Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises has made major changes to its future cruise credit and non-refundable deposit schemes.
RCI is removing the expiration dates of FCCs, allowing guests to have more flexibility to use their money.
But since Wednesday (June 1), Future Cruise Credits will no longer apply when itineraries are cancelled outside of the final payment period. Instead, the deposit amount will be withheld in-full.
Guests who booked a non-refundable fare prior to June 1 for an RCI cruise can elect to request an FCC in the amount of the deposit paid per guest, less a US$100 fee.
The cruise line quietly removed the book by/redeem by dates on FCCs in February, though at that time credits still expired if they were not booked before their original expiration dates.
Many cruise lines offered guests greater than 100 per cent future cruise credits as enticements for guests to accept credits rather than refunds on cancelled voyages.
RCI has announced that the bonus amount above fare credits will still expire on the original expiration date.
Guests in America with outstanding FCCs were sent an email from RCI, announcing the removal of expiration dates for the fare-price credits.
The email, signed by Assistant Vice President of Guest Experience Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, explained:
“The 25% bonus value provided through Global Suspension will remain active through your original expiration date and you have until that date to book a new sailing to take advantage of this bonus amount. Once your expiration date passes, your bonus amount will inactivate, however the FCC value associated with funds held in penalty will remain active and will never expire.”
Celebrity will also remove the incremental 25 per cent bonus value that was provided on the expiration date or on the December 31, 2022.
