Pay in Full for 10% Off Sale: Impact on Cancellation / Refund Policy?

[GoHoward]

Hi all - my family and I are booked on a mid-June Koningsdam sailing to Alaska under the "Have it All" promotion. We received an offer from HAL, which I gather is going out to quite a few currently booked cruisers, offering a 10% discount on the cruise fare and $250 OBC per credit if we pay in full by October 31.  HAL is clearly seeking capital to cover operating expenses!

We have the ability to pay for the cruise in full now, but I am also keeping an eye on COVID trends and developments, as we all are.  Right now final payment is due in late March, and we were going to make a go-or-cancel decision then.  If I pay the fare in full now, does anyone know whether the cancellation policy changes? Could I cancel and receive a refund up to the normal payment deadline, or would I be stuck with FCC?

Thanks in advance for any insights on this!

[KirkNC]

You would need to read the fine print of the offer.

[Mary229]

Here is a link to the standard refund policy

 

HAL Refund Policy

[saltshell]

Talked to my FIX. Because I used credit I couldn't get the 10%. Taking the money from my flight ease I was able to pay enough balance to get a $250 extra credit.

[Vict0riann]

I discussed this promo with our PCC regarding our TA next November.  She advised not to do it, as she said we would then be locked in, price-wise, and if there was a reduction in price before the final payment date, she would not be able to get it for us.  I had not thought of that, so instead we went for the "Pay $750, get $250 in OBC" promo.  

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, Vict0riann said:

I discussed this promo with our PCC regarding our TA next November.  She advised not to do it, as she said we would then be locked in, price-wise, and if there was a reduction in price before the final payment date, she would not be able to get it for us.  I had not thought of that, so instead we went for the "Pay $750, get $250 in OBC" promo.  

I didn’t qualify for the past plan, my cruise was over the 21 day limit, which made no sense. That said I would have done just the same as you did, grabbed the $250 for a $750 payment.   

[Gigi1977]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

I discussed this promo with our PCC regarding our TA next November.  She advised not to do it, as she said we would then be locked in, price-wise, and if there was a reduction in price before the final payment date, she would not be able to get it for us.  I had not thought of that, so instead we went for the "Pay $750, get $250 in OBC" promo.  

This is what we did as well.  I watch pricing and frequently reprice.  The $750. with $250 was the best offer for us and took advantage of it on 2 of our booked cruises. 

[Sea42]

I was on the fence about the offer. I, too, had questions about cancellation penalties and when they would begin if I made full payment ahead of usual schedule.

In the end, it didn't matter because I booked with a casino rate discount and I would forfeit that discount so I didn't pursue it further.

[iancal]

I would not give any cruise line a dime of our money at this time...especially for a June cruise.  Feel the same way about air or any other travel products.

[VacationCharlene]

I would LOVE to give them $750 towards our cruise payment and get $250 obc BUT since our cruise is OVER 21 days they do not offer it.  Weird to me that the longer, super expensive cruises don't get this offer.  Anyone have an idea why they dont offer on cruises over 21 days ?

[Mary229]

12 minutes ago, VacationCharlene said:

I would LOVE to give them $750 towards our cruise payment and get $250 obc BUT since our cruise is OVER 21 days they do not offer it.  Weird to me that the longer, super expensive cruises don't get this offer.  Anyone have an idea why they dont offer on cruises over 21 days ?

I have given it a lot of thought.  I think the paid in full option is the problem in the face of a cancellation possibility. (fingers crossed that won't happen).  The escrow agent or perhaps tax law would get in the way of the large payments.   Just a bit of speculation as I have no idea.

[Hlitner]

I have previously been burned with the HAL "discounts" for non-refundable deposits.  A bigger discount for early complete payment would even be a potentially worse situation.  Consider that HAL has previously followed a strict policy that if you accept the discounts for non-refundable deposits (and we assume it applies to early full payment) then you are locked-in with the price and benefits.  If HAL later has a good promotion or major price drop you cannot take advantage of "re pricing" which is the norm for regular deposits.  Also consider what happens if HAL must cancel your cruise.  When HAL started doing the COVID related cancellations (back in Feb) they quickly processed refunds (we got ours for a canceled Westy cruise in 3 days).  But as time has gone on the refunds for cancelled cruises got much slower (measured in months...not days).  One can only speculate what will happen if cruises continue to be cancelled well into 2021.  

 

I will also suggest another caution.  There is no reason to think that HAL will announce cancellations far in advance.  We can see this from the upcoming Noordam cruises scheduled to resume on Dec 20 with a Singapore (embarkation) to Hong Kong itinerary.  Asian ports are still closed and there is no indication that they will be open in December of even in the first half of 2021!  The Noordam is also scheduled to be crusing in and out of Japan as early as February, but Japan has made it clear they will not even be open for tourism that fast and have not made any announcement as to if and when they will ever allow cruise ships back into Japan.  But HAL has yet to cancel any of the Noordam cruises which means more and more folks are being forced to either cancel or make final payments on cruises that will most likely never happen.

 

Hank