Live from Constellation - Changes to Onboard Bookings Program

[Iamthesea]

We are onboard the Constellation in the Baltics. My husband and I had planned to book two cruises onboard to take advantage of the latest promo, discussed on CC, where the 1-2-3 was offered, along with the usual OBC (both to be utilized on the future booked cruise).

 

Now, the incentives have changed again and we do not totally understand the new program and are not liking it, although the FCC says it is a better deal. I came on Cruise Critic to see if there was any other discussion on this subject and cannot find anything. I will try to attach a photo of the new flyer. Basically, there is no future OBC. The OBC offer is to be used on the cruise that one is currently on. :confused: The 1-2-3 is for use on the future cruise. There is something about using the OBC for your deposit.

 

If anyone...Andy?...has any understanding and can post here, please do so. We will be onboard for 9 more days and will post if we get any more detail. Not sure if we are going to book anything.

[woodyren]

While this may be beneficial to some it would not be worth much to us as we have enough OBC for our next cruise and the drinks package. We had planned to book 3 cruises for next year while on board the one we have currently booked and after reading this it will be interesting to know if they will apply all the OBC for the whole three to our next cruise.

[Guernseycruiser]

We are onboard the Constellation in the Baltics. My husband and I had planned to book two cruises onboard to take advantage of the latest promo, discussed on CC, where the 1-2-3 was offered, along with the usual OBC (both to be utilized on the future booked cruise).

 

Now, the incentives have changed again and we do not totally understand the new program and are not liking it, although the FCC says it is a better deal. I came on Cruise Critic to see if there was any other discussion on this subject and cannot find anything. I will try to attach a photo of the new flyer. Basically, there is no future OBC. The OBC offer is to be used on the cruise that one is currently on. :confused: The 1-2-3 is for use on the future cruise. There is something about using the OBC for your deposit.

 

If anyone...Andy?...has any understanding and can post here, please do so. We will be onboard for 9 more days and will post if we get any more detail. Not sure if we are going to book anything.

We were onboard the Silhouette TA earlier this month, when the Take2 offer had started. We booked 2 future cruises, both had OBC for booking whilst onboard. Whilst the transatlantic we have booked for later in the year, only had the standard OBC, for the 7 day caribbean, we were offered OBC, and then either the 1,2,3go or the Take2, whichever worked out better for us. As we prefer OBC and reduced prices, rather than the free drinks package, the Take2 was more beneficial. I know things change all the time, however I hope this helps. There was no mention of using the OBC whilst onboard the cruise we were then on or being able to use it as a deposit.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Guernseycruiser

[happy cruzer]

Sounds strange, you could use the obc then cancel the future cruise and come out way ahead?

 

On the century the on board booking policy had not changed, same as previous 123 with obc on future cruise.

[WestLakeGirl]

I wonder how this works when booking multiple rooms? We have friends on Connie now who are supposed to book rooms for them and their in laws and us for next winter on Equinox. Will they get ALL the on board credit for all three rooms? Not sure I like that

[HazyDavy]

I wonder how this works when booking multiple rooms? We have friends on Connie now who are supposed to book rooms for them and their in laws and us for next winter on Equinox. Will they get ALL the on board credit for all three rooms? Not sure I like that

 

Curious about this as well. Can you book an additional cabin or cabins for people not on the cruise and everyone gets the 123 perks or just those booking on board?

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I467 using Forums mobile app

[cruisestitch]

Later this summer I plan to book a cruise for a friend and I. Normally we would split the on-board credit. Does this mean I would get it all, on the cruise I will be on? That doesn't seem fair.

 

We really need to see the fine print from this offer. I hope someone on board a ship now would be able to pick up one of the forms and scan it for us.

[kkorman]

Sounds strange, you could use the obc then cancel the future cruise and come out way ahead?

 

On the century the on board booking policy had not changed, same as previous 123 with obc on future cruise.

 

If this was the case, I am sure it would be nonrefundable.

 

I found out last weekend that NCL does theirs this way.

[RickT]

Sounds strange, you could use the obc then cancel the future cruise and come out way ahead?

 

On the century the on board booking policy had not changed, same as previous 123 with obc on future cruise.

 

Not really, the Future Cruise credit is held by Celebrity until you use it on a cruise. So, you can cancel the cruise that is initially booked but the credit you have bought and paid for stays in place until you use it (unless of course that has changed too).

[cruisestitch]

It's not the Future Cruise Credit that's in question -- it's that on board OBC. This is something never offered before.

 

Even if it is non-refundable OBC, you can withdraw it at the casino (for a fee).

 

But I have several questions --

 

Suppose you want to book two or more cruises all at the same time, would you get multiples of that OBC for the cruise you are currently on? That seems very odd.

 

Suppose you want to book for others (you'll all be on the same cruise, this has always been allowed in the past), do you get all that OBC on the cruise you are currently on? Again, odd.

 

Suppose you want to book for you and a friend (this is my current situation, as mentioned above). Would you get all the OBC on the cruise you are currently on and your friend gets only the 1-2-3?

 

I just don't see how this works, and I hope someone can get us all the T&C (the fine print) from this.

 

The last cruise I was on I booked three more cruises. Not Open Passages, these were actually bookings. I just can't see them giving all that OBC on the cruise you are on, but maybe I'm missing something?

 

If, as posed above, you take this deal, book on board, get the OBC for the cruise you are on, use up all that OBC, then go home and cancel that booking, what happens then?

[harz99]

 

If, as posed above, you take this deal, book on board, get the OBC for the cruise you are on, use up all that OBC, then go home and cancel that booking, what happens then?

 

That would amount to free money if you withdrew the OBC in cash at the casino:eek:

[jelayne]

This doesn't make sense to me! Why would Celebrity give you OBC for a cruise you haven't taken?

 

We booked 4 cruises while on board this month. We got the 1,2,3 offer ( drink pkg) plus OBC on each cruise plus reduced deposits. If the OBC was applied to the cruise we were on we would have had had almost $1600 in OBC. We could take it out in cash at the casino netting about $1500 and then when we got home and cancelled the 4 booking and had our deposits refunded. Net Celebrity would have paid us $1500 to tie up their employee for an hour plus to book cruises that we could cancel & keep the $:rolleyes:

[wv4891]

This is exactly what we received when doing onboard bookings a week ago on the Solstice. Also received one category upgrade, I.E. A1 for the price of A2 cabin. Tried to get a drink package for a Transatlantic, just in case one could while onboard, could not.

We booked 4 cruises while on board this month. We got the 1,2,3 offer ( drink pkg) plus OBC on each cruise plus reduced deposits.

Edited May 24, 2014 by wv4891

[cruisestitch]

Solstice a week ago -- the previous program

Constellation now -- the new program?

 

Time to hear from others who booked on board in the last few days. And if anyone has a copy of that flyer, to learn what it says in the fine print, and what happened if you tried to withdraw that onboard credit…...

Edited May 24, 2014 by cruisestitch

[Algebralovr]

I wonder if the FCC on board doesn't quite understand the program? That looks like the same booking on board form we saw on cruisecritic.com a few weeks ago, and it was for OBC for the newly booked cruise, not the current one. It really doesn't make sense to provide that much OBC on the current cruise.

[cruisestitch]

Look at the photo of the form attached to the first post -- it clearly says "THIS cruise" on it. With a different offer related to the box below that says "NEXT cruise"

 

That's what is so odd. It just doesn't make sense.

 

I can see where someone in marketing thought -- "how can we entice more people to come to the office and make bookings, let's give them some instant OBC," without thinking it through.

Edited May 24, 2014 by cruisestitch

[judie43]

Curious about this as well. Can you book an additional cabin or cabins for people not on the cruise and everyone gets the 123 perks or just those booking on board?

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I467 using Forums mobile app

 

My B-I-L is on a cruise now. He just booked 3 cabins for himself,us,and our cousins. We all got the OBC and 123 promo. We and our cousins chose the drink pkg and bro took the $300 price reduction. We have it all in writing for 2/15 cruise.

Hope this answers some questions.

[jelayne]

My B-I-L is on a cruise now. He just booked 3 cabins for himself,us,and our cousins. We all got the OBC and 123 promo. We and our cousins chose the drink pkg and bro took the $300 price reduction. We have it all in writing for 2/15 cruise.

Hope this answers some questions.

 

So the OBC credit is for the cruise you booked not for the cruise your BIL is on, correct ?

[TMLAalum]

My B-I-L is on a cruise now. He just booked 3 cabins for himself,us,and our cousins. We all got the OBC and 123 promo. We and our cousins chose the drink pkg and bro took the $300 price reduction. We have it all in writing for 2/15 cruise.

Hope this answers some questions.

 

Friends of ours are planning on joining us on a Fjords cruise on the Eclipse next May. They are not sailing in the interim.

 

However, other friends will be aboard the Millennium early next month. Can they book the Fjords cruise for the others, get the perks for them, but not book for themselves? We booked aboard last month, were offered the 1-2-3, so took the $200 OBC vs. prepaid gratuities for 7 nights/beverage package, got $150 OBC applied to the Fjords cruise for booking aboard and, in addition, received $285 OBC from our travel agent (who is the same as the friends who are joining us in Norway). Those would be great perks vs. the $125 they'd get from Celebrity's current offer for new bookings made from shore!

Edited May 24, 2014 by TMLAalum

[Oville]

NCL gives you the OBC for the current cruise. The way they work it is the OBC is applied to your onboard account, but also charge to your account the deposit for the future cruise certificate. You can't cancel the certificate, it's use it or lose it.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Oville

[Celebrity Cruises]

Hi all,

 

We wanted to clear up some of the confusion, and to explain some of the new programs we are currently piloting. We have this response from our Director of Onboard Sales,

 

This is a pilot with our Cruise Now program that is happening right now onboard the Celebrity Constellation and the Celebrity Silhouette. On these two ships you now will put down a even further reduced deposit that is now "Per Stateroom". Then you will receive an Instant OBC equal to the amount of your deposit. For example. If you want a 5 night inside stateroom, your deposit is $50 for that room. You will receive an instant OBC of $50 to spend right now. Your deposit is Non-Refundable. However you are still free to change your ship and sail date or stateroom category as your plans change without any change fees. You will receive the instant OBC to spend onboard anywhere you like. This instant OBC is only available when you book a Cruise Now reservation.

 

If you wish to purchase other future cruises for friends or family, you can still do that. However during the pilot, the Instant OBC will be applied to you for you to use on your current cruise since you are the person placing down the non-refundable deposit. A key benefit is the instant OBC and the even further reduced deposits.

 

For your future cruise, you will receive a benefit that you choose from 123GO. A Free Beverage Package, Additional OBC, or Free Gratuities. And every reservation you make will still go back to your travel professional for full credit and service. Keep in mind you don't have to take 123GO. If a better offer is in place you can always change from 123GO to that other offer as long as you do it before the final payment date. Any change to your reservation would first go back to standard pricing, but you are free to change offers as you wish.

 

Now we also still have our Cruise Later program. This is where you place a non-refundable $100 deposit towards a future cruise. We've now customized this as a gift program. You can buy up to 3 and give them away to anyone you wish. Your guests will receive up to $200 OBC and can combine with another offer they choose upon redeeming.

 

[happy cruzer]

Thank you for clarifying. I prefer the older promo, but some May prefer this one. At least we understand the details, thanks

[FengShui@Sea]

Our experience with 'Cruise Now' was on the Century last week, and not part of the new (instant OBC) pilot project. We booked a future cruise while onboard, and I have spent several hours this past week arguing with Celebrity over the terms of this offer.

 

The front of the flyer implies that you get both an OBC and the 123 go! promo as part of the 'Cruise Now' program. It list the benefits of both in bullet points. The wording would need to be corrected in several places to make it clear that the flyer is advertising two separate offers. The fine print on the front of the flyer states that the 'Cruise Now' program is combinable with one other offer. Those terms and conditions are right below the future cruise OBC and 123 go! benefit bullet points.

 

When you flip the flyer over to the second side it also leads you to believe that the two promos are all part of the 'Cruise Now' program. It's only when you read the terms and conditions on side two that you find out that you cannot combine it with another offer (for example a Senior, Resident, Military, etc. special rate) and still get the 123 go!

 

You practically need a degree in contract law to be able to understand the terms and conditions, especially when they are listed on different sides of the flyer. IMHO Celebrity could have done a way better job in wording the flyer to help folks understand that the 123 go! is a separate promotion and cannot be combined with another offer. :rolleyes:

 

Holly

Edited May 24, 2014 by FengShui@Sea

[Algebralovr]

 

This is a pilot with our Cruise Now program that is happening right now onboard the Celebrity Constellation and the Celebrity Silhouette. On these two ships you now will put down a even further reduced deposit that is now "Per Stateroom". Then you will receive an Instant OBC equal to the amount of your deposit. For example. If you want a 5 night inside stateroom, your deposit is $50 for that room. You will receive an instant OBC of $50 to spend right now. Your deposit is Non-Refundable. However you are still free to change your ship and sail date or stateroom category as your plans change without any change fees. You will receive the instant OBC to spend onboard anywhere you like. This instant OBC is only available when you book a Cruise Now reservation.

 

 

 

I hope this goes away, or at least does not spread, before we sail on Equinox in June. I'm planning to book my February 2016 cruises while on board, and was looking forward to the beverage package and OBC for booking on board for THAT cruise. I don't need more OBC in June, since I have already booked and paid for excursions on the June cruise.

 

Also, if someone waits until the last full day to book while on board, they may have a hard time spending the OBC on the cruise. Then it just goes to waste! That would NOT encourage me to book on board!

[Andy]

Hi Everyone,

 

Sorry to say, but I think this is rotten idea. It seems clear (at least to me) the strategy, is to move towards making deposits non-refundable. I also do not like the idea of getting the OBC for this cruise, as opposed to a future sailing. I've always liked the idea of having the OBC to use on my next sailing. As others have mentioned, if you book late in the sailing, the OBC may be of little to no use for the current sailing.

 

What amazes me, is that Celebrity usually creates progams which complicate things. Why cant they work towards making things *easier* to understand for all ??? I'm on a vacation for heavens sake. When I'm booking cruises onboard, the last thing I want, is complicated.

 

It's truly amazing how Celebrity FINALLY had a program, that everyone was excited about, and... was quite difficult to book cruises onboard, due to the HUGE demand. Now, they've found a way to kill their golden goose. Unreal.

 

I hope this pilot program ends very quickly.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Host Andy