Toddcan Posted December 9, 2022 #1 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Taking the family on a cruise, and have 4 cabins booked. I want to add some OBC to each of their accounts to use on the cruise. All reservations are refundable (just in case!), and were made directly with Royal through the phone. I chatted with a RCI rep about getting some OBC on their accounts they said I need to buy gift certificates and then redeem them after the final payment date and before 10 days of the sailing date. But, there are conditions - no refundable, etc. So I am wondering if there is another way to do this? After the final payment date, can I call Royal and buy OBC at that point? Can I do this perhaps as soon as I board? I remember buying OBC in the past because of a very favourable exchangee rat (I am Canadian), so we used to be able to buy it. And if I do buy gift certificates, can I buy them in my own name, but redeem then against a different reservation(our family's cabins)? Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted December 9, 2022 #2 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 minute ago, Toddcan said: After the final payment date, can I call Royal and buy OBC at that point? Don't buy gift certificates - you can buy OBC directly at any time but remember that the exchange rate RCI uses is not directly tied to the official rate (it varies at its own pace). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basketball wife Posted December 9, 2022 #3 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Hi, Another Canadian here. I have done this several times. I just exchange my money to USD in Canada and on boarding go to guest services and ask to put the cash into cabin number####. They give you a receipt. I find this the easiest, most straightforward way but I do check with the “giftees” that they have the credit showing on their accounts— so far haven’t had any issues. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddcan Posted December 9, 2022 Author #4 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Biker19 said: Don't buy gift certificates - you can buy OBC directly at any time but remember that the exchange rate RCI uses is not directly tied to the official rate (it varies at its own pace). Interesting... I can buy OBC for other cabins at any time? Not a shocker if this is true, but the phone agent said I cannot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted December 9, 2022 #5 Share Posted December 9, 2022 50 minutes ago, Toddcan said: I can buy OBC for other cabins at any time? Not a shocker if this is true, but the phone agent said I cannot. You just need the booking info for the other cabins - CSRs get a lot of things wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takemeaway2008 Posted December 9, 2022 #6 Share Posted December 9, 2022 From what I have learned, you cannot buy OBC. I am asking for money for my vacation for Christmas but there is no option to purchase OBC as a gift. Gift certificates won't work because Christmas is the day before we leave so getting that as a gift is not an option and if it's non refundable that is too big of a risk to lose. I've asked for cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted December 9, 2022 #7 Share Posted December 9, 2022 4 minutes ago, takemeaway2008 said: From what I have learned, you cannot buy OBC. Many have done so - a simple call to a knowledgeable RCI CSR can take care of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddcan Posted December 9, 2022 Author #8 Share Posted December 9, 2022 3 hours ago, Biker19 said: You just need the booking info for the other cabins - CSRs get a lot of things wrong. Well, of course.. I have the res#'s for the other cabins. I just called again - was told I cannot purchase OBC for other cabins - suggested gift cards again. 0-2. I'll try and call again, but if I'm 0-3, I'm suspecting a policy change. Again, I USED to be able to do this, but not now(according to 2 CSRs so far). Hence the purpose of this post - looking for real time hand-on experience from anyone else who has tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngrund Posted December 9, 2022 #9 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Unless its different buying gift cards directly from RCL, the ones I bought from AARP can only be used towards cruise fare Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted December 9, 2022 #10 Share Posted December 9, 2022 56 minutes ago, Toddcan said: Hence the purpose of this post - looking for real time hand-on experience from anyone else who has tried. He might be busy and take a while to post, but @Ourusualbeach might provide some insight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted December 9, 2022 #11 Share Posted December 9, 2022 5 hours ago, Toddcan said: Interesting... I can buy OBC for other cabins at any time? Not a shocker if this is true, but the phone agent said I cannot. You absolutely can. Call gifts and gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted December 9, 2022 #12 Share Posted December 9, 2022 1 hour ago, Toddcan said: Well, of course.. I have the res#'s for the other cabins. I just called again - was told I cannot purchase OBC for other cabins - suggested gift cards again. 0-2. I'll try and call again, but if I'm 0-3, I'm suspecting a policy change. Again, I USED to be able to do this, but not now(according to 2 CSRs so far). Hence the purpose of this post - looking for real time hand-on experience from anyone else who has tried. I bought obc for a couple of clients last week so it is definitely possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted December 9, 2022 #13 Share Posted December 9, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Toddcan said: Well, of course.. I have the res#'s for the other cabins. I just called again - was told I cannot purchase OBC for other cabins - suggested gift cards again. 0-2. I'll try and call again, but if I'm 0-3, I'm suspecting a policy change. Again, I USED to be able to do this, but not now(according to 2 CSRs so far). Hence the purpose of this post - looking for real time hand-on experience from anyone else who has tried. You need to call Royal Gifts - 800-722-5443 No issue buying $1000 OBC on 8/13/22 for 9/4/22 sailing. Edited December 9, 2022 by Another_Critic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted December 9, 2022 #14 Share Posted December 9, 2022 2 hours ago, Biker19 said: He might be busy and take a while to post, but @Ourusualbeach might provide some insight. Busy drinking on Wonder. 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takemeaway2008 Posted December 10, 2022 #15 Share Posted December 10, 2022 5 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said: You absolutely can. Call gifts and gear. It is not listed in Gifts and Gear online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted December 10, 2022 #16 Share Posted December 10, 2022 1 minute ago, takemeaway2008 said: It is not listed in Gifts and Gear online. No it's not because you can't buy it on line. As I stated you need to call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takemeaway2008 Posted December 10, 2022 #17 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Just now, Ourusualbeach said: No it's not because you can't buy it on line. As I stated you need to call. I'll stick with asking for cash as a present. It'll be easier all around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted December 10, 2022 #18 Share Posted December 10, 2022 What do they need OBC for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDawg Posted December 10, 2022 #19 Share Posted December 10, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, matj2000 said: What do they need OBC for? Pssst, it's Christmas time, you know, the time of the year when most of us give things to other people whether they need it or not. I'm sure you have lots of lumps of coal from Santa still around that you really didn't need. 😉 Edited December 10, 2022 by DirtyDawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted December 10, 2022 #20 Share Posted December 10, 2022 1 hour ago, DirtyDawg said: Pssst, it's Christmas time, you know, the time of the year when most of us give things to other people whether they need it or not. I'm sure you have lots of lumps of coal from Santa still around that you really didn't need. 😉 Sure it is nice. But most needed things are purchased pre trip. I have received cruise credit many times from TA But sometimes struggle to use it. There really is nothing I want to buy on the ship. Overpriced merchandise.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted December 10, 2022 #21 Share Posted December 10, 2022 1 hour ago, matj2000 said: But sometimes struggle to use it. Cashing out via the casino slot machine is pretty easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molly361 Posted December 10, 2022 #22 Share Posted December 10, 2022 19 hours ago, Toddcan said: Well, of course.. I have the res#'s for the other cabins. I just called again - was told I cannot purchase OBC for other cabins - suggested gift cards again. 0-2. I'll try and call again, but if I'm 0-3, I'm suspecting a policy change. Again, I USED to be able to do this, but not now(according to 2 CSRs so far). Hence the purpose of this post - looking for real time hand-on experience from anyone else who has tried. Call 800-722-5443 I believe OBC is listed as gift #651 or it used to be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddcan Posted December 12, 2022 Author #23 Share Posted December 12, 2022 (edited) On 12/10/2022 at 6:09 AM, matj2000 said: What do they need OBC for? On 12/10/2022 at 8:48 AM, matj2000 said: Sure it is nice. But most needed things are purchased pre trip. I have received cruise credit many times from TA But sometimes struggle to use it. There really is nothing I want to buy on the ship. Overpriced merchandise.. Imagine for a moment that there are people out there who do not cruise very much. Now.. imagine that those same people have been gifted a cruise by their family. Now, take that even further... it's Christmas time, and the nice family member who purchased these cruises for their family wants to gift a little extra money so they can spend onboard. For what? hmm, not sure, but perhaps T-shirts for their kids, who've not been on a cruise at all. Maybe they want to take that overpriced cupcake class. Maybe a drink here and there. Maybe room service late at night for cookies and hot chocolate. Maybe a cruise-ship model for their fireplace mantle. Perhaps they are tickled pink about the idea of have a milkshake at sea while watching the ocean go by. Who's to say? Edited December 12, 2022 by Toddcan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddcan Posted December 12, 2022 Author #24 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Thanks everyone! I'll try and call gifts and gears again. All of my attempts have been through the "new cruise" option on the phone (MUCH shorter wait). I'll endure the 30 min wait for the proper sales rep 🙂 . I appreciate the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngrund Posted December 12, 2022 #25 Share Posted December 12, 2022 2 hours ago, Toddcan said: Thanks everyone! I'll try and call gifts and gears again. All of my attempts have been through the "new cruise" option on the phone (MUCH shorter wait). I'll endure the 30 min wait for the proper sales rep 🙂 . I appreciate the help I'm sure (if all else fails) that you can add some OBC to those cabins once onboard. Since it sounds like you want to do this as a Christmas gift, you could always print your own gift card saying something like "Merry Christmas you have been gifted $100 to spend on board our family cruise which will be added to your cabin once we are onboard" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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