Obc

[RosieStay]

Have just booked our second cruise, after an excellent first cruise. W e have been given 400 dollars each obc. How exactly does this work.. Do they lump it together for both my husband and myself. Can we purchase our alcohol with whilst on board, can we buy duty free with it.??

[Bell Boy]

If they haven't already done so, you just advise the Pursers desk to put half each on your accounts, that's assuming you both have your own/separate onboard accounts. If you want your own account, you can arrange this at check-in.

 

You can use the OBC on anything, for example, Bars,Onboard Shops, Tour Excursions, Spar Treatments etc, except the Casino .! ;)

[Austcruiser84]

$400 USD each is pretty good OBC! Good going! When I enquired about a future cruise whilst on the QE last week they offered me $600 USD per person for 12 nights. That's a pretty good deal.

 

I do have to wonder how Cunard can be so generous with OBC? Yes, plenty of people spend a lot on board, but plenty don't.

 

I'm sure if they weren't making a good profit they wouldn't be giving generous OBC. Or who knows, maybe they would.

 

Businesses aren't always logical.

[RosieStay]

Thanks guys, I didn't think you could use the obc in the bars, that is great. I was also surprised when they gave us the $400 each, and I think I will reserve a future cruise when on board next time..

[Pennbank]

The OBC is linked to the price you paid for your stateroom. Cunard give nothing away for free!:) They have the shareholders to think of and make a profit. You have to use all your obc before any extra discounts come in to account of your World Club Status.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Pennbank

[Ray66]

Thanks guys, I didn't think you could use the obc in the bars, that is great. I was also surprised when they gave us the $400 each, and I think I will reserve a future cruise when on board next time..

 

Just to say you don't need to actually book the cruise whilst on board to get the OBC. You can just pay a £50pp deposit and book the cruise within one year when back home. They will send you an email of confirmation of the OBC.

 

6-9nights:

Suites $200pp, Balcony $150pp, Inside and Oceanview $100

 

10+ nights:

Suites $400pp, Balcony $300pp, Inside & Oceanview $200pp

 

Edit: I just remembered to say you can use it against Cunard Fares and Early Saver fares but not the (late) Saver fares.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Ray66

[Underwatr]

If you and your husband register one credit card for both of you the OBC can be spent by either. If you use two different cards each of you will have an allocation of OBC to spend.

 

Someone else has mentioned that the purser's desk can help move charges from one person to the other if you're using two different credit cards and need to match charges to the available OBC. We just put everything on one credit card.

[Scrapnana]

 

You can use the OBC on anything, for example, Bars,Onboard Shops, Tour Excursions, Spar Treatments etc, except the Casino .! ;)

 

In 2014 you could not use OBC for charges in the Medical Centre, either. Hopefully, you won't need to visit the doctor and find out if this is still true.:D

[Salacia]

Just to say you don't need to actually book the cruise whilst on board to get the OBC. You can just pay a £50pp deposit and book the cruise within one year when back home. They will send you an email of confirmation of the OBC.

 

6-9nights:

Suites $200pp, Balcony $150pp, Inside and Oceanview $100

 

10+ nights:

Suites $400pp, Balcony $300pp, Inside & Oceanview $200pp

 

Edit: I just remembered to say you can use it against Cunard Fares and Early Saver fares but not the (late) Saver fares.

 

It does get confusing. I believe I paid US300 for a FCC purchased on board, but that was for a USA booking...but I don't have a copy of the terms (stupid me). As others have stated, I do wish the terms and conditions would be universal. -S.

[Travellingtaff]

Have just booked our second cruise, after an excellent first cruise. W e have been given 400 dollars each obc. How exactly does this work.. Do they lump it together for both my husband and myself. Can we purchase our alcohol with whilst on board, can we buy duty free with it.??

 

This extract from the Cunard website spells it out spells it out:

"When on board spending money (either received as part of a promotion or purchased via our Gift Collection is applied to your on board account, you may use this against most purchases on board. This includes:

 

Items purchased from any of the shops

Spa, & salon treatments and services (when booked on board and not prior to embarkation via Voyage Personaliser)

Photography services

Laundry & dry cleaning

Internet and telephone charges

Shore excursions (when booked on board and not prior to embarkation via Voyage Personaliser)

Beverages from the bar and restaurants (where applicable)

Restaurant cover charges (when booked on board and not prior to embarkation via Voyage Personaliser)

Automatic tips (gratuities)

Artwork

 

On board spending money may not be used against:

Purchasing shore excursions prior to embarkation via Voyage Personaliser

Purchasing Alternative Fine Dining restaurant cover charges prior to embarkation via Voyage Personaliser

Purchasing Spa treatments and services prior to embarkation via Voyage Personaliser

Visas that require payment

Medical charges (including services, prescriptions and supplies)

Future Cruise Down payments

Future cruise payments

Ad hoc gratuities

Foreign currency

On board gaming (including the casino)

Charitable donations

 

Please note on board spending money is non refundable and no cash alternative available. It may not be spent prior to embarkation."

[Ray66]

It does get confusing. I believe I paid US300 for a FCC purchased on board, but that was for a USA booking...but I don't have a copy of the terms (stupid me). As others have stated, I do wish the terms and conditions would be universal. -S.

 

In the UK we pay a non-refundable £50 and a cruise has to be booked within a year. In the US you pay $300 which is refundable and you get 4 years to book a cruise.

 

All explained here in a previous post:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showpost.php?p=44261995&postcount=5

Edited January 10, 2016 by Ray66

[BigMac1953]

On our recent Canaries & Madeira trip in November, which we booked exactly a year ago, we got $3,980 OBC.

 

Many of our family received Christmas presents which came from the on board shops.

 

However, we miscalculated, and ended up losing $50!

 

As has been stated, the only thing that you can't spend it on is the casino.

 

My liver had a great time.

 

Stewart

[Alanxx]

How is it possible to get $3980 OBC.......do you have a big family !!??

 

I suspect on a november cruise with $3980 OBC Cunard must almost be paying you for cruising

[BigMac1953]

How is it possible to get $3980 OBC.......do you have a big family !!??

 

I suspect on a november cruise with $3980 OBC Cunard must almost be paying you for cruising

 

It was their January sale, last year. The offer was double OBC for a short period.

 

We paid around £8K for our suite for the two of us, which, in itself, was a good price.

 

Stewart

Edited January 11, 2016 by BigMac1953

[cruiseluvva]

It was their January sale, last year. The offer was double OBC for a short period.

 

We paid around £8K for our suite for the two of us, which, in itself, was a good price.

 

Stewart

 

We had almost the same amount of OBC - or rather we would have done, had we been able to actually get on the ship! When Cunard very kindly allowed us a VERY late transfer, they apologised that they couldn't offer as much OBC for the cruise we transferred to - but even so we have just under $3,000.

[tv24]

I love me some OBC! The Purser's Desk can help you separate your OBC into different accounts for the two of you, move it from one account to the other, or put it all together. If you drink, you'll blow through your OBC in no time flat. This is usually my unfortunate situation.

[balf]

What would you rather have, $500 OBC or the same amount reduction in the cruise price?

 

David.

[cruiseluvva]

Personally, we'd rather have the OBC. Once we've paid, lots of OBC means no on board bill to pay.

[Runaways]

What would you rather have, $500 OBC or the same amount reduction in the cruise price?

 

David.

 

For those of us in countries with falling currencies, a substantial OBC in US$ can be more valuable than having a price reduction - something that is quite rare and fleeting here anyway. So for us an appreciating OBC would often be preferable, especially on longer voyages.

Edited January 12, 2016 by Runaways

[tv24]

I actually prefer a lowered cruise fare, altho I love OBC. On a recent cruise on another line which is all-inclusive, we had massive OBC due to a promotion used by the line to attract customers like us. We had to struggle to find ways to use it all and ended up with some unnecessary purchases from the gift shop. No complaints, mind you, but a comparable reduction in fare, while not available, would have been preferable and more cost-effective.

[Joy R]

In 2014 you could not use OBC for charges in the Medical Centre, either. Hopefully, you won't need to visit the doctor and find out if this is still true.:D

 

 

No, you can't use it at the medical centre. On our cruise in December my husband left his medication at home and we had to pay for a consultation and pills, dispensing etc. We had a lot of OBC and couldn't use it. We found the medications when we were packing to go home....

[Underwatr]

Yeah, we just paid the medical center & left a lot of OBC on the table as part of the bargain ( early disembarkation).