OBC from TA-how to spend?

[susiesan]

I will be cruising on Star Pride Dec.1 for 7 days. I have $300 OBC from my TA. Can I use this towards gratuities? If so, that will use up $189. The remainder will be used for drinks at the bar.

 

How do I see how it is being spent while o the cruise? is there a way to check your bill from the cabin or do I need to keep going down to the pursers desk to see how much is left?

[new_cruiser]

I'm not sure if it can be used for gratuities. OBC from Windstar can't be, but I don't know if that applies to OBC from a TA. 

 

We usually get the laundry package. That plus drinks and a couple of excursions was enough to use up $300 pp OBC on an 8-day cruise for us. (We aren't very big drinkers.)

 

Spa services would be another way to use some OBC. 

[susiesan]

I am assuming the OBC is from my TA, bit I am not sure. It is on the TA invoice as $300 shipboard credit.

On the bottom of my cruise ticket under the shipboard excursions and onboard items from Windstar it says Shipboard Credit, $150 qty: 1. Does this mean half is from my TA and half is from Windstar? I won't be doing laundry or purchasing any shore excursions so we would have $21 a day to spend on drinks.

[milepig]

1 hour ago, susiesan said:

I am assuming the OBC is from my TA, bit I am not sure. It is on the TA invoice as $300 shipboard credit.

On the bottom of my cruise ticket under the shipboard excursions and onboard items from Windstar it says Shipboard Credit, $150 qty: 1. Does this mean half is from my TA and half is from Windstar? I won't be doing laundry or purchasing any shore excursions so we would have $21 a day to spend on drinks.

 

Is that $150 maybe per person? One way we spend it is to underbook excursions. Depending on the price, booking one or two on board will eat up that $300. Also laundry package or a beverage package. Internet I wouldn't do as the pricing before boarding is better - you get 2 devices instead of one and the price is a bit lower.

 

The gift shop can have some good sale prices, and last trip we bough a couple men's shirts on clearance for what we thought was a good price. Nice quality and they're not cruise specific.

[susiesan]

No, not $150 per person. I read this to be a total of $150 from Windstar for both of us. This is what it looks like printed on the ticket:

 

GUEST   ITEM DESCRIPTION                         DELIVERY DATE

SShhoorere E xEcxucrsuirosniso annsd aOnndb oOanrdb Iotaemrds Items

1,2          Shipboard Credit $150 Qty: 1          12/01/2018

Here, you’ll find a listing of the onboard amenities and shore excursions you’ve purchased for delivery during your yacht voyage. The items above are refundable until 24-48 hours prior to delivery. Onboard Items cancellations of within 7 days will be refunded in the form of Onboard Credit.

[ridethetide]

It is my understanding that OBC cannot be used toward gratuities.  I, personally, would use it toward the laundry package, which is fantastic and allows you to pack lighter.

[new_cruiser]

When did you book? Last spring there was a Windstar promotion that gave $150 OBC per person (on short cruises, a higher amount on longer cruises). I'm not sure, but 1,2 under Guest may indicate that each of you get the described item; i.e guest 1 has a $150 credit and guest 2 has a $150 credit. 

 

The OBC we have gotten from our TA hasn't shown up on the Windstar invoice, it is on TA's invoice and on the account once we board. 

 

You could ask your travel agent. I can't find a statement on Windstar's site about whether OBC can be used for gratuities. In the past it couldn't.

 

Drinks are typically $7 to $12, though there might be a "happy hour" price that is lower and a high end scotch can be higher so to use $21 a day would be around 2 to 3 drinks per day. 

[susiesan]

13 minutes ago, ridethetide said:

It is my understanding that OBC cannot be used toward gratuities.  I, personally, would use it toward the laundry package, which is fantastic and allows you to pack lighter.

 

I will be most unhappy if I cannot use the $300 towards gratuities as I was counting on. I never use OBC for overpriced excursions or shopping onboard nor a laundry package for only a 7 day cruise. If all I will be using it on is cocktails then I guess my hubby and I will be very 'happy" on this cruise. Normally we don't drink much but I am not going to leave this on the table. 

[susiesan]

Update: I asked my TA, she confirmed I have $300 OBC for both of us, non refundable,  cannot be used for gratuities.

We may be having a bottle of wine with dinner now. I will be leaving the cruise with a hangover.

[Strenz]

1,2  shipboard credit  150 qty 1 means a shipboard credit of $150 for both people in the cabin once during the cruise= $300

I have completed 22 cruises this credit is never applied to the gratuties. Simply spending money on the ship: shop, drinks, laundry, excursions ( not the casino )

Have a nice cruise and lovely wine with your dinner. 

[susiesan]

Second part of my question, how do you track the onboard spend? Is there a way to view the account on the cabin TV? Do you go to reception and ask where you stand, how much is left? On my last cruise on Princess they have a kiosk that you put your room card in and get a printout of your onboard account. It is very convenient.

[ridethetide]

11 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Second part of my question, how do you track the onboard spend? Is there a way to view the account on the cabin TV? Do you go to reception and ask where you stand, how much is left? On my last cruise on Princess they have a kiosk that you put your room card in and get a printout of your onboard account. It is very convenient.

I assume that you could get that information from the ship's purser.  There certainly is no kiosk or means to get the information from your TV.  Don't fret about a $300 OBC.  Enjoy your sailing.

[Ski Mom 2]

I believe you just need to go to reception and they will be happy to print you a current copy of your bill at any time. It won't be a problem to have them do this for you.

[milepig]

43 minutes ago, Ski Mom 2 said:

I believe you just need to go to reception and they will be happy to print you a current copy of your bill at any time. It won't be a problem to have them do this for you.

 

You can ask them for one at any time, or they'll put a copy in your cabin the day before disembarkation. That will result in a queue at reception, so better to be proactive and ask for a copy a day or two earlier. They'll happily print you one.