Royal Caribbean’s latest Promo Offers – Will your onboard credit really be there ?

Truly, Royal Caribbean is one of my favorite cruise lines to work with on “land” - Their headquarters.  Of course, why wouldn't I ... Cruises Inc has a special number to call, where theae folks are some of the highes trained folks RCI has ! 

However, latterly, their Promo Offers are not at all, as simple as one would think, to receive !  I'm talking about the offers lately, of $ 50 OBCC to $ 200 OBCC, for select destinations.  Having all this extra money sounds great, doesn't it !

What you don’t know is … RCI is nNOT applying this promotion, to your booking when you call and first book.  Instead, this is being done by a team of their staff, but not till a later date … 10+ days or longer, after deposit !

What’s more shocking, “asking for the offer” is not, at all, getting the offer applied.  An email must be then sent, to the “coupon” dept, to “ask” for the offer.

You ask why ?  RCI now makes each booking, go through a process, to see if the cruiser really does qualify !  If I guess, maybe agents were applying the offers, when the cruiser did not qualify, so later, the bookings rejected, and probably a lot of unhappy guest ! 

 

Anyway, this team is making sure, you did not receive a Crown and Anchor offer also; that you are not in a group; did you book on the correct dates; did you cancel and rebook; and more.  If you do not qualify, then you do not qualify !  Poof, you do not get the onboard credit !

 

You ask, what is the big deal that RCI is not putting the offer on your booking at time of deposit, yet waiting till later ?

Well … If you book on your own (direct at the cruise line), then YOU will have to follow up on your own to see if this promo was ever applied or if for some reason, maybe it rejected !

If you bought online, I guess you better follow up with that company, to see if it was ever applied !

And if you bought from an agent, hopefully that agent, will automatically continue to follow behind the cruise line, to be sure it is done !

 

I believe many folks are going to get on their cruise, and there will be no onboard credit !  Basically because they didn’t know, that the promo is not automatically being applied … And, one needed to follow up  !

What has been my experience so far ? 

1)    RCI tells me that this promo will not automatically be applied. 

2)    I must send an email asking for the promo or go up on RCI’s agent site and notify there. 

3)    Though promo is said to be applied, by this team, within 10 days of making deposit, that is not happening !

4)    I can now, wait more days and call again, or send in email again, in case they never received.

5)  One I had, the res agent put on a Crown and Anchor offer.  Guess what, my booking rejected !  He can't have both ... It's one or the other.  Had I not been following up, I would have not known !

 

Lots of extra work, when it is RCI who is offering this promo to all cruisers !  Meaning, if you really want it, expect to really work, to get it, unless you bought from an agent who is detailed to the point of making sure it is there for you ! 

Just a heads up on Royal Caribbean's current offers ...Do not assume anything with the new RCI’s offers !