remainder go towards a second booking for even later? Any help would be great. It's too hard to reach agents right now with all this just transpiring. 

Thanks

[aarons1584]

I had a cruise booked on 5/2/2020 and one booked on 5/16/2020, both 5 days out of Charleston SC.  I opted to do the "FCC+300 OBC" however I am now being told, that I will only qualify for $150.00 OBC for these cruises because I am traveling solo.  So I had to pay "double occupancy" but only get half the credit? that does not seem to make sense to me.  NOWHERE do I see on the terms for the FCC+OBC state that it is dependent on how many people are in the stateroom, it only says "per stateroom",,,,Flustered

[ZoeyVictoria]

I think I would call again to see if the answer would be different, because that just doesn’t seem right.  

[lizord]

How horrible, I would try to speak to a higher up, this is unacceptable especially considering if you have a cabin for 4 you only get the 3 or 6 hundred per cabin.

Edited April 13, 2020 by lizord

[Host Carolyn]

Lots of you are having issues and questions regarding your onboard and future cruise credit for cruises that have been canceled and rebooked. Some of you are just in limbo with no clear answer. A lot of these questions may benefit from being posted here where everyone can find answers and assistance instead of so many individual threads.

[Saint Greg]

I’m with you. I wouldn’t be surprised though because there are times when they do “Up to $100 OBC” and if you only have one person they only give you 50 even though you paid just as much as two people would have.
 

It sounds like something they’d do but I hope you get the full $300. I sure would’ve expected it.

 

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by Saint Greg

[aarons1584]

I did speak to a manager who told me the exact same thing, its just very disheartening.  I looked over the offer again and it does not say anything about the occupancy or "up to" as some of the offers do state.  I am afraid this may be the end of my relationship with CCL if they do not make this right.  I feel I was very misled by choosing the FCC and OBC, so if it cannot be resolved I think I will dispute with my credit card, as it is false advertisement.  I have heard this will get me banned from cruising with Carnival, but as cheated as I feel, I have no desire to go on another Carnival cruise. 

[Butterbean1000]

It seems the cruise industry treats solo cruisers like red headed step children. 😒

[JaxsMama]

40 minutes ago, Thecat3902 said:

We figured our cruise to Mexico would be cancelled and we have decided to take the FCC because we paid in gift cards. We are wanting to rebook for February that same itinerary but the cruise is now cheaper than what we paid for our June sailing. If the cruise credit is more than what the new booking is what do we do with the excess credit? Will we be able to use it on the ship, would we lose it, or can the remainder go towards a second booking for even later? Any help would be great. It's too hard to reach agents right now with all this just transpiring. 

Thanks

My rebooking was $15 cheaper and they added it to my obc.  

[PROCRUISE]

14 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

It seems the cruise industry treats solo cruisers like red headed step children. 😒

 

Indeed! However, if and when cruise ships are sailing again, the cruise lines might be very happy to see solo travels, or anyone else too!!

[firefly333]

40 minutes ago, aarons1584 said:

I did speak to a manager who told me the exact same thing, its just very disheartening.  I looked over the offer again and it does not say anything about the occupancy or "up to" as some of the offers do state.  I am afraid this may be the end of my relationship with CCL if they do not make this right.  I feel I was very misled by choosing the FCC and OBC, so if it cannot be resolved I think I will dispute with my credit card, as it is false advertisement.  I have heard this will get me banned from cruising with Carnival, but as cheated as I feel, I have no desire to go on another Carnival cruise. 

As someone who worked in disputes... Think about it. You have to pick a charge to dispute. There is no specific charge for the obc. It did not cost you. You cant dispute because you didnt get free obc. You have to have paid for it.

 

This is not a credit card dispute. If they opened it up would have to be because they didnt understand or the phone clerk opened it to keep you from fussing to put the job on someone working disputes to explain to you and close it.

 

Try rcl? You get 200% loyalty pts. 7 days = 14 loyalty pts if you paid double. They also have some ships with solo cabins. I got jewel and adventure solo cabins booked next year out of Galveston.

 

Anyway, disputing something you didnt pay for, what could they give you? You got 100% fc, you didnt lose money. 

 

This is between you and carnival. Write to them if you must but it's a waste of your time and your credit card dispute workers time to contact them. You cant dispute something you didnt pay for. You would have to open it for the entire charge, and could put your future fcc and cruise in jeopardy. If you didnt lose any money..cant dispute... contact carnival if you are unhappy, but this is similar to other policies as has been pointed out to you.

 

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by firefly333

[firefly333]

43 minutes ago, Butterbean1000 said:

It seems the cruise industry treats solo cruisers like red headed step children. 😒

Ncl also has solo cabins, area.

 

Ncl doesnt sail out of Galveston so I'm doing rcl. Dont try rcl site, they dont seem to know they have them and last guy I spoke with contacted IT to have them removed.

 

Look on cruise deck plans, deck 4 for jewel ots, there are 3 marked on all deck plans.

 

I think its deck 2, aft, adventure ots has 5 marked back there, category is 2w, any ta can book you if you have trouble calling in. But they do exist. I cant mention a big box site to see pricing on, but rcl does have solo cabins on same types of ships. It's not well publicized to me. Which is good. The double loyalty pts is what pushed me to diamond while I wasnt looking and doing carnival.

[firefly333]

I assume from the posts here that many dont remember when 1As were solo cabins. Then they were 150%, now 200%, no savings for solo cruisers. The message is we dont want solo cruisers, we have decided they dont spend enough. If they were big spenders they would not have changed it to lay double, based on double occupancy. I'm sure studies were done of the average onboard bill.