Open Booking Deposit Program

[Keith1010]

Crystal is not yet taking open booking deposits.  I am not sure precisely when it starts.

 

When they do, it would be $500.00 per suite.

 

If you do an open booking there will be up to a $500.00 as you wish shipboard credit per suite  based on two guests and priority for booking 2023 and 2024 sailings.

 

The actual booking must be made within 90 days of the itinerary launch which is projected for sometime this quarter.

 

While there is no expiration date for the open deposit the as you wish credit is not applicable if you go beyond the 90 days.

 

The as you wish credits are $250.00 per person up to $500.00 per suite for Crystal Society Guests and $125.00 per person up to $250.00 per suite for new to Crystal guests.

 

As you wish credits are not refundable and not exchangeable for case.

 

As you wish credits can be used in all ships venues except for Casino play.

 

The open booking is fully refundable.

 

This is what I know.  

 

Keith

 

 

[ryndam]

Just a quick reminder for those that learned expensive lessons with our credit card issuers (especially Visa and Mastercard)...there is no way to dispute any charges on these cards after 520+/- days from the initial charge (depending on the issuer). We watch these dates very carefully now, for any vendor requesting/requiring any type of deposit for any future service greater than 500 days in advance.

 

Rob

[Stickman1990]

For those who are non US based I understand they will be accepting a total of five different currency payment options 

 

US$500, AUD$700, CAD$650, GBP400,  or EUR500

 

Pretty sure the option opens on the next 24 hours

 

i also understand sailings will commence in November 2023 - but I’m not sure on just where those sailings will be

[nancygp]

I was told this will happen on Thursday.

 

Nancy

[TER777]

From friends’ TAs’ Crystal reps:

 

We anticipate that we will release pricing, new deck plans and itineraries mid to late December.

[Keith1010]

My take.

 

Open bookings any day.

 

Ready to book with pricing December.

 

First sailings earlier than November.   Time will tell and since December is next month we will know soon enough. 
 

We are doing open bookings and many of our friends are doing the same.

 

My hope is we will be on the first  sailing.

And lesson learned. We no longer use MC or VISA for large purchases.  
 

Lesson learned.

 

Keith

 

 

[TER777]

1 hour ago, TER777 said:

From friends’ TAs’ Crystal reps:

 

We anticipate that we will release pricing, new deck plans and itineraries mid to late December.

Also all 4 HDs are returning as is the bridge program and Ambassador Hosts. 

[peribit]

2 hours ago, Keith1010 said:

Crystal is not yet taking open booking deposits.  I am not sure precisely when it starts.

 

When they do, it would be $500.00 per suite.

 

If you do an open booking there will be up to a $500.00 as you wish shipboard credit per suite  based on two guests and priority for booking 2023 and 2024 sailings.

 

The actual booking must be made within 90 days of the itinerary launch which is projected for sometime this quarter.

 

While there is no expiration date for the open deposit the as you wish credit is not applicable if you go beyond the 90 days.

 

The as you wish credits are $250.00 per person up to $500.00 per suite for Crystal Society Guests and $125.00 per person up to $250.00 per suite for new to Crystal guests.

 

As you wish credits are not refundable and not exchangeable for case.

 

As you wish credits can be used in all ships venues except for Casino play.

 

The open booking is fully refundable.

 

This is what I know.  

 

Keith

 

 

Last year, Crystal did not allow the OBC to be used for gratuity.  Do you know if the "new" Crystal will allow it again?

Thanks

Pat

[Keith1010]

43 minutes ago, peribit said:

Last year, Crystal did not allow the OBC to be used for gratuity.  Do you know if the "new" Crystal will allow it again?

Thanks

Pat

Pat, I could venture a guess but don't know for sure.

 

Keith

[peribit]

6 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Pat, I could venture a guess but don't know for sure.

 

Keith

Thank you Keith. 
I re-read your earlier post and wondering if the $500 open booking deposit will go against the cruise and the $500 OBC is a separate credit for making the open deposit?

Pat

[crickette]

Let me see if I have this straight.  They want $500 for an open booking, then when I decide on a cruise they want a deposit (in addition to the $500 I gave them for an open booking).   They they want payment in full.  Then they are going to give me back my $500 as an onboard credit, to pay for things I really don't want.  And if the cruise I choose is more than 90 days after they first sail, the onboard credit is reduced to ... 0?  Doesn't make sense to me - even people who love specific cabins and will pay a premium to ensure they can book it might be disappointed when the ship layout is reconfigured.

 

This does not seem to parallel the "open booking" methods of the Crystal most of us knew,.

Edited November 15, 2022 by crickette

[NWX]

1 hour ago, TER777 said:

Also all 4 HDs are returning as is the bridge program and Ambassador Hosts. 

Even Joseph L?

[May B]

7 minutes ago, crickette said:

Let me see if I have this straight.  They want $500 for an open booking, then when I decide on a cruise they want a deposit (in addition to the $500 I gave them for an open booking).   They they want payment in full.  Then they are going to give me back my $500 as an onboard credit, to pay for things I really don't want.  And if the cruise I choose is more than 90 days after they first sail, the onboard credit is reduced to ... 0?  Doesn't make sense to me - even people who love specific cabins and will pay a premium to ensure they can book it might be disappointed when the ship layout is reconfigured.

 

This does not seem to parallel the "open booking" methods of the Crystal most of us knew,.

Of course it isn’t the Crystal you knew and loved! 
 

[May B]

1 hour ago, TER777 said:

Also all 4 HDs are returning as is the bridge program and Ambassador Hosts. 

Wow! I like it!

[TER777]

52 minutes ago, crickette said:

Let me see if I have this straight.  They want $500 for an open booking, then when I decide on a cruise they want a deposit (in addition to the $500 I gave them for an open booking).   They they want payment in full.  Then they are going to give me back my $500 as an onboard credit, to pay for things I really don't want.  And if the cruise I choose is more than 90 days after they first sail, the onboard credit is reduced to ... 0?  Doesn't make sense to me - even people who love specific cabins and will pay a premium to ensure they can book it might be disappointed when the ship layout is reconfigured.

 

This does not seem to parallel the "open booking" methods of the Crystal most of us knew,.

This is my understanding:

 

Step 1. Do open booking(s). 
Step 2. Itineraries for ~2023-2024 are released. 
Step 3. Within 90 days of Step 2, you select any of those itineraries, you get the OBC. 

Step 4. You pay the additional deposit due. 
Step 5. You pay the balance due. 
Step 6. While on board you have $500 OBC to treat yourself to a massage, a private dance lesson, a connoisseur list wine, something from the shops, a shore excursion, etc.  

[KenzSailing]

 

Lot of dust in the air right now, I'll wait for it all to become official-official. Two things I'll have my eye on: the % required when you switch to a firm deposit, and the time frame from cruise date when the non-refundable %s start to kick in.  My magic 8 ball says Crystal will set the initial refundable at 15%, as opposed to 25%.  Hope so. 

[wearesiamese]

re OBC amount.Please keep in mind there are quite a few of us solo passengers and our OBC is only $250, The $500, as stated earlier above is if there are two guests in a stateroom

[Redrob123]

3 minutes ago, wearesiamese said:

re OBC amount.Please keep in mind there are quite a few of us solo passengers and our OBC is only $250, The $500, as stated earlier above is if there are two guests in a stateroom

Exactly and as a solo we still have to pay the full amount to lock in an open booking.

[crickette]

17 minutes ago, TER777 said:

This is my understanding:

 

Step 1. Do open booking(s). 
Step 2. Itineraries for ~2023-2024 are released. 
Step 3. Within 90 days of Step 2, you select any of those itineraries, you get the OBC. 

Step 4. You pay the additional deposit due. 
Step 5. You pay the balance due. 
Step 6. While on board you have $500 OBC to treat yourself to a massage, a private dance lesson, a connoisseur list wine, something from the shops, a shore excursion, etc.  

Thanks.  Glad to read your thoughts.

2 questions - you mention -additional- deposit due.  Does the 500 play a part here?

- and if one books +/- 100 days of step 2 ... ???

[TER777]

1 hour ago, Redrob123 said:

Exactly and as a solo we still have to pay the full amount to lock in an open booking.

 

No. According to what TAs have been told, open bookings for solos are $250.

[TER777]

1 hour ago, crickette said:

Thanks.  Glad to read your thoughts.

2 questions - you mention -additional- deposit due.  Does the 500 play a part here?

- and if one books +/- 100 days of step 2 ... ???

 

I was assuming the total deposit for the booking would be greater than $500, but perhaps it would not for some itineraries with shorter lengths and lower per diems and of course I have no idea what the deposit % will be. At 90 days, the open booking deposits become refundable. At 100 days, one would be booking under whatever terms are then offered.

[Redrob123]

14 minutes ago, TER777 said:

 

No. According to what TAs have been told, open bookings for solos are $250.

I received the email from my TA and it is quoted as USD500/AUD700.   No mention that solo deposit is half although OBC $250.  They can process from tomorrow.

[TER777]

7 minutes ago, Redrob123 said:

I received the email from my TA and it is quoted as USD500/AUD700.   No mention that solo deposit is half although OBC $250.  They can process from tomorrow.

 

On 10/31 they said $250 for solos. It is of course possible that they have changed their minds.

[Keith1010]

6 hours ago, peribit said:

Thank you Keith. 
I re-read your earlier post and wondering if the $500 open booking deposit will go against the cruise and the $500 OBC is a separate credit for making the open deposit?

Pat

Pat,

This is how it works.

To get the as you wish credit you have to book a cruise within 90 days from when the itineraries are released which is estimated to be in 4Q 2022.   

 

So say they allow the open deposits in two days.  You make the deposit.

 

Say the itineraries for 2023 and 2024 are released December 15 (I am making this date up) to get the as you wish credit you would have to make a firm booking for one of the itineraries within 90 days of the release of these itineraries. At the time you make the real booking your $500.00 deposit is moved to that specific booking.

 

I hope this helps to understand how this will work.

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

3 hours ago, Redrob123 said:

I received the email from my TA and it is quoted as USD500/AUD700.   No mention that solo deposit is half although OBC $250.  They can process from tomorrow.

I did verify this.  Using USA money the open booking deposit is $500.00 per suite, not per person so yes $500.00 is the amount regardless of the number of people in the suite.

 

Keith