Future Cruise Deposit

[majortom10]

Just had it confirmed by Voyage Sales on QE that they have stopped selling FCD's and the only way to get extra OBC in the future is to book onboard only with a low deposit of £175pp.

[exlondoner]

Did they give a reason?

[majortom10]

No just that they are no longer available and will not be returning in the future.

[PORT ROYAL]

16 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Did they give a reason?

Think to end anyone having a PCS. 
Plus
By withholding the purchase FCDs, Cunard have effectively removed ability to book future Cunard Cruises on land with FCD benefits.  Money saving exercise.

 

Will one’s current holdings of FCDs be honoured?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2021 by PORT ROYAL
Previous

[Windsurfboy]

So unless your cruise coincides with when they launch new cruises, if you wait till you are on board to get extra OBC , will miss out on best cabins. Doesn't seem worth it.

[exlondoner]

14 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Think to end anyone having a PCS. 
Plus
By withholding the purchase FCDs, Cunard have effectively removed ability to book future Cunard Cruises on land with FCD benefits.  Money saving exercise.

 

Will one’s current holdings of FCDs be honoured?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is a PCS? I have used FCDs for years, and am not aware of ever having had one.

 

I'm sure it is a money saving exercise, and who can blame them? I just wondered if they would admit it.

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

So unless your cruise coincides with when they launch new cruises, if you wait till you are on board to get extra OBC , will miss out on best cabins. Doesn't seem worth it.

 

And prices could well have gone up, anyway.

[PORT ROYAL]

9 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

 

What is a PCS? I have used FCDs for years, and am not aware of ever having had one.

 

I'm sure it is a money saving exercise, and who can blame them? I just wondered if they would admit it.

PCS = Personal Cruise Specialist 

Think land based Concierge, who takes care of everything Cunard (like bookings, problem solving, call backs etc), albeit on land, air, or sea.

[exlondoner]

So what is the connection with FCDs?

[PORT ROYAL]

3 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

So what is the connection with FCDs?

Both separate items in their own right.  
But if FCDs go so do the PCS.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2021 by PORT ROYAL

[Victoria2]

1 hour ago, PORT ROYAL said:

PCS = Personal Cruise Specialist 

Think land based Concierge, who takes care of everything Cunard (like bookings, problem solving, call backs etc), albeit on land, air, or sea.

I have one of those but he’s independent of Cunard. I’m sure many others have their own cruise specialist too.

[Lanky Lad]

Thanks for the information. I was planning to get a FCD in September.

[Bigmike911]

This surely is a mistake. Cunard have generated a loyal custom with the future cruise deposits. I cannot believe they would eliminate them, and 'punish' frequent travelers and eliminate future business. 

 

I have worked with them over the past two years with them canceling trips. If I find this to be a true thing. Cunard we are done. 

[Victoria2]

7 hours ago, Bigmike911 said:

This surely is a mistake. Cunard have generated a loyal custom with the future cruise deposits. I cannot believe they would eliminate them, and 'punish' frequent travelers and eliminate future business. 

 

I have worked with them over the past two years with them canceling trips. If I find this to be a true thing. Cunard we are done. 

We have had trips cancelled, rebooked and cancelled again, along with thousands of Cunard clients, and I too will be very disappointed if the FCD disappear or are only available when booking onboard as we book when itineraries are released in order to secure the cabin we want. We usually have a couple each, on hand and $400 ea per trip was a very welcome addition to the pot.

However, no way would any new FCD arrangement which was detrimental to us, change our loyalty to Cunard. That would be akin to cutting off the nose to spite the face.

 

Cunard for us is more than FCD.  🙂

[majortom10]

Just to confirm over the 7 nights of the cruise I asked Voyage Sales Office on 2 occasions with different girls on both occasions and they both said the same. They said I couldnt purchase a FCD as they had been stopped  the only way to get the extra OBC is to actual make a booking whilst on the cruise. Currently you cannot just turn up to make a cruise booking you have to make an appointment and other than OBC staying the same if you book onboard there is a low deposit of £175pp.

[PORT ROYAL]

2 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Just to confirm over the 7 nights of the cruise I asked Voyage Sales Office on 2 occasions with different girls on both occasions and they both said the same. They said I couldnt purchase a FCD as they had been stopped  the only way to get the extra OBC is to actual make a booking whilst on the cruise. Currently you cannot just turn up to make a cruise booking you have to make an appointment and other than OBC staying the same if you book onboard there is a low deposit of £175pp.

Many thanks for spending some of your private holiday time supporting CC members.  It’s appreciated.

[PORT ROYAL]

Addendum 

Arranged for a friend knowing they have one FCD each, now working and living outside the UK, to call their local Cunard CS with regard to the possibility of extending their FCDs.  

Sadly, Cunard declined to offer an extension to any unused FCDs, new rules etc..

We have Cruises booked for 2021 and 2022, but it still leaves our holding of 14 FCDs, thinking they could be extended for 2023/24, as it was not our fault that Cunard cancelled cruises.

Will call tomorrow to see if our holding can be cancelled and refunded.

 

[Windsurfboy]

Good luck , I think you have a strong moral case for a refund.

[lissie]

I couldn't see how FCDs where worthhwile. You could only use them on more expensive fairs (Cunard I think compared to Saver) - so when I checked I'd have been paying at least US$300pp MORE on a fare to get $300OBC for the cabin - that maths doesn't work for me 

[PORT ROYAL]

5 minutes ago, lissie said:

I couldn't see how FCDs where worthhwile. You could only use them on more expensive fairs (Cunard I think compared to Saver) - so when I checked I'd have been paying at least US$300pp MORE on a fare to get $300OBC for the cabin - that maths doesn't work for me 

One is also able to use FCDs on Early Saver Fare bookings.

Noticed over the past months that Saver Fares have basically disappeared from booking availability in the UK.

[lissie]

Just now, PORT ROYAL said:

One is also able to use FCDs on Early Saver Fare bookings.

Noticed over the past months that Saver Fares have basically disappeared from booking availability in the UK.

Couldn't in Australia/NZ - that's why I didn't bother buying any.  However since we've had a cruise ship ban theres been nothing in terms of fare type - just a price and a call this Australian number to book. 

[PORT ROYAL]

On 8/22/2021 at 10:27 PM, PORT ROYAL said:

Addendum 

Arranged for a friend knowing they have one FCD each, now working and living outside the UK, to call their local Cunard CS with regard to the possibility of extending their FCDs.  

Sadly, Cunard declined to offer an extension to any unused FCDs, new rules etc..

We have Cruises booked for 2021 and 2022, but it still leaves our holding of 14 FCDs, thinking they could be extended for 2023/24, as it was not our fault that Cunard cancelled cruises.

Will call tomorrow to see if our holding can be cancelled and refunded.

 

Update.

Called regarding 14

Cunard’s computer says NO, only 8

So, one has to now put everything, including hard copy evidence, in writing to challenge the computer.

 

[majortom10]

48 minutes ago, lissie said:

I couldn't see how FCDs where worthhwile. You could only use them on more expensive fairs (Cunard I think compared to Saver) - so when I checked I'd have been paying at least US$300pp MORE on a fare to get $300OBC for the cabin - that maths doesn't work for me 

Many prefer to book Select fares because they then can choose position of their cabins instead of leaving it to the hands of Cunard to choose your cabin for you. There is no way I would pay thousands of pounds for a holiday and then let Cunard choose my cabin which could be anywhere on the ship in poor position or noisy  just to save a few quid. The OBC is a nice bonus when booking a Select fare and also get free car parking so well worth the extra.

[Victoria2]

4 hours ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Update.

Called regarding 14

Cunard’s computer says NO, only 8

So, one has to now put everything, including hard copy evidence, in writing to challenge the computer.

 

If you don't ask, you don't get and the same goes for your challenges. I have lost the plot as far as FCD go and must re look at ours. Good luck.

[lissie]

17 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Many prefer to book Select fares because they then can choose position of their cabins instead of leaving it to the hands of Cunard to choose your cabin for you. There is no way I would pay thousands of pounds for a holiday and then let Cunard choose my cabin which could be anywhere on the ship in poor position or noisy  just to save a few quid. The OBC is a nice bonus when booking a Select fare and also get free car parking so well worth the extra.

I'm actually very, very picky about my cabin - I have it down to about 6 inside deluxe on  deck 1!  (I get seasick).  So yes have sailed once  and have 2 bookings and they were all saver fares with us choosing the exact cabin. 

 

Free car parking is of little use when you have to fly in from NZ - the only advantage of the more expensive fare class was I think priority in choosing a dining time or table size - but we prefer late seating and large tables and no one else does so we don't have any problem getting what we want LOL