Unused On-Board Credit

[Leo Jay]

For my upcoming cruise, for the first time I booked through a cruise agency rather than directly through the cruiseline, and we were given OBC as part of the booking promotion. We may well use it all, but if we don't, will it be returned to us in cash, or will it be forfeited? Or does that depend on the booking agency?

 

Thanks.

[Shmoo here]

For my upcoming cruise, for the first time I booked through a cruise agency rather than directly through the cruiseline, and we were given OBC as part of the booking promotion. We may well use it all, but if we don't, will it be returned to us in cash, or will it be forfeited? Or does that depend on the booking agency?

 

Thanks.

 

Typically, any charges you make onboard (shops, drinks, events) will be deducted from any OBC you have first. Once the OBC is used up, any purchases will show as a charge on your onboard account.

 

:)

[cb at sea]

If it's a "gift" from your TA, any unused amount will be refunded. If it's a "non-refundable" OBC, like from the cruiseline, it won't be....and if you have 2 OBC, they will use the "refundable" amount 1st...saves them money that way!

 

Usually, just having your tips paid through the shipboard account will pretty much use up most OBCs!

[Leo Jay]

If it's a "gift" from your TA, any unused amount will be refunded. If it's a "non-refundable" OBC, like from the cruiseline, it won't be....and if you have 2 OBC, they will use the "refundable" amount 1st...saves them money that way!

I assume it's the former, but I'll review the the booking confirmation to see if it specifies anything.

 

Usually, just having your tips paid through the shipboard account will pretty much use up most OBCs!

Ah, true enough! I keep forgetting that our gratuities weren't prepaid this time around, though I'm not sure why not. Perhaps that's how it always works when you don't book directly with the cruiseline?

 

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

[okgirl]

I assume it's the former, but I'll review the the booking confirmation to see if it specifies anything.

 

 

Ah, true enough! I keep forgetting that our gratuities weren't prepaid this time around, though I'm not sure why not. Perhaps that's how it always works when you don't book directly with the cruiseline?

 

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

 

And on the last night if you still have unused OBC, just go to the Casino and draw out that money onto your players bank, spin the reels once then go cash out.

[vivavegas]

And on the last night if you still have unused OBC, just go to the Casino and draw out that money onto your players bank, spin the reels once then go cash out.

 

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking you just lose any leftover OBC.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I assume it's the former, but I'll review the the booking confirmation to see if it specifies anything.

 

 

Ah, true enough! I keep forgetting that our gratuities weren't prepaid this time around, though I'm not sure why not. Perhaps that's how it always works when you don't book directly with the cruiseline?

 

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

 

 

On HAL you can't prepay your gratuities. HAL adds on the Hotel Service Charge each day of the cruise. That really eats up shipboard credit quickly.

[Nebr.cruiser]

It does depend on where the OBC is coming from any whether it is 'nonrefundable' or not, but so far we've always been able to get the remainder of our OBC refunded at the purser's desk.

 

If that doesn't work, then you can either spend it on the ship the last night or use the casino to cash out, as mentioned above.

[navybankerteacher]

It would have to be a very generous OBC for you to have any difficulty using it up.

[PennyAgain]

We have never had to work to use up OBC and always have none left over. We do check our account to make sure and can always buy chocolate with any bit left over.

[Leo Jay]

It would have to be a very generous OBC for you to have any difficulty using it up.

 

Since our gratuities weren't pre-paid this time, things will be different than in the past, but I tend to incur minimal on-board charges - at best a few drinks and a couple of nights in the specialty restaurant.

 

:)

[Nebr.cruiser]

It would have to be a very generous OBC for you to have any difficulty using it up.

 

We don't spend much on board either, and have had $100 or more left at the end of the cruise. I suppose we could spend it easily enough, but why buy something we don't really want when we can get the cash and spend it on something we do want?

 

Our spending is mostly limited to gratuities (which are often paid ahead, if we do a guarantee), maybe some laundry, definitely internet minutes, and once in a while a picture.

[marco]

We've gotten OBC several time, now and what has not been used was returned to us in cash. Perhaps it depends on which line?

[cruisin'mama]

If it's a "gift" from your TA, any unused amount will be refunded. If it's a "non-refundable" OBC, like from the cruiseline, it won't be....and if you have 2 OBC, they will use the "refundable" amount 1st...saves them money that way!

 

Usually, just having your tips paid through the shipboard account will pretty much use up most OBCs!

 

We are receiving $150 OBC from the cruiseline and $460 OBC from our TA. My husband is diabetic and can't drink, my son has Down Syndrome so he doesn't drink, and for me, it's not as much fun to drink alone, so our bar bill will be small. We have pre-paid our gratuities so that won't be taken out. We are doing independent excursions too. So we probably will have OBC left over. If we can get the remaining $$ back at the casino, that will be nice! :)

[swimmongotta]

We've had OBC twice, both with Princess. Once it was OBC as a deal with the cruise line at the time of booking. We each had $200, and we typically put things on my card, but did balance it. At the end of the cruise we had spend $230 on mine and $160 on my wifes. Because they were sperate my Credit Card got charged the $30 I'd over spent and my wife's was fore fitted as it was from the cruise company. No biggie really, but it would have been good to know that. The second time is for our up coming cruise. We paid our cruise in full then changed our cabin and upgraded on category, but the price dropped by $520 (go figure) and we asked to have that put on as OBC, which they did. We already have $900 in shore excursions booked, but if we change our mind and don't use it all I would assume we get any back as it was our money to start with.

[LadyShiva]

Some OBC cannot be used for the casino, so be aware of that, too. I've seen that situation on OBC given by NCL in a cruise fare sale.

 

Granted, I spend too much at the spa to ever wonder what to do with leftover OBC... *laughing* Weekly spa passes for the heated tile loungers and thalassotherapy pool and quiet space, massages, facials, torturing DH by getting him that frangipani scalp massage... ;)

[loosygoosy]

On the final night of the cruise, just add a cash advance from the casino to your account, they take a very small percentage, and you have the money in your pocket where it belongs.