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Longer cruises and voyages to Alaska, Europe and the Panama Canal, as well as ocean crossings, require a deposit of $400 per person. In the past 6 months, I've cancelled flights on Delta, United, and American (last week). All gave me full credit with no penalty on non-refundable economy fares. Prior to this policy change, guests with a FCC would be required to put a cash deposit down first on a new reservation, and then apply a FCC to the reservation. You must complete the deadline to avoid causing significant problems with your booking. If you don't pay your deposit by the set date, the cruise company will cancel your booking without warning.
How do deposits work for cruises?
Under the "old" rules, nonrefundable deposits didn't offer any sort of flexibility. When most people book a cruise, they typically choose not to pay for it in full right then and there. To reserve a room onboard, cruise lines will accept a deposit, a portion of the full cruise fare, to secure your place. Please note this policy does not apply to guests booked on chartered sailings.
Leaving your current travel agent on the reservation
No, the real difference is you can outright cancel a booking made on board and only be out $200. And the issue with airlines similar to many hotels is that while there is in fact a non refundable offering, the difference is very minimal compared to Celebrity pricing of refundable vs non. But people who are not 100% certain of traveling may simply book with other lines with less onerous terms. Like @NorthStarStateCruiserI was thinking this also, but is $100 change fee new?
The In-Depth Guide to Royal Caribbean Drink Package - Cruise Blog
The In-Depth Guide to Royal Caribbean Drink Package.
Posted: Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Why is Royal Caribbean making this change?
Norwegian's deposits are fully refundable, but all voyages, regardless of length or cabin type, must be paid in full at least 120 days in advance. That's earlier than what other cruise lines require for basic cabin types and standard-length sailings. If you have the funds to pay for the entire amount of your sailing right away, feel free. Plus, as an incentive, some cruise lines extend additional perks or discounts to entice travelers to lock in their plans at the time of booking. Historically, refundable cruise fares were the norm and they offer greater flexibility especially if vacation plans are not firm.
Norwegian Cruise Line Kicks off European Season With New Options
To prevent any extra changes, check which travel agent is on file before you pay for your next cruise. For example, if you booked your cruise on some random website, and then decide to book a new cruise once onboard, the reservation will automatically go back to that original agency. If you don’t confirm that this is what you want, you could end up going home and needing to change or cancel the cruise. With NextCruise, you can book your next cruise right onboard, having another fun experience guaranteed before you even get off the ship. Booking a cruise onboard at NextCruise offers promising deals and benefits.
Upon checkout, choose from different options like gift card, credit card or pay over time with Affirm. Beginning with reservations made on or after June 1, 2022, if a guest were to cancel their non-refundable fare, the full deposit amount will be withheld by the cruise line. Planning a cruise vacation should be an exciting and stress-free experience. By understanding Royal Caribbean’s deposit policy and following the guidelines outlined in this guide, you can ensure a smooth booking process and enjoy your cruise to the fullest. Furthermore, the new policy also applies to Junior Suites, which will also have non-refundable deposits for new bookings on or after June 1, 2023. Refundable cruise fares cost more than non-refundable, but allow more flexibility when cancelling a cruise.
What if you upgrade your cabin?
If the value of the FCC does not cover the full deposit amount, additional funds will be required to meet the total deposit needs and, thereafter, the remaining balance due at Final Payment. Extra work like this negates the ease of booking at NextCruise, so try to avoid changing the travel agent after booking. If you don’t want this to be the case—maybe you’d like to keep the reservation for yourself, or use a different travel agent—you’ll need to change this manually.
This includes the amount of money you need to pay and any extra things you have to think about for different cruise lengths and rooms. From cotton-candy sunsets in Santorini to giant glaciers in Alaska and post-card pretty beaches in the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean® offers the boldest adventures on the industry’s best ships. Explore the world on your own terms with flexible payment plans through Affirm†. Book now and pay over time for as low as 0% APR with no late or hidden fees. Refundable cruise fares cost more, but allow more flexibility when cancelling a cruise.
Provided the reservation is before final payment date, refundable cruise fares are eligible for repricing, as well as changing to a different sail date or ship without penalty. Typically, if your plans change or something comes up that forces you to cancel your booking, you will not be able to recoup your cruise deposit. Change fees can be incurred if you decide to change ship or sail date with a nonrefundable deposit option. In early 2020, as COVID-19 began to take hold, virtually all cruise lines revamped their cancellation policies in an effort to offer reassurance to passengers who were on the fence about booking in an era of uncertainty. While most cruise lines have indicated the flexible policies are temporary, we have seen extensions as the pandemic has gone on.
I don't believe Galapagos sailings have a non-refundable deposit option so they are unaffected. It’s a tough call for Celebrity and Royal, clearly the intent is to reduce the speculative multiple bookings that many people make then cancel prior to final payment. If Carrier received payment via credit card, the refund will be made to that credit card. If Carrier received payment from your travel advisor, the refund will be provided back to that travel advisor. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the sailing, from the date to ship to unexpected fees, be careful that you aren’t booking with a non-refundable fee. The onboard credit varies depending on the length of the sailing and the type of stateroom you choose.
No, the new stricter policy goes into effect with bookings made starting tomorrow. It is worth noting you can change from refundable to non-refundable fare at any time (but not back). Before you confirm your next cruise, check the prices of any additional travel you’ll need to do to make it to the port.
The NextCruise agent will likely automatically quote you a non-refundable deposit. There’s a sea of incredible benefits to enjoy with the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature® card even when you’re not sailing. From rental car coverage and roadside assistance to price protection and purchase security, cardholders enjoy these benefits with their card. Or make a lump sum payment for the entire balance no later than the final payment date. In short, guests get a lower price and the cruise line gets more protection against a last-minute cancellation.
Deposits for Royal Caribbean bookings are generally nonrefundable at any time unless cruisers specifically purchase fully refundable fares. For Alaska, Bermuda, Caribbean, Canada/New England, Europe, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal and long Hawaii voyages, final payment must be made no fewer than 75 days prior to sailing. For all other cruises — including holiday voyages, voyages longer than 30 days and segments of voyages longer than 30 days — full payment must be received at least 90 days before embarkation. Deposits for Celebrity bookings are generally nonrefundable at any time unless cruisers specifically purchase fully refundable fares.
The decision to opt for one or the other largely has to do with your risk tolerance, personal preferences and how you vacation. Other lines, like Holland America Line, are even offering double the cruise deposit as a future cruise credit for passengers with voyages that have been canceled involuntarily. This will typically be spelled out clearly on the cruise line's website at time of booking, or by your travel advisor. It's always best to comb through the fine print, especially when booking a promotional fare, or consult a cruise or travel professional for reassurance before booking. Carrier reserves the right to offer promotional cruise fares or other offers that may modify the cancellation policies set forth above. Even if you choose a refundable deposit and get home and confirm that the cruise details still work for you, you can change the booking to a non-refundable deposit type.
A Royal Caribbean Gift Card can pay for a portion of your cruise — or someone else’s. They’re easy to purchase, send, and redeem toward cruises and onboard purchases on U.S. sailings. Select Affirm during checkout for instant financing options to cruise now and pay later — even after your vacation has ended. The Future Cruise Credit component is being discontinued and will no longer apply when canceling under this policy outside of the final payment period.
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