Princess offering Free cruises? Am I reading it wrong?

Just thought I would let you know that if you have a cabin already booked for next year and want to apply this credit to that cruise, depending on the commission your travel agent gets your fare could change. And not for the better. Just checked with an on line agency that I have already booked for next year and they did confirm that due to the commission they receive from Princess or in this case now a smaller commission they will receive my price will go up. If you book with Princess, and pay the higher price then this deal works fine. What's the old saying you can't have your cake and eat it too. Please check if you have booked with an on line agency. I'm sure you do not want any surprises or disappointments.

I have no experience in the following scenario - if I book a cruise for next year directly with princess and apply the FCC from this cruise what will happen if I later transfer the booking to an agent? I have only ever booked through an agent and usually the price is lower and often get some OBC. So in this scenario would the agent not be able to offer any discount?

Can any of you more experienced cruisers share your experience?

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I tried following the steps in post #25 and looked for this various other ways. Is it still available? I can't find any trace of it on Princess website.

Thanks.

I have no experience in the following scenario - if I book a cruise for next year directly with princess and apply the FCC from this cruise what will happen if I later transfer the booking to an agent? I have only ever booked through an agent and usually the price is lower and often get some OBC. So in this scenario would the agent not be able to offer any discount?

Can any of you more experienced cruisers share your experience?

 

 

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I'm going to take a guess and it is only a guess. You book your cruise with Princess and at that time you ask Princess to apply the credit to the price of the cruise. You then have your travel agent of choice take over the cruise booking. I believe the travel agent commissions are based on price of cruise. So then the travel agent, based off of the cruise price, will determine if you qualify for any sort of discount or OBC. Again this is purely a guess and I'm sure those on CC that are travel agents or are more familiar with how things work will chime in here.

I tried following the steps in post #25 and looked for this various other ways. Is it still available? I can't find any trace of it on Princess website.

 

Thanks.

Go to the Princess website. At the very bottom of the fist page, do not sign in, you will see 3 boxes one of which said 100 % Princess Getaways. This is for 3 and 4 day cruises out of San Pedro for Oct and Nov. You can also look at the cruise of choice and if it has a red box next to it that says cruise sale then the promotion applies to that cruise. You have till Oct 31st to book

I have no experience in the following scenario - if I book a cruise for next year directly with princess and apply the FCC from this cruise what will happen if I later transfer the booking to an agent? I have only ever booked through an agent and usually the price is lower and often get some OBC. So in this scenario would the agent not be able to offer any discount?

Can any of you more experienced cruisers share your experience?

 

 

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Man, this is tempting, especially since I've already got an Alaska cruise booked for next May to apply the FCC to. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I could get the time off work...

Um, no, there aren't.

Not true,.... 3 day balcony on golden single person $393.21. Same catagory 2 people same cruise, same cabin $521.42

Just booked Nov 1st cruise with my TA. What a great deal, free cruise for us westies. Princess said I can apply OBC to either of my booked cruises.

I booked the 4 day costal, Oct. 28 on the Golden and my T/A says that when I return she can get the cruise cost applied back to my Credit Card.

Tom:)

Huh? That's not at all the way the deal works. The fine print doesn't say they're refunding the cruise but giving a Future Cruise Credit applied to your Princess Captain's Circle account. Methinks your TA has some reading comprehension issues.

Huh? That's not at all the way the deal works. The fine print doesn't say they're refunding the cruise but giving a Future Cruise Credit applied to your Princess Captain's Circle account. Methinks your TA has some reading comprehension issues.

I am guessing they amount already paid for future cruise will be refunded back to the credit card and then the FCC will be applied in place of that. TRBARTON, you need to update your signature with the 28th cruise ;)

I am guessing they amount already paid for future cruise will be refunded back to the credit card and then the FCC will be applied in place of that. TRBARTON, you need to update your signature with the 28th cruise ;)

Ahhh . . . so, have we determined for a fact that this promotion is indeed applicable to already paid-in-full cruises? That seems unusual for a promotion of this sort; I don't see where it benefits Princess at all. Great deal for left-coasters, though.

Ahhh . . . so, have we determined for a fact that this promotion is indeed applicable to already paid-in-full cruises? That seems unusual for a promotion of this sort; I don't see where it benefits Princess at all. Great deal for left-coasters, though.

I am curious also. There seem to be a lot of different opinions. Also, although I did book and pay for the qualifying Nov. 1st cruise, in my cruise docs and e-mails, there is no confirmation that I will indeed be getting the FCC. Should I be worried?

I am curious also. There seem to be a lot of different opinions. Also, although I did book and pay for the qualifying Nov. 1st cruise, in my cruise docs and e-mails, there is no confirmation that I will indeed be getting the FCC. Should I be worried?

I think we'll all have to just believe Princess for now.

It's not supposed to show up until after the qualifying ship has sailed.

If anyone is on the first cruise that has this promotion (I think it's Oct. 21st) maybe they could let us know.

I am on your cruise and get some free internet so I'll be happy to check if it's in my account on the second day of the cruise and let you know.

If you've already booked the Nov. 1st cruise it's not refundable anyways .......

Here's the announcement from Princess.

If in doubt print this out and take it on your cruise.

(I trust that it's real so won't be doing this currently)

*Book a qualifying voyage by October 31, 2013 and 100% of the cruise fare will be available as a future cruise credit (FCC) that will be applicable to any 2013/2014 published future cruise that is 7 days or longer. Once you have sailed on the qualifying voyage, an FCC will automatically be applied to passengers’ Captains Circle member number. The FCC must be applied to a single future sailing departing before December 31, 2014. Above fares are based on Golden Princess® 10/21/13 and 10/28/13 departure. Other dates may vary. Fares apply to minimum lead-in categories on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares for other categories, sailings and cruisetours may vary. Oceanview stateroom may have an obstructed view. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise- or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth passengers. Government fees and taxes of $55-$90 are additional and subject to change. This offer is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger discount. Offer is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older and receive this offer. Fares quoted in U.S. dollars. Please refer to the applicable Princess Cruises brochure or princess.com for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings. Offer expires: October 31, 2013. Note: For assistance reserving a wheelchair-accessible stateroom, please contact customer service at 1-800-774-6237.

I am curious also. There seem to be a lot of different opinions. Also, although I did book and pay for the qualifying Nov. 1st cruise, in my cruise docs and e-mails, there is no confirmation that I will indeed be getting the FCC. Should I be worried?

Why would you doubt that you would get the FCC? Do you have any experience with Princess not giving you an FCC or an OBC when you were supposed to get it?

I'm sure we'll get the FCC. The confusion seems to be how it will be applied, especially to fully-paid-for cruises. I, and others, have been told we'll get it refunded back to our credit cards. That would be ideal. But I'm realistic enough to expect that it may be applied some other way. Most likely as an OBC to our account on that future cruise.

While that's not as good as getting the fare refunded to our credit card, it's still acceptable. Just take your cruise card to the casino cage and get chips in the amount of your FCC. Walk around the casino for a while, then cash in the chips and pocket the cash.

Somebody posted the Patters from the October 4 Coastal, and in there was a mention that you can put chips and slot machine credits on your cruise card without a surcharge (I remember the days when Princess used to charge 3% to get cash from the casino cage).

Yes, you can apply an FCC earned under this promotion to an already paid for booking. I booked a B2B, Nov 1st & Nov 4th... the FCC's will be credited to our captain's circle account upon completion.

The FCC from the Nov 1st sailing will be applied toward our 7-day January 2014 cruise, even though final payment will have already been made by the time the Nov 1st cruise has been completed. This amount will come to us in the form of a credit on our credit card.

The FCC from the Nov 4th sailing will remain in my captain's circle account until applied to a cruise sailing before December 31, 2014.

I, too, was feeling a bit uneasy about the exact rules of this promotion and have documented everything possible about these bookings including the full name of the customer service rep and her supervisor. She made a note to my booking referring to my intentions and also referenced an internal memo she received about this promotion. She was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and upbeat with me during my "interrogation" (so to speak) concerning the details of this promotion. I am satisfied that I have covered my bases and have placed my trust in Princess that they will hold up their end of the deal. And, in my personal opinion, this is an awesome deal, for sure! :)

Yes, you can apply an FCC earned under this promotion to an already paid for booking. I booked a B2B, Nov 1st & Nov 4th... the FCC's will be credited to our captain's circle account upon completion.

 

The FCC from the Nov 1st sailing will be applied toward our 7-day January 2014 cruise, even though final payment will have already been made by the time the Nov 1st cruise has been completed. This amount will come to us in the form of a credit on our credit card.

 

The FCC from the Nov 4th sailing will remain in my captain's circle account until applied to a cruise sailing before December 31, 2014.

 

I, too, was feeling a bit uneasy about the exact rules of this promotion and have documented everything possible about these bookings including the full name of the customer service rep and her supervisor. She made a note to my booking referring to my intentions and also referenced an internal memo she received about this promotion. She was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and upbeat with me during my "interrogation" (so to speak) concerning the details of this promotion. I am satisfied that I have covered my bases and have placed my trust in Princess that they will hold up their end of the deal. And, in my personal opinion, this is an awesome deal, for sure! :)

Thanks for your polite reply, and so full of valuable information :) I am happy to hear that I am not the only one who is uneasy. I'm just hoping I did everything right. If not, the worst thing that can happen is that we enjoy the short cruise, and we will go on the longer ones anyway.

I spoke with my TA yesterday, and she knows about this promotion. It is legit. :)

Our problem is that the OBC applies to a future cruise taken before Dec. 31, 2014. We cannot fit in the only 7 dayers, and we have been to Hawaii and Alaska 3 times each.

My TA is leaving today so I can't ask, but Im'm assuming this is not applicable for B to B's since they are considered 2 separate cruises. I sure hate to miss out on a $1,200 OBC. :(

Pat

I spoke with my TA yesterday, and she knows about this promotion. It is legit. :)

Our problem is that the OBC applies to a future cruise taken before Dec. 31, 2014. We cannot fit in the only 7 dayers, and we have been to Hawaii and Alaska 3 times each.

My TA is leaving today so I can't ask, but Im'm assuming this is not applicable for B to B's since they are considered 2 separate cruises. I sure hate to miss out on a $1,200 OBC. :(

Pat

I don't understand.

It's not only for 7 day cruises.

If your TA is out of town then book with Princess and transfer to your TA later.

Go to the Princess website. At the very bottom of the fist page, do not sign in, you will see 3 boxes one of which said 100 % Princess Getaways. This is for 3 and 4 day cruises out of San Pedro for Oct and Nov. You can also look at the cruise of choice and if it has a red box next to it that says cruise sale then the promotion applies to that cruise. You have till Oct 31st to book

Thank you waltd. The key was to NOT be logged in. I see a different banner there when I'm logged in.

Yea!!!!! Glad you found it. :)

Doubt you can transfer to travel agent after booking with Princess.

Final payment is due the day you book. Once paid, can't transfer. So if you are booking with travel agent, do it first , not after the fact.

My travel agent is not in town right now but doubt since this is basically refundable, she would make anything on this. However, not really sure.

Doubt you can transfer to travel agent after booking with Princess.

Final payment is due the day you book. Once paid, can't transfer. So if you are booking with travel agent, do it first , not after the fact.

My travel agent is not in town right now but doubt since this is basically refundable, she would make anything on this. However, not really sure.

 

I booked it on the phone with Princess.

As part of the booking process she asked if I had a TA.

I said yes and she put my TA's name in my reservation.

At the very end she told me my TA had 24 hours to get my payment .

Then I emailed the TA and told her the booking number (she has our charge on file) and it was done.

I figured whatever, even small, commission there was should go to her.

My TA can always access my accounts, even when she is out of town and is ALWAYS available within a couple of hours.

Sassyredhat - are you sure your TA can't do the same for you?

I don't understand.

It's not only for 7 day cruises.

If your TA is out of town then book with Princess and transfer to your TA later.

I thought the fine print says the future booking has to be 7 days or more, so it wouldn't apply to a 4 dayer or a 3 dayer.

Karen, my TA is leaving on a cruise in 2 days. She asked me to wait until she comes back.

Pat