Question about On Board Credit...

[lakelodge]

Can OBC be used to be reimbursed for the shore excursions booked online and thereby paid by credit card prior to the cruise? Could it be used for the beverage package if booked prior to sailing, or should we purchase that while on the ship so we could use our OBC for that?

 

Beginning to wonder what we CAN use OBC for if we have already booked our drink package and shore excursions, as we don't generally buy souvenirs or photos. We also have $100.00 credit to be used at the specialty restaurants. We have $325.00 worth of OBC to use.

[Hlitner]

No, you cannot use OBCs to offset the cost or pre-paid options. That is why they call it "On Board" credit....as it is only used to offset expenditures charged to your onboard account. If you have remaining OBCs it might be possible to get some of it refunded (this depends on the terms connected to your OBCs) or some folks use it to withdraw cash in the Casino (there is a small fee for this).

 

Hank

[sherilyn70]

I would consider canceling the beverage package and then buying it when on the ship if you want to use obc for it. You'll have the service charge fees, but everything else would be completely at your discretion. If the credit is from the cruise line and not a gift from a travel agent it will be use it or lose it.

[ithaca gal]

No, you cannot use OBCs to offset the cost or pre-paid options. That is why they call it "On Board" credit....as it is only used to offset expenditures charged to your onboard account. If you have remaining OBCs it might be possible to get some of it refunded (this depends on the terms connected to your OBCs) or some folks use it to withdraw cash in the Casino (there is a small fee for this).

 

Hank

 

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When we have a large amount of shipboard credits, we just wait until we are on the ship to buy Beverage Cards, etc.

[aussiedisneyfan]

OBC can be used for the daily service charge applied to your account daily.

[kazu]

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

 

You are absolutely correct, there is not fee for using the slots and cashing out later.

[DaveOKC]

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

 

While you are correct, technically some OBC is not supposed to be used in the casino. I doubt that HAL would catch this, but it is possible, so just be aware.

[Alberta Quilter]

OBC can be used for Internet charges, laundry packages, wine tastings, bingo, duty free (and any other) purchases, other special dinners like the Cellar Master dinner, in addition to the suggestions previously given. Depending on which ship you'll be on, you may choose a behind the scenes tour (only on Vista & Signature ships). Since the HSC will account for almost half, if you're on a 7 day cruise, I think you'll be surprised at how quickly your OBC will go.

[CruisinNana]

Just curious....how do you upload OBC to a slot machine?

[jtl513]

Just curious....how do you upload OBC to a slot machine?

You follow the on-screen instructions on how to charge money to your on-board account. OBCs offset those charges.

[CruisinNana]

You follow the on-screen instructions on how to charge money to your on-board account. OBCs offset those charges.

 

Thank you!

[antique sailor]

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

 

AHOY SHIPMATES,

YOU ARE SORTA RIGHT... When the slots are used to do this YOU are required to set up an account, (host will assist ) play at least a few dollars (win or lose) and then go to cashier cage and withdraw the balance. Other method is to go to any table and buy chips using SnS card but there is a 3% fee for doing this.

GOOD LUCK

[jtl513]

Other method is to go to any table and buy chips using SnS card but there is a 3% fee for doing this.

If you're willing to pay the 3% there's no need to buy chips and cash them ... just go to the front desk and take a cash advance.

[take us away]

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

 

You are correct

[Hlitner]

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

 

Cannot dispute what you say since we never...ever play slots. The term "One Arm Bandit" applies to places like Vegas, but on cruise ships it is even worse.

If we gamble (which we never do on HAL because of the smoke) it will be at table games such as Blackjack or Craps where the odds are much more favorable :).

 

Hank

[denatravels]

Is there a down side to buying drink packages on board? I know NCL actually charges more, but I hadn't heard other lines doing this.

[pmcubed]

 

Besides the tips, our OBC usually gets eaten up at the spa - the best massages I have ever had were on HAL ships!

 

Pat

[dakrewser]

Is there a down side to buying drink packages on board? I know NCL actually charges more, but I hadn't heard other lines doing this.

 

No, the price is the same.

[gpb11]

No, the price is the same.

 

I know I'm bringing up a several week old thread, but once aspect to remember is that if you pre-buy the package you should be protected against price increases. The NCL folks who didn't lock in at $54pppd got screwed when it jumped to $64pppd.

[antique sailor]

I may be mistaken but I think there is a small fee if you charge it to your ship account but there is no fee if you load the money onto a slot machine and then cash out later. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

 

AHOY SHIPMATE, ...........There is a method to use the slots to get SOME SBC

after you establish an account in the casino BUT you MUST PLAY the slots in order to do it.

[albingirl]

Can OBC be used to be reimbursed for the shore excursions booked online and thereby paid by credit card prior to the cruise? Could it be used for the beverage package if booked prior to sailing, or should we purchase that while on the ship so we could use our OBC for that?

 

Beginning to wonder what we CAN use OBC for if we have already booked our drink package and shore excursions, as we don't generally buy souvenirs or photos. We also have $100.00 credit to be used at the specialty restaurants. We have $325.00 worth of OBC to use.

 

Good you have OBC, especially since this appears to be less common these days with HAL. I'd use it for the tipping. Photos are way overpriced and souvenirs on the ship are useless. We used to get OBC but no more. Holland America has tightened up the screws, so to speak.

[DaveOKC]

Good you have OBC, especially since this appears to be less common these days with HAL. I'd use it for the tipping. Photos are way overpriced and souvenirs on the ship are useless. We used to get OBC but no more. Holland America has tightened up the screws, so to speak.

 

Interesting comment as HAL is currently running a 30 day promotion with some nice (up to $600 per cabin) OBC, plus we get OBC for buying future cruise deposits onboard, plus another email promotion (Thank you for sailing with us) which doubles that OBC, plus OBC for owning 100 shares of stock.

[albingirl]

Interesting comment as HAL is currently running a 30 day promotion with some nice (up to $600 per cabin) OBC, plus we get OBC for buying future cruise deposits onboard, plus another email promotion (Thank you for sailing with us) which doubles that OBC, plus OBC for owning 100 shares of stock.

 

It's different for everyone. We don't buy suites, so we don't get the big OBC, we never buy future cruise credits onboard, we have no stock, and so on.

We are the less than prestigious cruisers, I guess.:)

[DaveOKC]

It's different for everyone. We don't buy suites, so we don't get the big OBC, we never buy future cruise credits onboard, we have no stock, and so on.

We are the less than prestigious cruisers, I guess.:)

 

I understand your points about the suites and stock, but purchasing future cruise deposits onboard is a great option IMO. You have no risk (get your money back if not used in 4 years, get OBC, reduced the deposit on the next cruise and it only costs $100 pp.