29 days before sailing & scored big!!

[gatorphin]

Got it! $40 OBC each for wife & I both. So $80 OBC! Thank you so much! Never would have known it. I'll keep checking until we leave in April. Happy sailing!

[Cruiser_SG77]

Congrats! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the OBC fairy to bless our upcoming cruise!

[osterbam]

We sail in 29 days on the Victory which I booked back in July taking advantage of the "Early Saver" fare. I was on Carnival's website late last night(about this time) checking this sailing for current fares and availability(as I often do) and lo and behold there it was....the big kahuna: both a Past Guest and a 6(yes-six) category upgrade promotion. I immediately completed the "Price Protection Guarantee" form on line and hit the "send" button. Today, I received an email from Carnival confirming my rate adjustments which will be issued as "OBC". The amount is unbelievalbe: $979.48. This is credit issued for 4 persons in 2 cabins on Lido(1 balcony in category 8D and 1 interior in Category 4G). I feel like I hit the Lotto!!!!

 

Even allowing for gratuities, drink purchases, playing a bit in the casino and incidental charges, I have never had a balance due at the end of a cruise anywhere near this amount. Will they refund the difference via a check sent to my stateroom the morning of debarkation? If not, do I have to run around the ship trying to spend it?

 

Do you know if you can get this if you are booked under a group rate?

[gatorphin]

Also emailed them after I got the OBC. They are currently offering at category 8B to 8E upgrade. Just got my email. $80 OBC & room upgrade!:)

[yogi2929]

We've gotten our spending money from the Casino to use up our OBC.

[megbensky]

Thanks for the posts!! I booked on the Carnival Victory so long ago on an ES rate, I forgot about this feature!!! I have 3 cabins booked, two interior and one ocean view. I believe I am due a credit for the two interiors, I just submitted the claims, I hope I hear from the price drop fairy soon!!! I could use a little OBC I just got another heating bill! Can't wait til the only heat I'll need is the Caribbean sunshine :)

[megbensky]

:rolleyes:Can anyone answer this question. I am a past guest, as is my husband and my daughter. I booked and paid for this cruise, booking a total of three cabins, 2 interior and 1 oceanview. Can I get the Past Cruiser price for my sons cabin? He's the one staying the cabin, but I booked it and am a previous cruiser. Shouldn't I be able to get the previous guest rate for all the guests I booked? There are 3 previous cruisers in our crowd with three cabins. Any help anyone?

[LANERACING]

Tell me how to check to see if I have a lower rate.

Thanks for your help!

[cruiseawaits]

Tell me how to check to see if I have a lower rate.

Thanks for your help!

 

Search the cruise on the Carnival website. At the top of the home page there will be a scroll down entitled "Find a Cruise". Enter the info: (ship, date, cabin category, residency, past guest status, etc.), and your cruise will pop up.

[firefly333]

:rolleyes:Can anyone answer this question. I am a past guest, as is my husband and my daughter. I booked and paid for this cruise, booking a total of three cabins, 2 interior and 1 oceanview. Can I get the Past Cruiser price for my sons cabin? He's the one staying the cabin, but I booked it and am a previous cruiser. Shouldn't I be able to get the previous guest rate for all the guests I booked? There are 3 previous cruisers in our crowd with three cabins. Any help anyone?

 

Put one past guest in each cabin when you book, then switch around when you get onboard. Thats how most people here do it.

 

You can only get the cabin rate for a past guest staying in the cabin, doesnt matter who pays.

[firefly333]

Do you know if you can get this if you are booked under a group rate?

 

If the rate is lower than your group rate, you can possibly ... but you might have to give up some of the groups rates, which are based somewhat on the price you paid.

 

Are you past final payment?? If so, then all you would get is the free upgrade if your price you paid has dropped.

[cruiseawaits]

Good thing I read through this thread, I was looking to see if someone posted this information.

 

So there are 2 types of OBC...refundable credit and non-refundable credit.

 

Refundable OBC can be is like cash, can be used for gratuities, casino, anything you want. If there is an amount left over you will be given a check.

 

Non-refundable OBC CANNOT be used for gratuities or at the casino. It can be used for things like the Spa, drinks, pictures, etc. If there is an amount left over, it will be forfeited.

 

I recently experienced this as well. I cancelled a 7 day and booked a 3 day. There was an amount left over, so they offered to OBC it as refundable credit or give it back to my CC.

 

I also used one of the Future Vacation Certificates which gave me $100 of refundable OBC (because this cruise was already paid for using the credit from the cancelled cruise, it couldnt be applied towards the deposit as orginally intended, so its used as cash) and $50 non-refundable OBC (because its a 3 day cruise, so the OBC is $50, where-as if its a 7 day,I would have received $100 non-refundable OBC using the future vacation cert.).

 

I hope this explains it all and doesnt cause more confusion!

 

I've gone to the Carnival website and looked up the "Price Protection" OBC policy. While I do see the language referring to "no cash value", I do not see anything mentioned about what the OBC can be used for. I don't see anything about not being able to apply it towards gratuities or using it in the casino. Please tell me where this information appears.

[Chacooe]

We sail in 29 days on the Victory which I booked back in July taking advantage of the "Early Saver" fare. I was on Carnival's website late last night(about this time) checking this sailing for current fares and availability(as I often do) and lo and behold there it was....the big kahuna: both a Past Guest and a 6(yes-six) category upgrade promotion. I immediately completed the "Price Protection Guarantee" form on line and hit the "send" button. Today, I received an email from Carnival confirming my rate adjustments which will be issued as "OBC". The amount is unbelievable: $979.48. This is credit issued for 4 persons in 2 cabins on Lido(1 balcony in category 8D and 1 interior in Category 4G). I feel like I hit the Lotto!!!!

 

Even allowing for gratuities, drink purchases, playing a bit in the casino and incidental charges, I have never had a balance due at the end of a cruise anywhere near this amount. Will they refund the difference via a check sent to my stateroom the morning of debarkation? If not, do I have to run around the ship trying to spend it?

 

My brother was on the Spirit and at the end of the cruise still had about $260.00 in OBC from the Early Saver Program and he DID NOT GET A CHECK for the difference. You forfeit it at the end of the cruise. I would get something nice from one of the onboard shops instead of leaving any kind of balance on your account. I would put this question to Host Mach and he will get the correct answer for you.

[firefly333]

Price drop!!!! Oh wait, its still more than I paid ... but $30 down from yesterday.

 

Im leaving today for Galveston, tomorrow Ecstasy leaves. .. too late for a price drop. Has to be 2 business days before the cruse.

 

Well, maybe next time. I cant get a price drop out of Galveston to save my life.

[firefly333]

I've gone to the Carnival website and looked up the "Price Protection" OBC policy. While I do see the language referring to "no cash value", I do not see anything mentioned about what the OBC can be used for. I don't see anything about not being able to apply it towards gratuities or using it in the casino. Please tell me where this information appears.

 

ALL OBC can be used for anything. period. OBC from price drops states it is nonrefundable. (per carnival site, see small print on terms). Some said they got it back.

 

If you cant find a way to spend it on tips and excursions, supper club, shops on board ... there are ways to put it into your players bank and withdraw some, but I havent done that. I always have no trouble spending my OBC.

 

Iv had OBC from just about every source, and never had any problems with it going toward tips.

[keishashadow]

That's a lot of money...but you have to spend it on board!

 

Per Early Saver Terms & Conditions: "Verified rate difference is issued as an on-board credit. The on-board credit is non-refundable, non-transferable and has no cash value. Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be forfeited."

 

Oh boy! What are you gonna do with all that booty?!?!?! :eek:

 

:confused::confused: the above is what i understood too, all portion of OBC from early saver must be used on board or u r out of luck.

 

yet posts here indicated that credits (check/CC) are being issued if not fully utilized while onboard?

[stay_or_go]

We just got off the splendor from the 1/10/2010 sailing. We had $380 in credits going into the cruise and did not spend it all. We usually spend about $500 for photos, gifts and booze, but this time we did not end up drinking very much, so we had $70.00 left over.

 

The morning of debarkation, they slipped a statement into the mailbox or under the door and we got a cheque for the $70.00 included with that statement.

 

So it looks like if you don't spend it, you get it back.

 

How do they know that the OBC is from early saver, from future cruise credits, or from anything else? It would be an accounting nightmare to straighten it all out, so I am surprised with the use it or lose it policy and stories.

[keishashadow]

We just got off the splendor from the 1/10/2010 sailing. We had $380 in credits going into the cruise and did not spend it all. We usually spend about $500 for photos, gifts and booze, but this time we did not end up drinking very much, so we had $70.00 left over.

 

The morning of debarkation, they slipped a statement into the mailbox or under the door and we got a cheque for the $70.00 included with that statement.

 

So it looks like if you don't spend it, you get it back.

 

How do they know that the OBC is from early saver, from future cruise credits, or from anything else? It would be an accounting nightmare to straighten it all out, so I am surprised with the use it or lose it policy and stories.

 

it's what's printed on both the carnival website & in the ES brochure (fine print) i have in hand. I'm surprised they're giving the balance back based upon their written policy. perhaps a legal out jik they decide not to give a balance back?

[halos]

FREAKING AWESOME! :D

 

But I have a question...you seriously won't have a $900 S&S bill after one week with four people????? :eek:

 

wow. that's amazing.

[hvyhttr21]

Also emailed them after I got the OBC. They are currently offering at category 8B to 8E upgrade. Just got my email. $80 OBC & room upgrade!:)

 

 

How do you go about finding out if there is a category upgrade?

[CJHAN]

We sail in 29 days on the Victory which I booked back in July taking advantage of the "Early Saver" fare. I was on Carnival's website late last night(about this time) checking this sailing for current fares and availability(as I often do) and lo and behold there it was....the big kahuna: both a Past Guest and a 6(yes-six) category upgrade promotion. I immediately completed the "Price Protection Guarantee" form on line and hit the "send" button. Today, I received an email from Carnival confirming my rate adjustments which will be issued as "OBC". The amount is unbelievalbe: $979.48. This is credit issued for 4 persons in 2 cabins on Lido(1 balcony in category 8D and 1 interior in Category 4G). I feel like I hit the Lotto!!!!

 

Even allowing for gratuities, drink purchases, playing a bit in the casino and incidental charges, I have never had a balance due at the end of a cruise anywhere near this amount. Will they refund the difference via a check sent to my stateroom the morning of debarkation? If not, do I have to run around the ship trying to spend it?

super jelouse But gratz anyway:D

[tracyvansmith]

Way to go. Glad Early saver is working for some out there.:D

[megbensky]

Thanks for the info, I wish I had known that when I booked!!! I saved 200.00 on my daughters room but can't do the same for my son even though we are 3 past cruisers :mad:

[Chacooe]

We just got off the splendor from the 1/10/2010 sailing. We had $380 in credits going into the cruise and did not spend it all. We usually spend about $500 for photos, gifts and booze, but this time we did not end up drinking very much, so we had $70.00 left over.

 

The morning of debarkation, they slipped a statement into the mailbox or under the door and we got a cheque for the $70.00 included with that statement.

 

So it looks like if you don't spend it, you get it back.

 

How do they know that the OBC is from early saver, from future cruise credits, or from anything else? It would be an accounting nightmare to straighten it all out, so I am surprised with the use it or lose it policy and stories.

 

Did you give them any cash at all? They will use up the non-refundable OBC before they use any deposit that you have given them, so if you did give them money, you are only getting your money back.

[stay_or_go]

Did you give them any cash at all? They will use up the non-refundable OBC before they use any deposit that you have given them, so if you did give them money, you are only getting your money back.

 

No, the only credits we had were from the ES price drops. i tried to use them to prepay the tips before we left, but that was not allowed.