Changes to the Next Cruise Program

[Clarea]

Just gave my friend $200 to get me 2 NCs when he cruises this week..gonna tell him NOT to cash that check:mad:

 

Anyway,Im late to the game........can someone tell me about the part of changing ships/dates/names,whatever and the penalty.

Basically they gutted the open booking. No OBC for 3/4 day cruises at all.

 

OBC for booking a specific cruise is now based on category and length of cruise. Now you have to have a balcony for $100 on a 7 day. Good part is that longer cruises in suites can get up to $400.

 

Terms now say if you book a specific cruise and change "ship and sail date", they can change your OBC to that of the new NCC, which is not much.

[PH8]

Thanks Ellen and Bob........just making sure I have my facts straight...:D:D

 

 

Now,what to do with that $200:p:p

[dprof]

The problem here is that the Loyalty Ambassadors onboard will not be able to handle the amount of clients that want to book, now that the open booking has ben so disadvantaged....Don't see why they would do this, as the deposit amount doesn't change if you are booking specific date or open booking.....and the open booking does not have the incentive to upgrade, like the specific booking does....don't understand the logic

:confused:

[WeatherFx]

Where did you see/find the effective date for the policy change?

 

Does this policy change only apply to the Next Cruise Credit, or does it include the Open Booking also? The flyer only states Next Cruise and is it assumed that it includes Open Booking as the obc was the same for both?

 

I just checked my "Cruise Documents" for next month that were just issued and it still lists the old obc rates for Next Cruise and Open Bookings on the form.

 

Thanks.

[Clarea]

Where did you see/find the effective date for the policy change?

 

Does this policy change only apply to the Next Cruise Credit, or does it include the Open Booking also? The flyer only states Next Cruise and is it assumed that it includes Open Booking as the obc was the same for both?

 

I just checked my "Cruise Documents" for next month that were just issued and it still lists the old obc rates for Next Cruise and Open Bookings on the form.

 

Thanks.

This flyer that Ellen posted covers both booking a specific cruise and the open booking. The open booking is on the second page:

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/NextCruise/14037219_Onboard_NextCruise_Flyer_2015.pdf

Edited March 15, 2014 by clarea

[molly361]

Thanks Ellen and Bob........just making sure I have my facts straight...:D

 

 

Now,what to do with that $200:p:p

 

 

Put down a deposit on a 4 nite cruise:D:p:eek:

[seaofwonder]

I am on navigator. All week the old forms were out. Submitted my form last night and got a confirmation email at 9 PM. It is under the new terms!!! Not thrilled as I am going to have to battle this now.....I book both for the reduced deposit and the OBC, but I booked with the old form.

 

Will try to go down today and see if they are ever empty (usually they are packed).

 

 

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[WeatherFx]

This flyer that Ellen posted covers both booking a specific cruise and the open booking. The open booking is on the second page.

 

Thanks, I over looked that.

 

Any information on where to find the effective date? I read that people are saying today, what am I missing? Sometimes I can't see the forest due to the trees. :confused:

 

Thanks

[PCWalton1]

Another sign RCI overextended themselves building those new ships.

 

Actually it is more a case of RCI not properly analyzing what the previous program would cost them if it was successful. Just a basic business analysis that they once again failed to do. :(

[Clarea]

Just gave my friend $200 to get me 2 NCs when he cruises this week..gonna tell him NOT to cash that check:mad:

 

Anyway,Im late to the game........can someone tell me about the part of changing ships/dates/names,whatever and the penalty.

Your friend can probably book a specific cruise for you, and you can still cancel for a full refund (I think:rolleyes:).

[nelblu]

Well my stockholder credit seems to actually be worth something now

 

But not with a balcony discount.

[Hoopster95]

I really don't like this and can imagine that it will curtail some of our bookings.

 

I don't find this surprising at all:

 

• With the explosion of the number of C&A members, let alone those attaining Diamond level, something had to give. I feel RCL just can't keep up the current perk values unless they increase cruise prices or pull back on perks. The biggest problem IMO is giving away points for nothing and thus diluting the C&A program making Diamond/D+ somewhat 'meaningless' compared to years gone by.
  
• Lots of discussion in previous months on this board regarding perks, and RCL changing those perks to reward those cruisers who actually spend the money. I personally will be achieving D+ on my next sailing in 75% interior cabins over the years, whereas I can only assume many cruisers have paid double that I have sailing in mostly in balconies. I agree that those people should benefit more than me. Looks like RCL has been listening to that.
  
• I have met a few cruisers at the dinner table bragging how they have for example 10 open bookings and they call every week to change cruises, change cabins, move dates... etc. That has to have been a nightmare for RCL to handle. Not everyone does this, but this new policy probably eliminates that issue... too bad it affects those of us who don't do that.
  

 

From a selfish point of view, I am not happy about this as it affects me personally. But then again, if magically the price of some cruises go down $50-$100 on certain sailings then that's great too. We as consumers just won't be able to see that.

[seaofwonder]

Well, Reba says the letter she sent reflects the old amounts. We'll see what happens when I actually book.

 

Note that the old forms are still on the ship.

 

 

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[cruisenfever]

I'm OK with booking specific cruises on board, and I'm encouraged that longer cruises and cruises in suites get more OBC. That's good for many folks. In fact, we have a TA next year that I might be able to cancel and rebook because the OBC will go from $200 to $400. I lucked out with timing because I'll be cruising next week.

 

The big problem for me is the situation we have at this time of year, when there are popular cruises being released and you don't have much time to book before suites are gone. Basically if you're not cruising during this period, we would lose out OBC for those cruises.

 

I guess one solution is to make plans to be cruising from mid February to mid April every year.

I also like the OBC determined by length of cruise and cabin category.

 

What I don't like is that the On-Board Booking Bonus now associated with an Open Booking has now turned into an On-Board Booking Bogus!!:(

 

I do hope that they plan on putting more Sales Associates on each ship or that the current LAs on board "expand" their hours.

Edited March 15, 2014 by cruisenfever

[setsail]

Obc ='s on board spending. For most, we are talking 75.00$. Where else can this be made up with no/very little effort

 

Don't use a Ta, get one, many freely give obc , way more than 75

 

1 less drink a day for 7 days

 

1 less spa treatment

 

Less bingo

 

1 less excursion thru the ship

 

Drink the ships water

 

1 less specialty coffee a day

 

1 less SR

 

If you use SR's the tip is included, no extra

 

Only pay the basic ships tips

 

If you invest, RCI's corp debt pays very well, use the interest any way you see fit. They could even be paying you to cruise;)

 

3/4 less photos, take your own

 

2 less bottles of wine

 

Skip 1 night in the casino

 

No cabaña

 

 

And of course, the comment card should reflect that you spent less onboard to make up for the lost obc.

 

Or, just go some where else to cruise

Edited March 15, 2014 by setsail

[PH8]

 

I do hope that they plan on putting more Sales Associates on each ship or that the current LAs on board "expand" their hours.

Why?? I would think they will have less bookings to deal with now..

[PH8]

Put down a deposit on a 4 nite cruise:D:p:eek:

Yea,I just might..............ON PRINCESS............My true love:)

 

 

Your friend can probably book a specific cruise for you, and you can still cancel for a full refund (I think).

Well,he was gonna book one cruise(my daughter's wedding cruise),but it is only 4 nights,so no sense........the other was just gonna be some random one that i could figure out later..

Edited March 15, 2014 by PH8

[internetwhiz]

Anyone see this. I guess the new rules started yesterday.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=42055902

 

 

 

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[cruisenfever]

Why?? I would think they will have less bookings to deal with now..

The increase in OBC for booking a specific cabin and length of cruise may just be worth it to some people to book while on board now.

Edited March 15, 2014 by cruisenfever

[yogimax]

Please forgive me, but I don't want to read 145 previous posts.

 

I have three Open Booking Certificates that I bought in January.

 

Will they be fulfilled under the old policy or the new policy?

[Clarea]

Please forgive me, but I don't want to read 145 previous posts.

 

I have three Open Booking Certificates that I bought in January.

 

Will they be fulfilled under the old policy or the new policy?

No one really knows yet. In the past, Royal has always honored the terms in place at the time the NCC was purchased. However, they seem awfully eager to annoy their most loyal customers these days, so this would be a good opportunity to add to that list.

[internetwhiz]

No one really knows yet. In the past, Royal has always honored the terms in place at the time the NCC was purchased. However, they seem awfully eager to annoy their most loyal customers these days, so this would be a good opportunity to add to that list.

 

 

Agreed.

 

 

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[molly361]

Please forgive me, but I don't want to read 145 previous posts.

 

I have three Open Booking Certificates that I bought in January.

 

Will they be fulfilled under the old policy or the new policy?

 

 

The rep told me this morning that anything already booked or any open bookings will be honored under the old system.

 

Disclaimer-We all know that just because a rep tells you something it is not necessarily true:rolleyes:

[seaofwonder]

Well, I just got my official one from yesterday and it shows $25-$100. Not happy. Especially since the ship STILL has the forms that show $100 for a 7 day. Wonder how much I'll have to fight for that $75.

 

Reba, the LA, is clearly not up to speed on the new structure.

 

Surprise, surprise. Corporate doesn't inform everyone.

 

 

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Edited March 15, 2014 by seaofwonder

[internetwhiz]

Well, I just got my official one from yesterday and it shows $25-$100. Not happy. Especially since the ship STILL has the forms that show $100 for a 7 day. Wonder how much I'll have to fight for that $75.

 

Reba, the LA, is clearly not up to speed on the new structure.

 

Surprise, surprise. Corporate doesn't inform everyone.

 

 

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I would fight it. Especially if I bought multiples, which I usually do.

 

 

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