Holland American Onboard Credit?

[MissJammin]

I have $550 onboard credit from different sources for a 14 day cruise.

 

And just got of the phone with HAL to verify that all amounts are showing. :-) The HAL customer service rep went over the rules, she said that we would not be able to apply the OBC towards the gratuities...but confided that she knew some were able to but on others that usage was denied.

 

Forgive if this topic has been beaten to death, I couldn't find anything newer than 2013 on it.

 

What have people been experiencing lately using OBC towards gratuities?

 

 

Thanks!

[Krazy Kruizers]

No matter where we have gotten Shipboard Credit from, it has always been able to be used for the gratuities (Hotel Service Charge) for the cabin stewards, dining room staff, all the behind the scenes staff.

When you buy cocktails, bottled water, sodas, anything from any bar, a 15% gratuity is automatically added on.

[rkacruiser]

My experience has been the same as Krazy Kruizers.

[CruiserBruce]

Every charge against your room bill, including the hotel service, can have your OBC used on it. The only exception is cash for gambling.

[CaveDiving]

I have $550 onboard credit from different sources for a 14 day cruise.

 

And just got of the phone with HAL to verify that all amounts are showing. :-) The HAL customer service rep went over the rules, she said that we would not be able to apply the OBC towards the gratuities...but confided that she knew some were able to but on others that usage was denied.

 

Forgive if this topic has been beaten to death, I couldn't find anything newer than 2013 on it.

 

What have people been experiencing lately using OBC towards gratuities?

 

 

Thanks!

 

In my experience, on numerous HAL ships, the information as to where any OBC originated, is not commonly available on the ship. It is obviously available in Seattle, but not available on the ships. So, of course unless some special additional, non-standard verification is requested, any OBC can be used to offset the HSC.

 

It is not that unusual to be given incorrect information by HAL customer service reps. In Seattle.

 

Scott & Karen

[jabcruiser]

Every charge against your room bill, including the hotel service, can have your OBC used on it. The only exception is cash for gambling.

And I have been successful with just putting gambling money on room account and then cashing out at casino. They say can't use for casino, but never any problem here. In fact I had like a $3.00 credit still on card from casino last evening of one cruise and they called me twice to come cash it out! One cruise last year had over $900 OBC and hotel service charges definitely were paid with it as well as some gambling, spa services, specialty restaurants, OB shop purchases, and of course bar bills.

Jane

[Tennessee Titan]

We just had a not great OBC experience on the Koningsdam It actually was great, buit we were given a lot of bad and conflicting information by Guest Services AND Seattle. We had over $1500 in OBC, PLUS free gratuities, PLUS a $100 Signature Beverage card. So it was tough to spend it all! So I inquired as to how much of it was "use it or lose it" and how much would be refundable. I got all three answers, the last of which (from Seattle) was all "use it or lose it". So we spent all the OBC but $18, and they just refunded the $18. So you really can't count on any info you get!

[RoyalVisit]

Every charge against your room bill, including the hotel service, can have your OBC used on it. The only exception is cash for gambling.

 

This is exactly what I was told when I called HAL last week to clarify what the OBC could be used for. We have an OBC from Costco Travel Canada and the shareholder benefit.

[MissJammin]

Thanks everyone. I am never surprised when a "home office" has no real clue of the stuff that actual happens on a ship or tour.

[chong67]

I have a $25 OBC per pax. What can I use it for beside food? Souvenirs can? Tips?

[Crew News]

I have a $25 OBC per pax. What can I use it for beside food? Souvenirs can? Tips?

 

OBC is merely a reduction in the amount that you have spent during the cruise. So everything you charge to your room (beverages, on-board shopping, hotel service charges, minibar, etc.) will be reduced by the amount of your OBC when they charge your credit card at the end of the cruise.

[DaveOKC]

I have found that HAL's ability to track all this information concerning onboard expenditures is limited. Plus, I do not think they really want to take the time to check each account onboard to enforce the restrictions HAL places on some OBC. A year or so ago we had a promotion OBC that was supposed to be good only for shore excursions, but in the end they applied it to our account and some of it ended up being credited to other things.

 

Thus the various reports on this board about getting money back, spending in casino, etc.

 

Last month they applied our OBC (all of it was from HAL directly) to our daily hotel service charge.

[chong67]

OBC is merely a reduction in the amount that you have spent during the cruise. So everything you charge to your room (beverages, on-board shopping, hotel service charges, minibar, etc.) will be reduced by the amount of your OBC when they charge your credit card at the end of the cruise.

 

If I dont spent the OBC, do I get it back at the end of the trip?

[catl331]

If I dont spent the OBC, do I get it back at the end of the trip?

It depends on the source. OBC from HAL or Carnival Corp is "use it or lose it", while excess OBC from a TA or purchased by yourself/family/friends will be refunded. If you have both kinds, it has been said on this forum that they use up the non-refundable kind first, but since we've never had excess I can't confirm that.

[avian777]

I have found that HAL's ability to track all this information concerning onboard expenditures is limited. Plus, I do not think they really want to take the time to check each account onboard to enforce the restrictions HAL places on some OBC. A year or so ago we had a promotion OBC that was supposed to be good only for shore excursions, but in the end they applied it to our account and some of it ended up being credited to other things.

 

Thus the various reports on this board about getting money back, spending in casino, etc.

 

Last month they applied our OBC (all of it was from HAL directly) to our daily hotel service charge.

 

Dave, we have had the same experience on several cruises. Guess we're just lucky.

[rajkr74]

We usually pull a copy of our account from the front desk or kiosk a day or two into the cruise to verify that all of the OBCs have posted. So far we have never seen any missing OBCs. All HAL approved OBCs were "use or lose" credits and were used first before any TA credits. Unused TA credits were credited back to our credit card at the end of the cruise. Any and all charges on our account, including hotel service charges, were reduced by any OBCs that are posted on our account.

[springtx249]

Can it go towards a pre-excursion hotel/transfers arranged thru HAL?

[RuthC]

Can it go towards a pre-excursion hotel/transfers arranged thru HAL?

No. It goes toward expenses incurred on board. If you purchase a post-cruise transfer from the Shore Excursions Office while you are on the cruise, that will count as an on-board expense. But if you purchase something in advance of your cruise, it will be paid for at the time of booking.

[DaveOKC]

Ruth covered this well, but I wanted to add that using a post cruise transfer (purchased onboard) can be a good way to use up any left over OBC you have.

[pamrose228]

I have a $200 obc .... $150 from HAL $50 from TA. Grats for 2 for free. How do I get to use the $200 obc for grats for 3rd in cabin?

 

I prepaid a drink package and soda cards and 2 excursions.

 

 

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[Tampa Girl]

I have a $200 obc .... $150 from HAL $50 from TA. Grats for 2 for free. How do I get to use the $200 obc for grats for 3rd in cabin?

 

I prepaid a drink package and soda cards and 2 excursions.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

If all three are on the same account, it will be credited to that account. It doesn't go by each person unless you have set up separate accounts.

[RocketMan275]

I have a $200 obc .... $150 from HAL $50 from TA. Grats for 2 for free. How do I get to use the $200 obc for grats for 3rd in cabin?

 

I prepaid a drink package and soda cards and 2 excursions.

 

 

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It's been my experience that you don't have to do anything. Imagine your on board account is a checking account like at your bank. The OBC is like an initial deposit. Charges to the account are like a check you write on the account. These "checks" clear your account on a daily basis and are deducted from the initial balance in the order they are charged. The 3rd person gratuities will be deducted each day for that day.

 

I think a lot of the confusion results from passengers wanting to reserve the OBC for the gratuities. You can't really reserve the OBC to pay for those gratuities since any charges to the account will subtract from the balance on the day they are incurred.

 

On the second day, go to the desk (or a kiosk) and ask for a copy.

[DaveOKC]

It's been my experience that you don't have to do anything. Imagine your on board account is a checking account like at your bank. The OBC is like an initial deposit. Charges to the account are like a check you write on the account. These "checks" clear your account on a daily basis and are deducted from the initial balance in the order they are charged. The 3rd person gratuities will be deducted each day for that day.

 

I think a lot of the confusion results from passengers wanting to reserve the OBC for the gratuities. You can't really reserve the OBC to pay for those gratuities since any charges to the account will subtract from the balance on the day they are incurred.

 

On the second day, go to the desk (or a kiosk) and ask for a copy.

 

Good explanation! Hopefully this will clear up the issue.

 

I do like the new kiosks near the front desk for running off a copy of my bill without having to wait in line at the front desk. Hope all HAL ships will soon have this.

[chong67]

I am going to use my $50 OBC to pay for the tips that is $13 a day per cabin. OK right?

[RuthC]

I am going to use my $50 OBC to pay for the tips that is $13 a day per cabin. OK right?

The Hotel Service Charge is either $13.50 or $15.00 (for a suite) per person, per day. There are two or more people in the cabin, then the charge will be significantly higher than $13 per cabin would be.