New Addition to Future Cruise Credit Display in the Cruise Personalizer

[azbirdmom]

I haven't looked at the FCC section for a few weeks so this may have been there for a while.  But I find it interesting that they have added a new "Type" column that will designate each FCC or FCD listed as "Payment" or "Discount".  What's interesting is that they show all of my FCCs and FCDs as "Discount", even those that originated by cash as opposed to the bonus FCCs that they gave.  I'm wondering if this is a mistake and if it isn't, what would qualify as a "Payment" type.  If what they show is correct, it appears that an FCD may not be usable for a Cruisetour in the future.

 

[Astro Flyer]

My TA shared a Princess email with these statements including…”Now that most FCCs are a form of payment, they are now subject to cancellation fees like any other form of payment”.

 

We've made some changes to the way we apply Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) in our system that will make it easier to use them! Starting this Saturday, Dec 4, most FCCs will apply as a form of payment instead of as a discount against the cruise fare. This has advantages for you and your client, including:

• More ways to use FCCs: This newly enhanced FCC can now be used to pay towards a travel companion’s fare on the same booking. It can also be applied toward other charges such as deposits, Princess^® Vacation Protection, Princess EZair^® flights (flexible fares only), Princess Transfers, Hotel Packages or even taxes, fees and port expenses that are in addition to the cruise fare.*
• More functionality to apply custom amounts: FCCs will continue to auto apply up to each guest's cruise or cruisetour fare amount on whichever system you use to make bookings. However, for POLAR Online^® users we've made some enhancements that allow you to customize the amounts to apply to each booking, pay for a companion's fare or remove the FCC altogether. For GDS users or partners with an independent API, you will need to contact our Reservations Support Team to make these customizations.
•  
• Exceptions: Not all FCCs are changing. There are some “Goodwill” FCCs, often credited by Customer Relations, that will remain a discount and cannot be used as a payment.
• Cancellations: Now that most FCCs are a form of payment, they are now subject to cancellation fees like any other form of payment.

Edited December 5, 2021 by Astro Flyer

[azbirdmom]

Thanks @Astro Flyer.  I wasn't aware of this and allowing the cash value FCCs to be used to pay for items other than cruise fare is a good thing.  Seems like FCDs and cash value FCCs should be considered a "Payment" type and what I'm seeing is a mistake.

[Astro Flyer]

12 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

Thanks @Astro Flyer.  I wasn't aware of this and allowing the cash value FCCs to be used to pay for items other than cruise fare is a good thing.  Seems like FCDs and cash value FCCs should be considered a "Payment" type and what I'm seeing is a mistake.

You’re welcome & maybe what you see will evolve as these changes are fully implemented.
 

As I recall previously FCCs used for cruise fare payment were not subject to cancelation fees but now those fees will apply when canceling a cruise. To me there are more positive than negative changes for their clients.

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by Astro Flyer

[dog]

This explains what I noticed on our booking today. Instead of a credit card refund  for a change to our booking, they applied the refund amount to our payment and gave back the refund amount as FCC. 
I will call this week to try and get it back as a refund to my credit card. Amount was for 2 transfers & 1 Platinum Insurance. $388 

We really need to keep up with these changes happening without notification  

[Astro Flyer]

Here’s the * asterisk definition under “More ways to use FCCs”.

 

*Please note, that Special Service Items, shore excursions, specialty dining reservations and spa appointments are not covered at this time.

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, dog said:

This explains what I noticed on our booking today. Instead of a credit card refund  for a change to our booking, they applied the refund amount to our payment and gave back the refund amount as FCC. 
I will call this week to try and get it back as a refund to my credit card. Amount was for 2 transfers & 1 Platinum Insurance. $388 

We really need to keep up with these changes happening without notification  

 

Wow, that doesn't seem to be part of what was included in that announcement.  And if they intend to turn amenity refunds automatically into FCCs instead of crediting back to the original form of payment, I would expect them to advise everyone in advance about material changes like this.  I'm going to poke around the Princess website to see if any other language is out there about refunds and payments.  Never a dull moment with Princess!

[dog]

8 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Wow, that doesn't seem to be part of what was included in that announcement.  And if they intend to turn amenity refunds automatically into FCCs instead of crediting back to the original form of payment, I would expect them to advise everyone in advance about material changes like this.  I'm going to poke around the Princess website to see if any other language is out there about refunds and payments.  Never a dull moment with Princess!

So, I went in to my travel partner’ account to find the $388 that I expected to have refunded to my credit card. Then I tried to rebook transfers & platinum insurance, but it would not use the FCC, was asking me to pay $388 again. 
 

… even though it can be a long wait on the phone, that is how I get this straightened out 

[pms4104]

I don' know how, but I suspect this change works more to the advantage of Princess than the pax.

[dog]

It looks like they are not allowing me to use FCC to purchase transfers and Princess Insurance, even though the $388 FCC should be refundable  

I paid in full. Final payment was not due until December 28 th. 
just a lot of aggravation dealing with Princess. 

[Steelers36]

15 minutes ago, pms4104 said:

I don' know how, but I suspect this change works more to the advantage of Princess than the pax.

I am sure they wouldn't be doing it if it didn't help them in some way.  Refunding purchases as FCC isn't my idea of an advantage.  Can customers easily cash out Payment FCC's we wonder?  More phone calls instead of automatic refund.

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

Thanks @Astro Flyer.  I wasn't aware of this and allowing the cash value FCCs to be used to pay for items other than cruise fare is a good thing.  Seems like FCDs and cash value FCCs should be considered a "Payment" type and what I'm seeing is a mistake.

Looking at my list, every item is identified as "Discount".  Makes me wonder if they added the new field to the database and initialized it to "Discount" in all cases and will be going back and updating the exception cases to "Payment"  Sheesh - how long will that take?

 

We have Cash Value FCC from cancelled cruises and I would think those to be Payment.

We have FCC Bonus related to those cancelled cruises and I would think those to be Discount.

We have FCD dollars applied to bookings.  Those are clearly Payment, but they are all marked Discount. 

If no altered, these would screw the TA commission according to Princess language posted by @Astro Flyer.

 

[dog]

My Goodwill & bonus & entire FCC has been applied to my next cruise as now called Discount. 
Person travelling with me has had $388 FCC , & $101 taken off payment & returned as FCC 

 

there is no way to tell what is going on with our accounts other then calling 

[Steelers36]

3 minutes ago, dog said:

My Goodwill & bonus & entire FCC has been applied to my next cruise as now called Discount. 
Person travelling with me has had $388 FCC , & $101 taken off payment & returned as FCC 

 

there is no way to tell what is going on with our accounts other then calling 

I am not too worried as our FCC was applied to our first date booking as additonal down payment.  As long as I don't lose any dollars....  I will keep an eye on the list and see if anything changes. 

[Astro Flyer]

Their SVP of sales has an upcoming webinar about the changes but it’s likely to be primarily details for TAs about the process. In the past his webinars were available to anyone on his Facebook page & on the Princess YouTube channel. As a client I’ve learned some useful info even though they’re primarily geared for TAs to share with their clients…I preferred hearing it directly on a webinar.

 

“We’ll be doing a Connect with Princess Webinar, Thurs., Dec 16, at 11am PT/2pm ET”.

 

[dog]

Is there a limit as to how many times you can move your FCC to a different cruise? 
Mine all have a Book by/ sail by date of December 31/22.

After seeing these changes I’m not hopeful they will be extending them to 2023. 

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, Astro Flyer said:

Their SVP of sales has an upcoming webinar about the changes but it’s likely to be primarily details for TAs about the process. In the past his webinars were available to anyone on his Facebook page & on the Princess YouTube channel. As a client I’ve learned some useful info even though they’re primarily geared for TAs to share with their clients…I preferred hearing it directly on a webinar.

 

“We’ll be doing a Connect with Princess Webinar, Thurs., Dec 16, at 11am PT/2pm ET”.

 

 

I saw the info about the rah rah session for Medallion scheduled this Tuesday on his FB page but didn't hear anything about the one on the 16th.  I sure hope that someone reports anything of note from that session.  The 16th will be our last full day in Maui and I think we will be otherwise occupied enjoying the lovely sands and surf of Kaanapali!

Edited December 6, 2021 by azbirdmom

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

 

I saw the info about the rah rah session for Medallion scheduled this Tuesday on his FB page but didn't hear anything about the one on the 16th.  I sure hope that someone reports anything of note from that session.  The 16th will be our last full day in Maui and I think we will be otherwise occupied enjoying the lovely sands and surf of Kaanapali!

Oh I would love to be on his rah rah session and fire in a bunch of questions and see him squirm.

[waterbabyfish]

Am I'm correct to assume that the TA can apply the fcc's  towards ezair and cruise taxes also? I have fccs and goodwill fccs

[dog]

7 hours ago, waterbabyfish said:

Am I'm correct to assume that the TA can apply the fcc's  towards ezair and cruise taxes also? I have fccs and goodwill fccs

That’s what it says, but

 

in my case it is not happening. 
 

I will have to call Princess to pay with my FCC. 

[dog]

14 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

You’re welcome & maybe what you see will evolve as these changes are fully implemented.
 

As I recall previously FCCs used for cruise fare payment were not subject to cancelation fees but now those fees will apply when canceling a cruise. To me there are more positive than negative changes for their clients.

 

would Princess Platinum Vacation Insurance cover FCC? 

[azbirdmom]

5 hours ago, dog said:

would Princess Platinum Vacation Insurance cover FCC? 

 

Thinking it should.  The PVP turns cancellation fees back into FCC.

[dog]

On 12/5/2021 at 2:14 PM, Astro Flyer said:

You’re welcome & maybe what you see will evolve as these changes are fully implemented.
 

As I recall previously FCCs used for cruise fare payment were not subject to cancelation fees but now those fees will apply when canceling a cruise. To me there are more positive than negative changes for their clients.

 

Today—-FCC—- go to personalizer, cruise credits- help—- new information there. 
 

also further to changes I noticed to accounts—- travel companion got $388 refund I was expecting as a FCC & they also gave an extra $300 casino credit I knew nothing about 

 

still trying to talk to agent today 

[azbirdmom]

3 hours ago, dog said:

Today—-FCC—- go to personalizer, cruise credits- help—- new information there. 
 

also further to changes I noticed to accounts—- travel companion got $388 refund I was expecting as a FCC & they also gave an extra $300 casino credit I knew nothing about 

 

still trying to talk to agent today 

 

Nothing new shown on mine.  Both FCDs and cash value FCCs still show as discount.  Good luck getting through to someone!

[ebeluga]

I wish they itemized the payment received to make a distinction between FCD and FCC.  It was already a challenge to keep track of them as it was with cancellation, refund and redeposit!