FCC from Cruise Lines

[Ombud]

I have a boatload of FCC from several canceled Princess Cruises after having 6 canceled. PCL refunded all but 1 cruise plus additional goodwill FCC from the 1st 2. The FCC covers 1 replacement cruise in full. It also covers my part of the Alaska cruise & 1/4 of an upcoming Australian cruise. Here's the thing: the kids' FCC doesn't cover 100% of their Alaska cruise leaving me a balance due of $2847. I'm thinking of canceling that voyage and going on Carnival instead for about $2000. Then paying off Australia with the transferred FCC. Does this make sense?

[justme]

I know some cruise lines weren't letting you use two FCC on one cruise. I don't follow Princess so I don't know about that with them. I know Royal has that rule.

So what happens to the kid's FCC? Are they letting you transfer it to your names? I know Royal won't let you transfer it.

As for the Carnival option. I will outright say I'm not a fan even though I haven't been on one lol my friends have multiple times and do not make me wanna go. I know Carnival has had sanctions put against them for doing shitty things in Alaska so I would make sure on the itineraries it gets what you want. Since you were originally going on Princess for it I'm guessing the stuff that's going on ship is less concerning. 

Then the last thought I have is when is the Australian cruise? I think NZ & Aus will likely have some of the longest restrictions on foreigners simply because they're an island and can easily keep others out and have done a pretty good job. On cruise critic there's a poster that lives in NZ and said that there was talk from some government officials there of not opening up until 2022. Not set it stone obviously, but it's being talked about. And most Australia cruises include NZ. So my question is if the cruise is canceled do you know what happens to your FCC? New FCC issued? Or does it keep the old expiration date? 

[Ombud]

Sept 29, 2020 14:45:56 GMT -5 justme said:

I know some cruise lines weren't letting you use two FCC on one cruise. I don't follow Princess so I don't know about that with them. I know Royal has that rule.

Princess doesn't restrict the use of FCC.

So what happens to the kid's FCC? Are they letting you transfer it to your names? I know Royal won't let you transfer it.

The kids FCC would just expire. In that it's goodwill FCC (I was reimbursed 100% + 50% FCC) it cannot be surrendered for cash. And no, it's not transferable either

Then the last thought I have is when is the Australian cruise? I think NZ & Aus will likely have some of the longest restrictions on foreigners simply because they're an island and can easily keep others out and have done a pretty good job. On cruise critic there's a poster that lives in NZ and said that there was talk from some government officials there of not opening up until 2022. Not set it stone obviously, but it's being talked about. And most Australia cruises include NZ. So my question is if the cruise is canceled do you know what happens to your FCC? New FCC issued? Or does it keep the old expiration date? 

My Au cruise is 12/1/2001. Booked it that far out as Australia is under a hard lock down. I doubt cruises are going much before that.

If a cruise with FCC on it is cancelled the FCC is immediately available for another cruise. But the expiration date is not extended. To counter that I've booked 1 cruise (with a book by 3/31/21 date not sail by 5/1/22 ---- they're all different) on a 04/23/22 cruise. In worst case scenario, the FCC received for 1 Pacific Northwest Cruise + $81.87 pays for a Pacific Northwest Cruise 2 years later with comped 200 OBC + specialty dining

[Tennesseer]

what is a FCC?

[flan327]

I Googled it

I've never been on a cruise but one of my close friends loves to go

I think she likes Royal Caribbean

[justme]

Sept 29, 2020 16:53:09 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

what is a FCC?

Future cruise credit.

Traditionally cruises gave them to customers if something went wrong on the cruise. Or if they had to cancel a cruise last minute then they'd give you a refund and a FCC to a certain amount as a goodwill gesture. Kinda like stores giving you a gift card if they screw something up. 

During the pandemic the cruise lines were offering the option of a FCC instead of a refund for canceled cruises with an additional amount. Most were around 125% of the canceled cruise value though some were offering more for the cruises canceled very last minute. 

FCC is usually quite restrictive - only can be used by the person named on it, expires within a year, some limit the number you can use on a cruise. 

[Tennesseer]

Thanks, justme. I was wondering.

[Ombud]

Additional limitation on Future Cruise Credit is that the cruise line (ie: CCL ticker symbol) will only reimburse the base amount and the goodwill bonus expires worthless.

When my Grand Princess cruise was canceled I was given 175% of the amount I paid for the cruise as FCC. The base FCC is used 1st then the bonus FCC. If I have any of the base amount on 5/1/22 I will get a check. In that the kids FCC is all goodwill bonus FCC (I already got that cash back) it expires worthless.