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

[rucrazy]

I would rather have a gift card that we could use anywhere rather than credit that can only be used in one place “for a restricted time”

[0bnxshs]

On 7/13/2021 at 6:41 AM, richwmn said:

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.

Agreed!  The OBC must be refundable.  However, it likely wouldn't sway me unless it was a considerable amount. 

A good, responsible TA is not so easily found.  It's not the 99 cruises that go as we expect that matter, it's the 1 cruise that falls apart that does matter and a good TA will handle that well for you.

[CC Help Michell]

I picked OBC if it has a greater value -- as long as it can be used for anything on board.  OBC with strings/conditions isn't as good.

[cruiseaholic777]

OBC is one of the reasons i stay with my TA.

[GUT2407]

I’s lean towards the gift card, but it would really come down to how much of each was offered, we don’t usually spend a huge amount onboard so the Visa we could use anywhere or even get cash is probably more attractive.

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

OBC is always good ..

[SelectSys]

OBC is more useful to me if only to pay for gratuities if they aren't already included.  However the more things that are baked into the fare, the more likely I would want the gift card.  I would also be influenced by the value difference between the OBC and the gift card.

[lenquixote66]

OBC because any time we get a gift card my wife uses it in the local grocery.

[marco]

How about just lowering the cost of the cruise?

[Lucky TGO]

On 7/13/2021 at 3:48 PM, jwattle said:

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. 🥰🥂

And they call me Lucky.

Tony

[Markanddonna]

With the erratic nature of cruising, I would take the card hands down. 

[SPacificbound]

I would choose OBC

 

I have never used a TA.