What "On Request" Means When Booking Travel

"On request" means the seller does not hold that inventory itself and must ask the supplier, usually a Nile ship or an airline, to confirm it. Confirmation typically takes 24-48 hours. Until then nothing is guaranteed and nothing should be charged beyond a refundable hold, and a good operator tells you exactly which items are pending and offers alternatives if the request is declined.

"On request" is a normal status in Egypt, where many ships and hotels manage their own availability rather than publishing it live. Seeing it on a proposal is not a warning sign. It simply means that part of your trip still needs a yes from the supplier before it becomes fixed.

This guide explains why items go on request, how long confirmation usually takes, what you are and are not committed to while you wait, how on-request items differ from instant confirmations and how to plan around them. The binding terms for your own trip are always those stated in your proposal and booking confirmation, so read those alongside this explanation.

What does "on request" mean in travel?

In travel booking, an item is either available to confirm immediately or it needs to be checked with the company that actually provides the service. The second case is called "on request."

When a seller holds its own allocation, for example a block of cabins or rooms agreed in advance with a supplier, it can confirm those immediately because it already controls them. When it does not, it sends a request to the supplier, who checks its own availability and replies. Only once the supplier says yes is the item confirmed.

This is not specific to Egypt or to Nourbelle. Travel agents and tour operators around the world use the same distinction, especially for smaller properties, specialist vessels, and busy dates.

Why are some items on request in Egypt?

Several parts of a typical Egypt trip are commonly handled this way:

• Nile ships. Ships allocate cabins to several operators and release them on request close to the sailing. A cabin that appears on one seller's list may be held for another, so availability has to be checked with the ship.
• Boutique hotels and dahabiyas. Smaller properties and dahabiyas often manage their own availability in the same way, rather than publishing it on a live system.
• Domestic flights. On busy dates, seats on domestic flights may need confirmation from the airline.

The common thread is that the supplier, not the seller, has the final word on whether the space exists for your dates.

How long does confirmation take?

Usually 24-48 hours on working days, and longer around Egyptian holidays, when offices may be closed or working reduced hours. Nourbelle's operations team chases requests daily and tells you as soon as an answer arrives.

A few things can affect how quickly a reply comes back:

• The day of the week. A request sent before a weekend or public holiday may wait until offices reopen.
• The season. In busy periods, suppliers handle many requests at once.
• The number of items. A trip with several on-request parts may receive answers at different times, so some items can be confirmed while others are still pending.

If you are waiting on an important item, it is reasonable to ask for an update. A good operator keeps you informed without you needing to chase.

What are you committed to while you wait?

Nothing until confirmation. You cannot be charged for an on-request item until it is confirmed, and any hold taken while you wait is refundable.

If a request is declined, Nourbelle offers the closest alternative, such as a sister ship, a different deck or another sailing day, at the same price or lower, and you decide whether to accept it. If you do not want the alternative, you receive a full refund of any hold.

Because the exact wording of these commitments is part of your booking, check that your proposal and confirmation reflect them for each item. If anything is unclear, ask before you accept the proposal rather than after.

What a hold usually is

In travel generally, a hold is a temporary reservation or amount set aside while availability is checked. It is not the same as a final payment. When you see a hold mentioned, ask what it covers, how it will be released or applied once the answer arrives and how long it lasts.

Instant confirmation versus on request

Where Nourbelle holds allocations, cabins and rooms confirm instantly. Where we do not, we say so in the proposal, so that you know which parts of the itinerary are fixed before you buy international flights.

Reading the proposal with this distinction in mind helps you see which parts of the trip are settled and which are still moving.

How should you plan around on-request items?

The most important rule is simple: do not buy nonrefundable international flights until the cruise is confirmed. The cruise often anchors the whole itinerary, setting which city you start in and which days you need to be where. If it changes, your flights may need to change too.

Other practical steps help:

• Book early for peak periods. Book early for Christmas, the sun festival weeks at Abu Simbel and October-November, when more items go on request.
• Keep some flexibility. If your dates can move by a day or two, say so. It widens the range of alternatives if your first choice is declined.
• State your priorities. Tell your planner which items matter most, such as a particular ship, a cabin type or a specific hotel, so any alternative offered matches what you care about.
• Check the proposal line by line. Note which items are confirmed and which are pending, and keep track of the answers as they arrive.
• Ask about timing. If a deadline matters to you, such as a flight fare you want to secure, tell your planner so they can let you know how close the remaining confirmations are.

An example of how it can work

Imagine a proposal with a city hotel that confirms instantly and a Nile cruise that is on request. The hotel is settled straight away. The cruise request goes to the ship, and an answer comes back. If the cabin is available, the cruise is confirmed and you can book your international flights with more confidence. If it is not, you are offered the closest alternative, and you choose whether to accept it before anything further is committed.

What questions should you ask about on-request items?

When a proposal includes items on request, a few simple questions make the situation clear:

• Which items are pending? Ask for a list, so you can see exactly what is confirmed and what is not.
• When do you expect an answer? A rough timeframe helps you plan other decisions, such as flights.
• Is any hold involved, and how is it handled? Ask what the hold covers and how it will be refunded or applied.
• What alternatives are likely if the request is declined? Knowing the options in advance makes it easier to decide quickly.
• Where are the binding terms written? Your booking confirmation sets out the terms that apply to your trip, so keep it with your travel documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can I be charged for an on-request item?

Not until it is confirmed. Any hold taken while you wait is refundable. Check that your proposal and booking confirmation show how each item is handled.

How long should I wait for a cruise confirmation?

Usually one to two working days, and longer around Egyptian holidays. Nourbelle's operations team chases requests daily and tells you as soon as an answer arrives.

What if the request is declined?

You receive an equivalent alternative to approve, such as a sister ship, a different deck or another sailing day, at the same price or lower. If you do not want it, you receive a full refund of any hold.

Should I book flights before my cruise is confirmed?

Do not buy nonrefundable international flights until the cruise is confirmed. The cruise often fixes the shape of the itinerary, so changing it later can affect your flight dates.

Why can some items be confirmed instantly?

Where Nourbelle holds allocations, cabins and rooms confirm instantly because the space is already under our control. Where we do not, the proposal says so, and the item stays on request until the supplier replies.

Plan it with Nourbelle

If you are comparing dates or ships, tell us about your trip and a Nourbelle specialist will reply with a plan that shows clearly which items are confirmed and which are on request.