Puchasing OBC Prior to Cruise

This may be a dumb question, but I have read that you can purchase OBC prior to cruise and this can be used for daily gratuities, drinks, casino, spa, etc. Is there any reason not to do this? Just thinking that if I purchase prior to our cruise then the final bill will be less. But also want to be sure that I do not have any OBC left at the end of cruise. Also, can this be used for all drinks -- such as happy hour specials, etc. Just thought it would be nice not to have much of a bill when vacation is over. Would appreciate your opinions and advice on this. The information on the Boards is really helpful for those of us who do not cruise often. Thanks in advance.

Going on 10 day Partial Panama Canal - Zuiderdam - April, 2016.

This may be a dumb question, but I have read that you can purchase OBC prior to cruise and this can be used for daily gratuities, drinks, casino, spa, etc. Is there any reason not to do this? Just thinking that if I purchase prior to our cruise then the final bill will be less. But also want to be sure that I do not have any OBC left at the end of cruise. Also, can this be used for all drinks -- such as happy hour specials, etc. Just thought it would be nice not to have much of a bill when vacation is over. Would appreciate your opinions and advice on this. The information on the Boards is really helpful for those of us who do not cruise often. Thanks in advance.

Going on 10 day Partial Panama Canal - Zuiderdam - April, 2016.

I purchase OBC online for every cruise. I often book way in advance, and purchase OBC several times over the course of time. Any unused OBC is credited back to you.

The OBC shows on your account, and everything is debited as you purchase. So your drinks would be debited from the credits shown until they are used up. Then they show as a charge.

I also purchase a Beverage card prior to cruising. So most of my drinks are paid for in advance. That also helps to cut down the final onboard account - often I end up with a credit or owing very little.

It strikes me that pre-paying OBC's is much like over over withholding for federal taxes. Why let someone else use your money?

It strikes me that pre-paying OBC's is much like over over withholding for federal taxes. Why let someone else use your money?

Seriously? It's called budgeting, or spreading the cost out. I don't think purchasing something a few months or weeks in advance is anywhere in the same realm as withholding for taxes.:rolleyes: We're not talking big money here.

Seriously? It's called budgeting, or spreading the cost out. I don't think purchasing something a few months or weeks in advance is anywhere in the same realm as withholding for taxes.:rolleyes: We're not talking big money here.

Agree and we do the same thing.

I also by OBC prior to the cruise. If you have enough between given OBC and purchased OBC you do not have to register a card. And as was mentioned, any left over at the end of the cruise is refunded, in my case always in cash on the last night before retiring for the evening. This becomes my spending money for any post cruise activities

This may be a dumb question, but I have read that you can purchase OBC prior to cruise and this can be used for daily gratuities, drinks, casino, spa, etc. Is there any reason not to do this? Just thinking that if I purchase prior to our cruise then the final bill will be less. But also want to be sure that I do not have any OBC left at the end of cruise. Also, can this be used for all drinks -- such as happy hour specials, etc. Just thought it would be nice not to have much of a bill when vacation is over. Would appreciate your opinions and advice on this. The information on the Boards is really helpful for those of us who do not cruise often. Thanks in advance.

Going on 10 day Partial Panama Canal - Zuiderdam - April, 2016.

I guess the only reason not to do it would be that you lose control of that money until your cruise starts. Some would prefer to simply set aside money (bank account, under the mattress, etc.) as the weeks and months roll by so they still have access to it but it's there for them when they start their vacation. There is nothing wrong in going the OBC route if that eases your mind but as someone noted, it is a bit like over withholding taxes from your pay check.

It strikes me that pre-paying OBC's is much like over over withholding for federal taxes. Why let someone else use your money?

I agree. If I'm going to do anything ahead it would be to put money in my usd account. Different people, different ways of doing things. I'm seriously not going to get bent if someone does something differently than I do.

Many thanks to everyone. Just wanted your thinking. It doesn't really matter either way -- it's charged to the same card and balance is paid at the end of each month. It's nice to have various points of view on things with which I am unfamiliar. That is what is so great about the Cruise Critic Boards.

I agree. If I'm going to do anything ahead it would be to put money in my usd account. Different people, different ways of doing things. I'm seriously not going to get bent if someone does something differently than I do.

This is what I do too. Agree with your comments.

Have a great time on your partial Panama Canal cruise TexasBalletLover.

It strikes me that pre-paying OBC's is much like over over withholding for federal taxes. Why let someone else use your money?

Now-a-days you do not get any significant interest on your money for such a short period, so why not pay it ahead.

As to over withholding on federal or state taxes, I often do this to avoid potential under witholding penalties, which can be expensive and quite a hassle to deal with. Each person's situation is different, so do not judge.

It strikes me that pre-paying OBC's is much like over over withholding for federal taxes. Why let someone else use your money?

I always buy OBC to cover my Internet usage, which is a business expense for me. That way, the OBC can be charged to a business account, while the actual cruise expenses are paid from a personal account.

I can certainly see doing it for budgeting purposes, or as a currency hedge for our Canadian friends.

Now-a-days you do not get any significant interest on your money for such a short period, so why not pay it ahead.

 

As to over withholding on federal or state taxes, I often do this to avoid potential under witholding penalties, which can be expensive and quite a hassle to deal with. Each person's situation is different, so do not judge.

I'd rather leave it in my personal account in case I have to cancel the cruise. If I take cash or travellers cheques I can spend it precruise otherwise it's tied up with Hal. Hey, I thought you are the king of getting free obc from Hal :D? I'm jealous not being critical.

I'd rather leave it in my personal account in case I have to cancel the cruise. If I take cash or travellers cheques I can spend it precruise otherwise it's tied up with Hal. Hey, I thought you are the king of getting free obc from Hal :D? I'm jealous not being critical.

I do not purchase OBC myself, but I can understand if others do - its a personal choice and no big deal one way or the other IMO.

I have been very LUCKY lately in finding OBC deals, but it really varies by cruise and of course the deals HAL is running. I do try to pass on deals that I find to others here on the board and I learn from others about deals (last week I found a promotion of up to $500 OBC but my cruise did not qualify - others were able to get it though!). We all need to help each other out!

I can certainly see doing it for budgeting purposes, or as a currency hedge for our Canadian friends.

This certainly is a consideration for Canadians.

I do not purchase OBC myself, but I can understand if others do - its a personal choice and no big deal one way or the other IMO.

 

I have been very LUCKY lately in finding OBC deals, but it really varies by cruise and of course the deals HAL is running. I do try to pass on deals that I find to others here on the board and I learn from others about deals (last week I found a promotion of up to $500 OBC but my cruise did not qualify - others were able to get it though!). We all need to help each other out!

Absolutely. I'm tempted to put a hold on a cruise in October for Mexico. There is obc attached to it as far as I can tell. That said, I have a koningsdam cruise booked for November. It's going to be an either one or the other or nothing so I hate to tie up cruises I may not be able to take.

I always buy OBC to cover my Internet usage, which is a business expense for me. That way, the OBC can be charged to a business account, while the actual cruise expenses are paid from a personal account.

 

I can certainly see doing it for budgeting purposes, or as a currency hedge for our Canadian friends.

This certainly is a consideration for Canadians.

It can make a HUGE difference. I get nice obc from my TA and other things, but I know it will not cover it all.

I saved significant dollars booking PG dinners, OBC, shore excursions, etc. At the rate the Canadian dollar dropped. It's forced budgeting for me and really paid off this time as did booking the cruise early. With the new, current Canadian pricing on the website, I honestly don't know if I would have done this cruise.

Whatever works for anyone is fine by me, but interest is nominal at best, so putting some towards our trip works for us :)

We are in the pre-payer group. Otherwise, there are too many other temptations to spend that vacation savings on... (I also pre-pay independent excursions - if they have a good refund policy.) I like walking off the ship with out a bill for my vacation.

Many thanks to everyone. Just wanted your thinking. It doesn't really matter either way -- it's charged to the same card and balance is paid at the end of each month. It's nice to have various points of view on things with which I am unfamiliar. That is what is so great about the Cruise Critic Boards.

This is probably one good reason to fund your on-board account ahead of time with OBC (in addition to some reasons listed above): if you can earn rewards points on the credit card you use to pay for the OBC and you pay the balance in full each month.

Just to add a quick snippet - even if you are in the unfortunate position of having to cancel a cruise (prior to final payment date) anything you purchased for that cruise is credited back to your credit card pretty quick, along with your deposit for the cruise fare. Unless, of course, you have used a future cruise deposit and you can put that back in the "bank" with HAL. That happened to me last year when I had to cancel, and it was no hassle.

After final payment date much depends on your insurance for the actual fare, but I am pretty sure any additional charges for dinners/excursions/OBC is quickly refunded.

This is a new concept I'm not familiar with. How does one know the prepayments are refunded without a hassle if the cruise is canceled?

The only thing we prepay is a quarterly federal income tax to avoid IRS penalties.

This is a new concept I'm not familiar with. How does one know the prepayments are refunded without a hassle if the cruise is canceled?

The only thing we prepay is a quarterly federal income tax to avoid IRS penalties.

Past experience I'm guessing? :confused:

Past experience I'm guessing? :confused:

Are you asking about IRS penalties? If so we learned years ago about the penalty, we own a business and have to be careful to pay tax the quarter it is earned to avoid penalties.

This is a new concept I'm not familiar with. How does one know the prepayments are refunded without a hassle if the cruise is canceled?

 

The only thing we prepay is a quarterly federal income tax to avoid IRS penalties.

To get a new price, my cruise had to be re-booked and everything was refunded even though I was still sailing as it was a cancellation.

Same thing when my cruise was cancelled due to a charter - everything was refunded so fast my head was spinning.

This is on thing that HAL does well and effectively.

Hal should refund everything if you cancel. I just don't care to keep track of it.