OBC Question

[Nigella]

We're joining Sojourn for a 7 night cruise this Saturday and I have a question about OBC.

 

Does OBC only stay on one's account for one cruise and any leftover deleted at the end of the cruise, or does it sit there indefinitely, 'banked' in the account until it's all been used up?

We usually have a high onboard spend on wine, but this is a shorter cruise than we usually take, plus we're driving to the port for this one and taking some our our own. So I doubt we'll use the full amount of the OBC this time, but we're booked on a longer cruise later this year and we would definitely use it up on that cruise.

If we only get one shot at using up the OBC I'll book some SB tours for this upcoming cruise to spend it, but would prefer to save it if possible.

[markham]

My understanding is that you use it or lose it. So book those tours!

 

Happy sailing!

[Capri73]

Yes you will definitely loss it.

[Chairsin]

Or book a spa service, use the Internet, have some laundry done or if all else fails buy out the shop

[Roxburgh]

Or buy a premium bottle of wine on the last evening. :cool:

[Nigella]

I'm glad that I asked the question as for some reason I'd assumed the OBC was there until we used it all, however many cruises it took to do so.

Thank you everyone for your replies.

[notjaded]

We usually have a high onboard spend on wine, but this is a shorter cruise than we usually take, plus we're driving to the port for this one and taking some our our own.

 

A bit OT, but does Seabourn have limits on how much wine one can bring aboard, when one can bring it aboard, and if there is corkage applied? Thanks.

[Chairsin]

No corkage fee and I have never heard of a limit, The only issue with your own wine is whether you can sweet talk the Sommelier into providing the special large glasses. I always ask politely and have never been refused but I understand they are not obligated to let you drink your own wine from those glasses. Perhaps it depends on the wine -- we have often done this when we overnighted in Bordeaux and picked up a few very nice bottles.

[ab21au]

A bit off topic, but the included wines on the Quest at the moment are much better then the wines offered on our last Odyssey cruise. It has been very easy to find nice red and white wines. Others on board have commented the same.

[tv24]

Shhhhhh! Here is a helpful hint on the down-low: Use your excess OBC to buy casino chips. Kinda-sorta use them, and then cash in the excess for cash. You're not supposed to do this, but we did.

[Roxburgh]

A bit off topic, but the included wines on the Quest at the moment are much better then the wines offered on our last Odyssey cruise. It has been very easy to find nice red and white wines. Others on board have commented the same.

 

Good news :)

[Nigella]

A bit off topic, but the included wines on the Quest at the moment are much better then the wines offered on our last Odyssey cruise. It has been very easy to find nice red and white wines. Others on board have commented the same.

 

Oh, that's good news. Pleased to read this.

I may do a "Live From" on the upcoming cruise, although it's ports every day so perhaps I won't, but I'll definitely post a few comments on food and the included wine selection.

Edited September 7, 2015 by Nigella

[Capri73]

Shhhhhh! Here is a helpful hint on the down-low: Use your excess OBC to buy casino chips. Kinda-sorta use them, and then cash in the excess for cash. You're not supposed to do this, but we did.

They will not let you do that anymore also will not let you use the remaining money to donate to the crew fund.We have done both in the past but this past May we could do neither.

[wripro]

I agree. Cashing in chips bought with OBC is longer permitted.

[conchyjoe]

I am really disappointed that surplus OBC cannot now be donated to the Crew Fund as cash, but there is a roundabout solution which can still be helpful for the crew. Use the OBC to purchase items from the gift shop and then donate those items to the Crew Fund. They can be used for prizes for games, auctions etc.

A bit of a PITA for the administrator of the Crew Fund, but it is currently "Seabourn Legal".

[Emperor Norton]

Maybe I'm misremembering but don't they have two kinds of OBC - redeemable and non redeemable?

[wripro]

They do. Any OBC provided by SB itself is nonredeemable. AnyOBC paid for by one's TA or anyone else is redeemable.

[Nigella]

They do. Any OBC provided by SB itself is nonredeemable. AnyOBC paid for by one's TA or anyone else is redeemable.

 

 

Useful to know. Thanks for this, wripro.

[sfvoyage]

AnyOBC paid for by one's TA or anyone else is redeemable.

 

The operative words here are "paid for by one's TA." Once, a few years ago, my TA "offered" me an OBC that turned out to be non-redeemable, because this OBC had originated from SB through some sort of consortium rebate or agreement. Always double check!

[dalliowner]

I prefer the price reduction that my TA gives me to an OBCthat some others offer:D