On-board credit question

[Sheltieluv]

Hi all

For our upcoming Regent cruise, we will have some on-board credit. (This is our 3rd cruise with Regent, but have never had obc before).

 

I have read a lot of information on the boards as to how guests spend their obc, such as spa treatments, special wine, boutiques, etc. but can someone please tell me what the actual procedure is? Is the obc indicated on one's key card, and have to "swipe" the card (like you would a credit card?) and then sign? How would I find out how much credit is left?---go to guest services?

 

If there is any credit left over, can it be turned over to the crew fund?

 

Thanks for any and all info!:)

[Travelcat2]

Really wish it could go to the crew fund but someone asked that question recently while onboard and was told that it cannot be transferred.

[cruiseluv]

When we've had an OBC I always verify with reception desk that it's indeed posted to our account. In terms of knowing the balance left, you can keep track of it and/or checking your account periodically (I think you can even do this on the tv). Don't know about donating it to the crew fund, we've always spent it.

[AWED23]

Check your account on your interactive TV in your stateroom. It has all the information you may want and is up to the minute....It defines the sources of any OBCs... OBC from Regent must be used aboard ship. OBC from your TA can be taken as cash at the front desk. Regent is really good to all of us in that as they debit our accounts they draw down the OBC given us by Regent first....Your in-suite TV will even have your reservations available and also the daily menus for all venues...How good can it get ???:D

[hondorner]

Check your account on your interactive TV in your stateroom. It has all the information you may want and is up to the minute....It defines the sources of any OBCs... OBC from Regent must be used aboard ship. OBC from your TA can be taken as cash at the front desk. Regent is really good to all of us in that as they debit our accounts they draw down the OBC given us by Regent first....Your in-suite TV will even have your reservations available and also the daily menus for all venues...How good can it get ???:D

Correct, except that some OBC that appears to be issued by your TA may actually be an incentive from Regent, in which case it may not be converted to cash. Only cash funds that have been deposited into your account by a third party can be converted back to cash. You should receive a notice shortly after embarking that shows your amounts; you may be asked by the room attendant to sign an acknowledgement. You can ask your TA or Regent Rep what kind of OBC you are receiving and if it is convertible to cash or the crew fund.

 

It's worth noting how OBC works to gain a better understanding of why most cannot be converted to cash. When you spend it on board, all it is costing the cruise line is the actual cost of whatever service or product you have purchased, not the retail or advertised price. They are also giving up their opportunity to make a profit on the item or service, but that's not a hardship for them unless you might have purchased it anyway. Their actual cost of providing you with OBC may be 50% or less. OBC is a win-win situation for both the ship and the guest; the ship gives valuable incentives at half the cost, and the guest gets full value :cool:.

[AWED23]

Don, I agree with your remarks......I always try to make people aware of what a great tool and source of information their interactive TV in their stateroom is....As you know, the TVs on Oceania do not have the same system...Just got back from our second cruise on the Marina and that is one thing I do not understand. Why can't Oceania have the same system as Regent?...Rob.

[English Tim]

Is it not possible to use s&s card in the casino, then to withdraw all the funds, like the OBC?

[HeidiChampagne]

We're due to join our first ever cruise on 7 Oct. Our package includes OBC which our TA advises is a Regent incentive. We had thought to use this on Regent Choice excursions but cannot do so until on board by which time the excursion might be fully booked. Our TA advises we can pay up front and when on board cancel, obtain a refund and book again with our OBC. To me this seems a bit clumsy. Also, my TA advises, carries the risk of any potential wait list getting first refusal on our cancelled excursions before we can re-book :eek: Can experienced cruisers offer any advice?

[rallydave]

Is it not possible to use s&s card in the casino, then to withdraw all the funds, like the OBC?

 

Not sure what s&s card is but, assume it is your suite key card which is also used if you need to pay something.

 

The answer to your question is yes, it is possible to use your OBC in the casino however, use carries a 5%, I believe charge to get cash from your OBC. Better to bring cash or take an advance of up to $400 from the front desk which is then charged to your credit card on file without any charge either on board or from your credit card company as it will show as a charge to Regent.

[rallydave]

We're due to join our first ever cruise on 7 Oct. Our package includes OBC which our TA advises is a Regent incentive. We had thought to use this on Regent Choice excursions but cannot do so until on board by which time the excursion might be fully booked. Our TA advises we can pay up front and when on board cancel, obtain a refund and book again with our OBC. To me this seems a bit clumsy. Also, my TA advises, carries the risk of any potential wait list getting first refusal on our cancelled excursions before we can re-book :eek: Can experienced cruisers offer any advice?

 

Your TA is 100% correct. The only possible comment is that should you take this approach, when you go to cancel the paid excursion, check with the destinations people as to whether the excursion is full or not. This gives you the choice to get the refund or keep the booking and use the OBC elsewhere.

[Sheltieluv]

Hi everyone, and thank you for your replies. I did not know about the availability of the interactive tv system, and the other information and insight you all have shared is invaluable to someone who has never had an obc. I now understand the "procedure" much better!

 

Our on-board credit is Regent incentive, so all of it would have to be spent as such. I do plan to use some of it for the spa, and laundry services on this trip! If there is anything left over, I may have to scope out the boutique, although I know there's not a lot of shopping to be had on the Navigator.

 

(Heidi--we are in the same situation as far as the Choice excursions. I've signed up for the free excursions, but I'm going to check once onboard to see what, if anything is available. However, since we've not been to any of the ports we're visiting, I think we'll quite happy with the included excursions. We shall see!)

 

Thanks again, everyone; I knew I could count on you!:)

[Travelcat2]

It has been posted more than once that you cannot use OBCs for the casino. So, it is a good idea to double check before assuming that you can. Rallydave posted on another thread (post #2 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1504828&highlight=obc+casino) that only refundable OBCs can be used in the casino. I believe this is the correct answer since you can cash out the refundable portion of your on board credits and use them in the casino.

 

Getting back to the crew fund question -- the same can be done to get cash to contribute to the crew fund.

[DaveFr]

Not sure what s&s card is but, assume it is your suite key card which is also used if you need to pay something.

 

The answer to your question is yes, it is possible to use your OBC in the casino however, use carries a 5%, I believe charge to get cash from your OBC. Better to bring cash or take an advance of up to $400 from the front desk which is then charged to your credit card on file without any charge either on board or from your credit card company as it will show as a charge to Regent.

I'm not sure you can use your suite card in the casino to get cash with a 5% fee. Even if you can use your suite card in the casino, I'm almost positive that the cash you get will not reduce any non-refundable on board credit a passenger might have. I know for a fact that the $400 per person fee free cash advance you mentioned does not reduce non-refundable obc.

 

Everyone should be aware that the account listing on the interactive tv is not necessarily accurate. It will show that the $400 cash advance reduces any obc but an account printout from the purser will show that the cash advance has not reduced the available obc. If someone waits until the final accounting is delivered, they may find they still have obc available that is not usable.

[Travelcat2]

Since DaveFr brought up the subject, there is another case when your account is not correct on interactive television. If you have "included" telephone time and make a phone call, the cost of the call will appear as a charge (this is apparently something new). I checked with Reception a couple of times ...... the charge was not reversed until the last day.

[DaveFr]

Since DaveFr brought up the subject, there is another case when your account is not correct on interactive television. If you have "included" telephone time and make a phone call, the cost of the call will appear as a charge (this is apparently something new). I checked with Reception a couple of times ...... the charge was not reversed until the last day.

TC,

 

I was on the Voyager a month after you and our telephone calls did not appear on the interactive tv account listing. It looks like they fixed the problem.

[Travelcat2]

TC,

 

I was on the Voyager a month after you and our telephone calls did not appear on the interactive tv account listing. It looks like they fixed the problem.

 

Thanks for reporting that -- it's good news.

[hondorner]

....As you know, the TVs on Oceania do not have the same system...Just got back from our second cruise on the Marina and that is one thing I do not understand. Why can't Oceania have the same system as Regent?...Rob.

I don't know, and I've wondered the same thing. Somne of the mass market lines have systems even more advanced than Regent's, and I wonder why we don't have them; it'd really a matter of programming rather than super-expensive equipment purchases.

 

The best answer I can give is that Regent had that system in place before being acquired by Prestige, and nobody at Oceania has considered it, yet.

[dcl]

Can the Cruise Credit you get for using the American Express Platinum Credit Card to pay for

 

Regent Cruises be redeemed for CASH ?

 

or is it just for on-board purchases. ?

[rallydave]

Can the Cruise Credit you get for using the American Express Platinum Credit Card to pay for

 

Regent Cruises be redeemed for CASH ?

 

or is it just for on-board purchases. ?

 

No cash for Amex Platinum OBC. Use it on board or lose it. Only when cash is paid by a third party is it redeemable for cash.

[busdriver475]

Hi Everyone;

There is always the shops for souveniers. My DW has no problem finding areas to spend extra money. although our first Regent will be in November and really looking forward to it.:)

[Sheltieluv]

There are a couple of shops on the Navigator; from what I recall, they sell high-end (and possibly overpriced ?) jewelry, watches, bags, and some things like that. I'm not a "label" hound, so I don't really know if the prices are fair or not. Maybe someone can chime in on that. I did buy a bracelet toward the end of our last cruise--it was 50% off. I'm sure I'll find ways to spend our on-board credit with no problem!:)

 

(busdriver--I hope you enjoy your first Regent cruise! I see we are neighbors--Syracuse area!)

[nana541]

My two favorite things to spend OBC are the SPA and the Laundry and then throw in a very expensive bottle of wine you would never dream of ordering at home :)

[Sheltieluv]

Nana--I plan to do all three of those things! Have never been to a spa, and no self-service laundry for me this time around. What a treat! :D

[jhenry1]

We received a large amount of OBC for Med cruise in May. I booked the choice excursions and the day we boarded I went to the excursions desk and ask about cancelling and using our OBC to pay for these. There was not a problem so the lady cancelled them and rebooked using the OBC. At the end of the cruise we were refunded in cash the credit from the excursions we had charged to Visa. They do not credit your card but return the money in cash. They can tell you if there is a wait list on the excursions. The lady at the desk was very helpful.

 

Worked out great. Hoping to do the same for our May cruise of next year.

 

Kandy

[nana541]

Nana--I plan to do all three of those things! Have never been to a spa, and no self-service laundry for me this time around. What a treat! :D

 

Where the heck is that "Like" button :)