Administrators Rare LauraS Posted July 12, 2021 Administrators #1 Share Posted July 12, 2021 While booking your cruise, which of these two "added value items" would you choose? Make your choice, and then in the comments tell us if these items would sway your choice of online travel agency! Thanks! Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ColeThornton Posted July 12, 2021 #2 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Would either of these sway me to pick a particular travel agency? Depends. How much is the value of each option? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Rare LauraS Posted July 12, 2021 Author Administrators #3 Share Posted July 12, 2021 1 minute ago, ColeThornton said: Would either of these sway me to pick a particular travel agency? Depends. How much is the value of each option? Ha! Great question of course. Unknown at this time. I think when I see see extras, it at a minimum makes me look twice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host CMLA Posted July 12, 2021 #4 Share Posted July 12, 2021 I'd choose the OBC. Saving up for cruise expenses is a purposeful action. Having some OBC helps with that. Of course, I'd only take the OBC option if it could be used with whatever other promotion or OBC I have going on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Hattie Posted July 12, 2021 #5 Share Posted July 12, 2021 OBC and it might sway my choice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karmamule Posted July 12, 2021 #6 Share Posted July 12, 2021 We always find things to spend money on so on-board credit would be appealing. (Especially if it could also be used for slots in the casino....a guilty pleasure) All other things being equal it would probably have to be a couple hundred dollars or more to become a real factor. Something like $50 wouldn't be very persuasive. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Dan Posted July 12, 2021 #7 Share Posted July 12, 2021 SBC or not, I would stick with my TA! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldubs Posted July 12, 2021 #8 Share Posted July 12, 2021 For us it would be the bottom line fare that would influence use of the TA. We would factor in any serious give backs like OBC or gift cards. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelingman Posted July 12, 2021 #9 Share Posted July 12, 2021 I am with #Idubs. Bottom line fare is the most important thing. It all else is equal the OBC could sway me. But it would have to be from my current agency. Stan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casofilia Posted July 12, 2021 #10 Share Posted July 12, 2021 (edited) Neither!!! A decrease in price. This should be the third possibility!! All the "FREE" offers have to be paid for in some way or other. There is no such thing as a "Free Meal" Edited July 12, 2021 by casofilia 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richwmn Posted July 13, 2021 #11 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Another thing to consider is if the On Board Credit is refundable and most TA supplied OBC is. If that is the case all else being equal I'd rather have the OBC. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ysolde Posted July 13, 2021 #12 Share Posted July 13, 2021 We never end using all of our OBC, or we end up spending it on frivolities we probably would not otherwise purchase, so, given the option, I would take the Visa card, which we could spend however we wanted to. Would it change my TA? I don't think so. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted July 13, 2021 #13 Share Posted July 13, 2021 On 7/12/2021 at 8:32 AM, LauraS said: While booking your cruise, which of these two "added value items" would you choose? Make your choice, and then in the comments tell us if these items would sway your choice of online travel agency! Thanks! Laura I'm not sure I understand. Are these benefits offered by the TA or the Cruise Line? My TA always gives at least and eight percent discount plus any benefits offered by the cruise line. If it's offered by the cruise line, I can get my TA discount plus the benefit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host CJSKIDS Posted July 13, 2021 #14 Share Posted July 13, 2021 OBC would be my choice as well out of the two. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Rare LauraS Posted July 13, 2021 Author Administrators #15 Share Posted July 13, 2021 46 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said: I'm not sure I understand. Are these benefits offered by the TA or the Cruise Line? My TA always gives at least and eight percent discount plus any benefits offered by the cruise line. If it's offered by the cruise line, I can get my TA discount plus the benefit. Hi, we're really just seeking your opinion on which you'd like better -- doesn't really matter where it comes from but let's just say: from a TA. Does that help a bit? Thanks for asking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jwattle Posted July 13, 2021 #16 Share Posted July 13, 2021 We're an "either/or is excellent" type. Our big box TA used to do OBC, now they do a 8% of our cruise fare as a store card, plus we get 2% of our cruise fare back as a check (at their store, but they'll cash it). I look at that as 10% savings. 🥰🥂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketMan275 Posted July 13, 2021 #17 Share Posted July 13, 2021 1 hour ago, LauraS said: Hi, we're really just seeking your opinion on which you'd like better -- doesn't really matter where it comes from but let's just say: from a TA. Does that help a bit? Thanks for asking It does matter because I only use a TA that gives a discount, typically 8-10 percent. A $200 visa card isn't enough value for me to book direct with the cruise line since the TA discount is much larger. I would expect she would give me this choice: $200 Visa. $200 OBC. $200 deducted from her already discounted fare. I would take the additional discount. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted July 14, 2021 #18 Share Posted July 14, 2021 Those damn gift cards are generally more trouble than they are worth. Because it is highly unlikely that the total value would be more than I might run up on the sort of cruise I would take, i would, of course, take the OBC -- especially if, as mentioned, it exceeded the value of the gift card. Because I see agents as transactional rather than relationship related, any improvement to the transaction would be significant. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldubs Posted July 14, 2021 #19 Share Posted July 14, 2021 10 hours ago, RocketMan275 said: It does matter because I only use a TA that gives a discount, typically 8-10 percent. A $200 visa card isn't enough value for me to book direct with the cruise line since the TA discount is much larger. I would expect she would give me this choice: $200 Visa. $200 OBC. $200 deducted from her already discounted fare. I would take the additional discount. "I would take the additional discount." Yep, me too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Rare LauraS Posted July 14, 2021 Author Administrators #20 Share Posted July 14, 2021 14 hours ago, RocketMan275 said: It does matter because I only use a TA that gives a discount, typically 8-10 percent. A $200 visa card isn't enough value for me to book direct with the cruise line since the TA discount is much larger. I would expect she would give me this choice: $200 Visa. $200 OBC. $200 deducted from her already discounted fare. I would take the additional discount. Thanks for this info! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getting older slowly Posted July 15, 2021 #21 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Neither would make me change TA... and they all ready give as sweeteners .. OBC, or/and specialty dinners or/and wine.... as to the choice OBC please..... It is interesting how some people are swayed be a couple hundred dollars... but it could be a percentage thing if it is 20% of the total cost .. for us it would be under 2% Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NantahalaCruiser Posted July 15, 2021 #22 Share Posted July 15, 2021 Voted for the gift card since it is equivalent to a cash reduction in fare. However, if I was certain that the OBC was refundable and more than the gift card, I would select the OBC since it would also be equivalent to cash - but slightly more 🙂 I have minimal desire for non-refundable OBC since my preferred cruise line now bundles a drink package, gratuities and WIFI in the fare and since I generally book my excursions with third parties. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldubs Posted July 15, 2021 #23 Share Posted July 15, 2021 5 hours ago, getting older slowly said: Neither would make me change TA... and they all ready give as sweeteners .. OBC, or/and specialty dinners or/and wine.... as to the choice OBC please..... It is interesting how some people are swayed be a couple hundred dollars... but it could be a percentage thing if it is 20% of the total cost .. for us it would be under 2% Don What do you find interesting about someone saving a couple hundred? Unless I was receiving some intangible I valued, if I had a choice between paying $10,000 or $9,800, I going to pay $9,800. And certainly, $200 is a fairly substantial savings to someone looking at a $1,000 fare. I guess if I was a cigar smoker, I wouldn't be lighting them with $100 bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getting older slowly Posted July 15, 2021 #24 Share Posted July 15, 2021 1 hour ago, ldubs said: What do you find interesting about someone saving a couple hundred? Unless I was receiving some intangible I valued, if I had a choice between paying $10,000 or $9,800, I going to pay $9,800. And certainly, $200 is a fairly substantial savings to someone looking at a $1,000 fare. I guess if I was a cigar smoker, I wouldn't be lighting them with $100 bills. Good Point....... I tend to look at the big picture... I am going on cruise cost about $10k.... the $200 saved or extra cost it small to the point of small change in the overall cost of the holiday. nice to save but does not change anything... The interesting point about cruise fares... is they are not a constant.... we have found changing travel dates a couple weeks either ways can change the fare $1000 ( for 2 ) So $200 off is nice, but not a deal breaker.... but $200 saved can be spent other way on the ship, to ones benefit whether spa, drinks or dining Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldubs Posted July 15, 2021 #25 Share Posted July 15, 2021 7 hours ago, getting older slowly said: Good Point....... I tend to look at the big picture... I am going on cruise cost about $10k.... the $200 saved or extra cost it small to the point of small change in the overall cost of the holiday. nice to save but does not change anything... The interesting point about cruise fares... is they are not a constant.... we have found changing travel dates a couple weeks either ways can change the fare $1000 ( for 2 ) So $200 off is nice, but not a deal breaker.... but $200 saved can be spent other way on the ship, to ones benefit whether spa, drinks or dining Don It is a moving target. Kind of like airfares. We do the best we can at the time. Once booked for that cruise/date/price that I like, I try not to worry too much what could have been. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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