Royal Caribbean extends window of time to use future cruise credits through end of 2022

Table Of Content

• Can I apply my future cruise credit to a balance due on an existing booking?
• Royal Caribbean extends window of time to use future cruise credits through end of 2022
• Royal Caribbean makes using future cruise credits easier with rule change
• Lots of credits out there
• Airline Reward Programs
• Royal Caribbean Provides Update on Future Cruise Credits

But during the COVID-19 pandemic, some lines have extended the "use by" dates for future cruise credits several times. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises recently said their pandemic-era future cruise credits would never expire. Now with the change in policy, when cruisers use their future cruise credits to book sailings, any remaining credit will be transferred into onboard credit. No, once you know you're about to get a future cruise credit for a canceled cruise, you can go ahead and reserve your next cruise immediately.

Can I apply my future cruise credit to a balance due on an existing booking?

Most cruise lines only allow a FCC to be applied to a new booking that is made after the date the FCC is issued. There are some exceptions to this rule that allow you to apply your FCC to an existing reservation. With the new change, guests now have more cruises to choose from when applying their credits. Essentially, anyone with a future cruise credit can apply it to more sailings than before. Royal Caribbean has slowly changed some of the FCC rules because of all the cancelled cruises, including being able to use a FCC towards a deposit and even allowing guests to combine FCCs. FCCs are being issued to passengers who are denied passage on embarkation day due to positive test, symptoms, and/or exposure to COVID-19.

Royal Caribbean extends window of time to use future cruise credits through end of 2022

In many cases when cancellations are necessary, MSC is offering replacement dates rather than FCCs. Guests can accept the replacement dates or choose from other options before deciding on accepting either a refund of the original fare paid or FCC. You won't have to worry every again about your unredeemed Royal Caribbean Cruise with Confidence future cruise credit expiring.

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Royal Caribbean makes using future cruise credits easier with rule change

No cruise is complete without a night of belly laughs at the onboard comedy club. On Utopia of the Seas℠, that club is called The Attic, and admission is free. This adults-only hotspot can hold a candle to some of the best clubs in Manhattan and Chicago.

Lots of credits out there

For me, nothing beats a delicious taco tray or cheesy burrito during a pool day — especially when it's complimentary. It's why I end up enjoying lunch at El Loco Fresh®, a fast-casual Tex-Mex eatery, during most of my sea days. You'll find all kinds of shareable options here, including a nacho tray that's perfect for enjoying with friends or family. This means when guests are booked by the end of April 2022 or even a sailing before then, they can take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s 125% Future Cruise Credit.

Airline Reward Programs

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While widespread cruise cancellations have stopped, the Cruise with Confidence program has been a popular option for Royal Caribbean customers who need to cancel a cruise close to the sail date for many possible reasons. Travel agents were advised today that Royal Caribbean has removed the "book/redeem by" deadline, and FCCs can now be redeemed anytime up until the expiration date listed on the certificate. Without the Cruise with Confidence program, there would be a penalty if you cancelled a cruise after the final payment date. Royal Caribbean has steadily extended the Cruise with Confidence program by pushing back the date at which sailings must be booked by.

MSC Cruises

Ultimate Abyss℠ first made waves for being the longest dry slide at sea. It spans 10 stories and stretches 43 feet longer than any other before it. And that's not all — the ship's Ultimate Abyss℠ also has zoom booster rollers and see-through racing windows that make the ride even more thrilling than ever. Drop by Café Promenade on Deck 5 in the morning, afternoon or at night for brewed coffee, lattes and cappuccinos paired with tasty pastries and other quick-and-easy bites. Another complimentary returning favorite you'll find on Utopia of the Seas℠ is Boardwalk Dog House.

The smoked pulled pork sandwich is at the top of my must-try list, followed by the cheeseburger flatbread drizzled with secret sauce. If you have a sweet tooth (like me), make sure you save room for The Spare Tire's daily rotating selection of desserts. Come back for seconds and thirds throughout your pool day — every bite is included in your cruise fare. Delicious dining options play a big role in every Utopia of the Seas℠ sailing. The ship offers a mouthwatering selection of free restaurants onboard, serving up tantalizing cuisine from around the world. There are 21 total restaurants onboard, including both complimentary and specialty dining options.

They soon discovered that it was not always a simple matter to find a replacement cruise priced the same, down to the penny, as the original booking and credit amount. Some cruisers had to pay the balance in cash; others booked a cruise for less than the amount of the credit, ending up with a small remainder. Most cruise lines typically have issued FCCs within a couple of weeks after the cancellation has been announced, but other cruise lines can take weeks or months to process them. World Travel Holdings' cruise brand websites have a help center that provides guidance on when FCCs will arrive.

Hopefully today's change will give these folks more time to find the right way to redeem it for them. This strategy allowed the cruise lines to stay afloat, but it also has left lots of FCCs out there. Your FCC will be attached to your cruise line loyalty information or rewards profile — the VIFP Club at Carnival, for instance, or Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society. If you never registered with the cruise line or you do not have a loyalty account, your FCC information will be emailed to you on the email address you provided when you originally booked your cruise.

Until then, Royal Caribbean is working through the details on the CDC Conditional Sailing Order that was announced on October 30, 2020. A lot of work needs to be done on preparing cruise ships with new health measures and making sure the crew can get back to the ships safely. While cruise ships are back in service, there are still plenty of people who have a FCC and cannot use it yet for a variety of reasons. Even if you're not familiar with World Travel Holdings, you surely know its brands, which include CruisesOnly, Cruises.com, Cheap Cruises, Dream Vacations and CruiseOne. This means if you received a FCC under the Cruise with Confidence program, there is no longer a deadline to use them and they are good indefinitely.

The extra 25% bonus amount will still now be lost if guests do not apply the FCC to a new booking prior to the expiration date, but the original vacation investment will not be lost. During the height of pandemic when the cruise industry was shutdown, Royal Caribbean and other lines offered bonus FCC if a guest took the credit instead of a cash refund. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear.