Molliem Posted May 29, 2015 #1 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Onboard Marina, long time cruisers with Oceania. Like other guests onboard, we have substantial shipboard credit and are required to spend this credit onboard. This credit cannot be used toward deposit for future cruise. Three small shops onboard have very limited stock, (mostly jewellery, handbags and high end clothing) and are very over priced. Most guests are seniors and there is not any selection for grandchildren's gifts, beyond the little stuffed bear! They are out of stock of such basic items as toothpaste! Given the onboard shop stiuation, Oceania should review and make exceptions by allowing ship board credit to be used as deposit for future cruises. Elwin Mowry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted May 29, 2015 #2 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Onboard Marina, long time cruisers with Oceania. Like other guests onboard, we have substantial shipboard credit and are required to spend this credit onboard. This credit cannot be used toward deposit for future cruise. Three small shops onboard have very limited stock, (mostly jewellery, handbags and high end clothing) and are very over priced. Most guests are seniors and there is not any selection for grandchildren's gifts, beyond the little stuffed bear! They are out of stock of such basic items as toothpaste! Given the onboard shop stiuation, Oceania should review and make exceptions by allowing ship board credit to be used as deposit for future cruises. Elwin Mowry Unfortunately wont happen..I suggest the overpriced jewelery.. Janruz1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betc Posted May 29, 2015 #3 Share Posted May 29, 2015 You may also use your credit for drink pkgs. and excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betc Posted May 29, 2015 #4 Share Posted May 29, 2015 You can also use your credit for drink pkgs. and excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypercafe Posted May 29, 2015 #5 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) On board credit is a free bee, do what you can with it however if you feel you cannot spend it nothing lost from your pocket. My wife buys jewelry, no matter what the price it is really free. Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app Edited May 29, 2015 by hypercafe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Noxequifans Posted May 29, 2015 #6 Share Posted May 29, 2015 When we have unspent OBC we donate it to our housekeeping staff and butler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globevest Posted May 29, 2015 #7 Share Posted May 29, 2015 When we have unspent OBC we donate it to our housekeeping staff and butler. Interesting that you were allowed to do that. On our last cruise on Riviera in March, we tried to do exactly that and our request was denied. This was the last two days of the cruise and we spent it in one of the shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanandJim Posted May 29, 2015 #8 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Have a few drinks, go on a shore Excursion which you would NEVER buy for yourself, go to the Beauty Salon and shoot the works, have a couples massage, or buy extra Internet time, there are lots of ways to use your Onboard Credit towards making your cruise more effortless and pleasurable (which is what is was intended for). Force yourself to Pamper YOU, the Credit was never "Real" money; don't treat it as such. :p Have fun, be wild, PLAY!!! As the good book says, "None of us is promised tomorrow" :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallydave Posted May 29, 2015 #9 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Believe you can use the OBC in the Casino. You do pay I think 5% but, you can buy chips, pay the 5% and then cash the chips in. 95% of your OBC is better than wasting all of it on overpriced stuff. No, haven't been on Oceania but, pretty sure about the buying chips for the 5%. Anyone with more recent data is welcome to post if I am incorrect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
computerworks Posted May 29, 2015 #10 Share Posted May 29, 2015 When we have unspent OBC we donate it to our housekeeping staff and butler. I am sure they told you that would happen... :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orchestrapal Posted May 29, 2015 #11 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) We had some very large OBC on our last b/ b/ b. We got to the last one with nothing more to buy so we had Oceania book us a limo and driver to Seattle from Vancouver where the cruise ended. It was not cheap but was their money and much appreciated. Edited May 29, 2015 by orchestrapal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrheadlass Posted May 29, 2015 #12 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I am sure they told you that would happen... :rolleyes: And you think it wouldn't? We donated a chunk of obc last year...I'd be very disappointed to learn that didn't happen...I did ask it go to our room stewards but was told it had to go to the general crew fund. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 29, 2015 #13 Share Posted May 29, 2015 When we have unspent OBC we donate it to our housekeeping staff and butler. They are not doing that anymore I tried to give my left over credit to the Gratuity pool ...no go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 29, 2015 #14 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) You can also use your credit for drink pkgs. and excursions. if you drink it might be a good deal ;) If you don't it is a waste of credit Edited May 29, 2015 by LHT28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molliem Posted May 29, 2015 Author #15 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Unfortunately, not free. SBCs are factored in cruise fares across the board. Excursions already arranged for remainder of cruise. Do not drink. Very leery of using any spa treatment given Acute gastrointestinal situation onboard. Guess that leaves paying exorbitant prices for the over priced jewellery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypercafe Posted May 29, 2015 #16 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Its hard to see a problem here, its free money, there is lots of stuff on the ship that's fun to get for free;) Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanandJim Posted May 29, 2015 #17 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Its hard to see a problem here, its free money, there is lots of stuff on the ship that's fun to get for free;) Sent from my XT1032 using Forums mobile app I never thought I'd say this, but, +1 :D Think of it as monopoly money, you worked just as hard to get it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChatKat in Ca. Posted May 29, 2015 #18 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Maybe someone onboard is pining for one of those overpriced pieces of jewelery and you can give them your OBC and they will give you cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mura Posted May 30, 2015 #19 Share Posted May 30, 2015 On our Lima-NYC cruise last month we used much of that OBC (we did have a fair amount) to book a ship's tour to the Kennedy Space Center. We'd been there many years before but wanted to return, and it was SO much easier to use a ship's tour as opposed to renting a car and going on our own. It was a great tour, and very easy. Excellent guide and transportation. We are people who usually -- not always -- do private tours. But there are times when it pays to use a ship's tour, and if you have a lot of OBC, this is a good way to spend it. As others have said earlier, you can also go to the spa ... On this last cruise I had a series of acupuncture treatments in the spa that did a good job on using up our OBC! I don't think I've ever used the spa before ... But I enjoyed these treatments. Mura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSULion Posted May 30, 2015 #20 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Maybe someone onboard is pining for one of those overpriced pieces of jewelery and you can give them your OBC and they will give you cash. On a previous cruise, I spoke with someone that had a huge on-board credit (not on Oceania). I thought that people that get huge (it was over $1000) credit should go to the Roll Calls and ask if someone wants to trade the credit for the "overpriced pieces of jewelery" or something else. Perhaps a bit too low brow for a luxury cruise though. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
computerworks Posted May 30, 2015 #21 Share Posted May 30, 2015 And you think it wouldn't? We donated a chunk of obc last year...I'd be very disappointed to learn that didn't happen...I did ask it go to our room stewards but was told it had to go to the general crew fund. Of course not. As others have said... it's not real money...so nothing to give. At least for non-refundable OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChatKat in Ca. Posted May 30, 2015 #22 Share Posted May 30, 2015 On a previous cruise, I spoke with someone that had a huge on-board credit (not on Oceania). I thought that people that get huge (it was over $1000) credit should go to the Roll Calls and ask if someone wants to trade the credit for the "overpriced pieces of jewelery" or something else. Perhaps a bit too low brow for a luxury cruise though. John I bought my husband a watch onboard and if I'd had an opportunity to use someone's credit, I'd have considered that. No risk to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondorner Posted May 30, 2015 #23 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Unfortunately, not free. SBCs are factored in cruise fares across the board....<snip>...Guess that leaves paying exorbitant prices for the over priced jewellery. The jewelry may be over priced, but it has some value. We paid $500 for a piece probably worth $250. We don't think of it as wasting $500; we think of it as $250 in real value for free! Which raises my confusion as to why your SBC is not free? Did you pay anything for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvmovielover Posted May 30, 2015 #24 Share Posted May 30, 2015 These are options I was hesitant to spend money on but loved using OBC for s (only drawback is you cannot book until you are on board using OBC). Privee is really fun to book for only a few people-the service is great and most of us would never spend $250 (more now?) for a private room to eat the restaurant food but it is fun with the monopoly money! Also, if on the Baltic Cruise with lots of OBC, there are some beautiful but really pricey Russian lacquered boxes that the credit could be used to buy (I am not a jewelry person so I looked for other things). And of course, a better bottle of wine or cocktails are good if you drink but not enough for the drink packages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPR Posted May 30, 2015 #25 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Apply to excursions, discounted bottles of wine (as gifts for friends if you don't drink), etc. And if you're going to waste the dollars and the out of pocket price of the jewelry doesn't exceed fair market value, it's not overpriced... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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