jabrown40 Posted December 6, 2017 #1 Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) Received this email from Viking in response to my question re the use of OBC from my TA, towards gratuities: Thank you for reaching out with your question. I am happy to confirm that Shipboard Credit can now be applied toward gratuities aboard our ocean vessels. Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions before departure. We are looking forward to welcoming you aboard Viking Sea in February! Sincerely, Edited December 6, 2017 by CC Help Jenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaSeaRetreat Posted December 6, 2017 #2 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Good news. Thanks for posting. Cynthia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TourDeCruise Posted December 6, 2017 #3 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Great news. Thanks for sharing. We board Sky on Sunday, so this information is timely and valuable to us. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellemere Posted December 6, 2017 #4 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Thanks for asking and then posting Viking's reply. Good change in policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VolTravler Posted December 6, 2017 #5 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Great. Now I have to reconfigure my thinking on how to justify the beverage package!!! JK - this is pretty neat, and a first in my experience. Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moatenote Posted December 8, 2017 #6 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Yay, you just made my day!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MS52 Posted December 9, 2017 #7 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Have our first trip with Viking next month......and it’s a back to back! Not that it really matters, because it is what it is but how much are gratuities per day, per person? Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted December 9, 2017 #8 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Have our first trip with Viking next month......and it’s a back to back! Not that it really matters, because it is what it is but how much are gratuities per day, per person? Sent from my iPad using Forums When you get your cruise docs, it will be covered in the booklet that is part of the package. Look in the section entitled "Before you go." Currently, it is $15 per person per day but that doesn't mean it won't change in the near future. The section also explains that tips are automatically added to your account but that you may have them removed or add/subtract from the amount. (NOTE: This not apply to non-US/CAN pax; their tips are pre-paid.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabrown40 Posted December 9, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thanks for that info, I wasn’t sure either. This was good news for me too, I can cover both my silver spirits package and gratuities with my onboard credit with a little left over! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyCruiserettu Posted December 9, 2017 #10 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Great. Now I have to reconfigure my thinking on how to justify the beverage package!!! JK - this is pretty neat, and a first in my experience. Peace. We just got off the Viking Sun on Nov 17. We applied our TA-provided OBC towards gratuities. No problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2Otstr Posted December 19, 2017 #11 Share Posted December 19, 2017 This is the email I received today: While shipboard credits cannot be used for gratuities they can be used for optional excursions, drinks, gifts and other onboard purchases. I sure hope this person is wrong; I have a very large OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellemere Posted December 19, 2017 #12 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just got off Viking Sky. Our OBC was applied to gratuities. No problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2Otstr Posted December 20, 2017 #13 Share Posted December 20, 2017 Just got off Viking Sky. Our OBC was applied to gratuities. No problem. That is very good news. I hope it will still be the same when we cruise next July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lauraapp Posted January 6, 2018 #14 Share Posted January 6, 2018 What about river cruises? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TourDeCruise Posted January 6, 2018 #15 Share Posted January 6, 2018 We just returned from our Viking Sky ocean cruise on December 17th and were able to use our OBC for gratuities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetroRod Posted January 30, 2018 #16 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Does anyone know if OBC gifted by Viking be appled toward gratuities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2Otstr Posted January 30, 2018 #17 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Does anyone know if OBC gifted by Viking be appled toward gratuities? Last year on the Sky ours was not. We had $200 and were unable to apply it towards gratuity fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Peregrina651 Posted January 30, 2018 #18 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Does anyone know if OBC gifted by Viking be appled toward gratuities? The OBC that we got from Viking for booking on board was non-refundable but it could be used for gratuities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SantaFe1 Posted January 30, 2018 #19 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I called Viking last week to ask the question yet again. I was told that last year you could not use OBC for gratuities, but the policy has changed for this year. So, I will plan to use our credit for gratuities on our May cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetroRod Posted January 30, 2018 #20 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Thanks for all the replys re: OBC and gratuities. Looks like it may be a “game day decision” 😊 as to will/if it be honored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael219 Posted May 16, 2018 #21 Share Posted May 16, 2018 We recently returned from our Italian Sojourn cruise and had an awesome time! This was our first Viking Ocean (or any Viking) experience & it exceeded our expectations! While onboard we booked another cruise & know we have 60 days to transfer it to a TA. >This is where some confusion has set in as we have received incentive offers from a few TA's but with a wide $$ difference. I thought I had read somewhere Viking restricted what a TA can offer - is this accurate? Lastly, any suggestions for excellent TA's for cruises are most welcome! Thanks in advance!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol From California Posted May 16, 2018 #22 Share Posted May 16, 2018 We recently returned from our Italian Sojourn cruise and had an awesome time! This was our first Viking Ocean (or any Viking) experience & it exceeded our expectations! While onboard we booked another cruise & know we have 60 days to transfer it to a TA. >This is where some confusion has set in as we have received incentive offers from a few TA's but with a wide $$ difference. I thought I had read somewhere Viking restricted what a TA can offer - is this accurate? Lastly, any suggestions for excellent TA's for cruises are most welcome! Thanks in advance!! https://www.vikingcruises.com/terms-conditions/advertising-and-commissions-policy.html?ep_mid=11372360&ep_rid=1526716329 A Travel Agent may combine a Published Price with non‐cash marketing incentives, provided the following conditions are all met: The non‐cash marketing incentives are part of a sales & marketing plan promoting Viking products to be redeemed and used onboard the booked Viking cruise. The actual or perceived total retail value (in USD) of the non‐cash marketing incentives cannot in the aggregate exceed the following: (i) for one (1) to seven (7) nights on Viking vessel, $150 per guest; (ii) for eight (8) to fourteen (14) nights on a Viking vessel, $300 per guest and (iii) for fifteen plus (15+) nights on a Viking vessel, $500 per guest. For any non‐cash marketing incentives that are not redeemable from Viking during the Viking cruise, then the retail value of the non‐cash marketing incentive offered or provided by Travel Agent cannot exceed $100 per booking for agency branded items. Sorry but we are not permitted to share our travel agents on this site, but travel agents are permitted to give you OBC per the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael219 Posted May 16, 2018 #23 Share Posted May 16, 2018 https://www.vikingcruises.com/terms-conditions/advertising-and-commissions-policy.html?ep_mid=11372360&ep_rid=1526716329 A Travel Agent may combine a Published Price with non‐cash marketing incentives, provided the following conditions are all met: The non‐cash marketing incentives are part of a sales & marketing plan promoting Viking products to be redeemed and used onboard the booked Viking cruise. The actual or perceived total retail value (in USD) of the non‐cash marketing incentives cannot in the aggregate exceed the following: (i) for one (1) to seven (7) nights on Viking vessel, $150 per guest; (ii) for eight (8) to fourteen (14) nights on a Viking vessel, $300 per guest and (iii) for fifteen plus (15+) nights on a Viking vessel, $500 per guest. For any non‐cash marketing incentives that are not redeemable from Viking during the Viking cruise, then the retail value of the non‐cash marketing incentive offered or provided by Travel Agent cannot exceed $100 per booking for agency branded items. Sorry but we are not permitted to share our travel agents on this site, but travel agents are permitted to give you OBC per the above. ---- Thanks Carol, I meant to remove the question about TA's as I forgot it was against CC rules. So my confusion or perhaps concern is how a 'brick & mortar' TA is offering twice the allowable amount as permitted as per Viking rules ($1,200 vs. $600 for 11 days, 10-night cruise). It brings to mind "if it sounds too good to be true...."! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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