Help me understand the Military OBC

[Pythian]

I've cruised a lot on Princess, and the Military OBC is good on all cruises, $50 to $250 per person (2 per cabin) depending on length of cruise. I also have Carnival stock and am a returning Carnival cruise member from about 10 years ago. Our son loves Carnival (27) and we are all going on a short 5 day cruise.

Ok, all easy so far. But, I can't figure out the Carnival Military OBC. I'd thought it would be like Princess since they are a part of Carnival Corp, but? Could someone please explain the Carnival Military benefit (I'm retired US Military and my DW is a US Military veteran). I think we purchased under a military fare, but we took a guarantee balcony vice specific cabin - and it is possible our TA found a better rate than the Military rate.

In any case, I'm confused as to whether we can apply for the Military OBC or not. Any help is MUCH appreciated!

[katiel53]

I have never known Carnival to have a military OBC. There are some cruises that have a military discount, but not all of them.

 

Carnival is aware that my husband was entitled to a military discount and now that he is deceased, I was advised I was eligible to receive that. There has never been a mention to us on any of our 20 something Carnival cruises about an OBC.

[PA Dutchman]

Carnival has a Military price for some cruises but no Military OBC, not that I have ever seen listed

[ready2cruzagain]

Carnival is nothing like Princess when it comes to Military obc. On Princess you can get up to $250 per military person.

 

Carnival, sometimes you can get the military rate. Last month was Military appreciation month with Carnival. You booked your cabin, got total $100 obc for cabin and could book 2 more cabins at the same price. Other than that, you get nothing. Usually military rate is the same as Early Saver.

 

I sure do wish Carnival would give the Military obc like Princess.

[Ken076]

Carnival offers a Military "Rate" sometimes, for some cruises; when doing a cruise search, check-off the Military box, in addition to the other fares that you're eligible for.

You can normally cancel up to final payment date with no penalty with the Military Rate.

If you book Early Saver and you qualify for the Military Rate, you can Early Saver price-match to the Military rate. Ken

[Pythian]

Appreciate all the info - thanks. I just figured that if Carnival stock was good for Carnival and Princess, that the Military OBC would be good on both too. Oh well, it's a nice perk on Princess. Still going to be a great cruise non-the-less. I will do a double check on military rates - just in case! Thanks.

[dave_k58]

I had booked ES and then got the Military Appreciation OBC of $100. It is for active duty or retired military - not all veterans.

[richfret]

I had booked ES and then got the Military Appreciation OBC of $100. It is for active duty or retired military - not all veterans.

 

I think you are mistaken. I received the $100 OBC for the sale and I am a veteran and not active duty or retired. I did have to produce a copy of my Discharge papers and my DD214 document when I first applied for the Military discount. I have had the Military rate on several past cruises and also the OBC.

[jerrya72]

Last month was military appreciation month. I booked 2 cabins at the military rate and the first 2 people in each cabin got $50 in OBC. You could add 2 cabins to the deal.

[Pythian]

So - there is hope. Thanks! I'll check into it. Not a "benefit" (like stock ownership) but appears as a Military rate OBC. I'm getting 2 cabins, so, it's worth looking into, for sure.

[skrufy]

Received military obc for two cruises. Im not retired, just a vet. Switched from ES to military both times, and retained my ES status.

[You Me & the Sea]

I think you are mistaken. I received the $100 OBC for the sale and I am a veteran and not active duty or retired. I did have to produce a copy of my Discharge papers and my DD214 document when I first applied for the Military discount. I have had the Military rate on several past cruises and also the OBC.

 

We booked under the same promotion and received the military rate as well as $100 OBC for each of our 3 cabins. DH is a disabled veteran, not active duty or retired either.

[ready2cruzagain]

I had booked ES and then got the Military Appreciation OBC of $100. It is for active duty or retired military - not all veterans.

 

That is incorrect. It is for veterans also that have served 2 years with an honorable discharge.

[TiffyLtheDork]

Yes. We got the military rate and my husband is a veteran and we just had to fax his discharge papers. Didn't get obc however.

[skittl1321]

I had booked ES and then got the Military Appreciation OBC of $100. It is for active duty or retired military - not all veterans.

 

 

It is really confusing, because this is now what Carnival's website says (it used to be more clear that it was for all veterans). However, the benefit is still extended to anyone with a DD214 with an Honorable discharge.

 

 

We booked last month, so we got a $100 discount, a good rate (it was lower than Early Saver, sometimes it is more...) and we were able to book our friends in a cabin at the same rate- plus - they got the OBC too.

 

 

What's nice is the shareholder credit can be combined with this discount. On some lines you can't combine shareholder credit with other ones.

[Bookbug53]

I've cruised a lot on Princess, and the Military OBC is good on all cruises, $50 to $250 per person (2 per cabin) depending on length of cruise. I also have Carnival stock and am a returning Carnival cruise member from about 10 years ago. Our son loves Carnival (27) and we are all going on a short 5 day cruise.

Ok, all easy so far. But, I can't figure out the Carnival Military OBC. I'd thought it would be like Princess since they are a part of Carnival Corp, but? Could someone please explain the Carnival Military benefit (I'm retired US Military and my DW is a US Military veteran). I think we purchased under a military fare, but we took a guarantee balcony vice specific cabin - and it is possible our TA found a better rate than the Military rate.

In any case, I'm confused as to whether we can apply for the Military OBC or not. Any help is MUCH appreciated!

 

I just booked a cruise using the Military Appreciation rate for May. I received $100 OBC as part of the package but have certainly never had an automatic OBC for military.

[Sparky2]

I think you are mistaken. I received the $100 OBC for the sale and I am a veteran and not active duty or retired. I did have to produce a copy of my Discharge papers and my DD214 document when I first applied for the Military discount. I have had the Military rate on several past cruises and also the OBC.

 

Yes, dave_k58 is definitely mistaken.

 

We booked ES last January and price matched for Military Appreciation Month and received the OBC. My SO is a veteran, not active military or retired career military.

[dave_k58]

I think you are mistaken. I received the $100 OBC for the sale and I am a veteran and not active duty or retired. I did have to produce a copy of my Discharge papers and my DD214 document when I first applied for the Military discount. I have had the Military rate on several past cruises and also the OBC.

 

 

I didn't know that - but glad that it worked out. They told me I had to send a copy of my Retired ID or DD214 - Retired ID I had in my wallet so I copied that and emailed it to them. But I'm pretty sure the Military fine print on theCarnival site said only active or retired.

[dave_k58]

I think you lucked out

 

Available to the following members of the United States Military: active personnel, reserve personnel, active cadets, U.S. Coast Guard personnel, active member of the National Guard, Uniformed members of the USPHS (U.S. Public Health Services), retired personnel. Also available to the following members of Canadian National Defense: active personnel, reserve personnel, retired personnel. Verification documents must be submitted for confirmed reservations within 72 hours for cruises outside one week prior to sailing and 24 hours for cruises within one week prior to sailing. Click here for terms and conditions.

[GoofyCdn]

If you click on the Terms and Conditions from the poster above you go to this page

 

http://www.carnival.com/Legal/Militarytermsandconditions.aspx

 

Here is the official terms and conditions of the military agreement as per their page. Last line of eligible personnel

 

Veterans, defined as: Individuals who have actively served in the Military for at least two years or during a wartime period and have been honorably discharged.

Edited June 3, 2015 by GoofyCdn

[dave_k58]

I think that is great! I want to see ALL veterans rewarded for their service.

[ready2cruzagain]

I think you lucked out

 

Available to the following members of the United States Military: active personnel, reserve personnel, active cadets, U.S. Coast Guard personnel, active member of the National Guard, Uniformed members of the USPHS (U.S. Public Health Services), retired personnel. Also available to the following members of Canadian National Defense: active personnel, reserve personnel, retired personnel. Verification documents must be submitted for confirmed reservations within 72 hours for cruises outside one week prior to sailing and 24 hours for cruises within one week prior to sailing. Click here for terms and conditions.

 

If lucked out is the case I have lucked out about 9 times in the last 3 years.

 

When they changed the wording on the Military discount, which they did just 2 years ago, I contacted Carnival via Mischelle on Funville and was told that Veterans are included.

Edited June 3, 2015 by ready2cruzagain

[dave_k58]

I shouldn't have said " lucked out". I'm glad you got the discounts and thank you for your service.

[katiel53]

I am a little confused. That isn't strange at all, but please help me. I thought to get the $100 OBC for military service, we had to change to the military rate. I am booked on ESA and then a casino offer came up which gave me a small discount, but it made the rate lower than the military rate.

 

I didn't call to see about changing to that as it was a higher rate. Should I have called to see if I could get the OBC even though not booking the military rate? That's the impression I got from this thread and I didn't do that for the above reason.

 

I always thought you had to meet the criteria and pay the price to get the military rate. I know we have gotten it previously, but that rate was lower than any other and we were booked ESA, just as now. Thanks.

[ready2cruzagain]

I am a little confused. That isn't strange at all, but please help me. I thought to get the $100 OBC for military service, we had to change to the military rate. I am booked on ESA and then a casino offer came up which gave me a small discount, but it made the rate lower than the military rate.

 

I didn't call to see about changing to that as it was a higher rate. Should I have called to see if I could get the OBC even though not booking the military rate? That's the impression I got from this thread and I didn't do that for the above reason.

 

I always thought you had to meet the criteria and pay the price to get the military rate. I know we have gotten it previously, but that rate was lower than any other and we were booked ESA, just as now. Thanks.

What is ESA rate? Do you mean ES? Early Saver?