Recent experience buying FCDs?

[canadianbear]

@Haljo1935  good idea about those cabins.  We’d have to book early which is next to impossible with both of them working & having to sign up for holidays & try to get the same time off.  
 

Well, the grandson would be almost 3 by next May so hopefully it would be ok. It’s only a week so I’d come home & rest for 2 weeks after, lol!

[*Miss G*]

7 hours ago, POA1 said:

In case I didn't muddy the waters before... Are there $CAD FCDs or just $USD FCDs?

 

 

The arrow points to the instruction to circle your preferred currency (circled):

 

 

[DaveOKC]

FYI - we have been able to use these FCDs even when booking a free (or deeply discounted) casino offer.  This way we get the $25 in OBC (most other HAL promotions cannot be used with these offers so every bit helps).

 

[POA1]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

FYI - we have been able to use these FCDs even when booking a free (or deeply discounted) casino offer.  This way we get the $25 in OBC (most other HAL promotions cannot be used with these offers so every bit helps).

 

You, sir, are wise. We always bought FCDs because they always applied to every cruise fare we ever booked. If you are booking within a year, the OBC is a minimum 25% return on investment. And, as you mentioned, the FCD is the Type O universal donor of discounts & credits.

[Dismomx5]

19 hours ago, Crew News said:

FCDs can only be purchased onboard.  FCDs, if used within 60 days of ending your cruise, will earn OBC bonus as well as the regular OBC bonus for using FCDs for booking deposits.

 

Using a $100 FCD is a lot cheaper than a big deposit required at booking time.

 

Make it a habit to buy a few FCDs on every cruise.

I needed $300 each for our 35 day South Pacific. So we have $600 paid for the cruise and when I look at the amount owing in November 😯

18 hours ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

We just fill out the form as soon as we get on, and ask for a receipt. After 3 days if we haven't received anything We go and see them.

Great idea! Thanks!

13 hours ago, seaoma said:

 

So for longer cruises, the only benefit to a FCD is the OBC that you would receive?

That and the lower deposit required.

11 hours ago, POA1 said:

In case I didn't muddy the waters before... Are there $CAD FCDs or just $USD FCDs?

 

Also, if you try to read that last sentence out loud, do you find that you are spitting & drooling? 😉

Definitely Canadian (and US, Australian etc).
 

When we were on the Rotterdam last fall, I was pretty sure that I would be booking the 35 day South Pacific cruise for 2023.We bought a number of FCD first and then later went back and booked the cruise once I was certain the type of cabin etc that I wanted. The FCC was very good on that cruise. (He didn't mind me saying over and over....on THIS (Canadian) credit card, not the one on file. 🤣

[Infi]

Some FCC are better than others, for sure. I worked with Annette on the Zaandam earlier this month and she was fantastic: very organized, efficient, and knew her stuff inside and out. She was able to help me navigate a tricky situation with some old FCDs and pandemic credits and got to the bottom of it through working with Seattle and providing me with the resolution over email after my cruise was complete. I'm very grateful my FCD bank is now in order and I have several cruises to look forward to. 

 

I think those that have been doing this for a long time are real assets to HAL by selling more cruises and making for happier customers. Others that are less effective may be new to the role or may not be as invested in the work/doing a good job, which is too bad. 

Edited July 22, 2023 by Infi

[shandryl]

On 7/21/2023 at 2:31 PM, FlaMariner said:

Our FCD buying experience onboard the Oosterdam this past April......

 

Picked up the form at the Future Cruise Desk.  Filled out the form. Dropped the form in the box.  Done. 

 

Any time I have ever been near that desk (not just this recent cruise but all HAL ships) and the cruise lady is there, there seems to always be an elderly gentlemen there who is very loud and he tells her about his 5 stars and is discussing all of his past cruises with her and she always looks horribly bored.  I'm not ease dropping but the person is always there and always loud.  Her Majesty and I laugh about it and move on.  LOL. 

 

I see no reason to bother her. 

 

As far as the FCD, it is a no brainer.....$100 deposit with $25 in OBC.  No risk.  Money back in 4 years if not used but we never have that problem. 

True Story!  😂 ❤️👍    ***"there seems to always be an elderly gentlemen there who is very loud and he tells her about his 5 stars and is discussing all of his past cruises with her and she always looks horribly bored."***

[Haljo1935]

I would love🧡 (see what I did HAL - used the orange heart) to be a FCC - love cruising, huge HAL supporter, read deckplans like they're my first language, mostly enjoy talking w/strangers and generally believe technology is the evil red headed step child we love anyway.

And may or may not want to bring DH to work with me.

Oh and the abbreviated 3 hour work day...

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Haljo1935

[ferretktf]

Hi all

 

Onboard now (first HAL cruise) and have received the form asking me if i wish to purchase FCD's.

 

A couple of (hopefully) quick questions ...
 

• Can you only use FCD's for deposits?  What if you book late and have to make immediate payment in full?  Can you still use FCD's as part payment in that case?
   
• Sort of aligned to the first question (if you can only use them for deposits) - do you have to book a certain number of months in advance to be able to use the FCDs - or to get the associated OBC?
   
• Again sort of aligned to the first question (if you can use them when making full payment at the time of booking), can you use more than one FCD on a single cruise and - if you did say use two, would you get 2 x OBC - or would you only get one (e.g. $25 for a 10 day voyage)
  
  Thanks for all your help - don't know whether to buy them and, if so, how many I buy!

Edited October 11, 2023 by ferretktf

[Cruise Suzy]

Use FCD only for deposits. I don't think you can use them when fare needs to be paid in full at time of booking - but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

 

No required amount of time to book in advance - unless you can't use FCD when booking past final payment date.

 

One FCD per cruise per person - and that person must be the one named on FCD.

 

Note that if not used within 4 years, you get your money refunded.

[DaveOKC]

25 minutes ago, ferretktf said:

Hi all

 

Onboard now (first HAL cruise) and have received the form asking me if i wish to purchase FCD's.

 

A couple of (hopefully) quick questions ...
 

• Can you only use FCD's for deposits?  What if you book late and have to make immediate payment in full?  Can you still use FCD's as part payment in that case?
   
• Sort of aligned to the first question (if you can only use them for deposits) - do you have to book a certain number of months in advance to be able to use the FCDs - or to get the associated OBC?
   
• Again sort of aligned to the first question (if you can use them when making full payment at the time of booking), can you use more than one FCD on a single cruise and - if you did say use two, would you get 2 x OBC - or would you only get one (e.g. $25 for a 10 day voyage)
  
  Thanks for all your help - don't know whether to buy them and, if so, how many I buy!

We use them all the time, even for our casino deals where you have to pay in full at time of booking.  They just apply $100 pp to the payment due.  Generally we only get $25  OBC, but thats still a 25% return on investment!

 

IMO, a FCD is a great deal with nothing to lose (unless Carnival goes broke).

 

Note - now you only get an email confirmation, no more paper ones.

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by DaveOKC

[Crew News]

33 minutes ago, ferretktf said:

Can you only use FCD's for deposits?  What if you book late and have to make immediate payment in full?  Can you still use FCD's as part payment in that case?

• Sort of aligned to the first question (if you can only use them for deposits) - do you have to book a certain number of months in advance to be able to use the FCDs - or to get the associated OBC?
   
• Again sort of aligned to the first question (if you can use them when making full payment at the time of booking), can you use more than one FCD on a single cruise and - if you did say use two, would you get 2 x OBC - or would you only get one (e.g. $25 for a 10 day voyage)
  
  Thanks for all your help - don't know whether to buy them and, if so, how many I buy!

FCDs are the same as cash and may be used for booking/paying for cruises. 

 

Most cruises can be booked for $100 per person if FCDs are used.  If FCDs are not used, the initial deposits are very much higher.  If you need to cancel a cruise booked with FCDs, you forfeit the small deposit and not a much larger one.

 

You may use the FCDs to pay the deposit for anyone on a booked cruise BUT you only get OBC credit for the person named on the deposit. For example:  If two people are booking, the deposit will usually be $100 each.  The $200 can be paid with FCDs no matter whose names are on them, If a single name is on both, OBC will be added only for that person.  If the two FCDs used have different names, both names will receive added OBC.

 

FCDs are good for four years and will be refunded then, or sooner upon request.

[ferretktf]

thanks everyone - we have bought two each