Just needed to vent...

[Overtyme]

These, by far are first world problems, but it's these things that drive me nuts. Maybe it's just me or maybe I'm just missing something...

When we booked our cruise we received a fairly substantial on-board cruise credit.

Historically, we would use our OBC towards meals and for tips.

But that was 6 years ago when booking online activities and restaurants wasn't in place.

We never had an issue making reservations once on-board, but that was because literally and figuratively, we were all in the same boat.

Now everybody is making reservations in advance, so in order to get the reservations that we'd like, we have to do the same or be locked out.

But that's not my complaint.

My issue is that we have a substantial cruise credit which we would like to use towards our reservations, but we cannot.

The systems are not linked and therefore, OBC can not be used on a fairly substantial portion of our bill should we make reservations in advance.

It cannot be used for tours of for other activities that you would normally use it for unless you wait to book on board.

The issue - since everyone else is booking, then you have a high risk of not getting those reservations.

So now, I have to pay for these things on my credit card, items for which I shouldn't have to pay for at all since I have that credit.

I called up C&A to confirm this was the case.

Okay, so then I asked, what about if I pay for a reservation on my credit card and then once on-board cancel the reservation. Will they credit my credit card and then allow me to re-book my reservation using my OBC?

I can, but they won't credit my card. They'll simply apply that to my account.

This is so frustrating to me!

With all of the effort that they put into branding their smart ships, they should really focus on improving the customer experience through the technology that they've already rolled out!

I'm open to any advice that you might have.

If I felt that I was going to burn through my OBC, it wouldn't matter to me, but between several cabins under my reservation, I have quite a large amount.

Is it just me?

[StolidCruiser]

You're absolutely right. It's frustrating that they make you spend on board credit on board.

[Overtyme]

The point is, if you have enough (I'm gonna call it) Cruise Credit to cover your meals, tips, tours, etc. why should you have to spend any more money out of pocket? And why should you be handicapped from the rest of those cruising with you by not being able to make reservations in advance like everybody else?

Or at the very least if I need to pay out of pocket for that luxury, I should be able to reverse the charges on board and then re-book using my cruise credit.

They shouldn't put the amount of the cancelled charge towards my account.

[Gator83]

I thought I was told by someone that if you don't use your OBC you get it back in cash. Is this not true?

[Vacation...Yes]

My Crucon rep told me the same thing. I was told my Royal Caribbean OBC was refundable but the Crucon credit wasn't. Maybe that will help you out...good luck!!

[Overtyme]

I thought I was told by someone that if you don't use your OBC you get it back in cash. Is this not true?

 

 

I did have that conversation with RC as well.

I would be fine with that too, but it's not all that cut and dry.

There are two types of Credit that you can have.

That which might be gifted to you (paid for cruise credit- that which has a cash value) and that which you just get either as part of a promotion or through other means, which according to them has no cash value.

So far, so good- right?

But they're in this business to make money!

So there is an order by which your credits get spent.

First goes the cash value credit and then goes the other credit.

Since that credit has no. Cash value, you either use it or lose it.

So I guess my question is:

What happens with the credit that I get from a TA just for booking through them? That is to say, since TA's can't discount RC cruises, some of them offer you a "discount" in the form of cruise credits.

Would I get that back or would it disappear into the ether?

Edited February 13, 2016 by Overtyme

[denamo]

Not sure how many are booking ahead of time. Maybe once on board you could divide and conquer. Immediately upon boarding, someone in your party could go to the excursions area and another to the restaurant to make reservations.

 

We've done this with OBC in place and been successful doing this immediately upon boarding. If there is an excursion you are afraid will fill up, then you may have to bite the bullet and book prior to boarding.

 

Only once did we almost run into an issue. It was for a tour, and the staff member did an override in the system somehow. There was room for one, but not for two. It didn't seem to be a problem when he did this to get both of us booked for the tour.

 

Honestly, I think I would just chance it unless there is a super special occasion for a restaurant you want to book.

 

Another thought...don't recall the amount of time prior to boarding if you cancel before getting on board, it would go back to your credit card. Know this was done in the past, but not sure about now. I have booked excursions in our early cruise days, only to cancel prior to boarding due to wanting to take a different excursion. That first one was credited to our account. If you did cancel at the last minute, perhaps you would have a better chance of getting the time you wanted once on board since the time to pre-book would close. Ahh...beating the system. LOL.

[denamo]

I did have that conversation with RC as well.

I would be fine with that too, but it's not all that cut and dry.

There are two types of Credit that you can have.

That which might be gifted to you (paid for cruise credit- that which has a cash value) and that which you just get either as part of a promotion or through other means, which according to them has no cash value.

So far, so good- right?

But they're in this business to make money!

So there is an order by which your credits get spent.

First goes the cash value credit and then goes the other credit.

Since that credit has no. Cash value, you either use it or lose it.

So I guess my question is:

What happens with the credit that I get from a TA just for booking through them? That is to say, since TA's can't discount RC cruises, some of them offer you a "discount" in the form of cruise credits.

Would I get that back or would it disappear into the ether?

 

By cruise credits, I think you mean OBC from a TA, correct? My understanding is it would "disappear into the ether". Use is or lose it. :(

[chadbeck]

I don't know if this would work and could be a hassle but what if you booked everything with your cc ahead of time and then cancel them all just before you leave. The ability to book in advance closes a couple days before the cruise so people couldn't claim your canceled spot until they board so you should be able to get them right back once your on the ship and using your onboard credit at that point.

 

 

The other option if you're diamond and above or in a suite you can get help in either lounge. They never seem to have an issue getting whatever time you want.

[Overtyme]

By cruise credits, I think you mean OBC from a TA, correct? My understanding is it would "disappear into the ether". Use is or lose it. :(

 

 

Yeah- that's my understanding too.

My frustration is that this is just a miss in implementation.

But more so, there is a ridiculous amount of inflexibility to allow people to still work around that gap (i.e. No work-around).

We are looking to book on board experiences by using on board credit. [emoji20]

[Merion_Mom]

If there is leftover OBC on your SeaPass account, you can cash it out at the casino with a 5% fee.

 

They may not give it to you in cash. They may ask you if you want chips or slot vouchers.

 

Take the slot vouchers.

 

Go to a slot machine. Feed the vouchers into the machine. Play as little or as much as you want.

 

Cash out.

 

Go to the cash out machine, which will dispense CASH.

 

:)

Edited February 13, 2016 by Merion_Mom

[gerif]

Might help a bit - you could book one of you into each restaurant - since there are no tables for one, you could always add the other one once onboard.

[papaflamingo]

The only time I've ever pre-booked a specialty restaurant was Chefs Table and it wasn't necessary. You can usually find a time to get into a specialty restaurant. Shore excursions may be a different matter, but you can often get those too. But exactly how much OBC do you have? We had $750 one time and still owed by the end of the cruise. We did specialty restaurants but booked on board. Didn't do any shore excursions, didn't do drink packages, and really didn't drink a lot. But bought some nice wines (not overly priced). But after tips, etc. the money goes fast. Plus you can cash it out in the casino as previously stated. Not knowing how much OBC you have makes it hard to give advice. But as you said "first world problem." You can send some my way if you like. :)

[Ken at the beach]

They hold back reservations for people to book on board. I have never had a problem getting my preferred time when I make our reservations on the first day. Even Christmas week that was very busy at the specialty restaurants I got the times that I wanted on board.

 

As someone else mentioned...divide and conquer. One go to a restaurant and one go to the excursion desk. Btw you only have to go to one restaurant as they can make all your bookings from there.

[Overtyme]

If there is leftover OBC on your SeaPass account, you can cash it out at the casino with a 5% fee.

 

They may not give it to you in cash. They may ask you if you want chips or slot vouchers.

 

Take the slot vouchers.

 

Go to a slot machine. Feed the vouchers into the machine. Play as little or as much as you want.

 

Cash out.

 

Go to the cash out machine, which will dispense CASH.

 

:)

 

 

LOL! That's hysterical! I may have to do that just to see it in action. I could do that on day 1 for the full amount (<5%).

[Merion_Mom]

LOL! That's hysterical! I may have to do that just to see it in action. I could do that on day 1 for the full amount (<5%).

 

Yes, you can do it any day. Now, if you make your account a CASH account when you do online check-in, instead of giving a credit card, they won't even charge you the 5%!!!

 

(I made $25 this way on the Anthem a couple of weeks ago! ;))

[IsanTom]

I booked an all inclusive cruise on a 16 night premium cruise line. The travel agency wanted give me an $800 OBC. (Give me, we paid for it!!!) There was nothing on the ship we wanted or needed, all inclusive, so the travel agent credited the $800 off of the

cost of the cruise. She gave me a Net price! Now, I have seen other internet agencies that

will give you the OBC in cash after you return from the cruise! That's not a bad idea either, but negotiate with some of these agencies for a better deal than OBC on ship!

[JoyMouse]

For shore excursions, you could book the "must have" excursions on-line. For other ports where there are 2 or 3 options you like, wait and book on the ship. Shore excursions costs do add up quickly.

[IsanTom]

I booked an all inclusive cruise on a 16 night premium cruise line. The travel agency wanted give me an $800 OBC. (Give me, we paid for it!!!) There was nothing on the ship we wanted or needed, all inclusive, so the travel agent credited the $800 off of the

cost of the cruise. She gave me a Net price! Now, I have seen other internet agencies that

will give you the OBC in cash after you return from the cruise! That's not a bad idea either, but negotiate with some of these agencies for a better deal than OBC on ship!

[gadaboutgal]

Summary of On Board Credit distribution:

1. All charges are first subtracted from any Royal Caribbean obc

2. If you have leftover obc from Royal, take it from the Casino as Merion Mom has stated. If you have a cash account (did not secure with a credit card), they will give you all the cash. For a credit account they will deduct 5%.

3. If you have any other obc, such as from your Travel Agent, you can take it in cash at the Guest Services desk on the last day of the cruise. If you do not take out the remaining cash, it is credited to the credit card that was used on boarding.

Edited February 13, 2016 by gadaboutgal

[BekkaW]

You definitely do not have to book restaurant online before boarding, I have never had trouble getting the reservations I wanted once onboard. Just go on the first day to make the bookings and you'll be fine.

[pjnj40]

These, by far are first world problems, but it's these things that drive me nuts. Maybe it's just me or maybe I'm just missing something...

When we booked our cruise we received a fairly substantial on-board cruise credit.

Historically, we would use our OBC towards meals and for tips.

But that was 6 years ago when booking online activities and restaurants wasn't in place.

We never had an issue making reservations once on-board, but that was because literally and figuratively, we were all in the same boat.

Now everybody is making reservations in advance, so in order to get the reservations that we'd like, we have to do the same or be locked out.

But that's not my complaint.

My issue is that we have a substantial cruise credit which we would like to use towards our reservations, but we cannot.

The systems are not linked and therefore, OBC can not be used on a fairly substantial portion of our bill should we make reservations in advance.

It cannot be used for tours of for other activities that you would normally use it for unless you wait to book on board.

The issue - since everyone else is booking, then you have a high risk of not getting those reservations.

So now, I have to pay for these things on my credit card, items for which I shouldn't have to pay for at all since I have that credit.

I called up C&A to confirm this was the case.

Okay, so then I asked, what about if I pay for a reservation on my credit card and then once on-board cancel the reservation. Will they credit my credit card and then allow me to re-book my reservation using my OBC?

I can, but they won't credit my card. They'll simply apply that to my account.

This is so frustrating to me!

With all of the effort that they put into branding their smart ships, they should really focus on improving the customer experience through the technology that they've already rolled out!

I'm open to any advice that you might have.

If I felt that I was going to burn through my OBC, it wouldn't matter to me, but between several cabins under my reservation, I have quite a large amount.

Is it just me?

 

 

I agree with you but the purpose for OBC is doing it on board not before. That what it mean. I tried to make a reservation one time on another cruise line and the rep told me "are you on board>" i said no, so she explain to me that was Onboard credit mean. If you need to make a reservation to a specialty restaurant, do it as soon you step on the ship. There should be plenty of room to book.

[KirkNC]

I would say you accomplished your objective!

[crusinthrough]

If you are in a suite the concierge can make the reservation for you prior to boarding the ship. You can then use your onboard credit.

 

Others have said that sometimes there is a discount if you purchase dining onboard vs online. Maybe it's better to wait.

[BecciBoo]

My first stop on board before eating embark day lunch at Windjammer is Specialty Restaurant to get my money back for the reservation I made online and have my sea pass account charged for it. Never had a problem...they credit my plastic, may take time to see the credit but no problem. Barring that, make rez. then too, you will probably get a reasonable time. This is also the time when they offer the buy one get another half price for eating the first night. Then...

 

Have lunch.....enjoy.....:)