RRFan

1 hour ago, margretha said:

We were going to book a cruise and I jumped through the AARP hoop only to find our TA booked the cruise the day before I submitted the AARP info. She has a lot on her plate but losing out on the OBC did sting a little so I'm going to try that reservations email and see what happens. Also, was not aware you could only get some of the OBC once - like the military one. I jumped through that hoop only to be told we had already taken advantage of it on a prior cruise.

Sigh.

margretha

I know Princess gives the veteran’s benefit on every single cruise. We aren’t vets but they tell me once their Vet status was on file with PCL that benefit was automatically applied to every cruise they booked without them having to ask for it ever again. Kind of surprising that HAL would limit that. As I said earlier, we had booked a cruise weeks before I ever even knew about the AARP or educator benefit, but since I applied on the HAL site and got them verified, HAL automatically applied it to our next cruise. We didn’t know until we got onboard and checked our statement on the Navigator app that we got the OBC for all of it. What I don’t know is how to get it applied to my next two coming up later this year.  

Here is my experience.  We are stock owners (have been for years).  We already had two cruises booked with HAL for 2024 when I read about the AARP and Educator benefits in March.  I submitted both requests but did not expect to get them on our April cruise since it was already booked.  We were notified that the AARP and Educator status was verified, but never got any confirmation on credit being applied.  When we boarded the ship and checked our statement on the Navigator app, we had $300 OBC that we weren't expecting (we were expecting the owner's benefit and this was in addition).  So Yeah!! and yes it was combined with our owner's benefit, the TA benefit from the booking and both husband and I got the AARP (we have two numbers) plus I got the educator benefit.  

While onboard, we booked an August cruise and I was asking the future cruise person about the AARP and Educator benefits and told her we got them on the current cruise.  She said to tell our TA (we were transferring the booking to our local TA) and the TA would be able to get them applied.  My TA says he will look at that this week.  I got the feeling this was something new to him but he hated to admit he was going to have to figure it out.  So hoping for the best and will follow up with HAL if he tells me he can't do it.  Such a surprising benefit amount (all 3 cruises were two weeks in length BTW).  

I was skeptical about the new Stockperks app. Have used it twice now and it was fine. Yesterday I sent my request for our August cruise and was approved within 4 hours.  I wish I could go ahead and do our Oct cruise too but not sure I can. 

7 minutes ago, McDeb2119 said:

Let us how it worked for you and the steps you had to take. I have an existing booking as well that I was unsure if the AARP OBC could be added.  I am also on a casino rate so I figured it was unlikely. 

I had read it’s not combinable with casino rates, but not sure. 

43 minutes ago, scooter6139 said:

We did, but my wife is the teacher so it was on hers and I have the AARP on mine.

 

Unsure if they can be stacked on the same person.

Thanks!  Did it happen automatically or did you have to contact HAL to have them applied?  The teacher benefit is on me and our AARP is on my husband too.  Thanks for the reply!  

On 4/6/2024 at 6:03 PM, LastCallForCoffee said:

Thanks fellow travelers for the replies. The email we got does show SC as of now.  So, I’m going to go curl up in the corner in fetal position. Maybe they will call us and try to upsell a better room. 

For your future reference, at the time you book your guaranteed cabin, you can specify what category you want to be in.  Of course, the price differs with the category.  We always book the lowest category we could be happy with, assuming we might end up in that category.  Any placement above that makes us feel like we get a good deal on the price we paid.  The downside is that we are 10 days out from a cruise and still no cabin assignment.  We have only one time regretted accepting an upgrade and it was on Princess not HAL.  They upgraded us to a large aft cabin but it was right next to a door that led up stairs to the outside area and the big metal door banged open and closed constantly.  We could go secure it, but any time someone went out or in the door, it didn't fasten back and started banging with the wind.  We complained a bunch to customer svc and they sent people to work on it but it never resolved itself.  You can also specify NO UPGRADE accepted if you want to be in the category you book.

Has anyone been successful in getting either or both of these benefits applied to existing sailings?  I just heard about them and have been verified for both and clicked "redeem offer" on both.  I have two fully-paid for upcoming cruises, one on April 21 and the other one in October.  Just wondering if there's any chance the OBC might get applied to these cruises.  I've read a thread where some say it can be applied to existing bookings and other people saying it has to be a new booking after you've been verified.  Also, if this something that must be done each time or will it attach to our mariner number and be automatically applied? In a time when cruise lines are cutting benefits and loyalty perks, this is fantastic!!    Thanks in advance for any insight! 

11 hours ago, drowelf said:

I uploaded my modified statement on the 15th and still awaiting StockPerks to complete the validation. Anyone else had it take this long? The email I received after the upload said I would receive further communication in 2 business days. Well its been more than 2 so far. 

Did you go back into the app afterward and “redeem” the perk?  It’s a two-step process. Instructions are not very clear. You have to 1) upload your documentation and then once they verify it you go back in and 2) REDEEM (their term) the perk. 

“They do not want the liability of having the physical address tied to someone's portfolio that may be quite large. “
 

We have always blacked out all other stocks on our brokerage stmt. The only one they see is CCL stock. We did the same with Stockperks. The same with address and our account number. We’ve done that since ‘08 and have always gotten the perk. We’ve only done it once w the new app but it also worked fine.  I agree it is largely on the honor system.  It used to be that the brokerage statement had to be “current” (like within the quarter you were applying for). I don’t think the app specified that but I could be wrong. We used the most recent one we had.  

26 minutes ago, julia said:

Nope... it is 100% NOT an FCC. StockPerks did NOT ask for a booking #, and this credit showed up following my redemption, and as you can see, the credit is good for one year. 

OK.  Stockperks does not ask for the booking number until you get approved and you go back in to redeem it. The redemption part definitely asks for the booking number. Your booking number tells them how long the cruise is and how much owner’s OBC to give you. 

8 hours ago, julia said:

Just making sure that after "approved" you went back into StockPerks and hit "redeem perk"?

My OBC was approved, redeemed, and showing in my Nav App in about ten days...

Forgive me if I’m wrong, but that looks like a future cruise deposit credit. I mean the OBC that goes with applying a FCC deposit. See where it shows you have to use it by Jan 2 ‘25?  The stockholders OBC says something like owner’s credit or whatever and it would be tied to a specific booking number. I don’t see my stockholder’s OBC yet for my April cruise on Navigator, but I do have the email from HAL saying we will have it once we board the ship. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen the owner credit show on Navigator before we board. Princess shows it on their app I know.  As I said, I might be wrong about yours, but just an observation. 

10 hours ago, crystalspin said:

There is a new-ish thread where someone did this and the Front Desk refused to give them the OBC. I'm not sure they had any paper print-outs though. 

Haven’t seen that thread. Front desk can not give it to you if you haven’t gone through the proper channels (which is now this Stockperks app).  But if you jumped through the hoops and you’ve been approved and it’s not on your acct once you board, then if you take your printouts verifying you were approved by HAL for the OBC, they will get it applied. 

1 hour ago, FlaMariner said:

My stockperks experience thus far.....

 

Successful with getting the account registered......a pic of my computer screen with the statement info worked.

 

But......

 

My shareholder OBC was approved by stockperks on 1/5.....and as of today (1/14), the OBC is not in our booking....as per email just received from TA.

 

I've sent a message to stockperks (via the "contact us" option in the app.. inquiring as to how long it might take.

 

Stay tuned for further updates......LOL

You may not actually see it until you board. That’s what my notification from HAL said—“will be credited to your onboard account upon embarkation”. Just print out and take your email from them showing the credit in case you need it. Front desk will get it applied with that proof. 

9 minutes ago, Suzanne123 said:

Thanks for your reply.

I’m not getting an option.  If I try to bypass the screen, it won’t go any further.

 

This is very odd.  In the past we were asked to redact any account numbers, and now they want my brokerage username and password to access my account. Not happening.

 

 

I’ll ask my husband when he gets home. I believe he went in and then had the option to upload and then withdrew the info. ??That was my concern or question about how they are able to verify?  Maybe someone else has a better answer for you. 

26 minutes ago, Suzanne123 said:

How did you get around the plaid page that wants your broker username and password?

My husband did that part because I didn’t want to give them access. I believe he gave them our Schwab acct but then was able to upload the stmt instead.  It currently shows “verified” Schwab and all the CLL cruise lines show “eligible” and “disconnected” under Schwab. I’m assuming we won’t have to do the verify part again. At least for a period of time. 

13 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

So I was never asked for my booking number.......did I miss something or is that not needed?

Once they verify your stock ownership, you are notified and you go back into the app and go to HAL (or whichever cruiseline you're applying for the obc on) and redeem the perk.  The first page of the redemption part asks you for the booking number.

I did get my official notification of OBC this morning via email from Stockperks.  I printed it with my other docs to take with me just in case I need to prove it once on board.  🙂

1 hour ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

Does the app clarify what "checking your stock ownership" entails?

It’s not very clear to me. I thought we had to give them access to get into our acct, which I definitely did not like. But it seems you can upload an image or pdf of our stmt showing the CCL stock (like we’ve been doing via email) as an alternative method. Then they go “verify” that somehow and then we have to go back into the app and redeem the perk. At that point they say it is “in progress” until HAL notifies them that the OBC has been awarded. Now I am awaiting word that it has been awarded. My cruise isn’t until April so I’ve got time. But in the past, I would email the request and have confirmation within the day or the next from HAL. So far this method seem waaaay more cumbersome and redundant to me. 🤷‍♀️

25 minutes ago, cabinluvn said:

Do we have to use the Stockperks app to send CCL stock proof for OBC or can we still mail our info like in the past?

I’ve only tried with HAL and got a return email saying they will no longer be processing the requests and we have to go through the Stickperks app.  I didn’t know when it changed and I don’t know if it’s all Carnival stock cruise lines or just HAL. Hoping others can enlighten me. 

I can’t find a thread about this so I wondered if anyone has used the new app required to apply for Carnival stock owner’s benefit yet?  We cruised with HAL in late Oct-Nov and Princess in Sept and got our stockholder’s benefit using email as I have always done. Now I’m trying to get it for an April HAL sailing and got an email from HAL that we must download and use the Stockperks App going forward as they will no longer be handling that. I downloaded the app and you have to give them permission to check your stock ownership. Now waiting on them to verify, which it says can take up to 2 business days. 
 

Just curious how long it has been this way and how it’s working for others?  

10 minutes ago, wallyj said:

Am I misunderstanding this? I have not seen two passengers sharing a cabin with separate/different booking numbers unless each has their own cabin.

Maybe I’m wrong I just assumed that two people could book with a TA and each pay their own bill separately but choose the same cabin (or the TA could). Maybe that’s the catch, each cabin can only be one booking number regardless of how they pay the bill. That makes sense to me then. 

I know it’s always been one per cabin and even if each spouse had separate brokerage accounts they would only get one benefit. 👍🏻 I just assumed that two unrelated individuals traveling together who each own stock would be able to get their own OBC. Warning to singles!  You’ll pay more plus you can’t claim your owner OBC if you travel with another owner. Another example of PCL’s horrible treatment of loyal passengers IMO. 

On 5/31/2023 at 1:41 PM, moonjelly said:

Hi All,

Thank you for the great information.

Question: if two people who are not related are in the same cabin and are each shareholders, can they each get a $100 credit, or is it per cabin?

I believe if you have separate booking numbers the credit would be each person. Friends traveling together and each paying their own way should each get the credit they applied for. Haven’t actually tested it but it doesn’t make sense for only one to be eligible per cabin. 

HAL's Have It All are each one different based on the promotion.  It will state on the payment receipt what was included in the HIA they purchased.  Some times specialty dining is included, some times an excursion or excursion credits are included.  Some times WiFi is included, sometimes for one, some times for more than one device. Lots of different combinations possible.  Often gratuities are included though.  Your friend should look at their payment statement.  If they booked through a TA, they can tell her what was included.  Or call HAL directly to clarify what is included.  It will be included on the booking number listed on her statement.

On 5/25/2023 at 5:02 AM, Jeter02 said:

Thank you so much for getting back to me with such a speedy response. That's actually a good idea about stacking up all the bookings in an email but I pretty much be like you where I would want an individual email per booking just so I can also keep track. Not sure what took me so long to become a shareholder knowing how much I could have been earning with all that OBC all throughout these years of not doing it. 🤦‍♀️ Thanks a bunch!

I do each cruise separately because I like to keep all paperwork filed on my computer by date of cruise.  Also, if you are doing a B2B cruise with two separate booking numbers, be sure you apply for BOTH booking numbers.  Each booking number entitles you to the benefit. 

We also make sure we've always got 2 or 3 deposits with PCL and HAL both so that when we book, we get the benefit of the Future Cruise OBC too.  We do a lot of B2B's so we need 2 deposits each time, hence we keep several on account.  You have to put the deposits down while you are onboard though, you can't just send in money and ask them to apply it to future cruises.  Visit the Future Cruise office onboard and tell them you want to put some deposits down for future use.  If you haven't booked a cruise in 24 months of placing the deposits, they will automatically refund the deposits to you.  During Covid, PCL returned 6 deposits each to us.  We were sad because then we didn't have the FCC OBC on our next cruise.  🙂

Well I'm sure we are in the minority, but we do not drink alcohol or soft drinks.  I have always traded our mini-bar for 2 coffee pkgs.  Hubs doesn't even drink coffee but does drink teas. Neither of us ever use all of our coffee/tea "punches".   So that is one perk we are especially sad to lose.  There are many we seem to have lost.  I think trading our mini bar for 2 (or even 1) coffee package would be financially better for PCL than giving us the minibar.  I don't see why that option can't be set in our preferences like Queen vs Twin beds.  Save the trouble of trading them out.  We haven't been on PCL since '20 and a lot of the reason is our unhappiness over all of the Elite perks being taken away.  We have booked a cruise in Oct and depending upon how it goes, may just be our last one on PCL.  Hate that because we've loved cruising with Princess for 15 years.  I've always said 15 cruises wasn't enough to get to Elite, but instead of re-structuring their loyalty categories, they just stripped many of the Elite perks out.  By doing that, I think they've lost a ton of loyal Elites too.  Not a smart business decision IMHO.