how can obc be used

[joyus]

We were given $140 obc by our TA and were wondering besides the specialty restaurants and the Spa, can the credit also be used towards purchases in the stores? We don't really have a love affair with food so we'll probably eat in the MDR the majority of the time (at least I think so right now). We'll be on the Allure in November and would like to do a little onboard shopping if the prices are pretty good and would like to use some of the credit towards that.

[smitty3000]

We were given $140 obc by our TA and were wondering besides the specialty restaurants and the Spa, can the credit also be used towards purchases in the stores? We don't really have a love affair with food so we'll probably eat in the MDR the majority of the time (at least I think so right now). We'll be on the Allure in November and would like to do a little onboard shopping if the prices are pretty good and would like to use some of the credit towards that.

 

 

I used mine on Carnival Cruise for Gratuities, excursions, pictures. I bought a $100 future cruise certificate and it covered that. I also would think it would cover if you got a card for all the "coke" products you like. Alcohol drinks. Playing bingo. I am sure it will be easy to spend it.

[ryano]

We were given $140 obc by our TA and were wondering besides the specialty restaurants and the Spa, can the credit also be used towards purchases in the stores? We don't really have a love affair with food so we'll probably eat in the MDR the majority of the time (at least I think so right now). We'll be on the Allure in November and would like to do a little onboard shopping if the prices are pretty good and would like to use some of the credit towards that.

 

Yes you can use it in the stores on board :)

[Langley Cruisers]

It will be applied to your account as a credit (a negative, in other words). Whatever you use your Sea Pass card for and "charge" to your account, the charges will be cancelled out by the credit until you are at a $0 balance. Then the bill goes the other way. ;)

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[ryano]

I used mine on Carnival Cruise for Gratuities, excursions, pictures. I bought a $100 future cruise certificate and it covered that. I also would think it would cover if you got a card for all the "coke" products you like. Alcohol drinks. Playing bingo. I am sure it will be easy to spend it.

 

That's neat that carnival will let you buy a next cruise cert. on your onboard acct.

 

That is one thing you can't do with RCI.

[ALSEAU]

We were given $140 obc by our TA and were wondering besides the specialty restaurants and the Spa, can the credit also be used towards purchases in the stores? We don't really have a love affair with food so we'll probably eat in the MDR the majority of the time (at least I think so right now). We'll be on the Allure in November and would like to do a little onboard shopping if the prices are pretty good and would like to use some of the credit towards that.

 

 

Your $140 OBC for your Allure cruise is an upfront cash debit. Any time you use your SeaPass to pay for any on board purchases the amount will be automatically deducted from your $140 debit.

 

If you make no purchases and you aren't doing MTD than your daily gratuities will be applied against your OBC.

 

Bottom line is whatever your on board expenses are there is an OBC to take care of the first $140.

[joyus]

Thank you all for your reply. Wow, that's great to know we're not limited to how we can spend it. We've got play money to use however we want.

[Langley Cruisers]

Thank you all for your reply. Wow, that's great to know we're not limited to how we can spend it. We've got play money to use however we want.

 

It's wonderful, one less thing to worry about! You can buy drinks, photos, anything in the gift shops... it's awesome. :)

[39august]

Gratuities are not automatically charged to any account. You have to request this to be done on RCI.

[FLACRUISER99]

Thank you all for your reply. Wow, that's great to know we're not limited to how we can spend it. We've got play money to use however we want.

My warning is that it won't take long to spend the $140 enjoy.:eek:

[SteveinPhilly]

My warning is that it won't take long to spend the $140 enjoy.:eek:

 

For those with MTD you MUST prepay ALL gratuties so you can't use OBC for that. (That issue is something RCI nedds to address since wait staff in MTD are GUARANTEED full gratuities and have no incentive to provide service. In January we had NO WAITER for two nights - hostess served us!).

 

Anyway, if it is an OBC "purchased" by your TA you can go to the casino and withdraw it as cash - for gambling though you don't have to gamble - for a 3% fee. Annoying but still makes that $100 OBC worth $97. better than nothing.;)

[NJcruisenewbie]

I used ours on the explorer for spinning classes & starbucks.

[SteveinPhilly]

I used ours on the explorer for spinning classes & starbucks.

 

Doesn't the Explorer have FREE Seattle's Best? (which is Starbucks "budget" brand)?

 

We will have ober $500 in OBCs this trip so I can't see us drinking or taking spinning classes ;) that much.

 

BTW, after a few cruises aren't you going to have to change your screen name?:D

[joyus]

Thank you all for your reply. Wow, that's great to know we're not limited to how we can spend it. We've got play money to use however we want

[FTLCruiseGal]

How did you get your OBC from your TA? Was it a "gift" from them?

[joyus]

Thank you all for your reply. Wow, that's great to know we're not limited to how we can spend it. We've got play money to use however we want

 

Sorry, posted twice. Tablet said it timed-out before sending.

[joyus]

How did you get your OBC from your TA? Was it a "gift" from them?

 

Actually it was offered by the TA's website at the time we booked.

[NJcruisenewbie]

Doesn't the Explorer have FREE Seattle's Best? (which is Starbucks "budget" brand)?

 

We will have ober $500 in OBCs this trip so I can't see us drinking or taking spinning classes ;) that much.

 

BTW, after a few cruises aren't you going to have to change your screen name?:D

 

I'm addicted to starbucks soy lattes. I hate cow milk/creamer. As for my name, I doubt we'll be doing any more cruises unless it's another family reunion. It just wasn't our thing. What we enjoyed (pool, gym, relaxing) can be done at any land based resort.

[cb at sea]

An OBC will simply be applied towards what you owe at the end of the cruise....doesn't matter WHAT you use it for...and you really can't specify, anyway. So, if you have $140 OBC, the first $140 you spend will be taken care of by the OBC.

[SteveinPhilly]

How did you get your OBC from your TA? Was it a "gift" from them?

 

Sort of. If you call ANY travel agent for a quote on a cruise they will all give you the SAME price if an RCI cruise. RCI sets the price. But, to get business TAs buy OBCs from RCI. The less O/H the agent has the more OBCs they can offer. Sometimes they buy discount "specialty Dinners" and offer to you as an enticement. We generally shop for highest OBC. And we consider it a reduction of our total cost since we may use it for things like gratuities (when we can - not with MTD) or some wine. (we do most drinking OFF ship where prices are better;)). If there is left over, we cash in at the 3%.

 

Yesterday I called three TAs for the cruise we wanted to book. ALL offered same price. One offered no OBCs and no cancel fee, the second (a well advertised one) offered $150 and had a $100 pp cancel/change fee. The third offered $325 and no cancel change fee.

 

Now if RCI drops price on cabin, say $100, and we get our agent to get reduction, we may have to give bacj $25 of that OBC but we are still ahead.

 

The OTHER way you get OBS is by putting down a future cruise deposit while on your cruise. ONLY ONE person in a couple needs to (and should) do that. You do not need to select your cruise. You give them $100. which never expires but is not refundable and when you book your cruise, RCI gives you another $100 OBC. In some rare cases - like out cruise this time, the TA couldn't offer me the $325 if I used the $100. future deposit. But I was still ahead. And my $100 will be good on the NEXT RCI cruise we take and we'll probably take one.

 

I hope that explains what you asked. (Though I probably wrote too much. :o)

[rushedmom]

It can also be used for excursions!

[SteveinPhilly]

It can also be used for excursions!

 

Actually ANYTHING that you can put on your bill after boarding it can be used for including - as I said - cash withdrawn at the casino (but there it's reduced by 3%). :cool:

[Poorplaya]

I love the fact you can use onboard credit anywhere; the casino, restaurants, shops, anything. Makes it very convenient for sure.

[joyus]

Sort of. If you call ANY travel agent for a quote on a cruise they will all give you the SAME price if an RCI cruise. RCI sets the price. But, to get business TAs buy OBCs from RCI. The less O/H the agent has the more OBCs they can offer. Sometimes they buy discount "specialty Dinners" and offer to you as an enticement. We generally shop for highest OBC. And we consider it a reduction of our total cost since we may use it for things like gratuities (when we can - not with MTD) or some wine. (we do most drinking OFF ship where prices are better;)). If there is left over, we cash in at the 3%.

 

Yesterday I called three TAs for the cruise we wanted to book. ALL offered same price. One offered no OBCs and no cancel fee, the second (a well advertised one) offered $150 and had a $100 pp cancel/change fee. The third offered $325 and no cancel change fee.

 

Now if RCI drops price on cabin, say $100, and we get our agent to get reduction, we may have to give bacj $25 of that OBC but we are still ahead.

 

The OTHER way you get OBS is by putting down a future cruise deposit while on your cruise. ONLY ONE person in a couple needs to (and should) do that. You do not need to select your cruise. You give them $100. which never expires but is not refundable and when you book your cruise, RCI gives you another $100 OBC. In some rare cases - like out cruise this time, the TA couldn't offer me the $325 if I used the $100. future deposit. But I was still ahead. And my $100 will be good on the NEXT RCI cruise we take and we'll probably take one.

 

I hope that explains what you asked. (Though I probably wrote too much. :o)

 

Good behind the scenes info, but what does O/H?

[kruzerci]

Good behind the scenes info, but what does O/H?

 

Probably means overhead costs