Military OBC Program now reinstated for US, CA & UK

[MCC retired]

Just announced officially by Cunard

 

 

6 days or less$507–13 days$10014 days or longer$250

 

 

This offer is available to active, retired and disabled military veterans with proper identification in the following service divisions: United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves, Canadian National Defense and the British Army, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force or Reserves residing in the U.S. or Canada.

 

• This offer is good for the qualified military person only, and does not apply to third/fourth berth passengers.

• This offer is combinable with other On Board Credit offers.

• This offer is non-transferable.

• This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities.

• This offer is combinable with most cruise fares. Some restrictions apply.

• Applications to receive this benefit must be made no later than 14 days prior to the cruise departure date.

• For any questions regarding this offer contact 1-800-728-6273

[old nutter]

This offer is available to active, retired and disabled military veterans with proper identification in the following service divisions: United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves, Canadian National Defense and the British Army, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force or Reserves residing in the U.S. or Canada.

 

 

Unless you book from the UK on a Getaway fare.....

 

Unless that has been changed as well.

[MCC retired]

Oh yes , there may always be an exception :

 

• This offer is combinable with most cruise fares. Some restrictions apply.

Just glad that it has been reinstated for US & CA .

 

 

 

[Underwatr]

You have to read the complete terms, but this appears to be the same as the previous program (which is essentuially the same as Princess's)

Veterans with an honourable discharge and a length of service that meets certain minimums also are eligible to apply.

Assuming it's the same as before, the minimum service for veterans is something like 2 years active duty or 6 months in a war zone, either with an honorable discharge.

[MCC retired]

Yes , requirements are exactly as the previous program .

[Underwatr]

Link to Press release:

http://www.cunard.com/media-centre/news-room/press-releases/cunard-line-gives-credits-where-credit-is-due/

 

8 May 2013 - Cunard Line is pleased to announce a new benefit for those who serve in the armed forces in North America. The new programme grants On Board Credits of up to $250 per person to members of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves, and the Canadian National Defense. Military personnel who are active, retired or disabled veterans are eligible with proper documentation.

 

The credits appy to all published voyages aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth and are combinable with other On Board Credit offers. The amount of each credit varies with cruise length: $50 per person for a cruise of six days or less; $100 per person for cruises of seven to 14 days; or $250 per person for those 14 days or longer.

 

Under the terms of the programme, retired status applies to enlisted personnel or officers with a minimum of 20 years of service, medical retirees and the 100 percent disabled. Veterans with an honourable discharge and a length of service that meets certain minimums also are eligible to apply. Military status must be confirmed prior to embarking on the voyage to be eligible for credits.

 

Cunard has a distinguished history with the military. During World War II, the Queen Mary served as a British Royal Mail Ship, along with the original Queen Elizabeth, as a troopship. In addition, Winston Churchilll credited Cunard with ending the war one year early because of the troop transfer services that both ships provided.

 

Click here to learn more about the Military Personnal Cruise Benefit Programme.

[AWillie]

Thanks, yes it it is alive and working. I got the OBCs on our three up coming cruses.

[Salacia]

We remember.

Thank you.

[MadScientist_01]

For any British ex-military who do not have their documents (couldn't find mine anywhere) you just need to go to Veterans UK Service Records and there is a link to a form that you can download and fill in - very simple to do and a reply with service details in a few days. Also need to supply a photocopy of picture ID (driving licence, passport).

[old nutter]

Oddly, that press release is not available on the UK site in any press releases even though it applies to UK military as well I get a missing page when I try to see it on the .co.uk site. I am still confused about the eligibility and Cunard seem to want to rely on obfuscation to avoid us knowing what they are doing.

 

I did see something about the terms of the scheme in the UK using a set of booking codes for eligibility that are not published on any bookings available to the public. You can ask for the benefit, but even if you meet all of the service eligibility criteria, if you booked on one of these invisible booking exclusion codes you do not get it. Looks like another case of the strange booking rules that seem to apply on this side of the pond that Cunard choose to hide from us.

[pmb1]

These posts are from the earlier Military OBC Reinstated thread.

Many thanks, Cruise NH. My email to militarybenefit@cunard.com with attached DD 214 and booking confirmation is on its way. [Posted April 29]

Cruise NH, could you please point me to Cunard'sFacebook post on this? It might help me determine my eligibility. I'm a veteran but not a military retiree. I qualified under the old US program so I'd like to see if they've reinstated the same qualifications.

I'm not a retiree either, but Cunard told me when I phoned that serving more than two years qualifies. I never knew about the former program; this is the first time I've applied. It may take two weeks to process my email, I was told. I'll post the outcome as soon as I know it.

Just received an email updated booking confirmation from Cunard showing an additional $250 OBC. Thanks again, Cruise NH, for telling us about this Military Benefit. [Posted May 7]

[Underwatr]

For any British ex-military who do not have their documents (couldn't find mine anywhere) you just need to go to Veterans UK Service Records and there is a link to a form that you can download and fill in - very simple to do and a reply with service details in a few days. Also need to supply a photocopy of picture ID (driving licence, passport).

Similar process for US veterans, start here:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

[traveldayz]

Also applies to Australian Defence Force Personnel. Unfortunately I didn't know this when we sailed Cunard recently, (not widely advertised!) but after hearing whispers from someone have recently applied and received it for our upcoming Carnival cruise, which is the same company.

[electra2008]

For any British ex-military who do not have their documents (couldn't find mine anywhere) you just need to go to Veterans UK Service Records and there is a link to a form that you can download and fill in - very simple to do and a reply with service details in a few days. Also need to supply a photocopy of picture ID (driving licence, passport).

How many years service is needed is it a minimum of 20 years or does any count?

[pmb1]

How many years service is needed is it a minimum of 20 years or does any count?

Cunard told me more than two years. I received the OBC for my three years, eight months service during the Cold War.

[electra2008]

Cunard told me more than two years. I received the OBC for my three years, eight months service during the Cold War.

Great Thanks what if both of you qualify:) just kidding i am sure only one of us would get it

[MCC retired]

Or 6 months in a combat zone .

[traveldayz]

Yes if you both qualify you can both claim. My husband and I both got OBC for upcoming cruise (Australia). I don't know if the fact we had 2 cabins as we took the kids made any difference.

[old nutter]

The qualification criteria now seem pretty clear. However, does anyone know all of the conditions on booking that stop you getting it even if qualified by service. I know that in the UK, Getaway bookings are excluded no matter how long you have served, but are there any other booking conditions that stop you getting it such as booking through a TA or via a web sales site or maybe if you get a promotion fare elsewhere? It certainly seems that unless you pay full fare the OBC probably will probably not be allowed, but I have no idea how you find out other than booking and then asking for it. Does anyone else know what happens both UK and worldwide with the Military Benefit on different fair classes?

 

It seems that in the UK at least, Cunard (and I gather P&O) are happy to tell you the few minor extras you get when booking the full fares (eg free parking at Southampton etc), but finding out the full list of what you do not get when booking anything else is like pulling teeth. I am not criticising the restrictions at all because to be fair I would expect to get less round the edges for a late low price booking, even the nit-picking shuttle charge addition later this year that has recently surfaced. However, the wilful deception and hiding of reduced services or additional charges behind invisible booking codes before and after booking used in this form of selling is most certainly not fair customer practice and may even be illegal under EU consumer law as well. The non-allowance of Military Benefit by hidden fare code is just one example of the practice. How many others are there in the invisible print?

[Underwatr]

I'm a US passenger; I've never booked at full fare and I've received the military OBC whenever it was available. I've booked mostly in conjunction with various Cunard fare sales, such as you receive in email or a postcard.

 

Not strictly Cunard but I've also booked Princess on a very low fare about 6 weeks out and received the Military OBC per their plan (essentially the same terms as Cunard's).

[Mark@cfcmail.co.uk]

I don't believe this, I've been on six Cunard voyages and didn't know about this :o( . Does anyone know if P&O do it as well, after all they are all CCL Companies?

[bh99mh]

Yes if you both qualify you can both claim. My husband and I both got OBC for upcoming cruise (Australia). I don't know if the fact we had 2 cabins as we took the kids made any difference.

 

You can only get one allowance of 'Military On Board Credit' per cabin even if you both qualify. traveldayz probably got it because they had 2 cabins booked.

 

Military Onboard Credit Amount Per Cabin

 

• Cruise Length - Amount
  

 

• 6 Days or Less, $50 per cabin
  

 

• 7 - 13 Days, $100 per cabin
  

 

• 14 Days or Longer, $250 per cabin
  

[transatlantic fan]

I assume you dont get it if booking a Getaway.

[Sunray050]

I served in both the British regular and territorial army for 31 years in all.

 

Submitted my application for OBC via e-mail nearly 4 weeks ago, with a follow up request for status of application 4 days ago and have heard nothing.

 

Does any previous successful claimant have any advice as to how to proceed next? We are EB TA next May on QM2 so no immediate rush, just if they are making the gesture then failing to take it up may be an excuse to withdraw it all together.

[Underwatr]

You should be making your request through the same channel -- either directly with Cunard or via a your travel agent -- through which you have booked the cruise.

 

On other words, you should be making the Military OBC request directly to Cunard only if you've booked the cruise directly with Cunard.