Does Club Orange need to be paid at time of booking?

[Sun&Sand52]

Took advantage of the $1.00 deposit for booked a Feb and March cruise.  Currently on Courtesy Hold, but need to pay deposit.  If I want to add Club Orange to this booking, do I have to pay for CO in full ($450 plus $2.00 deposit)?  If I decide to cancel the cruise, prior to final payment - will I be refunded the Club Orange payment?  Sorry if this question has been asked before, but have not cruised since right before the beginning of the pandemic.  And we did Club Orange on the NS, so I am not a newbie to CO.  But somehow or another it just seems so much more complicated than when I last booked a cruise......  

 

BTW - Have been in contact with a PCC at HAL but things are getting tense between us as the PCC canceled a 2025 cruise that I booked under the $1.00 + HIA perks, + early booking bonus.  Was told I had too many cruises on courtesy hold and she need to cancel something.  So she (or maybe the "system" canceled the one I was holding) canceled it.  And when I told her to reinstate it, I was told she could not get the cabin and perks that I had at that time.  Needless to say, I am not pleased at all and am considering just canceling all the cruises I have on hold and dealing with all this at another time in the future.  Too much stress. 

 

Thanks for any help on this.

[0106]

Yes, payment of CO is due at booking.

 

Booked during the $1 deposit sale in April.  Called my PCC to book.  Told her I wanted Club Orange.  She booked an unobstructed verandah for the $1 pp deposit.  Then immediately added CO and moved me to my preferred verandah, payment for CO was due immediately.  It is fully refundable.  Booking CO saved me $480 on my preferred verandah.

Edited September 15, 2023 by 0106

[POA1]

Technically, you can add CO without paying, but you have to pay before you can use the stateroom upgrade. You don't put your precious and coveted Club Orange tote bag in jeopardy, only the upgrade.

[Sun&Sand52]

Thanks so much for the quick reply! 😀

[horseymike]

32 minutes ago, margar said:

Took advantage of the $1.00 deposit for booked a Feb and March cruise.  Currently on Courtesy Hold, but need to pay deposit.  If I want to add Club Orange to this booking, do I have to pay for CO in full ($450 plus $2.00 deposit)?  If I decide to cancel the cruise, prior to final payment - will I be refunded the Club Orange payment?  Sorry if this question has been asked before, but have not cruised since right before the beginning of the pandemic.  And we did Club Orange on the NS, so I am not a newbie to CO.  But somehow or another it just seems so much more complicated than when I last booked a cruise......  

 

BTW - Have been in contact with a PCC at HAL but things are getting tense between us as the PCC canceled a 2025 cruise that I booked under the $1.00 + HIA perks, + early booking bonus.  Was told I had too many cruises on courtesy hold and she need to cancel something.  So she (or maybe the "system" canceled the one I was holding) canceled it.  And when I told her to reinstate it, I was told she could not get the cabin and perks that I had at that time.  Needless to say, I am not pleased at all and am considering just canceling all the cruises I have on hold and dealing with all this at another time in the future.  Too much stress. 

 

Thanks for any help on this.

I have never used a PCC. I book online and call the main number for any additions or changes .

That has worked well for me .

[Sun&Sand52]

12 minutes ago, horseymike said:

I have never used a PCC. I book online and call the main number for any additions or changes .

That has worked well for me .

I believe that I will do the same in the future.  It has been difficult to get in contact with the this PCC at times and I think this has caused confusion.  Simpler to just call the main number and deal with the people there.  Really I do not know the difference between the PCC department and the main reservation number.  Maybe one is more knowledgeable than the other?  Or maybe not.

[Curlingwhiz]

I was told (as was my traveling partners) that the Club Orange is non refundable?  I have still used it for my next two cruises as the cost of the Club Orange was less than the cost of getting a better stateroom in my category.

 

I have not had to cancel any bookings with Club Orange so I cannot speak definitively about the refundability, but I would definitely check if it is an issue?

 

[hbsurfcitycruiser]

I love my PCC but my goodness he is sooooooooooo busy. We basically only email because we can never find a free time that agrees with both of our schedules.

[KAKcruiser]

The Club Orange payment is only nonrefundable if you don't cancel the cruise.  If you cancel the cruise, then the CO payment is refunded to your method of payment.

[bennybear]

Seems typical that there are different outcomes depending who you call.  Our TA called and had CO added, room upgraded and new balance shows but we didn’t have to pay at the time.

[bennybear]

2 hours ago, margar said:

Took advantage of the $1.00 deposit for booked a Feb and March cruise.  Currently on Courtesy Hold, but need to pay deposit.  If I want to add Club Orange to this booking, do I have to pay for CO in full ($450 plus $2.00 deposit)?  If I decide to cancel the cruise, prior to final payment - will I be refunded the Club Orange payment?  Sorry if this question has been asked before, but have not cruised since right before the beginning of the pandemic.  And we did Club Orange on the NS, so I am not a newbie to CO.  But somehow or another it just seems so much more complicated than when I last booked a cruise......  

 

BTW - Have been in contact with a PCC at HAL but things are getting tense between us as the PCC canceled a 2025 cruise that I booked under the $1.00 + HIA perks, + early booking bonus.  Was told I had too many cruises on courtesy hold and she need to cancel something.  So she (or maybe the "system" canceled the one I was holding) canceled it.  And when I told her to reinstate it, I was told she could not get the cabin and perks that I had at that time.  Needless to say, I am not pleased at all and am considering just canceling all the cruises I have on hold and dealing with all this at another time in the future.  Too much stress. 

 

Thanks for any help on this.

I can’t believe they cancelled something without your permission.  Should not be possible! Perhaps call and ask for a different PCC and a supervisor.

Edited September 15, 2023 by bennybear

[kazu]

1 hour ago, Curlingwhiz said:

I was told (as was my traveling partners) that the Club Orange is non refundable?  I have still used it for my next two cruises as the cost of the Club Orange was less than the cost of getting a better stateroom in my category.

 

I have not had to cancel any bookings with Club Orange so I cannot speak definitively about the refundability, but I would definitely check if it is an issue?

 

 

I was also told it was non refundable but it is in certain circumstances apparently. 

 

If you are upgraded to a Neptune Suite they deduce the cost of CO to the upgrade.

 

I believe if you cancel the cruise they refund it as long as someone else books (and on a Pinnacle Class ship that’s a given).  

[YourWorldWithBill]

1 hour ago, margar said:

I believe that I will do the same in the future.  It has been difficult to get in contact with the this PCC at times and I think this has caused confusion.  Simpler to just call the main number and deal with the people there.  Really I do not know the difference between the PCC department and the main reservation number.  Maybe one is more knowledgeable than the other?  Or maybe not.

I agree with @bennybear, but getting a new PCC is an effort. I called the PCC number and held - without entering an extension - until someone answered. I asked for a supervisor, and when the person on the line offered to take a message (tried that without success before) I said I would hold for a supervisor. Once a supervisor came online he was extremely nice and assigned a new, excellent PCC who has been really helpful. It was worth it.

[Sun&Sand52]

8 minutes ago, bennybear said:

I can’t believe they cancelled something without your permission.  Should not be possible! Perhaps call and ask for a different PCC and a supervisor.

I know... she did.  All without my knowledge or consent.  Lost the deck 4 cabin that I wanted which had an extended balcony. I did not know they could even touch your bookings without your consent. I understand when bookings fall off due after the courtesy hold date expires.  But that was not the case.  It was not due to expire for several days.  Not much I can do.  So I will let it go.  But it leaves a bad feeling on my end.  

[kazu]

5 minutes ago, margar said:

I know... she did.  All without my knowledge or consent.  Lost the deck 4 cabin that I wanted which had an extended balcony. I did not know they could even touch your bookings without your consent. I understand when bookings fall off due after the courtesy hold date expires.  But that was not the case.  It was not due to expire for several days.  Not much I can do.  So I will let it go.  But it leaves a bad feeling on my end.  

 

Personally, I wouldn’t let it go.  I would call the supervisor and then find a good TA.

that’s absolute hogwash as far as I am concerned.  It there’s a limit to he $1 bookings it should be in the terms and conditions.

 

It wasn’t a courtesy hold - it was a booking.  HAL set the terms and you abided.
 

No cancellation should have been done without your prior approval.

 

I think your PCC screwed up and is covering their bases.

My good one was retired.  I used one for a casino booking as I didn’t think it was worth the work for my TA.  Biggest mistake of my life.  She screwed it all up and I ended up paying full price for one segment of the cruise.  There are too many new ones and they know zip IMO.

[Sun&Sand52]

7 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

I agree with @bennybear, but getting a new PCC is an effort. I called the PCC number and held - without entering an extension - until someone answered. I asked for a supervisor, and when the person on the line offered to take a message (tried that without success before) I said I would hold for a supervisor. Once a supervisor came online he was extremely nice and assigned a new, excellent PCC who has been really helpful. It was worth it.

Thank you for the suggestion.  I may try to do that.  Or I might just do my own booking in the future.  Just paying online and being done with it.  Seems so convoluted to jump through all these email hoops or missed phone calls with these PCC.  Should not be this difficult to book a cruise.  Might also start looking at the Big Box TA where I buy my toilet paper LOL!

[YourWorldWithBill]

2 minutes ago, margar said:

Thank you for the suggestion.  I may try to do that.  Or I might just do my own booking in the future.  Just paying online and being done with it.  Seems so convoluted to jump through all these email hoops or missed phone calls with these PCC.  Should not be this difficult to book a cruise.  Might also start looking at the Big Box TA where I buy my toilet paper LOL!

Yep, it's because of the usual aggravation that I went through the process. Probably because the new PCC knows that I was referred by a supervisor, the PCC is really, really nice!

[Sun&Sand52]

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Personally, I wouldn’t let it go.  I would call the supervisor and then find a good TA.

that’s absolute hogwash as far as I am concerned.  It there’s a limit to he $1 bookings it should be in the terms and conditions.

 

It wasn’t a courtesy hold - it was a booking.  HAL set the terms and you abided.
 

No cancellation should have been done without your prior approval.

 

I think your PCC screwed up and is covering their bases.

My good one was retired.  I used one for a casino booking as I didn’t think it was worth the work for my TA.  Biggest mistake of my life.  She screwed it all up and I ended up paying full price for one segment of the cruise.  There are too many new ones and they know zip IMO.

I agree with you. HAL allowed me to make multiple courtesy holds during the $1.00 deposit day.  Not my fault that they allowed me to do that.  The PCC told me when too many bookings are made they flag your account and she was trying to save it from being "flagged".  Hogwash?  Or truth?  I have no idea.  My fault as I did get a little carried away and made 9 bookings for various months and the one that was way out in 2025.  But, I thought we were allowed to do that in order to make decisions.  Cabins go fast sometimes.  Anyway, it's done.  My cabin is gone to someone else.  Not the end of the world. But it leaves a bad feeling for me with this particular PCC.

[kazu]

9 minutes ago, margar said:

I agree with you. HAL allowed me to make multiple courtesy holds during the $1.00 deposit day.  Not my fault that they allowed me to do that.  The PCC told me when too many bookings are made they flag your account and she was trying to save it from being "flagged".  Hogwash?  Or truth?  I have no idea.  My fault as I did get a little carried away and made 9 bookings for various months and the one that was way out in 2025.  But, I thought we were allowed to do that in order to make decisions.  Cabins go fast sometimes.  Anyway, it's done.  My cabin is gone to someone else.  Not the end of the world. But it leaves a bad feeling for me with this particular PCC.

 

Careful - you made a deposit not a courtesy hold.

 

there is a difference IF you want to complain.  

[Sun&Sand52]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

Careful - you made a deposit not a courtesy hold.

 

there is a difference IF you want to complain.  

Interesting - I had made a "Courtesy Hold" on each of the bookings.  No deposits.  No money was given, they were just put on hold when I was booking online.  No money passed over to HAL.  Was still in the process of deciding on dates and cruises. 

 

So is that better that they were on "Courtesy Hold" if I would like to complain to HAL?  Or is that worse?  

[kazu]

24 minutes ago, margar said:

Interesting - I had made a "Courtesy Hold" on each of the bookings.  No deposits.  No money was given, they were just put on hold when I was booking online.  No money passed over to HAL.  Was still in the process of deciding on dates and cruises. 

 

So is that better that they were on "Courtesy Hold" if I would like to complain to HAL?  Or is that worse?  

 

I am confused.  Did yu pay the deposit?  The whole $1 for each one?
 

if you did, it’s not a courtesy hold.  They die automatically in a certain time.  I think it’s 7 days?
 

If you made a deposit, it’s a booking, not a courtesy hold.

one thing I hate about the $1 sales is that people book cruises they are not going to take and tie up cabins until the last minute.  9 cruises?  If you are going on them all well and good but maybe that is why you were “red flagged”.  

[Sun&Sand52]

16 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I am confused.  Did yu pay the deposit?  The whole $1 for each one?
 

if you did, it’s not a courtesy hold.  They die automatically in a certain time.  I think it’s 7 days?
 

If you made a deposit, it’s a booking, not a courtesy hold.

one thing I hate about the $1 sales is that people book cruises they are not going to take and tie up cabins until the last minute.  9 cruises?  If you are going on them all well and good but maybe that is why you were “red flagged”.  

Kazu:  No.  I did not pay any money for the cruises I was considering.  No deposit was paid. 

 

They were just on a hold.  Which will / should normally fall off by itself if the deposit is not paid for within x amount of days.  

 

Yes, I was guilty of putting several cruises on hold (Not a deposit - no money paid) as I was considering various days due to work schedules, family holidays, etc.  So I was trying to take advantage of the $1.00 hold for something that might work with our future schedules.  I know - I probably got carried away with future planing!  🫢. They were several cruises that I was considering at different times of the year.  

 

I do wish that HAL had some type of a "cancel hold" button on the website so that we could delete holds that are not going to work for schedules.  That would make life easier for everyone.

[POA1]

2 hours ago, margar said:

 

I do wish that HAL had some type of a "cancel hold" button on the website so that we could delete holds that are not going to work for schedules.  That would make life easier for everyone

A booking hold will cancel on its own if not deposited. The deposit needs to be made anywhere from 24 hours (casino, for example) to 5 days (regular refundable fare.)

 

The mere act of clicking on a stateroom on the website pulls it out of inventory for around 15 minutes. The $2 deposit takes the cabin out of inventory until final payment.

[IAcruising]

18 minutes ago, POA1 said:

The $2 deposit takes the cabin out of inventory until final payment.

 

... and that sucks, big time. Please don't do that.

 

 

[crystalspin]

56 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

... and that sucks, big time. Please don't do that.

That would be between the passenger and HAL. Now wouldn't it?

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by crystalspin