Have you ever had a C&A coupon refused?

[rance222]

Received my C&A magazine today and called Costco travel to apply the coupon.
The agent told me that sometimes RC won't apply the coupon if they feel the rate is too low to begin with.

Was just wondering if anyone has ever had their coupon refused and when they won't apply it?

I was happy with the price to begin with so this would just be an added bonus.

Thanks

[bbrad8]

raance222,

We did have this happen with a [B]FORMER[/B] TA. Our research found that it is actually the TA that is usually the one who is refusing to accept the coupon, irrespective of what they are saying. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img] Please note this is not allows the case, but it was in our situation (thus the former TA status).

Hope this helps.

Bruce

[abridalmaven]

Yes, but airfare was included in our price so it was hard to argue. The money we would have saved would hve been offset by the higher plane fare.

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[cujosmom]

Rance, Have you made final payment already? If so, I'd just go ahead and mail the coupon direct to RCI. You will get a credit to your credit card. I have done this twice (I booked through an agent).

I was turned down once for a stockholder credit because they said our rate was too low for it to apply. Once I was on board, I gave our stockholder information to guest relations and got the ship board credit.

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[rance222]

No, I haven't made the final payment yet.I called Costco and they said they would send the code into RC thru their computer system.

They said it would take 3-4 weeks to know if the coupon can be applied.

Question:
So if it doesn't get applied are you saying I could take it on board and try for a ship credit?
Would that be thru the pursers desk or where?

Thanks alot for the info.

[cmitch9999]

We had a problem with a well known internet agent who wanted us to pay her $50 to make the call to RCL to verify our coupon after RCL had claimed it was not recieved!!!!

It is up to the travel agent to accept it and RCL will not tell you if they won't, they will just say they don't have the coupon.

After WE offered to discount the coupon by the commission that would be lost by the agent..she finally accepted the coupon on our booking.
Chris Mitchell

16 Voyages completed 1999-2004, 81 wonderful days at sea
dreaming of ....
Norwegian Crown 8/04
Carnival Fascination 11/04

[banderboo]

Just had one refused for our Sept. cruise. said you couldn't use it w/residency fares. I even called RCL directly to see if they would offer on board credit instead. No luck. I even tried whining - no luck. oh well we got a good deal so I'm not going to complain

Diane
Legend of the Sea 9/12/04
Voyager of the Sea 8/24/03
Sovereign of the Sea 07/01

[Driftwoodgal]

I wish I had the fairy tail ending that some people have had the luck of getting a credit. The internet company (icruise) that we booked with, would not take our coupon even though we asked if they would honor price drops. We were told by C & A that they would accept the coupon after final payment. We made the final payment and they wouldn't take it. Moral to this story... If you are happy with the price you booked your cruise at... all of the rest is just a plus for you. Ask all of your questions up front and get it in writing if you expect a lower price than what you booked with your TA. Point well taken about the FORMER TA post. Icuise doesn't have my business anymore.

God bless you and yours.

[NTC9414]

Icruise would not accept coupons from me either, which they did tell me up front when I booked. I had trouble with them honoring a price drop or upgrading our cabin, they wouldn't respond to phone calls or e-mails - until I cancelled.

[Mark_K]

Driftwoodgal,

A coupon is not a price drop, it is a coupon. A price drop is when the cruise starts selling for less money, generally.

rance2222,

There was a thread not long ago from someone who had RCI tell them their price was too good for them to use a coupon. You could try doing a search.

----------------------------------------------------------

"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits" Mark Twain

"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's formal night attire, poolside attire, child rearing practices, walk-talkie usage, chair hogging, seat saving, line cutting ..." Mark_K

[DMorris]

Had a long talk with the C&A department at RCCL one day. The lady was very informative and said that RCCL always honors c&a coupons, but it is up to the agency to give you that credit. If the agency gives you partial credit and tells you that RCCL didn't honor the full amount, that is a lie. RCCL always honors the full amount of C&A coupons per the nice lady at the C&A department.

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RCCL Voyager of the Seas 10/26/03
Carnival Pride 11/9/02
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[aqusis]

I would have to believe that there are indeed some cruises for which the coupon would not be valid. On the back of each of the coupons in the C&A Magazine it says it capital letters "THIS COUPON CANNOT BE USED WITH CERTAIN RESTRICTED FARES"....It also says 'offer is not combinable with any ofhter promotion or offer.....'

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Mariner of the Seas

[Family of 14]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Had a long talk with the C&A department at RCCL one day. The lady was very informative and said that RCCL always honors c&a coupons, but it is up to the agency to give you that credit. If the agency gives you partial credit and tells you that RCCL didn't honor the full amount, that is a lie. RCCL always honors the full amount of C&A coupons per the nice lady at the C&A department. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So, in other words, are you saying that the coupon amount gets taken out of the TA commission? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
I sent my coupons to my TA and she said "no problem."

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[DMorris]

I do not know if it affects their commission or not. All I know is RCCL always applies the full amount of the coupons and it is up to the TA to apply it correctly on your invoice. I heard that some TA's are paid a percentage and some are paid by volume. Not a TA so I don't know the exact structure of commissions.

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RCCL Adventure of the Seas 11/14/04
RCCL Voyager of the Seas 10/26/03
Carnival Pride 11/9/02
Premier Cruise Lines (5 sailings)

[Family of 14]

Well, I don't think it would be fair for RCCL to offer $ off coupons if they are not going to take the deduction off their profit and instead have the deduction come off the TA commission. If this is the case, no wonder so many TA's do not accept the coupons. Mt TA is the one that told me to be on the lookout for them in the mail.

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[DMorris]

I agree with you...

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Until our Martian Yatch Club Adventure

RCCL Adventure of the Seas 11/14/04
RCCL Voyager of the Seas 10/26/03
Carnival Pride 11/9/02
Premier Cruise Lines (5 sailings)

[Mark_K]

Family of 14,

I believe from RCI's point of view the Coupon comes off the cruise price. Since a percentage of the cruise price goes to the TA, they have to accept the fact that their commission will be less since the cruise price is, in effect, less. Not much different than what happens when RCI drops the price and the TA honors the price drop.

A lot of TA's accept the lessened commission. Some, especially the discounters operating on a lower margin, either disount the coupon or avoid the whole situation by not accepting them at all.

------------------------------------------------------

"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits" Mark Twain

"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's formal night attire, poolside attire, child rearing practices, walk-talkie usage, chair hogging, seat saving, line cutting ..." Mark_K

[kbt2]

Nope, never had one refused. We had a 50.00 one for a 3 night cruise and it was applied. i sent mine directly to the RCI addy on back, skipped the travel agent part, and about 5 weeks after mailing it was applied to our cruise. And trust me our cruise rate was inexpensive to begin with and the coupon was applied. Make a copy of front and back of the coupon and then mail directly to RCI in Miami. Cut out the "middle man".

Kim
Dawn Princess
Regal Princess
Grand Princess
Mercury - Celebrity
Windward - NCL
Monarch of the Seas
Voyager of the Seas

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[Family of 14]

Mark_K - Thank you for that explanation. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I have to believe that my TA is doing everything in the best interest of her clients. She has repeatedly told us to be on the lookout for coupons and price reductions. She also told me to mail the coupon's to her. Once, we received a coupon that was past the full payment date and Judi told us to mail it direct to RCCL. It was honored. Same thing happened when we decided to book a cruise and use two $200 off certificates that we had received in payment of a past problem. We discovered the coupons had expired when we thought they were good for booking until the end of a month (they expired at the end). TA told us to send them in and see what happens. We got $400 off that cruise we booked.

kbt2 had some great advice. Always make back up copies of everything. You just never know when you might need it.

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