beachchairs2 Posted February 20, 2013 #1 Share Posted February 20, 2013 we are getting a substantial amount of OBC's from our agent, does anyone know since these are NOT from Oceania, can they be credited to our credit card? or does Oceania insist it be spent on their inventory... celebrity and others credit to account.... only when the promos come from the line do thei insist it be used or lost... does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted February 20, 2013 #2 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Some will be cash back for the used OBC Best to ask your TA what type of OBC it is We got $5 back on one cruise ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondorner Posted February 21, 2013 #3 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Even though it appears to be coming from your TA, it's possible, even every likely, that the ultimate source is Oceania. The cruise line extends certain benefits to prolific TA's to dispense in a "pass through" manner; that is, the TA can pass the amounts through to the passenger but can't keep it for their own use. In this case, the OBC is of the "Use it or lose it" category, that is, it must be spent while on the cruise. Anything not spent can no9t be cashed out. The only time OBC can be cashed out is if some third party other than the cruise line (you, your TA, your Mom & Pop) pays it into your account as cash. You can ask your TA, or you can ask at Reception once on board -- they know the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachchairs2 Posted February 21, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted February 21, 2013 thank you.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted February 21, 2013 #5 Share Posted February 21, 2013 we are getting a substantial amount of OBC's from our agent, does anyone know since these are NOT from Oceania, can they be credited to our credit card? or does Oceania insist it be spent on their inventory... celebrity and others credit to account.... only when the promos come from the line do thei insist it be used or lost... does anyone know? On page 3 of 4 of your invoice from Oceania toward the middle of the page it shows the OBC.. the last column says refundable..if it says no you must spend on ship if it says yes, you can have it credited to your credit card.. Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryd444 Posted February 21, 2013 #6 Share Posted February 21, 2013 As a first time cruiser....we sail March 28th....it s becoming very apparent to me that I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to getting the best from my TA. We basically walked in one day, took home four thick brochures, one of which was Oceania. We went back four days later and paid for our Rivera cruise in full. No offer of OBC, free Internet, nothing. I am still waiting on our documents which she said would arrive 21 days before leaving...ok Does anyone have tips for us for next time? Or should I start calling and asking now to see what she can do for us? Or do I just chill and wait until we 'earn' goodies by booking more cruises? Any input appreciated especially re: OBC Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted February 21, 2013 #7 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Does anyone have tips for us for next time? Or should I start calling and asking now to see what she can do for us? Or do I just chill and wait until we 'earn' goodies by booking more cruises? Any input appreciated especially re: OBC Terry You can always ask your TA if they give any perks all they can do is say NO Then next time shop around ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leese Posted February 21, 2013 #8 Share Posted February 21, 2013 I'd call your TA now and ask what can be done for this cruise. Explain it just as you did here. What's the worst that happen... You hear "no". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrammieK Posted February 21, 2013 #9 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Terryd444 I am on your cruise (Caribbean Hideaways) 3/28. I will seek you out and share some valuable info regarding my experience re:OBC. We are not permitted to share or mention TA on CC, but we can chat on board. Kathie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachchairs2 Posted February 21, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted February 21, 2013 definitely talk to your agent....mention that you want to give her/him more business but that others are giving all sorts of amenities.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissing Seahorses Posted February 21, 2013 #11 Share Posted February 21, 2013 I think you tend to get the best perks (and service) from travel agencies that do a considerable amount of cruise bookings, some agencies deal nearly exclusively with cruise bookings. Do not necessarily go to the same people that do your business travel and expect that they have the same experience or access to travel consortiums that cruise only or leisure travel agencies do. I learned this the hard way booking my first 12 cruises through my business TA, when she retired, I began booking with a leisure agency and received more perks (OBC, grats,cocktail party) on that first cruise with them than I had received on the previous 12 cruises combined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryd444 Posted February 22, 2013 #12 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Thanks for the replies, these are all very helpful hints. I will do further research on my TA for sure, and I plan to call her tomorrow. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted February 22, 2013 #13 Share Posted February 22, 2013 As a first time cruiser....we sail March 28th....it s becoming very apparent to me that I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to getting the best from my TA. We basically walked in one day, took home four thick brochures, one of which was Oceania. We went back four days later and paid for our Rivera cruise in full. No offer of OBC, free Internet, nothing. I am still waiting on our documents which she said would arrive 21 days before leaving...ok Does anyone have tips for us for next time? Or should I start calling and asking now to see what she can do for us? Or do I just chill and wait until we 'earn' goodies by booking more cruises? Any input appreciated especially re: OBC Terry Question: Maybe I missed this but I was looking for it ... Where are you located? If you are in North America, there are lots of TAs who give gratuities, OBC, etc. But TAs in other parts of the world don't necessarily do so. I'm thinking particularly of Australia and the UK. But if you are in the U.S. or Canada, you should be able to find a TA who gives these benefits. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryd444 Posted February 22, 2013 #14 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Mura, I am in the USA...Virginia. Thanks GrammieK...Kathie...will look forward to seeing you on Carribbean Hdeaway! I can hardly wait! Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuck.qc Posted February 22, 2013 #15 Share Posted February 22, 2013 Thanks for the replies, these are all very helpful hints. I will do further research on my TA for sure, and I plan to call her tomorrow. Terry For our first 2 cruises we used a popular CDN agency and never had perks, just an few offers for upsells. I then heard about all the perks that others were getting in CAN & US & made a few calls to large online cruise agencies. The base price difference wasn't much but the perks were significant, OBC, PPGrats, Credits and they even paid our penalty for changing our booking over to them....It's worth the effort to shop around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryd444 Posted February 27, 2013 #16 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Just wanted to close the loop on this question. I never did call my TA....she called the next day and said our customized package was in....so I waited..... Today we went to pick it up, So I cornered her in person after she went over the info in the brochure.....I hinted that I was considering shopping around since I didn't see that we were getting any perks, and mentioned OBC...Internet...gratuities....asked if we booked another cruise what could we expect etc... Well hello! Next thing she says Is she has added a surprise for us in the way of OBC! Told me she would send me an email with the details. When the email came it is OBC AND PrePaid Gratuities! She must have reconsidered! Yes I am printing it out! Happy Dance!! Thanks again for all the advice.... Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallship Posted February 27, 2013 #17 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Congrats, Terry So glad she made it right for you We recently switched and really like our new TA It is nice to be taken care of well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachchairs2 Posted February 28, 2013 Author #18 Share Posted February 28, 2013 way to go.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap5211 Posted February 28, 2013 #19 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Terry. Glad to see she took care of you! My method is to shop around on the web and find an offer I want. Then I take it to my gal and tell her to match or better that offer. If she betters it, I book w/her; If not I book it on the internet and I make sure she knows she lost a booking. It works wonders! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 1, 2013 #20 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Just got off the Marina. Lost $115 in credits. In spite of how you received them, I can assure you that 90% of the time they will have an excuse that you cannot get a credit for them but they must be spent on board. I tried to used them for some tours, but the tours we wanted were full. I shopped in the shops, but the prices were so outrageous, I was unable to use the balance of the credit. I had been told via a note that we had a credit. I received 3 different answers: 1) $126.00, 2) $79 and a call at 9:30 p.m. the night before arrival in auckland that I needed to come down & spend $115. I told them I went to the desk and they said I had $79. We bought drinks and wine and from the info I had received, we had only $21. I figured that would be a loss, then the call when we were sound asleep because of an early wake-up. I don't recall having been so angry with them in a long time. Our suitcases had been put out and I would have had to get up and dress in our travel clothes. There were quite a few other incidents on this trip, and this was our 14th. Many of us were not happy campers. If you get credits--great, but don't be disappointed if around every corner you try to spend them and you run into a blank wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted March 1, 2013 #21 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Just got off the Marina. Lost $115 in credits. In spite of how you received them, I can assure you that 90% of the time they will have an excuse that you cannot get a credit for them but they must be spent on board. I tried to used them for some tours, but the tours we wanted were full. I shopped in the shops, but the prices were so outrageous, I was unable to use the balance of the credit. I had been told via a note that we had a credit. I received 3 different answers: 1) $126.00, 2) $79 and a call at 9:30 p.m. the night before arrival in auckland that I needed to come down & spend $115. I told them I went to the desk and they said I had $79. We bought drinks and wine and from the info I had received, we had only $21. I figured that would be a loss, then the call when we were sound asleep because of an early wake-up. I don't recall having been so angry with them in a long time. Our suitcases had been put out and I would have had to get up and dress in our travel clothes. There were quite a few other incidents on this trip, and this was our 14th. Many of us were not happy campers. If you get credits--great, but don't be disappointed if around every corner you try to spend them and you run into a blank wall. Spindrift, I'm sorry you had this experience but I have to say this doesn't match our experience. Normally we have some credits, no more than $500, but on our Oct 2011 cruise on Marina we had $1250. We still managed to use it up. This was pre-liquor package although I wouldn't buy one now anyway since for us it's a waste of money. But I do buy bottles of wine which I nurse through several dinners (my husband doesn't indulge). I buy an internet package. We did have a few ship's tours which worked for us -- one was cancelled but we replaced it with another. And we did buy some things in the shop. Yes, overpriced for what it was but we wanted to use up the credits so we bought! Sorry it didn't work out for you. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted March 2, 2013 #22 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Just got off the Marina. Lost $115 in credits. In spite of how you received them, I can assure you that 90% of the time they will have an excuse that you cannot get a credit for them but they must be spent on board. I tried to used them for some tours, but the tours we wanted were full. I shopped in the shops, but the prices were so outrageous, I was unable to use the balance of the credit. I had been told via a note that we had a credit. I received 3 different answers: 1) $126.00, 2) $79 and a call at 9:30 p.m. the night before arrival in auckland that I needed to come down & spend $115. I told them I went to the desk and they said I had $79. We bought drinks and wine and from the info I had received, we had only $21. I figured that would be a loss, then the call when we were sound asleep because of an early wake-up. I don't recall having been so angry with them in a long time. Our suitcases had been put out and I would have had to get up and dress in our travel clothes. There were quite a few other incidents on this trip, and this was our 14th. Many of us were not happy campers. If you get credits--great, but don't be disappointed if around every corner you try to spend them and you run into a blank wall. Spindrift, check with O what happened to you doesnt sound right to me.. Jancruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sable1 Posted March 2, 2013 #23 Share Posted March 2, 2013 Possibly asked before, but, can OBC from Oceania be used in the Casino? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindrift Posted March 2, 2013 #24 Share Posted March 2, 2013 jancruz, I agree 100%. I told the reception gal what figures I had been given before, and her response was she didn't know how they came up with them. Had I know before bed that I had the $115, then I could have done something about it, but for only $21 I had calculated as a balance from the $79 told to me that afternoon, it was not worth it. I asked if they could transfer it to my booking for the Baltic this summer, but was told I could not. Oh well, I should just appreciate the amount of credits that I did have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoHoHo Posted April 7, 2013 #25 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Possibly asked before, but, can OBC from Oceania be used in the Casino?Thanks Good question but, there are three types of OBC I know of. Refundable, such as if someone credits your account with money; non-refundable like most credits such as a 'gift' from your TA (maybe under the covers from O) such as 'free/prepaid' gratuities; and the Ocean Club level OBC. The new invoice layout is much more clear with its breakdown and lists the various credits and has a column to denote if each is refundable or a 'use it of lose it' type. Unfortunately the O Club level OBC does not has such a comment column I anticipate that refundable OBC can be used in the casino ( in effect withdraw as cash less the 5% fee an then use that as a cash deposit in the casino.) I am wondering if more specifically a non-refundable OBC can be used in the casino and also if the Ocean Club level OBC can be used a casino cash. Next sailing is on an R ship so no Culinary Classes. Drinks & excursion packages booked & paid for and gratuities done. Other than a trinket in one of the shops I thought a spin at a card table would be good entertainment for the money (OBC) if I can use it. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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