Onboard credit question

[Beaver1975]

Can onboard credit, offered by Carnival, be used for gratuities? 

 

We are frequent NCL cruisers and they have two different types of onboard credit.  Refundable which can be used against service charges and Non-refundable which cannot be used for service charges.

[browneyedangel74]

Yes, your onboard credit can be used for gratuities. I have done that in the past myself.

[Cruiseman38]

Yes it can. 

[maryred]

It depends on why the OBC was issued. Certain booking promo OBC has restrictions in the "fine" print of the offer, with some even being restricted for use on charges from a single department (ie. excursion credits). OBC from ES price protection claims, port fee reductions can be used for anything charged on board including the auto-gratuities.

[elcuchio24]

8 minutes ago, maryred said:

It depends on why the OBC was issued. Certain booking promo OBC has restrictions in the "fine" print of the offer, with some even being restricted for use on charges from a single department (ie. excursion credits). OBC from ES price protection claims, port fee reductions can be used for anything charged on board including the auto-gratuities.

 

I think also the shareholders OBC credit can not be used for grats...

[Garth2]

1 hour ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

I think also the shareholders OBC credit can not be used for grats...

 

Yes, it can.

[elcuchio24]

30 minutes ago, Garth2 said:

 

Yes, it can.

This benefit is not transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and, cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account.

 

Thats from this years shareholder claim sheet....am I reading this wrong?

 

[Honolulu Blue]

33 minutes ago, elcuchio24 said:

This benefit is not transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and, cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account.

 

Thats from this years shareholder claim sheet....am I reading this wrong?

 

 

You're not reading it wrong.  I've used my shareholder credit for gratuities several times and I expect it will be used for that purpose on my future cruises.

[elcuchio24]

22 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

You're not reading it wrong.  I've used my shareholder credit for gratuities several times and I expect it will be used for that purpose on my future cruises.

 

Ok...........so their small print is just inaccurate?

[Honolulu Blue]

17 hours ago, elcuchio24 said:

 

Ok...........so their small print is just inaccurate?

 

It is, at least in this specific case.

[Garth2]

On 6/19/2019 at 1:19 PM, Honolulu Blue said:

 

You're not reading it wrong.  I've used my shareholder credit for gratuities several times and I expect it will be used for that purpose on my future cruises.

 

I believe this only applies to gratuities other than the standard daily amounts, like when you tip extra for a cocktail.  On a 14 day cruise we only booked 1 excursion which was less than the $250 shareholder benefit, and the rest of the OBC was netted against the standard gratuities.

[coevan]

doesn't the OBC get applied to anything on your folio? I don't think you pick what to use it for. 

[Butterbean1000]

36 minutes ago, coevan said:

doesn't the OBC get applied to anything on your folio? I don't think you pick what to use it for. 

This is also my understanding. 

[maryred]

13 hours ago, coevan said:

doesn't the OBC get applied to anything on your folio? I don't think you pick what to use it for. 

True you can't choose what it is applied to specifically, but Carnival can bar it from being applied to specific charges. If the service or item is excluded in the OBC offer terms then a passenger expecting the OBC to covered the charge might suddenly find out they may need an additional funding method for their account to cover said expense.

[elcuchio24]

16 hours ago, coevan said:

doesn't the OBC get applied to anything on your folio? I don't think you pick what to use it for. 

 

But some is refundable/some isn't. Thats the only difference I see.