Changes to Shareholder Benefits for bookings made after 1 June 2023

[Wineaux007]

I know this may be hard to read, but I can't figure out how to blow it up.  Bottom line from what I am reading changes made for bookings made after 1 June 2023.  Onboard credit may not be used for onboard service charges or pre-purchased activities.  I suppose this means that shareholder OBC can no longer be used for gratuities, and you can no longer use it for purchases in the cruise planner such as internet, drink packages, excursions, and the like.  

 

[firefly333]

Until you cant use it for pre purchased planner items why worry about wording?

 

It's been written confusing forever. I've booked new cruises si ce ju e and can use my obc for planner items.

[Wineaux007]

7 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Until you cant use it for pre purchased planner items why worry about wording?

 

It's been written confusing forever. I've booked new cruises si ce ju e and can use my obc for planner items.

Well, it says cruises booked after 1 June, you can't use it.  All my cruises with either Royal or Celebrity were booked prior to 1 June 2023, so I can use it for pre-purchase in cruise planner. 

 

I wonder if anyone booked a cruise after 1 June 2023 is having issues pre-purchasing in the cruise planner using Shareholder OBC?  As in the past, I've always gotten a pop-up saying the OBC (which happened to be shareholder) was available to use.  I wonder if this is no longer the case?

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, Wineaux007 said:

Well, it says cruises booked after 1 June, you can't use it.  All my cruises with either Royal or Celebrity were booked prior to 1 June 2023, so I can use it for pre-purchase in cruise planner. 

 

I wonder if anyone booked a cruise after 1 June 2023 is having issues pre-purchasing in the cruise planner using Shareholder OBC?  As in the past, I've always gotten a pop-up saying the OBC (which happened to be shareholder) was available to use.  I wonder if this is no longer the case?

I have lots of clients who have added it for bookings after June 1 and it shows up in the cruise planner.  Poorly written outdated wording. 

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, Wineaux007 said:

I suppose this means that shareholder OBC can no longer be used for gratuities, and you can no longer use it for purchases in the cruise planner such as internet, drink packages, excursions, and the like

Even if that was the case, until RCI changes the rules, you can cash it out at the casino via the slot machine - financially, there's no diff.

[Another_Critic]

51 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I have lots of clients who have added it for bookings after June 1 and it shows up in the cruise planner.  Poorly written outdated wording. 

✋

[little britain]

I may be wrong but I seem to recall that it always said the shareholder obc couldn’t be used for gratuities.. but we always have ? 

Edited August 16, 2023 by little britain

[Another_Critic]

6 minutes ago, little britain said:

I may be wrong but I seem to recall that it always said the shareholder obc couldn’t be used for gratuities.. but we always have ? 

Not sure about always, but it has said that for a long time.

 

They did not that long ago add the ability to use OBC (including shareholder) for cruise planner purchases.

 

Edited August 16, 2023 by Another_Critic

[Wineaux007]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Even if that was the case, until RCI changes the rules, you can cash it out at the casino via the slot machine - financially, there's no diff.

True, but I've always used shareholder OBC to purchase internet/excursions at pre-cruise/sale prices.  If this rule takes effect, I would have to use my CC to purchase sale items in advance.

[firefly333]

1 minute ago, Wineaux007 said:

True, but I've always used shareholder OBC to purchase internet/excursions at pre-cruise/sale prices.  If this rule takes effect, I would have to use my CC to purchase sale items in advance.

There is no new rule to take effect. Its said this as long as most of us have cruised rcl. 

 

Also I posted about 3rd or 4th and answered your question, it just wasnt the answer you wanted so you asked again. Yes I've booked recently and yes I have asked for stock obc since june 1st of this year and I've also used some of it and had no issues. 

 

In this group if something had changed way back june 1st it would have been discussed and re discussed. It's not new. .. in fact I put in for at least 10 bookings for obc. Got them all back as usual. Earliest of the 10 new ones with stock obc applied is may 6 2024. I bought a meal. Acted the same. Looks the same. If it was going to be treated different than obc pre june 1st, wouldnt it have to be kept somewhere different, not combined with older obc? 

 

I know you seem to keep asking but the answer has been the same, this isnt new language. Stock obc is not being treated differently since june 1st from stock obc. 

[smokeybandit]

This is not new. They just changed the date and added some other verbiage. The line about Onboard credit may not be used for onboard service charges or pre-purchased activities.  has not changed since at least 2019.

 

Here's the 2019 version:

 

Shareholder benefit offer applies to bookings made on or after June 1, 2019. Onboard credit is applied on a per stateroom basis; double occupancy, one shareholder credit per stateroom, and one credit per shareholder per sailing. If you are requesting shareholder onboard credit for two or more separate staterooms and shares are held jointly, a minimum of 100 shares per stateroom booked must be held. Single guests paying 200% of applicable fare receive full onboard credit value. Onboard credit may not be used for onboard service charges or pre-purchased activities. Any unused credit after the final night of the sailing shall be forfeited and is not redeemable for cash. Benefit is non-transferable and not available to employees, agents of Royal Caribbean Group or its subsidiaries and affiliates, travel agents and tour operators. Benefit is not combinable with interline rates, travel agent rates, and employee friends and family rates. Benefit cannot be redeemed for chartered sailings or complimentary sailings. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional and apply to all guests. The shareholder must own the Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) stock at time of sailing. Onboard credit is calculated in US dollars except on sailings where the onboard currency used is a foreign currency (in which case the onboard credit will be converted at a currency exchange rate determined by the cruise line). Onboard credit amount is credited to shareholder’s stateroom folio at time of sailing. Other terms and conditions may apply. Prices and offers are subject to availability and change without notice, capacity controlled, and may be withdrawn at any time. Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara reserve the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice.

 

 

[Wineaux007]

58 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

 

I know you seem to keep asking but the answer has been the same, this isnt new language. Stock obc is not being treated differently since june 1st from stock obc. 

It's not that it is being treated differently since June 1st -- I have OBC for four 2024 sailings and use for whatever.  The issue I was asking about was CRUISES BOOKED AFTER JUNE 1ST!!! not BEFORE JUNE 1ST.  

 

So, how many cruises have YOU booked AFTER June 1st?  If you did, I'm sure you applied and received shareholder OBC.  

 

P.S.  I went back and read all the posts.  You never answered the question, but Ourusualbeach did.

[karena1]

I never use it for buying sguff  in the cruise planner anyway.  We prepay our tips, and buy the package once on the ship since we get 40% off for being Pinnacle and online the bev pkg never goes down that much.  Since we book on the ship, the SH OBC is already on our acct and it is applied against that OBC.  

 

If that changes, will just cash it out in the casino.  

[cruisegirl1]

I wouldn't mind if the on-board IT account program  is so exacting that it can distinguish which charges can be applied to OBC and which can't.   That might clear up some of the redundant or incorrect charges as well. 

 

That part about not using it for gratuities has been around for a while, but has not been implemented.  

 

 M

[Another_Critic]

4 hours ago, Wineaux007 said:

So, how many cruises have YOU booked AFTER June 1st?  If you did, I'm sure you applied and received shareholder OBC.  

 

P.S.  I went back and read all the posts.  You never answered the question, but Ourusualbeach did.

I ✋ (raised my hand) to Ourusualbeach's post indicating that I am one that booked after June 1 and have shareholder OBC available on my cruise planner to spend.

 

P.S.  Why are you so insistent that this is a new policy?  Have you actually experienced this yourself or seen cases of this happening?  Until it actually happens, it's nothing to get upset about.

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by Another_Critic

[Wineaux007]

9 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

I ✋ (raised my hand) to Ourusualbeach's post indicating that I am one that booked after June 1 and have shareholder OBC available on my cruise planner to spend.

 

P.S.  Why are you so insistent that this is a new policy?  Have you actually experienced this yourself or seen cases of this happening?  Until it actually happens, it's nothing to get upset about.

 

Just asking since I haven't booked any new cruises after 1 June.  I have cruises booked into 2024, but booked them prior to 1 June.  If there are no changes, then why come out with this notice/memo is all I'm asking?  

 

 

[Biker19]

23 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

If there are no changes, then why come out with this notice/memo is all I'm asking?  

Don't try to figure the "why" of RCI, especially their IT - just leads to frustration.

Edited August 17, 2023 by Biker19

[Another_Critic]

53 minutes ago, Wineaux007 said:

If there are no changes, then why come out with this notice/memo is all I'm asking?  

They added info regarding the World Cruise.

[smokeybandit]

2 hours ago, Wineaux007 said:

If there are no changes, then why come out with this notice/memo is all I'm asking?  

It did change. Just not for the reasons the OP thought they did.

[little britain]

1 hour ago, Another_Critic said:

They added info regarding the World Cruise.

Isn’t it new that it can be redeemed on Silverseas too? 

[Another_Critic]

2 hours ago, little britain said:

Isn’t it new that it can be redeemed on Silverseas too? 

Yes, but not sure when that was added.

[goodshape]

I have cruises that were purchased back in Jan 2023. 

Can I ask for this benefit? The same benefit was available back then.

Has anyone received the shareholder OBC for cruises BOOKED before Jun 1, 2023 but asked for the benefit AFTER Jun 1, 2023. 

[Tree_skier]

5 minutes ago, goodshape said:

I have cruises that were purchased back in Jan 2023. 

Can I ask for this benefit? The same benefit was available back then.

Has anyone received the shareholder OBC for cruises BOOKED before Jun 1, 2023 but asked for the benefit AFTER Jun 1, 2023. 

Yes, you can ask for OBC for any cruise that is yet to be taken no matter when you booked it and when you purchased the stock.  All they ask for is the booking number and a "current" brokerage statement.

 

Request you share holder benefit here.  It's easy...

 

https://rcg.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=286lFZCRCioECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D

[firefly333]

I have 3 cruises booked in 2025. I think 2 of them I already got obc applied. The 4 day utopia was added later and doesnt have it yet for feb 2025. Doesnt matter how far out you can apply now for obc.

[Kbonner]

2 weeks ago , I booked 3 cruises dating even into Nov 2024. OBC requested, 2 days later applied!