Ship Board Credit

[swabs]

As a northerner I like to feel I get a good deal when making any purchase .

With that in mind always shop around prior to booking a holiday / cruise.

I appreciate the pricing structure in the US differs from that in the UK but it seems that American cruisers automatically get some ship board credit whether it be through using their Amex card or as an offer from their travel agent.

I appreciate that travel agents cannot be mentioned on this site however am I not driving a hard enough bargain? As none of the travel agents I have either previously used or are currently looking into make any mention of Ship board credit.

Do I need to give my travel agent a little extra push or is it that we in the UK are paying less up front?

 

All comments gratefully received especially from those of you based in the UK / Europe.

 

Happy new Year to you all.

Swabs

[Linda VH]

I always remind my TA that I am eligible for a shipboard credit because I'm using my AMEX. I usually get some extra credit from her as well.

[janecambridge]

We booked our first and only Regent cruise through an agent here in Cambridge (UK).automatically got $50 onboard credit.Not sure if that will happen with every cruise we book.Ring round and ask if they offer any extras.

[liptastic]

Hi Swabs,

We only had on board credits once with Regent and that was because we introduced our friends who cruised with us that time.

Our TA is excellent, we have gone to her for about 12 years now. Our bank account gives us 10% discount off holidays and flights etc. and our TA appreciates that we could book through the bank, so she does give us a generous discount. Does your bank offer this facility, or I would just ask your TA what kind of discount can she offer you as an incentive to become a loyal customer?

My motto is if you don't ask you don't get, and it can help.

Good luck .

Jean.

[fair weather golfer]

In September we will be taking our third Regent cruise. Each time I have booked (trying different agents and direct with Regent) I have asked for OB credit without success. We did get OB credit when there was a price reduction. Regent are reluctant to reduce the final bill, they either upgrade or give credit. Nice to see a UK thread glad it is only wet and windy in Wiltshire.

[OctoberKat]

If you have the AmEx Platinum card and use it for booking, you will receive on- board credit up to $300 on many lines including Regent. My understanding is other AmEx cards do not offer this amenity, excepting Centurion which produces a higher credit. My TA offered no onboard credit but did cough up a $100 gift certificate for Four Seasons where we will stay before and after our cruise out of and back to Miami at the end of January. Soon! Excitement building.

 

Some cruise lines offer Virtuoso amenities. I booked a Silverseas voyage and was offered a choice of an excursion ashore including lunch and drinks or an on-board credit of $125 (chose the latter). Plus a hosted onboard cocktail party and a Virtuoso host who is supposed to assist clients and so forth. My TA is Virtuoso but apparently there is no comparable deal with Regent, or at least on the cruise we booked.

Edited January 9, 2015 by OctoberKat

[Winner]

Virtuoso provides the amenities, NOT the cruise lines. If there was not a Virtuoso-hosted cocktail party, a Virtuoso-hosted exclusive excursion (or a dollar credit if you chose not to do the excursion), you should have contacted your Virtuoso agent. Don't blame Regent.

Edited January 9, 2015 by Winner

[OctoberKat]

Virtuoso provides the amenities, NOT the cruise lines. If you did not receive the Virtuoso-hosted cocktail party, a Virtuoso-hosted exclusive excursion (or a dollar credit if you chose not to co the excursion), you should have contacted your Virtuoso agent. It was not an oversight on the part of Regent.

 

I understand that. The Virtuoso amenities (sponsored of course by Virtuoso) are not available on all sailings.

Edited January 9, 2015 by OctoberKat

[swabs]

Thanks all for your advice re ship board credit.

I have shopped around and the TA I am currently negotiating with has included $500 ship board credit!!

So my next question is:

Does this mean I could book a Regent Choice Excursion and pay for it with the SBC?

Also am I able to spend this credit in the Canyon Ranch Spa or is this not allowed s it is a separate company?

Once again all comments gratefully received.

 

Swabs.

[DeepFreeze63]

I'm sure that others will comment also but from my experience:

yes, you can use OBCs at Canyon Ranch

[rallydave]

Thanks all for your advice re ship board credit.

I have shopped around and the TA I am currently negotiating with has included $500 ship board credit!!

So my next question is:

Does this mean I could book a Regent Choice Excursion and pay for it with the SBC?

Also am I able to spend this credit in the Canyon Ranch Spa or is this not allowed s it is a separate company?

Once again all comments gratefully received.

o

Swabs.

 

All depends on what type of credit it is. If the $500 is totally paid to R then it is refundable credit however, if any portion come from R and not your TA, it is non refundable.

 

That said, it can be used in either case for almost anything that costs money on board except in the casino. It may be possible to get money at the cage on the ship but, if you can you will probably pay 5%. Not sure about the casino.

 

As far as using for a Choice Excursion you cannot use the OBC to book it until you are on board so if it is a popular excursion, it could be sold out by the time you board. There is a way to possibly use the OBC as well as book in advance. You book in advance and pay for the excursion. Once on board, IF there is still space available, you can go to Destinations, cancel your booking and rebook using the OBC to pay. You then can get back the money you paid in advance as cash at the end of the cruise or use it as additional OBC. IF the excursion is full, and you cancel you would go to the end of the wait list and probably not get on the excursion but, use your OBC elsewhere.

 

Sounds complicated but, really a simple process. Good luck,

[Travelcat2]

You can definitely use OBC's for excursions, for treatments in the Canyon Ranch Spa as well as in the Boutiques and/or to purchase high quality wines and alcohol. When you board the ship, a card will be in your suite indicating the amount of on board credits you have. When you "spend" them, you simply sign for the product or services and the on-board billing department takes care of the rest. You can also check your account at any time on your interactive television.

 

As has been mentioned, for many reasons, programs are not always the same in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. A couple of years ago American Express stopped giving $300 OBC's for Platinum card holders in Canada (this may have changed back). Perhaps someone can post as to whether U.K. residents are eligible for this Amex benefit (and if the rules are the same -- not all Amex platinum cards are eligible -- they must be "branded"). In any event, it is a good idea to know which benefits are available in your country of residence.

 

Have fun spending your $$$.

[swabs]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, particularly the advice re purchasing Regent Choice Excursions.

I feel a trip to the spa coming on as its me who has done the negotiating rather than my husband!