New Royal Options, Maybe DCL Will Follow??

[tinkerone]

Royal has come out with some new options that are pretty interesting. They really make things easier. Since Royal is offering these options I would think DCL will follow with at least a few. Thought it might be of interest to someone.

• Previously announced on March 6, 2020, the flexibility to cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit will continue, though the eligible sailing window has been extended to now include all sailings through April 2022 (all open deployment as of May 6, 2020).
• NEW! Introducing Lift & Shift for those guests simply wishing to move their existing booking to next year. Eligible for rebooking between now and August 1, 2020, guests can protect their original price and promotional offering simply by selecting a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.
• NEW! Stick with us and your client is eligible to take advantage of our Best Price Guarantee up to 48- hours prior to their cruise vacation start date, ensuring the best rate and/or promotion. Price variances will result in a rate adjustment if requested outside of final payment or an Onboard Credit when inside final payment period.
• If desired, guests wishing to cancel prior to final payment can absolutely do so for a full refund of all monies paid to-date, and all nonrefundable deposits returned in the form of a Future Cruise Credit. After final payment, the standard cancellation penalties apply for those guests not interested in taking advantage of the Cruise with Confidence policy.

The Lift and Shift option is something interesting, I kind of like it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

DCL will never do the lift and shift. Not the way they run opening day.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

DCL will never do the lift and shift. Not the way they run opening day.

Never say never. We were refunded 100% our $ for a VGT reservation that is sold as non refundable. I'm not saying that DCL will do Lift and Shift, I'm just saying that nothing is certain anymore. They may need to try more lenient avenues to get people to feel comfortable booking a cruise.
Our next res is the WBPC in Feb 2021 with a PIF date of 10/29/20. I realize a lot can happen between now and the end of Oct but as of now that looks like a long span of time between PIF date and sail date. I don't know if I will be able to make that commitment 4 months in advance. That never used to bother me before.

 

[SamFaniam]

It is interesting to look at that list, but it is also true that Royal runs sales and specials all the time. They may need to work harder to get people back to their ships. I don’t know that Disney will have to use the same incentives to get people back to their ships again. But, I think that will depend on how things roll out when the ships actually start cruising again. Obviously, I think all of us would like to see lower prices for DCL.

 

[tinkerone]

It is interesting to look at that list, but it is also true that Royal runs sales and specials all the time. They may need to work harder to get people back to their ships. I don’t know that Disney will have to use the same incentives to get people back to their ships again. But, I think that will depend on how things roll out when the ships actually start cruising again. Obviously, I think all of us would like to see lower prices for DCL.

For me this speaks more to the security aspect as opposed to sales or specials. I have two place holders with DCL and two booked sailings with RCCL. I now feel very comfortable about my RCCL sailings knowing I can port them and it will not cost me a penny more where as I would not be comfortable with booking anything with DCL right now due to uncertainty. I do think that DCL may pick up some of these options just for that factor, the feeling the client has of security. It's lovely to have them give 125 percent credit but if the next year the price is 150 percent you lose money. We've certainly seen DCL prices rise extensively year after year.
Also, just the fact that RCCL is giving the option of a future credit for ALL cruises until April 2022 with just a 48 hour window, well that's big.
DCL has fewer ships to fill, that's true, but it still comes down to confidence to get them full.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Royal has come out with some new options that are pretty interesting. They really make things easier. Since Royal is offering these options I would think DCL will follow with at least a few. Thought it might be of interest to someone.

• Previously announced on March 6, 2020, the flexibility to cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit will continue, though the eligible sailing window has been extended to now include all sailings through April 2022 (all open deployment as of May 6, 2020).
• NEW! Introducing Lift & Shift for those guests simply wishing to move their existing booking to next year. Eligible for rebooking between now and August 1, 2020, guests can protect their original price and promotional offering simply by selecting a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.
• NEW! Stick with us and your client is eligible to take advantage of our Best Price Guarantee up to 48- hours prior to their cruise vacation start date, ensuring the best rate and/or promotion. Price variances will result in a rate adjustment if requested outside of final payment or an Onboard Credit when inside final payment period.
• If desired, guests wishing to cancel prior to final payment can absolutely do so for a full refund of all monies paid to-date, and all nonrefundable deposits returned in the form of a Future Cruise Credit. After final payment, the standard cancellation penalties apply for those guests not interested in taking advantage of the Cruise with Confidence policy.

The Lift and Shift option is something interesting, I kind of like it.

Yes, I got this offer today for our Celebrity cruise in December (RCCL owns Celebrity as you probably already know). I was thrilled! For Celebrity, they call it "Cruise with Confidence" and I knew they were offering it for earlier sailings and I didn't think it would be extended to us as our PIF isn't until September and who knows what the world will look like then. I was pretty sure, regardless, we did not want to sail in December and I had put a non-refundable deposit down. I was ready to take the penalty on it, but then got the e-mail about this today - I'm thrilled! We will most likely take the FCC. On Celebrity, we can use it through early May 2022. It made me feel a lot better about RCCL and Celebrity as cruise lines, quite honestly. I feel pretty confident we will now be able to find a sailing that feels safe for us within the next two years.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I picked purple to respond since there is so much to talk about with your post.
“
• Previously announced on March 6, 2020, the flexibility to cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit will continue, though the eligible sailing window has been extended to now include all sailings through April 2022 (all open deployment as of May 6, 2020).
That’s a Nice money saver for The cruising industry versus giving 115% or 125% credit toward another selling.

• NEW! Introducing Lift & Shift for those guests simply wishing to move their existing booking to next year. Eligible for rebooking between now and August 1, 2020, guests can protect their original price and promotional offering simply by selecting a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.
I like this idea too but since it’s only a year in advance will I be able to get the kind of rooms I want

• NEW! Stick with us and your client is eligible to take advantage of our Best Price Guarantee up to 48- hours prior to their cruise vacation start date, ensuring the best rate and/or promotion. Price variances will result in a rate adjustment if requested outside of final payment or an Onboard Credit when inside final payment period.
this is so cool never going to happen with DCL, but I absolutely love this concept

• If desired, guests wishing to cancel prior to final payment can absolutely do so for a full refund of all monies paid to-date, and all nonrefundable deposits returned in the form of a Future Cruise Credit. After final payment, the standard cancellation penalties apply for those guests not interested in taking advantage of the Cruise with Confidence policy.
I’m a little confused by the last sentence does this mean you have to sign up for the cruise with confidence policy in order to be able to receive money or credit?

 

[tinkerone]

I picked purple to respond since there is so much to talk about with your post.
“
• Previously announced on March 6, 2020, the flexibility to cancel up to 48-hours prior to sailing in exchange for a 100% Future Cruise Credit will continue, though the eligible sailing window has been extended to now include all sailings through April 2022 (all open deployment as of May 6, 2020).
That’s a Nice money saver for The cruising industry versus giving 115% or 125% credit toward another selling.

• NEW! Introducing Lift & Shift for those guests simply wishing to move their existing booking to next year. Eligible for rebooking between now and August 1, 2020, guests can protect their original price and promotional offering simply by selecting a future sailing on the same itinerary type, sailing length, stateroom category, and within the same 4-week period of their original cruise date same-time-next-year.
I like this idea too but since it’s only a year in advance will I be able to get the kind of rooms I want


• If desired, guests wishing to cancel prior to final payment can absolutely do so for a full refund of all monies paid to-date, and all nonrefundable deposits returned in the form of a Future Cruise Credit. After final payment, the standard cancellation penalties apply for those guests not interested in taking advantage of the Cruise with Confidence policy.
I’m a little confused by the last sentence does this mean you have to sign up for the cruise with confidence policy in order to be able to receive money or credit?

I believe what this means is, after final payment, if you want the FCC than you get it all but if you want cash back then they will use the normal method of the cruise contract. Than means you will follow the percentage that would normally apply. There is actually nothing to sign up for.

As for the nice money saving for the cruise industry I don't see it that way. They certainly don't have to have a 48 hour policy through April 2022. That's two full years. I'm not sure how they are saving money by doing this, the 125% is only for immediate cruises and I see that ending soon enough but allowing a cancelation up to 48 hours is industry changing. JMO on this one.

Also, I have booked several months out of a cruise with RCCL and have never had an issue with getting the category I wanted so I'm not sure that would be an issue. Maybe on the smaller ships, not sure, but on the bigger ones that would not be a problem a year out.

I'm impressed with what they have offered. I'm just waiting to see if other lines pick any of this up. I wouldn't be surprised but then again, everyone does their thing differently. Who knows.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also, I have booked several months out of a cruise with RCCL and have never had an issue with getting the category I wanted so I'm not sure that would be an issue.

I believe the reference is more to how that would be an issue on DCL. It would be less an issue on a Dream 4-nighter, and much more of an issue for anything on the Wonder or Magic. Go try to get a desirable category on 2021 AK high season right now.

 

[tinkerone]

I believe the reference is more to how that would be an issue on DCL. It would be less an issue on a Dream 4-nighter, and much more of an issue for anything on the Wonder or Magic. Go try to get a desirable category on 2021 AK high season right now.

I understand. That's why I said on the smaller ships it might be an issue but probably not on the bigger ones. I probably should have been clearer, sorry.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I would take the lift & shift on my October cruise because I got a free upgrade due to the drydock that I would like to keep without having to pay extra. As it stands, I will probably ask for a full refund of my deposit, and hope prices come down in the future.