What's the most OBC you've received on a cruise?
Aug 2, 2019, 6:08 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
What's the most OBC you've received on a cruise?
We took the Queen Elizabeth from Tokyo to Vancouver in May (17 nights), and it got kind of ridiculous with $2,200 in OBC ($129/day), plus prepaid gratuities.
Has anyone done better?
After we had our fill of internet, laundry, wine, and specialty restaurants, we had to resort to buying jewelry and accessories in the onboard shops to spend it all, and ended up with $0.73 left on our account. I thought about buying a $0.75 candy bar just to see if Cunard would actually push through a charge for $0.02, but decided against it.
- $600 future cruise deposit
- $500 early booking
- $300 "welcome home"
- $150 travel agent promo
- $400 from a big fare drop after final payment (I would have preferred the $800 fare difference or an upgrade, but this was all they'd do)
- $250 shareholder credit
After we had our fill of internet, laundry, wine, and specialty restaurants, we had to resort to buying jewelry and accessories in the onboard shops to spend it all, and ended up with $0.73 left on our account. I thought about buying a $0.75 candy bar just to see if Cunard would actually push through a charge for $0.02, but decided against it.
Aug 2, 2019, 6:24 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
We took the Queen Elizabeth from Tokyo to Vancouver in May (17 nights), and it got kind of ridiculous with $2,200 in OBC ($129/day), plus prepaid gratuities.
Has anyone done better?
After we had our fill of internet, laundry, wine, and specialty restaurants, we had to resort to buying jewelry and accessories in the onboard shops to spend it all, and ended up with $0.73 left on our account. I thought about buying a $0.75 candy bar just to see if Cunard would actually push through a charge for $0.02, but decided against it.
- $600 future cruise deposit
- $500 early booking
- $300 "welcome home"
- $150 travel agent promo
- $400 from a big fare drop after final payment (I would have preferred the $800 fare difference or an upgrade, but this was all they'd do)
- $250 shareholder credit
After we had our fill of internet, laundry, wine, and specialty restaurants, we had to resort to buying jewelry and accessories in the onboard shops to spend it all, and ended up with $0.73 left on our account. I thought about buying a $0.75 candy bar just to see if Cunard would actually push through a charge for $0.02, but decided against it.
Hard to beat that. Best we’ve had was $1,200 on a nickel-and-dime cruise line. Better actually was $500 on an all-inclusive cruise line.
Aug 5, 2019, 7:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,303
Non-refundable OBC? I've never had that much OBC but I've also used the casino to cash out non-refundable OBC for a fee. I like cash more than jewelry 
ETA: Some cruiselines will also let you add additional gratuities using OBC via the front desk. That can also be a good way to share the abundance if they won't refund or cash it out.
ETA: Some cruiselines will also let you add additional gratuities using OBC via the front desk. That can also be a good way to share the abundance if they won't refund or cash it out.
Aug 12, 2019, 3:43 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles Gold, Hilton HHonors Diamond, and Royal Caribbean Pinnacle Club
Posts: 1,009
Not officially onboard credit... but I was on an maiden Transatlantic crossing... first revenue sailing... there were issues with some onboard amenities and service was hit or miss because of a new concept the cruise line was trying out. On the last night, they zero out all onboard beverage, specialty dining, and internet charges for everyone on the ship as an apology. I had $500 obc going into the sailing and that took care of my gift shop purchases.
Aug 15, 2019, 2:01 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon or Costa Alegre take your pick
Programs: AS MVPG,
Posts: 1,066
If you use a TA you will normally get more OBC.
Multiple thousands of dollars on a full world cruise with Crystal in a penthouse. We used it all on excursions. Wonderful cruise agent made it possible. She is with Avoya which is good if you use Amex Platinum as they are related. We got double MR points at the time. PM me if you have Crystal questions. No I am not an agent myself only a cruiser. Cruising is the last hold out for using TAs. If you don't use a TA or at least a TA agency and book direct you are leaving lots of money on the table. Friends don't let friends book directly with cruise companies.
Aug 17, 2019, 2:03 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,132
- $1300 early booking discount
- $200 travel agent OBC credit
- $2000 approximate free upgrade
- $250 shareholder OBC credit
- $400 Referral OBC credit
- $300 free excursion
- $2600 TA discount.
- $400 worth of free laundry
- $125 worth of massage
- 10 hours of free internet
- $1170 credit card rebate
- multiple Times TA was able to acquire fare reductions on booking
All the OBCs are fully refundable
Last edited by 747FC; Aug 17, 2019 at 2:13 am Reason: added info
Aug 17, 2019, 1:36 pm
#8
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Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
Aug 17, 2019, 2:23 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,132
Regarding “good value,” but not OBCs, I’d rather get cash discounts than OBCs.
Last edited by 747FC; Aug 17, 2019 at 2:32 pm
Aug 18, 2019, 9:48 am
#10
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Seabourn, a CCL company. While officially certain types of OBCs are not refundable, if one says that they will cancel prepaid excursions and rebook using the OBCs, voila, the OBCs become fully refundable.
Regarding “good value,” but not OBCs, I’d rather get cash discounts than OBCs.
Aug 18, 2019, 10:41 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
So would I, but most of those (like the "early booking discount") are available to everyone. I don't think anybody in history has ever booked a cruise at full price.
Last edited by mahasamatman; Aug 18, 2019 at 10:46 am
Aug 18, 2019, 2:26 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
You’d be surprised at the number of people who book directly with the cruise line. They’re all excited they got a cheap bottle of wine and maybe a $50 OBC. I suppose that technically qualifies as a discount off the full fare price to some but not to me.
Aug 18, 2019, 3:30 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,132
I've never seen the value of paying twice as much to book an excursion through the cruise line, but maybe this is one opportunity to recoup some of the added cost.
So would I, but most of those (like the "early booking discount") are available to everyone. I don't think anybody in history has ever booked a cruise at full price.
So would I, but most of those (like the "early booking discount") are available to everyone. I don't think anybody in history has ever booked a cruise at full price.
I’ll admit to paying full fare by booking direct with cruise lines until I found a very helpful FTer who took the time to educate me about the benefits of using a good travel agent. Thanks to Randyk47, cruising has gotten way more affordable.
Re cash discounts, the agent used by several of us is able to provide 10% off published fares on some high-end lines.
Last edited by 747FC; Aug 18, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Sep 4, 2019, 11:04 am
#14
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
I've never seen the value of paying twice as much to book an excursion through the cruise line, but maybe this is one opportunity to recoup some of the added cost.
So would I, but most of those (like the "early booking discount") are available to everyone. I don't think anybody in history has ever booked a cruise at full price.
So would I, but most of those (like the "early booking discount") are available to everyone. I don't think anybody in history has ever booked a cruise at full price.
Sep 4, 2019, 11:29 am
#15
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
Purchase shore excursion on the ship sometimes is the best way to go for language and familiarisation reasons. For example when I go to India, Cape Verde or Mozambique on cruise ships, I d rather take ships shore excursion just to get a fell of the place and then decide if I would go back to explore on my own.