aaconsumer55

Long time cruiser but first timer on Windstar coming up in Oct for Tahiti.  Over the years I’ve booked excursions both through 3rd party as well cruise lines - pros and cons for both.  When booking via the cruise line, I generally expect some premium in the price due to the cruise line being a middleman but I was quite surprised to find out Windstar was increasing the excursion price by 80% on one excursion I was looking at.  I found this to be a bit unreasonable and it pushed me to book w a different excursion provider (rated equally high) directly and save the $135.  Not sure if this is the rule or exception with Windstar but thought I would mention just to be aware.  Good news is there appears to be multiple highly rated excursion operators, which allows for choices.

Havana definitely worth it.  I would not sail on Vista class in a non-Havana room.  

Alchemy is the bomb!

Setup email notification via cruiseline dot com of via the shipmate app - it will notify you when the price drops then you can call your TA.  It’s what I did on our last cruise and saved $600

If you sail Panorama, get a Havana room - the experience is way better and way different in a positive way

Keep in mind that if you were on a cruise that was cancelled and you opted for the FCC option, you get FCC equal to the cancellation fee.  The rest of what you paid (inc 100% of port fees and taxes) is refunded to original form of payment...unless you ask Carnival to apply all/part to a future cruise

Go to Carnival’s website and scroll to bottom and click on Ticket Contract.  There you will find cancellation policy/rules.

On 5/8/2020 at 9:48 AM, topaz123 said:

How do you know you have the $600 credit? Is there an online area which you can see the credit.  Would feel better actually viewing the credit than getting on board and finding out it's not there.

If you login and go to print your cruise docs, the OBC will be listed on the statement

One thing to keep in mind is the FCC is issued for the amount of the cancellation fee (excluding taxes and port fees) - the balance plus Port fees and taxes are refunded to original form of payment. 

22 hours ago, aaconsumer55 said:

In the email I received it says:

”Regardless of the option you choose, your taxes, fees and port expenses, Carnival Vacation Protection, pre-paid gratuities, pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions, beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and Fun Shop purchases will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment”

 

in addition, the reference to FCC is notated with an asterisk with the fine print:

*The Future Cruise Credit (FCC) is based on the cancellation fees retained by Carnival for this voyage, including Fly2Fun air if applicable I booked via a TA so cancelled and re-booked through the same TA. Now waiting on docs from TA that confirms my understanding. waiting patiently

I spoke with Carnival today and confirmed my understanding was correct - FCC is issued in an amount equal to the cancellation fee.  The remaining balance I will get refunded on original form of payment.  Now if you request to apply the balance to your future cruise, they will accommodate.  In my case since the new cruise is considerably less $$ and a year away, it made since to only apply the FCC to the future cruise and get balance refunded.

In the email I received it says:

”Regardless of the option you choose, your taxes, fees and port expenses, Carnival Vacation Protection, pre-paid gratuities, pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions, beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and Fun Shop purchases will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment”

in addition, the reference to FCC is notated with an asterisk with the fine print:

I had cruise booked for later this month (May) that was cancelled in the previous round of cancellations.  As a result, I received the email from Carnival which basically offered either a) full refund or b) 100% FCC plus $600 OBC.  When I read the fine print it says the FCC is “based on cancellation fees retained by Carnival”.  At the time of the cancellation (relative to the sail date), the refund policy In force for my ticket said the cancellation fee was 50% (excluding port fees & taxes).  at this time I had also paid for 100% of the cruise.

So, having selected the FCC/OBC option I’m assuming I’ll get 50% (+ port fees and taxes) refunded back to original form of payment plus 50% FCC I can use for a future cruise.  
 

Does anyone have direct experience to confirm the FCC is for the cancellation fee and not necessarily the full cruise total?

I use Travel Insured.  After the 14 day look period is over, the premium is non-refundable.  However, due to CV situation, if you trip is cancelled then they will allow the policy to be applied to a future trip.  If you go to website there is Covid-19 announcement w a link to an online form to notify them of the cancelled trip.  Once done, they will send you a future credit voucher.  Once you book your new trip, you can then call or chat online w then and give them details for the new trip and the policy will be reset to the new trip

FYI, if you bought 3rd party trip insurance, check it as most will pay you if the carrier (Carnival in this case) goes out of business.  Also, I know my insurance co. and others are allowing you to put your policy on hold and re-apply to new trip once booked.  It is for this reason I was ok to go with the FCC option and book a cruise next year.  If they default due to bankruptcy, I have coverage and will get $$ back

7 hours ago, PC 462 said:

Our May 24 cruise on the Pride has been cancelled.  If I take the FCC and book another cruise, and the new cruise rate is less than the May 24 cruise was, what happens to the price difference?  Is it applied to the new booking as an OBC, or is it refunded to the original form of payment?  Or, can it be applied to yet another booking?

I had a May 23 cruise that also cancelled.  I spent time today to read all the communication and my understanding is the FCC would be issued for the amount equal to the cancellation fee.  At 51-30 days out, cancellation fee is 50%.  So, you should get refund of all the port fees/taxes + 50% of the cruise fee on original form of payment.  In addition, you should also receive 50% of cruise fee (cancellation fee) in form of FCC which can then be used for your future cruise.

Here is the link to the notification on Carnival’s website: https://www.carnival.com/health-and-sailing-update.aspx

For some reason this page is slightly different than if you select the Travel Advisory at the top left of the home page. 

Once  you get there scroll down and you will see that the first box relates to those cruises that have been cancelled where it indicates emails are being sent.  Earlier today this page had a link for a form to complete but it has since changed indicating they will email the form link.
 

2nd box Carnival Cancelation Policy provides details on cruises later in the year.

See John Healds Facebook page - he announced 1 hr ago that Carnival is suspending all cruises for next 30 days, resuming April 10

SNJCruisers, where did you make the purchase...online, via customer service on phone, on the ship?

When you board, just go to guest services and ask for dup room keys.  I’ve done it all 3 of my Carnival cruises for the exact reason you are mentioning w/o any prob.  Once done, each member of the family (4 of us) had two cards one for each of the 2 rooms.  However, only one was a sail and sign card w charging priveledges.

There is another motivation for reduced deposit you may not be realizing.  I recently booked a cruise that I’m not 100% sure we’ll take but wanted to grab the Havana room we wanted for fear it will not be available in the near future.  With the reduced deposit, I minimize the amount I might tie up as a credit for a future cruise in the event we don’t take the cruise at all.

There is no downside to using a TA - only upside

It is sort of like not using a realtor when buying a house

Why do you not want to do the Sound of Music tour?  Does it not get good reviews?  I’ll be in Salzburg for a few days before I hop on Emerald river cruise in Nuremberg and was considering doing the Sound of Music tour.  Should I consider something else?

What is PTZ?

Just bought for $45 for Dec 16 Oasis cruise

Also got refreshment package for $18

Did you make it to the aquarium? I'll be there in July and was thinking the same idea. Any tips to pass along?