How to get high OBCs

[elapel01]

Does anyone know how someone can get an OBC of $650 with Celebrity? I know they booked their cruise on an earlier cruise (future cruise booking). I don't think it's a case of getting more because of a suite because on Website they show $300 OBC for CC, AQ & suites (which I thought you would get more for higher level of cabin).

The only other thing I know is that they have had booked 2 cabins for this cruise and 3 cabins for last year's cruise. They are fairly new to Celebrity (4 cruises) but have cruised alot with Royal Caribbean years ago.

Just wondering if I am missing out on better OBCs by not knowing some tricks:)

We booked Cat 1B for a Caribbean cruise next Feb 2016 while on Med cruise in October (future cruise). We got drink pkg and $150 OBC.

Thanks.

[Andy]

Does anyone know how someone can get an OBC of $650 with Celebrity? I know they booked their cruise on an earlier cruise (future cruise booking). I don't think it's a case of getting more because of a suite because on Website they show $300 OBC for CC, AQ & suites (which I thought you would get more for higher level of cabin).

The only other thing I know is that they have had booked 2 cabins for this cruise and 3 cabins for last year's cruise. They are fairly new to Celebrity (4 cruises) but have cruised alot with Royal Caribbean years ago.

Just wondering if I am missing out on better OBCs by not knowing some tricks:)

We booked Cat 1B for a Caribbean cruise next Feb 2016 while on Med cruise in October (future cruise). We got drink pkg and $150 OBC.

Thanks.

 

Hi Elape,

 

If they booked a Suite, and booked it onboard, it's possible to receive an OBC around that amount. Currently, you would receive an OBC for booking onboard - which would likely be a higher amount for booking a Suite, plus 3 additional perks for booking a Suite, during the current promo - one of which would be an additional OBC.

 

When you have the chance, it's always best to book your future cruise onboard. You might even obtain more perks or OBC, if you move the booking to a TA, but you only have (I believe) it's 60 days from the time of the initial booking. If I'm wrong about the amount of days, hopefully, someone will correct me.

 

I hope this is helpful !

[Andy]

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[need2bespoiled]

$300 for 123 plus up to $450 for onboard booking and you can get $750 from Celebrity. I think maybe more for sailings over 16 days in a suite.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[Project_gal]

$300 for 123 plus up to $450 for onboard booking and you can get $750 from Celebrity. I think maybe more for sailings over 16 days in a suite.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Yes, it is $500 for the current cruise for booking a new cruise of 16 days or over in a suite.

[need2bespoiled]

Yes Andy, you have 60 days to transfer a cruise to a travel agent.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[Andy]

Yes Andy, you have 60 days to transfer a cruise to a travel agent.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

 

Thanks for confirming Jenna. I thought it was 60 days, but wasn't entirely certain. I had planned to ask the Future cruise folks on Eclipse a few weeks ago - just to make sure that nothing had changed... but didn't have a chance to ask.

[tangerinebunny]

We got a $650 OBC plus the 1-2-3 Go package when we booked a Celebrity suite on the Summit while on board the Silhouette last month.

 

So yes, it can be done.

[Lois R]

We got a $650 OBC plus the 1-2-3 Go package when we booked a Celebrity suite on the Summit while on board the Silhouette last month.

 

So yes, it can be done.

 

You are correct:)....I was on Reflection in November and booked an

Alaskan cruise for May on Solstice....I booked a CC class cabin and

received 550.00 obc, along with Celebrity paying my gratuities AND

receiving drink package too:)....that OBC will be paying for a couple

of good excursions for me;):D

[miched]

My TA gives me OBC for the gratuities instead of including them as a perk like some TAs do. That plus the new all in promo gives me the gratuities already paid up, drinks, plus additional OBC. Then booking on board or using a future cruise certificate gives me more. My next cruise will have over $900 OBC plus the gratuities already covered, along with the drink pack. Many also use the credit card promo to gain some extra.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[Ex-Airbalancer]

The more you pay for the cabin , the more you will get in OBC

For an inside cabin after final payment to not expect much obc

[blueboro]

We have a 10-day Med cruise booked in October on Reflection in the lowest category of non-obstructed balcony and we got a $700 per cabin OBC along with the beverage package. Plus, the rate was not much more than we are paying for the same category class on our upcoming 10-day Caribbean on Equinox so VERY good rate. We reserved about 15 months in advance so not sure if that had something to do with it.

[CathyCruises]

One thing not mentioned yet is the shareholder credit. If you own at least 100 shares of RCCL stock, you can get a shipboard credit up to $250 depending on the length of the cruise. The downside is that it is often not combinable with other offers, but in the case Air Balancer mentioned above of booking an inside cabin, that can be a significant benefit.

 

The stock is kind of high right now; many of us bought years ago and have been enjoying the benefits that have more than paid for the initial purchase.

[Duanerice1]

Just to add on, I booked on board and received $600 OBC for a CC cabin - 10 day cruise. If I send to travel agent I'll get another $350.

[elapel01]

We have a 10-day Med cruise booked in October on Reflection in the lowest category of non-obstructed balcony and we got a $700 per cabin OBC along with the beverage package. Plus, the rate was not much more than we are paying for the same category class on our upcoming 10-day Caribbean on Equinox so VERY good rate. We reserved about 15 months in advance so not sure if that had something to do with it.

 

Blueboro, that is interesting how same length of cruise was given different OBC. I definitely am going to call Celebrity though I don't expect more OBC. Just want to hear what they say. Thanks.

[81Zoomie]

We have a 10-day Med cruise booked in October on Reflection in the lowest category of non-obstructed balcony and we got a $700 per cabin OBC along with the beverage package. Plus, the rate was not much more than we are paying for the same category class on our upcoming 10-day Caribbean on Equinox so VERY good rate. We reserved about 15 months in advance so not sure if that had something to do with it.

 

Did your OBC all come from Celebrity?

[bobsfamily]

I doubt it was what you were asking about but some cruisers have significant "OBC" from the casino...

 

I was able to secure an additional $125 on an upcoming cruise booked thru Celebrity by explaining that Costco was offering it above and beyond the 123 promo. They put me on hold for a bit and then voila it was added! Not always do you need to transfer a booking to a TA to gain the credit.

[elapel01]

Yes, all my OBC is just from Celebrity at time of booking. I guess we were on a cruise a month too early. I booked Oct 3/14 while on Med cruise (Equinox). My future cruise ad shows just $150 OBC for 7 night Balcony plus the pick of 3 perks. I choose drink pkg.

We might have gotten an OBC for Med cruise, I forget and am away from home right now to look at that up.

The 123 go offer where if you book CC or higher wasn't out yet but when my friend booked it wasn't out then as well.

It just sounds like some future cruise reps are handing out alot more plus my travel agent hasn't given us any OBC for handing over cruise. I have emailed her, no reply yet. Might need another rep!

I will have to call Celebrity as well. I had looked at upgrading to CC to get more OBC but Celebrity had definitely increased the cost of CC right after new offer came out so I didn't see the reason to pay $400 more to get another $150 OBC.

Thanks for all the help.

[Duanerice1]

Yea not much you can do now. The TA should give you at least another $200. If not use a new one in the future.

 

And keep checking, the price might be get close enough to make going CC worth your while or it may go the other way :)

[huskerc]

There is a travel agency attached to a well-known "big-box" retailer that gives ~8% of your cruise fare as OBC.

 

So for our May cruise, we have

 

1-2-3 "all-in" OBC of $300

On-board booking bonus of $250 (taken on the future cruise)

TA OBC of $260

 

For a total of $810 OBC, or almost 1/4 of our total fare.

[elapel01]

Yea not much you can do now. The TA should give you at least another $200. If not use a new one in the future.

 

And keep checking, the price might be get close enough to make going CC worth your while or it may go the other way :)

 

Thanks, if I don't get anything from TA I will switch.

[elapel01]

There is a travel agency attached to a well-known "big-box" retailer that gives ~8% of your cruise fare as OBC.

 

So for our May cruise, we have

 

1-2-3 "all-in" OBC of $300

On-board booking bonus of $250 (taken on the future cruise)

TA OBC of $260

 

For a total of $810 OBC, or almost 1/4 of our total fare.

 

Thanks Huskerc, i know who you mean. I'm Canadian, not sure if our "big-box" does travel but will check it out for sure.

[MarkusToe]

My TA gives me OBC for the gratuities instead of including them as a perk like some TAs do. That plus the new all in promo gives me the gratuities already paid up, drinks, plus additional OBC. Then booking on board or using a future cruise certificate gives me more. My next cruise will have over $900 OBC plus the gratuities already covered, along with the drink pack. Many also use the credit card promo to gain some extra.

 

one question: is a future cruise certificate combinable with the on board booking bonus?

 

p.e. I have a open passage, combinable with other offers

give :

p.e.100OBC + on board booking of 300 in CC + x OBC beause booked on board+ x OBC from TA afterwards....

Will this example work?

[blueboro]

Blueboro, that is interesting how same length of cruise was given different OBC. I definitely am going to call Celebrity though I don't expect more OBC. Just want to hear what they say. Thanks.

 

I am sure some of the OBC came from X and some from the travel agent. Not sure how much from each but think it was $400 from TA and $300 from X. And the fare for the 10-day Med balcony (non obstructed) was about $1,950 per person. Also got the classic beverage package.

[TeeRick]

We booked Celebrity Infinity 15 night Panama Canal in a Celebrity Suite while onboard Royal Caribbean Freedom OTS in November. We got a total of $750 OBC plus the entire 123 package.:)