ZSandy25 Posted January 3, 2016 #1 Share Posted January 3, 2016 We have 151 days with HAL, our next cruise which is 21 days and in a suite will give us the double days. We will now have 193 days and need only 7 more credit days to get us the 4*. We really want to hit that mark as we are taking our longest cruise in September for 38 days. We have $1680 in SBC going into the Feb. cruise. I have already pre-purchased several dinners, beverage cards, an excursion totaling $425. on my CC. So that's one credit, right. Now the other 6, what is your best advice as to how to hit our mark. Do our bar sales count? How about Bingo cards? Do my pre-purchased dinners etc. count? Buying FCC? Should I look at the ships excursions, there are a number that are of interest to us. If I am using SBC for qualifying purchases do they count towards my goal? Thanks for all your good advice and helping me hit my goal....**** here we come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sppunk Posted January 3, 2016 #2 Share Posted January 3, 2016 FCCs do not count, every other purchase does (might be wrong about the casino but doubt it seriously). $425 will net you 2 days most likely as the Marner Society rounds up after $25-50 after the threshold). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted January 3, 2016 #3 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) We were in that same predicament, once.:) HAL is very generous at rounding up, so you may find that $425 gets you two days. I'm not sure. We had a problem after the cruise that got us to 4 stars, because they gave us 3 extra days! I could not figure it out - but now I think that they had already given us one extra day for our pre-purchases, and maybe one for OBC that I hadn't figured in. Everything on board that you use your room card for should count toward your days. And, as I said, they are generous with the rounding-up. Even the HSC counts, I believe. Sorry, spunk, I guess I'm slow at typing! Edited January 3, 2016 by Vict0riann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhdhd Posted January 3, 2016 #4 Share Posted January 3, 2016 If you spend the OBC plus what you've already spent out of pocket, you'll get the 7 days ($2105 / 300 = 7). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted January 3, 2016 #5 Share Posted January 3, 2016 ... Even the HSC counts, I believe... ... unless Mariner Society rules have been changed in the last couple of months, all of your HSC does count toward your on board spending. Good luck and smooth sailing ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted January 3, 2016 #6 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Bar bills and shop purchases count ... basically everything that appears on your final bill, plus your pre-bookings. (FCC are charged separately) You could book some expensive excursions and a large internet package to blog! If you can't think of enough ways to use up the $1680, go to the front desk and increase your HSC. That will count toward the spending bonus just as the standard HSC does, and benefit the crew. Edited January 3, 2016 by catl331 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlrob Posted January 3, 2016 #7 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I know that FCC is future cruise credits and OBC is on board credits, but what do HSC and SBC stand for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted January 3, 2016 #8 Share Posted January 3, 2016 ...but what do HSC and SBC stand for? HSC = "Hotel Service Charge" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted January 3, 2016 #9 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I know that FCC is future cruise credits and OBC is on board credits, but what do HSC and SBC stand for? Hotel Service Charge & Signature Beverage Package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcd2010 Posted January 3, 2016 #10 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) I know that FCC is future cruise credits and OBC is on board credits, but what do HSC and SBC stand for? HSC = Hotel Service Charge, which, for 21 days * 2 people = about $500 Edited January 3, 2016 by bcd2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boytjie Posted January 3, 2016 #11 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) (Deleted) Edited January 3, 2016 by Boytjie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted January 3, 2016 #12 Share Posted January 3, 2016 I know that FCC is future cruise credits and OBC is on board credits, but what do HSC and SBC stand for? Hotel Service Charge ("autotip"), and Ship Board Credit - same thing as OBC by another name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
take us away Posted January 3, 2016 #13 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) If you charge on your room card in the casino, it counts toward days as on your bill, so if you gamble, do not use cash but charge a lot, cash out and pay off the credit card as soon as you get home. As several have mentioned, everything except FCC counts toward 'days'. The free laundry is well worth it! Edited January 3, 2016 by take us away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZSandy25 Posted January 3, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Thanks guys, you are the best in the answer dept. Really appreciate your taking the time to give good advice. I will make it:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted January 3, 2016 #15 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Sometimes when people cannot figure out why they got more days credited than they expected it is because they received gifts in their cabin. If someone sends flowers, a bottle of liquor, dinner in alternative restaurant etc, the value of those gifts count toward spending days for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted January 3, 2016 #16 Share Posted January 3, 2016 ... unless Mariner Society rules have been changed in the last couple of months, all of your HSC does count toward your on board spending. Good luck and smooth sailing ... Yes, that counts toward Mariner credit days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HELENPSL Posted January 3, 2016 #17 Share Posted January 3, 2016 If you charge on your room card in the casino, it counts toward days as on your bill, so if you gamble, do not use cash but charge a lot, cash out and pay off the credit card as soon as you get home. As several have mentioned, everything except FCC counts toward 'days'. The free laundry is well worth it! Thanks so much for this info. Last cruise over Thanksgiving was the first time I began charging my casino charges on my card. And...I will do it again beginning tomorrow!! One quick question - is there a maximum number of days you can get for expenditures? Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted January 3, 2016 #18 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) One quick question - is there a maximum number of days you can get for expenditures? Yes - one credit per day sailed: for a 7 day cruise in a suite the max is 21 credits whether you spend $2100 or $5000 ... or what days you spend it.. Edited January 3, 2016 by jtl513 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted January 3, 2016 #19 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Some Spa treatments are expensive and could be a nice way to spend your way to that 4th star. Two nice watches in the Shops would also be a good way to celebrate your 4th star. Also look at some higher-priced shore excursions. Advance bookings as well as on-board bookings still count. Any excess SBS/OBC should be spent opening a Casino account, pull the slot machine a few times, and cashing out. Edited January 3, 2016 by Crew News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted January 3, 2016 #20 Share Posted January 3, 2016 You might want to calculate just how much you will benefit with the four star and how much you wish to spend in order to get it. You may spend more than it is worth to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted January 3, 2016 #21 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) If my math is correct, your hotel service charge will be $567. Thats a good start. Can you take a short cruise between now and Sept? Perhaps a 3 or 4 day Pacific Coast cruise in April or May? Prices on these are very reasonable. Of course airfare could be an issue from Michigan. Edited January 3, 2016 by DaveOKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted January 3, 2016 #22 Share Posted January 3, 2016 (edited) Any excess SBS/OBC should be spent opening a Casino account, pull the slot machine a few times, and cashing out. But they don't want cash back ... they want suggestions of ways to use up the $1680 OBC, which, when added to the $425 already pre-charged, will be just enough to get them to 4-star. That's why I suggested spending any excess by increasing the HSC. Can you take a short cruise between now and Sept? No need. They just have to splurge all of the OBC they've got on the 21-day cruise so they'll be 4-star on the 38 day cruise in Sept. OP: another way to blow some of that OBC is buy more expensive wines than you normally would. Maybe even buy some (or liquor) to take home. . Edited January 3, 2016 by jtl513 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted January 4, 2016 #23 Share Posted January 4, 2016 But they don't want cash back ... they want suggestions of ways to use up the $1680 OBC, which, when added to the $425 already pre-charged, will be just enough to get them to 4-star. That's why I suggested spending any excess by increasing the HSC. No need. They just have to splurge all of the OBC they've got on the 21-day cruise so they'll be 4-star on the 38 day cruise in Sept. OP: another way to blow some of that OBC is buy more expensive wines than you normally would. Maybe even buy some (or liquor) to take home. . Good thoughts, but being from Michigan, the OP might have a hard time getting it home. Speaking of wine, getting a Navigator or Admiral wine package would be a nice way to drink up some the money. Being a 3 star you get a 25% discount and with that the price per bottle is not all that bad (IMO). The OP could even take a bottle or two back to the cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted January 4, 2016 #24 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I hate to say this, but for the OP, we've never had a hard time spending our obc and having a bill at the end ;) Guess that is we are 5* now:o:eek: Seriously, play a bit of bingo too - that will help and if you never play, you'll probably be one of the winners - it seems to happen a lot ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted January 4, 2016 #25 Share Posted January 4, 2016 :D I agree. We never seemed to have any difficulty building up a bill by the end of a cruise. :) Oh well, it's all fun and to be enjoyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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