Has anyone done the math on OBB?

[TestingH2O]

With the new reduced OBC from TA's, has anyone figured out the break point for doing an OBB vs waiting to book directly with a TA?

So OBB is 10% off plus $100 assuming it's not a blackout date or concierge.

Is there a cruise fare where you're better off taking OBB plus reduced TA credit?

 

[jennifermcb]

I did an OBB my last cruise, 10% off, $200 OBC and reduced deposit. Transferred booking to Costco, and am getting a $300 costco cash card after the cruise is over.

 

[JW9DVC]

We love Costco! That card after the cruise plus the OBB on the newly booked cruise is so nice!

JW

 

[Bishoparc]

We haven't completed our OBB cruise yet but if I understand it right (depending on the TA) you will get an onboard credit from your TA & Disney. Is that correct or do you only get one from your TA (if they offer that)?

 

[TestingH2O]

Previously, you got 10% off, $100 from Disney, and some OBC from a TA. Disney modified what they would pay to TA's, so many agencies changed their policy to give on board bookings half the credit they world give to a direct booking.

I was just wondering if there was a point where it would be a better financial decision to do a direct booking rather than an on board booking.

It seems clear that it's better to book direct for many blackout dates and most concierge, but I'm not sure how the numbers work out for a normal booking.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Following!

 

[JW9DVC]

Cruises that are 7 nights or longer receive $200 OBC directly from DCL. This has been covered many times on the boards and a quick Google search will give you instant results. Costco gives a cash card at end of cruise depending on the cruise cost.

JW

 

[TestingH2O]

Cruises that are 7 nights or longer receive $200 OBC directly from DCL. This has been covered many times on the boards and a quick Google search will give you instant results. Costco gives a cash card at end of cruise depending on the cruise cost.

JW

Not the question I asked.

 

[KristiMc]

I receive an OBC from my TA that is pretty good, but it is no where near the 10% off that you could get. I would stick with the OBB, DCL OBC and OBC from TA if they offer it.

 

[Flossbolna]

Looking at the OBC structure of Dreams Unlimited, it appears that the OBC is never more than 5% of your cruise fare. So, if you do an OBB and get 10% off your cruise fare, the DCL OBB oboard credit and then half of the OBC that Dreams Unlimited is giving you, this will always be better than not getting the OBB benefits.

For blockout dates I understand that you still get the DCL OBC, but not the 10% off the cruise fare. So it will better to book onboard if the DCL OBC is more than the drop in cruise fare. Looking again at the Dreams Unlimited OBC structure, this means that for a short cruise (100$ DCL OBC) you will fare better with an onboard booking if your cruise fare is under $4000. From $4000 to $4999 it does not matter. For long cruises ($200 DCL OBC) the onboard booking will be better if your cruise fare is under $8000. And again from $8000 to $8999 it does not matter.

Of course this all depends on the OBC structure of every agency, so it will vary from travel agent to travel agent. But generally I would think that the 10% cruise fare reduction will always be better than any OBC a travel agency offers.

 

[Snowwhyt]

With the new reduced OBC from TA's, has anyone figured out the break point for doing an OBB vs waiting to book directly with a TA?

So OBB is 10% off plus $100 assuming it's not a blackout date or concierge.

Is there a cruise fare where you're better off taking OBB plus reduced TA credit?

Has DCL dropped the $200 for 7+ nights because that will play into the break point of some dates I'm looking into. I plan to sail in 4 months so this interests me also for a possible rebook.

 

[JW9DVC]

Not the question I asked.

You are asking about if it is beneficial to do an OBB or book with a travel agent directly. So my answer did take care of the question you asked for the travel agency I listed. They haven't cut the card at end of cruise to be less just because we did an OBB. Other travel agencies have.

JW

 

[TestingH2O]

Looking at the OBC structure of Dreams Unlimited, it appears that the OBC is never more than 5% of your cruise fare. So, if you do an OBB and get 10% off your cruise fare, the DCL OBB oboard credit and then half of the OBC that Dreams Unlimited is giving you, this will always be better than not getting the OBB benefits.

For blockout dates I understand that you still get the DCL OBC, but not the 10% off the cruise fare. So it will better to book onboard if the DCL OBC is more than the drop in cruise fare. Looking again at the Dreams Unlimited OBC structure, this means that for a short cruise (100$ DCL OBC) you will fare better with an onboard booking if your cruise fare is under $4000. From $4000 to $4999 it does not matter. For long cruises ($200 DCL OBC) the onboard booking will be better if your cruise fare is under $8000. And again from $8000 to $8999 it does not matter.

Of course this all depends on the OBC structure of every agency, so it will vary from travel agent to travel agent. But generally I would think that the 10% cruise fare reduction will always be better than any OBC a travel agency offers.

Thanks! That's useful.

 

[slykrab]

We love Costco! That card after the cruise plus the OBB on the newly booked cruise is so nice!

JW

Is costco's cash card incentive for OBB the same for new bookings now, even after DCL changed what they paid TA's?

 

[JW9DVC]

Is costco's cash card incentive for OBB the same for new bookings now, even after DCL changed what they paid TA's?

Yes. Well at least that's what we received and we have done it after the change. It seems others have as well.

 

[squirk]

I've been turning this over in my head as well. We don't have Costcos where I live yet (lots of Sam's Clubs), and we love our TA but her agency does not offer OBC, which is frustrating.

We usually do 7-night E. Carib. Fantasy cruises, getting two standard Cat 5D verandah staterooms. For the five of us, the fare is roughly $8000.

But using Dreams as a "stand-in" agency (i.e., one that offers OBC), it seems like the question is which is the better deal - the full OBC through DU, or (the 50% OBC through Dreams + the 10% OBB discount + the $200 DCL OBC). Am I looking at it the right way?

So, if I book straight through Dreams for an $8000 cruise, I get no discount, but will get approximately $400 in OBC.

If I do OBB, my $8000 cruise becomes a $7200 cruise, plus I still get $400 in OBC ($200 from Dreams OBC, plus $200 from DCL).

If I have all that right, then for my usual cruise, the OBB is the clear winner, no?

 

[KristiMc]

I've been turning this over in my head as well. We don't have Costcos where I live yet (lots of Sam's Clubs), and we love our TA but her agency does not offer OBC, which is frustrating.

We usually do 7-night E. Carib. Fantasy cruises, getting two standard Cat 5D verandah staterooms. For the five of us, the fare is roughly $8000.

But using Dreams as a "stand-in" agency (i.e., one that offers OBC), it seems like the question is which is the better deal - the full OBC through DU, or (the 50% OBC through Dreams + the 10% OBB discount + the $200 DCL OBC). Am I looking at it the right way?

So, if I book straight through Dreams for an $8000 cruise, I get no discount, but will get approximately $400 in OBC.

If I do OBB, my $8000 cruise becomes a $7200 cruise, plus I still get $400 in OBC ($200 from Dreams OBC, plus $200 from DCL).

If I have all that right, then for my usual cruise, the OBB is the clear winner, no?

Correct.

 

[Flossbolna]

I've been turning this over in my head as well. We don't have Costcos where I live yet (lots of Sam's Clubs), and we love our TA but her agency does not offer OBC, which is frustrating.

We usually do 7-night E. Carib. Fantasy cruises, getting two standard Cat 5D verandah staterooms. For the five of us, the fare is roughly $8000.

But using Dreams as a "stand-in" agency (i.e., one that offers OBC), it seems like the question is which is the better deal - the full OBC through DU, or (the 50% OBC through Dreams + the 10% OBB discount + the $200 DCL OBC). Am I looking at it the right way?

So, if I book straight through Dreams for an $8000 cruise, I get no discount, but will get approximately $400 in OBC.

If I do OBB, my $8000 cruise becomes a $7200 cruise, plus I still get $400 in OBC ($200 from Dreams OBC, plus $200 from DCL).

If I have all that right, then for my usual cruise, the OBB is the clear winner, no?

I seem to remember that there was discussion on one of the DISUnplugged podcasts about this and @WebmasterJohn said that this is the reason why they will still tell the Dreams Unlimited clients to make use of the OBB offer because it is the best deal for their clients. I remember that I was impressed by this, especially as their seemed to be some comments by other travel agents on social media about how they would stop suggesting booking on board to their clients.

 

[scootch]

Has DCL dropped the $200 for 7+ nights because that will play into the break point of some dates I'm looking into. I plan to sail in 4 months so this interests me also for a possible rebook.

No it is still $200 for 7+ nights, 10% off, plus reduced deposit...... and most TA will also give you additional amount if you ask them.

 

[squirk]

I seem to remember that there was discussion on one of the DISUnplugged podcasts about this and @WebmasterJohn said that this is the reason why they will still tell the Dreams Unlimited clients to make use of the OBB offer because it is the best deal for their clients. I remember that I was impressed by this, especially as their seemed to be some comments by other travel agents on social media about how they would stop suggesting booking on board to their clients.

@WebmasterJohn is a man of class and professionalism, in my experience.