booking online excursions with OBC?

[cruzemaven]

Is it possible to book an excursion online ahead of embarking on our cruise and still be able to use our onboard ship credit to pay for it?...Or do I have to charge it to my credit card now. Don't want to wait until we are onboard to book the tour since it is for the next day on the itinerary and could be sold out. It is the only excursion we are booking and thought it would be great to use our shipboard credit to book it. Would appreciate any info on this matter.

[Lsimon]

No it is not. The only way to book excursions in advance is with an immediate charge to a credit card.

 

There was a recent thread where someone was told to book in advance then cancel the excursions and rebook on board in order to use their on board credits. They ran into all sorts of problems trying this. Plus, if one does this they might find that they lose their spot in any sold out excursions in any event if there is a waitlist.

 

Personally, if I were in this position I'd just book in advance and figure out some other way of using my on board credit. We've never had any problems using it up.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Lsimon

[fla jack]

"IF" you book prior to boarding you will

pay at time of booking via credit card.

If you have a substantial OBC left

you can redeem it out in cash at the casino

for a charge of 4 or 5%.

Jack

[grandgeezer]

"IF" you book prior to boarding you will

pay at time of booking via credit card.

If you have a substantial OBC left

you can redeem it out in cash at the casino

for a charge of 4 or 5%.

Jack

 

As a general rule, any obc from a cruise line is "use it or lose it". Any leftover obc from your travel agent will be credited back to your credit card you used to guarantee any charges. This happens to me almost every cruise, anywhere from $7 to over $400. Yes, I use an online travel agent, I would never book through any cruise line.

[ariawoman]

OBC-R is refundable OBC

OBC-N is nonrefundable, use it or lose it.

 

So, make sure you use up the non refundable at least. You should be able to tell on your seapass account which is it while onboard. Your TA can likely find out which it is if you want to know now but as others have said, money coming from the cruise line itself (like with 123/PYP will be non refundable) and money coming from your TA (not including group amenity points) should be refundable. Basically if the TA shelled out money for it, it's refundable but if the TA got it via some other method it is not likely to be refundable.

[WestLakeGirl]

Either type of OBC can be withdrawn from the casino for a 5% fee. Never leave $400 in your account when you leave the ship!

[ariawoman]

Either type of OBC can be withdrawn from the casino for a 5% fee. Never leave $400 in your account when you leave the ship!

 

Ah yes, good point too. Might as well not lose that non refundable if you can't spent it. I can't imagine not being able to find ways to spend it though hehehe. I've never been able to get off a ship without owing them on my on board account :-)