Refundable Deposit vs Cruise with Confidence

[Smhp]

I am looking to book a Royal Caribbean cruise for December 2021 and not sure about purchasing the Refundable Deposit. To me the Cruise with Confidence policy states as long as you cancel a cruise 48 hours before sailing you will get a 100% credit refund including the deposit. Is that correct? I am a bit confused because why are they still charging for a Refundable Deposit if it is already covered by this new policy?

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-with-confidence

[ldubs]

1 hour ago, Smhp said:

I am looking to book a Royal Caribbean cruise for December 2021 and not sure about purchasing the Refundable Deposit. To me the Cruise with Confidence policy states as long as you cancel a cruise 48 hours before sailing you will get a 100% credit refund including the deposit. Is that correct? I am a bit confused because why are they still charging for a Refundable Deposit if it is already covered by this new policy?

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-with-confidence

 

We were looking at this too.   It seems the diff is between a credit and an actual refund.  At least that is how we want to read it.   I'm following in case someone can clarify.   

[sparks1093]

14 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

We were looking at this too.   It seems the diff is between a credit and an actual refund.  At least that is how we want to read it.   I'm following in case someone can clarify.   

That's also how I read it, and there is a difference between a credit and an actual refund. You'll only have a certain period of time to use the credit and after that you lose it. This isn't usually a concern for us since if we book a cruise we will be taking it unless the cruise line cancels it.

[taglovestocruise]

Refundable deposit will come back to you in cash or applied to charge card used.  CWC  non refundable deposit will come back to you in the form of a FCC/ future cruise credit only good for a year. 

[Host Kat]

6 hours ago, Smhp said:

I am looking to book a Royal Caribbean cruise for December 2021 and not sure about purchasing the Refundable Deposit...

 

Howdy @Smhp and welcome to the Cruise Critic message boards! 

 

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[ldubs]

Thanks Host Kat!  👍

[twangster]

Keep in mind that a refundable deposit only applies prior to final payment due date, typically 90 days before the cruise departs.

 

After final payment is made, the type of deposit is irrelevant and everyone is subject to the cancellation policy or any special programs like CWC.

 

With a refundable deposit if you change your mind for a December cruise in June for example, you get 100% of your deposit back as a refund to the original form of payment.

 

If you make final payment at 90 days before the cruise and then two days later change your mind it's not refundable.  CWC allows you to cancel but you get future cruise credit good for a future cruise.  You would not get a refund if you cancel after final payment has been made. FCC has an expiration date.  It isn't valid for ever.

 

Edited March 4, 2021 by twangster

[lovescats5]

And the refundable deposit only applies to regular rooms, not suites.  Suites are non-refundable, as I understand.

[JimVB]

From my perspective, the restriction that a CWC credit must be used by 4/30/22 for a cruise beginning by 9/30/22 is becoming increasingly problematic.

[Ourusualbeach]

4 minutes ago, JimVB said:

From my perspective, the restriction that a CWC credit must be used by 4/30/22 for a cruise beginning by 9/30/22 is becoming increasingly problematic.

The dates for FCC’s have already been extended twice and I suspect that they will be extended at least once more. 

[JimVB]

23 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The dates for FCC’s have already been extended twice and I suspect that they will be extended at least once more. 

Counting on that.  Our only nonrefundable deposit is for the 9/12/21 Anthem from Southampton that seems unlikely to go as planned, particularly for folks like us coming from the US.

[samlomax]

On 3/3/2021 at 5:36 PM, Smhp said:

I am looking to book a Royal Caribbean cruise for December 2021 and not sure about purchasing the Refundable Deposit. To me the Cruise with Confidence policy states as long as you cancel a cruise 48 hours before sailing you will get a 100% credit refund including the deposit. Is that correct? I am a bit confused because why are they still charging for a Refundable Deposit if it is already covered by this new policy?

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-with-confidence

 

We asked about this when we were offered a much lower cost for booking non refundable way, we are told cruise with confidence does cover you to recieve the non refundable part as a FCC. 

 

Sami.

[not-enough-cruising]

@Ourusualbeach On a related note:  Can a NRD FCC be used to pay balance of an existing cruise, or MUST it be used as a deposit on a new booking?

Edited March 6, 2021 by not-enough-cruising

[molly361]

1 minute ago, not-enough-cruising said:

On a related note:  Can a NRD FCC be used to pay balance of an existing cruise, or MUST it be used as a deposit on a new booking?

It can be used on an existing cruise

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

@Ourusualbeach On a related note:  Can a NRD FCC be used to pay balance of an existing cruise, or MUST it be used as a deposit on a new booking?

 

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

It can be used on an existing cruise

Just as Ellen said

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

It can be used on an existing cruise

 

33 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

Just as Ellen said

Thank you both. 
 

Throughout all this, I have been able to be at net zero on refunds, but I have a NRD deposit coming up on an itinerary I plan to cancel prior to final payment. Just wanted to be sure I could push that $500 to remaining balance on Feb 2022.

[newcruzer2]

On 3/3/2021 at 9:33 PM, JimVB said:

From my perspective, the restriction that a CWC credit must be used by 4/30/22 for a cruise beginning by 9/30/22 is becoming increasingly problematic.

This is exactly what I find SO confusing, my cruise is Dec 2021, the cwc would be an option IF it was "use within 12 months" as originally offered ... But for me to cancel, use FCC by end of April THEN have to sail before 9/30/22 , doesn't work for me.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, newcruzer2 said:

This is exactly what I find SO confusing, my cruise is Dec 2021, the cwc would be an option IF it was "use within 12 months" as originally offered ... But for me to cancel, use FCC by end of April THEN have to sail before 9/30/22 , doesn't work for me.

You would end up having to make final payment  and then cancel up to 3 days before your cruise in order to have your FCC’s extended 12 months.

 

I am guessing that the use by dates on FCC’s will be extended for a third time.  

[JimVB]

5 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You would end up having to make final payment  and then cancel up to 3 days before your cruise in order to have your FCC’s extended 12 months.

 

I am guessing that the use by dates on FCC’s will be extended for a third time.  

For a FCC good for twelve months, is the expiration  (1) book by, (2) begin cruise by, or (3) complete cruise by?

[Ourusualbeach]

46 minutes ago, JimVB said:

For a FCC good for twelve months, is the expiration  (1) book by, (2) begin cruise by, or (3) complete cruise by?

Sail by. (Begin)