qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 #1 Share Posted February 8, 2015 "Suite Bonus" – Earn double Cruise Day credits when you pay a published fare for a spacious suite or penthouse on your next cruise." Will we get this bonus if our TA gives us a reduced rate? Some TA's reduce their percentage take on some sailings so to offer it's customers a reduced rate. The amount the TA pays to HAL is the same. "Onboard Spending Bonus" – Earn one bonus credit for each $300 in eligible onboard purchases you make.* Does this exclude making purchases from onboard credits (OBC) including paying for gratuities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
summer slope Posted February 8, 2015 #2 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Great questions. I await answers from those in the know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted February 8, 2015 #3 Share Posted February 8, 2015 As far as I know, as long as its not an upsell you will get the double credits. All spend will count, including the hsc. The obc are immaterial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted February 8, 2015 #4 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) Yes. As long as you booked a suite category room. The spending credit includes your gratuities and is based on spend. So if you purchased $500 in OBC, used $450, and had $50 refunded, only the $450 you used would count. Most onboard spending, including excursions, counts. Casino spending does not. Edited February 8, 2015 by POA1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted February 8, 2015 #5 Share Posted February 8, 2015 The term "Suite" varies by ship as to whether you will get double points for staying in one. All shipboard is spent by you -- thus you get points for the use of the shipboard credit when you use it for the Hotel Service Charge, excursions, beverage cards, anything you buy in the shops, any drinks you buy without a beverage card and I think someone mention that you now get bonus points for spending in the casino (?). For every $300 you spend you get 1 point. But there is a limit. If it is a 7 day cruise, you will only get 7 even if you spend $3000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted February 8, 2015 #6 Share Posted February 8, 2015 OBCs are just a deposit against your final bill, and as POA1 said they only count whatever part you actually use ... that is, charges that appear on your bill. No one has yet mentioned that you also get spending bonus credit for pre-purchased excursions, beverages, specialty restaurant reservations, etc. You even get credit for pre-purchased gifts from family/friends/TA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #7 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) This board has the most helpful and knowledgeable members and I appreciate the information you provide. How do you know if your suite qualifies (suite definition varies by ship per KK)? We are in a Vista Suite on the Veendam, a Neptune suite on the Westerdam which I know qualifies, and a Signature Suite on our second cruise on the the Westerdam. I want to be sure I understand the OBC information. Our Explore 4 OBC or any OBC given by HAL does not qualify? JTL I was thinking of buying OBC for one of our sailings that does not have OBC so your answer makes me more likely to purchase it. Thanks :) Edited February 8, 2015 by qsuzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted February 8, 2015 #8 Share Posted February 8, 2015 On board credit isn't "spending", so it does not qualify toward the bonus days. What you purchase is "spending", and it does not matter how you pay for it. If your on board credits are sufficient to pay for any or all of your purchases, that doesn't reduce your "spending" total. In other words, the source of the payment doesn't matter; the purchase does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richwmn Posted February 8, 2015 #9 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) This board has the most helpful and knowledgeable members and I appreciate the information you provide. How do you know if your suite qualifies (suite definition varies by ship per KK)? We are in a Vista Suite on the Veendam, a Neptune suite on the Westerdam which I know qualifies, and a Signature Suite on our second cruise on the the Westerdam. I want to be sure I understand the OBC information. Our Explore 4 OBC or any OBC given by HAL does not qualify? JTL I was thinking of buying OBC for one of our sailings that does not have OBC so your answer makes me more likely to purchase it. Thanks :) If you purchase OBC it is a credit toward you spending. Anything you spend, doesn't matter where the money to pay for it comes from, counts toward the bonus days. One word of caution - I was told that the cost of the beverage package, if given as a perk, does not count toward the spending bonus. (Ruth C and I were typing at the same time) Edited February 8, 2015 by richwmn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) On board credit isn't "spending", so it does not qualify toward the bonus days. What you purchase is "spending", and it does not matter how you pay for it. If your on board credits are sufficient to pay for any or all of your purchases, that doesn't reduce your "spending" total. In other words, the source of the payment doesn't matter; the purchase does. Sorry Ruth but I am still not clear. We intend to spend all our OBC. Are you saying making purchases from OBC (regardless if it is HAL, TA. or self purchased OBC) does or does not qualify? Edited February 8, 2015 by qsuzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted February 8, 2015 #11 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I think I read somewhere that if it specifically says "suite" in the name of the room you get double days (as long as you paid full price). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #12 Share Posted February 8, 2015 If you purchase OBC it is a credit toward you spending. Anything you spend, doesn't matter where the money to pay for it comes from, counts toward the bonus days. One word of caution - I was told that the cost of the beverage package, if given as a perk, does not count toward the spending bonus.(Ruth C and I were typing at the same time) Hey Rich, I wanted to give you a shout out and thank you for your many contributions to this board. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberta Quilter Posted February 8, 2015 #13 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) This board has the most helpful and knowledgeable members and I appreciate the information you provide. How do you know if your suite qualifies (suite definition varies by ship per KK)? We are in a Vista Suite on the Veendam, a Neptune suite on the Westerdam which I know qualifies, and a Signature Suite on our second cruise on the the Westerdam. I want to be sure I understand the OBC information. Our Explore 4 OBC or any OBC given by HAL does not qualify? JTL I was thinking of buying OBC for one of our sailings that does not have OBC so your answer makes me more likely to purchase it. Thanks :) I can't answer your question about the Veendam suite but I'm pretty sure that both of your Westerdam suites qualify. However, someone will correct me if I'm wrong. As for purchasing the OBC, no, the purchasing does not count towards your cruise days. It is what you spend, as POA said. You can still purchase the OBC and if you spend all of that OBC, then the purchases count towards your cruise day credits. If you purchase $500 in OBC but only spend $100, only the $100 counts towards the cruise day credits. You'll be refunded the remaining $400 (which is why it doesn't count). You ask specifically about the Explore4 and TA OBC, I'm quite sure that any spending done, which is offset by those OBCs, will count towards your cruise day credits. On a cruise last year, we had $800 in OBC (mostly from the TA); we spent it all and then some. Our spending all counted towards our cruise day credits. Edited February 8, 2015 by Alberta Quilter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted February 8, 2015 #14 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Sorry Ruth but I am still not clear. We intend to spend all our OBC. Are you saying making purchases from OBC (regardless if it is HAL, TA. or self purchased OBC) does or does not qualify? If you spend the OBC it counts toward mariner days. If you buy OBC and don't use it, it doesn't count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I can't answer your question about the Veendam suite but I'm pretty sure that both of your Westerdam suites qualify. However, someone will correct me if I'm wrong. As for purchasing the OBC, no, the purchasing does not count towards your cruise days. It is what you spend, as POA said. You can still purchase the OBC and if you spend all of that OBC, then the purchases count towards your cruise day credits. If you purchase $500 in OBC but only spend $100, only the $100 counts towards the cruise day credits. You'll be refunded the remaining $400 (which is why it doesn't count). Great to know that any unspent OBC we purchase will be refunded. Thanks Alberta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #16 Share Posted February 8, 2015 If you spend the OBC it counts toward mariner days. If you buy OBC and don't use it, it doesn't count. Hi Kazu. Thank you for your many contributions to this board. The amount spent regardless of source (Hal, us, TA)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted February 8, 2015 #17 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Sorry Ruth but I am still not clear. We intend to spend all our OBC. Are you saying making purchases from OBC (regardless if it is HAL, TA. or self purchased OBC) does or does not qualify? Does. What you purchase counts. How you pay for it doesn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted February 8, 2015 #18 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Hi Kazu. Thank you for your many contributions to this board. The amount spent regardless of source (Hal, us, TA)? yes. I get OBC from all sources and as long as I use it all (which sadly, I have never had a hard time doing and end up with a bill) up, we get credit for all of our spending. And I do keep track :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberta Quilter Posted February 8, 2015 #19 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Great to know that any unspent OBC we purchase will be refunded. Thanks Alberta. The key part of your statement is that the only refundable OBC, I believe, is OBC that you purchased. HAL OBC is generally not refundable. I'm not sure about TA OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) yes. I get OBC from all sources and as long as I use it all (which sadly, I have never had a hard time doing and end up with a bill) up, we get credit for all of our spending. And I do keep track :) :) I keep track too and always spend our non refundable credits. We did get a refund a few times (35 cruises on other cruise lines) for refundable credit because we do few or no ship excursions when we have been to that same port many many times. Edited February 8, 2015 by qsuzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted February 8, 2015 #21 Share Posted February 8, 2015 The Vista suites (Veendam) earns double credit. Interesting note on spending - if as part of your booking you get OBC, when you spend that OBC it goes toward the $300 per day to earn additional days. HOWEVER, if as part of your booking you get a free item (such as Signature Beverage Package), it does not count. I will verify this this week to be sure, but this is my understanding. DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted February 8, 2015 #22 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) As several of the previous posters said, the source of the OBC does not matter ... all that matters is the total of charges appearing on your bill (except Casino - I'm pretty sure they haven't changed that) or pre-purchased on-line. However - OBC given by HAL or Carnival Corp as a promo is generally non-refundable - "use it or lose it". If you have that type, and don't think you can spend it all, go to a casino slot machine, charge money to your OB account, take a few spins, and then cash out to get the money! :) AlbertaQuilter: OBC from a TA is just like OBC purchased by yourself/family/friends: refundable. On a recent cruise out TA gave us a free PG dinner, but somehow the ship never sent a notice, and I didn't know about it until I saw a refund on my final bill. . Edited February 8, 2015 by jtl513 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richwmn Posted February 8, 2015 #23 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Hey Rich, I wanted to give you a shout out and thank you for your many contributions to this board. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Your welcome, glad if I could help. The key part of your statement is that the only refundable OBC, I believe, is OBC that you purchased. HAL OBC is generally not refundable. I'm not sure about TA OBC. With a TA it depends on where the OBC is coming from. If they purchase it as a "gift" from their commission it is refundable. However, many of the OBCs that come from a TA are part of a package the TA buys, either thru putting together a group, which may be unrelated passengers just on the same group, or perks that they are allowed to give as "high volume" sellers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #24 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) The Vista suites (Veendam) earns double credit. Interesting note on spending - if as part of your booking you get OBC, when you spend that OBC it goes toward the $300 per day to earn additional days. HOWEVER, if as part of your booking you get a free item (such as Signature Beverage Package), it does not count. I will verify this this week to be sure, but this is my understanding. DaveOKC I appreciate you checking Dave. We have $300 OBC as part of the Explore 4 promotion on the Veendam and one of our Westerdam cruises. If I understand JTL correctly it sounds like it does count and is nonrefundable. Edited February 8, 2015 by qsuzi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qsuzi Posted February 8, 2015 Author #25 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Your welcome, glad if I could help. With a TA it depends on where the OBC is coming from. If they purchase it as a "gift" from their commission it is refundable. However, many of the OBCs that come from a TA are part of a package the TA buys, either thru putting together a group, which may be unrelated passengers just on the same group, or perks that they are allowed to give as "high volume" sellers. I will get a printout the first days of the cruise and so will know what is refundable vs nonrefundable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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