Re-book OBC for myself and first-time cruiser?

[Bethry]

My son and I will be first-time cruisers in April. I'd like to re-book on board for us, as well as my sister and her two kids, who have not cruised before.

Am I able to get both me and my sis the re-book OBC, even though it's only for Silver Castaway members? That is, could I book two rooms, me in one, and my son (age 5) in another. Put one of sis's kids in my room (to avoid single adult rate), and Sis as the adult in the other. And both cabins will get OBC since one repeat cruiser in each room? Even though the repeat cruiser in Sis's room is only 5?

Or do I have it all wrong, it doesn't matter who is booked in which room, both rooms get the OBC?

Thanks in advance!
Beth

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My son and I will be first-time cruisers in April. I'd like to re-book on board for us, as well as my sister and her two kids, who have not cruised before.

Am I able to get both me and my sis the re-book OBC, even though it's only for Silver Castaway members? That is, could I book two rooms, me in one, and my son (age 5) in another. Put one of sis's kids in my room (to avoid single adult rate), and Sis as the adult in the other. And both cabins will get OBC since one repeat cruiser in each room? Even though the repeat cruiser in Sis's room is only 5?

Or do I have it all wrong, it doesn't matter who is booked in which room, both rooms get the OBC?

Thanks in advance!
Beth

You don't have to put your son in your sister's room to get them the discount. I have booked onboard on behalf of other family members & friends who've never cruised before. I find it easier booking online first then taking a copy of their reservation and asking the future cruise agent to re-shop it. They can keep the same cabin but discount & OBCs apply.
OTOH, one of the perks of booking onboard is paying half the usual deposit. If you'd like this perk, wait til you board but have the non-cruiser's name, address, DOB & CC #. Also have a plan B in case the cabin or category they want isn't available though it can always be changed later from home.

 

[zealandsmom]

You don't have to put your son in your sister's room to get them the discount. I have booked onboard on behalf of other family members & friends who've never cruised before. I find it easier booking online first then taking a copy of their reservation and asking the future cruise agent to re-shop it. They can keep the same cabin but discount & OBCs apply.
OTOH, one of the perks of booking onboard is paying half the usual deposit. If you'd like this perk, wait til you board but have the non-cruiser's name, address, DOB & CC #. Also have a plan B in case the cabin or category they want isn't available though it can always be changed later from home.

WOW! Who wants ALL my info to re-shop my cruise while on your cruise?? ;

 

[kcashner]

The above is correct--I have booked for friends while I was cruising. I think you have to book yourself on the same cruise; that is what I did. Same cruise, different cabin...since I wanted a dummy for myself anyhow. I had no problem later moving my dummy to the date I wanted and they didn't lose any of the onboard booking benefits.

Yes, it is a good idea to book now and reshop while on board. If the price increases to the point that booking on board is no longer the best deal, you smile knowing that you got an earlier tier. If the price hasn't increased at all or enough to be higher than onboard, you rebook on board and are happy with that price/OBC.

 

[miry]

I actually had the opposite experience. My 13 year old and I were on the Wonder in December. We tried to book a room for us and one for my parents, at that time I was told that in order to get the onboard booking perks (on board credit, discounted cruise, discounted deposit) couldn't put my parents who have never cruised in their own room. I had to put my mom with me and my dad with my son. They also told me that I could only book two rooms because there were only two people in our traveling party.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I actually had the opposite experience. My 13 year old and I were on the Wonder in December. We tried to book a room for us and one for my parents, at that time I was told that in order to get the onboard booking perks (on board credit, discounted cruise, discounted deposit) couldn't put my parents who have never cruised in their own room. I had to put my mom with me and my dad with my son. They also told me that I could only book two rooms because there were only two people in our traveling party.

Wow, must be new rules or perhaps newly enforcement of old rules?
Thanks for sharing.

 

[kcashner]

I actually had the opposite experience. My 13 year old and I were on the Wonder in December. We tried to book a room for us and one for my parents, at that time I was told that in order to get the onboard booking perks (on board credit, discounted cruise, discounted deposit) couldn't put my parents who have never cruised in their own room. I had to put my mom with me and my dad with my son. They also told me that I could only book two rooms because there were only two people in our traveling party.

It really seems to depend on who your onboard booking person is. I had also heard the "same number of reservations as people" rule, but my TA said that applied only to reservations that were not in your name. In December 2011 we had 2 people cruising and I made 3 dummy reservations in my own name. No problem at all.

I have had some onboard booking agents tell me strange sounding things....and I know for sure that one of them had to have a supervisor do a couple cruises for "retraining" purposes.

 

[ksloane]

I actually had the opposite experience. My 13 year old and I were on the Wonder in December. We tried to book a room for us and one for my parents, at that time I was told that in order to get the onboard booking perks (on board credit, discounted cruise, discounted deposit) couldn't put my parents who have never cruised in their own room. I had to put my mom with me and my dad with my son. They also told me that I could only book two rooms because there were only two people in our traveling party.

So going by this set of rooms, I could book 2 rooms on my cruise even though it will be myself and my dd11 right? I assume I can't put a room in her name so I could book 2 rooms in my name right?

 

[Bethry]

I actually had the opposite experience. My 13 year old and I were on the Wonder in December. We tried to book a room for us and one for my parents, at that time I was told that in order to get the onboard booking perks (on board credit, discounted cruise, discounted deposit) couldn't put my parents who have never cruised in their own room. I had to put my mom with me and my dad with my son. They also told me that I could only book two rooms because there were only two people in our traveling party.

So if we get a CM following these rules, my original plan would be correct, yes? I can still book two rooms, me in one, my son in the other, and my sister as the adult in his room? That would give both cabins the discount and OBC?

 

[TDC Nala]

it goes by stateroom, not by reservation. Here's what I've found out will likely happen if I understand it right. This is for the OBC and not the 10% discount. Both staterooms would still get the 10% discount.

I have booked a 4 night cruise for myself and three friends, under one reservation number, with two staterooms. I will be platinum, one of my friends is silver, the other two have never cruised.

I'm booked in a room with one of the newbies and my friend who is silver is booked in the second room with the other newbie.

Had I put Ms. Silver in my stateroom, and the 2 newbies in the other stateroom, as far as onboard booking OBC it would default to the highest category for EACH STATEROOM. My stateroom would get only the platinum OBC and the newbies' stateroom would get NO Castaway Club OBC.

By placing the silver in the other stateroom, Stateroom 1 gets platinum OBC and stateroom 2 gets silver OBC. I made Silver the primary guest in Stateroom 2 but I believe it would work the same way even if she was not.

So yes, you would need to place a Castaway Club member in your second stateroom to get any OBC for them, and you do need to put your son in your sister's room. At least this is the way I am interpreting what I learned about it.

So going by this set of rooms, I could book 2 rooms on my cruise even though it will be myself and my dd11 right? I assume I can't put a room in her name so I could book 2 rooms in my name right?

You cannot book a stateroom with a minor under the age of 18 as a primary guest, so while I believe they will let you book a second stateroom onboard, you cannot do it in your daughter's name. I don't believe you can be the primary guest on both staterooms, either. They need to have an adult registered in EACH room and I don't think that can be the same adult. You'll need to give them the name, also address and birthdate, of an adult who will be traveling with you. You could swap that name out later, but it's easier if you use someone who actually might go.

I'm not sure if it's different with the primary name having to be an adult if you are booking connecting staterooms. I booked connecting staterooms but all my guests are adults. I'm reasonably sure there must be an adult in each stateroom, even with connecting rooms, but I am not positive.

 

[Bethry]

I'm dredging up this thread again, I have a follow-up question.

So I did re-book two cabins, but currently my son and I are in one room, my Sister and her kids in the other. She has never sailed before. If I put my son and I in separate rooms would we get the Castaway Club gift in both staterooms?

 

[kcashner]

I'm dredging up this thread again, I have a follow-up question.

So I did re-book two cabins, but currently my son and I are in one room, my Sister and her kids in the other. She has never sailed before. If I put my son and I in separate rooms would we get the Castaway Club gift in both staterooms?

Yes. The gift in the room is based on the highest status CC person in the room.

 

[TDC Nala]

Since this is an old thread for other readers it should probably be noted that there is no longer any difference in onboard credit based on level of Castaway Club membership, they all get the same OBC.

 

[lbgraves]

Also the fact that you have to book both rooms for the same cruise and you are not able to move one of them without loosing the OBB benefits since the rule change.