Booking a new Cruise Onboard

[TGCRUISEO]

Hello,

 

Was wanting to know if anyone knows the Advantage of Booking a  new cruise onboard rather than just getting a Future Cruise Credit.  I read somewhere it says you get Double On Board Credit if booked onboard?   Is that different than the credit you get with the FCC?

 

 

[TGCRUISEO]

1 hour ago, TGCRUISEOMAHA said:

Hello,

 

Was wanting to know if anyone knows the Advantage of Booking a  new cruise onboard rather than just getting a Future Cruise Credit.  I read somewhere it says you get Double On Board Credit if booked onboard?   Is that different than the credit you get with the FCC?

 

 

I meant FCD Future Cruise Deposit

[robotpony]

When we sailed in November booking onboard could net you up to $500 non-refundable OBC or $250 FCD on a sliding scale depending on the selected room type and duration, with a deposit of only $100. The cruise consultants also were able show us some new cruises that were not on the website yet and some that were not widely known by most TAs.

 

There was also an EXC talk about some of the more interesting cruises where we learned about the Voyage of the Vikings and the Mexican Rivera Eclipse cruises. We booked the Voyage of the Vikings for and the Rivera Eclipse cruises after watching that talk!

 

I'm not sure if these deals change over time, but I do remember the future cruise desk being very busy and we booked an appointment on our first day to make sure we were able to get a time.

[Crew News]

10 hours ago, TGCRUISEOMAHA said:

Hello,

 

Was wanting to know if anyone knows the Advantage of Booking a  new cruise onboard rather than just getting a Future Cruise Credit.  I read somewhere it says you get Double On Board Credit if booked onboard?   Is that different than the credit you get with the FCC?

 

There is no difference in the amount of onboard credit (OBC) earned by booking while onboard your cruise ship or just booking with a purchased future cruise deposit (FCD) within 60 days of returning from your cruise.

 

Booking at home allows you to take your time researching cruises.  You will save the cruise time spent waiting for, and then working with, the onboard consultant as they search cruises for you.

[TGCRUISEO]

Can you apply a FCD to a booking you already have made then

[yerdua]

3 hours ago, TGCRUISEOMAHA said:

Can you apply a FCD to a booking you already have made then

Yes. You'll get whatever obc is associated with that fcd for your previously booked cruise, assuming you're not beyond final payment. 

[Colorado Klutch]

14 hours ago, Crew News said:

There is no difference in the amount of onboard credit (OBC) earned by booking while onboard your cruise ship or just booking with a purchased future cruise deposit (FCD) within 60 days of returning from your cruise.

 

Booking at home allows you to take your time researching cruises.  You will save the cruise time spent waiting for, and then working with, the onboard consultant as they search cruises for you.

 

Does the HAL web site automatically "know" if you're within the 60 days of returning from a previous cruise? Or must one call HAL and explain?

[Crew News]

7 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

Does the HAL web site automatically "know" if you're within the 60 days of returning from a previous cruise? Or must one call HAL and explain?

I cannot answer your first question.  Within days of your returning from a cruise, HAL will send you an email with the  60 days bonus OBC notice.  There will also be a number to contact to redeem the bonus (it has always been my HAL personal cruise consultant (PCC)).  Approximately 30 days later, you will receive another notice about the bonus.

 

When I contact my HAL PCC to book within that 60 day limit, I reminder her that early return ZPM? code applies as well as applying my military/educator/first responder OBC.

[badtwin]

2 hours ago, Crew News said:

I cannot answer your first question.  Within days of your returning from a cruise, HAL will send you an email with the  60 days bonus OBC notice.  There will also be a number to contact to redeem the bonus (it has always been my HAL personal cruise consultant (PCC)).  Approximately 30 days later, you will receive another notice about the bonus.

 

When I contact my HAL PCC to book within that 60 day limit, I reminder her that early return ZPM? code applies as well as applying my military/educator/first responder OBC.

Tried the HAL site but it is not easy to search or understand. Please help someone who is just learning about the on board credit options and driving her TA crazy.

 

1.  What is FCD, how do you get it and what are pros and cons. Is it mostly ability to shop and think in comfort of own home while getting same OBC you would get booking onboard (assuming book in 60 days).

 

2.  Are there advantages to booking on board?  We have eye on a cruise in the fall and cruise in two weeks. Should we wait to book and if so why?

[Crew News]

38 minutes ago, badtwin said:

Tried the HAL site but it is not easy to search or understand. Please help someone who is just learning about the on board credit options and driving her TA crazy.

 

1.  What is FCD, how do you get it and what are pros and cons. Is it mostly ability to shop and think in comfort of own home while getting same OBC you would get booking onboard (assuming book in 60 days).

 

2.  Are there advantages to booking on board?  We have eye on a cruise in the fall and cruise in two weeks. Should we wait to book and if so why?

1.  A typical $100 FCD can only be purchased onboard and allows it to be used as the only deposit for one person to cruise.  Using an FCD saves hundreds of dollars on the required deposit required for new bookings.   Using an FCD also accrues onboard credit (OBC) for the cruise booked.  If booking within 60 days of a completed cruise, additional OBC is also earned.  Note that each passenger is required to pay a deposit when booking so two passengers would require two FCDs.  The savings for two would be hundreds of dollars.

 

You can purchase any number of FCDs by completing a form found near the Future Cruise Consultants desk (usually near the Front Desk) and dropping the form in the Drop Box near their desk.  i purchase 4 $100 FCDs on each cruise for future use.  Each FCD is fully refundable but must be used within four years of the date of purchase.

 

Pros:  vastly reduced deposits, OBC for using them, allows purchase of reduced non-refundable fares, they are refundable., buy as many as you want and be able to book cruises for the future.

 

Cons:  must be purchased by name to get OBC credit for both.

 

2.  I would wait until you are onboard in two weeks.  Stop by the Future Cruise Consultants display and pick up an FCD purchase form.  Complete the form for at least two #100 FCDs (by name) to cover your fall cruise.  The cost will be charged to the credit card on file with HAL.  You will receive a receipt while onboard and your FCDs will be posted to your profile on the HAL website.

 

You can book while onboard if you want to sacrifice your cruising time.

 

Using FCDs means that you can book a cruise for two with the much cheaper non-refundable fare and potentially lose your FCD if you cancel. 

 

When you get home, and within 60 days, book your fall cruise by using the two purchased FCDs.  Your booking will show the accumulated OBC credit for early booking and OBC for using FCDs.  The amount of OBC depends on the length of the cruise.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited February 7, 2023 by Crew News

[badtwin]

Yes. Helps a lot. Thanks

[YXU AC*SE]

Additional con -- the FCD must be used in the currency in which is purchased -- not always a bad thing, but if you wish to arbitrage exchange rates based on HAL book price versus floating conversion / market price you could potentially be upside down. If that happens, take advantage of the four-year shelf-life of a FCD.   

 

Generally, I find booking on board to be of no advantage (pricing or otherwise) ever, unless you are dead-set on securing a particular cabin

 

Scott. 

Edited February 7, 2023 by YXU AC*SE

[REOVA]

Also there may be exclusions on which cruises the FCD can be used for so make sure you know if interested in those cruises. 

[badtwin]

Just wanted to thank Crew News and others who contribute to these boards.  We booked our fall cruise while on board during a sea day.  Didn't get extra onboard credit for booking onboard but got a decent amount and only paid the $100 deposit.  Also bought two FCD for another cruise.

 

We got a fireman's credit for DHt that I learned about on these boards.  And after learning about the teacher credit, I applied when we got home and it looks like we got that too 

 

Also learned about shareholder credit in time for last cruise and assuming the shareholder credit is renewed, we should get that for next cruise. 

 

Reading these boards has been worth several hundred dollars in two cruises. Thank you

[MAVIP]

On 2/7/2023 at 3:43 AM, REOVA said:

Also there may be exclusions on which cruises the FCD can be used for so make sure you know if interested in those cruises. 

Cannot be used for World Cruises or Grand Voyages

[Iamthesea]

2 hours ago, badtwin said:

Just wanted to thank Crew News and others who contribute to these boards.  We booked our fall cruise while on board during a sea day.  Didn't get extra onboard credit for booking onboard but got a decent amount and only paid the $100 deposit.  Also bought two FCD for another cruise.

 

We got a fireman's credit for DH that I learned about on these boards.  And after learning about the teacher credit, I applied when we got home and it looks like we got that too. 

 

 

When you booked, did you pay only a $100 deposit, or a $200 deposit ($100pp?)

 

What type of credit do teachers get?

[badtwin]

2 minutes ago, Iamthesea said:

When you booked, did you pay only a $100 deposit, or a $200 deposit ($100pp?)

 

What type of credit do teachers get?

Sorry. It was $100 pp or $200.  And teachers get same as firefighters and first responders.  Had to qualify at or near booking- couldn't get retroactive credit on firefighter for most recent cruise - and I don't know if credit applies to all cruises.

[CNSJ]

On 2/6/2023 at 4:13 PM, Crew News said:

I cannot answer your first question.  Within days of your returning from a cruise, HAL will send you an email with the  60 days bonus OBC notice.  There will also be a number to contact to redeem the bonus (it has always been my HAL personal cruise consultant (PCC)).  Approximately 30 days later, you will receive another notice about the bonus.

 

When I contact my HAL PCC to book within that 60 day limit, I reminder her that early return ZPM? code applies as well as applying my military/educator/first responder OBC.

Thanks for the tip with respect to 60 days post cruise.

 

 

[Iamthesea]

5 hours ago, badtwin said:

Sorry. It was $100 pp or $200.  And teachers get same as firefighters and first responders.  Had to qualify at or near booking- couldn't get retroactive credit on firefighter for most recent cruise - and I don't know if credit applies to all cruises.

Thank you for the confirmation.  

 

I do not know what kind of discount is given for firefighters and first responders.  I had heard about the discount, just not the amount and never heard about teachers getting one.

[AFNavigator]

7 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Thank you for the confirmation.  

 

I do not know what kind of discount is given for firefighters and first responders.  I had heard about the discount, just not the amount and never heard about teachers getting one.

These are $100 of OBC.

 

Military, Healthcare, First Responder, Teacher and Educator Cruise Offer

Thank you for your dedication and service. Holland America Line offers military personnel (active, retired or veteran), healthcare workers, first responders, teachers and educators $100 onboard credit per stateroom

[five.]

Can you stack FCD and shareholder's OBC? I know not all fares work with the shareholder's OBC.

[Iamthesea]

Good to know!  My daughter is a teacher.  I will pass along to her.

[DaveOKC]

36 minutes ago, five. said:

Can you stack FCD and shareholder's OBC? I know not all fares work with the shareholder's OBC.

Yes - I do it frequently.  Only time I had an issue was when on a free cabin casino offer.  I was able to use my FCD but not my shareholder credit.

 

[AFNavigator]

9 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Good to know!  My daughter is a teacher.  I will pass along to her.

I've heard they changed these programs' application cutoff to something like within 24 hours of booking a cruise.  Just something to be aware of before getting ready to book a cruise...it's a very tight time window.

[badtwin]

50 minutes ago, AFNavigator said:

I've heard they changed these programs' application cutoff to something like within 24 hours of booking a cruise.  Just something to be aware of before getting ready to book a cruise...it's a very tight time window.

Definitely an issue.  If thinking of booking, I would do the form and be qualified first. Forms were easy but you need to be able to send required documentation too.  We could not get firefighter OBC  applied retroactively, even with TA's help.  The teacher application went in within a few days of booking and that worked, but not sure how big a window you have.