Refundable OBC

[Jim_Iain]

We have never had to specify the OBC to be used.   It just automatically happens.

[SteveinPhilly]

1. Woody. Watch those OBCs when booking on BoArd. For even a Balconyy 12 night you only get $50 now and usually deposit NOT refundable.  

It used to pay to book but no more, OBCs got small. I use the compete site and have 15 bids and choose one. I can usually get what X offers plus about $500 OBC on a $5000 balcony and even get PPd gratuities 

 

BTW RCI treats the Refundable OBCs different than X. Just one more "hoop".

 

 

[mpk]

On 5/17/2018 at 9:31 PM, davekathy said:

Good point. Someone posted a while back (to lazy to search) that some TA OBCs are non-refundable.

All travel agent OBC I've ever received was non-refundable.  I might have to find a new TA to get some refundable ones  🙂

Edited February 1, 2020 by mpk

[davekathy]

6 hours ago, mpk said:

All travel agent OBC I've ever received was non-refundable.  I might have to find a new TA to get some refundable ones  🙂

Bummer. Not a bad idea. All the OBCs we receive from the TA(s) is refundable. 

[SteveinPhilly]

I respectfull disagree with MPK. Until this week I have found EVERY TA's OBC refundable. As I always tell my friends - unless yourTA is your brother, cousin or other relative, it pays to shop. IMHO you should ALWAYS get a quote and then use the "Compete" site to find others. I am not recommending a particular agency (not allowed here on CC) but

you will get at least 7 or 8 quotes from established agencies and my guess is MOST will offer refundable credits in addition to the ones the cruise lines are offering which - of course - are always non-refundable.

 

[NCTribeFan]

Glad this "old" thread was revived because I was searching for some info.  Had booked my 1st X cruise for 3/4/21 on Infinity.  Only 4 nights but with free service charges, standard drink package, and $300 OBC.  I also submitted my RCL s/h info and have another $50 OBC.  Wasn't sure what I could possibly spend it on in that length of time other than in the casino.  I was pleased to see the post above that I could use OBC to pre-purchase slot & table credits.

 

Then, yesterday, got a message from my TA that our cruise has been chartered.  Odd thing is, we're being moved to a 5-night sailing departing only 2 days later.  Not sure how that's happening since I would think a "regular" sailing would've followed our on return.  Oh well.  Waiting to see if we all get moved to the same cabins.

 

Anyway, they're giving us and additional $100 OBC so I'll have even more to spend.  Had planned on Nassau being a Spa Day but our new itinerary is Labadee and Puerto Plata, DR, neither of which I've visited in my 40 cruises.  I imagine we'll use some of the OBC to book an excursion in the DR (although I typically don't take ship excursions).  I haven't done any research yet.

 

And I see that we can use the drink package at Labadee, unlike some other cruise lines' private islands.  So, don't see much to spend OBC on there.

 

Hey, I'm not complaining!  It's a nice "problem" to have, isn't it? 😁

[SteveinPhilly]

Sounds like you are happy and also a gambler (I'm not). Dare I ask if you bought directly through X or a TA. Since all the perks you mentioned come from X , I don't see any from a TA. I am surprised that yougot 3 perks for just a 4 or 5 night cruise though. I assume you are not in a suite? Anyway a sweet deal (pun INTENDED).

 

[NCTribeFan]

Back in the summer, our TA sent a PM to her "best" clients telling us about this great deal on Infinity.  Since none of us (talking about a group of cruise buddies (I'm single)) had sailed X, we jumped on it.  She only had a few cabins.  I grabbed the only inside she had available.  No idea how I got the perks I got.  I'll be sure to double-check with her that it's all refundable, just in case I don't manage to spend it all.  That would be nice!

 

I was even more shocked that I could apply for the shareholder OBC so far in advance.  I have CCL stock and Carnival and HAL typically don't want you submitting for that OBC more than a couple of months in advance (the idea is you should own the stock when you sail, not just when you book), but X accepted it > 1-1/2 years prior to sailing.  We'll see if that gets transferred over or whether I'll have to re-submit.