Book on-line for 2011 now? or on board in October 2010?

[MOHAVE]

Should I book on-line now for an October 2011 cruise (Early Saver) or would there be some benifit to booking for October 2011 while on the ship in October 2010? I understand the benifits of "Early Saver" but I'm told there may be additional savings by booking another cruise while on a cruise. Which is the most cost effective way to book?

If it helps, I'm a solo cruiser sailing in 1A cabins trying my best to avoid paying the costs of a second bed.

[firefly333]

Id book now. You can buy a FCC when you cruise later this year and send it in for OBC on your cruise ..but do be aware you will only get half the advertised OBC for your $100 FCC.

 

No benefit to waiting and prices could go up.

[MOHAVE]

Id book now. You can buy a FCC when you cruise later this year and send it in for OBC on your cruise ..but do be aware you will only get half the advertised OBC for your $100 FCC.

 

No benefit to waiting and prices could go up.

I don't understand FCC or OBC. Can you explain?

[firefly333]

FCC is the future cruise certificate, the reason why you would book onboard. The only benefit is onboard credit (OBC). For solo cruisers, you only get half of the onboard credit, so its probably not a huge enough deal either way ...

 

If you book now, you can book ES and get all price drops...and when you cruise later this year, buy a FCC and bring it home, put the booking # on it for the future cruise, and you will get OBC on the future cruise... and still get any price drops between now and then.

 

The ONLY benefit to waiting to book onboard is you get two friends and family FCCs to bring home so someone else can book other cabins with you on your cruise. If you plan to book multiple cabins, then it might be worth it to wait. clear as mud?? ask away.

[MOHAVE]

OMG, what? LOL?!

[firefly333]

I guess I confused you. lol, sorry. Im laughing now too.

[MOHAVE]

I don't know exactly what we are talking about when talking about on board credit. I have a sail and sign against my credit card. That isn't on board credit? What is the certificate and what is its benifit.

Rather than beat you to peices with a ton of noob questions, maybe there is a thread or post that explains all this already? Unless I just hate cruising, and I fully expect that can't be true, I already have plans for my second cruise.

[MOHAVE]

I guess I confused you. lol, sorry. Im laughing now too.

I do know Richardson. I lived in Addison when JR was shot. I lived in Garland when Kennedy was shot. But don't worry, it wasn't me. And I live in Vegas now.

[luv2gonow]

I don't know exactly what we are talking about when talking about on board credit. I have a sail and sign against my credit card. That isn't on board credit? What is the certificate and what is its benifit.

Rather than beat you to peices with a ton of noob questions, maybe there is a thread or post that explains all this already? Unless I just hate cruising, and I fully expect that can't be true, I already have plans for my second cruise.

 

On board Credit is....Lets say your price drops 200 bucks. Carnival gives you 200 onboard credit. Meaning you have 200 dollars to spend as you wish on board.....shopping, booze, casino...whatever.

[firefly333]

I don't know exactly what we are talking about when talking about on board credit. I have a sail and sign against my credit card. That isn't on board credit? What is the certificate and what is its benifit.

Rather than beat you to peices with a ton of noob questions, maybe there is a thread or post that explains all this already? Unless I just hate cruising, and I fully expect that can't be true, I already have plans for my second cruise.

 

Instead of the charges going to your credit card, the onboard credit will be against any charges. For instance I had $200 OBC last cruise. We had $140 tips, so that was paid first. Then I spent $69.99 on booze to bring home (2 bottles each of Sheridans and Amarula... so then I owed $9.99 that would go against my credit card (and all subsequent purchases)

[C&THollings]

I just read my FCC, and it states that it could not be put towards your tips? So how did that work for you?

 

but to try and clear this up,

 

On board credit is usually "free" money given to you by Carnival to use on your cruise. You can obtain it by a price drop on your cruise, a booking incentive or purchase of the future cruise certificate. The future cruise certificates are bought on the ship for $100.00, and give you up to a $200.00 on board credit depending on the length of your cruise and occupancy. The original purchase price of $100.00 comes off the price of your cruise. So it is like doubling you money.

 

So, say your 7 day cruise is $600, with the certificate, you only will pay $500 for your cruise, and have up to $100.00 credit double occupancy, $50 for single on the ship to spend when you get on board the ship

[firefly333]

I just read my FCC, and it states that it could not be put towards your tips? So how did that work for you?

 

ALL OBC says it cant be used for gambling or tips ...but ALL spending goes toward OBC no matter what it says. I figure that is some legalize, but its one of the many things that says one thing and like I said tips for sure go against ANY OBC (no matter what kind it is, Iv never had a problem).

 

PS another way to get OBC is to own 100 shares of Carnival, thats where $100 of my OBC came from. I almost never see OBC from price drops out of Galveston... well so far never.

[MOHAVE]

On board Credit is....Lets say your price drops 200 bucks. Carnival gives you 200 onboard credit. Meaning you have 200 dollars to spend as you wish on board.....shopping, booze, casino...whatever.

Oh, OK. A 'credit' to my account. Got it. Thanks.

[MOHAVE]

I'm still a bit confused but right now I have to watch the blond lady on the Travel Channel talk about cruises.

I guess the 4 months I have left now is better than the 7 months I started with.

Anyway, the cruise I want to take in October of 2011 is the same cruise I'm taking this year but during the full moon. Should be an awesome sight.