Any way to get onboard credit?

[BensonFan711]

I always get at least $125 OBC from my TA, which I've built up over the years by booking with the same TA for every cruise.  Additionally, I get several other perks, plus any OBC that Royal is offering at the time of booking.  I haven't paid a gratuity since my first cruise, thanks to those benefits.

[not-enough-cruising]

15 hours ago, Networker said:

I have never gotten a dime from my TA.  So I just book direct now.  

You need a new TA, upcoming 2 cruises (both double occupancy 8D cabins) 

 

prepaid Gratuity on both 

$250 OBC on one 

$175 OBC on the other 

 

expect there will be a specialty dining voucher waiting in the room as well. 

[legaljen1969]

15 hours ago, matj2000 said:

You shouldn't have booked through the cruise line.

 

That is a Rookie move.

 

I always get some sort of OBC from my TA..

 

 

The one cruise I have done where everything was flawless and everything worked out just as it should was the one I booked direct.  Every one I have booked through a TA has ended up with some sort of issue with cabins or with OBC we should have gotten but never appeared.

 

My upcoming cruise is booked through a TA because my parents booked the cruise, so we will see how it turns out.

[Tree_skier]

 Not all travel agents are the same.  I had one and booked a few cruises with her and really never felt like she did a thing for me except take an order.  When I needed a repricing because of a price drop it took three days to get a hold of her and even then it seemed like she had a hard time understanding what I was asking and why. I never received any onboard credit not available to anyone who booked directly or perk other than one specialty dining certificate for two on a princess cruise where I paid premium for a Club class mini suite.

 

So I starting booking direct. I booked two on my own and got nothing but didn't feel like I lost anything because the last TA didn't get me anything anyways.

 

A bit ago I found another TA through this forum. He is a poster.  The level of service was amazing.  I transferred one short 4 day to him that I had just booked directly and he was immediately on it and got me a $50 in OBC. He responds to emails ridiculously fast. When we had a change of plans and started looking at a Hawaii to Vancouver this coming May on Radiance I enquired about an OV cabin because that was all the budget would handle. The balcony cabins were over double the price. He came back with 6D balcony he had group space in that was near the same price as an OV but was less than half the price that RCi was advertising on their own website.  That was a $2900 savings.  We only paid $1200pp all taxes and fees included for a  10 day cruise!

 

If your TA is not adding value to your cruise experience find another. Somebody else can and will. Just like there are good and bad plumbers, doctors and school teachers, there are good and bad TA's.  I used to be of the opinion that I will do all the work and book direct and maintain control.  I've change my mind.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Tree_skier

[SRF]

On 9/15/2019 at 9:38 PM, matj2000 said:

You shouldn't have booked through the cruise line.

 

That is a Rookie move.

 

I always get some sort of OBC from my TA..

 

Hmm, rookie move to only book through TA.

 

I book on board, get the Royal OBC. They automatically transfer it to my TA, and I get MORE OBC from my TA.  Once cruise booked, between the two it is almost $1400 OBC (suite).

[kmorg1234]

I usually book through RCI, and then transfer the booking to the TA with the highest OBC bid.  You’d be surprised at how much the offers vary.  Yes, the service can vary as well, but have never had a terrible experience.  Some TAs even have software that checks daily for price drops and will alert you.  There is a website out there that submits your booking for TAs nationwide to compete for the booking. 

[Hogbay]

On 9/15/2019 at 3:38 PM, matj2000 said:

You shouldn't have booked through the cruise line.

 

That is a Rookie move.

 

I always get some sort of OBC from my TA..

 

 

Wow we all must be in the Top league 😂

If you can't figure out how to get obc from several places and combine you are the Rookie. 

[catugirl]

For our November cruise we booked through an online TA.  We got the $100 that RCI offered, plus we got a reasonable price, prepaid gratuities and $300 OBC from the TA.  The only time we have booked through a cruise line was our first cruise.  They charged a premium price for the cruise fare and offered NO amenities.  Ever since then we have booked through whichever online TA who is offering the most amenities at the time.

[atush]

"As far as the myVEGAS app, It's really very easy to take advantage of their offers. BUT, you have to book directly with RCCL through their Casino Royale dept. I just did one for a December cruise. It was simple, fast and well worth the effort for a $100 OBC."

 

I used myvegas to get $100 OBC (x2 as my husband did too).  BUT i booked with a TA, not RCCL and not thru the Casino Royale.