Shore Excursions and on board credits

[hjrell]

This is our first time on HAL. If I understand correctly, if I book my shore excursions prior to the cruise I can not use my on-board credit to pay for them?

I was really hoping to do this - is there any way around this other than booking them once we are on-board?

What happens if I do not use all of my onboard credit? Do I just lose them?

We have a drink program so I won't be using the credits for that...

Thoughts?

[take us away]

No, you cannot use OBC for pre-booked excursions as they are paid for at time of purchase. Do not forget that there will be a hotel charge for gratuities of about $11.50 - $12.00 per person per day added to your account (unless you ask the front desk to remove it). These gratuities are distributed to the staff with most going to your room and dining stewards. Any remaining OBC that was given to you from anyone other than HAL, i.e. friend, TA, etc. can be refunded to your credit card at the end of the cruise. If HAL gave you the OBC - it is use it or lose it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Don't know how much shipboard credit you have or how you got it. If it came from HAL -- then you will lose it.

Once on the ship -- you can use some of that credit for specialty restaurants if you haven't booked them ahead of time.

You will be surprised how quickly the Hotel Service Charge will eat up that shipboard credit.

[mskaufman]

On Princess last year we could use our OBC for excursions. This year on HAL it is as you say, we could not use it for excursions booked in advance. Also, as it has been pointed out, the service charge eats up a bunch of it. In the end we purchased a photo with what was left.

[comcox]

If you sign up for internet access you will find that very expensive and that often eats up much of my OBC.

[CruiserBruce]

If you sign up for internet access you will find that very expensive and that often eats up much of my OBC.

 

Plus you have hotel service charges which eat up a chunk, or perhaps all of your OBC, depending on the length of your cruise.

 

If you give us the length of your cruise, and the amount of your OBC, we can help figure it out for you. This question is asked a lot. I can't recall anybody losing any OBC.

Edited October 13, 2014 by CruiserBruce

[Skipper's Mom]

There's always a watch that might be calling your name, too! :D

[Alberta Quilter]

There are lots of ways to use your OBC. Besides the HSC and the Internet access already mentioned, you may choose a laundry package (unlimited or by the bag), you may purchase wine, or you may play Bingo. I know you said you have the drink package but the wine available under the package terms is lacking. And, of course, there is always a trinket to purchase, even a hoodie or a tshirt.

 

I thought I would have the same issue as you did. Our OBC was $800, we had the SBP, too. We ended up with a $500 bill!

 

Enjoy your cruise and spending the OBC!

[RuthC]

There's always a watch that might be calling your name' date=' too! :D[/quote']

Good thought. I was going to say, there's always jewelry.

 

If the cruise is coming to an end and you still have some unused credit that won't be refunded, you can always increase your Hotel Service Charge. That way it will go to those who have worked so hard to make your cruise a good one.

[mskaufman]

If you like the specialty restaurants, that is another option.

[Mary Ellen]

If the cruise is coming to an end and you still have some unused credit that won't be refunded, you can always increase your Hotel Service Charge. That way it will go to those who have worked so hard to make your cruise a good one.

I've done this. I'd rather my unused OBC go to the crew.

[catl331]

Another option to use up OBC is to go to a casino slot machine and charge a couple of hundred to your on-board account. Take a couple of spins, then cash out of the machine and take your key-card to the cage to get the cash.

Edited October 13, 2014 by catl331

[hjrell]

Thank you for all the replies!

Our onboard credit is $500 and came from HAL - the cruise is 7 days. We are planning on at least $200 of that going to gratuities.

Our package also includes 2 dinners - 1 in the Pinnacle and 1 in the Canaletto so none will be spent on the specialty restaurants

We will not "max out" our drink package so will not be using any obc for drinks.

I asked Holland if it could be used at the Casino and was told they weren't sure.

We have been on several cruises so usually don't buy the pictures and very little trinkets on board.

Great ideas about using it for an internet package or laundry! And I may be 'forced' to get a massage!! :)

One thing is for sure - I'm not letting any go unused!

I just thought that maybe someone knew a way around being able to use this for our excursions.

I appreciate all the suggestions!

[DaveOKC]

How about using it for a thermal spa package? We enjoy this.

 

Dave

[drowelf]

Another option to use up OBC is to go to a casino slot machine and charge a couple of hundred to your on-board account. Take a couple of spins, then cash out of the machine and take your key-card to the cage to get the cash.

 

Have you ever gotten this to work? The T&C of the OBC (from HAL) explicitly stated that it can not be used Casino Money. Now I'm not sure about OBC from other sources (TA, friends, etc.)

[serendipity1499]

Thank you for all the replies!

Our onboard credit is $500 and came from HAL - the cruise is 7 days. We are planning on at least $200 of that going to gratuities.

Our package also includes 2 dinners - 1 in the Pinnacle and 1 in the Canaletto so none will be spent on the specialty restaurants

We will not "max out" our drink package so will not be using any obc for drinks.

I asked Holland if it could be used at the Casino and was told they weren't sure.

We have been on several cruises so usually don't buy the pictures and very little trinkets on board.

Great ideas about using it for an internet package or laundry! And I may be 'forced' to get a massage!! :)

One thing is for sure - I'm not letting any go unused!

I just thought that maybe someone knew a way around being able to use this for our excursions.

I appreciate all the suggestions!

 

 

If there are two of you the Hotel Service charge will be about $170, but as Ruth C mentioned you can increase that..

 

The casino idea is a good one if it will work? Then you could charge the cash to your room account as Catl above mentioned..If you stop playing right away you will have the cash in your pocket, but again wonder if it will really work..

Edited October 13, 2014 by serendipity1499

[CruiserBruce]

Again, planning on an Internet package?

[hjrell]

Yes, we will most likely do an internet package. Any idea of the cost on those?

IF we were to buy a bottle of liquor in the gift shop, can they ship it to our house or would we have to carry it off the last day ourselves? We are flying in so that wouldn't be practical if we have to take it with us.

[CruiserBruce]

Yes, we will most likely do an internet package. Any idea of the cost on those?

IF we were to buy a bottle of liquor in the gift shop, can they ship it to our house or would we have to carry it off the last day ourselves? We are flying in so that wouldn't be practical if we have to take it with us.

 

Just a quick search on the Internet prices finds:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2077237&highlight=internet+wifi

[catl331]

Have you ever gotten this to work? The T&C of the OBC (from HAL) explicitly stated that it can not be used Casino Money.

Yes, I know, but in practice money drawn in a casino slot machine is treated no differently than any other charge, such as a shop purchase. It is just a debit that is offset by the OBCredit. We've done it several times.

The casino idea is a good one if it will work? Then you could charge the cash to your room account as Catl above mentioned..If you stop playing right away you will have the cash in your pocket, but again wonder if it will really work..

As I said, we've done it several times, and I know others that have done it also. If they decide to change their practices somehow to prevent it, there's another way to convert most of any unused OBC to cash: take a cash advance at the Front Desk. There will be a 3% fee, but at least you get 97% of what you would otherwise lose. Edited October 14, 2014 by catl331

[catl331]

Yes, we will most likely do an internet package. Any idea of the cost on those?

There are several block sizes, starting with 100 minutes for $55 ... on most ships. I think the Zuiderdam may still be doing it differently, with unlimited usage for fixed periods of 1 hour, 1 day, or the full cruise.

IF we were to buy a bottle of liquor in the gift shop, can they ship it to our house or would we have to carry it off the last day ourselves? We are flying in so that wouldn't be practical if we have to take it with us.

You have to take it with you.

[catl331]

... there's another way to convert most of any unused OBC to cash: take a cash advance at the Front Desk.

Of course you should only do this for use-it-or-lose-it OBC from HAL or Carnival Corp, not for OBC purchased by yourself, friends, or your TA, which is always fully refunded.

[TechnoBill]

Look at the excursions you are interested in. Those after the first two days that are not limited in capacity you could book on the ship and use your OBC to pay for them. Hopefully that will eat up the remainder not used for gratuities and internet.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I've done this. I'd rather my unused OBC go to the crew.

 

 

How do you know that the crew gets any left over shipboard credit that people don't use up?

[Boytjie]

How do you know that the crew gets any left over shipboard credit that people don't use up?

 

I believe the suggestion was to increase the hotel service charge to use up OBC and thereby it goes to the crew.