OBC Randomly Shows Up

[LTR]

I have an upcoming sailing on Enchantment August 31, and I was just checking my papers from my TA, and on it it shows that I should get a $50USD OBC. I found that odd because I did not remember seeing that when I booked, although I did book back in 2023. Anyways, I just assumed I had already used it as I have made a few other purchases through the cruise planner since. Then today I logged into my cruise planner as I do weekly to check things out, and saw a banner at the top saying I had the $50 OBC. I checked my purchases and they are all still booked so nothing got refunded/cancelled. 

Seems weird that it just showed up today 2 weeks out from my booking *shrug*. Maybe it was part of the purchase all along, but my other bookings with OBC for 2026 the OBC is already showing on my cruise planner. 

 

[HeWhoWaits]

Might be a "gift" from your TA. Those usually show up close to sail date or even after boarding.

[LTR]

2 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

Might be a "gift" from your TA. Those usually show up close to sail date or even after boarding.

I followed up with my TA and you are correct! That was nice of 'em 

[WAYNO]

When I book, sometimes an OBC is mentioned, sometimes it's not.  Either way, it just shows up, often unexpectedly, and I never know the amount until I see it.  It is not automatically applied to a purchase, unless I choose to have it applied, but otherwise, at the end of the cruise, the OBC is applied to my final bill. 

[HeWhoWaits]

44 minutes ago, LTR said:

I followed up with my TA and you are correct! That was nice of 'em 

As such, this will be a non-refundable OBC so be sure to spend all of it (or cash out via the slots).

[CRUISEFORTWO]

Hi

First time cruisers here (friends). We both have a £76 promotional OBC, but are unsure when we should spend it.

The screenshot implies that the OBC has to be spent pre-cruise - or am I misunderstanding the words? (I tried to read the T&C but they are too confusing).

We want to add 1 person Voom/2 devices, which totals £117. The only way to do that is for one person to pay, using their OCB with balance on CC. That would leave the other person with £76 OCB and nothing to spend it on pre-cruise.

Assuming you DO have to spend the "promotional OBC" before the cruise departs, is their anyway to change this "promotional OBC" to jus "OBC", which can be spent during the cruise?

Many thanks

[Matt]

5 hours ago, CRUISEFORTWO said:

 

Assuming you DO have to spend the "promotional OBC" before the cruise departs, is their anyway to change this "promotional OBC" to jus "OBC", which can be spent during the cruise?

Many thanks

If you don't spend the OBC pre-cruise, it automatically rolls over as a credit to be used onboard.

They just want to let you know it exists and to consider using it pre-cruise.

[FionaMG]

5 hours ago, CRUISEFORTWO said:

Hi

First time cruisers here (friends). We both have a £76 promotional OBC, but are unsure when we should spend it.

The screenshot implies that the OBC has to be spent pre-cruise - or am I misunderstanding the words? (I tried to read the T&C but they are too confusing).

We want to add 1 person Voom/2 devices, which totals £117. The only way to do that is for one person to pay, using their OCB with balance on CC. That would leave the other person with £76 OCB and nothing to spend it on pre-cruise.

Assuming you DO have to spend the "promotional OBC" before the cruise departs, is their anyway to change this "promotional OBC" to jus "OBC", which can be spent during the cruise?

Many thanks

Just wanted to check something with you. When you say "we both have", do you have two separate bookings/cabins? Because OBC like this is typically per booking/cabin and not per person, so if you're sharing a cabin it will only be onex£76.

In any case, if you want to buy Voom, it will definitely be cheaper to get it before the cruise than waiting until you board, so I would go ahead and book, paying part with the OBC and the rest with a CC, and then work the finances out between yourselves. That way you'll get more value from your OBC.

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, FionaMG said:

Because OBC like this is typically per booking/cabin and not per person, so if you're sharing a cabin it will only be onex£76.

I have seen per person OBC, though it may have just been the way it was entered in the system for a given promo

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

I have seen per person OBC, though it may have just been the way it was entered in the system for a given promo

That's how mine always shows up. If my TA says I have $100 OBC coming it's always $50 each for the two of us.

[FionaMG]

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I have seen per person OBC, though it may have just been the way it was entered in the system for a given promo

 

46 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

That's how mine always shows up. If my TA says I have $100 OBC coming it's always $50 each for the two of us.

Yes, true, I've seen it set out on the invoice like that too but the amount at the top of the screen, like in the OP's picture, has been the total, at least in my cases. Maybe different in others, of course.

[OCSC Mike]

11 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

the amount at the top of the screen, like in the OP's picture, has been the total, at least in my cases

Same here.

[CRUISEFORTWO]

Hi Everyone

Thanks so much for taking the trouble to respond.

You are all correct, the £76 OBC was for the stateroom, not per person. 

I selected one person with 2 devices, used the OBC offered of £76 and paid the balance of around £40. Sorted.

tbh I'm glad it was only one OBC as it made the maths so much easier 

Thanks to Matt for clarifying the "pre-cruise" clarification

[asquared17]

meanwhile somehow all the OBC always goes into my name and i usually have to duke it out with guest services to get it split

but these are certainly first world problems and i am not complaining