How to spend onboard credit

[MomC]

We are taking a cruise in a month and have over a $1,000 OBC.  Since we have visited the Caribbean islands several times, we won’t be going on any excursions.  I am not a big spa person so I need suggestions on how you like to spend your OBC.  Any tips?  I’m thinking some decadent wine.

 

I welcome your suggestions.

 

Mom C

[PeaSea8ch]

MomC, premium wines and anything in the gift shop are prime candidates.

 

The following are suggestions.  I do not know if Seabourn would allow using an OBC for the following: casino gaming; deposit for an open booking on a future Seabourn cruise; using a private car, arranged by Seabourn, for disembarkation to either an airport or a post cruise hotel you booked outside of Seabourn.

[dalliowner]

 I did not think you can use for future cruise deposit, always had to pay separately .  My wife can always find some jewellery in the shop that she desperately needs 

[Mauzac]

You can't use OBC in the casino nor for a future cruise deposit.  We've never had that much credit, but what we have I use for a decadent spa massage (on the last cruise I had a long one that was sublime), I have my hair done, internet and shop purchases.

 

[alwaysonaship]

We too had large OBC on our last two trips. A year ago I bought a Roberto Coin bracelet, and this time I purchased another one.

 

the jewelry store is nice..small but a good selection

[DC Traveler244]

You also can use OBC for premium wines.

[tv24]

Definitely not in the casino or future cruise deposits.  Unless you are of elevated frequent status, you will pay for internet.  You can pay for laundry and not worry about machines.  Buy some gifts for family, friends, and yourselves.

[LMB01]

We used our on a pair of Swarovski binoculars - OBC did not pay for them in entirety but certainly made them more affordable!

[raphael360]

41.6 men’s SEABOURN LOGO hats. 

[Mark56]

How about airport transport?

[Host Dan]

I remember when you could give all or a portion of your OBC to the crew fund.  Not anymore.

[n2wdw]

I get what you're saying about excursions.  But I guess I'd take a second look and see if anything is interesting.  That's the fastest way to use OBC.  Otherwise you're kinda forcing things.

 

On the other hand, on our last Seabourn cruise a few months ago, they had Blanton's bourbon for $40 a pour.  Which by the way isn't that outrageous a price.   I'd probably go for that.  And yeah, I'd hit the gift shoppe for Seabourn swag.

[gallivanter]

Depending on who gives the credit.  If it's from the TA then we have it returned to our credit card as a credit.

[bigred70]

Just booked a Seabourn cruise and have SBC. Went online to book excursions and found they make you pay with credit card and will reimburse you on board if you have SBC. Sailed Oceania 20+ and they let you use SBC booking on line. 

 

[Mahogany]

1 hour ago, bigred70 said:

Just booked a Seabourn cruise and have SBC. Went online to book excursions and found they make you pay with credit card and will reimburse you on board if you have SBC. Sailed Oceania 20+ and they let you use SBC booking on line. 

 

Several cruise lines let you do this. But it's a very easy process when you get onboard to transfer your shorex payments to OBC.

[frantic36]

4 hours ago, bigred70 said:

Just booked a Seabourn cruise and have SBC. Went online to book excursions and found they make you pay with credit card and will reimburse you on board if you have SBC. Sailed Oceania 20+ and they let you use SBC booking on line. 

 

It has been this way on Seabourn for many years now and as Mahogany said it is easy enough to transfer to OBC when onboard or wait to book onboard if it isn't a high priority. Seabourn is not Oceania and it's best not to expect the same.

[Aexboeingdriver]

Ditto on the Swarovski binoculars. They pair well with our Ziess.

[labonnevie]

On 2/22/2024 at 1:03 PM, bigred70 said:

Just booked a Seabourn cruise and have SBC. Went online to book excursions and found they make you pay with credit card and will reimburse you on board if you have SBC. Sailed Oceania 20+ and they let you use SBC booking on line. 

 

It’s the same on Regent, both part of NCLH.

Everyone always says about the Seabourn process of reversing the charge once onboard “oh, it’s easy”. Having done it the Seabourn way, I have to agree, it’s pretty easy. 
But it still makes no sense whatsoever. When your reservation has an OBC associated with it, why not just charge against it until it is used up?

So much easier and it would free up staff time on board to do other things. 

[Hlitner]

On 10/29/2019 at 5:25 PM, Mark56 said:

How about airport transport?

Yes, if it is booked by Seabourn.  A couple of years ago we did a month long Ovation cruise from Miami to Monte Carlo.  We had a lot of OBC, and since we do not like cruise line excursions we had decided to use it for good wines whenever we dined in TK.  We quickly became friends with the Sommelier who would talk us out of some very expensive wines which he replaced with lower cost items (not always on the wine list).  About a week before the end of the cruise we realized we were going to have money left over and decided to ask about a transfer from the pier at Monte Carlo to our hotel in Nice.  The Guest Relations folks said they could arrange for a private car/driver and quoted us a price which would use up most of our OBC.  It was a no-brainer.  

 

The key is that you must book through Seabourn and then they will use your OBC.  

 

Hank

[Hobar]

The jewelry is sometimes nice.