NextCruise Certificates

[thecoop]

Wife and I got a separate certificate when we were on a cruise 3 years ago. We paid $100 each for them. I now understand that you can only use one per room. Can we give one to a friend to use on same cruise or can we book two rooms, with wife and I in one and Sister and her hubby in another and use both? Just trying to figure out how to do this.

 

Second question, is this considered our deposit for the trip until final payment is due? How far from the date of the cruise is the final payment due?

 

We originally did this thru a travel agent so I know we have to go thru the travel agent to use these, I am assuming.

 

We are only going on a 5 day Bermuda cruise which should result in a $50 per room onboard credit when using this certificate, I hope.

 

Thanks if you can answer all these questions. We are getting anxious already and have not even booked yet.

 

Mark

[bbrad8]

Mark: Unfortunately, there is not an "all-inclusive" answer here. Some of your question is answered below. However, some of the 'correct answer' to those certificates is dependent upon exactly when you booked those certificates. That is, is it pre or post 1/1/09?

 

As for using both of the certificates, the only way to do that will be IF you book your wife in one cabin and you in another cabin (w/ each of your friends split up between the cabins w/ you & your wife). You can NOT transfer a certificate to your friends w/ their names being listed solely on that cabin (hope that makes sense).

 

As for the deposit, those certificates when 'converted' require you to pay the 'remaining deposit' upon 'conversion' or assignment of a specific cruise. Thus you will owe the remaining applicable deposits pp. It sounds like you only have $100/certificate on deposit currently.

 

I do believe $50/cabin is the OBC available for a 5 day cruise. However depending on your purchase date, there "may" be further benefits available to you. Your purchase date is VERY important to know!!!

 

IF you are using this certificate (or both certificates) you will need to use the TA listed. IF you do not wish to use them, you could ask them to "release" the certificates, but that is up to the TA/agency.......

 

Bruce

[39august]

Five night cruise now gives only $25 OBC. Used to be $50. If you book with each of you in a different cabin to use the certificates, you can switch with the others after boarding. Just go to Guest Relations to get another card for each cabin.

[bbrad8]

Five night cruise now gives only $25 OBC. Used to be $50. If you book with each of you in a different cabin to use the certificates, you can switch with the others after boarding. Just go to Guest Relations to get another card for each cabin.

 

While speaking for the current rules, $25 in fact the correct OBC for a 5 night cruise. However, OP has Next Cruise certificates from approximately 3 years ago, so the old rules will apply to here. OP will need to make sure that the TA knows that these certificates (and thus the associated booking) qualify under the 'old rules' and OBCs. ;)

 

Bruce

[denamo]

Wife and I got a separate certificate when we were on a cruise 3 years ago. We paid $100 each for them. I now understand that you can only use one per room. Can we give one to a friend to use on same cruise or can we book two rooms, with wife and I in one and Sister and her hubby in another and use both? Just trying to figure out how to do this.

 

We just booked (last week) one room using our Nextcruise certificate. Both husband and I paid the $100. We did have only one Nextcruise booking number, so maybe that is the difference. We acquired our Nextcruise certificate on our recent Christmas cruise.

 

Second question, is this considered our deposit for the trip until final payment is due? How far from the date of the cruise is the final payment due?

 

We did not have to pay any other deposit. Final deposit depends on number of cruise days and if it is a holiday cruise.

 

We originally did this thru a travel agent so I know we have to go thru the travel agent to use these, I am assuming.

 

If you would rather book directly with Royal Caribbean, you can request the reservation be released to you. If you need help in how to accomplish this you can contact Crown and Anchor. They can help you. I considered doing this, but decided not to. If we get another NextCruise certificate on our upcoming cruise, I think I will ask them not to turn it over to the agency we've been using. They told me at RCCL when I called, to tell the agent on board before we started the process. Once it's done, there is no turning back and you have to go through the release process.

We are only going on a 5 day Bermuda cruise which should result in a $50 per room onboard credit when using this certificate, I hope.

 

Thanks if you can answer all these questions. We are getting anxious already and have not even booked yet.

 

 

Mark

 

Hope what I've been able to provide is helpful.

[critterchick]

As I recall, even the old Next Cruise certificates had "bring a friend" cards that allowed you to book two more cabins as long as they booked within 30 days of your booking (not your purchase of the certificates). Your companions would get the same OBC that you do.

 

We refer to those pre-2009 NC certificates as "golden," since they allow combinability of onboard booking credit, status (Platinum/Diamond) balcony discount and shareholder credits. Also, you are eligible to get any price reductions up to 72 hours of departure.

 

As for how much you have to deposit, I don't know what they'll require - we switched a "golden" reservation on a 3-night cruise to a 13-nighter and were not required to make the additional deposit, so perhaps they just have that one rule in place.

 

You will need to ask your TA to release the reservation if you wish to book directly or with another agency. You might first inquire whether or not the agency is willing to offer you any OBC, though - that might be worth keeping the booking with the agency. Just a thought...

 

Good luck, and please let us know the outcome.

[thecoop]

Thanks for the answers. These are dated April of 2008.

[thecoop]

Five night cruise now gives only $25 OBC. Used to be $50. If you book with each of you in a different cabin to use the certificates, you can switch with the others after boarding. Just go to Guest Relations to get another card for each cabin.

 

Why couldn't we just switch room cards? Is that because it has our name on it or has our picture on it? Just curious.

[thecoop]

As I recall, even the old Next Cruise certificates had "bring a friend" cards that allowed you to book two more cabins as long as they booked within 30 days of your booking (not your purchase of the certificates). Your companions would get the same OBC that you do.

 

We refer to those pre-2009 NC certificates as "golden," since they allow combinability of onboard booking credit, status (Platinum/Diamond) balcony discount and shareholder credits. Also, you are eligible to get any price reductions up to 72 hours of departure.

 

As for how much you have to deposit, I don't know what they'll require - we switched a "golden" reservation on a 3-night cruise to a 13-nighter and were not required to make the additional deposit, so perhaps they just have that one rule in place.

 

You will need to ask your TA to release the reservation if you wish to book directly or with another agency. You might first inquire whether or not the agency is willing to offer you any OBC, though - that might be worth keeping the booking with the agency. Just a thought...

 

Good luck, and please let us know the outcome.

 

Ours does not have any bring a friend cards with them so I assume we did not get them at that time.

 

Thanks for the info.

[bbrad8]

Thanks for the answers. These are dated April of 2008.

 

Mark: As Jean already said, you possess "golden" certificates!!! :D These allow several benefits to you that have since been taken away by RCI. I will copy exactly what she has already posted, as this is dead on and VERY important from your standpoint!!! "We refer to those pre-2009 NC certificates as "golden," since they allow combinability of onboard booking credit, status (Platinum/Diamond) balcony discount and shareholder credits. Also, you are eligible to get any price reductions up to 72 hours of departure." ;)

 

As for simply 'switching room cards', you could do that, BUT that presents a LOT of potential issues/problems. Your safest option would be to go to guest services once onboard and get the correct cards that are assigned to the correct cabins (as well as getting the correct accounts associated w/ the correct spouses).

 

Bruce

[Clarea]

Why couldn't we just switch room cards? Is that because it has our name on it or has our picture on it? Just curious.

Your SeaPass cards have your name on them, and act as a credit card for all charges (except Casino) aboard the ship. The cards are also tied into your photo stored in the ship's database. Better just to go to Guest Relations and get extra room keys.

[thecoop]

Mark: As Jean already said, you possess "golden" certificates!!! :D These allow several benefits to you that have since been taken away by RCI. I will copy exactly what she has already posted, as this is dead on and VERY important from your standpoint!!! "We refer to those pre-2009 NC certificates as "golden," since they allow combinability of onboard booking credit, status (Platinum/Diamond) balcony discount and shareholder credits. Also, you are eligible to get any price reductions up to 72 hours of departure." ;)

 

As for simply 'switching room cards', you could do that, BUT that presents a LOT of potential issues/problems. Your safest option would be to go to guest services once onboard and get the correct cards that are assigned to the correct cabins (as well as getting the correct accounts associated w/ the correct spouses).

 

Bruce

Wow so better to hang onto one of the certificates since they never expire to use for next cruise, even if it is 10 years from now. I like the eligible for price reductions up to 72 hours of departure. I only have 2 cruises with them thusfar so not Platinum/Diamond.

 

Thanks so much for the info.

[bbrad8]

Wow so better to hang onto one of the certificates since they never expire to use for next cruise, even if it is 10 years from now. I like the eligible for price reductions up to 72 hours of departure. I only have 2 cruises with them thusfar so not Platinum/Diamond.

 

Thanks so much for the info.

 

Honestly wasn't going to go there, but since you did.......I would hold on to the 'extra' certificate and use it on an additional cruise for you and your DW. You are looking at giving up a VERY valuable item in the scheme of things to your friends to use. Remember, the longer the cruise, the bigger the OBC you will receive. ;)

 

Bruce

[thecoop]

Maybe we will wait for that time we take a back to back cruise or something like that. Thanks for the suggestion.