OBC strategies

[Kfrech]

First time sailing on HAL to Alaska this summer. Transferred cruise from HAL to TA. Booked with Explorer 4 promotion in October--was given $400 OBC directly from HAL. Transferred cruise to TA and received another $355 in OBC from TA. Purchased $500 more in OBC through the Amex promotion. I'm now up to $1255 in OBC. There's no way we're going to spend all of that OBC (especially if we book excursions independent of HAL). My DH does not drink at all, and I might have 1 drink per day. Internet was included in promotion. We have to pay tips and we plan on having dinner at Tamarind. Not interested in spa treatments, etc.

 

So for my question--which part of this OBC will be refunded? I think I've read on other threads that the only thing that is non-refundable is the OBC given from HAL in the Explorer 4 promotion. Am I correct in this?

[kazu]

16 minutes ago, Kfrech said:

First time sailing on HAL to Alaska this summer. Transferred cruise from HAL to TA. Booked with Explorer 4 promotion in October--was given $400 OBC directly from HAL. Transferred cruise to TA and received another $355 in OBC from TA. Purchased $500 more in OBC through the Amex promotion. I'm now up to $1255 in OBC. There's no way we're going to spend all of that OBC (especially if we book excursions independent of HAL). My DH does not drink at all, and I might have 1 drink per day. Internet was included in promotion. We have to pay tips and we plan on having dinner at Tamarind. Not interested in spa treatments, etc.

 

So for my question--which part of this OBC will be refunded? I think I've read on other threads that the only thing that is non-refundable is the OBC given from HAL in the Explorer 4 promotion. Am I correct in this?

 

Yes, in most cases the TA’s OBC is refundable and the OBC you purchase yourself always is.

HAL’s OBC, CCL shareholder OBC is non refundable.  You’ll use most of HAL’s up between HSC, Tamarind, etc.

[CruiserBruce]

Why did you book additional OBC if you can't use it?

[canadianbear]

In the past when we’ve had so much non-refundable OBC we have booked excursions that we might not have through HAL.  Why not use it for a helicopter excursion/dog sled on the glacier.  Our son and DIL did that and it was fantastic.  

 

I’m not familiar with the  Amex OBC-If you purchased it and didn’t use it would it be refunded back to your Amex?  

[Kfrech]

Thought I would use it to book excursions through HAL. Booking independently is significantly cheaper. 
 

I guess the real question is: is OBC that I purchased refundable? I know the TA OBC is and that the HAL OBC given as part of the Explorer 4 promotion is not. 

[kazu]

1 minute ago, Kfrech said:

Thought I would use it to book excursions through HAL. Booking independently is significantly cheaper. 
 

I guess the real question is: is OBC that I purchased refundable? I know the TA OBC is and that the HAL OBC given as part of the Explorer 4 promotion is not. 

YOUR OBC that you purchased is DEFINITELY refundable.  No problem at all.

 

 

[CruiseMGM]

2 hours ago, Kfrech said:

Thought I would use it to book excursions through HAL. Booking independently is significantly cheaper. 
 

I guess the real question is: is OBC that I purchased refundable? I know the TA OBC is and that the HAL OBC given as part of the Explorer 4 promotion is not. 

 

Yes, for sure (your purchased OBC is refundable). But you may want to think about using a different credit card for your cruises. I don't know how AmEx would respond to your use of the promotion...….I'm assuming you charged $500 and got a $100 credit. If they see a refund/credit for $500 from HAL, I suppose they could rescind your $100 credit.

 

Interesting note, we've NEVER seen the $500 purchase/$100 credit. Instead, we've received offers for $500 purchase/10,000 points on whatever AmEx calls their rewards program. 

 

Have a great trip, Alaska is wonderful!

[DaveOKC]

2 hours ago, Kfrech said:

Thought I would use it to book excursions through HAL. Booking independently is significantly cheaper. 
 

I guess the real question is: is OBC that I purchased refundable? I know the TA OBC is and that the HAL OBC given as part of the Explorer 4 promotion is not. 

It is completely refundable - I just did this two weeks ago on the N.A.  Just FYI, it will go to the credit card you have on file for the cruise, not necessarily the one you purchased the OBC with - have done this twice now, so I am 99% certain (nothing is 100% with HAL!

 

For everyone else - unlike a couple of years ago, HAL really does monitor your OBC account to be sure that you are not using the OBC they provide for casino purchases.  Two weeks ago on our final bill they charged us 5 cents (crazy I know) for unused HAL provided OBC, even though we had $200 plus in casino "purchases".  This was on th Niuew Amsterdam.

[Kfrech]

Thanks for the great advice. I intend to use a different credit card once on the ship.

[Mary229]

Many of the Cruise line’s Alaskan excursions are competitively priced so you may want to do some comparison shopping .   

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

Many of the Cruise line’s Alaskan excursions are competitively priced so you may want to do some comparison shopping .   

 

I've found that, too. In Europe, you can do much better on your own, but the mark-up in Alaska isn't much. Also, some tours in Alaska redirect you to HAL. If they're a HAL contractor, you have to go through HAL. I contacted a tour operator in Juneau because I'd gone whale watching with them before and wanted to go again. They weren't available through my ship. They said they would take my booking directly BUT it would have to be standby only because of their contract with the cruise line. 

 

OP, if you want to use OBC to book HAL tours, note that you have to do this onboard. OBC cannot be used to purchase tours in advance. 

 

[Mary229]

Just now, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I've found that, too. In Europe, you can do much better on your own, but the mark-up in Alaska isn't much. Also, some tours in Alaska redirect you to HAL. If they're a HAL contractor, you have to go through HAL. I contacted a tour operator in Juneau because I'd gone whale watching with them before and wanted to go again. They weren't available through my ship. They said they would take my booking directly BUT it would have to be standby only because of their contract with the cruise line. 

 

OP, if you want to use OBC to book HAL tours, note that you have to do this onboard. OBC cannot be used to purchase tours in advance. 

 

I was going to add Europe as the exception.   In many  areas I continue to use HAL because the locals tend to have a propensity to break down The lines have gotten smarter about shore excursions and try to compete. 

[Kfrech]

I am on HAL's website now looking at whale watching excursions from Juneau. They are easily double the price of booking independently. Perhaps the more expensive excursions (helicopter, float plane trips) are more comparable.

[VTcruisenut]

I saw a post somewhere recently that stated the OBC reduces the amount of the hold they place on your credit card at embarking.  is that true?  and OBC can be applied to the gratuities?

[kazu]

5 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I was going to add Europe as the exception.   In many  areas I continue to use HAL because the locals tend to have a propensity to break down The lines have gotten smarter about shore excursions and try to compete. 

 

I’ve done one heck of a lot of private tours in Europe and never had a break down.  Nor have I heard of the reputable companies with that issue and/or they have a cell phone and back up.

 

Europe is the least of my worries for private tours - with good companies 

2 hours ago, VTcruisenut said:

 and OBC can be applied to the gratuities?

 

Yes, OBC can be applied to the HSC.

[Mary229]

11 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I’ve done one heck of a lot of private tours in Europe and never had a break down.  Nor have I heard of the reputable companies with that issue and/or they have a cell phone and back up.

 

Europe is the least of my worries for private tours - with good companies 

 

Yes, OBC can be applied to the HSC.

I think you misinterpreted what I said.  I consider Europe the exception when I do buy private tours as they are reliable and cheaper. I do not use private tours in areas where break downs are common such as places with very bad roads and little good infrastructure 

Edited December 23, 2019 by Mary229

[kazu]

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I think you misinterpreted what I said.  I consider Europe the exception when I do buy private tours as they are reliable and cheaper. I do not use private tours in areas where break downs are common such as places with very bad roads and little good infrastructure 

 

Oh apologies.  I did misinterpret.  Thanks 🙂 

[Kfrech]

Pardon my ignorance--what is HSC?

[dontworry]

Hotel service charge

 

[Kfrech]

Thanks for the clarification.