OBC Question

[PCruzer]

We will be sailing on the Zuiderdam in March. Through our travel agency, we will be receiving a sizable onboard credit. If we don't use the entire amount, will the balance be refunded to our credit card or do we just lose what is left?

[serendipity1499]

We will be sailing on the Zuiderdam in March. Through our travel agency, we will be receiving a sizable onboard credit. If we don't use the entire amount, will the balance be refunded to our credit card or do we just lose what is left?

 

I believe it will be but don't know for sure..Is it all from your TA or is some of it from other sources such as HAL or Stockholder credit? If it's not all from your TA, they may not credit your card..They mnight even give it to you in cash at the end of the cruise..

We've had up to $600 in OBC's & it's always been used up...

OBC's are used for the $11 per day per person Hotel Service charge (a one week cruise that's $144.00 per couple); Pinnacle Reservations; SPA; wine; shore excursions etc..

Enjoy your cruise...Betty

[PCruzer]

I believe it will be but don't know for sure..Is it all from your TA or is some of it from other sources such as HAL or Stockholder credit? If it's not all from your TA, they may not credit your card..They mnight even give it to you in cash at the end of the cruise..

 

We've had up to $600 in OBC's & it's always been used up...

 

OBC's are used for the $11 per day per person Hotel Service charge (a one week cruise that's $144.00 per couple); Pinnacle Reservations; SPA; wine; shore excursions etc..

 

Enjoy your cruise...Betty

The OBC is all from the TA. Didn't think about the service charge. That will take up a big chunk of it. Thanks for the info!

[Krazy Kruizers]

If all your Shipboard Credit is from your TA -- you will get back anything left over over -- in cash.

 

If the Shipboard Credit is part from your TA and for example -- from HAL -- don't you don't get anything back.

[kyriecat]

I've also got a sizable OBC coming from my TA. On my TA confirmation it states "$XXX onboard credit provided at TA preferred rate and not redeemable for cash."

 

I assume that some TAs must pay a reduced amount for OBC to HAL (like $0.90 per $1.00 OBC) so you don't get the extra as cash. I don't know if that is the OP's situation or not.

 

I probably have a little more OBC than we'll spend onboard. It depends on if I feel like going to the spa or not. Last time was disappointing (pushy technician, so-so facial) so I may skip it. If I don't spend the whole OBC and do get some back, a welcome surprise. If I don't spend it all and don't get the left over back, I can't say I wasn't informed in advance. ;)

[richwmn]

If all your Shipboard Credit is from your TA -- you will get back anything left over over -- in cash.

 

If the Shipboard Credit is part from your TA and for example -- from HAL -- don't you don't get anything back.

If the OBC is totally from HAL, you won't get anything back. If it is mixed (part HAL, part TA or purchased) you will receive a refund. The HAL credit will be "spent" first. As long as you spend at least the amount of the HAL OBC, everything else will be refunded. If you don't spend at least the HAL OBC, any left from it will not be refunded, but any purchased OBC will.

 

Rich

[jettaleea]

If you know you won't be using all your OBC, you can head to the casino and get a cash advance on your account. There's a 3% surcharge but you haven't paid anything for the money anyway. Might as well get it instead of leaving it on the table.

[richwmn]

I've also got a sizable OBC coming from my TA. On my TA confirmation it states "$XXX onboard credit provided at TA preferred rate and not redeemable for cash."

 

I assume that some TAs must pay a reduced amount for OBC to HAL (like $0.90 per $1.00 OBC) so you don't get the extra as cash. I don't know if that is the OP's situation or not.

 

I probably have a little more OBC than we'll spend onboard. It depends on if I feel like going to the spa or not. Last time was disappointing (pushy technician, so-so facial) so I may skip it. If I don't spend the whole OBC and do get some back, a welcome surprise. If I don't spend it all and don't get the left over back, I can't say I wasn't informed in advance. ;)

I don't use a TA so I hadn't seen this, it would make a difference as well.

 

Rich

[Krazy Kruizers]

If the OBC is totally from HAL, you won't get anything back. If it is mixed (part HAL, part TA or purchased) you will receive a refund. The HAL credit will be "spent" first. As long as you spend at least the amount of the HAL OBC, everything else will be refunded. If you don't spend at least the HAL OBC, any left from it will not be refunded, but any purchased OBC will.

 

Rich

 

That didn't happen to us a few years ago. We had booked back-to-back cruises -- separate booking numbers. On the first segment we had shipboard credit from TA and HAL -- there was leftover at the end of the cruise -- no Hotel Service Charges at that time. They closed the account at tthe end of the first segment -- would not move over the extra shipboard credit that we had -- thus we lost it. Since we don't gamble -- didn't know about getting it back via that source. In fact -- I don't think you could that back then.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I've also got a sizable OBC coming from my TA. On my TA confirmation it states "$XXX onboard credit provided at TA preferred rate and not redeemable for cash."

 

I assume that some TAs must pay a reduced amount for OBC to HAL (like $0.90 per $1.00 OBC) so you don't get the extra as cash. I don't know if that is the OP's situation or not.

 

I probably have a little more OBC than we'll spend onboard. It depends on if I feel like going to the spa or not. Last time was disappointing (pushy technician, so-so facial) so I may skip it. If I don't spend the whole OBC and do get some back, a welcome surprise. If I don't spend it all and don't get the left over back, I can't say I wasn't informed in advance. ;)

 

Unfortunately your assumption is totally wrong!!!!!

There are two possible situations here and the OP may need to ask his TA. They are either getting ship board credit from Group amenities of which case a group was set up. That money is not refundable if not used because that technically comes from HAL. If you are part of a very large group and you are the leader/head of this group your TA may be giving you part of what is called Tour Conductor (or TC for short credit) that is also coming from HAL and is also not refundable. The other option is TA is giving you a gift in the form of On Board Credit, this is refundable. TA's are NOT given any type of discount to purchase On Board credit in any way. And if the TA is not smart that On Board credit could actually cost them more if they purchase it to be received on day of embarkation because they are charged tax.

Now my question is did your TA give you an option of discount or ship board credit? It is much easier to discount than to go thru the extra steps to purchase the on board credit.

To kyriecat, your Onboard Credit was most likely coming from Group amenities which is NOT refundable and why some TA's will post this statement in their documents.

[PCruzer]

Wow! I didn't know this was so involved! We booked through our usual online TA. They now offer points corresponding to the cost of the cruise that you can redeem for freebies . Things like OBC, Pinnacle Grill, wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, etc. I assumed that this came from the TA. I think my easiest solution is to be sure I use all the OBC! Thanks for all the information!