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Two Solo Gotchas, or RCI Screws People Again

SRF

By SRF,
in Royal Caribbean International

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SRF

SRF

Posted
Posted

So, on a cruise in Nov 2022, I booked a cruise departing May 2023.  I was on the cruise with my then GF, and booked the new cruise for both of us.   We got $600 POBC as it was a 10 night cruise in a Grand Suite.

 

Between the cruises, we broke up.  I asked some friends if they wanted to go, but no one was able to do so.  And I actually had a two bedroom Grand Suite, so it did not have to be a "close" friend. 😄

 

As per the normal CC advice, I did not cancel her, just had a no-show, so they would not reprice the cruise.

 

So I am on the cruise, and check my account and it is very short on OBC.  I also get OBC from my travel agent.  I ask the Concierge about this and he checks on the computer, he ends up calling RCI HQ a few times, and finally got an answer.  They divided the OBC between the two of us (which had NEVER been done before), and could not transfer from "her account" to mine since she did not board, her account was "locked."  So I lost almost half the OBC from Next Cruise.  And, no, they did not split the OBC equally between us.

 

So after the cruise, I check my C&A account, and I only got 20 points.  Hmm, 1 for sailing plus one for suite, plus one for solo times 10 nights should be 30 points.  I call, and it seems that if you are solo due to a no-show, you do not get solo points, you have to be BOOKED as solo.


The points thing is in the cruise contract, in fine print, buried.  

 

Just a heads up if you are going to go solo, to think about rebooking as solo for all the solo perks.

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ace1zoe2

ace1zoe2

Posted
Posted (edited)

It's been at least a year or more since they updated the no-show points policy. It is on the FAQ on their website. It specifically states that you only receive double points if you were originally booked as a solo.image.thumb.png.7394f3d7f66194514427992567194888.png

Edited by ace1zoe2
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Mikew0805

Mikew0805

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, twangster said:

When I book solo at NextCruise I don't get the full OBC.  It's always some percentage.  

 

For example my last Star Class booking was a NC solo booking and I received $300 OBC.  

This is odd to me. I book a sailing on almost every sailing, and I always book solo and always get the full amount.

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Stick93

Stick93

Posted
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Late 2019 or early 2020.

Booked three rooms last January(2023) and canceled one kid 3 days before cruise. The remaining child got double points. The catch I believe is you must cancel the guest before cruise. No show is No extra points. 

Edited by Stick93
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cublet

cublet

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

This is odd to me. I book a sailing on almost every sailing, and I always book solo and always get the full amount.

Hello,

 

I think that's the difference: When I book on-board I get 100% of the OBC, when I book on shore I get 75% of the OBC.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

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nelblu

nelblu

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

This is odd to me. I book a sailing on almost every sailing, and I always book solo and always get the full amount.

Same here.  

 

7 hours ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

I think that's the difference: When I book on-board I get 100% of the OBC, when I book on shore I get 75% of the OBC.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

Confused.  I get the right amount of OBC when I book on board.  When I book on land, I get no OBC unless it's a special promo.  The latter statement are you talking about the NCC that needs to be converted into an actual sail within 2 months otherwise you lose the OBC.

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ace1zoe2

ace1zoe2

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Yes, this turns the booking into a solo. 

This true, however, they can and will reprice the cruise at current pricing. Our friend tried this and her cost was going to increase by about $600 so she chose the no-show with single points.

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, ace1zoe2 said:

This true, however, they can and will reprice the cruise at current pricing. Our friend tried this and her cost was going to increase by about $600 so she chose the no-show with single points.

Never had that happen anytime I have done this for clients in the last 5 years.  I they try to hang up and call back to get a more experienced agent.

Edited by Ourusualbeach
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nelblu

nelblu

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, steveru621 said:

OBC has always been split.

I thought it was per stateroom and not by individual.  Years ago, they used to split the C&A balcony discount to 1st & 2nd Pax.

Edited by nelblu
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Morecruisesplz

Morecruisesplz

Posted
Posted
22 hours ago, SRF said:

So, on a cruise in Nov 2022, I booked a cruise departing May 2023.  I was on the cruise with my then GF, and booked the new cruise for both of us.   We got $600 POBC as it was a 10 night cruise in a Grand Suite.

 

Between the cruises, we broke up.  I asked some friends if they wanted to go, but no one was able to do so.  And I actually had a two bedroom Grand Suite, so it did not have to be a "close" friend. 😄

 

As per the normal CC advice, I did not cancel her, just had a no-show, so they would not reprice the cruise.

 

So I am on the cruise, and check my account and it is very short on OBC.  I also get OBC from my travel agent.  I ask the Concierge about this and he checks on the computer, he ends up calling RCI HQ a few times, and finally got an answer.  They divided the OBC between the two of us (which had NEVER been done before), and could not transfer from "her account" to mine since she did not board, her account was "locked."  So I lost almost half the OBC from Next Cruise.  And, no, they did not split the OBC equally between us.

 

So after the cruise, I check my C&A account, and I only got 20 points.  Hmm, 1 for sailing plus one for suite, plus one for solo times 10 nights should be 30 points.  I call, and it seems that if you are solo due to a no-show, you do not get solo points, you have to be BOOKED as solo.


The points thing is in the cruise contract, in fine print, buried.  

 

Just a heads up if you are going to go solo, to think about rebooking as solo for all the solo perks.

Seems fair.

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Mikew0805

Mikew0805

Posted
Posted (edited)
17 hours ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

I think that's the difference: When I book on-board I get 100% of the OBC, when I book on shore I get 75% of the OBC.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

If you are referring to the open deposit, and then book when you get home... yes that is what I also would do if I didn't not know what sailing I wanted. Now I have no choice and have to wait to book it at home, because the rules changed on the casino certs. Either way I have always received 100%. The only difference I can think of, and it does not make sense that this would be it since Next Cruise is separate, is that all of mine are casino comps.

Edited by Mikew0805
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nelblu

nelblu

Posted
Posted (edited)
10 hours ago, Mikew0805 said:

If you are referring to the open deposit, and then book when you get home... yes that is what I also would do if I didn't not know what sailing I wanted. Now I have no choice and have to wait to book it at home, because the rules changed on the casino certs. Either way I have always received 100%. The only difference I can think of, and it does not make sense that this would be it since Next Cruise is separate, is that all of mine are casino comps.

I wonder if @cublet is confusing with the C&A balcony discount.  For instance, I'm eligible for the solo supplement (DP340) and rather than the $250 I get $188 instead.  $188 is 75.2%.

Edited by nelblu
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SRF

SRF

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Posted
On 9/27/2023 at 12:22 PM, steveru621 said:

OBC has always been split.

Every previous cruise I booked on board, the OBC was in my account.

 

The two accounts were linked to on credit card, but I would check my account on the 2nd or 3rd day to make sure the TA OBC got properly credited and the full RCI OBC was always there.

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SRF

SRF

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On 9/27/2023 at 12:28 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

Never had that happen anytime I have done this for clients in the last 5 years.  I they try to hang up and call back to get a more experienced agent.

 

I wish I had seen this before.  I would have changed to solo.  Thanks.

 

My purpose in posting this thread was to give a heads up to those that did not know these things.  I did not.  The changing to solo was NOT the common advice here on CC. 

 

And the split OBC was something I had not seen on previous cruises.

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