Reservation made onboard

[BB1]

Why would you move a reservation made onboard instead of just canceling it? If you have a suite, you lose your deposit and even without a suite you lose any obc they gave you. Am I missing something?

[Pattycruise]

I think you mean “why wouldn’t you”

yes, it would be smarter to move a reservation, I go believe there is a small change fee.

[BB1]

12 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

I think you mean “why wouldn’t you”

yes, it would be smarter to move a reservation, I go believe there is a small change fee.

There is no change fee, you just lose your deposit of $100 per person if you have a suite, and whatever your room, you lose the obc credit  they gave you. I can't see any advantage to moving a reservation as opposed to canceling it. That's why I'm trying to see if I'm missing something. 

[Pattycruise]

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/booking-cancellation-refund-policy

Non-Refundable Deposit Fares

Outside of final payment, when a non-refundable deposit cancellation occurs, the full deposit amount will be held in penalty. Any additional payments made will be refunded.

Should you choose to change your original ship and/or sail date, if you booked directly with us, please contact our Consumer Outreach teamwhere a representative will assist in making the desired changes, while also applying the qualifying change fee(s) and collecting payment, if not already done so.  If you booked via a travel advisor, please contact them for any booking changes.

[Ampurp85]

4 hours ago, BB1 said:

There is no change fee, you just lose your deposit of $100 per person if you have a suite, and whatever your room, you lose the obc credit  they gave you. I can't see any advantage to moving a reservation as opposed to canceling it. That's why I'm trying to see if I'm missing something. 

This is not correct, reservations made with NextCruise will not lose the OBC if the ship and date are moved. The only time the OBC from a NextCruise is lost is if a casino promotion is applied. 

[BB1]

8 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

This is not correct, reservations made with NextCruise will not lose the OBC if the ship and date are moved. The only time the OBC from a NextCruise is lost is if a casino promotion is applied. 

I was told by my ta that when you move a reservation you lose the obc. I didn't think you did but that is what I was told. Maybe it's incorrect or the policy was changed. If anyone knows for sure, I would appreciate it. I guess my initial question was unclear.  Why move a reservation instead of canceling it and making a new one, if indeed you lose the obc?

[twangster]

22 minutes ago, BB1 said:

I was told by my ta that when you move a reservation you lose the obc. I didn't think you did but that is what I was told. Maybe it's incorrect or the policy was changed. If anyone knows for sure, I would appreciate it. I guess my initial question was unclear.  Why move a reservation instead of canceling it and making a new one, if indeed you lose the obc?

It may depend on the move.  If you move because Royal cancelled the cruise then Next OBC is retained.  If you move because you just feel like moving to a different ship then Next OBC can be lost.  I've not seen this written into a policy so... YMMV.  

[twangster]

25 minutes ago, BB1 said:

I was told by my ta that when you move a reservation you lose the obc. I didn't think you did but that is what I was told. Maybe it's incorrect or the policy was changed. If anyone knows for sure, I would appreciate it. I guess my initial question was unclear.  Why move a reservation instead of canceling it and making a new one, if indeed you lose the obc?

Other reasons to move instead of cancel and create new - sometimes Royal will let you move to different ship without a penalty.  This isn't policy but it can happen sometimes.  With a refundable booking they often prefer you move just to avoid the unnecessary refund and re-deposit and the risk you could re-book on a different cruise line.  

Also, if your original booking was eligible for the double points promo moving that should maintain the double points promo.  It always has for me.  

[BB1]

10 minutes ago, twangster said:

Other reasons to move instead of cancel and create new - sometimes Royal will let you move to different ship without a penalty.  This isn't policy but it can happen sometimes.  With a refundable booking they often prefer you move just to avoid the unnecessary refund and re-deposit and the risk you could re-book on a different cruise line.  

Also, if your original booking was eligible for the double points promo moving that should maintain the double points promo.  It always has for me.  

Thanks for the info. The cruise I wanted to move is in May 2023. I will be on a cruise next month so it seems to make better sense in this situation to cancel and rebook on the ship to get the obc back.

[WAAAYTOOO]

Another reason you may want to move the reservation rather than cancelling and re-booking depends upon when you made the original reservation. If you made the original reservation under the double C&A cruise points promo then you would want to keep that same reservation number and move it rather than cancelling.  Changing the reservation number is the trigger that invokes certain changes.  Sometimes promo OBC can be affected, sometimes the way points are calculated.  The general rule of thumb is, if you can retain the original reservation number, you should.  I can't think of a single reason why you would be better off with a new reservation number.  There may be one but I can't bring it to mind.  I guess maybe if there is a more lucrative booking incentive (i.e., OBC) then perhaps a new booking number would be desirable over retaining the old one...

[Jersey Judie]

Also, sometimes its lucrative to book with Next Cruise with an open ended reservation. You would book it onboard but choose your sailing date later on!

I have personally done that!

[BB1]

24 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Another reason you may want to move the reservation rather than cancelling and re-booking depends upon when you made the original reservation. If you made the original reservation under the double C&A cruise points promo then you would want to keep that same reservation number and move it rather than cancelling.  Changing the reservation number is the trigger that invokes certain changes.  Sometimes promo OBC can be affected, sometimes the way points are calculated.  The general rule of thumb is, if you can retain the original reservation number, you should.  I can't think of a single reason why you would be better off with a new reservation number.  There may be one but I can't bring it to mind.  I guess maybe if there is a more lucrative booking incentive (i.e., OBC) then perhaps a new booking number would be desirable over retaining the old one...

I don't believe double points extends to next year. Also, by rebooking onboard I can get the obc back.  That's the way I am looking at it. If I am wrong please correct me. I'm trying to find the best way of doing this.

[Pattycruise]

11 minutes ago, BB1 said:

I don't believe double points extends to next year. Also, by rebooking onboard I can get the obc back.  That's the way I am looking at it. If I am wrong please correct me. I'm trying to find the best way of doing this.

Next Cruise OBC should not be removed from a reservation if you move it.  I think your travel agent is wrong.  It is promotional OBC that can be removed.  There is another thread  on this board about this discussion.  Someone just got their Next cruise OBC reinstated to their reservation because a Royal agent removed it-mistakenly.  If Royal agents don't know their own rules I can understand why a TA does not.  If the TA gets the wrong answer when moving your reservation then she/he should hang up and try again.
Double points does NOT extend to next year (you are correct)
If it's not going to cost you anything extra to cancel your reservation and then just rebook when onboard, then maybe just do that.  Of course I wouldn't cancel until you are onboard and actually make that reservation, just to ensure you get it done.
As to your original question, it would be more important in regards to the loss of the deposit -which is now the full nonrefundable deposit-as opposed to the change fee (I linked all of that above).  In your case you had the reduced deposit since you booked onboard so you would not lose as much if you cancelled a cruise as compared to someone who booked online.
 

[smokeybandit]

I've voluntarily changed a nextcruise booking to a different ship and kept obc. But that was before the restart so they may have been more forgiving then

[twangster]

1 hour ago, BB1 said:

...Also, by rebooking onboard I can get the obc back.  That's the way I am looking at it. If I am wrong please correct me. I'm trying to find the best way of doing this.

OBC shouldn't be a factor.  That should end up the same based on your new cabin type and cruise length.

There may be fees to move ship or sail date just as there fees to cancel.

Additional deposits can be required in some cases.

The best I can find is verbiage from May 2019 so some of these terms and conditions could have been modified since then.

 

NONREFUNDABLE DEPOSIT NEXT CRUISE BOOKINGS.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: (Shipboard Only) May 1, 2019

Certain fare programs offered by Royal Caribbean International require a nonrefundable deposit. These bookings are “Nonrefundable Deposit NextCruise Bookings” or “NDN Bookings.”

CHANGES FOR NDN BOOKINGS: For Guests who make a NDN Booking,

• changes made during the first two (2) months after the debarkation day of the cruise during which the NDN Booking was made shall not be subject to a Change Fee;

• changes made to the ship or sail date after that two (2) month period has expired shall be subject to a Change Fee (currently $100 per person but subject to adjustment without notice);

• Each time the guest changes the ship or sail date of a NDN prior to the final payment due date, payments made towards the NDN Booking will be applied to the balance of the modified booking and a $100 per person service fee will be charged to the modified booking. After the final payment due date, changes to the ship or sail date are not permitted and would be treated as a cancellation of the booking.

• if the modified NextCruise Booking would have (under the Royal Caribbean International deposit requirements applicable in your country of residence) a higher minimum deposit requirement than the Non-Refundable Deposit required for your original NDN Booking, you must pay to Royal Caribbean International the difference between that higher minimum deposit amount and the Non-Refundable Deposit by the final payment due date. • in any case, the deposit shall remain nonrefundable even if you convert your NDN Booking into a refundable deposit fare program.

• The special promotional offer that you received as part of your NextCruise Booking (“Special Promotional Offer”) will adjust in the event that you make any changes. In lieu of that Special Promotional Offer, your cruise would be booked at a prevailing rate available in your country as of the date of your change. • Guests who make a NDN Booking will remain eligible for our NextCruise dollars off promotion or Future Onboard Credit (up to $600 per stateroom depending on length of voyage and type of stateroom or suite). The amount of the Future Onboard Credit shall be adjusted to reflect the new stateroom category booked. See Section III below for additional terms and conditions.

[BB1]

This is way too complicated.  I have a new respect for ta's.