Live from Constellation - Changes to Onboard Bookings Program

[jcpc]

Andy,

 

I hope you feel better soon.

 

I am sure I am in the minority,but I wish Celebrity would just stop with all these promotions. They are mind-boggling.... you can get XYZ promo but you have to give up ABC promo and you can combine ABC but you can't comine XYZ with other promos. You can add a promo but have to pay the current price but you can't add a promo if your category is sold out!

 

Give me a break -- just price your product and be done with it!

 

Again, just my opinion.

 

jcpc

[Oville]

Just so I am understanding- we book open bookings on board so these have non refundable deposits and then an on board credit. My question is what is the credit based on, sailing lenght or room? Also is there a time limit to use them?

Then can these be combined with other offers such as third or fourth free?

 

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First off this discussion is talking about doing an onboard booking not an open one. Also, the OBC provided is based on both length of cruise and cabin type. If you go back to post 1 the OP included a pic of the brochure.

 

Hope this helps.

[ghstudio]

I believe if the deposit is non-refundable, they can book the revenue now (isn't that the current focus) rather than in the future. By giving an on board credit that "appears" to be the same amount as the deposit, the actual cost to them is far less because you will spend that credit on things that have high profit to celebrity or you will lose it. The exception would be if you cashed it out at the casino for 5%, but as I think I said earlier, that probably won't be allowed....gotta see the fine print. It is actually pretty good, creative accounting....but it adds more marketing confusion.

 

I'm confused enough that we'll take our chances on finding lower "new booking only" fares and deals rather than doing anything with a non-refundable deposit unless we can get the 95% back from the casino.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

And the big difference...the deposit is now non refundable

 

Interesting if that's the case. Absolutely no reason to book on board then. You can get the same benefits by booking any time. What are they thinking???

[Cruise Junky]

Interesting if that's the case. Absolutely no reason to book on board then. You can get the same benefits by booking any time. What are they thinking???

 

Not really as you're still getting 123 offered as part of the onboard booking

[Oville]

Andy, I'm so sorry about your fall.:(. There's no worse feeling than going over and knowing you're going down. I hope you mend quickly.

 

I see that a non-refundable deposit may not be ideal for you. However I do think the immediate OBC may attract some people who hadn't intended to do an onboard booking. Also, I'm not sure either the NR deposit and immediate OBC will be that big a deterrent especially with the 123 Promo thrown in.

 

I guess we'll just wait and see. At least it appears Celebrity isn't going the route of NCL where they give you the immediate OBC but then charge the deposit to your onboard account.

 

Feel better,

 

Katie

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Andy, as you know I'm a big fan of yours and appreciate all the time in effort you put into this forum. However, I suspect this change is driven by sound accounting issues, not trying to complicate the future cruise process.

 

The current system has been quite popular but it does leave a large future financial liability on Celebrity books. With the change, OBCs are paid immediately and those who book onboard are really going to take a cruise.

 

I'm just speculating on Celebrity's motive. Would love to hear your thoughts, thanks.

 

I know spit about accounting, but it seems to me that Celebrity has the use of our money far in advance when we book on board.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Andy, sorry to hear about your fall. Hope you're better soon!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Absolutely agree 100%, Andy! Looks like Celebrity is proceeding to "shoot themselves in the foot" once again. :rolleyes:

 

I agree with both of you!

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Not really as you're still getting 123 offered as part of the onboard booking

 

So? Big deal. They offer 123 all the time. I'm just glad I got all my future bookings done before they came up with this "idea."

[cruisestitch]

Healing thoughts headed Andy's way…..

 

I am not sure there is currently a way to keep an on-board credit from being cashed out at the casino. They may be inventing a third kind of on-board credit, but as of now, there is only the OBC-R, which is fully refundable if any is left at the end of the cruise, and OBC-N, which can be used for any expenses during the cruise, including the casino, and is always used first if a passenger has both kinds in their account. Would they use it first if a passenger had all three kinds? Have they thought this through? Seems like a third kind of OBC would create more accounting misunderstandings at cruise end. "Yes, you have on-board credit left in your account but no you can't get it from the casino, you will just have to forfeit it, but we can refund this other on-board credit you have left" Oh, I can just hear it now.

[Cruise Junky]

So? Big deal. They offer 123 all the time. I'm just glad I got all my future bookings done before they came up with this "idea."

 

Yeah, but you get to lock it in at a non promo price which could be beneficial...could;)

[Christine Frances]

The "cruise later" ones were always non-refundable. If we change our minds I just move the booking to another sailing. I am never out money, the OBC is attached to the booking # plus I can book something 18 months out without having to give Celebrity $900:( If you have 2-3 bookings out there that is a lot of money.

[judie43]

Judie

Just so you know - your cruise departs February 14 NOT the 15th!

 

Thanks for the heads up but invoice and website show Feb 15. Did I somewhere post the wrong ship? May have but it's the silhouette on the 15,

[Cruise Junky]

The "cruise later" ones were always non-refundable. If we change our minds I just move the booking to another sailing. I am never out money, the OBC is attached to the booking # plus I can book something 18 months out without having to give Celebrity $900:( If you have 2-3 bookings out there that is a lot of money.

 

That's why I'm confused why people are concerned about the non refundable deposit as the cruise later are the same which people seem to buy. Don't you just do the same with the cruise now and just move your booking?

[true45]

Andy, Hope you recover quickly

 

If deposit is non refundable can't do it. Not a great idea on their part IMO

Planning a year in advance is fine for whatever deal -- but good to know if an emergency comes up we can cancel. Have only cancelled one cruise out of many and not on celebrity. What other cruise line has NR deposits?

 

 

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[jagoffee]

Andy, Hope you recover quickly

 

If deposit is non refundable can't do it. Not a great idea on their part IMO

Planning a year in advance is fine for whatever deal -- but good to know if an emergency comes up we can cancel. Have only cancelled one cruise out of many and not on celebrity. What other cruise line has NR deposits?

 

 

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Are you referencing the $100 non refundable deposit that you are receiving $50 back?

 

If one books on board say with the 123go offer and is allowed to move to another cruise while keeping the 123go offer then IMO they are getting a great deal. Are there other cruise lines with that kind of deal?

 

It seems to me that if you book on board and then move your booking you are actually converting your on board booking to an Open Passage with the added benefit of the 123GO.

What is there to complain about unless you never cruise Celebrity again and what do you lose? $50 or possible $100? No different than an Open Passage, right?

 

I am not sure if I like the other part of the changes because I do not understand the changes. I hope they are not eliminating the future OBC (sounds like they might be)

 

With social media like CC Celebrity cannot run pilot programs without it creating a lot of discussion. Since the details are limited when being reported by those on board it seems to cause unneeded confusion and misunderstanding. Not unique to Celebrity.

Edited May 25, 2014 by jagoffee

[Caribbean Chris]

I believe if the deposit is non-refundable, they can book the revenue now (isn't that the current focus) rather than in the future. By giving an on board credit that "appears" to be the same amount as the deposit, the actual cost to them is far less because you will spend that credit on things that have high profit to celebrity or you will lose it. The exception would be if you cashed it out at the casino for 5%, but as I think I said earlier, that probably won't be allowed....gotta see the fine print. It is actually pretty good, creative accounting....but it adds more marketing confusion.

 

I'm confused enough that we'll take our chances on finding lower "new booking only" fares and deals rather than doing anything with a non-refundable deposit unless we can get the 95% back from the casino.

 

I agree with your perception. Aren't there two "types" of dollars in X-land? I think of the first kind as "Hard Dollars" they receive from a guest which covers the cruise fare. Deposit + final payment.

 

Then there are "Soft dollars" of onboard credits/promos which do not cost X the same amount to fulfill because they contain mark-up.

 

So with this variation, they turned your deposit from hard dollars into soft dollars.

 

In fact, it helps them market and create demand for stuff you might not purchase with your personal hard dollars you budget to spend on your cruise. OBC money seems "free." So some of us spend it more freely than "real" money.

 

The more we use OBC, the more we may spend now or next cruise for non-essential goodies like spa treatments, fancy molecular bar drinks, specialty restaurant meals, etc, because we now consider them important to the cruise experience.

 

This all makes my head swim. I have one more Open Passages to use, bought back when we were closing in on actually reaching Elite status, we innocently thought (not happening now), the Passages open deposits were $100 for the stateroom, and the long transatlantic cruises we like got generous OBCS regardless of stateroom category... but doubt I'll ever buy one again. All the Celebrity promos are getting too confusing.

 

Feel better, Host Andy!

Edited May 25, 2014 by Caribbean Chris

[HazyDavy]

I guess I'm missing something here. It seems to me that if I give X a deposit on a cruise booking, and they give me back an obc, I've already gotten the obc benefit and I'm not out anything should I cancel later.

 

Under the old system I gave X my deposit and they gave me a promise of an obc on the future cruise. If I later cancelled I got my deposit back but not the obc. So again zero sum.

 

I'm not understanding what the uproar is about. Is it really that difficult to use up the obc on the cruise you're on....with upgrading drink packages, tips, spa etc.? The obc I'm getting to spend on the cruise I'm on is money that would have been charged to my credit card at the end of the cruise for shipboard charges. Personally I prefer getting money now rather than the promise of money later.

 

Since they dont charge your credit card until the end of the cruise what difference does it make if you make your onboard booking the first or last day of the cruise? The obc is still going to offset whatever charges you incurred during the cruise when you get your final statement.

 

Seems a lot of fuss over nothing, or if not nothing, not much.

 

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Edited May 25, 2014 by HazyDavy

[C 2 C]

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,

 

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.

 

 

In some countries, non-refundable deposits are not legal.

If a person books a cruise and then cancels the cruise (health or any reason) will the deposit be lost? We have been told by onboard sales that this does not apply in Canada????

[chamima]

I have a question.

Under the old program it was $200 to book a future cruise, no matter the length or cabin.

I looked at the OP's first post and , for example, if we booked a 14 day cruise in Aqua, we'd get the same $350 OBC we get now (except it's to be used on the current cruise) but would we have to put down that same $350 as a deposit instead of the $200?

[Cruise Junky]

Andy, Hope you recover quickly

 

If deposit is non refundable can't do it. Not a great idea on their part IMO

Planning a year in advance is fine for whatever deal -- but good to know if an emergency comes up we can cancel. Have only cancelled one cruise out of many and not on celebrity. What other cruise line has NR deposits?

 

 

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Lots do especially when attached to deals. Princess runs non refundable deposit sales all the time. There are other lines that also have non refundable future cruise certificates

[TommyD3]

I have a question.

Under the old program it was $200 to book a future cruise, no matter the length or cabin.

I looked at the OP's first post and , for example, if we booked a 14 day cruise in Aqua, we'd get the same $350 OBC we get now (except it's to be used on the current cruise) but would we have to put down that same $350 as a deposit instead of the $200?

 

That appears to be the case. "Celebrity Cruises" specifically said "Then you will receive an Instant OBC equal to the amount of your deposit." Since the OBC is listed in a table and can be $350 the deposit would have to be $350 which is more than before.

 

My problem is we only book new cruises onboard when they are first announced. Last year we booked 5 in a row on Century (the last 5 for the Century with Celebrity). Under the new system we would be getting up to an extra $1750 to spend on the current cruise. We are Zenith & get many free perks. We don't spend that much onboard!!! Plus they used to let Zenith take money out at the casino with 0% upcharge but recently changed it to the normal 5%. I prefer the old method where the OBC was used on the future cruise.

 

It is great if you sale one cruise per year and always book the next cruise a year in advance onboard. But for those of us who sail 10+ times per year and book several at a time it is a step backwards.

 

At least they should allow us to book under the old or the new system. That would be best:)

[gimletgal]

I have a question.

Under the old program it was $200 to book a future cruise, no matter the length or cabin.

 

Sorry, not the case. It was always $100 to book a future cruise. If you put 2 names to the booking, then it was $200. If you only booked under 1 name and then added the 2nd name later, that person also paid $100.

 

Assuming you always booked 2 people into a cabin when booking the future cruise, then yes, it was $200 - $100 each. Not really trying to split hairs here, but....:)

[OuiOnboard]

We planned to future book an additional 32+ days to 28 days already booked for total of 60+ days of snowbird cruising. We wanted to do so on board Summit later this summer, but we will need further clarification of the details of this potential new program before we solidify this plan of action.

I would have no need for such a large OBC on my Summit cruise. Maybe X doesn't want me to book many cruises on board all at once. Let's see how this pans out.