FCD benefits reduced?

[canadianbear]

3 minutes ago, sail7seas said:

Did I  misunderstand you to be saying  HAL gift cards can only bve used in shops on board the ships  (stores) but not for  alternative  restuarants or toward   the fare for our cruises?  That is ridiculous and I so hope  I am wrong  Who would buy any if that is the case?  dumb and dumber.

Sail-I believe they are referring to the big box store that used to give OBC to be used on the ship.  However, the big box store  are giving a credit like a cash card to be used in the big box store and no OBC on the ship.  

[zelker]

1 hour ago, sail7seas said:

Did I  misunderstand you to be saying  HAL gift cards can only bve used in shops on board the ships  (stores) but not for  alternative  restuarants or toward   the fare for our cruises?  That is ridiculous and I so hope  I am wrong  Who would buy any if that is the case?  dumb and dumber.

 

Hi, sail ... it's all rather confusing I know but hopefully this will help clarify.  we're not discussing HAL gift cards, we're discussing the big box store travel agency's new policy and what they now call "Shop Cards" which can only be used at the big box store or their online store. 

[DaveOKC]

12 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Sail-I believe they are referring to the big box store that used to give OBC to be used on the ship.  However, the big box store  are giving a credit like a cash card to be used in the big box store and no OBC on the ship.  

Which is quite smart of the big box store as THEY then get the sale, not HAL.  And, as a former retailer I can attest that people tend to spend gift cards more on higher margin, luxury items than if they were using cash, as they see the gift cards as "free money".

[zelker]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

Which is quite smart of the big box store as THEY then get the sale, not HAL.  And, as a former retailer I can attest that people tend to spend gift cards more on higher margin, luxury items than if they were using cash, as they see the gift cards as "free money".

 

But HAL (and now it's ALL the cruise lines that the big box store sells) didn't necessarily get the benefit of that spend since the OBC they gave was refundable or if it was in the form of their store-brand gift card, it was exchangeable for cash at said big box store.  In any case, we have now taken all our cruise business to a TA we use that sells all cruise lines (was already using them for lines like Seabourn and Viking that big box store doesn't sell) and, like they do for Seabourn, for example, they give us a discount off the price of our HAL cruise before final payment that is equivalent to what would have been OBC or a "shop card", etc. given to us by the big box store and which we much prefer anyway. 😄 

 

Still, not happy about the changes HAL appears to have implemented re: open FCD's and booking after a cruise rather than during a cruise.  Will be boarding Eurodam in less than 4 weeks and will definitely be having a chat with the FCC onboard. 

[fatcat04]

8 minutes ago, zelker said:

Still, not happy about the changes HAL appears to have implemented re: open FCD's and booking after a cruise rather than during a cruise.  Will be boarding Eurodam in less than 4 weeks and will definitely be having a chat with the FCC onboard. 

Report back to us if you can.

 

I just detest the idea of taking time on my cruise to book another cruise. I have other things to do. One of my "just off my cruise blues" cures is planning another cruise and the Welcome Home promo is a big incentive for me to book it sooner rather than later. 😀

[Alberta Quilter]

I"m also sailing in less than a month (Yippee!) and will be having a similar chat with the FCC on the NS.  I will definitely report back.

[SilvertoGold]

33 minutes ago, fatcat04 said:

Report back to us if you can.

 

I just detest the idea of taking time on my cruise to book another cruise. I have other things to do. One of my "just off my cruise blues" cures is planning another cruise and the Welcome Home promo is a big incentive for me to book it sooner rather than later. 😀

This is why we just buy the FCD/FCC.  Even with the new system, you can have it your way to some degree. Some OBC is better than none.  As noted, the Welcome Back is a big incentive!

Edited January 21, 2020 by SilvertoGold

[sail7seas]

19 hours ago, zelker said:

 

Hi, sail ... it's all rather confusing I know but hopefully this will help clarify.  we're not discussing HAL gift cards, we're discussing the big box store travel agency's new policy and what they now call "Shop Cards" which can only be used at the big box store or their online store. 

For those of us who do not deal on any level, at  all with big box stores  it  would  be oh so helpful and considerate to realize  not everyone shops, books cruises etc in the same place and perhaps thin k  about not 'assuming such.........  How about  shairng   the  'rest of the story ?'    Thank you if you (or some one )  will fill in  what those cards are? 

 

I don't b uy  bath tissue or  laundry detergent there and I  definitely do not book cruises/  travel    there.

 

 

 

 

[CruisingAndDiving]

5 minutes ago, sail7seas said:

For those of us who do not deal on any level, at  all with big box stores  it  would  be oh so helpful and considerate to realize  not everyone shops, books cruises etc in the same place and perhaps thin k  about not 'assuming such.........  How about  shairng   the  'rest of the story ?'    Thank you if you (or some one )  will fill in  what those cards are? 

 

I don't b uy  bath tissue or  laundry detergent there and I  definitely do not book cruises/  travel    there.

 

 

 

 

Basically they give you a store gift card with that amount instead of an OBC now.  While I don't book with said big box store either...I can see before where it may have been advantageous...but now not really.

[sail7seas]

5 minutes ago, CruisingAndDiving said:

Basically they give you a store gift card with that amount instead of an OBC now.  While I don't book with said big box store either...I can see before where it may have been advantageous...but now not really.

Cruising and diving.

 

Very big thank you.

NOw  I "get it"  🙂

 

 

[goldmom]

What is the time frame for the Welcome Home promo?  Just got home and planning another cruise so would like to try to book within the promo window.  Thanks!

[zelker]

11 minutes ago, goldmom said:

What is the time frame for the Welcome Home promo?  Just got home and planning another cruise so would like to try to book within the promo window.  Thanks!

 

Within 60 days of the day you disembark.

[goldmom]

36 minutes ago, zelker said:

 

Within 60 days of the day you disembark.

Thank you!

[DaveOKC]

Yesterday I booked a cruise for the summer of 2021 using a FCD.  I received the normal OBC ($100 pp for a 17 day cruise in a Vista suite) PLUS I got an additional $100 pp for using promo ZPM.

 

Thus, so far HAL has not changed the old program.  This is our last old FCD, so we will see going forward.

 

When I discussed this with my PCC, she suggested that we book onboard (using her name of course as the TA) to get the extra credit.  She said that she would work with me prior to boarding so that we knew what exactly to book while onboard.

 

Just an update for everyone...............

[madera1]

We too just booked a 2021 summer cruise and used a FCD and got the extra OBC  for that. I forgot all about mentioning the ZPM so called again as we just sailed in Dec. and we received an extra $100 pp.  I am glad I read these boards .

Edited January 22, 2020 by madera1

[CruisingAndDiving]

4 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Yesterday I booked a cruise for the summer of 2021 using a FCD.  I received the normal OBC ($100 pp for a 17 day cruise in a Vista suite) PLUS I got an additional $100 pp for using promo ZPM.

 

Thus, so far HAL has not changed the old program.  This is our last old FCD, so we will see going forward.

 

When I discussed this with my PCC, she suggested that we book onboard (using her name of course as the TA) to get the extra credit.  She said that she would work with me prior to boarding so that we knew what exactly to book while onboard.

 

Just an update for everyone...............

Thanks Dave!!

 

We purchased ours in December on our NA cruise before the change, so it's good to know the older FCD's will be honored.

[fatcat04]

Just talked to our PCC about this.

 

FCD purchased before January 15 are grandfathered in.

 

The Welcome Home promo will be going away completely. Only onboard bookings qualify for the extra obc so we will have to take time out of our cruise to sit at a desk with the FCC to get what we used to get when booking within a couple of months of getting home.  That time sitting at the desk is time we are not spending money on the ship buying drinks, going to the spa, gambling in the casino. May not be as difficult for those who take longer cruises as they and the FCC have a more open schedule but on 7-14 day cruises the last thing I want is to schedule an appointment at an inconvenient time and then sit in the bowels of the ship for an hour pouring over itineraries. I let her know many of us do not like this change and to pass that info on to the powers that be.

 

Also, if you use a PCC you must fill out a form at the time of booking onboard to make sure your PCC can indeed manage your booking. 

[Alberta Quilter]

7 minutes ago, fatcat04 said:

Just talked to our PCC about this.

 

FCD purchased before January 15 are grandfathered in.

 

The Welcome Home promo will be going away completely. Only onboard bookings qualify for the extra obc so we will have to take time out of our cruise to sit at a desk with the FCC to get what we used to get when booking within a couple of months of getting home.  That time sitting at the desk is time we are not spending money on the ship buying drinks, going to the spa, gambling in the casino. May not be as difficult for those who take longer cruises as they and the FCC have a more open schedule but on 7-14 day cruises the last thing I want is to schedule an appointment at an inconvenient time and then sit in the bowels of the ship for an hour pouring over itineraries. I let her know many of us do not like this change and to pass that info on to the powers that be.

 

Also, if you use a PCC you must fill out a form at the time of booking onboard to make sure your PCC can indeed manage your booking. 

 

Hmmm.  I also spoke with my PCC about this change.  He did not say that the Welcome Home benefit would be going away completely.  In fact, he said that we could still get the double the OBC within 60 days as per usual.  I hope mine is right but I guess time will tell.

 

The other change is that if, like me, you use the PCC to book and then transfer to a TA, then any booking onboard would be managed through the same TA.  Fortunately, I still have two FCDs purchased prior to Jan 15th.  Like you, I'm not wasting my vacation time to book onboard.  If I purchase anything, it will be FCDs to be used at a time of MY convenience.  And with recent changes at my current TA (big box store), I'm looking for a new TA.

[canadianbear]

8 minutes ago, fatcat04 said:

Just talked to our PCC about this.

 

FCD purchased before January 15 are grandfathered in.

 

The Welcome Home promo will be going away completely. Only onboard bookings qualify for the extra obc so we will have to take time out of our cruise to sit at a desk with the FCC to get what we used to get when booking within a couple of months of getting home.  That time sitting at the desk is time we are not spending money on the ship buying drinks, going to the spa, gambling in the casino. May not be as difficult for those who take longer cruises as they and the FCC have a more open schedule but on 7-14 day cruises the last thing I want is to schedule an appointment at an inconvenient time and then sit in the bowels of the ship for an hour pouring over itineraries. I let her know many of us do not like this change and to pass that info on to the powers that be.

 

Also, if you use a PCC you must fill out a form at the time of booking onboard to make sure your PCC can indeed manage your booking. 

Well that just sucks-I have always preferred the 60 days after to decide or even 6 months later.  It will now take longer time waiting at the desk too if everyone wants the extra OBC.   

[DaveOKC]

10 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

 

Hmmm.  I also spoke with my PCC about this change.  He did not say that the Welcome Home benefit would be going away completely.  In fact, he said that we could still get the double the OBC within 60 days as per usual.  I hope mine is right but I guess time will tell.

 

The other change is that if, like me, you use the PCC to book and then transfer to a TA, then any booking onboard would be managed through the same TA.  Fortunately, I still have two FCDs purchased prior to Jan 15th.  Like you, I'm not wasting my vacation time to book onboard.  If I purchase anything, it will be FCDs to be used at a time of MY convenience.  And with recent changes at my current TA (big box store), I'm looking for a new TA.

Just a FYI - I booked a cruise just over a week ago using the FCD I had and got to use the Welcome Home (ZPM) promotion with it.

 

[bEwAbG]

Yeah...boo to this.  It already seems like the future cruise people are always busy or not there every time I've walked through.  Are they going to staff up appropriately?  I somehow doubt that.

[fatcat04]

12 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Just a FYI - I booked a cruise just over a week ago using the FCD I had and got to use the Welcome Home (ZPM) promotion with it.

 

Yeah, since we are in the ZPM time frame (our last cruise ended January 11) we too can still qualify for the Welcome Home promo now and also the old grandfathered fcds (purchased January 9) but she said Welcome Home will be going away completely in the near future. No time frame. She actually put me on hold to go verify this. Very disheartening. 

 

So I guess it is smoke 'em if you got 'em friends. If you still qualify for ZPM, use it before they bring down the ax. 

 

Also, she did seem appreciative of my input essentially saying the powers that be do listen to the PCC office so maybe we need to be vocal about how this change will impact our cruises and how we book.  

Edited January 28, 2020 by fatcat04