stillriverpotter

We had a lot of OBC to use on our cruise we just returned from. I was also interested in using it as deposit on next cruise, but we had to give them a credit card as others have noted here.

However, we had a mix of Celebrity and Travel Agent OBC. We didn't use it all and I just logged into our credit card account and noticed that the remainder (a little over $10) was credited to our credit card. A nice surprise! I suspect the Celebrity OBC is "use or lose" but the other credit that comes as a gift is really cash for you to use and they have to return to you the unused portion.

We just returned from a cruise on Equinox. We opted to purchase the 3 night specialty dining ahead of time and they automatically then booked us for Murano for 6PM the first night of the cruise. We made our reservations for Silk and Tuscan Grill after we were on board.

Murano did not even come close to meeting my expectations for "outstanding" dining. Sure, they do some pretty fancy table side antics, but the food was really ho-hum and the space itself was cramped and there was no view - it was like we were in an on-land restaurant after just sailing away. The next night in the MDR was far superior for both genuine service and food - and view! Silk was a nice change of pace from the "normal" and was quite lovely.

Tuscan Grille was OUTSTANDING!! I can't rave about it enough. I'm assuming the set up on your ship will be the same as the Equinox - aft on deck 5. It is a superior location for wonderful views and the food was over the top.

Here's my suggestion... Tuscan Grille's first reservations are at 6PM. Make a reservation for 6PM on a day you are sailing away from port between 5 and 6PM. Since we were the first ones in the restaurant for a table for 2, we were seated in the center of the back windows and the view was amazing. That combined with wonderful service and lovely menu choices made the evening so, so special. They offered us a 30% discount to come back again and although I was tempted (especially since we opted for the day before our anniversary to do Tuscan Grille!), we also were pretty happy with the MDR.

Congrats on your 50th!! Make sure they know it's your anniversary during the reservation process so you will be invited to the anniversary and honeymoon celebration on the ship. Ours was at 10:15 on the 2nd sea day and although we were tempted to skip it, it really was an enjoyable event and quite entertaining. Also, they - without prompting - delivered a "Happy Anniversary" cake with dessert on the night of our anniversary in the MDR. A nice touch.

Enjoy!

Gayle

I have found the same thing and questioned the agents about it. I contacted 2 agents through online cruise travel companies and each had some specific cruises that they bought groups of cabins on. They explained that since they purchased these at a group rate they then could pass that savings on to us and book us a few hundred dollars less per person than offered through the cruise line. In addition they offer additional incentives to book through them including extra OBC, shore excursion vouchers, hotel stay before or after the cruise... One thing I have found already is that the one agent I want to use (she seems so honest and straight forward - and organized!) doesn't have the cruise that I think I've decided on, so if I want to save $500 I'll have to book with someone else...

Good luck with navigating these waters. Sure is a TON of information here to learn!