Refaring and losing OBC/other promos?

[gameazel]

Would anyone know if refaring due to price drops (especially before final payment is due) results in a loss of OBC - specifically, the OBC received from making the booking while onboard a previous cruise? Thank you! 

[Duquesmom]

Sometimes it does & sometimes it doesn’t.  We just had a fare adjusted & were able to keep our OBC.

Edited December 17, 2023 by Duquesmom

[Mary229]

Refaring and preserving perks is a job for a PCC or very experienced TA.  You will get the best results if you seek assistance 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

26 minutes ago, Duquesmom said:

Sometimes it does & sometimes it doesn’t.  We just had a fare adjusted & were able to keep our OBC.

I agree 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

You never loose the OBC from a Future Cruise Deposit.

[REOVA]

Depends on what the refare price includes compared to what you currently have. Also depends on who you (or your TA) talks with (who answers the phone) at HAL. You (or your TA) will need to be referred to a pricing specialist at HAL not just the call service as they may tell you different things. 

[FlaMariner]

Our experience with "cancelling and rebooking" or "re-faring" because of a price drop:

 

We never loose OBC from our FCD or shareholder benefit

We sometimes loose OBC that was based on the original promotion when we signed up

We sometimes loose OBC from the "welcome back" promo (based on if still valid)

We sometimes loose OBC from the "Mariner cruise just out" promo

We gain OBC based on the new promotion/sale/terms

(I say sometimes because we have had incidents where the OBC has stayed and sometimes it has gone away)

 

Our recent re-fare (because of price drop) somehow left us with all the original OBC and free gratuities.  The TA could not believe it either.  We remained silent and enjoyed the journey......seemed that was a mistake in our favor. 

 

When there is a fare drop, we give it a try and see what falls out......

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by FlaMariner

[crystalspin]

4 hours ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

You never loose the OBC from a Future Cruise Deposit.

I swear we did when we moved from a 24-day R/T Boston to the 35-day Voyage of the Vikings also R/T Boston... will have to check Booking Confirmations.

[DaveOKC]

12 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

I swear we did when we moved from a 24-day R/T Boston to the 35-day Voyage of the Vikings also R/T Boston... will have to check Booking Confirmations.

You should not lose this credit as its tied to the original deal of purchasing the FCD.  You might lose the additional Thank you for sailing OBC.

[crystalspin]

Just now, DaveOKC said:

You should not lose this credit as its tied to the original deal of purchasing the FCD.  You might lose the additional Thank you for sailing OBC.

We may have only lost the Welcome Back, for booking the original cruise shortly after returning from the one we bought the FCDs on.

[Bill B]

In a nutshell - if you re-fare, you will lose the OBC/perks associated with a promo you booked under (assuming the promo is no longer running). You will not lose the OBC received from making the booking while onboard a previous cruise; or: military service, AARP, and community appreciation OBC.

 

The lead-in price for my 28-day cruise just dropped $140 pp, but to re-fare I would lose my HIA Early Booking Bonus perks: upgrade to Elite Beverage Package & Premium Wi-Fi and gratuities. I will not be re-faring.

Edited December 17, 2023 by Bill B

[Mary229]

3 minutes ago, Bill B said:

In a nutshell - if you re-fare, you will lose the OBC/perks associated with a promo you booked under (assuming the promo is no longer running). You will not lose the OBC received from making the booking while onboard a previous cruise; or: military service, AARP, and community appreciation OBC.

 

The lead-in price for my 28-day cruise just dropped $140 pp, but to re-fare I would lose my HIA Early Booking Bonus perks: upgrade to Elite Beverage Package & Premium Wi-Fi. $300 shore excursion credit, 2 Pinnacle Grill and 1 Canaletto dinners, and gratuities. I will not be re-faring.

Not always.  Maybe you need a better agent😉

[Bill B]

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Not always.  Maybe you need a better agent😉

 

The Early Booking Bonus (EBB) no longer applies (and I've edited the post to reflect what I would lose if I re-fared with HIA). No agent can 'bring back' the EBB.

[Mary229]

2 minutes ago, Bill B said:

 

The Early Booking Bonus (EBB) no longer applies (and I've edited the post to reflect what I would lose if I re-fared with HIA). No agent can 'bring back' the EBB.

If you don’t cancel and rebook it can be preserved.   I occasionally may lose a perk but never a single type of perk.  It depends on the negotiation that takes place. 

[ontheweb]

We once had a refare that we lost the reduced deposit. If we were not warned by our TA, we would have lost the cruise by not paying the additional deposit.

[Mary229]

4 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

We once had a refare that we lost the reduced deposit. If we were not warned by our TA, we would have lost the cruise by not paying the additional deposit.

A good TA is priceless.  Whenever I want a change she sends a bullet point list sized by side comparison.  

[cbr663]

You shouldn't lose the OBC from booking onboard.  Deposits when booking onboard are refundable and you are simply asking that HAL honour the new price on the same cruise.  But, unfortunately, it does sometimes depend on the PCC that you connect with.  If they do try and take it away, ask to speak with a pricing specialist.

 

Earlier this year I had to cancel a cruise that I booked while onboard and wanted to use the FCD from that onboard booked cruise to book another cruise.  For some reason that no one could explain to me why they reduced the amount of OBC on the new booking.

[gameazel]

Thank you all very much for sharing your experiences! I'm on the Westerdam now and will proceed to book then - I was torn between holding on to a booking I made with prepaid gratuities or cancelling that and making a new reservation while onboard, as it's quite likely that the fare will drop significantly before sailing and I suspect I would lose my prepaid gratuities if re-fared. Much appreciated.