Changes to future cruise deposits

[PetNanny]

Can't find the info I'm looking for regarding recent changes so I'm asking for help. Have just been advised by a TA, one that I've been happy with, that HAL won't accept an FCD for a 7-day cruise, must make the normal deposit, then the FCD will be applied. Contacted HAL and received two answers. 1) An FCD can only be purchased while onboard a ship, and 2) There have been three recent changes but yes it can be used. Where can I find info on changes? Thanks.

[sapper1]

You have to purchase a FCD onboard but it most certainly can be used as the deposit for a seven day cruise. I have an Alaska cruise upcoming and it was secured with a FCD. My Bermuda cruise a few months ago was also booked using a FCD. Both are/were seven day cruises.

[PetNanny]

You have to purchase a FCD onboard but it most certainly can be used as the deposit for a seven day cruise. I have an Alaska cruise upcoming and it was secured with a FCD. My Bermuda cruise a few months ago was also booked using a FCD. Both are/were seven day cruises.

 

Thank you so much for such a prompt response. Just had another email from the TA and she wants a full deposit. Advised her to check with HAL on this.

[DaveOKC]

Thank you so much for such a prompt response. Just had another email from the TA and she wants a full deposit. Advised her to check with HAL on this.

 

Sounds like your TA needs a bit more training on HAL procedures.

[sail7seas]

Make sure your TA isn't looking for you to make a deposit payable to her agency. Your FCD should be accepted so that would not be an issue until time for final payment but most of us agree to not deal with any agency who expects you to pay them and say they will then pay the cruise line. I inquire now while the issue is on the table to determine if you even want to deal with this TA.

 

[Tampa Girl]

OP should consider a new TA.

[frankc98376]

As I recall there was a change last year that lowered the OBC wiyh FCD's. Also I believe the $100 FCD is now good for up to 21 day cruises.

[kazu]

As I recall there was a change last year that lowered the OBC wiyh FCD's. Also I believe the $100 FCD is now good for up to 21 day cruises.

 

as long as you top it up ;) but it's still less than a deposit and you get the appropriate OBC or at least, that is how it worked for our Westerdam cruise.

[sail7seas]

as long as you top it up ;) but it's still less than a deposit and you get the appropriate OBC or at least, that is how it worked for our Westerdam cruise.

 

That is what I was recently told.

 

[cbr663]

Are there any specific promotions being used for the booking? The FCD cannot be used for some promotions and you must instead pay the full deposit.

[Lizzie68]

Can't find the info I'm looking for regarding recent changes so I'm asking for help. Have just been advised by a TA, one that I've been happy with, that HAL won't accept an FCD for a 7-day cruise, must make the normal deposit, then the FCD will be applied. Contacted HAL and received two answers. 1) An FCD can only be purchased while onboard a ship, and 2) There have been three recent changes but yes it can be used. Where can I find info on changes? Thanks.

 

Sounds like you didn't get much help from HAL or your TA. Unless something has changed very recently and HAL has not publicized it, it is as Sapper1 said - you purchase FCD's onboard a cruise and you can certainly apply them to a booking for a 7 day cruise. You would have to top up a $100 FCD for a longer cruise.

[frankc98376]

Here is a shot from HAL regarding FCD available onboard. $100 FCD is now 7 to 21 days.

 

I didn't post the link as it is from a website that can't be posted here.

Edited October 19, 2015 by frankc98376

[sapper1]

Make sure your TA isn't looking for you to make a deposit payable to her agency. Your FCD should be accepted so that would not be an issue until time for final payment but most of us agree to not deal with any agency who expects you to pay them and say they will then pay the cruise line. I inquire now while the issue is on the table to determine if you even want to deal with this TA.

 

 

This is an extremely important point. The OP needs to ask what will show on the credit card when payments are made. If it says "Holland America Line" , then all is good. If, however, it will read "XYZ Travel Agency ", you need to run, not walk to the nearest exit.

If the payment is made to the travel agency and they go out of business before they transfer the payment to HAL, then you are out of luck. That did happen with a large online TA a few years ago and it was discussed here at length. A lot of people lost their money and their cruises.

[sapper1]

Duplicate

Edited October 19, 2015 by sapper1

[richwmn]

Just a thought - is this a charter cruise? If so, then the chartering agency can require whatever deposit they want. Also, if it is a charter all payments would go to the chartering agency not HAL

[Tampa Girl]

Are there any specific promotions being used for the booking? The FCD cannot be used for some promotions and you must instead pay the full deposit.

 

This is the first time that I have heard of this. Does anyone else have any such info?

[sapper1]

This is the first time that I have heard of this. Does anyone else have any such info?

 

I have had several promotions applied to my Alaska booking and it was secured with a 100 dollar FCD.

[PetNanny]

Can't find the info I'm looking for regarding recent changes so I'm asking for help. Have just been advised by a TA, one that I've been happy with, that HAL won't accept an FCD for a 7-day cruise, must make the normal deposit, then the FCD will be applied. Contacted HAL and received two answers. 1) An FCD can only be purchased while onboard a ship, and 2) There have been three recent changes but yes it can be used. Where can I find info on changes? Thanks.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded. And the rest of the story - the TA is one we've used before and she did an outstanding job resolving a problem with HAL last year. In this case, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. HAL could not find records of the FCDs and that's why they asked for the deposit. Told her I can provide hard copies if needed. No payments go directly to her; the cc statement clearly shows Holland America. Learned this from reading the boards. It's so good to get info I can rely on.

 

Every thing has been resolved and we will be on the Koningsdam next year.

[Tampa Girl]

Are there any specific promotions being used for the booking? The FCD cannot be used for some promotions and you must instead pay the full deposit.

 

Where are you getting this info? From an outside TA? We have never had trouble using our FCD's when there were promotions.

[sail7seas]

So..... HAL has taken the Future Cruise Deposit and met all terms?

 

Edited October 19, 2015 by sail7seas

[DaveOKC]

Thanks to everyone who responded. And the rest of the story - the TA is one we've used before and she did an outstanding job resolving a problem with HAL last year. In this case, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. HAL could not find records of the FCDs and that's why they asked for the deposit. Told her I can provide hard copies if needed. No payments go directly to her; the cc statement clearly shows Holland America. Learned this from reading the boards. It's so good to get info I can rely on.

 

Every thing has been resolved and we will be on the Koningsdam next year.

 

This makes more sense now. All the more reason to keep those hard copies - you never know when you will need them!

[PetNanny]

This makes more sense now. All the more reason to keep those hard copies - you never know when you will need them!

 

Just looked at the FCDs to verify numbers and noticed at the top of the form the agency name is correct but there's a different agent listed below this. The FCC who processed these was not the most helpful person. We didn't get the paperwork until the last day of the cruise. However, we have now received a corrected confirmation from HAL and all is correct.

[cbr663]

Where are you getting this info? From an outside TA? We have never had trouble using our FCD's when there were promotions.

 

From HAL. We couldn't use our FCD for our upcoming cruise with the promotion that we received.

[Lizzie68]

From HAL. We couldn't use our FCD for our upcoming cruise with the promotion that we received.

 

Seriously, ask someone else at HAL. We have been able to use our FCDs with any promo so far.

[Windsailer]

From HAL. We couldn't use our FCD for our upcoming cruise with the promotion that we received.

 

What promotion? I was able to use them last week when I booked a cruise with the Explore 4 promo.