Booking new cruise while on a cruise

[floinnc]

We'll be sailing next month on Princess. We've been looking at a very long, expensive cruise for 2025. Would like to know if there are good deals if you book when currently on board? Thank you!

[BamaVol]

5 minutes ago, floinnc said:

We'll be sailing next month on Princess. We've been looking at a very long, expensive cruise for 2025. Would like to know if there are good deals if you book when currently on board? Thank you!

I stopped by the future cruise desk on board last week.  The deal that I was offered is OBC per person from $25-150 depending on cabin and length of cruise.  I put $100 down and have a year to deliver a booking. Otherwise Princess refunds my $100.

[Rick&Jeannie]

45 minutes ago, floinnc said:

We'll be sailing next month on Princess. We've been looking at a very long, expensive cruise for 2025. Would like to know if there are good deals if you book when currently on board? Thank you!

You should look into purchasing a pair of FCD while on board. (Future Cruise Deposit)  Don't waste your cruise time investigating a future cruise (UNLESS they just *happen* to offer you some kind of a GREAT DEAL.)  One FCD (you need 2 if travelling as a couple) is $100 and serves as a cruise deposit even if that particular cruise's deposit is normally more.  You *also* get $100 OBC.  It is good for one calendar year, and if by some chance you do not use it by its expiration date it is refunded back to your original form of payment.  So...you actually *gain* (the OBC) when you use FCD to book a cruise.

[gottagocit]

We haven’t had much luck getting any special deals or discounts on booking future cruises while onboard UNTIL our last voyage in April. On that sailing Simone in the future cruise planning group onboard the Emerald found us two great deals on voyages in ‘25 that were far better than we could see online. There are sometimes discount promos available if they are willing to search for them that aren’t available otherwise.
 

Be sure to purchase a future cruise deposit before booking though. it’s very helpful that you can do that on the app now when onboard. 

[Thrak]

41 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

You should look into purchasing a pair of FCD while on board. (Future Cruise Deposit)  Don't waste your cruise time investigating a future cruise (UNLESS they just *happen* to offer you some kind of a GREAT DEAL.)  One FCD (you need 2 if travelling as a couple) is $100 and serves as a cruise deposit even if that particular cruise's deposit is normally more.  You *also* get $100 OBC.  It is good for one calendar year, and if by some chance you do not use it by its expiration date it is refunded back to your original form of payment.  So...you actually *gain* (the OBC) when you use FCD to book a cruise.

 

The amount of OBC you get when using FCD as your deposit depends on the length of the cruise you book and the category of cabin you are in. Be aware that, if you are a couple and book using FCD as your deposits you will both get the OBC.

 

OBC From FCD

3 - 6 Days $15 Inside, $15 Outside, $25 Balcony, $25 Suite

7 - 10 Days $25 Inside, $25 Outside, $50 Balcony, $50 Suite

11 - 16 Days $75 Inside, $75 Outside, $100 Balcony, $100 Suite

17 + Days $125 Inside, $125 Outside, $150 Balcony, $150 Suite

Edited September 16, 2023 by Thrak

[mtnesterz]

My experience on the Emerald last month was the opposite of gottagocit. I asked the Future Cruise Planner, "Is there ever any discount booking on the ship as compared with booking when home?" The answer was no. 

 

[sunviking90]

The only discounted cruises we saw recently on the Emerald were on the sale sheet. They are all slow sellers with dates going into April 2024 only.

[yyjguy]

Be aware!   Until a few months ago, future sales staff were direct Princess employees with full access and great knowledge of Princess products.   Now, they are employed  by an outside travel consortium ( travel agency) just like the shop, casino, photo staff, and their company is paid by commissions earned on sales. Recent cruisers report heavy sales pressure, (must be bought on board) (no sales=no income) staff that know very little about ships, destinations, or options.  Purchase a future cruise deposit and research/book once home from your agent or Princess. 

[BamaVol]

42 minutes ago, yyjguy said:

Be aware!   Until a few months ago, future sales staff were direct Princess employees with full access and great knowledge of Princess products.   Now, they are employed  by an outside travel consortium ( travel agency) just like the shop, casino, photo staff, and their company is paid by commissions earned on sales. Recent cruisers report heavy sales pressure, (must be bought on board) (no sales=no income) staff that know very little about ships, destinations, or options.  Purchase a future cruise deposit and research/book once home from your agent or Princess. 

I experienced no pressure whatsoever. The woman was happy to sell me FCD. 

[wallyj]

2 hours ago, yyjguy said:

Be aware!   Until a few months ago, future sales staff were direct Princess employees with full access and great knowledge of Princess products.   Now, they are employed  by an outside travel consortium ( travel agency) just like the shop, casino, photo staff, and their company is paid by commissions earned on sales. Recent cruisers report heavy sales pressure, (must be bought on board) (no sales=no income) staff that know very little about ships, destinations, or options.  Purchase a future cruise deposit and research/book once home from your agent or Princess. 

Not all of the Future cruise personnel are ‘new’ to Princess. Many previous Future Cruise agents accepted the offer to be employed by the third party company called O.N.E and are quite knowledgeable. 
 

They currently have an On Board promotion of certain sailings up till May 2024 that are 50% off the Princess.com fare, so these are the only sailings that HAVE the book on board requirement. Depending on the sailing, some of these require payment in full even if the sailing is beyond the usual final payment date.

[Steelers36]

22 hours ago, BamaVol said:

I stopped by the future cruise desk on board last week.  The deal that I was offered is OBC per person from $25-150 depending on cabin and length of cruise.  I put $100 down and have a year to deliver a booking. Otherwise Princess refunds my $100.

That is not a booking deal.  It is the standard FCD offer Princess has had for eons.

[BamaVol]

2 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

That is not a booking deal.  It is the standard FCD offer Princess has had for eons.

But it is a way of saving money on a future cruise and only available onboard.

[LACruiser88]

[dreaminofcruisin]

47 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

 

This needs to be updated...

It recently changed to "Take 1 year to book your next cruise".

....and it is really EASY to do it onboard in the app.

 

[yyjguy]

Bamavol you missed the point of my post.  FCC purchase has not changed with the out sourcing of what was a valuable onboard service. 

[Z0nker]

On 9/16/2023 at 4:53 PM, Thrak said:

 

The amount of OBC you get when using FCD as your deposit depends on the length of the cruise you book and the category of cabin you are in. Be aware that, if you are a couple and book using FCD as your deposits you will both get the OBC.

 

OBC From FCD

3 - 6 Days $15 Inside, $15 Outside, $25 Balcony, $25 Suite

7 - 10 Days $25 Inside, $25 Outside, $50 Balcony, $50 Suite

11 - 16 Days $75 Inside, $75 Outside, $100 Balcony, $100 Suite

17 + Days $125 Inside, $125 Outside, $150 Balcony, $150 Suite

Our VP called recently to "wish us bon voyage" and of course made a plug for the FCD.  Seems like a no brainer, especially since we live near a Princess homeport. 

[JF - retired RRT]

On 9/17/2023 at 1:50 PM, BamaVol said:

But it is a way of saving money on a future cruise and only available onboard.

Well, yeah. You have to buy the Future Cruise Deposit on board, but you don't have to use it while still on the ship.

[LRCruzr]

On 9/16/2023 at 6:22 PM, floinnc said:

We'll be sailing next month on Princess. We've been looking at a very long, expensive cruise for 2025. Would like to know if there are good deals if you book when currently on board? Thank you!

Only if you purchase a Future Credit Program.  We purchased a Package that cost $7499...you get $6000 credit towards Cruise, EZ Air,

on board credit. 7 Day Hotel Stay and (2) 2 day vouchers for Hotels. So $6000 plus 11 days hotel credit and $300 onboard Credit that is used towards Cruise.