There's OBC and then there's OBC!!!

[Lastdance]

We booked the European promotion for a 12 night Med Cruise on Equinox for this October. Got $1000, 100 from the TA and $200 for future passage. Total $1300.

 

$1,000 off the cruise price or all OBC? That is fantastic...can you share anymore information on how/why?

 

Your TA must be wonderful! We did the 12 day on the Equinox and only received $250 from our TA.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Lastdance

[Happy_Traveler_2008]

I booked my 14 day cruise through online travel agency and received a total of $1,100 in OBC and pre-paid gratuities through the 123 Go promotion. This is what led me to booking the cruise.

[dbsb3233]

Looks like I've been missing out on some better deals. We usually book through a certain membership warehouse (that everyone knows but I don't think we're suppose to name them). For our upcoming Asia cruise they gave us OBC of roughly 7% of the bottom-line cruise cost (including fees/taxes). We booked last July. Their online cruise fares are about 10% higher now than what we paid, BUT they include the 123GO bonus so it's probably a wash (although for heavy drinkers (we're not) the 321GO bonus would save a lot more).

 

We booked a Princess cruise through them a few years ago and we got a slightly better discount (9% as a store credit gift card).

 

I need to find some of these discount cruise sites that others talk about that give bigger discounts/credits.

[bananawindnj]

Is there any way we can get the names of these online travel agencies that are giving these huge OBCs? I scour the Internet all the time and have been on many major online TA and have never seen any deals that give OBC at amounts that have been stated in earlier posts. I am not talking about OBC from the cruise lines which I am aware of.

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Loracpin2]

Best we ever had was $600 OBC combo from both Celebrity and TA plus pre-paid gratuities from TA for our 13 nigth Adriatic last October plus a great group rate from TA.

[dbsb3233]

Best we ever had was $600 OBC combo from both Celebrity and TA plus pre-paid gratuities from TA for our 13 nigth Adriatic last October plus a great group rate from TA.

Just curious if you (or anyone else) checked the cruise fare before or after the cruiseline offered the OBC bonus? I'm wondering if the OBC promo from the cruiseline is often just a marketing ploy to make it sound like a good deal but they're really just offsetting it with higher cruise fare instead?

[dbsb3233]

I booked my 14 day cruise through online travel agency and received a total of $1,100 in OBC and pre-paid gratuities through the 123 Go promotion. This is what led me to booking the cruise.

You got BOTH prepaid gratuities AND OBC from the 123 Go promo? I thought it was just one or the other (or the beverage package)?

[Lastdance]

Well, I can finally say that we received a 3-cabin upgrade, 300 0BC from Celebrity and 350 from our TA, but the best was our cabin location on the hump. Also free gratuities, as we don't drink enough to do the bev. pkgs. Now, I finally understand how it's done! with a little luck, i can do even better!

[dbsb3233]

Well, I can finally say that we received a 3-cabin upgrade, 300 0BC from Celebrity and 350 from our TA, but the best was our cabin location on the hump. Also free gratuities, as we don't drink enough to do the bev. pkgs. Now, I finally understand how it's done! with a little luck, i can do even better!

Now that's quite the haul!

 

Care to pass along any tips as to how you got that much?

[grandgeezer]

We are booked on a B2B cruise, on the Equinox, this October. Since our online travel agent has "group" space on both cruises, we paid $700 p.p. less than booking through Celebrity. The first cruise is a 13 day Med cruise: From Celebrity we got prepaid gratuities and a $300 obc. you got to pick two items on the 123Go promotion, and the drink option doesn't appeal to us. From our travel agent, we got $525 obc, and dinner for two in a specialty restaraunt. The money we get from Celebrity will go four tours and misc. We hope to bring home most of the money we are getting from the travel agent.

The second cruise is the 15 day transatlantic. From Celebrity, we got $300 obc for a future cruise credit (this was issued before the change) and $75 obc for doing a back to back. From our travel agent we got $475 obc. Same as above as far as using the obc.

[RealDeal]

You got BOTH prepaid gratuities AND OBC from the 123 Go promo? I thought it was just one or the other (or the beverage package)?

 

I just booked with this same TA. The prepaid gratuities are from the TA while the OBC or drink package (whatever you choose) are from X. I was also able to score an additional $100 OBC from the TA and I have my booking onboard bonus. $840 in total OBC on a 10-day Caribbean (as I got OBC in lieu of gratuities b/c I have select dining).

[dbsb3233]

I just booked with this same TA. The prepaid gratuities are from the TA while the OBC or drink package (whatever you choose) are from X. I was also able to score an additional $100 OBC from the TA and I have my booking onboard bonus. $840 in total OBC on a 10-day Caribbean (as I got OBC in lieu of gratuities b/c I have select dining).

Thanks. That's what I figured. The OP made it sound like both were from the 123 Go promo but I figured they just didn't word it quite right.

 

Still though, $800-$1000 in OBC is A LOT. If you don't mind me asking, what's the approximate price of the cabin? If it's a suite I could maybe see the OBC being really big, but if it's a standard balcony or below (like maybe a $4000 total cabin fare or less), then that's a heck of a haul.

 

So if I understand you right, you got 2 bonuses from your TA (prepaid gratuities + $100 OBC), plus the 123 Go promo, plus an onboard bonus? Is the onboard bonus for signing up for a future cruise while you're on an existing one? I think I've seen those flyers late in our cruises but we've never been ready to commit to a new one at that time. What kind of flexibility do you have on those? Do you have to pick the exact cruise, or is it just "any cruise within XX months from now", or some other parameters? And can you cancel without losing anything (other than the not getting the future OBC bonus, of course?

 

I know we're not suppose to post names of specific TAs, but I'd be curious if it's a common web one (that perhaps a Google search might commonly pop up)?

 

Thanks.

[Lois R]

Is there any way we can get the names of these online travel agencies that are giving these huge OBCs? I scour the Internet all the time and have been on many major online TA and have never seen any deals that give OBC at amounts that have been stated in earlier posts. I am not talking about OBC from the cruise lines which I am aware of.

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Hi, nope, there is no way to get the names as it is against CC policy

to name Travel Agencies.

[deise17311]

We got $1500 for our Azamara Antarctica trip last January and got $600 for our 7 day Reflection trip this January (we do travel in suites so the obc goes up)...it's usually around 13% of the total cost we get back in obc

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Edited March 4, 2014 by deise17311

[dodger1964]

We have been very happy with our online travel agency. I'm not really sure if the "large online agencies" have that many differences as far as perks. They are pretty good at having group rates. If I was looking for a TA, I would just google and pick first couple of agencies and then call each one to see what offers they have.

 

I don't see why anyone would book directly with X, TA's always have same or LOWER (with group bookings) prices for the actual room, X still gives you the same promotions, and most of time get obc.

 

Only downside I can see is X will NOT talk to you about reservation. You have to go through the TA for any issues. If TA is closed you don't have many options if you need something.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[dbsb3233]

We got $1500 for our Azamara Antarctica trip last January and got $600 for our 7 day Reflection trip this January (we do travel in suites so the obc goes up)...it's usually around 13% of the total cost we get back in obc

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Thanks for listing the percentage. That's really more useful. Without knowing the cruise fare of the various bonuses being talked about here, it's easy to think "Wow, you got $1000 and all I got was $300!?!" when it makes perfect sense that more expensive cruise fares would warrant bigger bonuses/promos.

 

Still 13% is better than what I've gotten. I need to get "more in the game" when shopping around, finding discounters, finding deals, and playing the system. My bonuses have been 7-9% on the cruises I've actually paid for. I've actually only paid for 2 ocean cruises (plus 1 river cruise). The other 10 we've taken (or have booked this year) were full or partial casino benefits. (So I guess I shouldn't complain much about not finding the best discounts. :o )

[grandgeezer]

Only downside I can see is X will NOT talk to you about reservation. You have to go through the TA for any issues. If TA is closed you don't have many options if you need something.

 

 

If I did my math right, I saved $3472, for the two of us, by booking through an online travel agent rather than through Celebrity. This is a 50% savings from what I would have to have paid to Celebrity to get the same cruise I'm getting. For this I had to give up the opportunity contact someone 24/7 IF any issues arrive. But IF I had to cancel, I'd have to pay $50 per cruise, cancellation fee. I think I'll risk it.

[RealDeal]

Thanks. That's what I figured. The OP made it sound like both were from the 123 Go promo but I figured they just didn't word it quite right.

 

Still though, $800-$1000 in OBC is A LOT. If you don't mind me asking, what's the approximate price of the cabin? If it's a suite I could maybe see the OBC being really big, but if it's a standard balcony or below (like maybe a $4000 total cabin fare or less), then that's a heck of a haul.

 

So if I understand you right, you got 2 bonuses from your TA (prepaid gratuities + $100 OBC), plus the 123 Go promo, plus an onboard bonus? Is the onboard bonus for signing up for a future cruise while you're on an existing one? I think I've seen those flyers late in our cruises but we've never been ready to commit to a new one at that time. What kind of flexibility do you have on those? Do you have to pick the exact cruise, or is it just "any cruise within XX months from now", or some other parameters? And can you cancel without losing anything (other than the not getting the future OBC bonus, of course?

 

I know we're not suppose to post names of specific TAs, but I'd be curious if it's a common web one (that perhaps a Google search might commonly pop up)?

 

Thanks.

 

Will try to answer all your questions...yes, you have all the OBC listed correctly. Booked a balcony, got a discounted rate (yes, I compared to X's site & this agency's price was $300 less for the cabin). Total cabin rate = $3334. The agency advertises on this site, but there are certain "cons" (read b/w the lines) to using them; e.g., $100 pp cancellation fee. However, I'm 100% certain we're doing this cruise, so I went ahead.

 

There are 2 kinds of bookings you can do onboard: one is an open passages (pick any cruise you want later...it's good forever), which I don't recommend b/c they're nonrefundable & the OBC isn't great...much less than a specific cruise you choose. The other kind is a booking you have to "name" (pick a cruise, put $100 pp down). Totally refundable & you have 60 days to transfer to a TA. If you decide you want to switch the cruise to something else later, no problem. So, as long as you transfer it to a TA that dzn't charge a change/cancellation fee, you're in good shape.

 

On my last cruise, I did 4 onboard bookings, 2 of which are already set in stone. Waiting for new deployments to be released to decide about the other two, and I have til mid-April to transfer to a TA. If I don't go forward, I just cancel and get my $200 back.

 

Hope that helps.

[dbsb3233]

Will try to answer all your questions...yes, you have all the OBC listed correctly. Booked a balcony, got a discounted rate (yes, I compared to X's site & this agency's price was $300 less for the cabin). Total cabin rate = $3334. The agency advertises on this site, but there are certain "cons" (read b/w the lines) to using them; e.g., $100 pp cancellation fee. However, I'm 100% certain we're doing this cruise, so I went ahead.

 

There are 2 kinds of bookings you can do onboard: one is an open passages (pick any cruise you want later...it's good forever), which I don't recommend b/c they're nonrefundable & the OBC isn't great...much less than a specific cruise you choose. The other kind is a booking you have to "name" (pick a cruise, put $100 pp down). Totally refundable & you have 60 days to transfer to a TA. If you decide you want to switch the cruise to something else later, no problem. So, as long as you transfer it to a TA that dzn't charge a change/cancellation fee, you're in good shape.

 

On my last cruise, I did 4 onboard bookings, 2 of which are already set in stone. Waiting for new deployments to be released to decide about the other two, and I have til mid-April to transfer to a TA. If I don't go forward, I just cancel and get my $200 back.

 

Hope that helps.

Yes, great info. Thanks!

[grandgeezer]

Only downside I can see is X will NOT talk to you about reservation. You have to go through the TA for any issues. If TA is closed you don't have many options if you need something.

 

 

If I did my math right, I saved $3472, for the two of us, by booking through an online travel agent rather than through Celebrity. This is a 50% savings from what I would have to have paid to Celebrity to get the same cruise I'm getting. For this I had to give up the opportunity contact someone 24/7 IF any issues arrive. But IF I had to cancel, I'd have to pay $50 per cruise, cancellation fee. I think I'll risk it.

 

********************

I didn't do my math right. $982 of that total is money I would get from Celebrity. $2490 is what I got from my travel agent. That's about a 38% savings.

[RealDeal]

 

********************

I didn't do my math right. $982 of that total is money I would get from Celebrity. $2490 is what I got from my travel agent. That's about a 38% savings.

 

Sounds like a heck of a deal to me!

[Duanerice1]

Reading between the lines it looks like I used a TA that many here have used.

 

Booked a 10 day for $2618 before tax in a C2. They didn't have any group booking for this cruise. I have OBC of $550 and the drink package. Plus we only had to pay the original $200 as a down payment.

 

I used a Celebrity passage which is now an open passage I think so there was $200 from Celebrity. I got another $100 from TA and prepaid gratuities. Since I have to prepay because I picked Select they are giving me another $250.

 

So $550 and 2 drink packages from a $2618 fare? I'll take it.

enjoy

[RealDeal]

Reading between the lines it looks like I used a TA that many here have used.

 

Booked a 10 day for $2618 before tax in a C2. They didn't have any group booking for this cruise. I have OBC of $550 and the drink package. Plus we only had to pay the original $200 as a down payment.

 

I used a Celebrity passage which is now an open passage I think so there was $200 from Celebrity. I got another $100 from TA and prepaid gratuities. Since I have to prepay because I picked Select they are giving me another $250.

 

So $550 and 2 drink packages from a $2618 fare? I'll take it.

enjoy

 

Sounds like we got the same deal. My base price b/4 taxes was about $3100, but I did save about $300 off X's listed fare (although only really $100 b/c I booked w/X before the rates went up). I tried to cry to my agent that someone else's fare was about $500 less than mine & they were getting the same amenities, but it didn't get me far...LOL... I got, "Well, different cruises can get different perks, etc." I'm happy with what I got, but figured I'd try!

[mikeysed]

Where can I see this TA?? People had said they advertise here..

 

American Discount or Avoya?

 

one of these what you are referring to?

Edited March 5, 2014 by mikeysed

[RealDeal]

Where can I see this TA?? People had said they advertise here..

 

American Discount or Avoya?

 

one of these what you are referring to?

 

Google cruise agency New Hampshire.