On board credit

[dorsetlad]

We have quite a bit of on board credit for our next cruise, and intended using some of it to buy foreign currency from reception. I have just read on Cruise Personaliser that OBC cannot be used for this. Can anyone confirm that this is fact, and enforced, or has anyone actually bought currency with it?

 

Brian

[john watson]

We have quite a bit of on board credit for our next cruise, and intended using some of it to buy foreign currency from reception. I have just read on Cruise Personaliser that OBC cannot be used for this. Can anyone confirm that this is fact, and enforced, or has anyone actually bought currency with it?

 

Brian

 

Cruise lines are always trying to protect their revenue. When OBC gets issued as part of the cruise deal, they always block transactions which may lead to you taking the OBC home at the end of the cruise as cash.

 

Two areas I can think of in this respect, foreign currency withdrawals and casino chips. There is nothing to stop anyone who has got OBC going and getting foreign currency etc. and just signing for it. This is fine and you will have no trouble at the Reception counter. At the end of the cruise however when the computer calculates your on board spend and then charges the excess to your credit card to settle your on board account if you have not spent enough on excursions, drinks etc. to exceed your OBC then any unused will be lost as unused. Your credit card will be charged for any of the transactions that are not able to be paid with using OBC.

 

You can have a check every so many days and ask for an account print out to see if the excursions, drinks etc. are keeping up with available OBC. So you get full value throughout the cruise.

 

Regards John

Edited April 12, 2016 by john watson

[dorsetlad]

Thanks John. After I posted the question,I looked back at a previous statement of account from our Christmas Cruise, and sure enough, I purchased a few Danish Krona. It was not included in the column where OBC is recorded, but separately. I would not normally buy currency from the ship as the exchange rate is abysmal, but using OBC would have been ideal. I have just cancelled a pre-booked excursion, and will re book it once on board, and probably book a few more as well, just to use it up. I will take my Halifax Clarity credit card ashore and withdraw from an ATM.

 

Brian

[daiB]

Thanks John. After I posted the question,I looked back at a previous statement of account from our Christmas Cruise, and sure enough, I purchased a few Danish Krona. It was not included in the column where OBC is recorded, but separately. I would not normally buy currency from the ship as the exchange rate is abysmal, but using OBC would have been ideal. I have just cancelled a pre-booked excursion, and will re book it once on board, and probably book a few more as well, just to use it up. I will take my Halifax Clarity credit card ashore and withdraw from an ATM.

 

 

 

Brian

 

 

 

On the other hand I could come with you Brian and assist you with the excess OBC. Perhaps a G&T or two. :) :) :)

 

 

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[dorsetlad]

Dai, afraid you'll need to join the queue.

 

Brian

[john watson]

One financial move that I have noticed with cruising, nothing to do with OBC, is that if you need a bit of cash. It is possible to withdraw cash from Reception in sterling which generates a credit card debt. This is bundled together with all other cruise expenses and charged to your credit card company as a holiday not a cash withdrawal which would attract a higher rate of interest. This can be transferred to a 0% Balance transfer card.

 

Regards John

[daiB]

One financial move that I have noticed with cruising, nothing to do with OBC, is that if you need a bit of cash. It is possible to withdraw cash from Reception in sterling which generates a credit card debt. This is bundled together with all other cruise expenses and charged to your credit card company as a holiday not a cash withdrawal which would attract a higher rate of interest. This can be transferred to a 0% Balance transfer card.

 

 

 

Regards John

 

 

Shhhhhhhh.

 

Someone may be watching. :) :)

 

 

 

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[postcardswansea]

I have just cancelled a pre-booked excursion, and will re book it once on board, and probably book a few more as well, just to use it up

 

We've pre-booked an excursion because we wanted to be sure of one in particular, in case it sold out. My question is - if, once on board, the excursion is still available, is there any risk involved in cancelling the pre-booking and then immediately re-booking using OBC? Or would we have to wait to re-book, and possibly miss out?

 

I realise we'd face a cancellation penalty, but it may still be worthwhile to us to do this if we have OBC to use up.

[Mysticalmother]

We've pre-booked an excursion because we wanted to be sure of one in particular, in case it sold out. My question is - if, once on board, the excursion is still available, is there any risk involved in cancelling the pre-booking and then immediately re-booking using OBC? Or would we have to wait to re-book, and possibly miss out?

 

I realise we'd face a cancellation penalty, but it may still be worthwhile to us to do this if we have OBC to use up.

 

There is a slight risk in as much as if the excursion has sold out there may be a wait list....and you might go to the bottom of it! But I am sure a quiet and friendly word with the Tour desk staff (before you cancel) might get you round that. After all, they would be quids in! They do sometimes up the price on board too.

[Solent Richard]

Thanks John. After I posted the question,I looked back at a previous statement of account from our Christmas Cruise, and sure enough, I purchased a few Danish Krona. It was not included in the column where OBC is recorded, but separately. I would not normally buy currency from the ship as the exchange rate is abysmal, but using OBC would have been ideal. I have just cancelled a pre-booked excursion, and will re book it once on board, and probably book a few more as well, just to use it up. I will take my Halifax Clarity credit card ashore and withdraw from an ATM.

 

Brian

 

Hi Dorset Lad.

 

I take my Halifax Clarity with me everywhere but for paying my P&O onboard account I use my cashback American Express.

 

Every little helps. :eek:

[dorsetlad]

Hi Dorset Lad.

 

I take my Halifax Clarity with me everywhere but for paying my P&O onboard account I use my cashback American Express.

 

Every little helps. :eek:

 

I pay my onboard account with my Nationwide Cash Reward credit card, so we obviously think the same way.

 

Brian

[jeanlyon]

Me too. Nationwide card is great! and no fees on their debit card for currency.

[Solent Richard]

I pay my onboard account with my Nationwide Cash Reward credit card, so we obviously think the same way.

 

Brian

 

We certainly do.

 

Just out of interest, what is the cutback rate on the Nationwide please.

 

My wife has a Nationwide CC and maybe she could do a swop.

[dorsetlad]

Not sure what the rate on a new card would be today. Ours dates back to when we had a Nationwide current account, although we now do our main banking with Santander. Our current cashback rate is a miserly 0.25%, although it used to be 1%.

 

Brian

[Nevleen]

We've pre-booked an excursion because we wanted to be sure of one in particular, in case it sold out. My question is - if, once on board, the excursion is still available, is there any risk involved in cancelling the pre-booking and then immediately re-booking using OBC? Or would we have to wait to re-book, and possibly miss out?

 

I realise we'd face a cancellation penalty, but it may still be worthwhile to us to do this if we have OBC to use up.

 

Not only a cancellation penalty but if you get discount for peninsular membership, the % penalty is taken from the full amount not what you paid.

N::mad:

[dorsetlad]

Nevleen & postcardswansea, there is NO cancellation fee!!!!!!!!!! As mentioned previously, I have now cancelled our pre-booked excursion, and have been refunded the full amount. The only risk you take by waiting until you are on board, is that the excursion you want may be fully booked, and the prices are usually a pound or two more than if you pre book.

 

Brian

[balf]

We certainly do.

 

 

 

Just out of interest, what is the cutback rate on the Nationwide please.

 

 

 

My wife has a Nationwide CC and maybe she could do a swop.

 

 

Amex pays 1% though there are some outlets that won't accept it. Still 1% off the cruise account is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish.

 

Why do I think of crossing the equator?

 

David.

[Nevleen]

Nevleen & postcardswansea, there is NO cancellation fee!!!!!!!!!! As mentioned previously, I have now cancelled our pre-booked excursion, and have been refunded the full amount. The only risk you take by waiting until you are on board, is that the excursion you want may be fully booked, and the prices are usually a pound or two more than if you pre book.

 

Brian

 

Brian,

We were charged a cancellation fee on Aurora even although we were booking another cruise for the same day. Also on Oriana we were told that we would get a full refund if they were able to sell our tickets. Fortunately, they did.

Nevleen.

[the english lady]

Brian,

We were charged a cancellation fee on Aurora even although we were booking another cruise for the same day. Also on Oriana we were told that we would get a full refund if they were able to sell our tickets. Fortunately, they did.

Nevleen.

 

I think if you book excursions in advance, before sailing, you can cancel no penalty charge, in advance

If you book on board then cancel, you are charged a cancellation fee at that point. We were not told anything about if they were able to sell the tickets. Me thinks you may just have been very lucky there.

 

As I have not tried it, I don't know what happens if you book and pay for a tour in advance, and then cancel it once on board.

[dorsetlad]

I think if you book excursions in advance, before sailing, you can cancel no penalty charge, in advance

If you book on board then cancel, you are charged a cancellation fee at that point. We were not told anything about if they were able to sell the tickets. Me thinks you may just have been very lucky there.

 

As I have not tried it, I don't know what happens if you book and pay for a tour in advance, and then cancel it once on board.

 

Sometimes I think it depends who deals with your request. I have pre booked and then cancelled before sailing, and always received a full refund. I have also pre booked, and been unable to do the excursion because of my wife not feeling very well. On that occasion I went to the tours desk to inform them we would not be going, and to my surprise, a full refund was given. This was less than an hour before we were due to go. Maybe they make it up as they go along.

 

Brian

[john watson]

Another possibility with the cancellation fee pre-cruise and while on board disparity may well be that pre-booking comes under the distance selling regulations law. This is just my theory.

 

Regards John

[annieuk]

I had to cancel an excursion that had been pre-booked for the next day but I had to undergo a small surgical procedure at the Medical Centre on Adonia. I went to the Tours Office and they immediately cancelled my tour and the money was refunded the next day - but I think this was because I told the Tours people about the visit to the Dr.

 

I know when we were on a Fjords cruise a couple on our table were disappointed to find that two of the excursions they had intended booking on board were full and they had to choose something else.

[Nevleen]

Brian,

We were charged a cancellation fee on Aurora even although we were booking another cruise for the same day. Also on Oriana we were told that we would get a full refund if they were able to sell our tickets. Fortunately, they did.

Nevleen.

 

The tour we cancelled on Aurora had been pre booked before sailing. We booked the tour and when aboard decided to go with our friends on a different tour. The original was cancelled with a cancellation fee, equivalent to ten percent of the actual tour price and not of the reduced peninsular price. We thought this was mean since really we were transferring to another tour.