On Board Gift Credit- Does it have to be used in the category it was purchased?

[Oren]

For those experianced in using their on-board credit, does it matter which ship expenses are used to cover the on-board credit given as a pre-paid gift from someone? In other words if someone gives us a on board pre-paid gift of "spa credit" or "bar credit" can you use it be used for shore excursions, laundry, or the casino??? What happens to the left-over credit if it is unused????

[khuff7]

The credit can only be used for the category it was bought for, and if it goes unused, you lose it. We always have our family buy us the general Onboard credits so that we can used them as we wish.:)

[phinn]

We were given cruise credit for Murano's on Century and they couldn't accomodate us so it was added to our account in general and used to reduce our balance at end of cruise.

[starlake]

We had on board drink credit several years ago and it was just added to your sea account, so it really was used just for anything. There was no difference if you bought something in a shop or you bought a drink. It was just one account.

[spearmint]

For the first time ever, our TA gave me an OBC on our last cruise ....for my birthday, which occurred while we were cruising. It was for the shops on board. That, I did not want, so I checked with guest relations and there was no problem; the OBC had already been added to our on board account. So, no it does not matter as to what the OBC is labeled. But to be sure that you have it, I would check to see that it has been added to your account; you can do that in person or by phone with guest relations or by checking your account on the in-cabin television.