onboard credit for gratuities?

[ginger123snaps]

We just got off the NCL Escape...lovely cruise but shocked that we couldn't use any of our onboard credit to pay for gratuities. We also were not allowed to use it in the casino...meaning we couldn't get an advance and have the onboard credit apply to that cash.

 

We are booked for liberty of the seas and will have $700 in onboard credit.....is it like that on royal carribean as well? In the past we have always used our onboard credit to pay gratuities.

[JoyMouse]

I've always used OBC to pay for gratuities with no issues. You should be fine.

[cruisenfever]

We just got off the NCL Escape...lovely cruise but shocked that we couldn't use any of our onboard credit to pay for gratuities. We also were not allowed to use it in the casino...meaning we couldn't get an advance and have the onboard credit apply to that cash.

 

We are booked for liberty of the seas and will have $700 in onboard credit.....is it like that on royal carribean as well? In the past we have always used our onboard credit to pay gratuities.

You can use your OBC for gratuities. It will be deducted daily from your SeaPass Account. $12.95pp per day except if you are in a Grand Suite or above, then it is $15.95pp per day.

 

If it is non-refundable OBC you can take it out of the casino but there is a 5% service charge. If it's refundable OBC, you can request any used monies from Guest Services on the day prior to debarkation.

[Clarea]

We just got off the NCL Escape...lovely cruise but shocked that we couldn't use any of our onboard credit to pay for gratuities. We also were not allowed to use it in the casino...meaning we couldn't get an advance and have the onboard credit apply to that cash.

 

We are booked for liberty of the seas and will have $700 in onboard credit.....is it like that on royal carribean as well? In the past we have always used our onboard credit to pay gratuities.

Just don't pre-pay gratuties, else you won't be able to use on board credit for them.

[loricfam]

We are booked for liberty of the seas and will have $700 in onboard credit...

 

 

I'm new to this, so I have to ask. How do you get $700 in onboard credit??? We booked a RFS which wasn't cheap and only got $175 from our TA. Got nothing from RCI when booking.

[Clarea]

We are booked for liberty of the seas and will have $700 in onboard credit...

 

 

I'm new to this, so I have to ask. How do you get $700 in onboard credit??? We booked a RFS which wasn't cheap and only got $175 from our TA. Got nothing from RCI when booking.

Could be a combination of TA OBC, group booking GAP points, Visa points OBC, booking on board OBC, and promo OBC.

[kkgordon02]

We also have $700 OBC for upcoming four night cruise in Indy. Can you NOT prepay gratuities even if hi have My Time Dining? Tia

[dplusd]

We also have $700 OBC for upcoming four night cruise in Indy. Can you NOT prepay gratuities even if hi have My Time Dining? Tia

 

You no longer are required to pre-pay gratuities when selecting MTD.

[frank808]

My time dining does not require prepaid gratuities now.

[Biker19]

Could be a combination of TA OBC, group booking GAP points, Visa points OBC, booking on board OBC, and promo OBC.

 

and if you're Canadian you might even buy some OBC due to the favorable exchange rate.

[Biker19]

We also have $700 OBC for upcoming four night cruise in Indy. Can you NOT prepay gratuities even if hi have My Time Dining? Tia

 

You can pre-pay gratuities if you want but not with OBC - you have to wait to be on the ship and use the OBC then to pay for grats or anything else.

[ginger123snaps]

Ok thanks for confirming. NCL just changed the rules on Jan 1st and I didn't know if other cruise lines had changed their rules as well. We had planned on taking the 3% hit in the casino to use our onboard credit in the casino but was told that you no longer were allowed on NCL.

 

Yes in the past I have always waited to board the ship and then used my onboard credit for gratuities. Can't prepay if you want to use onboard credit.

 

I had a combination of offers that gave me the $700 onboard credit.