A Tale of Two Booking Choices: What would you do?

[ams cruiser]

I'm pretty sure it isn't possible to get OBC on your credit card. IF the OBC is refundable (most types are not), the refund would be in the form of a check 4-6 weeks after the cruise. Be sure to open all the junk mail, the envelope does not come from Princess.

 

If you should happen to end up with non-refundable OBC, you can spend it on excursions, specialty dining, etc. or go to the casino and open an account, play as long as your nerves can stand it, then cash out.

I'm sure I won't have any difficulty spending OBC. I did see a couple of posts on Trip Advisor where people said that their Big Box TA's OBC was refunded at the end of the cruise. This was also confirmed by the 90-year old cruiser I met this week. Maybe I should contact Princess to find out before booking with Option A (or B!)

 

Thanks for the heads-up on both counts. I have a bad habit of tossing everything that looks like junk mail, before opening it.

[ams cruiser]

The 99 cent one is probably the same one I'm talking about. You have to buy 5 credits minimum, but even if you only use it on one cruise, spending $5 to save hundreds is a pretty good deal.

 

I found my cruise and bookmarked that page, then I check it every day or so. If you go to "Stats" on the top then you can go to the Past Prices tab to find the history. Hover over the price of your cabin choice to see a list of prices, click it to see a nice graph.

 

If that's not the same site (like, my instructions don't make sense), send me a PM.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out as soon as I book my cruise. (Easier said than done, but hope to make a decision soon...)

[Krozulo]

No PM ability on Cruise Critic.

Be careful not to mention the tracking site. Even hints are against the rules.

 

Noted, thanks for the heads up.

[anthonyy7]

Big box always picks up the phone right away or you can online chat with them. They can quickly get a Princess rep online as well. Price drop, just contact them and they will immediately contact Princess to verify. Most all sailings have OBC which is a percentage of the total fare. As far as refunded OBC, you should verify that with the club. It could be refunded on a cashcard or something. Also with your club membership you can get discount through travel guard on insurance. Yes you'll lose the current promo if you adjust your fare however you need to make sure the price drop is big enough to lose what you have. If you plan on taking $300 instead of the AIBP then you need to make sure the prices drop more than that or a combination of the price drop and value of new promo

Edited July 6, 2016 by anthonyy7

[Coral]

Just realize if you book under a promo such as "sip and sail" and the price goes down, you may lose your promo.

 

Yes - I would prefer to pay the lower up front cost. I don't spend a lot of money onboard.

[ams cruiser]

Big box always picks up the phone right away or you can online chat with them. They can quickly get a Princess rep online as well. Price drop, just contact them and they will immediately contact Princess to verify. Most all sailings have OBC which is a percentage of the total fare. As far as refunded OBC, you should verify that with the club. It could be refunded on a cashcard or something. Also with your club membership you can get discount through travel guard on insurance. Yes you'll lose the current promo if you adjust your fare however you need to make sure the price drop is big enough to lose what you have. If you plan on taking $300 instead of the AIBP then you need to make sure the prices drop more than that or a combination of the price drop and value of new promo

Great summary of important things to consider. Thanks!

[ams cruiser]

Just realize if you book under a promo such as "sip and sail" and the price goes down, you may lose your promo.

 

Yes - I would prefer to pay the lower up front cost. I don't spend a lot of money onboard.

Yes, if we get the OBC instead of Sip and Sail, it would be $300. If we also go with Big Box, it would be another $405. Not sure would we would spend it on besides gratuities, a specialty dining meal, and drinks for my DH. I think we're going to look into booking our own excursions. I'll call Big Box and Princess and try to find out the definitive word on whether or not the Big Box OBC is refundable. (My 90 year old/100 cruises new cruising acquaintance swears it is!):)

Edited July 6, 2016 by ams cruiser

[e050377]

Please post what they say. I have no doubt we will use all of ours, but now I'm curious!

[ams cruiser]

Please post what they say. I have no doubt we will use all of ours, but now I'm curious!

I just spoke with Big Box. The OBC is absolutely refundable, because "it isn't Princess's money, it's the travel agency's, so they have to give it back!"

[ams cruiser]

First, I want to thank everyone one this thread for posting their much-valued perspectives and advice.

 

There was another wrinkle that ended up helping me out. When I first called Princess directly, the rep gave me the published cabin price and asked if I wanted to book. I thanked her but told her I wanted to shop around and think about it.

 

The next day, I received a voice mail and an email from a very nice Princess rep (not the same person I had spoken with.) I emailed him back and let him know that I was still shopping around, but asked for a quote in writing. He got back to me right away, saying there were new promotions starting that day. Later that day, he sent me a quote showing a price drop of $540 (for the two of us) for a B2 cabin.

 

I then went to check my Option B - Big Volume Cruise internet agency with a brick and mortar store. Their online price did not reflect any price drop as it is still less than Princess's price.

 

So I called a spoke with a very charming and knowledgeable TA for Big Box and told her about my lower Princess quote. She put in my information into the system, and voila! I was able to get the dropped price, with the same OBC credit offered with the higher price. ($355 from Big Box, and $50 from Princess). In addition, the $355 is completely refundable if not spent on the trip.

 

So by waiting a few days, reading Cruise Critic round the clock, and by the luck of good timing (!), I was able to book our cabin for about $100 (compared to $210 a few days ago) more than Big Volume Cruise Agency.

 

This made the decision easier for me as Big Box is more of a known quantity. The two TA's I've spoken with have been both knowledgeable and enthusiastic. (They do not work on commission.)

 

In the event there is a price drop, the TA told me to given them a call, and they would put pencil to paper to figure out if it would represent a better deal, all other things such as Sip and Sail and OBC considered.

 

So, again, thanks to all who helped out on the first step of my voyage! I am so excited and now have a lot of other questions about the all-inclusive beverage package vs OBC, dining room requests, but that is for another thread.:)

Edited July 7, 2016 by ams cruiser

[lladage]

No PM ability on Cruise Critic.

Be careful not to mention the tracking site. Even hints are against the rules.

 

While CC does not have PM options, many regulars add their email address as a link in their signature profile. Just don't ask for recommendations.

 

Lynn

[Krozulo]

So by waiting a few days, reading Cruise Critic round the clock, and by the luck of good timing (!), I was able to book our cabin for about $100 (compared to $210 a few days ago) more than Big Volume Cruise Agency.

 

This made the decision easier for me as Big Box is more of a known quantity. The two TA's I've spoken with have been both knowledgeable and enthusiastic. (They do not work on commission.)

 

In the event there is a price drop, the TA told me to given them a call, and they would put pencil to paper to figure out if it would represent a better deal, all other things such as Sip and Sail and OBC considered.

 

Congratulations! I hope to book my first cruise this month. And by "I", I mean my DW gets to make the phone call to Big Box TA.

 

Now you just have to keep tabs on the price to look for price drops.

[ams cruiser]

While CC does not have PM options, many regulars add their email address as a link in their signature profile. Just don't ask for recommendations.

 

Lynn

Got it, thank you!

[ams cruiser]

While CC does not have PM options, many regulars add their email address as a link in their signature profile. Just don't ask for recommendations.

 

Lynn

 

Congratulations! I hope to book my first cruise this month. And by "I", I mean my DW gets to make the phone call to Big Box TA.

 

Now you just have to keep tabs on the price to look for price drops.

 

In making our travel arrangements, "we" always means "me. :)