Is FCC usable across RCL’s main lines?

[JLMoran]

“Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

Question for the travel agents (@AnnetteJackson, @michelle, etc) or anyone who already received FCC: If I should have my August cruise on Celebrity canceled and I take the FCC option instead of cash refund, can I use the FCC on a Royal Caribbean booking, or do I have to stay with Celebrity?

[AGSLC5]

32 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

“Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

Question for the travel agents (@AnnetteJackson, @michelle, etc) or anyone who already received FCC: If I should have my August cruise on Celebrity canceled and I take the FCC option instead of cash refund, can I use the FCC on a Royal Caribbean booking, or do I have to stay with Celebrity?

Can only use it for Celebrity.. We got emails stating this.. 

[JLMoran]

1 hour ago, AGSLC5 said:

Can only use it for Celebrity.. We got emails stating this.. 

OK, that's what I guessed. Any ideas why the restriction? Maybe because each line tracks its own profit and loss, even though they're under one parent company, so they can't easily trace a refund (loss) from one line over to a new booking (profit) on the other?

[Chadster]

2 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

OK, that's what I guessed. Any ideas why the restriction? Maybe because each line tracks its own profit and loss, even though they're under one parent company, so they can't easily trace a refund (loss) from one line over to a new booking (profit) on the other?

I certainly don't know the exact answer, but this was my first thought as to why.

[Shari]

24 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

OK, that's what I guessed.

There is another Iceland/Greenland cruise next year in August.  We are scheduled for the 15 August return from Southampton to Boston.  You might want to consider it if you have FCC on Celebrity.

[AGSLC5]

45 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

OK, that's what I guessed. Any ideas why the restriction? Maybe because each line tracks its own profit and loss, even though they're under one parent company, so they can't easily trace a refund (loss) from one line over to a new booking (profit) on the other?

I really have no idea lol. Many of their "policy" rules annoy me and don't make sense lol but I enjoy their product so I go on them but honestly your guess is as good as mine as to why. Its just like I hate how I am a member of Royal Caribbeans Casino and Celebrity won't recognize my status.. 

[JLMoran]

27 minutes ago, Shari said:

There is another Iceland/Greenland cruise next year in August.  We are scheduled for the 15 August return from Southampton to Boston.  You might want to consider it if you have FCC on Celebrity.

The pricing on that cruise is even more insane right now than the pricing on the one coming up. Maybe if they give 125% FCC I would consider it (still the first leg, from NJ to the new destination port of Southampton), but that would be a really bitter pill to have to swallow if I not only couldn't take the cruise now, but would have to pay even more to go on it next year, most likely with a cabin downgrade. And to then have to wait the entire full year for the next cruise.

I know that could end up being a reality for everyone if this virus isn't trampled ASAP, but I've been counting the days to this trip since I booked in January of last year; having to start a whole new countdown for yet another year will be the ultimate of First World Problems, I know, but this is what's been keeping me sane for the last 6 months between work and being confined to my house while waiting for that nasty foot wound to finally heal.

The reason I was asking if it could be used on a sister line was that I was thinking that if this cruise ends up canceled that I might book the usual December / January Anthem sailing for 11 or 12 nights out of NJ, just to have SOME kind of alternative that's still close to two weeks long and would give me a good breather. But if I have to stick with Celebrity to get the FCC, the 2021 Iceland & Greenland sailing may end up being my fallback. But knowing this is the limitation, I might end up taking the cash refund so I can book that alternate cruise, depending on my sanity level at the time and what the situation is with Covid and current cruise pricing.

[Shari]

47 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

I know that could end up being a reality for everyone if this virus isn't trampled ASAP, but I've been counting the days to this trip since I booked in January of last year; having to start a whole new countdown for yet another year will be the ultimate of First World Problems, I know, but this is what's been keeping me sane for the last 6 months between work and being confined to my house while waiting for that nasty foot wound to finally heal.

I know what you mean.  We booked our Panama cruise the day it opened 1 1/2 years ago.  It was to be a celebration of 3 of us turning 60 within months of each other.  We had the primo rear facing balcony cabins.  Also, anticipating it was keeping me sane over the last 6 months as my Mom took a turn for the worst and passed away in late February.  Now the self isolation is even more difficult.  I can only keep my spirits up knowing that our 40th anniversary cruise is so far out (the Iceland cruise) will probably be a go.

[F1guynz]

I assume the main reason you can’t transfer the fcc between brands is for accounting purposes. Even though RCI and Celebrity are owned by the same umbrella company I think they would each have their own accounting systems, P&L etc.

You could end up with a situation where you originally purchased your cruise with Celebrity but have now switched to Royal. In that scenario you would have to start keeping track of the FCC and where it ended up being redeemed and then doing inter-company transfers of payments.

Worst case you might have a whole lot of people switch to Royal but Celebrity having all the payments. Celebrity might then have a shortfall of cash. Unlikely I know but stranger things have happened.

It is probably far simpler to keep the FCC to the issuing brand. 

[twangster]

12 hours ago, F1guynz said:

I assume the main reason you can’t transfer the fcc between brands is for accounting purposes. Even though RCI and Celebrity are owned by the same umbrella company I think they would each have their own accounting systems, P&L etc.

You could end up with a situation where you originally purchased your cruise with Celebrity but have now switched to Royal. In that scenario you would have to start keeping track of the FCC and where it ended up being redeemed and then doing inter-company transfers of payments.

Worst case you might have a whole lot of people switch to Royal but Celebrity having all the payments. Celebrity might then have a shortfall of cash. Unlikely I know but stranger things have happened.

It is probably far simpler to keep the FCC to the issuing brand. 

You may be onto something.  Also, while a common parent corporation or holding company might control them, I believe each is their own registered corporation.  I wonder if some jurisdictions might consider it money laundering or similar regulations come into play when moving money around in this nature. Money goes into corporation A where the profits are held while goods and services are provided by corporation B at a loss.  

[JLMoran]

48 minutes ago, twangster said:

I wonder if some jurisdictions might consider it money laundering or similar regulations come into play when moving money around in this nature. Money goes into corporation A where the profits are held while goods and services are provided by corporation B at a loss. 

I think you hit the nail on the head. I should have thought of that myself, given where I work. A good example is "Alphabet" (aka Google, ticker GOOG). What we think of as "Google" is really a subsidiary under the Alphabet umbrella company. Google (search engine / ad revenue monster) basically acts as the money maker, while all of the other subsidiaries like their autonomous car division, are more or less money losers and research sinks. And while I'd have to look at the 10-Q or 10-K to confirm, I believe each subsidiary has its own profit-and-loss statement to keep the books clean and clear in each one.

[michelle]

On 4/5/2020 at 8:38 AM, JLMoran said:

“Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

Question for the travel agents (@AnnetteJackson, @michelle, etc) or anyone who already received FCC: If I should have my August cruise on Celebrity canceled and I take the FCC option instead of cash refund, can I use the FCC on a Royal Caribbean booking, or do I have to stay with Celebrity?

HI there - no - RCI and Celebrity are separate companies so you have to use the FCC for Celebrity with Celebrity, and same with RCI