Using OBC on the QM2

[mahasamatman]

We're looking at a TATL cruise next summer on the QM2. The best offer we've found comes with a $650 OBC, plus our investor credit. Other than booze, what will we be able to spend all this OBC on? Does the QM2 have any specialty restaurants or other venues with cover charges? Or are we just going to have to consume lost of wine and buy overprices souvenirs?

[Underwatr]

Gratuities will consume $22/day ($26/ in the grills) for the two of you, or just over $150 for the TA.

The Todd English restaurant is worthy of one evening for $30 or $40 (I forget which) per person plus wine.

Each night two of the Kings Court sections will have a la carte service with a special menu and a $10 cover charge.

It's not hard to spend $100 on a bottle of wine with dinner in any restaurant. A bottle of Veuve in the champagne bar is $85 or so.

A trip to the spa will easily cost $150, plus $50 more if they succeed in selling you a bottle of magic lotion.

[zider]

I do believe that you can spend your O.B.C on anything that you wish, Apart! from the Casino, Yes there are other pay as you dine venues aboard that you have to book , Todd English,restaurant he is a American chef by the way, Also 3 other venues in the Kings Court that will be available after the refit later this month.

[BigMac1953]

Good grief!!

 

Are you just boarding for the day?

 

I can't believe that two of you are unable to drink your way through what's left after the hotel charges come off. That's only equal to a bottle of champagne per day. Then you've got the whole evening to go, not forgetting a good heavy red to quaff at dinner and a wee nightcap before a few hours sleep and then you start all over again.

 

Go on, enjoy yourselves!!

[balf]

$650 OBC, plus our investor credit. ?

 

Be extremely careful with self purchased OBC. Cunard pockets any unspent at the end of the cruise.

 

Don't ask me why they do this or how they get away with it, when other lines always refund passengers own money back to the credit card, but this is Cunard...they do things differently!!!

 

David.

[Underwatr]

The OP's OBC isn't self-purchased, but provided by/via the TA.

[mahasamatman]

I can't believe that two of you are unable to drink your way through what's left after the hotel charges come off.

Some of us don't live for alcohol, and don't like regularly paying through the nose for substandard drinks (though it's OK occasionally). Not to mention that it can greatly reduce our dancing ability, which is our #1 reason for picking the QM2. That's why I was looking for other ideas.

 

Big thanks to Underwatr and zider. The chargeable dining venues are what I couldn't find information about on cunard.com.

[Salacia]

Mahasamatman, we've used OBC to purchase internet packages, photos, books in library shop, postcards and postage, gifts for folks at home from the gift shop, duty free purchases, watercolor classes, soda and water from the in-cabin fridge, etc. BTW, if you find that you have any OBC remaining before you disembark, you might wish to ask the Pursar to add the remainder to your hotel & dining charge.

 

Regards,

Salacia

 

P.S. I think BigMac was just being festive :)- anyway, I've also found it really isn't hard to go through OBC's so I ask at the Pursar's Desk for my in-stateroom Folio Charges every couple of days.

[mahasamatman]

you might wish to ask the Pursar to add the remainder to your hotel & dining charge.

I didn't think there would be a need to ask. OBC should apply to all cabin charges.

[mahasamatman]

I think BigMac was just being festive

I've seen enough people take pride in drinking their body weight every day, so I'm never sure.

[Underwatr]

I didn't think there would be a need to ask. OBC should apply to all cabin charges.

Salacia's point is to allocate any leftovers to additional tips rather than letting the cruise line keep the excess.

[Salacia]

Salacia's point is to allocate any leftovers to additional tips rather than letting the cruise line keep the excess.

 

 

Underwatr, thanks for clarifying - that is exactly what I was trying to say :)

[mahasamatman]

that is exactly what I was trying to say

And an excellent idea. Thanks. Do you know if you can do targeted individual tips that way, or just contribute to the "general fund"?

[Salacia]

I've seen enough people take pride in drinking their body weight every day, so I'm never sure.

 

Mahasamatman, I haven't seen much of that on QM2 at all. Yes, many passengers enjoy adult beverages, but in my experience, the over-whelming majority do not drink to excess. Now that I think about it, in the 9 QM2 voyages I've experienced, I can only remember seeing 3 people who appeared "tipsy". (I've read that 2-3 day cruises can be different, but I have no experience of short cruises.)

-S

[Salacia]

And an excellent idea. Thanks. Do you know if you can do targeted individual tips that way, or just contribute to the "general fund"?

 

Sorry, I'm not certain, but I believe it can only be allocated to the general fund because of the logisctical difficulty involved in distributing tips to individuals. So, in addition to the hotel & dining charge, I usually give an envelope to individuals staff as warranted (which I understand they are permitted to keep, and any possible doubt that they received it is eliminated because I hand it to them myself ;)).

[BigMac1953]

I think BigMac was just being festive :)- anyway, I've also found it really isn't hard to go through OBC's so I ask at the Pursar's Desk for my in-stateroom Folio Charges every couple of days.

 

Yes, a little tongue in cheek.

 

However, without going overboard (if you pardon the pun), let's say you have a couple of drinks at lunch; 2 wines each, that's $30., then how about an aperitif before dinner? say another $30, a bottle of wine with dinner? $40. Even if we leave out the nightcap that's $100 x 7 = $700.

 

Her indoors would be delighted if I only spent $700 per week!

 

I always remember being invited along with a crowd from the QG to dine with Dr Martin Caroll. He gave us the benefit of his professional advice: "Whilst on board, eat and drink as much as you can".

 

Stewart

[balf]

I always remember being invited along with a crowd from the QG to dine with Dr Martin Caroll. He gave us the benefit of his professional advice: "Whilst on board, eat and drink as much as you can".

 

Stewart

 

Well he would say that he's on commission!!

 

David.

[Whitemarsh]

Well he would say that he's on commission!!

 

David.

 

What else would you say to bunch of people who've forked out big money for a cruise? Diet and abstain?

[doublebzz]

Be extremely careful with self purchased OBC. Cunard pockets any unspent at the end of the cruise.

 

Don't ask me why they do this or how they get away with it, when other lines always refund passengers own money back to the credit card, but this is Cunard...they do things differently!!!

 

David.

 

Are you sure about this? The only example I know when an OBC is refunded to your credit card is on HAL when you pre-book the specialty restaurant and then cancel.

[Ray66]

Are you sure about this? The only example I know when an OBC is refunded to your credit card is on HAL when you pre-book the specialty restaurant and then cancel.

 

This is what it says on Cunard's website:

 

Can I pre purchase On board Credit?

 

Yes. This is bookable through Reservations by credit or debit card and is charged in US dollars. Please note that any unused amount is non refundable.

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/fleet/onboard_credit

[britannia56]

just enjoy the freedom [perhaps] of having a cushion for your possible spending. go to the spa, just to sit and veg, in the pool, sauna, lounge, etc. buy a souvenir. if on a cruise, a tour. try the cocktails in the commodore lounge. some champagne in the veuve cliquot bar, yum!!;)

[balf]

Are you sure about this? The only example I know when an OBC is refunded to your credit card is on HAL when you pre-book the specialty restaurant and then cancel.

 

P&O lists OBC on your on board account as non refundable (complementary) and refundable (self purchased) The complementary is obviously lost if unspent, but the self bought is credited back to your credit card.

 

If you think of your on board account as a deposit account at a bank, you would not expect them to retain any balance when you close it.

 

David.

[capnpugwash]

Be extremely careful with self purchased OBC. Cunard pockets any unspent at the end of the cruise.

 

Don't ask me why they do this or how they get away with it, when other lines always refund passengers own money back to the credit card, but this is Cunard...they do things differently!!!

 

David.

 

This is untrue, any unused self purchased OBC is fully refundable.

[doublebzz]

This is untrue, any unused self purchased OBC is fully refundable.

 

So who is correct here? Ray66 is quoting the Cunard web site although logic would dictate otherwise.

[capnpugwash]

So who is correct here? Ray66 is quoting the Cunard web site although logic would dictate otherwise.

 

You must draw your own conclusions, but I spoke about the subject to the Chief Purser of QM2 yesterday and am quoting what he told me. :) Of course we all know how accurate the Cunard website has proven to be in the past. :eek: