Highest OBC you've received?

[Itried4498]

In January, we held a cruise on the inaugural Carnival Venezia crossing (leaving in 10 days) via our travel agent.  It was just over $1,900 for four people in a balcony room, with Carnival offering $500 OBC (per stateroom) and the TA adding in $65.  No where close to being the most OBC, but probably pretty close to being the most OBC in relation to the cruise fare -- which probably isn't much more than $565 before taxes & port fees.  Awesome deal but we couldn't make the dates work.

[john91498]

12 hours ago, ibarrio said:

$1200ish

 

Same. Two cancelled cruises @ $600 a piece

[Eli_6]

You could always buy some EFFY jewelry.  Or artwork.  Maybe one of those hideous looking gold statues that look like the inside of my kid's closet. 

[SyracuseOrange]

14 hours ago, wemjam said:

It is based solely on your base cruise rate.  NO taxes, port fees, fly2fun etc.  The base cruise rate only you get your milestone percentage.  And it is only on the rate for the person in the room that hit the milestone.  So, like in me and my husbands case, I have a few more days at sea then him.  I am getting ready to hit 50 and it will be for my base rate on the cruise only.  Then when he hits 50 (3 behind me), he will get it.

Ah...so if I only ever book casino rates, which are usually $100 per person...I'll get $25 in OBC on my 25th cruise?

 

I hate to be one of those people that wants more free stuff on their free cruise, but it would be nice to get more than $25 haha

 

I guess I could book a non-casino rate for my 25th cruise, but that seems a little stupid to do just to get some OBC. 

[wemjam]

1 hour ago, SyracuseOrange said:

Ah...so if I only ever book casino rates, which are usually $100 per person...I'll get $25 in OBC on my 25th cruise?

 

I hate to be one of those people that wants more free stuff on their free cruise, but it would be nice to get more than $25 haha

 

I guess I could book a non-casino rate for my 25th cruise, but that seems a little stupid to do just to get some OBC. 

Correct, if you rate is only $100 then you would get $25

 

Ya, I wouldn't pay more for the cruise just to get money back - if you cruise for $100 you are coming out way ahead already.

[SyracuseOrange]

1 minute ago, wemjam said:

Correct, if you rate is only $100 then you would get $25

 

Ya, I wouldn't pay more for the cruise just to get money back - if you cruise for $100 you are coming out way ahead already.

Well....probably not in the grand scheme of things. I pay for all those "free" cruises one way or another, haha

 

But that's the beauty of a gambling gift/problem

[Lee Cruiser]

On 5/18/2023 at 6:27 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

First, for the booking itself, there was $2,000 from the casino rate - then, $100 from shareholders credit and, finally, $5,582.26 for our (75th) Milestone credit that we're taking advantage of on this sailing.

Wow! That's a lot. Can't imagine us using that much.  We don't gamble, so ours would be primarily on shopping and excursions.  We could rent one of those HMC cabanas 😀!  The most we've had was $750.  We are approaching our 25th milestone.  We will spread that over two cruises with me taking it and then my wife.

[gkbiiii]

Long Alaska cruises, that start or end in Australia.  The value/cost of Alaska Shore Excursions, could easily spend up the comped credits.  

[lazydayz]

Ours was a little over $3,000, but mostly from Early Savers credits since we were able to switch two cabins from a regular rate to casino rates. 

[vwrestler171]

Wow, and I was happy with my $1300.

[Honolulu Blue]

I don't have the monster amount the OP does, but my cruise in January will have $600 in OBC from my cruise that was canceled during the pandemic and $250 in shareholder credit.

[jimbo5544]

On 5/18/2023 at 7:27 AM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

While not necessarily the TOP amount Carnival has given out as OBC, this must rank right up there. 🙂 

 

 

 

This is not OBC received as a result of a cancelled cruise (or similar bad experience "pay back"), but rather a combination of other things. First, for the booking itself, there was $2,000 from the casino rate - then, $100 from shareholders credit and, finally, $5,582.26 for our (75th) Milestone credit that we're taking advantage of on this sailing. We could have cashed in on that one sooner, but we wanted to wait until we had a more expensive sailing, as 75% back of your cruise fare only comes around ONCE in your (Carnival) lifetime!

 

The pre-Milestone amount ($2,100) has been up there for many months, but only yesterday did they apply the Milestone credit. I was told it would be applied the week prior to our sailing - but I've been checking, and holding my breath. Now I can breathe again --- WHEW !  

 

Tom

You got us beat, we are using out 50% and a shade under 3K.  

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

You got us beat, we are using out 50% and a shade under 3K.  

 

Still, nothing to sneeze at! At our 50% point, we used ours on different sailings, and barely hit $1K

 

Tom

[jimbo5544]

8 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Still, nothing to sneeze at! At our 50% point, we used ours on different sailings, and barely hit $1K

 

Tom

I will do my best to use it wisely, yours will be a challenge, but I am sure you will find a way😄

[sunshower9]

11 hours ago, vwrestler171 said:

Wow, and I was happy with my $1300.

I was happy with my $600. 😂

[Eli_6]

The craziest part of this entire thread is that you have taken 75 cruises on Carnival.  How many days is that?  Granted, I know it is a bit easier since you live in Florida. In Texas, we go to the same 4-5 ports over and over and over again.

[sgttami]

The most I ever had was $800 and that sounded like a lot since gratuities and drinks were taken care of beforehand.

 

By day 3 it had disappeared thanks to my generous casino contributions (LOL)  Fun while it lasted!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

2 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

The craziest part of this entire thread is that you have taken 75 cruises on Carnival.  How many days is that?  Granted, I know it is a bit easier since you live in Florida. In Texas, we go to the same 4-5 ports over and over and over again.

We're closing in on double diamond 💎

[Eli_6]

6 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

We're closing in on double diamond 💎

So is your sail and sign cars now bedazzled?

[Frank12]

7 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

We're closing in on double diamond 💎

I never thought of it that way.  That makes me double platinum! 🤣

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

One day (night) into this. Yep, I don't think this will be a "problem"!  🙂 

 

 

Tom

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

One day (night) into this. Yep, I don't think this will be a "problem"!  🙂 

 

 

Tom

That must have been quite a party in the steakhouse!  I'm sorry to have missed it.  How many people is that?  10?  11?  🥩🤑

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

36 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

That must have been quite a party in the steakhouse!  I'm sorry to have missed it.  How many people is that?  10?  11?  🥩🤑

 

13 of us. This is our annual office cruise - I treated them and a few spouses to dinner.

 

(Thanks Carnival!)

 

Tom

[Honolulu Blue]

31 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

13 of us. This is our annual office cruise - I treated them and a few spouses to dinner.

 

(Thanks Carnival!)

That was a nice and generous thing for you to do!

[CruizinSusan70]

On 5/18/2023 at 12:56 PM, ninjacat123 said:

I agree.  My 25th is coming up and with it being OBC that is given to you a week before sailing, that means you book excursions hopefully onboard if they are still available.  I'm thinking we will use it to buy CHEERS once onboard.

Buy Cheers ahead of time as usual to get the discount.  Whatever OBC you get for the 25 milestone, apply it towards your gratuities and then with whatever is left over go to Cherry On Top and buy gift cards to use towards your next cruise.