Using onboard credits

Hi,

This is our first cruise on RSSC. We received a good amount of onboard credits from our TA.

Knowing this is basically an all-inclusive cruise line, besides the spa and perhaps the casino and shops, where else can you use the onboard credits?

Most excursions are free. Can you use the credits to book a upgraded excursion on board? If so, are there typically spots available for the paid excursions once you board or are they all booked pre-cruise?

Thanks in advance

Yes, you can use OBCs for the "pay extra" excursions. If you don't want to take a chance on the excursion being sold out, you can pre-book them online, pay for them at that time, and then go to Destination Services once onboard and ask that they be re-ticketed as being booked while aboard. They will then refund your pre-payment onto your onboard account, and you can get that money back in cash.

If you're on Explorer or Splendor, you can use the OBCs for the cooking classes. You also can use them to purchase the higher-end wines or spirits. Though, as a scotch drinker, I have to say that the included single malts are quite good.

I don't think OBCs can be used in the casino, but not being a casino person, I'm not 100% sure about that.

OBC's can also be used for the Connoisseur Wine lunch which is delicious (around $325).

My TA had $1000 in on board credit. They managed just to cut a check back. That way I can either run a tab and pay it back, or not. I am not obligated to be forced to come up with ideas to spend it. See if yours will convert it. Different agents have different programs, doesn’t hurt to ask.

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Wow, that is some heckuva TA.

Depending on the credit, our TA gives a check mailed when we start the cruise. Plus if they put a small group together for that cruise you could get an additional $500.00 non-refundable OBC. Just depends on your TA.

Most OBC's that you receive from your TA/Consortium are non-refundable. I would check with my TA to see if they are or are not refundable.

Most OBC's that you receive from your TA/Consortium are non-refundable. I would check with my TA to see if they are or are not refundable.

I'm not sure, but didn't I just state that information. Why does it need to be repeated over again? Or did I make a mistake that needed corrected?

I'm not sure, but didn't I just state that information. Why does it need to be repeated over again? Or did I make a mistake that needed corrected?

To be 100% honest, I did not understand your post. Does your TA give you OBC's before you board the ship? Really found it confusing -- perhaps because our TA gives a rebate before the cruise and, depending upon the sailing (not depending upon whether it is escorted or not), there could be an OBC.

My post was to not meant to repeat yours or to correct yours -- it was an attempt to simplify all answers which do depend upon the TA and the type of OBC's you are given.

A rebate paid before the cruise by the travel agent out of their commission and an onboard credit, which can come from a number of different sources, including the cruise line, a credit card company, a travel consortium or a travel agent, are two completely different things. Some onboard credits can be exchanged for cash onboard, but most cannot. Most are use it or lose it.

To be 100% honest, I did not understand your post. Does your TA give you OBC's before you board the ship? Really found it confusing -- perhaps because our TA gives a rebate before the cruise and, depending upon the sailing (not depending upon whether it is escorted or not), there could be an OBC.

My post was to not meant to repeat yours or to correct yours -- it was an attempt to simplify all answers which do depend upon the TA and the type of OBC's you are given.

If you read my post it states we get a check mailed when "we start the cruise" not before but when we start. Any OBC is given on the cruise.

A rebate paid before the cruise by the travel agent out of their commission and an onboard credit, which can come from a number of different sources, including the cruise line, a credit card company, a travel consortium or a travel agent, are two completely different things. Some onboard credits can be exchanged for cash onboard, but most cannot. Most are use it or lose it.

Agree completely.

We sometimes (especially when our Regent cruises are over 35 days in length) receive healthy (refundable) SBC directly from our TA's not their travel consortium. We take the cash (sometimes a $1000) and use it to pay our pet sitter when we return home.

Bottom line, you will have to wait till you are onboard and go and ask if you can get cash for your OBC. If it is from Regent, theanswer will be no.

Bottom line, you will have to wait till you are onboard and go and ask if you can get cash for your OBC. If it is from Regent, theanswer will be no.

We generally have an envelope waiting for us in the suite when we board that indicates how many OBC's we have and which, if any, are reimbursable. Also want to mention that if you pay for an excursion prior to the cruise and are able to cancel and rebook using OBC's, the refund appears in your account the same as OBC's but, of course, it is 100% refundable (in cash - it does not go back onto your credit card).

Bottom line, you will have to wait till you are onboard and go and ask if you can get cash for your OBC. If it is from Regent, theanswer will be no.

Absolutely correct Rachel. A fairly easy way to determine refundable or non-refundable is any portion of OBC coming from Regent is non-refundable while all OBC that is paid for by other entities including TA's Consortiums, friends, etc. are refundable. It's all in from where the dollars come from. Fairly simple and easy way to determine. A word of caution, sometimes the OBC may appear to come directly from your TA when in fact it is from a Regent promotion where Regent gives the TA OBC to distribute as they see fit and thus non-refundable as the TA did not pay for the OBC.

And, yes, Ronrick your original explanation was very well stated and easy to understand.

Absolutely correct Rachel. A fairly easy way to determine refundable or non-refundable is any portion of OBC coming from Regent is non-refundable while all OBC that is paid for by other entities including TA's Consortiums, friends, etc. are refundable. It's all in from where the dollars come from. Fairly simple and easy way to determine. A word of caution, sometimes the OBC may appear to come directly from your TA when in fact it is from a Regent promotion where Regent gives the TA OBC to distribute as they see fit and thus non-refundable as the TA did not pay for the OBC.

 

And, yes, Ronrick your original explanation was very well stated and easy to understand.

Thank you, it seems only one person has problem understanding most of the time.

Absolutely correct Rachel. A fairly easy way to determine refundable or non-refundable is any portion of OBC coming from Regent is non-refundable while all OBC that is paid for by other entities including TA's Consortiums, friends, etc. are refundable. It's all in from where the dollars come from. Fairly simple and easy way to determine. A word of caution, sometimes the OBC may appear to come directly from your TA when in fact it is from a Regent promotion where Regent gives the TA OBC to distribute as they see fit and thus non-refundable as the TA did not pay for the OBC.

 

And, yes, Ronrick your original explanation was very well stated and easy to understand.

We get OBC's from our TA and/or consortium all of the time and they are not refundable (nor are American Express OBC's). Guessing that things may have been different when you sailed on Regent.

Agree that sometimes OBC's come from Regent and appear to come from your TA and due to this possible confusion, I find it best to double check with your TA or wait until you board the ship at which time you will get a definitive answer.

The other side of this issue is on what to use non-refundable onboard credits. The charges by Regent for non-free excursions, non-complementary wine, spa, and boutique are excessive and seem to us a rip-off, so we only use them if we have enough credits. Furthermore the masseuses in the spa are rarely much good or even properly qualified and there is a paucity of good items in the boutique.

We love Regent but not for its extra on-board charges which are poor value for money, but fortunately voluntary.

One can also use a non-refundable OBC in the ships boutique stores to buy things. Some items there are unique and/or of pretty good value, while some are not. But if your cruise is ending and you have unused non-refundable OBSs, the merchandise is essentially free to you.

If you admire something in the boutique, do not wait until the last day or two to purchase it. The boutique is very crowded at the end with everyone spending their OBC's and items are snapped up quickly.

Don't forget that OBC/SBC can be used for laundry too.

Don't forget that OBC/SBC can be used for laundry too.

really? - I would have never thought of that one.

I didn't know that either. Thanks for the mention.

On our last Regent cruise (Rio to P.R.) I was able to use my OBC's both in the casino (6% surcharge) or direct from the Purser (3%).