No Double OBC for Solos Under Current Promotion

[DavidsNana]

Maybe I am behind the times but I have always gotten double the OBC on previous promotions for a solo booking.  As recent as last year for an April 2024 cruise.  Seemed logical since I was paying double (the same base fare amount as 2 people).  I booked two cabins this morning on a Caribbean cruise under the current promotion.  One for my son and his girlfriend and a solo cabin for myself.  I was puzzled to see that the deposit confirmation only showed $100 OBC for me in my solo balcony cabin.  I emailed my PVP and inquired.  It seems that Princess has changed and has now included wording in the terms that says for solo occupancy of a cabin, only one OBC will be given.  It was pretty hidden in one place I read but much clearer in another place with the terms of the promotion.  Just a heads up for others that have been getting the double OBC for solo bookings.  This doesn't delight me but also didn't surprise me in view of some other things that Princess has been doing.  Enjoy your cruises everyone.  I know I will, always do.

[BlerkOne]

I don't recall double OBC.

[startedwithamouse]

Sailed solo previously, and never received double OBC. 

Edited July 12 by startedwithamouse

[tothemall&beyond]

36 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

I don't recall double OBC. 

This response is directed not only to BlerkOne but also to startedwithamouse who also said they never got double OBC for solo.

 

Well... I have been cruising with Princess for 25 years and have sailed my fair share of solo cruises, even booking solo cabins for myself and each member of my family (including my husband) specifically because we would always get the double promo OBC! And that was true not just when the OBC promo was "per cabin", but even when the promo offer was "per person". If you paid the double fare as a solo, they extended the double OBC. Simple as that.

This weekend's promo is a new wrinkle, and yet another example of Princess  retreating from prior policies -- to the detriment of its passengers. 

[tothemall&beyond]

52 minutes ago, DavidsNana said:

Maybe I am behind the times but I have always gotten double the OBC on previous promotions for a solo booking.  As recent as last year for an April 2024 cruise.  Seemed logical since I was paying double (the same base fare amount as 2 people).  I booked two cabins this morning on a Caribbean cruise under the current promotion.  One for my son and his girlfriend and a solo cabin for myself.  I was puzzled to see that the deposit confirmation only showed $100 OBC for me in my solo balcony cabin.  I emailed my PVP and inquired.  It seems that Princess has changed and has now included wording in the terms that says for solo occupancy of a cabin, only one OBC will be given.  It was pretty hidden in one place I read but much clearer in another place with the terms of the promotion.  Just a heads up for others that have been getting the double OBC for solo bookings.  This doesn't delight me but also didn't surprise me in view of some other things that Princess has been doing.  Enjoy your cruises everyone.  I know I will, always do.

I agree with you. I have been sailing with Princess for 25 years, with 35 cruises (so far) and I still had to have the rep tell me exactly where to find the "fine print" for this one because we have ALWAYS gotten double promo OBC when booking solo cabins. 

[BlerkOne]

2 minutes ago, tothemall&beyond said:

This response is directed not only to BlerkOne but also to startedwithamouse who also said they never got double OBC for solo.

 

Well... I have been cruising with Princess for 25 years and have sailed my fair share of solo cruises, even booking solo cabins for myself and each member of my family (including my husband) specifically because we would always get the double promo OBC! And that was true not just when the OBC promo was "per cabin", but even when the promo offer was "per person". If you paid the double fare as a solo, they extended the double OBC. Simple as that.

This weekend's promo is a new wrinkle, and yet another example of Princess  retreating from prior policies -- to the detriment of its passengers. 

I still don't recall. You must get special promos. In any event, promotions come and go. It is basic marketing. Princess is a business and when ROI on promotions isn't there. the promotion ends. Be thankful that you got to take advantage of one.

 

 

[startedwithamouse]

23 minutes ago, tothemall&beyond said:

This response is directed not only to BlerkOne but also to startedwithamouse who also said they never got double OBC for solo.

 

Well... I have been cruising with Princess for 25 years and have sailed my fair share of solo cruises, even booking solo cabins for myself and each member of my family (including my husband) specifically because we would always get the double promo OBC! And that was true not just when the OBC promo was "per cabin", but even when the promo offer was "per person". If you paid the double fare as a solo, they extended the double OBC. Simple as that.

This weekend's promo is a new wrinkle, and yet another example of Princess  retreating from prior policies -- to the detriment of its passengers. 

Lucky you.

 

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 - solo sails on at least one voyage, no double OBC. 

[DavidsNana]

@tothemall&beyondWell, have all my past cruise summaries and I'm with you, they all have given me double OBC for a solo booking.  Can't comment on those that haven't been getting the same, just know what I have experienced and have the paperwork to refer to as a reminder.  So,  as I said, that is why I was surprised.  And I have also been sailing with Princess since 1988, with 37 cruises, although the solo ones have been in the last 5 years since my husband passed.  Will, I let this spoil my cruise, nope not a moment.  And @BlerkOnenever said I wasn't happy for whatever I get from a promo, just surprised me and wanted to alert others.  I'm always grateful for anything life can give me.  I had to cancel the cruise that my family and I had scheduled for 4/26/2024 on the Enchanted Princess so I could have surgery for my second bout with cancer so I am pretty much thankful to just be here and be able to do this.  Sorry if it sounded otherwise.  Like I said, everyone enjoy their cruises, I know I will and always do.

[BlerkOne]

3 minutes ago, DavidsNana said:

@tothemall&beyond
@BlerkOnenever said I wasn't happy for whatever I get from a promo, just surprised me and wanted to alert others.  I'm always grateful for anything life can give me.  I had to cancel the cruise that my family and I had scheduled for 4/26/2024 on the Enchanted Princess so I could have surgery for my second bout with cancer so I am pretty much thankful to just be here and be able to do this.  Sorry if it sounded otherwise.  Like I said, everyone enjoy their cruises, I know I will and always do.

My bad. Someone else seems confused between promotions and policy.

[blondee419]

Never got double OBC, but I got double credit in the Captains Circle. 

[tothemall&beyond]

22 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I still don't recall. You must get special promos. In any event, promotions come and go. It is basic marketing. Princess is a business and when ROI on promotions isn't there. the promotion ends. Be thankful that you got to take advantage of one.

 

 

It was standard policy and procedure whenever there was an OBC promo offer. Not for any other OBC (CCL stock, military, FCD), just for promo OBC offers. If you booked solo (and therefore paid more than a single fare), you got double promo OBC. We have gotten it about a dozen times for solo cabins we have booked over the years, including as recently as April 2023 when our family sailed in 4 solo cabins and each of us got double promo OBC over and above any FCD, stock and military OBC's. We also just got the double promo OBC for the 2 solo cabins in which our sons will be sailing for a family cruise in 2025 that we booked in April 2024. 

Edited July 13 by tothemall&beyond

[BlerkOne]

4 minutes ago, tothemall&beyond said:

It was standard policy and procedure whenever there was an OBC promo offer. Not for any other OBC (CCL stock, military, FCD), just for promo OBC offers. If you booked solo (and therefore paid more than a single fare), you got double promo OBC. We have gotten it about a dozen times for solo cabins we have booked over the years, including as recently as April 2023 when our family sailed in 4 solo cabins and each of us got double promo OBC over and above any FCD, stock and military OBC's. We also just got the double promo OBC for the 2 solo cabins in which our sons will be sailing for a family cruise in 2025 that we booked in April 2024. 

This is what I see. It says nothing about double OBC for 1. It explicitly says single.

 

Up to $400 Onboard Credit per stateroom (up to $200 per guest) is applicable to the first two guests in a stateroom and amount awarded varies based on cruise length. Onboard Credit is awarded as a credit (“Credit”) that is applied to the guest’s folio and is awarded in the currency corresponding to the ship’s onboard currency. Voyages 1-3 days in length will receive $25 Credit per guest. Voyages 4-6 days in length will receive $50 Credit per guest. Voyages 7-11 days in length will receive $100 Credit per guest. Voyages 12 days or longer will receive $200 Credit per guest. Offer does not apply to additional guests than guests indicated above. Guests with single occupancy will receive single, per guest Credit amount ($25-$200). Credit must be used on the single voyage that it was awarded in connection with, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours, and expires at the end of that voyage.

[tothemall&beyond]

22 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Lucky you.

 

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 - solo sails on at least one voyage, no double OBC. 

We got it as far back as 2014 when we took first solo sails, and have continuously gotten it for any sailings which offered promo OBC - including ones in 2021, 2023, and even for a 2025 cruise we just booked 2 months ago.

[tothemall&beyond]

3 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

This is what I see. It says nothing about double OBC for 1. It explicitly says single.

 

Up to $400 Onboard Credit per stateroom (up to $200 per guest) is applicable to the first two guests in a stateroom and amount awarded varies based on cruise length. Onboard Credit is awarded as a credit (“Credit”) that is applied to the guest’s folio and is awarded in the currency corresponding to the ship’s onboard currency. Voyages 1-3 days in length will receive $25 Credit per guest. Voyages 4-6 days in length will receive $50 Credit per guest. Voyages 7-11 days in length will receive $100 Credit per guest. Voyages 12 days or longer will receive $200 Credit per guest. Offer does not apply to additional guests than guests indicated above. Guests with single occupancy will receive single, per guest Credit amount ($25-$200). Credit must be used on the single voyage that it was awarded in connection with, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours, and expires at the end of that voyage.

Right - this is brand new language that appeared for first time ever with the promo OBC offer on the current promotion that started yesterday. That language never existed previously!!! I confirmed as much yesterday with three people at Princess: a Princess Reservations Support agent, a Direct Sales Supervisor, and also with my longtime CVP.

[Coral]

I have received double OBC for promos as a single. When I first started cruising in the 90's, I didn't. Then there was a change and I did receive double. 

 

I priced out a cruise recently and noticed it wasn't double.

[Coral]

On 7/12/2024 at 5:42 PM, BlerkOne said:

I don't recall double OBC.

I do. For many years.

[tothemall&beyond]

For those who are continuing to doubt that double promo OBC for solo bookings was a standard Princess policy... 

All I can say at this point is "IYKYK", and if you don't, you don't.

But I have in my possession (and others have said likewise) no fewer than a dozen sets of Booking Confirmations and Travel Summaries for our solo cabin bookings which clearly show that, even as recently as May 2024, Princess always gave double promo OBC to solo cruisers whenever there was a promo OBC offer.

Princess changed that policy for this past weekend's 3-day promo OBC offer. Whether that will now be the new policy for all promo OBC offers going forward remains to be seen. 

Edited July 16 by tothemall&beyond

[Coral]

23 minutes ago, tothemall&beyond said:

For those who are continuing to doubt that double promo OBC for solo bookings was a standard Princess policy... 

All I can say at this point is "IYKYK", and if you don't, you don't.

But I have in my possession (and others have said likewise) no fewer than a dozen sets of Booking Confirmations and Travel Summaries for our solo cabin bookings which clearly show that, even as recently as May 2024, Princess always gave double promo OBC to solo cruisers whenever there was a promo OBC offer.

Princess changed that policy for this past weekend's 3-day promo OBC offer. Whether that will now be the new policy for all promo OBC offers going forward remains to be seen. 

We didn't get double OBC for Future Cruise Deposits or for stock holders, but we definitely did get double OBC for cruise promos (as you stated). Considering we were paying 200% often, I think that is how it should be!

 

I also noticed the change this past weekend when I went to see if re-faring my cruise made sense. I hope this was a one time thing but I doubt it.

[beshears]

This is good to know, although I really had NOT expected to get a double OBC, even if I was the only one in the room. Our cruise is in February, and I'm hoping I can get someone to go with me, even if I pay for the balcony room.

[Ombud]

@tothemall&beyond THANK YOU for saving me a call to my CVP for an explanation as to why it didn't dbl this time