Celebrity Cruises Joins Non-Refundable Deposit Trend

Celebrity Cruises will begin offering a non-refundable deposit option on sailings starting Nov. 29.

Celebrity made the announcement earlier this month, giving guests the option to book a sailing at a cheaper fare by booking with a non-refundable rate.

Celebrity, which joined sister-line Royal Caribbean International with the announcement, will also give guests booking a non-refundable rate in an ocean-view cabin or above one free perk such as its Classic Beverage Package, Unlimited Internet Package, $150 in onboard credit, or prepaid gratuities. Anyone booking a non-refundable rate in a suite will get all four perks.

Royal Caribbean began offering its non-refundable rate last summer.

President and CEO Micheal Bayley told travel agents at the CruiseOne and CruisesInc. annual conference onboard Harmony of the Seas earlier this month, that he has seen little pushback from the option and that “we feel like we are on the right track.”

“You work hard to get these bookings and push them across the finish line — that’s a lot of work,” Bayley said. “This is a little nudge to get them to commit. It gives clients peace of mind and makes the booking more sticky, and we have far exceeded the takers we expected on that. The more we can secure earlier, the better for all of us. Once the booking is secure, you can focus on selling the remaining inventory.”