How do you use your onboard credit?

[bjarrett7]

Hello everyone... I am curious to get some ideas on what to do with our on board credit? I feel like we have a lot of perks with Aqua Class and the premium drink package that I am not sure what to do with it! Suggestions?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[didicruiser]

How about shore excursions? Or even better, a spa treatment!

[WestLakeGirl]

Photos

Casino

Gift shop purchases

Duty Free Liquor Store purchases

Laundry and dry cleaning

Bingo

Zumba classes

Bottles of wine

Shore excursions

Wine pairing and wine tastings

Martini flights

Molecular Bar

Room service beverages

Room service up charge items

In room mini bar beverages

Specialty Restaurants

Massages

Manicure/pedicure

Hairdresser

Shuttles to town

Airport transfers

Luggage Valet

And mostly ... gratuities

Edited September 4, 2014 by WestLakeGirl

[TMLAalum]

We've been fortunate to have combined OBC in the $500-600 range because we usually select perks of OBC + prepaid gratuities vs. the drinks package.

 

Last cruise was the first time we had a refund of some of our TA OBC. With port-intensive itineraries (and enjoying the Elite cocktail hour + bringing our allotted wine aboard), we don't spend much on adult beverages.

 

In addition to wine at dinner we use our OBC for:

-specialty restaurants

-spa services

-ship shop purchases

-shore excursions

[hcat]

List provided was very complete...great job.!

for me, SPA and M. Kors shop......not sure our OBC for next cruise will cover it all !

[WestLakeGirl]

I forgot....

 

Internet

Exercise classes

Phone calls

Alcove rental (not all ships)

Art classes (not all ships)

[Gordoncruickshank]

Internet and beverage package upgrade

[Nebr.cruiser]

We don't actually spend much on the ship, usually some internet time and a couple of photos, if any turn out and of course gratuities if not included. I might do the laundry bag on longer cruises. So far, we've always been able to get the rest back at the end of the cruise in cash, but I do know some OBC has to be used up, not refunded.

[miched]

As soon as you get on board or after a few days you will see many ways and opportunities to spend the money and usually wish you had more. 💰

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[flyingv4me]

Our OBC goes to specialty dining. We love these venues!

[NLH Arizona]

Shore excursions and spa treatments.

[cruising maniac]

$10 t-shirts and gold by the inch. :eek:

[aerospace]

Using passages I'm getting $300obc for my 23night cruise. Should cover gratuities and a few beers. Being elite I'm looking forward to free morning mimosas and free happy hour at night, just need to fill in a poolside beer in the middle and I'm golden :)

[TomTN]

Booze

We'll have $450 for our upcoming TA. Should make a dent in our booze tab. "hic"

[lydnsyd]

we purchased a Mini apple Ipad with our on board credit - been wanting one for ages:)

[MoyCoy]

we purchased a Mini apple Ipad with our on board credit - been wanting one for ages:)

 

That is a good idea. Were the prices comparable to land prices?

[Orator]

The OBC is CASH MONEY. You don't need to spend it if you don't want to. Any remaining OBC that's refundable will be refunded to your form of payment. Any Non refundable OBC can be withdrawn from the Casino at a 5% charge. There are lots of threads on refundable and non refundable so I won't repeat here. Simply if the code has an "R" it's refundable. A "N' non-refundable.

[Sloop-JohnB]

Photos

Casino

Gift shop purchases

Duty Free Liquor Store purchases

Laundry and dry cleaning

Bingo

Zumba classes

Bottles of wine

Shore excursions

Wine pairing and wine tastings

Martini flights

Molecular Bar

Room service beverages

Room service up charge items

In room mini bar beverages

Specialty Restaurants

Massages

Manicure/pedicure

Hairdresser

Shuttles to town

Airport transfers

Luggage Valet

And mostly ... gratuities

 

I forgot....

 

Internet

Exercise classes

Phone calls

Alcove rental (not all ships)

Art classes (not all ships)

 

Agree with WESTLAKEGIRL... There is no shortage of ways to spend OBC

 

Problem is more often than not just not enough OBC to cover everything

 

Another Favourite of ours (ok mine) is the end of Cruise Sales in the Shops Concourse... Have found some nice bargains there

 

And on Sea Days we really enjoy Celebrity Life experiences especially those that feature wine or food tastings / experiences

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

[lydnsyd]

That is a good idea. Were the prices comparable to land prices?

 

The Mini Ipad we bought on board using our OBC was $499 - don't know what the prices are in the U.S. We had fancied getting one for ages. We already had the free drinks package so couldn't think of what else to spend the OBC on so thought it was a good idea. I have to say we are really pleased with the Apple Ipad:)

[Sloop-JohnB]

That is a good idea. Were the prices comparable to land prices?

 

The Mini Ipad we bought on board using our OBC was $499 - don't know what the prices are in the U.S. We had fancied getting one for ages. We already had the free drinks package so couldn't think of what else to spend the OBC on so thought it was a good idea. I have to say we are really pleased with the Apple Ipad:)

 

We got our current iPad just before our 2012 Cruise... Bought it at home on a Pre-Christmas Sale (well actually more of a Promotion... Buy an iPad get accessories at a discount with a mail in rebate)

 

When we were on the ship out of curiosity we checked prices... They were virtually the same as on land... Less applicable taxes (basically = Duty Free)

 

We were happy we bought on land prior to the cruise because

 

1- We had the iPad for our entire vacation

 

2- We weren't disappointed to find that a particular model had Sold Out on our ship (happened to other Pax)

 

3- in the end the savings would not have been that great... And as Canadians would have ate up a huge portion of our Personal Duty Free Exemption Allowance... Far better value to spend that on something else in my mind (like souvenirs or things that are better priced than home)

 

Unless things have changed drastically...

 

It is our experience that Apple with their proprietary rights & branded stores they are very consistent in their prices worldwide

 

The BIG deals you hear about on the Internet is old stock / models... Or sketchy merchandise (stolen or illegal knockoffs from China)

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers!

Ps... Love our iPad great investment for travel as it can do sooooo many thins and take up so little space. One of our best travel gear purchases ever !!

Edited September 4, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB
Edit to add PS

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Even with a premium beverage package we still buy bottles of wine. Might get a spa treatment, wine dinner or Chef's table, or book extra specialty restaurants above those we get for sailing in a suite.

 

Mary Lou

[SmokeOnTheWater71]

Hello everyone... I am curious to get some ideas on what to do with our on board credit? I feel like we have a lot of perks with Aqua Class and the premium drink package that I am not sure what to do with it! Suggestions?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

What ever you buy it just comes off your bill it can be anything it's not one big item it's anything if you have 200 dollars and you spent 10 dollars a day it gets deducted.

[grandgeezer]

Whatever I get from the cruise line I find a way to spend. A majority of the very generous obc I get from my online travel agent goes home with me via being credited back to my credit card. I'm not going to spend it just to get rid of it. I get almost enough free drinks and everything else is grossly overpriced.

[H2OH!]

Photos

Casino

Gift shop purchases

Duty Free Liquor Store purchases

Laundry and dry cleaning

Bingo

Zumba classes

Bottles of wine

Shore excursions

Wine pairing and wine tastings

Martini flights

Molecular Bar

Room service beverages

Room service up charge items

In room mini bar beverages

Specialty Restaurants

Massages

Manicure/pedicure

Hairdresser

Shuttles to town

Airport transfers

Luggage Valet

And mostly ... gratuities

 

excellent list!

 

In January 2014 we were in our first celebrity suite and had ALOT of OBC...when got on board we purchased premium drink package for me. DH's was purchased before the cruise.

[DiamondSuiteCruiser]

The OBC is CASH MONEY. You don't need to spend it if you don't want to. Any remaining OBC that's refundable will be refunded to your form of payment. Any Non refundable OBC can be withdrawn from the Casino at a 5% charge. There are lots of threads on refundable and non refundable so I won't repeat here. Simply if the code has an "R" it's refundable. A "N' non-refundable.

 

Very true, and I did just that and cash in a non refundable at the casino and used it to tip extra to those hard working people that made our vacation so grand. Better than giving it back to Celebrity. :D