Can you cancel Club Orange?

[DaveOKC]

About four weeks ago I added Club Orange to my booking at a cost of $25 pp per day.  Selected an aft view balcony cabin with this.  Yesterday I received a "paid upgrade" offer to a Signature Suite and took it.  I asked at the time of upgrade if I would get any credit for the Club Orange fee and she checked and the answer was "no", unless I upgraded to a Neptune, which was not available.

 

So, since on the Eurodam the Club Orange gets you almost nothing (except for the Meta Category upgrade which now does not apply), I was wondering if I could now cancel the Club Orange option?  

 

Has anyone done/tried this?

[Haljo1935]

Have not done it myself. I believe T&C says CO is non refundable  but I really think I've read of people getting it refunded on canceled cruises. Have not read about getting it refunded on existing bookings.

Very curious  - please keep us updated.

[kazu]

25 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

About four weeks ago I added Club Orange to my booking at a cost of $25 pp per day.  Selected an aft view balcony cabin with this.  Yesterday I received a "paid upgrade" offer to a Signature Suite and took it.  I asked at the time of upgrade if I would get any credit for the Club Orange fee and she checked and the answer was "no", unless I upgraded to a Neptune, which was not available.

 

To the best of my knowledge Club Orange is non refundable.  I have been told that a couple of times by the Club Orange department.

 

 

25 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

So, since on the Eurodam the Club Orange gets you almost nothing (except for the Meta Category upgrade which now does not apply), I was wondering if I could now cancel the Club Orange option?  

 

Maybe I am missing the boat but it seems to me that the CO booking got you that aft cabin which would have been pricier if you didn’t have Club Orange (I’m assuming you wouldn’t have done CO unless it was worth the $$$ ).

 

the upsell offer would have been more reasonable from that category of cabin to a Signature Suite, I think?  If I am right, then Club Orange did get you something and the Meta category upgrade did apply?

[*Miss G*]

17 minutes ago, kazu said:

Maybe I am missing the boat but it seems to me that the CO booking got you that aft cabin which would have been pricier if you didn’t have Club Orange (I’m assuming you wouldn’t have done CO unless it was worth the $$$ ).

 

I have always been curious as to whether the price paid for the initial booking factors into the price of the paid-upgrade offer.  The scenario, above, would make sense if it does.  I tend to think it’s an across-the-board offer and I would do like @DaveOKC did; ask for a reduction in consideration of the CO purchase.  They can only say no!  (Which they did 🤭)

 

I did ask whether my CO purchase would be applied when taking an offer to a Neptune Suite and they said yes.  (I took the offer.)  In that case it makes sense since CO is included for Neptune Suites.

 

It is an interesting question, @DaveOKC.  Perhaps, as you get closer to the sail date, a NS will open up and you will get a reduction.  I think I would be calling every day in the final two weeks in hopes of one becoming available.

[DaveOKC]

While I cannot say for certain, in talking to the agent it does not appear that the price (or category) you paid/have makes any difference in the cost of the upsell.  Thats why I was wondering about cancelling the Club Orange as I am not really getting a benefit from it.

 

Also, the agent did tell me to watch for upsells to a Neptune as there can be cancellations at any time prior to sailing (I think that people who have cancellation insurance generally wait until the last minute to cancel).  I have had this happen before - getting an upsell offer of the sole cabin available three days prior to sailing.

[*Miss G*]

4 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

While I cannot say for certain, in talking to the agent it does not appear that the price (or category) you paid/have makes any difference in the cost of the upsell.  Thats why I was wondering about cancelling the Club Orange as I am not really getting a benefit from it.

 

Do you work with a specific PCC?  The one I have will put me on hold to speak with a pricing specialist when I’ve requested a reduction or compensation.  I believe that’s when actual price paid is factored into the offer they come back with.

[DaveOKC]

17 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

Do you work with a specific PCC?  The one I have will put me on hold to speak with a pricing specialist when I’ve requested a reduction or compensation.  I believe that’s when actual price paid is factored into the offer they come back with.

I do have a PCC, but when you get the upsell offer you have to call a special number.  I questioned that person and they put me on hold for about 15 minutes before she came back with the response, so I assume she was talking to a pricing specialist.  No change in the deal.

[AV8rix]

7 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

I do have a PCC, but when you get the upsell offer you have to call a special number. 

No, actually your PCC can do it.  I've done it a few times before -- most recently this month.  Upsell number had me on hold for way to long, so I called my awesome PCC and he handled the upgrade.

[DaveOKC]

19 minutes ago, AV8rix said:

No, actually your PCC can do it.  I've done it a few times before -- most recently this month.  Upsell number had me on hold for way to long, so I called my awesome PCC and he handled the upgrade.

Can he tell you all the cabins open?  I was able to pick a very good location yesterday.

 

[*Miss G*]

10 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Can he tell you all the cabins open?  I was able to pick a very good location yesterday.

 

 

Mine does.

[AV8rix]

20 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Can he tell you all the cabins open?  I was able to pick a very good location yesterday.

 

Yeah!!!  This month I had an offer for a verandah from a gty interior(!) at a very good price.  He gave me choices but recommended a terrific midship veranda (V not VC, VD or VE), which I took.  He's done this before.

Edited November 14, 2023 by AV8rix

[HappyInVan]

3 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

About four weeks ago I added Club Orange to my booking at a cost of $25 pp per day.  Selected an aft view balcony cabin with this.  Yesterday I received a "paid upgrade" offer to a Signature Suite and took it.

 

I have a different strategy. I'm primarily interested in suite upgrades because HAL is asking ridiculous retail prices. So, I'm booking last minute (within 2 months of embarkation). Either I immediately book the suite I want and add CO (if available). Or, I wait for the paid upgrade to be available in the last 4 weeks, and add CO if available. IMO, the benefits of a paid upgrade outweigh the benefits of the CO.

[KAKcruiser]

I don't think cancellation of Club Orange is allowed unless you cancel the cruise.  I also don't think CO had anything to do with the paid upgrade. It would have been offered at the same price regardless.  I agree with the strategy of trying to get a Neptune Suite upgrade.  At that point your CO fee would be refunded.  Keep checking.  You never know when one will become available.  Good luck.

[Caribbean Chris]

In OP’s position (I wanted an upgrade without paying the full cost) I’d probably look at it this way:  I chose and paid for Deal #1, the optional Club Orange benefit package. HAL upheld their end of the bargain right away by upgrading me to an Aft View Balcony. I got the upgrade I wanted.
 

(Terms & conditions: CO Benefits aren’t refundable or transferable.)

 

When optional Deal #2, came along, I had to make a choice. I chose to discard Deal #1’s  nonrefundable benefits (my upgrade) and bought Deal #2 for a better upgrade to a suite.
 

Therefore I am not due a refund from discarded Deal #1.

 

[cbr663]

If you booked a non-refundable deposit, then no, CO is not refundable.  

 

I booked our upcoming cruise in July with a final payment due 3 weeks later in Aug.  I booked a non-refundable deposit as I didn't see any value of paying more for a refundable deposit for 3 weeks duration.  I purchased CO and was able to upgrade to the cabin that I wanted.

 

Upon receiving the invoice from HAL I was surprised to see under the Cancellation Fees Schedule that Cancellation Fees that began the date of the booking were for the CO charges.  No one explained this to me when booking using a non-refundable deposit.

 

I can also confirm that I have also cancelled a cruise with a refundable deposit and CO and the CO costs were also refunded along with my other deposits.

 

I have read on CC that some people who have CO have been successful getting additional OBC when no upgrade in their cabin is available.  You may want to consider that approach.  

[KAKcruiser]

Well, if the Neptune Suite doesn't work out, at least you'll have the CO benefits including the tote bag!

[Iamthesea]

Is the service any better in the MDR Club Orange dining area?   We book CO when sailing on the Pinnacle Class ship, but not sure we would want it on any other class ship.  Our experience in the MDR during lunch has been chaotic and slow.   However, if the service was better in the CO section, might be reason enough to keep CO. That, plus the extra entrée, priority boarding and tendering.  We never received a CO bag.  Lol

[dfrohman]

4 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

Is the service any better in the MDR Club Orange dining area?   We book CO when sailing on the Pinnacle Class ship, but not sure we would want it on any other class ship.  Our experience in the MDR during lunch has been chaotic and slow.   However, if the service was better in the CO section, might be reason enough to keep CO. That, plus the extra entrée, priority boarding and tendering.  We never received a CO bag.  Lol

I don't know if the actual table service is any better but there is a separate check-in line. So any wait for a table should be much shorter.

[POA1]

7 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Well, if the Neptune Suite doesn't work out, at least you'll have the CO benefits including the tote bag!

Exactly!

[mjmagee]

7 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Well, if the Neptune Suite doesn't work out, at least you'll have the CO benefits including the tote bag!

Sailed this past summer on Koningsdam with CO.  While enjoyed an upgraded balcony, CO dining room and preferred check-in, one of my favorite benefits was the CO line at Guest Services.  Often the line for Guest Services went down the hallway and I could walk up and be no later than 2nd in the CO line!  Valuable perk!

Marilyn

[bennybear]

I want to confirm others experiences.   Is club orange refundable?   

[kazu]

1 minute ago, bennybear said:

I want to confirm others experiences.   Is club orange refundable?   

 

I was told it is not by the Club Orange staff.  there is an exception that if you end up in a Neptune Suite on an upsell offer, they will deduct the cost you paid for Club Orange agains the price of the offer.

 

I have not tried cancelling it, personally but when I was medically disembarked I was not refunded for the days I lost of Club Orange FWIW.

[bennybear]

@kazu thanks!  I seem to be getting conflicting answers from HAL.  I am curious about prior to cruising as I only book refundable fares.  It says normal cancellation fees apply on the website.  So I am hoping it depends on the type of fare booked.  

[kazu]

2 minutes ago, bennybear said:

@kazu thanks!  I seem to be getting conflicting answers from HAL.  I am curious about prior to cruising as I only book refundable fares.  It says normal cancellation fees apply on the website.  So I am hoping it depends on the type of fare booked.  

 

It may.  I know that my CPP went up taking the CO into account.

 

If you are looking at a Pinnacle Class ship, I highly recommend it for the dining room alone 😉 

[saltshell]

Had to cancel a cruise last minute due to a family medical emergency.  No refund on Orange club.