Open Booking Deposit Program

[Keith1010]

Just got the letter a few minutes ago.

 

I am sure they are being staggered over days as some got it the other day which makes a lot of sense.  The system worked very well but any system might be more challenged if lots of people are in at the same time.

 

Keith

 

It started with Dr Mr.  (my surname)

 

[wearesiamese]

43 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Just got the letter a few minutes ago.

 

I am sure they are being staggered over days as some got it the other day which makes a lot of sense.  The system worked very well but any system might be more challenged if lots of people are in at the same time.

 

Keith

 

It started with Dr Mr.  (my surname)

 

I see they do not mention  returning to Hawaii or South America or Mexico in their letter here 😞

[KenzSailing]

TA says I got mine.

 

 

[PaulMCO]

Anyone notice the Port of Reykjavik schedule for Aug 2023??

 

Edited December 16, 2022 by PaulMCO

[wearesiamese]

Nice searching :)Looks like Iceland may be in my near future 🙂

[KenzSailing]

1 hour ago, PaulMCO said:

Anyone notice the Port of Reykjavik schedule for Aug 2023??

 

 

Nice work Colombo!

[Keith1010]

11 hours ago, wearesiamese said:

I see they do not mention  returning to Hawaii or South America or Mexico in their letter here 😞

Good catch.

 

Logic tells me a stop for sure in Hawaii but since not mentioned it looks like in that time frame it wouldn't include a R/T involving Hawaii.

 

We have to remember that it's not even a 18 month schedule so with 2 ships it's not going to hit everywhere.  😀

 

Keith

[Keith1010]

2 hours ago, PaulMCO said:

Anyone notice the Port of Reykjavik schedule for Aug 2023??

 

Now I do.  😀

 

Keith

[Ken the cruiser]

@Keith1010, thank you so much for starting this thread. I apologize if someone has already asked and answered this question. A few years ago, Crystal started charging a rather large cancellation fee, depending on cruise length, even if you cancelled your booking well before the final payment date. Have you heard if the “new” Crystal will be applying similar cancellation fees, especially if done well prior to the FP date?
 

The Open Deposit sounds interesting. But at the same time not so much if they tack on a $500 cancellation fee if we book a 2024 cruise with an OD and then later have to cancel over a year out for whatever reason.

[Keith1010]

1 minute ago, Ken the cruiser said:

@Keith1010, thank you so much for starting this thread. I apologize if someone has already asked and answered this question. A few years ago, Crystal started charging a rather large cancellation fee, depending on cruise length, even if you cancelled your booking well before the final payment date. Have you heard if the “new” Crystal will be applying similar cancellation fees, especially if done well prior to the FP date?
 

The Open Deposit sounds interesting. But at the same time not so much if they tack on a $500 cancellation fee if we book a 2024 cruise with an OD and then later have to cancel over a year out for whatever reason.

HI Ken the cruiser.

 

RIght now I only know two related items.  One can cancel the open booking and get the full deposit of $500 returned.  Also, when it comes time to make a booking it states that it will require a 25% deposit.  Other than that I have not heard if there will be a cancellation fee and, if so, ow much after the full deposit is made.  Those are details which I am sure will come at the time they release pricing and open up the system for full deposits/bookings.

 

Keith

[Ken the cruiser]

7 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

HI Ken the cruiser.

 

RIght now I only know two related items.  One can cancel the open booking and get the full deposit of $500 returned.  Also, when it comes time to make a booking it states that it will require a 25% deposit.  Other than that I have not heard if there will be a cancellation fee and, if so, ow much after the full deposit is made.  Those are details which I am sure will come at the time they release pricing and open up the system for full deposits/bookings.

 

Keith

Thanks Keith! Just curious, what state are you in? We’re currently in the Indian Ocean heading for Richard’s Bay SA on the NCL Jade on a 38-day B2B from Athens to Cape Town. It’s a little after 2 pm here, and I thought everyone would be asleep in the US right now! 😂

[Keith1010]

7 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Thanks Keith! Just curious, what state are you in? We’re currently in the Indian Ocean heading for Richard’s Bay SA on the NCL Jade on a 38-day B2B from Athens to Cape Town. It’s a little after 2 pm here, and I thought everyone would be asleep in the US right now! 😂

Ken the cruiser....I'm in Central time but have been up a few hours.  Maybe I should just say I'm on UK time.  LOL.

Keith

[Ken the cruiser]

12 minutes ago, Keith1010 said:

Ken the cruiser....I'm in Central time but have been up a few hours.  Maybe I should just say I'm on UK time.  LOL.

Keith

If you’re bored, I’ve got a Live From thread going over on the NCL forum. Anyway, thanks for the quick feedback. We’ll just wait to see what itineraries Crystal will be offering once they post them. We moved away from the old Crystal when they added a $500 cancellation fee on cruises over 21 days, even we you cancelled a year prior to the FP date, which we mostly book.

Edited December 16, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[bitob]

The biggest cancellation fees were when they went bankrupt 

[Mr Luxury]

I see also that New Crystal will be charging for Specialty dining venues. 

 

[PaulMCO]

13 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

I see also that New Crystal will be charging for Specialty dining venues. 

 

I would expect some SS traditions to come to the new Crystal, including the charity donation on your bill.

[Mr Luxury]

1 minute ago, PaulMCO said:

I would expect some SS traditions to come to the new Crystal, including the charity donation on your bill.

Oh yes the dreaded charity for the Chairman's wife.

Let's hope that it is not all of the extra dining options.

[Mr Luxury]

Will they also offer Door to Door or Port to Port booking options?

[PaulMCO]

5 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

Will they also offer Door to Door or Port to Port booking options?

That was a RCL invention -- which wants me to cancel.  But then I cannot...

Edited December 16, 2022 by PaulMCO

[hypercafe]

37 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

I would expect some SS traditions to come to the new Crystal, including the charity donation on your bill.

I expect the new Crystal to be a incarnate of the old SS before RCI got involved.

[May B]

1 hour ago, Mr Luxury said:

I see also that New Crystal will be charging for Specialty dining venues. 

 

Where did you see that?

[Mr Luxury]

1 minute ago, May B said:

Where did you see that?

It's there in the print.

Specialty dining is one of the ways that you can spend your "As you wish"  shipboard credit.

[johng75370]

2 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

Specialty dining is one of the ways that you can spend your "As you wish"  shipboard credit

Could mean the Vintage Room, assuming they bring it back.

[Mr Luxury]

2 minutes ago, johng75370 said:

Could mean the Vintage Room, assuming they bring it back.

Who knows,time will tell. 😁

 

Could be a restaurant named Le Champagne 😉

Edited December 16, 2022 by Mr Luxury

[May B]

16 minutes ago, Mr Luxury said:

It's there in the print.

Specialty dining is one of the ways that you can spend your "As you wish"  shipboard credit.

Could be the Vintage Room, or extra visits to Prego and Umi Uma, for some categories.

 

If all visits are up charges, I think that’s the best way to use obc.

 

I didn’t see spa visits. 
 

Time will tell.