Royal Caribbean eliminating spending credit for guests paying nonrefundable deposit

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.