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Royal Caribbean International will stop giving guests an onboard spending credit when they book a cruise using a nonrefundable deposit.
Under the program introduced in July 2017, guests choosing a fare with the nonrefundable deposit would receive a fare discount and bonus credit of up to $100 per cabin to spend on their cruise.
Now, anyone paying a nonrefundable deposit on or after Nov. 1 will no longer get the credit.
Senior vice president of sales, trade support and service Vicki Freed said internal research found that the spending credit was not a significant factor for guests choosing the nonrefundable option.
Resources that had gone toward the credit will now be used to further lower the fare, she said.
“Guests will be getting a much better price,” Freed said.
When guests paying a nonrefundable deposit end up canceling, they get a future cruise credit equal to their deposit, less a $100 change fee. The credit expires in a year.
Many higher-suite categories on Royal Caribbean ships can only be booked using nonrefundable deposits.
Royal Caribbean adopted the program last year in an effort to reduce booking churn.
Source: travelweekly.com
