Refunding Non-Refundable Deposit

[TYMAN]

9 minutes ago, zuggie said:

OK - I have a paid $200 NON-refundable deposit for a cruise.  Final payment time comes along, and I make the full final payment using previously issued FCC.  Then a month later, Royal cancels the cruise.  Two questions:

 

1.  I know that I am entitled to receive the $200. as a cash refund.  I want the refund.  I believe that Royal would prefer to give me the $200 back as a 125% FFC.  How, when, and to whom (Royal or my TA) do I communicate my desire for the cash refund?

 

2.  For the balance paid with previously issued FCC,  will I receive 100% of that amount back as new FCC, or 125% ?

 

 

Sorry for the long response, but you would get this email....you just click on the choice you want and wait for the refund, FCC or H$$$ freezes over, which ever comes first. 🙂 "Stated as sort of a jest" Anyway, not sure it answers your specific question......

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS

Dear Guest, We hope this email finds you healthy and safe and that with each passing day, we are closer to getting back to a more regular day-to-day.  While this is like nothing any of us have ever experienced, we continue to evaluate how it impacts our upcoming sailings and our return to service. After consulting with our partners at Cruise Lines International Association and in conjunction with the CDC, we’ve now extended our global suspension through September 15th, 2020 and plan to set sail on September 16th, 2020 for most of our fleet. Unfortunately this means, your sailing will be cancelled. While we all wish we were cruising, we do have some options for you, including an option that has been very well received by our guests, as it provides a little something extra to use once we all start cruising again! Here are your options: 1. 125% Future Cruise Credit: We’re providing you with a 125% Future Cruise Credit to re-book a new cruise by December 31, 2021 for sailings departing on or before April 30th, 2022. This amount will be based on your total cruise fare paid. And, we’re giving you a little extra, knowing that this is such a unique circumstance.  We will automatically issue you your Future Cruise Credit by July 31st, 2020 via email. So, there’s nothing for you to do!  Taxes & fees and any RoyalUp upgrades will be automatically refunded. Current refund processing is around 45 days. We are working as quickly as possible and we appreciate your patience. Please note: If you opted into the Cruise with Confidence 100% Future Cruise Credit, this offer does not apply.   And, if you previously used a Future Cruise Certificate, you’ll receive a new Future Cruise Certificate. This will be for 125% of any new monies paid on this sailing, plus the reactivated value of your original certificate at 100% of its value, with an expiration date of December 31, 2021 and a sail by date of April 30, 2022. If you were already impacted by a sailing that was previously cancelled due to a global suspension and paid additional monies on a new booking within this extended suspension period, you are still able to opt in to refund one or both cancelled bookings via the process below. 2. Lift and Shift: If you prefer to move your existing booking to a 2021 sailing - we’re happy to move you! We’ll price protect the original pricing and/or promotion on the same itinerary, length, product, and stateroom category as your original sailing within 4 weeks (before or after) of the original sail date in 2021. For example, if you are moving from a July 30, 2020 sailing, you must move to a sailing that is the same itinerary, length, and stateroom category, and the sail date should be between June 30, 2021 - August 30, 2021. Please contact your Travel Advisor or call us by July 10th to move to a new sailing. If we don’t hear from you, we will automatically issue you a Future Cruise Credit. 3. 100% Refund: Or, if you prefer a full refund, which is a lower value than the future cruise credit offer above, we’re happy to process this for you. Given how fluid this situation is, and the opportunity to use the extra credit being offered, you have until December 31, 2020 - to request a refund and deactivate your certificate.   Please contact us to start the refund process, forfeiting the higher value of your 125% Future Cruise Credit.  To avoid waiting on the phone to cancel, click here and we will get the refund process started for you. Note: Please know, once we receive your refund request, we unfortunately won’t be able to accept an FCC request if you change your mind. We’ll then deactivate your Future Cruise Credit and process your refund to your original form(s) of payment, which will include any non-refundable deposits.  You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit your refund request.  Please note: If you used a Cruise with Confidence certificate on this sailing, and you request a refund instead, we’ll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount, and we’ll reinstate your original Cruise with Confidence certificate. And, a special option for those that also purchased Cruise Planner Items…  You can opt-in to receive an Onboard Credit in the value of 125% of the total Cruise Planner purchases on your reservation.  Click here by July 10th, 2020 to request your higher value credit and we’ll email you your credit by July 31st, 2020. If we don’t hear from you on or before July 10th, 2020, your Cruise Planner purchases will be automatically refunded. You’ll receive your refund within 45 days of your booking’s cancellation. We are working as quickly as possible and we appreciate your patience during these unprecedented times. Also, if you opt for a cruise fare refund or for Lift and Shift, you are not be eligible for this Cruise Planner Onboard Credit offer. Questions about how the Cruise Planner credit? Click here for more details. Guests with air or hotel booked…   Refundable air or hotel accommodations purchased through Royal Caribbean will be automatically refunded to you within 45 days after we process the cancellation. If you booked non-refundable air through Royal Caribbean or booked on your own, please contact the service provider directly for your options with them. If you have any questions, please contact your Travel Advisor immediately or contact us at:  1 800 754 500 in Australia  0344 493 4005 in the U.K.  1 866 562 7625 in the U.S. or Canada All other countries, please visit http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contactus for your local Royal Caribbean International office phone number. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued loyalty. We will all come out of this stronger than ever. Stay healthy and safe. We miss our guests and we’ll be ready to welcome you back soon. Sincerely,

Edited July 24, 2020 by TYMAN

[bmw2]

On 7/23/2020 at 10:47 AM, ipeeinthepool said:

Those people are going to be really surprised when they try to use their FCC and then they find out it can't be combined with current promotions.  Celebrity did this a few weeks ago with a Captain's Club promotion and it would not surprise me if Royal follows.

I agree I cancelled before August final payment & used my deposit to rebook in Nov 2021 at a cheaper cruise total.  Also I understand that if the cruise lines lower the number of passengers (capacity) the people that have booked first will be among the first ones counted to go on  the cruise they booked- In other words first booked go first or last booked won’t be going if  Ship will be full to whatever capacity they chose. Also they don’t need to be holding/using my paid in full money. I can be making interest on it not them. They are counting on people to use the FCC for the money they need it🛳

[Sunshine3601]

On 7/23/2020 at 12:54 AM, Dennis#1 said:

If RCCL cancels the cruise, you can get your $500 non-refundable deposit back (or you could get 125% on-board credit for either your deposit or the amount of cruise fare you paid).  
 

 

I had 2 European cruises booked for this August and when final payment was due in May,  I called that day and cancelled the first one (they were b2b's then 9 days later I cancelled the 2nd leg of the cruise for Norway).    I had $500 Non-refundable deposits (NFDs) for both of them.    Approx. 2 weeks later I received an email with the certificate numbers for our FCC's totaling $1000.    

If you cancel under the cruise with confidence policy you will receive full refund in form of FCC.

If you cancel outside of the cruise with confidence policy you would forfeit $100.

If you wait to see what happens and RCL cancels then you will have the option for cash refund FCC (maybe at 125%) but it is highly unlikely that RCL will cancel before final payment is due.    this has happened on only a few cruises.  i.e. my cruise to Bermuda in October was cancelled in May or June due to Bermuda saying No cruise ships allowed for rest for the year.   

Good luck with everything and hopefully we will all be sailing early next year!

 

 

[Ourusualbeach]

On 7/23/2020 at 10:27 AM, molly361 said:

It might have changed now but when I asked my TA he told me that most people were taking the FCC

That is still what I am experiencing.  It helps when you booked through a TA whose agency is in a place that automatically covers airline and cruiseline failures...no risk.