Placeholder Discount

[yfamdiscruise]

We sailed at the end of February 2020 and purchased a placeholder while on board. The placeholder expires at the end of February 2022. I am trying to use it now for an early February 2022 cruise, and DCL is telling the Costco agent that a 10% discount doesn't apply. Isn't that the whole point of booking a placeholder? They told my agent that "There must have been some confusion" when I booked the placeholder but they've now agreed to give me the 10% as "a good will gesture." ??? I know DCL did away with the stateroom credit that we used to get, but the 10% discount still remains, doesn't it? This is not my first time using a placeholder, so I am confused why it's different from the past. Am I missing something, or is the cast member confused? Just curious so I know whether to bother booking a placeholder on my next cruise...
Thanks!!

 

[Cheburashka]

We sailed at the end of February 2020 and purchased a placeholder while on board. The placeholder expires at the end of February 2022. I am trying to use it now for an early February 2022 cruise, and DCL is telling the Costco agent that a 10% discount doesn't apply. Isn't that the whole point of booking a placeholder? They told my agent that "There must have been some confusion" when I booked the placeholder but they've now agreed to give me the 10% as "a good will gesture." ??? I know DCL did away with the stateroom credit that we used to get, but the 10% discount still remains, doesn't it? This is not my first time using a placeholder, so I am confused why it's different from the past. Am I missing something, or is the cast member confused? Just curious so I know whether to bother booking a placeholder on my next cruise...
Thanks!!

Yes, the 10% discount remains- I actually just booked a cruise with my placeholder today and got the 10% off. Did you book concierge? The 10% discount does not apply to concierge cabins. If you didn't book concierge, then the agent was just clueless. Sometimes they are clueless. I could give example after example of incorrect info I've been told by DCL phone reps.

 

[Marc D]

Two other possibilities : you are trying to book a *GT rate (restricted and discounted rate where you do not pick your stateroom) or the cruise you are looking at is one of the few blockout cruises. I do not see one in February 2022 however in the current list.

 

[tinkerone]

I thought the placeholders were extended to the end of Sept. 2022. We have two and that is what DCL is telling me. We decided to book for Dec. 2022 and can't use them however they told us not to cancel them as they can still be used until then. I think it was to keep in line with the FCC extension.

 

[yfamdiscruise]

Yes, the 10% discount remains- I actually just booked a cruise with my placeholder today and got the 10% off. Did you book concierge? The 10% discount does not apply to concierge cabins. If you didn't book concierge, then the agent was just clueless. Sometimes they are clueless. I could give example after example of incorrect info I've been told by DCL phone reps.

Nope, not concierge and not *GT. Just a normal old booking for a family verandah. And not during any of the blackout dates. I'm thinking it must have just been a confused cast member. Good to know I can continue booking placeholders going forward!

 

[lanejudy]

Is it possible your placeholder never got transferred to Costco as your TA. If you booked it onboard in late Feb. 2020 that would have been shortly before the shutdown. My guess is something got messed up during the closure. I'm glad they are honoring it for you.

 

[Cheburashka]

Nope, not concierge and not *GT. Just a normal old booking for a family verandah. And not during any of the blackout dates. I'm thinking it must have just been a confused cast member. Good to know I can continue booking placeholders going forward!

Yes, you definitely can. I just cruised last week and got the placeholder then, and applied it today. 10% off.

 

[yfamdiscruise]

Is it possible your placeholder never got transferred to Costco as your TA. If you booked it onboard in late Feb. 2020 that would have been shortly before the shutdown. My guess is something got messed up during the closure. I'm glad they are honoring it for you.

That's possible! Who knows what crazy things did or didn't occur during that time.

 

[TNewman1024]

We were on the Fantasy until 8MAR20 last year and had a placeholder. WE have always booked direct and not used a TA...but was interested in switching to a TA based on the shutdown stuff, wait times and all the cancelations. We wanted to heave some experienced folks helping navigate those waters.

We were told by DCL that the reservation has to be transferred to you TA in a certain period of time. When booking the Placeholder there is a place to put in you TA info.

You still get the 10% if you book direct, or in the future if you transfer your placeholder to the TA in short order after you return. I think the timeline they told us was 10days but I'm not 100% sure. Juts decided to work thru a TA going forward. I think there are good benefits to use a TA, whereas prior I always felt the TA would cost more.

We booked a back-2-back in January 4N and 5N Marvel. One used the placeholder and the other used a new booking via the TA...WE managed to keep it in the same stateroom and it worked out well. going forward we will only use the TA path.

 

[dcassetta]

We were told by DCL that the reservation has to be transferred to you TA in a certain period of time. When booking the Placeholder there is a place to put in you TA info.

You still get the 10% if you book direct, or in the future if you transfer your placeholder to the TA in short order after you return. I think the timeline they told us was 10days but I'm not 100% sure

If you book onboard, and do not list your TA on your form, the placeholder needs to be transferred within 30 days. The same timeline is true if you book a cruise yourself and want to transfer. In order to transfer a cruise booking, it cannot be paid in full.