While booking your cruise, which of these two "added value items" would you choose?

[LauraS]

While booking your cruise, which of these two "added value items" would you choose?

 

Make your choice, and then in the comments tell us if these items would sway your choice of online travel agency!

 

Thanks!

 

Laura

[ColeThornton]

Would either of these sway me to pick a particular travel agency?  Depends.   How much is the value of each option?

[LauraS]

1 minute ago, ColeThornton said:

Would either of these sway me to pick a particular travel agency?  Depends.   How much is the value of each option?

 

Ha!  Great question of course.   Unknown at this time.  I think when I see see extras, it at a minimum makes me look twice!

[Host CMLA]

 

I'd choose the OBC.  Saving up for cruise expenses is a purposeful action.  Having some OBC helps with that.  Of course, I'd only take the OBC option if it could be used with whatever other promotion or OBC I have going on.  

[Host Hattie]

OBC and it might sway my choice

[karmamule]

We always find things to spend money on so on-board credit would be appealing. (Especially if it could also be used for slots in the casino....a guilty pleasure)

 

All other things being equal it would probably have to be a couple hundred dollars or more to become a real factor. Something like $50 wouldn't be very persuasive.

[Host Dan]

SBC or not, I would stick with my TA! 

[ldubs]

For us it would be the bottom line fare that would influence use of the TA.  We would factor in any serious give backs like OBC or gift cards.  

[travelingman]

I am with #Idubs.  Bottom line fare is the most important thing.  It all else is equal  the OBC could sway me.  But it would have to be from my current agency.

 

Stan

 

[casofilia]

Neither!!!   A decrease in price.

This should be the third possibility!!

 

All the "FREE" offers have to be paid for in some way or other.   There is no such thing as a "Free Meal"

Edited July 12, 2021 by casofilia

[richwmn]

Another thing to consider is if the On Board Credit is refundable and most TA supplied OBC is. If that is the case all else being equal I'd rather have the OBC.

[ysolde]

We never end using all of our OBC, or we end up spending it on frivolities we probably would not otherwise purchase, so, given the option, I would take the Visa card, which we could spend however we wanted to.  Would it change my TA?  I don't think so.

[RocketMan275]

On 7/12/2021 at 8:32 AM, LauraS said:

While booking your cruise, which of these two "added value items" would you choose?

 

Make your choice, and then in the comments tell us if these items would sway your choice of online travel agency!

 

Thanks!

 

Laura

I'm not sure I understand.

Are these benefits offered by the TA or the Cruise Line?

My TA always gives at least and eight percent discount plus any benefits offered by the cruise line.

If it's offered by the cruise line, I can get my TA discount plus the benefit.

 

[Host CJSKIDS]

OBC would be my choice as well out of the two. 

[LauraS]

46 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

I'm not sure I understand.

Are these benefits offered by the TA or the Cruise Line?

My TA always gives at least and eight percent discount plus any benefits offered by the cruise line.

If it's offered by the cruise line, I can get my TA discount plus the benefit.

 

 

Hi, we're really just seeking your opinion on which you'd like better -- doesn't really matter where it comes from but let's just say:  from a TA.  Does that help a bit?

Thanks for asking

[jwattle]

We're an "either/or is excellent" type. Our big box TA used to do OBC, now they do a 8% of our cruise fare as a store card, plus we get 2% of our cruise fare back as a check (at their store, but they'll cash it). I look at that as 10% savings. 🥰🥂

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, LauraS said:

 

Hi, we're really just seeking your opinion on which you'd like better -- doesn't really matter where it comes from but let's just say:  from a TA.  Does that help a bit?

Thanks for asking

 

It does matter because I only use a TA that gives a discount, typically 8-10 percent.

A $200 visa card isn't enough value for me to book direct with the cruise line since the TA discount is much larger.  

I would expect she would give me this choice:

$200 Visa.

$200 OBC.

$200 deducted from her already discounted fare.

I would take the additional discount.

[navybankerteacher]

Those damn gift cards are generally more trouble than they are worth.  Because it is highly unlikely that the total value would be more than I might run up on the sort of cruise I would take, i would, of course, take the OBC -- especially if, as mentioned, it exceeded the value of the gift card.  

 

Because I see agents as transactional rather than relationship related, any improvement to the transaction would be significant.

[ldubs]

10 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

It does matter because I only use a TA that gives a discount, typically 8-10 percent.

A $200 visa card isn't enough value for me to book direct with the cruise line since the TA discount is much larger.  

I would expect she would give me this choice:

$200 Visa.

$200 OBC.

$200 deducted from her already discounted fare.

I would take the additional discount.

 

 

"I would take the additional discount."

 

Yep, me too.  

[LauraS]

14 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

 

It does matter because I only use a TA that gives a discount, typically 8-10 percent.

A $200 visa card isn't enough value for me to book direct with the cruise line since the TA discount is much larger.  

I would expect she would give me this choice:

$200 Visa.

$200 OBC.

$200 deducted from her already discounted fare.

I would take the additional discount.

 

Thanks for this info!

[getting older slowly]

Neither would make me change TA...

 

and they all ready give as sweeteners ..    OBC, or/and specialty dinners or/and wine....

 

as to the choice    OBC please.....

 

It is interesting how some people are swayed be a couple hundred dollars...

 

but it could be a  percentage  thing  if it is 20% of the total cost .. for us it would be under 2%

 

Don

[NantahalaCruiser]

Voted for the gift card since it is equivalent to a cash reduction in fare.  However, if I was certain that the OBC was refundable and more than the gift card, I would select the OBC since it would also be equivalent to cash - but slightly more 🙂

 

I have minimal desire for non-refundable OBC since my preferred cruise line now bundles a drink package, gratuities and WIFI in the fare and since I generally book my excursions with third parties.

[ldubs]

5 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Neither would make me change TA...

 

and they all ready give as sweeteners ..    OBC, or/and specialty dinners or/and wine....

 

as to the choice    OBC please.....

 

It is interesting how some people are swayed be a couple hundred dollars...

 

but it could be a  percentage  thing  if it is 20% of the total cost .. for us it would be under 2%

 

Don

 

What do you find interesting about someone saving a couple hundred?   Unless I was receiving some intangible I valued, if I had a choice between paying $10,000 or $9,800, I going to pay $9,800.    And certainly, $200 is a fairly substantial savings to someone looking at a $1,000 fare.   I guess if I was a cigar smoker, I wouldn't be lighting them with $100 bills.    

[getting older slowly]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

 

What do you find interesting about someone saving a couple hundred?   Unless I was receiving some intangible I valued, if I had a choice between paying $10,000 or $9,800, I going to pay $9,800.    And certainly, $200 is a fairly substantial savings to someone looking at a $1,000 fare.   I guess if I was a cigar smoker, I wouldn't be lighting them with $100 bills.    

Good Point.......

I tend to look at the big picture... I am going on cruise cost about $10k.... the $200 saved or extra cost it small to the point of small change in the overall cost of the holiday. nice to save but does not change anything...

 

The interesting point about cruise fares... is they are not a constant.... we have found changing travel dates a couple weeks either ways can change the fare $1000 ( for 2 )

 

So $200 off is nice, but not a deal breaker.... 

but $200 saved can be spent other way on the ship, to ones benefit  whether spa, drinks or dining 

 

Don

[ldubs]

7 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Good Point.......

I tend to look at the big picture... I am going on cruise cost about $10k.... the $200 saved or extra cost it small to the point of small change in the overall cost of the holiday. nice to save but does not change anything...

 

The interesting point about cruise fares... is they are not a constant.... we have found changing travel dates a couple weeks either ways can change the fare $1000 ( for 2 )

 

So $200 off is nice, but not a deal breaker.... 

but $200 saved can be spent other way on the ship, to ones benefit  whether spa, drinks or dining 

 

Don

 

It is a moving target.  Kind of like airfares.   We do the best we can at the time.  Once booked for that cruise/date/price that I like, I try not to worry too much what could have been.