Lost $50 SBC because of cruiseline credit

[cuttingedgeglassworks]

We recently booked a Caribbean cruise on Celebrity and were promised a $200 shipboard credit for booking a balcony from the TA.

In the meantime we received a cruise credit from Celebrity because of a cancellation of the norovirus cruise from Charleston.

To make a long story short, after the TA reduced our fare by the $120/person credit, they reduced our SBC by $50!:eek:

 

We have complained to both places, but have not received a resolve. We were promised a phone call from the TA again today, but of course, we have not heard from them, and it's 3:10PM.

 

Has this happened to anyone else out there?

 

It's not much money, but in effect it's cost us $50 of our cruise credit, since we were counting on the shipboard credit. And we know that legally they are certainly within their rights - but what about customer satisfaction??:mad:

[Cruisergal1208]

Not exactly the same situation but we lost our $50pp SBC for pre booking a future cruise while on board due to receiving other SBC's. That means I will not book cruises while onboard!!!

[Gonzo70]

That is totally standard procedure. When a travel agent gives you OBC - it comes out of their commission. When the price of your cruise drops, the travel agent's comission drops - so they often have to lower the OBC. If they did not, they would end up losing money on your cruise!

[firefly333]

That is totally standard procedure. When a travel agent gives you OBC - it comes out of their commission. When the price of your cruise drops, the travel agent's comission drops - so they often have to lower the OBC. If they did not, they would end up losing money on your cruise!

 

OP here is your answer...its true of any TA who offers you OBC for booking with them ..if you reduce the price then you get less OBC. The OBC was offered based on one price, and then you applied a discount so the TA had to reduce their offer.

[cherylandtk]

I second the notation that we are not to discuss TA's by name. Being familiar with the one mentioned, I would also note that their policy on handling credits/coupons and discounts is well-documented on their website and even has its own page with a link from their home page. This should not have been a surprise to you.

 

Since you received your credit 'in the meantime', which I take to be after the initial booking, a quick phone call to the agency would have let you know both the amount of the credit reduction and let you decide if you wanted to apply it to this particular booking or save it for another time.

 

As others have said, it is quite common for cruiseline issued credits or coupons to be discounted when you also have a discounted price.