OBC

[tigger54]

Just a quick question. I am getting $250.00 shareholder obc and $100.00 for teacher obc. Is any of this refundable or is it non-refundable. If it is refundable and I don’t spend it all, can I get the remaining obc refunded before I get off the ship or will they send me a check. Not sure if I would be able to cash any out at the casino. 
Thank you

[kazu]

The shareholder OBC is non refundable so use ir or lose it.

 

I’m not sure on the teacher OBC since I don’t get it but anything given by HAL is normally non refundable.

[Red Haired Lady]

51 minutes ago, tigger54 said:

Just a quick question. I am getting $250.00 shareholder obc and $100.00 for teacher obc. Is any of this refundable or is it non-refundable. If it is refundable and I don’t spend it all, can I get the remaining obc refunded before I get off the ship or will they send me a check. Not sure if I would be able to cash any out at the casino. 
Thank you

Your gratuities will use up a lot of this.

[auntmeg]

Teacher OBC is non-refundable.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers/teacher-appreciation-offer

 

"Terms & Conditions

Onboard Credit offer is based on Promo(s) ZH*. Limit: One (1) onboard spending money credit (“Offer”) per stateroom. Offer is only available for verified teachers, educators, faculty members, or staff ("Educator") at an educational institution in the United States of America. Verification is required to determine eligibility. Offer is valued at US$100 per stateroom. Offer is available only for new bookings. Offer is in USD and is non-refundable, non-transferable, and has no cash value. Eligible voyages include select 2023 and 2024 cruises.  The offer expires at the end of the Eligible Cruise and may not be used in the casino or on gratuities or any other specified fees or items. The Offer and/or its terms may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Other restrictions and exclusions may apply."

Edited February 3 by auntmeg

[POA1]

Unless you have purchased OBC, it's pretty much always non-refundable. None of the community offers are refundable, nor is the shareholder OBC.

[Haljo1935]

As for any unused refundable OBC, yes you can cash it out at Guest Services before you get off the ship or you can have it refunded to your CC.

[Bgwest]

New here. Two questions on this subject. 

1- Is there somewhere I can go to see a listing of all OBC categories offered by HAL?

 

2 - Are OBCs stackable? 

[kazu]

22 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

New here. Two questions on this subject. 

1- Is there somewhere I can go to see a listing of all OBC categories offered by HAL?

 

I don’t think there is.  

 

OBC’s are available for some early bookings for Mariners,  special offers on sailings by HAL, for holding 100 shares of CCL stock, AARP membership, teacher/veterans off the top of my head.  All OBC given by HAL is non refundable (use it or lose it).

 

Some TA’s also give OBC - their OBC (unless a ‘special deal’) are usually completely refundable

 

 

22 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

 

2 - Are OBCs stackable? 

 

Yes, most of them are.  I’m not sure on the stacking an AARP and teacher/veteran together - I think you can only use one but if you are a couple the person who is not the teacher/veteran can have the AARP OBC, I believe.

[tigger54]

I didn’t know that Holland gave obc if I had AARP. I am sailing 2-11-24 (a week away). Is it too late for me to join AARP and get the obc? If so, how do I get it after joining AARP?

[Haljo1935]

19 minutes ago, tigger54 said:

I didn’t know that Holland gave obc if I had AARP. I am sailing 2-11-24 (a week away). Is it too late for me to join AARP and get the obc? If so, how do I get it after joining AARP?

Try this link: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers/aarp-member-benefit-offer#

According to the details AARP OBC is stackable w/all OBC except what you get when booking through AARP (which I have never done). I have not had issues getting the OBC added last minute. You should submit today and call them Monday. Technically it's for new bookings, so you may get denied for that reason; although, some report getting it added to current bookings.

Safe travels- enjoy your cruise!

[Bgwest]

Very useful information. 
Thank you!

[crystalspin]

1 hour ago, tigger54 said:

I didn’t know that Holland gave obc if I had AARP. I am sailing 2-11-24 (a week away). Is it too late for me to join AARP and get the obc? If so, how do I get it after joining AARP?

I think you are too late! It takes a couple-three days for the Sheer app to verify your membership... but follow the link that HalJo gave you and good luck!

[crystalspin]

4 hours ago, Bgwest said:

1- Is there somewhere I can go to see a listing of all OBC categories offered by HAL?

2 - Are OBCs stackable? 

The community, non-promo, categories are given here: 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers

 

I think that one of the 'occupation' is all you can have (if you are a veteran/teacher/first-responder you get one), but stockholders' benefit, AARP, and one of the occupations have been reported as stackable!

 

Some very low fares bounce with none-of-the-above allowed, I believe.

[DCThunder]

7 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

I think you are too late! It takes a couple-three days for the Sheer app to verify your membership... but follow the link that HalJo gave you and good luck!

It is pretty clear that the AARP OBC is only available for new bookings made after you verify that you are an AARP member.  I was also told by a HAL CVP that the AARP agreement dated to July 1, 2023 and so any booking made before then wouldn't be eligible, even if you were able to get them to try to give it to you.

[Bgwest]

7 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

The community, non-promo, categories are given here: 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/community-appreciation-cruise-offers

 

I think that one of the 'occupation' is all you can have (if you are a veteran/teacher/first-responder you get one), but stockholders' benefit, AARP, and one of the occupations have been reported as stackable!

 

Some very low fares bounce with none-of-the-above allowed, I believe.

Very useful information. 
Thank you!

[tigger54]

Thank you for all of the great advise. Although we have cruised many times, this is our first time on holland. If we like Holland, then we will join AARP to get the extre obc.

[crystalspin]

24 minutes ago, DCThunder said:

It is pretty clear that the AARP OBC is only available for new bookings made after you verify that you are an AARP member.  I was also told by a HAL CVP that the AARP agreement dated to July 1, 2023 and so any booking made before then wouldn't be eligible, even if you were able to get them to try to give it to you.

You are correct, there is plenty of verbage indicating those things, and I was wrong to give @tigger54 hope and have her spend time in her last week pursuing a dead end.

[Haljo1935]

5 hours ago, crystalspin said:

You are correct, there is plenty of verbage indicating those things, and I was wrong to give @tigger54 hope and have her spend time in her last week pursuing a dead end.

Agree, however, there have been reports of it being applied. So if she's inclined to pursue w/o an expectation of getting it (ie if it happens, great - if not, I tried) it could end in her favor. But definitely no assurance per actual policy.

[ORTravelGal]

16 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Agree, however, there have been reports of it being applied. So if she's inclined to pursue w/o an expectation of getting it (ie if it happens, great - if not, I tried) it could end in her favor. But definitely no assurance per actual policy.

Yes, it is worth trying. We booked a trip in October 2023 for later this year. We joined AARP after booking the trip, applied for the AARP OBC and received it (it’s showing on our invoice as OBC - the trip hasn’t happened yet.) Also, FWIW, the teacher/educator OBC was stacked with the AARP and Shareholder OBC. 

[MaxThrusters]

Hi! How does it work with the AARP and the Have It Now OBC? I'm looking at an 18 day verandah, and have it now says it should come with $300OBC. AARP is $200. I did a courtesy hold, and it showed only $200 OBC pp total. I expect if they don't stack I will skip the Have It Now. Still waiting to hear back from a PCC since Thursday.

[crystalspin]

5 hours ago, MaxThrusters said:

Still waiting to hear back from a PCC since Thursday.

Maybe tomorrow (they don't work over the weekend). 

[tigger54]

So I did rejoin AARP then called Holland America to see if I could get that $200.00 obc but they said no, only with new bookings. Oh well, now that I know about it, if we enjoy our Holland cruise, we will for sure get the obc. Thank you everyone for all the great advise. 5 more days until we cruise on our first Holland cruise. I am sure it will be wonderful.

[pghflyer]

I just submitted (and instantly obtained) my AARP validation  today and the response email says to wait 3-day before booking...you think that is really necessary for a 2026 booking?  Hard to imagine they can't take care of that. 

 

Honestly the amount of promos are pretty impressive if they really do all stack / combine successfully.  I am looking at a 28-day 2026 and I could end up with:

 

• $400 OBC Mariner's Early Booking Bonus
• $200 AARP OBC
• $250 Shareholder OBC
• $150 Future Cruise Deposit OBC (balcony level)
• $xxx Travel Agent OBC

 

And then on top of that I can get 10% discount on my rate by paying with AARP Gift Cards....a little work to put it all together....but also a decent savings.

[crystalspin]

2 hours ago, pghflyer said:

I just submitted (and instantly obtained) my AARP validation  today and the response email says to wait 3-day before booking...you think that is really necessary for a 2026 booking?  Hard to imagine they can't take care of that. 

I would wait.

[pghflyer]

I did notice all of the non-AARP community OBC offers (educator, military, healthcare) say only good for select 2023/ 2024 cruises in their T&Cs.....so not sure if these are ongoing programs and if you would get any benefit for 2025/2026/+ sailings.........