Need Help Spending $400 OB Credit!

[Rowan555]

I have a strange and not even slightly unpleasant dilemma :)

 

Our Fantasy 5 day cruise is coming up on Saturday (woohoo!). We've prepaid gratuities, and we have a $400 shipboard credit due to the Katrina cancellations. Our last cruise on the Conquest also had a $400 credit, but most of that was eaten up with the $280 in tips for the 4 of us, and then the other $120 went to Camp Carnival late nights, 3 formal portraits, and some Pina Coladas. It was fairly easy to blow through $120 in 7 days - but $400 in 5 days? I need help! We're not doing any shore excursions, and we won't be drinking terribly much b/c we'll be with my inlaws. Of course, that might make constant drinking a necessity lol! Seriously, though, I don't want to WASTE the money, but I honestly can't think of a decent way to spend it. We don't do spa treatments, I'm not a jewelry fan, and having been on 5 Carnival cruises we've got plenty of gift shop souvenirs already.

 

I'm planning to buy a few bottles of alcohol (do children get a duty free allowance on bringing liquor home, or just adults lol?) and we'll probably spend $30 or so on Camp Carnival late nights. I imagine $30 or $40 MAX will be spent on sodas and froo froo drinks. So PLEASE - if you have any good suggestions for spending my money on the Fantasy, lay 'em on me!!!

[DarkJedi]

Pictures.

 

Take tons and tons of pictures. Since you only have to buy the ones you like it never hurts to have them taken, plus they are a great way to have family pictures done in a variety of styles.

You may also be able to use OBC for Carnival excursions.

[jleq]

Formalwear rentals. Also, I give each of the women at my table a rose on Formal night [also available at Formalities]

[habby]

I have a strange and not even slightly unpleasant dilemma :)

 

 

I'm planning to buy a few bottles of alcohol (do children get a duty free allowance on bringing liquor home, or just adults lol?)

 

I would say Yep, kids are passengers, too. (Then again I might be wrong.) I'm sure there's something in fine print somewhere!!

 

I truly am sorry that your previous cruise was canceled, but hope this one makes up for it:)

[goofyjenn]

yeppirs, kids are allowed the liquor, they are people too. i called my friend at carnival right before posting this. have fun

[24butterfly]

Undo your pre-paid tips. That will eat up alot of your credit. Why blow it on things you don't really need or enjoy? Also, TRY a spa svce. I'm not a spa person myself, but hey, if it's on them, what the heck!

[Kreeb]

Have your cabin or in-laws cabin decorated with the "Bon Voyage" decorations.

 

Go to the spa. Easy to spend money there!

 

You can order Christmas card photos.

 

Treat yourself to the coffee/dessert bar that charges extra.

[Keke1031]

Treat yourself and your inlaws to the restaurant (the one that isnt included). I have heard they have great food there. Let the kids play in the video game room everyday, that will eat up some of it anyways lol. Have a great cruise.

[NorseFarmer]

If you enjoy wine at all you could order a fairly expensive bottle in the dinning room. Maybe something you wouldn't normally do.

[big_duck]

yeppirs, kids are allowed the liquor, they are people too. i called my friend at carnival right before posting this. have fun

 

Maybe you should have called Customs. :rolleyes:

 

Alcoholic BeveragesOne liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your exemption if:

• You are 21 years old.
  
• It is for your own use or as a gift.
  
• It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/paying_duty.xml

[jckvpa0]

If it were me, my question would be," Help, I only have $400.00 in OBC how will I make it through the cruise" !!!

 

Seriously, It shouldn't be to hard. Buy some specialty deserts or coffee. You could also try the specialty restaurant or buy a really nice bottle of wine,(or two), at dinner to share with your in-laws. If your not crazy about the spa maybe think about treating yourself to having someone else do your hair, maybe even a new hair cut.

 

Have a great cruise & enjoy your OBC!

[Rowan555]

Thanks, guys! I know this is the silliest question in a while - but seriously, we hardly ever put anything on our S&S other than tips! I took the kids on the Holiday when tips were still paid in cash, and my sail and sign statement at the end of the cruise was $11. I should have kept that, I think I might have set a personal record there!

 

I'm SURE I'll figure out how to spend that money! I think I'll buy myself some perfume and maybe get dh some cologne. The kids want to buy souvenirs for 5 of their friends, so we may buy things on the ship rather than in port.

 

Does the spa offer any sort of "mini" massage - like just a head and neck massage? I have serious issues with strange people touching me, but I think I would really enjoy just a head/neck massage.

 

Man, I'm wishing I had booked MORE cruises right before Katrina - these $400 credits are pretty fun!

[232271]

buy everybody a soda card and that will add up!

good luck....

you could bring a new freind along on with you?? LOL

that would use it instantly...:D

[jckvpa0]

Yes the spa does offer treatments like that. Actually, I think one day they have a special where you can get a few different ones for a great price. I was getting my hair done one day & there was a women sitting in a chair like the one I was & she was getting a hand, arm ,shoulder & scalp massage that looked great!

[BrendaB1]

Treat yourself and your inlaws to the restaurant (the one that isnt included). I have heard they have great food there.

 

Fantasy doesn't have a Specialty Restuarant.

 

Yes, the do have mini spa packages for head & neck massages.

[jleq]

sail and sign statement at the end of the cruise was $11. I should have kept that, I think I might have set a personal record there!

 

 

This October, my S&S balance on the Conquest:

$2 [cruise included $200 OBC]

[smellywax]

If you don't spend all onboard credit, it will go back to your credit card you give them. This happened to us once.

[caribbean dreams]

I had no problem spending my $650 OBC on my last cruise, i just hit the jewelry store:) That is after i bought a round of drinks for everyone in our party.

[TennisLover]

You can also get your hair done for formal night. Or treat yourself to a pedicure. And, there is tons of stuff to buy onboard besides jewelry.

 

Or you can take me with you . I'd have no problem spending it :D .

[molly361]

I don't recall if on Carnival you can take a cash advance out of the casino but if you can and you see you have money left take it back that way- we were on the QM2 and had a credit balance and they did not want to refund the money to us as they said it was shipboard credit given by the cruiseline, not money that we had actually put on our account ourselves and did not spend

[Chat Noir]

With a bit of onboard credit we had, I enjoyed a facial. Never had one before, but needed to use the credit on something... Upcoming cruise, I'm booking one, though I have no onboard credit. Very relaxing. You'd have miminal contact from a stranger. Just be aware of the 'push to purchase' at the end.:rolleyes: My happy relaxed face just says, no thanks! But I do leave a nice tip.

[seashell36]

On our last cruise, we bought the kids and myself the tall Carnival travel cups. They come with a can of soda (if you buy it at a bar) or you can buy it at the coffee bar. We used them to carry juice back to the room and a couple of days we took it into the dining room for our youngest.

We went to the coffee bar at least 3 or 4 times. If you buy everyone a hot chocolate or a dessert a couple of times that will add up!

[Cotton]

If you don't spend all onboard credit, it will go back to your credit card you give them. quote]

 

I've had a credit balance of something like 72 cents on my S&S account, and rec'd a check for that amount the last evening. (Yes, I cashed it at the purser's desk.):D

[Rowan555]

If you don't spend all onboard credit, it will go back to your credit card you give them. quote]

 

I've had a credit balance of something like 72 cents on my S&S account, and rec'd a check for that amount the last evening. (Yes, I cashed it at the purser's desk.):D

 

 

Cotton, was this on OBC due to a cruise cancellation? I remember on the Conquest it specifically said something about being non-refundable, and the purser's desk confirmed I would not be receiving any of it back if we didn't use it. I wonder if something has changed?

[serene56]

Not all cabin credit can be refunded. I would call the agent and ask if yours is-- if there is anything left you get a check at the end of the cruise.

 

Some credit is use it or lose it. If its the kind you lose-- cash out at the casino at 3% cost still gets you your cash.

 

Make sure of the kind you are getting.