How do u spend onboard credits not avail until cruise date

[Zendeck]

I was fortunate to get a nice onboard credit w my booking on symphony next April.  On another cruise line I have always selected all of my excursions and packages prior to the cruise date and the fee would get netted against my onboard credits and the balance would just go on my onboard account.  It looks like w RC the fee is charged at point of sale.  I pre-plan to ensure we get everything we want but that’s going to leave me w a pretty big onboard credit that I will lose.  I hoped to net against my drink pkg but I already purchased because the boards warned of rate hikes.  I’ve also booked bogo and some activities and I now want to book some excursions.  There will be nothing to net against by the time we board.  

 

Perhaps I will use for tips if that is allowed? ( 4 in suite for 7 days).....How does that work w onboard credit.  

[DaNana]

I have mine available for tours, dining, drink packages and my cruise is May 2019. 

[Merion_Mom]

6 minutes ago, Zendeck said:

I was fortunate to get a nice onboard credit w my booking on symphony next April.  On another cruise line I have always selected all of my excursions and packages prior to the cruise date and the fee would get netted against my onboard credits and the balance would just go on my onboard account.  It looks like w RC the fee is charged at point of sale.  I pre-plan to ensure we get everything we want but that’s going to leave me w a pretty big onboard credit that I will lose.  I hoped to net against my drink pkg but I already purchased because the boards warned of rate hikes.  I’ve also booked bogo and some activities and I now want to book some excursions.  There will be nothing to net against by the time we board.  

 

Perhaps I will use for tips if that is allowed? ( 4 in suite for 7 days).....How does that work w onboard credit.  

 

Yes, you can use your OBC for gratuities.  

 

4 x 7 x $17.50 = $490

 

 

[Zendeck]

This credit has small print ‘not avail until sail date’.  Happy to have it but c’mon.....what a strategy..... of course I’m going to pre plan everything for the annual family vacation....so I’ll end up having to spend more just to use the credit 😡

[Zendeck]

1 minute ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Yes, you can use your OBC for gratuities.  

 

4 x 7 x $17.50 = $490

 

 

 

Perfect......that will still leave a bit more credit but I feel better and can justify a spa activity without pre planning.  Thank you!

[Ourusualbeach]

4 minutes ago, Zendeck said:

This credit has small print ‘not avail until sail date’.  Happy to have it but c’mon.....what a strategy..... of course I’m going to pre plan everything for the annual family vacation....so I’ll end up having to spend more just to use the credit 😡

 

PBC from a travel agent isn’t available until you get on board.  OBC issued by Royal generally is available for use before you board to purchase things in your cruise planner.

[Merion_Mom]

8 minutes ago, Zendeck said:

 

Perfect......that will still leave a bit more credit but I feel better and can justify a spa activity without pre planning.  Thank you!

 

Spa, souvenirs, liquor, bingo, casino (for a 3% fee), internet.  

[Zendeck]

3 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Spa, souvenirs, liquor, bingo, casino (for a 3% fee), internet.  

 

Oh I know how to spend it..... I’m just trying not too!!!!!  

😂

 

just thought of another thing.....arcade for the kids?  Just feels better knowing that the credit is going towards a true expense that we would have vs splurging.  The suite is a splurge for us and pkgs I’ve purchased.....but yes you are correct I’ve been studying all the ways I can spend money on this amazing ship!

[Zendeck]

26 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

PBC from a travel agent isn’t available until you get on board.  OBC issued by Royal generally is available for use before you board to purchase things in your cruise planner.

 

Interesting I’ll recheck the contract.  I did go thru TA but I thought it was a RC special back when I booked.  I did get other OBC that I did net against kids drink pkg  but I thought that was from TA.  Regardless, glad I can use for tips.  Gives me the feeling I got something for free vs looking for something to spend it on.  Mind games 😉

[Tee & Chilli]

Log into your cruise planner. If the on board credit is shown there, it’s from Royal.

[frank808]

The obc from your TA is probably refundable obc.  You can goto guest services and withdraw it if it is refundable.  But if some obc is non refundable and some is refundable, the non refunable obc will be used first for any on board charges to the account (ie gratuities).

[pcur]

I always leave the obc for tips.  It reduces the overall out-of-pocket, or OOP as I like to say.

Edited November 16, 2018 by pcur

[dairymancruiser]

Can you use obc for bingo and not be charged 3% like in the casino?

[katiel53]

I didn't realize that if using my OBC in the casino it was 3% instead of the 5% if using my SeaPass that is associated with my credit card.  Has it been this way for a while?  I haven't done either of these, but will have a goodly amount of OBC next cruise,

 

I usually use some of it to tip additionally in the specialty restaurants and have cashed out the balance at the end of the cruise.

[h20skibum]

Has anyone ever tried booking your excursions pre-cruise, then cancel them onboard (to get the credit back to your card), then rebooking to use the OBC that is only available onboard?  Just asking for a friend. 

[Biker19]

7 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Has anyone ever tried booking your excursions pre-cruise, then cancel them onboard (to get the credit back to your card), then rebooking to use the OBC that is only available onboard?  Just asking for a friend. 

That would work except for two issues: the price on board may be higher than pre-cruise and it may sell out by the time you try to re-book it on board. Also, you need to cancel at least 48 hrs out so that wouldn't work for an excursion on the first two days.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Biker19

[h20skibum]

13 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

That would work except for two issues: the price on board may be higher than pre-cruise and it may sell out by the time you try to re-book it on board. Also, you need to cancel at least 48 hrs out so that wouldn't work for an excursion on the first two days.

 

Agree with the 48 hour window, but it technically would not be sold out if you are taking the same slot you originally booked. 

 

The only problem would be if they sold the open slot to someone who was wait listed. Although it may be more expensive onboard, you are using your OBC. 

Edited November 16, 2018 by h20skibum

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

 Although it may be more expensive onboard, you are using your OBC. 

You can get your OBC back without spending it - the TA OBC which you can't use pre-cruise is refundable. Even the RCI non-refundable OBC (which for most folks is not more than the grats) can sometimes be refunded.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Biker19

[Zendeck]

I checked my contract and it is a special Bonus offer.  It appears to be jointly from RC and TA for being a first timer to the TA.  So as folks have indicated, the credit that has appeared on my account was indeed from RC and is netting against purchases.  But the other larger Bonus credit will not appear until embarkation day and HAS NO CASH VALUE AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE. 

 

I've got a question out to my TA to confirm that I can apply towards tips and arcade etc. 

 

There is no way I'm not using that bonus!  But I really want to net against my OOP!  Just makes it feel like a better deal!

 

 

[Merion_Mom]

3 minutes ago, Zendeck said:

I checked my contract and it is a special Bonus offer.  It appears to be jointly from RC and TA for being a first timer to the TA.  So as folks have indicated, the credit that has appeared on my account was indeed from RC and is netting against purchases.  But the other larger Bonus credit will not appear until embarkation day and HAS NO CASH VALUE AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE. 

 

I've got a question out to my TA to confirm that I can apply towards tips and arcade etc. 

 

There is no way I'm not using that bonus!  But I really want to net against my OOP!  Just makes it feel like a better deal!

 

 

 

The OBC will appear on your SeaPass account as a credit.  Anything that you charge on board will be a debit.  The OBC will pay for it.