Cruise Planner / OBC

[Snit13]

It's very simple, you just go to the redemption website and fill out the form there.

 

Thanks Bob.

 

Was hoping to use some points for a future cruise but if I understand the new rules correctly you can't book a balcony with points. That is why I plan to buy OBC with points. I believe they told me 15,000 points = $150.

 

Grace

[Clarea]

Thanks Bob.

 

Was hoping to use some points for a future cruise but if I understand the new rules correctly you can't book a balcony with points. That is why I plan to buy OBC with points. I believe they told me 15,000 points = $150.

 

Grace

It's more complicated than that.

 

You can book any type of stateroom and redeem points against that booking. If you use the points for OBC or straight discount, there's no problem, that works fine.

 

However, if you want to use the "free" cruise redemption, Royal will remove the current promo (BOGO60) and re-price with a fake regular price. So it makes it much more expensive, and that "free" cruise redemption value is severely reduced.

[perfect match]

I tried to use my OBC with both of the cruises we have booked with RCI. Our Freedom cruise was booked through a TA ( because the RCI site was down, if you can believe that :eek:), our Oasis cruise was an OBB. Both cruises had OBC offered by RCI, nothing specifically from the TA. I was unable to use our OBC to book excursions on either cruise. Oh, well. Sure would have been nice to get those bookings done in advance. Since we weren't planning on being able to use OBC in advance of boarding in the first place we will just use it once we are on board like we originally planned. :sigh:

[givethisatry]

My OBC was from my RC credit card - turned in points for the OBC. I've also been told that if I don't spend my entire OBC, I can get a cash refund or let them apply a credit to the credit card that I'll use for onboard purchases. I'm not sure if somehow that puts this OBC in a unique category.

 

When was this cruise booked for? I turned in my OBC with my RC credit card points about a month ago, but my cruise is not until September. When did this message show up in your account? How soon before the cruise? I would love to use my OBC in advance. Thank you.

 

If you have gone on the cruise and did not spend it all, did you have a problem getting the cash refund?

[PokrChick]

I cruised the end of June so I was able to start using it about five weeks prior to the cruise. It just kind of showed up. I even cancelled a couple things and rebooked them so I could use the OBC. Worked perfectly. The last night of the cruise, I went to guest services. There was virtually no line - which shocked me! They gave me cash for my balance ($750). I left about $10 on the account for any additional purchases prior to debarkation. They would have given it all to me in cash had I wanted it. Very, very easy :)

 

Enjoy your cruise!!

[givethisatry]

I cruised the end of June so I was able to start using it about five weeks prior to the cruise. It just kind of showed up. I even cancelled a couple things and rebooked them so I could use the OBC. Worked perfectly. The last night of the cruise, I went to guest services. There was virtually no line - which shocked me! They gave me cash for my balance ($750). I left about $10 on the account for any additional purchases prior to debarkation. They would have given it all to me in cash had I wanted it. Very, very easy :)

 

Enjoy your cruise!!

 

Thank you so much for your quick response. I think I may book the drinks package now, while it is on sale and hope that my obc shows up and I can rebook still at sale price. Otherwise I may just cash out the obc on the cruise. I just don't want to lose the $700 in credit card points.

[PokrChick]

Just wanted to mention, they won't let you cash it out prior to the last night unless you are willing to take the 5% hit that the casino charges.

 

I think you're smart with purchasing the drink package at the sale price to lock it in. Just in case. The way I looked at it, even if I paid for something instead of using the OBC, I was reimbursed for it in the end. It was just a matter of laying out the money in advance.

 

I had never heard of credit card points being turned into cash like this so I was skeptical. And very happy when it turned out to be true!

[givethisatry]

 

I had never heard of credit card points being turned into cash like this so I was skeptical. And very happy when it turned out to be true!

 

That is my concern too. I don't want to lose $700 but if I can get it back, great.

[Dorh]

I cruised the end of June so I was able to start using it about five weeks prior to the cruise. It just kind of showed up. I even cancelled a couple things and rebooked them so I could use the OBC. Worked perfectly. The last night of the cruise, I went to guest services. There was virtually no line - which shocked me! They gave me cash for my balance ($750). I left about $10 on the account for any additional purchases prior to debarkation. They would have given it all to me in cash had I wanted it. Very, very easy :)

 

Enjoy your cruise!!

I am leaving Aug. 20 th on a 5 day cruise. Two days ago I transferred money to OBC from my Visa RC card. Now I just tried to purchase the 20% off drink package using the OBC. It only shows an option to use my credit card, not OBC.

I called crown and anchor and they told me it does not show any OBC amount on my reservation.

C&A told me I can use my credit card to get the 20% off, the go to Guest Services to use OBC and then credit $ back to my account.

Has anyone had any luck or problems doing this before the cruise, or when on board?

Thanks.

[PokrChick]

I believe it can take several weeks for your credit card points OBC to show on your account. You won't be able to use it until it is applied.

[Ourusualbeach]

I am leaving Aug. 20 th on a 5 day cruise. Two days ago I transferred money to OBC from my Visa RC card. Now I just tried to purchase the 20% off drink package using the OBC. It only shows an option to use my credit card, not OBC.

I called crown and anchor and they told me it does not show any OBC amount on my reservation.

C&A told me I can use my credit card to get the 20% off, the go to Guest Services to use OBC and then credit $ back to my account.

Has anyone had any luck or problems doing this before the cruise, or when on board?

Thanks.

 

I am fairly certain that if you try that then guest services will have to cancel the package that you purchased and then you would have to repurchase the package at the current on board prices.

 

If you just want to get your OBC back in cash then set your on board account up as a cash account. This way you can withdraw up to $500 per day in the casino and they do not charge you the 5% fee.