Cruise Docs and OBC

[owtrspace]

Received our cruise docs yesterday for upcoming 3/29 sailing on Navigator... very impressive compilation of the materials! In the packet, it lists our itinerary and confirms the shore excursions, but there is no statement of sort that shows the OBC we are to receive. I have the paid invoice (PDF sent by Regent via TA) that reflects it, but nothing in the actual cruise doc package. Should I have anything else or just the Regent invoice?

 

Thanks!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

What you received is normal. You'll have a note in your suite on arrival about your cruise credits--if you don't, just talk to reception and confirm that it's there.

[elmwood]

We, too, received our documents recently for our upcoming cruise (March 8th) and I have a question about OBC. Being as this is our first ever cruise, I had no idea there was such a thing and as nothing was mentioned when we booked with our travel agent (the one we normally use, not a specialist one). So, what I am asking is how common is it to receive this and should we have asked about it. I know it's too late for this cruise but I would like to be forewarned for any future cruises.

[Mark_T]

We, too, received our documents recently for our upcoming cruise (March 8th) and I have a question about OBC. Being as this is our first ever cruise, I had no idea there was such a thing and as nothing was mentioned when we booked with our travel agent...

 

Consider it as part of the package you negotiate with your TA.

 

Some will offer other inducements like a discount on the total cost or a rebate of commission, others offer OBC.

 

All part of the balancing act to get the package you want.

 

Personally we don't find OBC so useful with Regent as our bills tend to be pretty low when compared to other cruise lines.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Some cruises, especially segments of longer cruises, have an OBC that's offered by Regent. Some credit cards, like Amex Platinum, have a built-in OBC when the card is used to pay for cruises on certain lines. Some TAs as well these as incentives.

 

I agree, OBCs aren't particularly useful right now with the most-included excursions, and paid excursions having to be paid in advance. You can use your OBCs for internet (if you're under 21 days--after that it's included), newspapers delivered to your suite, drycleaning and laundry services, the gift shop, premium wines, and, of course, the spa. Or any premium excursions that you manage to book while on the cruise. I got desperate on my last cruise, I had to buy a bunch of spa products.

[elmwood]

Thank you all, that was most helpful. The only thing I could see us needing it for was internet usage.

[hoosier74]

We have a huge amount of OBC (TA) for our upcoming cruise, but we have 9 (really 10 since we don't get into one port until evening) sea days (transatlantic) so I don't think I'll have any trouble using it up in the spa. I think it would be almost impossible on a port intensive trip, but you could drink lots of very nice wine.

[cruzndiz]

We have a huge amount of OBC (TA) for our upcoming cruise, but we have 9 (really 10 since we don't get into one port until evening) sea days (transatlantic) so I don't think I'll have any trouble using it up in the spa. I think it would be almost impossible on a port intensive trip, but you could drink lots of very nice wine.

 

I could have used some OBC on our last trip.....I made the mistake of sending my DH to the spa for a scalp massage/treatment. He came back to the cabin an hour later toting a shopping bag full of potions & elixirs that would keep his scalp/hair/pores/etc. in tip top shape!! You can guess how much that little trip ended up costing LOL! :rolleyes: