Question about onboard credit

[Kerry&LuAnn]

What is Holland America's practice with regard to onboard credit. On our Princess cruises, any remaining credit not used for purchases was applied against our final bill (which basically meant it was applied against the gratuity charges on the final bill). Is it the same with HAL, or does it have to be used entirely for purchases on the ship?

[take us away]

The way I understand this is that most OBC is just a big pool of money and your charges are deducted as they occur. HAL only runs 1 'account' per person or stateroom, depending on how you set it up. There are some promotions going on where you receive shore excursion-only OBC so that must be used for a HAL tour. If HAL gave you the money it will not be refunded but HAL 'uses' that 1st. If your TA, a friend, yourself, etc. gave you the OBC, any remaining money from that will be refunded to your credit card on file.

[Mary Ellen]

Also on HAL does your OBC show as a credit towards your final bill.

[POA1]

Also on HAL does your OBC show as a credit towards your final bill.

Yes. It should show up as a line item near the top of your account statement.

[Mary Ellen]

Yes. It should show up as a line item near the top of your account statement.

I'm sorry. :o My statement came out sounding more like a question, minus the question mark. I was saying that HAL does like Princess, your OBC will show up on your final statement as a credit.

[richwmn]

This is what your statement will look like if you get a print out

 

The gift orders are purchased, the promo credits are Future Cruse Deposit, Booking after cruise, any specials, stockholder etc.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I always take an extra copy that our TA sends us showing all the various shipboard credit that we are due.

About day 3 I get a copy of our account to make certain that the shipboard credit is there.

[rjrpar]

Can't you simply check account status on the interactive system?

[sppunk]

Can't you simply check account status on the interactive system?

 

LOL good joke!

[POA1]

Can't you simply check account status on the interactive system?

Sure. You go to the front desk or concierge and interact with them, asking for a printout. Then, you let your eyes interact with the printed accounting entries on the page. ;)

[agabbymama]

Can't you simply check account status on the interactive system?

 

I don't believe HAL has an interactive system.

[Hlitner]

Can't you simply check account status on the interactive system?

 

LOL. You are talking about HAL, a cruise line founded in the 19th Century and still proud to have similar technology as they had at that time. Interactive systems? Surely you jest. Perhaps HAL will eventually move to an interactive system and also provide decent onboard internet service, but we suspect it will be the 22nd Century.

 

Hank

[frankc98376]

The way I understand this is that most OBC is just a big pool of money and your charges are deducted as they occur. HAL only runs 1 'account' per person or stateroom, depending on how you set it up. There are some promotions going on where you receive shore excursion-only OBC so that must be used for a HAL tour. If HAL gave you the money it will not be refunded but HAL 'uses' that 1st. If your TA, a friend, yourself, etc. gave you the OBC, any remaining money from that will be refunded to your credit card on file.

 

Several have verified that the Shore Excursion OBC is handled as OBC and can actually be used for anything on board. Evidently either no one in Seattle realized that the ship's systems didn't have a way of separating it out or it was a marketing thing.

I think that they would actually rather you use the credit at the bars as that is a fraction of out-of pocket money for HAL than paying out hard dollars to Shore Excursion vendors.

[DaveOKC]

Several have verified that the Shore Excursion OBC is handled as OBC and can actually be used for anything on board. Evidently either no one in Seattle realized that the ship's systems didn't have a way of separating it out or it was a marketing thing.

I think that they would actually rather you use the credit at the bars as that is a fraction of out-of pocket money for HAL than paying out hard dollars to Shore Excursion vendors.

 

Interesting thought on which HAL would prefer you do with your OBC.

 

Also consider - I doubt that HAL likes it when you use OBC to cover your "daily service charge" as that is real hard money to them. Casino as well - HAL gets very little if anything out of this as it is run by a separate company.

[kazu]

Interesting thought on which HAL would prefer you do with your OBC.

 

Also consider - I doubt that HAL likes it when you use OBC to cover your "daily service charge" as that is real hard money to them. Casino as well - HAL gets very little if anything out of this as it is run by a separate company.

 

 

 

ha! ha! Most of my OBC does not come from HAL. TA, purchased, etc.

 

I have no concern what eats up my obc since I usually leave with a big enough bill to make HAL happy anyways :) :D:p

[DaveOKC]

ha! ha! Most of my OBC does not come from HAL. TA, purchased, etc.

 

I have no concern what eats up my obc since I usually leave with a big enough bill to make HAL happy anyways :) :D:p

 

True - but we were discussing the OBC credit from the recently ended Anniversary Sale where you are supposed to use it to book excursions.

Edited July 6, 2015 by DaveOKC

[kazu]

True - but we were discussing the OBC credit from the recently ended Anniversary Sale where you are supposed to use it to book excursions.

 

sorry, the thread seemed to have drifted a tad - I shouldn't have added to it ;)

[frankc98376]

sorry, the thread seemed to have drifted a tad - I shouldn't have added to it ;)

 

I don't think we drifted away at all- still talking about OBC :). I agree with you about the shipboard bill though- two years ago we got 7 Mariner nights from our OB bill :eek: (7 night cruise)

Edited July 6, 2015 by frankc98376