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Can you purchase OBC?

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mairem17

mairem17

Posted
Posted
We are not too familiar with RCCL and we are sailing in a few weeks.

 

Is there a way to add money to your On board account in advance?

 

We have done this with Celebrity but not sure if it is possible with Royal.

 

Thank you!

 

Yes you can. You can purchase it under gifts and gear, but if you can't find just call Royal and they will help you do it.

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knittinggirl

knittinggirl

Posted
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Not sure why you'd want to purchase OBC. We give them a credit card at check in, and they simply apply my cruise charges to that at the end of the cruise. Also, that way, you don't need to worry about what happens if you don't spend all your OBC.

 

Once Guest relations insisted on refunding in cash. Guest relations reps vary in competence, so always get their name and business card.

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fungirl76

fungirl76

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yes you can. I also do this rather than link my cc as well as it stops me from over spending. I like to have a budget when I'm on vacation so I just buy credits for my alloted budget. You can only charge 499.00 max on one card so if you want more than that you will have to charge the credits to a different card.

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spookwife

spookwife

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I have to be honest, I'm pretty baffled by this too. I can see buying some OBC in advance as a gift for someone, but for the life of me, I can't figure the benefit to doing it for ones own sailing.

 

simple: I don't want a huge bill at the end of the sailing and at the same time I don't want to deny myself something on board for fear of same.

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dmwnc1959

dmwnc1959

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I have to be honest, I'm pretty baffled by this too. I can see buying some OBC in advance as a gift for someone, but for the life of me, I can't figure the benefit to doing it for ones own sailing.

 

For my last three cruises (all were with Celebrity) I either purchased OBC in advance for myslef or opted for the Cash Only method of payment. I do not own a credit card and do not want unnecessary holds or double charges appearing on my debit card. Those type of things have garnered some pretty interesting threads on Cruise Critic recently. If someone purchases OBC for themselves in advance that portion which is not used is fully refundable in cash when you close your on board account the night before getting off the ship.

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ryano

ryano

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Posted
I have to be honest, I'm pretty baffled by this too. I can see buying some OBC in advance as a gift for someone, but for the life of me, I can't figure the benefit to doing it for ones own sailing.

 

Because some people such as myself like to have every possible thing they can pay for, paid for in advance to sailing. Thats the "benefit" to me. Plus I do not have a credit card. Only a debit card of which may or may not have holds put on it.

 

Loved the option to pre purchase OBC on my Freedom cruise. Any of it that is unused is fully refundable at the end of the cruise. I cashed out about midnight the last night of the cruise on the way to bed.

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ryano

ryano

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For my last three cruises (all were with Celebrity) I either purchased OBC in advance for myslef or opted for the Cash Only method of payment. I do not own a credit card and do not want unnecessary holds or double charges appearing on my debit card. Those type of things have garnered some pretty interesting threads on Cruise Critic recently. If someone purchases OBC for themselves in advance that portion which is not used is fully refundable in cash when you close your on board account the night before getting off the ship.

 

This ^

 

I should have read your post first. You said exactly what I said LOL! :)

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ryano

ryano

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I preload my S&S account so I have a smaller credit card bill at the end of the cruise. If I should happen to find myself with a credit balance at the end of the cruise I just cash it out in the casino. Here's a link to the form to use:

 

http://www.royalcaribbeancertificates.com/

 

Prepurchasing OBC through Gifts and Gear is even better to me than the Gifts certificates. Gifts certificates have to be applied at least 10 days before sailing and I think you can purchase OBC through Gifts and Gear up until 3 days before sailing and there is nothing to apply. It just automatically credits your account about the 2nd day of the cruise.

 

No need to cash out in the casino. Just go to Guest Services and they will cash you out for no fee :)

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TonyFred

TonyFred

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Prepurchasing OBC through Gifts and Gear is even better to me than the Gifts certificates. Gifts certificates have to be applied at least 10 days before sailing and I think you can purchase OBC through Gifts and Gear up until 3 days before sailing and there is nothing to apply. It just automatically credits your account about the 2nd day of the cruise.

 

No need to cash out in the casino. Just go to Guest Services and they will cash you out for no fee :)

 

 

Ok, I have searched Gifts And Gear high and low and find no mention of OBC. Can you direct me to the right location to purchase OBC?

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macruisefan

macruisefan

Posted
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Because some people such as myself like to have every possible thing they can pay for, paid for in advance to sailing. Thats the "benefit" to me. Plus I do not have a credit card. Only a debit card of which may or may not have holds put on it.

 

Loved the option to pre purchase OBC on my Freedom cruise. Any of it that is unused is fully refundable at the end of the cruise. I cashed out about midnight the last night of the cruise on the way to bed.

 

I understand that. But you can also do the same thing by just giving them cash either at the port, or handing it over at the customer service desk once boarded. It's the "giving them the money in advance" that I never fully understand.

 

But, I think it's part of the cruising culture. After all, there is no other vacation where I have to pay the balance well BEFORE the trip. I travel all over the place, and every other type of travel is pay deposit in advance, balance is due on check out.

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TonyFred

TonyFred

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I understand that. But you can also do the same thing by just giving them cash either at the port, or handing it over at the customer service desk once boarded. It's the "giving them the money in advance" that I never fully understand.

 

But, I think it's part of the cruising culture. After all, there is no other vacation where I have to pay the balance well BEFORE the trip. I travel all over the place, and every other type of travel is pay deposit in advance, balance is due on check out.

 

I dont guess you are a fan of those of us who get refunds from the IRS each year either. :)

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jmf123

jmf123

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Ok, I have searched Gifts And Gear high and low and find no mention of OBC. Can you direct me to the right location to purchase OBC?

 

TonyFred, it's under the Gift Certificate info on the cruiseline's website, (but OBC is not available for purchase online). Just give them a call per the website, it's very easy: If you would like to purchase an On-board credit for an existing reservation, please call 800-722-5443. :)

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TonyFred

TonyFred

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Thanks jmf123....I was basing my inquiry on this statement posted above:

 

"Prepurchasing OBC through Gifts and Gear is even better to me than the Gifts certificates. Gifts certificates have to be applied at least 10 days before sailing and I think you can purchase OBC through Gifts and Gear up until 3 days before sailing and there is nothing to apply".

 

I know I have never seen anything other than the Gift Certificate option but hoped it would be easier through Gifts and Gear.

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jmf123

jmf123

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Thanks jmf123....I was basing my inquiry on this statement posted above:

 

"Prepurchasing OBC through Gifts and Gear is even better to me than the Gifts certificates. Gifts certificates have to be applied at least 10 days before sailing and I think you can purchase OBC through Gifts and Gear up until 3 days before sailing and there is nothing to apply".

 

I know I have never seen anything other than the Gift Certificate option but hoped it would be easier through Gifts and Gear.

 

RCI used to offer OBC (and casino credit) for purchase via their website, but these haven't been available for years... They added the OBC info (phone number) on Gifts & Gear at some point, but I'm not sure why the decision was made to no longer make OBC available online. :confused:

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ryano

ryano

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I know I have never seen anything other than the Gift Certificate option but hoped it would be easier through Gifts and Gear.

 

Much easier than Gift Certificates IMO other than you have to actually call them! Just call up the 1-800 # above and tell them you want to purchase OBC. They will ask you for your booking # name and credit card information and will email you a receipt.

 

According to my last receipt, the code# for OBC is 00060.

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Big_G

Big_G

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Posted
I dont guess you are a fan of those of us who get refunds from the IRS each year either. :)

 

OK, I wouldn't have a problem with a cruise line getting my money up front but the government is another story. They're not getting a penny more than I owe.:cool:;):D

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jpg1747

jpg1747

Posted
Posted
Prepurchasing OBC through Gifts and Gear is even better to me than the Gifts certificates. Gifts certificates have to be applied at least 10 days before sailing and I think you can purchase OBC through Gifts and Gear up until 3 days before sailing and there is nothing to apply. It just automatically credits your account about the 2nd day of the cruise.

 

No need to cash out in the casino. Just go to Guest Services and they will cash you out for no fee :)

 

But, then I have no excuse to go to the casino.

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ryano

ryano

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But, then I have no excuse to go to the casino.

 

well, there is that too! :D I try to stay away from that place! I would have better results just tossing my money into the sea LOL! Winning and my name doesnt go together to good :o

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