Future Cruise Certificate - please explain??

[numbersgirl]

Hi,

 

On my last cruise in December on Royal Caribbean I purchased a FCC and was led to believe that at the time of booking my next cruise this would be my deposit (as opposed to $400 deposit - 14night cruise). I understood that anyone else in my cabin pays $100 at time of booking

 

Forward to yesterday when I attended a cruise expo ( no cheaper btw) and travel agent said that with FCC we still pay full deposit?

 

This to me makes no sense as I then can't see benefit of FCC (other than maybe obc).

 

Can someone please clarify for me...

Edited January 20, 2014 by numbersgirl
Add info

[The_Big_M]

One of the benefits of the FCC is the reduced deposit.

 

However, if there are other promos sometimes you can't use all those benefits. In general though the FCC will give you the already paid amount as the deposit.

[johndon]

Numbersgirl

 

I have found that most TAs are reluctant to accept the $100 deposit as indicated in the Future Cruise letters. I have only had FCLs from Princess and in the two instances when I have booked a future cruise with two different TAs the deposits asked for have been far in excess of the $100.

When I questioned this with one TA I was told that they could not accept the $100 deposit and cover all of their added on extras such as return air fares, bus transfers and home pickup with such a low deposit. They condescended by asking for what they claimed was a reduced deposit of $400 from what they normally asked for.

I think you would probably have to book direct with the cruise company to obtain the $100 deposit.

I have recently booked a 2014 Xmas with Princess and had Future Cruise letters for my wife and I with the $100 deposit and some OBC which expired on the 1st December 2014 and the letter is good for time of sailing for two years. Before making a booking with my TA I phoned Princess about the letters expiring before the sailing date and there was no problem with having an extension added on to the the expiry date. I then booked the cruise with my TA and explained to them that I had Future Cruise letters with the $100 deposit but because the extension to the letters had not come through from Princess to the TA on my file they would not honor the $100 deposit or the OBC from Princess.

However, 2 weeks later, the Letters extension did show up on their system and I received an e mail advising me of this but this was after I had paid a $400 deposit. They just adjusted the final payment amount with the $100 and the OBC from Princess showing on my statement.

This all seems rather pedantic and perhaps it is because the final bottom line evens out. It is just that if you cannot afford the lower deposit amount at the time of booking then it could be a bit inconvenient at that time.

You really have to go through a TA if you want two lots of OBC, one from Princess and the other from the TA if they offer any.

The other point is that most TAs charge a commission for using a credit card but there are a few out there that do not and it worth shopping around as the commission on the credit card could amount to $300 to $400.

Hope this info helps

 

John

[mr walker]

OP, don't assume that all TA's know what they are talking about or are your only option :D

 

We bought 3 FCC's on our recent Voyager cruise and used all 3 to book our upcoming cruises on Rhapsody. For each cruise, the FCC was FULL deposit for me and we had to pay 3 x $100 deposits for DW. This was done thru a local bricks & mortar TA - we had to fill forms to assign the FCC's to our chosen TA.

We have also received the OBC from RC for each of the cruises - this is per cabin, not per person and is based on the length of cruise and is in US$ (the on-board currency).

 

On johndon's points re TA requesting additional deposits for additional bookings over & above the actual cruises, I can understand that, but that doesn't change the rules for use of FCC's.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

The bottom line is that TA's do not like accepting the FCL

if the deposit does not cover their commission.:eek:

 

 

[gaechann]

The bottom line is that TA's do not like accepting the FCL

if the deposit does not cover their commission.:eek:

 

 

 

SOME TA's perhaps! I've not encountered any that refused to accept the FCC. All I had to do was sign a form to transfer the booking from Royal Caribbean over to the Travel Agent.

 

NEVER had one tell me that they required additional deposit! :eek:

 

Having said that though, I've found even booking directly through the cruise line using the FCC can be a bit of a challenge but..... knowing what I now know about booking future cruises, (which is often a WHOLE lot more than the Customer Service Officer on the other end of the phone) I just insist that it can be done as I've done it many times before and YES I can retain my On-board credit even if I transfer the original booking later on to another date and/or ship! Notice the word is TRANSFER - NOT cancel then rebook! :D

 

I really believe that LOTS of TA's, especially at Travel Shows aren't aware of all the Terms & Conditions of each cruise line. I heard one say recently that NO alcohol is allowed on board Royal Caribbean ships - well yes, up to 2 bottles of wine per cabin.

 

Also that EACH person in the cabin has to purchase the same drink package. Well, NOT ANY MORE with Royal Caribbean. Just one person can purchase, the other may elect not to.

 

Etc. etc. etc. with the mis-information! Ask you questions here on Cruise Critic and you'll find that someone will know the answers! :D

 

Gae

[cassamanda]

Hi,

 

On my last cruise in December on Royal Caribbean I purchased a FCC and was led to believe that at the time of booking my next cruise this would be my deposit (as opposed to $400 deposit - 14night cruise). I understood that anyone else in my cabin pays $100 at time of booking

 

Forward to yesterday when I attended a cruise expo ( no cheaper btw) and travel agent said that with FCC we still pay full deposit?

 

This to me makes no sense as I then can't see benefit of FCC (other than maybe obc).

 

Can someone please clarify for me...

 

You are absolutely correct and the TA told you a lot of BS. Unfortunately most Australian TA's are not cruise specialists.

 

When you go to assign your next cruise to your on board booking, give RCCL a call and do it over the phone rather than online. The website may still show a minimum payment of $800 is required when you go to make an instalment online. Once again just call Royal to make the instalment.

 

To be picky, an on board booking on Royal is actually called a NCC (Next Cruise Certificate) and an FCC is what you get as compensation for a cruise gone wrong, although we all generally refer to them as one and the same:confused: I was told this by a Rep who thought I was trying to transfer a FCC, which is not the same.

[gaechann]

You are absolutely correct and the TA told you a lot of BS. Unfortunately most Australian TA's are not cruise specialists.

 

When you go to assign your next cruise to your on board booking, give RCCL a call and do it over the phone rather than online. The website may still show a minimum payment of $800 is required when you go to make an instalment online. Once again just call Royal to make the instalment.

 

To be picky, an on board booking on Royal is actually called a NCC (Next Cruise Certificate) and an FCC is what you get as compensation for a cruise gone wrong, although we all generally refer to them as one and the same:confused: I was told this by a Rep who thought I was trying to transfer a FCC, which is not the same.

 

Yes, I usually say that it's the Certificate that I purchased for $100 on-board my last cruise!

[fishtaco]

You are absolutely correct and the TA told you a lot of BS. Unfortunately most Australian TA's are not cruise specialists.

 

When you go to assign your next cruise to your on board booking, give RCCL a call and do it over the phone rather than online. The website may still show a minimum payment of $800 is required when you go to make an instalment online. Once again just call Royal to make the instalment.

 

To be picky, an on board booking on Royal is actually called a NCC (Next Cruise Certificate) and an FCC is what you get as compensation for a cruise gone wrong, although we all generally refer to them as one and the same:confused: I was told this by a Rep who thought I was trying to transfer a FCC, which is not the same.

 

 

Problem is a next cruise is a future cruise so there is the confusion.:)

 

On this aussie site many call an NCC a FCC because not many sailings from here have led to a cancellation or cruise disruption.

 

On the RCI site they get very confused when you say FCC and mean NCC:D

 

I dont see how it is a Next Cruise certificate? My next cruise was booked before I even used my NCC so really its a FCC:confused:

[cassamanda]

Problem is a next cruise is a future cruise so there is the confusion.:)

 

On this aussie site many call an NCC a FCC because not many sailings from here have led to a cancellation or cruise disruption.

 

On the RCI site they get very confused when you say FCC and mean NCC:D

 

I dont see how it is a Next Cruise certificate? My next cruise was booked before I even used my NCC so really its a FCC:confused:

 

Now I really am confused. Must be the age:eek:

Oh well I'll just book my next cruise on a future cruise :rolleyes:

[Dizziedi]

Problem is a next cruise is a future cruise so there is the confusion.:)

 

On this aussie site many call an NCC a FCC because not many sailings from here have led to a cancellation or cruise disruption.

 

On the RCI site they get very confused when you say FCC and mean NCC:D

 

I dont see how it is a Next Cruise certificate? My next cruise was booked before I even used my NCC so really its a FCC:confused:

 

Your "NextCruise Confirmation" is for a cruise that you have not as yet booked.

 

I am sitting on a couple at the moment, waiting for the new Itineraries to come out and when I do, I will ring RCI and use the Certificate to book. $100 is paid (for me:) and then $100 per person thereafter. You will also get OBC in accordance with the number of days of the cruise you choose.

 

I think they are excellent as we always seem to have thousands of dollars tied up in deposits.

 

If your TA won't take your booking - time for a new TA.

 

Cheers

Di

[numbersgirl]

The travel agent rang today and lo and behold she now understands NCC's.

 

Waiting on my quote but I'm pretty sure it's no cheaper than what I've seen online with other companies.

 

If I use my NCC for this cruise can I also use a savings certificate?

[cassamanda]

The travel agent rang today and lo and behold she now understands NCC's.

 

Waiting on my quote but I'm pretty sure it's no cheaper than what I've seen online with other companies.

 

If I use my NCC for this cruise can I also use a savings certificate?

 

You can use your NCC with either OBC + Balcony/Suite discount or OBC + Savings Certificate not both. When the savings certificate comes out see which way gives you the best discount then ring RCCL to apply the discount. Usually for the lower level C&A levels the savings certificate is better.

Hugh

[fishtaco]

Your "NextCruise Confirmation" is for a cruise that you have not as yet booked.

 

I am sitting on a couple at the moment, waiting for the new Itineraries to come out and when I do, I will ring RCI and use the Certificate to book. $100 is paid (for me:) and then $100 per person thereafter. You will also get OBC in accordance with the number of days of the cruise you choose.

 

I think they are excellent as we always seem to have thousands of dollars tied up in deposits.

 

If your TA won't take your booking - time for a new TA.

 

Cheers

Di

 

 

Yes I know i was just being a smart Ar##:)

 

I used one a few weeks ago;)

[Dizziedi]

Yes I know i was just being a smart Ar##:)

 

I used one a few weeks ago;)

 

Figured that;)

 

Cheers

Di