As a result of COVID-19, many of our clients now have either a Future Travel Credit or Voucher (FTC or FTV) or Future Cruise Credits (FCC). How you use your credits and when they expire varies based on the travel supplier, however, we've compiled a list of links to each partner to help you navigate the system.
Make sure to reach out to your travel advisor to help you book using your credits to ensure you follow the proper procedures.
NOTE: This is not an exhaustive or complete list but a summary based on current conditions at the time this article was written. All terms and conditions noted are directly from the individual travel suppliers and can change at any time. Clients are strongly encouraged to contact their travel advisor for details and updates prior to using their credits.
Future Cruise Credit Guidelines
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, cruise line operations ceased worldwide back in March. Many cruise lines have suspended sailings through July of this year, and sailings on some ships have been suspended into the fall. More suspensions are likely.
For those whose sailings were cancelled, most cruise companies have offered a future cruise credit (FCC). Rules differ from one cruise line to the next.
Main components and options for FCCs:
- FCCs range in value from 100% to 150% of the amount the guest originally paid for the cancelled cruise – this often depends on whether the cruise was cancelled voluntarily by the guest or was cancelled by the cruiseline themselves.
- Some cruise lines, FCCs may be applied to the entire cost of a new cruise but with others, FCCs cannot be applied to the initial deposit, taxes, or fees.
- With most cruise lines, FCCs may only be applied to a new booking and may not be applied to a booking that existed at the time the customer chose the FCC option for a cancelled cruise.
- It's possible that a customer could receive an FCC that is bigger than the cost of the next cruise the customer wishes to take. Most cruiselines will allow guests to keep the “balance” for another future booking
- FCCs are normally automatically applied to the previous booking number of loyalty number on your account. Travel advisors can look up these details for you since most don’t have have an actual “voucher”
- In most cases, you do not need to wait for your FCC to be issued to reserve your next cruise. You can pay your deposit with a credit card to reserve a future cruise and apply your FCC to the balance due, at final payment time.
Whether you decide to apply your credit now or prefer to wait until a later date to book, your Travel Advisor will be ready to help you navigate the applicable FCC rules, redeem your credit, and take advantage of our deeply discounted cruise pricing.
If you are holding an FCC for a booking that was not originally handled by a Travel Advisor, we can still help you use it on a new booking.
Cruise Line Future Cruise Credit Policies
Carnival Cruise Line
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled the following sailings and guests will receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit:
- All San Franciscosailings through 2020
- All Carnival Sunrisesailings through and including October 19, 2020
- All Carnival Legendsailings through and including October 30, 2020
- All Carnival Radiancesailings through and including November 1, 2020
- All Carnival Spirit Alaska, Hawaii, & Trans-Pacificsailings through and including October 6, 2020
- Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Elation, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sensation, & Carnival Vistasailings through and including July 31, 2020
- Carnival Splendorsailings through and including September 17, 2020
- All Other Shipssailings through and including August 31, 2020
- Future cruise credit to be used for any sailing departing by Dec 31, 2022.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises has extended the suspension of most sailings through July 31, 2020.
- Future cruise credits are automatically applied to accounts of cancelled sailings. If guests cancelled themselves, they can contact Celebrity Cruises or their travel advisor
- Future cruise credits of 100% are good through Dec 31, 2021 or 12 months from the original sail date (whichever is longer) and can be used on sailings departing on or before May 4, 2022.
Disney Cruises
Disney Cruise Line Extends Suspension of New Departures from Canada through September 14, 2020, and All Other Departures through July 27, 2020
- Future cruise credits will be automatically applied to accounts of cancelled sailings and guests can use their credits for sailings that depart up to March 31, 2022
Holland America
- Future cruise credits will be automatically applied to accounts of cancelled sailings. FCCs is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be used to book sailings departing through Dec 31, 2022.
MSC Cruise Line
MSC Cruises have decided to further extend the halting of all our new cruise departures fleet-wide through to 10 July, in light of the continued extraordinary circumstances the world is facing in connection with the Covid-19 virus global health emergency.
For all cruises that have been cancelled through September 30, 2020
- Effective MAY 30, 2020, guests have greater flexibility on sailings departing through September 30, 2020. If you opt to defer a booked cruise in the given time frame, we'll give you a Future Cruise Credit in the amount you paid and you can reschedule your cruise. Your Future Cruise Credit is valid on any cruise departing on or before December 31, 2021.
- In order to participate in the Cruise Assurance, you must complete and submit the Cruise Assurance Form online.(https://msccruisesgetforms.com/mscforms/MSC-CRUISE-ASSURANCE-DIRECT.aspx?c=Canada)
Norwegian Cruise Line
Updated: May 20, 2020 - Suspended cruises into July 31, 2020
- Scheduled departure dates of March 13 - March 17th receive a FCC of 150% of cruise fare
- Scheduled departure dates of March 18 - July 31 receive a FCC of 125% of cruise fare
- Clients that cancelled voluntarily will receive 100% FCC
- FCC are automatically applied to yourr account and can be applied towards any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage through Dec 31, 2022
- Guests may use their FCC to pay for more than one cruise in the future
- Effective May 18, 2020, the full value of the original 2020 Suspended Sailings and Peace of Mind FCC is transferable
Princess Cruises
- Compensation varies based on the cancelled cruise - see this link for all details: https://www.princess.com/plan/impacted-and-cancelled-cruises/
- FCC compensation will automatically be applied to your file
- Future Cruise Credits (FCC) are non-refundable and non-transferable and must be used on a booking made before May 1, 2022 for any cruise departing by May 1, 2022.
- If the amount of your credit is greater than the cruise fare of your new booking, you can apply the remaining FCC balance on additional future bookings up to the expiration date.
- The Future Cruise Credit will remain attached to your profile until it expires. If you cancel a booking where you used an FCC, it goes back to your profile, and you can re-use it before the expiration date. In the event the original FCC is expired, it will be reissued with a new expiration date.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has extended the suspension of most sailings through July 31, 2020.
- Future cruise credits are automatically applied to accounts of cancelled sailings. If guests cancelled themselves, they can contact Royal Caribbean or their travel advisor
- Future cruise credits of 100% are good through Dec 31, 2021 or 12 months from the original sail date (whichever is longer) and can be used on sailings departing on or before May 4, 2022.
Tour Operators / All-Inclusive Packages
March Break created havoc for many taking all-inclusive tour packages to the south and policies have changed significantly since the initial cancellations. For example, the terms and conditions of your future travel voucher when cancelled in March may have changed, most often with better terms such as date of expiry and transferability.
Main components and options for Future Travel Vouchers:
- Almost without exception, all packages cancelled as a result of COVID-19 have resulted in a 100% Future Travel Voucher. Some refunds and partial refunds occurred but most were converted to credits
- For most tour operators, FTVs may be used for the initial deposit and final payment
- Groups that cancelled have different terms and conditions and you must confirm this with your travel advisor directly.
- Initially, the FTVs could be used only once and residual value would be lost, but now some tour operators are allowing you to use up the entire voucher for multiple packages (if applicable)
- However, any packages booked that are greater than the FTV will require additional payment from the customer
- Like cruises, FTVs are either 'attached' to a customer's past guest number, cancelled booking/reservation number or a virtual voucher number. The expiry date varies with two standards: expiry either 2 years from the date of cancellation OR Dec 31, 2022. Again, this varies by tour operator.
- In most cases, but not all, FTVs are issued to each guest, have no cash value and are non-transferrable.
- Once again, make sure you are contacting your Travel Advisor to help book and apply your credit to ensure you are following all the proper procedures and getting the greatest value for your voucher.
Tour Operator FTV Policies
Air Canada Vacations:
- Affected customers whose bookings were cancelled will automatically receive a full credit for future travel valid for 24 months from the date of cancellation. Conditions may apply for certain hotel chains and cruises.
- Air Canada Vacations has recently extended the validity of future travel credits issued to customers with cancelled vacations scheduled to depart between March 4 and June 30, 2020, inclusively. A future travel credit with the validity of 24 monthswill now be on file.
- You can transfer the totality of your future travel credit to another person. The validity of the credit (24 months from the date of cancellation) remains unchanged. The ability to transfer a future travel credit is only possible for air-only, land-only, or package vacations except for cruise.
Sunwing:
- For departure dates March 17th - June 30th - customers are eligible to receive a future travel credit in the value of the original amount paid and credit may be redeemed against future travel for departures up to June 20, 2022.
- Your travel advisor can help you redeem your future travel credit using your original booking number, a voucher is not required
- If you do not use the full amount, it will remain as a credit on file and can be used at a later date.
- Individual future travel credits are not transferable and must be used by the original purchaser.
Transat:
- If you were unable to travel due to the cancellation of your Transat flights, they are providing a flight credit for travel within 24 months of your original return date.
- Your travel advisor can help you redeem your future travel credit using your original booking number, a voucher is not required
- The travel credit can be used in several instalments within 24 months of your original return date. If you don’t use the full value of your credit on your new trip, you can use the remaining portion to purchase other products we sell to enhance your trip or even to book another trip.
WestJet Vacations:
- The full value of your cancelled WestJet Vacation package will be credited back as WestJet dollars valid for 24 months.
- WestJet dollars refunded by WestJet Vacations on or after March 19, 2020 due to COVID-19 can be applied toward taxes and fees on a future vacation package booking.
- Your travel advisor can help you apply your WestJet dollars to any future booking for 24 months.
- WestJet dollars issued on or after March 19, 2020 for a vacation package cancelled due to COVID-19 can be transferred to another WestJet Rewards member for no charge.