Does HAL refund unspent OBC?

[Infi]

As a result of some big price drops and other incentives, we'll be receiving a large amount of OBC on our upcoming Prinsendam cruise. Even though we'll apply it to the HSC and other onboard spending, I still doubt we will spend it all. Does HAL refund unspent OBC, and if so, how does one go about getting the refund? Thanks in advance, all!

[cruz chic]

The short answer is no. If the obc comes from HAL it will not be refundable.

[Shmoo here]

I believe any OBC you have that's actually monies that you've paid (refund when price drops, for example), would be refundable.

 

Any OBC that's provided as an incentive ("Book now and receive $XX OBC) isn't refundable.

[fsdj1097]

We also had a large amount of OBC for our 2013 Canada/New England cruise. I was under the impression that we would receive a refund on our credit card at the end of the cruise. When I spoke to the front desk about it, I learned that you either use it or lose it. I took DW for a little shopping spree in the Shops Onboard on the last day of the cruise.

[Infi]

The OBC is a combination - a big chunk from a price drop that our TA negotiated from HAL post final payment, some from FCCs, some from TA, and $250 from DD's shareholder benefit. From the replies, it seems like only the price drop OBC will be refundable? Does HAL have a pecking order in which OBC is spent? (I only ask because Princess claims to spend non-refundable OBC first, then refundable.) Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Shmoo here]

The OBC is a combination - a big chunk from a price drop that our TA negotiated from HAL post final payment, some from FCCs, some from TA, and $250 from DD's shareholder benefit. From the replies, it seems like only the price drop OBC will be refundable? Does HAL have a pecking order in which OBC is spent? (I only ask because Princess claims to spend non-refundable OBC first, then refundable.) Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

The order, typically, is to use up any non-refundable OBC first, before using any refundable.

[boards]

We have had several good size OBC and have managed to spend all of the amount of the credits.

[PathfinderEss]

I wouldn't argue with anyone about this but twice we have not used all our credits we have gotten from Hal. Once we got a few dollars back from them in cash, second time we got a credit back on our card. The first time we had gotten a $500. credit from Hal for having to switch ships because of a charter and the second time because of a credit that was given to us by Hal because of a complaint. Both credits were given to as OBC.

[cruz chic]

I believe any OBC you have that's actually monies that you've paid (refund when price drops, for example), would be refundable.

 

Any OBC that's provided as an incentive ("Book now and receive $XX OBC) isn't refundable.

 

I've gotten OBC for price drops. I stopped by the front desk and asked if it was refundable. I was told use it or lose it. I sure hope the OP goes to the front desk to confirm because I would hate from them to lose it thinking they would get the money back and then be disappointed.

[Alberta Quilter]

You can spend it fairly easily without trying very hard. You can go use it to pay for a laundry package, wine package, other beverages, Bingo, wine tastings, Sip & Savor events, flowers for your stateroom, raffles, art auction purchases, corsages/boutineers, shopping, increase the HSC, and probably a few others that don't come to my mind right now.

 

We had a very healthy OBC on our May cruise and ended up with a $500 bill at the end. (And we had the Explore4 on that cruise so all of our drinks were covered by the SBP!)

[fsdj1097]

I've gotten OBC for price drops. I stopped by the front desk and asked if it was refundable. I was told use it or lose it. I sure hope the OP goes to the front desk to confirm because I would hate from them to lose it thinking they would get the money back and then be disappointed.

 

The last thing you want to do is ASSUME anything!

[Infi]

Given the mixed responses on here, I will definitely ask the question for myself at the front desk to be certain. It seems like at very least, we will get the price drop money back, which is the largest chunk of the OBC, so that's good to know.

 

As for all of those saying to spend it, I would try but it will be very difficult for us to spend $1000 worth of OBC in 16 days. We're not extravagant people and have been to all of these ports many times, so spending on excursions or other luxuries doesn't hold much appeal for us. The most I can see us doing to spend the money is increasing the HSC, or treating ourselves to an extra cocktail in the evening or something from the shops, and that won't make too much of a dent.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It really depends on how you got the shipboard credit.

One time we had several tours cancelled because of weather conditions and ended up with a bunch of shipboard credit as we had pre-booked those tours. The money was credited back to our credit card.

But if you got a big chunk from HAL -- no refunds there.

[superoma]

There is a way to take the money out of your account through the casino. I can't find the latest thread that talked about that but several people have said it can be done.

 

I will keep searching for the thread but maybe someone will come along and post how to do it on this thread.

[superoma]

OK, I found it. This was originally posted by Kakalina in October this year

 

There is a much better way to take it out in the casino without riling up the worker there. One sits at a slot machine and uses their room card to "open" an account with the system by picking a pin number after opening it with their birthdate. Once opened one just chooses to take out money "from ship account" which puts it right on your account with the ship where the credits are. Spin the machine at least twice, you are required by the system to use the machine. Then hit cash out. Take your card to the cashier cage, tell them you wish to cash out. There is no need to mention why you are cashing out.

 

Then you walk away with cash in hand. It is very easy to do. We do play a lot on the machines and do this quite often. Of course, with us the casino usually gets the OBC anyway

 

I hope this helps.

[luvcruisn']

Several of us queried the front desk on our recent cruise on the Prinsendam regarding whether or not the stock credit of $250.00 for this 16 day cruise was refundable. We got various answers from the front desk, and from travel agents that were e-mailed regarding the subject. The auditor on board finally confirmed that up to $250.00, the stock credit amount given for this cruise, was refundable if not used. All of the promotional credit would be used up first, and then any remaining credit, up to $250.00, could be given back on the credit card left with the front office. I received a credit of $78.00, as I made a few purchases, and used my promotional credit towards the hotel service charge. It seems that the front office is not always correct in what they tell people, as on other cruises, I have been told that the stock credit is non-refundable.

[luvcruisn']

There are two ways that I have found to get money out of my onboard account. One is taking it out in cash, from the front office, with a charge of 3%.

 

The other way is through the casino. I have done it using the slot machines. I load money on my room card from my account at the front office. I play a little, trying of course not to lose too much. You can then go to the cashiers' window in the casino, and take out the money left in cash. You are not charged a fee this way, but you might lose a few dollars.

 

*I see Superoma already posted the casino version while I was typing.

Edited December 8, 2014 by luvcruisn'

[MaxThrusters]

There are two kinds of OBC: complimentary and paid-for. The former is not refunded if unused, the latter is.

 

For example: I received $250 OBC from HAL because I complained about something on my last cruise. This didn't cost anything, so it is not refunded.

 

Example 2: I purchased $600 OBC for my cruise from ships services, so I could in effect prepay certain charges while on my cruise. If unspent, this would be refunded at the end of the cruise.

 

Example 3: I received OBC from travel agent, but didn't use any of it. This would (apparently) also be refundable, as it didn't come from HAL. Someone do correct me if I am wrong here.

 

Example 4: I got $200 OBC as a promotion from HAL when I booked. This would not be refunded if not used.

 

I hope that helps, bon voyage

[luvcruisn']

There are two kinds of OBC: complimentary and paid-for. The former is not refunded if unused, the latter is.

 

Example 3: I received OBC from travel agent, but didn't use any of it. This would (apparently) also be refundable, as it didn't come from HAL. Someone do correct me if I am wrong here.

 

I don't belive that OBC from your travel agent is refundable, as it is considered promotional credit. On my last cruise, I had $50.00 in OBC from my travel agent, $50.00 from a future cruise credit, and $250.00 in stock credit. Only the stock credit was refundable.

Edited December 9, 2014 by luvcruisn'

[gigianne]

We cruised on the Prinsendam September/October of this year. We had a very large $$$of combined OBC (HAL) CCL share credit and OBC from our TA. The OBC from HAL consisted of regular OBC and additional OBC when the price of the cruise dropped after final payment. The HAL OBC credit was used up first, then the CCL credit and finally the OBC from our TA. I made sure that anything that HAL gave us was used up because I checked at the office and knew it was - use it or loose it. At the end of the cruise we had about $250 left from what our TA gave us - it was credited to our credit card the day we disembarked.

OP - you are getting a lot of information on this thread - for the most part we are all on the same page as to the information being posted. To be on the safe side - check when you get on board. BTW it isn't hard to spend $$$ in the ship's stores or for wine packages etc. It sure is nice having enough OBC to pay your expenses while on board - beats getting a bill the night before you disembark.

[Tante Amalie]

Keep in mind that HAL is notoriously inconsistent with policies like this. You may find that a refundable credit on one cruise turns out to be non-refundable on the next one. I would be careful in trusting what even the front desk tells you. I recommend the "casino" withdrawal...that way you have a bird in the hand.

[agabbymama]

I'm not sure about HAL, but on other cruiselines I always ask for a printout of our account every couple of days. The printout shows your refundable/non-refundable credits. So you are able to keep track of what's left in your account. During the cruise, we were by the Purser's Desk frequently, so no big deal to stop and ask for the print out. And don't be surprised if you don't get the refund immediately, sometimes the check is mailed and sometimes the credit is to the form of payment credit card. It really isn't difficult to spend money on-board. Have a great cruise!

[DaveOKC]

I'm not sure about HAL, but on other cruiselines I always ask for a printout of our account every couple of days. The printout shows your refundable/non-refundable credits. So you are able to keep track of what's left in your account. During the cruise, we were by the Purser's Desk frequently, so no big deal to stop and ask for the print out. And don't be surprised if you don't get the refund immediately, sometimes the check is mailed and sometimes the credit is to the form of payment credit card. It really isn't difficult to spend money on-board. Have a great cruise!

 

HAL's statements do not show the refundable/non-refundable credits - only the total credits.

[Infi]

Thank you for the casino info, superoma. Princess has something similar in their casinos yet we have never had to use it, as they usually refund our unused OBC back to us via check a few weeks after the cruise.

 

Again, I hear all the suggestions that it is not hard to use the OBC, but I know myself and my daughter and I know we would be hard pressed to spend all of this money. We don't drink wine, do the spa, etc. - not because we deny ourselves, but because it's just not our cruising style. We have had less OBC than this on other cruises and still failed to spend it all, so I'm pretty sure the same will happen here.

 

I'll be checking with the front desk, double checking our account printouts, and keeping the casino tip in my back pocket just in case. Thanks to all for their input.

[Infi]

Just to add an update to this thread: I checked with the front desk onboard our cruise, and it turned out ALL of the OBC was non-refundable. A lot of it came from HAL (price drops, FCDs, shareholder, etc.) so I expected that, but they also lumped in what our TA gave us, so I'm not sure about the truth behind that one. As expected, we weren't able to make a dent in even half of the OBC we had, so on the last night, we tried the casino tip to withdraw it and it worked like a charm. Thanks, all!