Shareholder benefits

[sgwriter]

Regarding the question of whether shareholder credit can be applied to gratuities, here is the answer I got from RCI today in an email.  

"Shareholder onboard credit cannot be used for gratuities or any pre-cruise purchases.  The onboard credit is be posted directly to your Seapass folio account and will cover your onboard charges."

Some earlier posts said otherwise. Maybe RCI sometimes permits exceptions, but this is their official answer to my question about it, so I wouldn't count on being able to use the credits that way.

[zebra36]

8 minutes ago, sgwriter said:

Regarding the question of whether shareholder credit can be applied to gratuities, here is the answer I got from RCI today in an email.  

"Shareholder onboard credit cannot be used for gratuities or any pre-cruise purchases.  The onboard credit is be posted directly to your Seapass folio account and will cover your onboard charges."

Some earlier posts said otherwise. Maybe RCI sometimes permits exceptions, but this is their official answer to my question about it, so I wouldn't count on being able to use the credits that way.

Interesting! Used SH OBC to cover part of grats on last cruise this past April. Will see on Oct. cruise if daily grats are treated differently.

[Another_Critic]

24 minutes ago, sgwriter said:

"Shareholder onboard credit cannot be used for gratuities or any pre-cruise purchases.  The onboard credit is be posted directly to your Seapass folio account and will cover your onboard charges."

The first sentence is not true as you can use shareholder OBC for pre-cruise purchases (drink packages, VOOM, shore excursions, etc); but maybe not prepaid gratuities.  And the final sentence covers the daily (non-prepaid) gratuities as they are onboard charges.

 

Data point:  I've been using shareholder OBC toward gratuities for many, many years and as recently as May. 

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by Another_Critic

[exm]

12 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

That statement refers to using OBC for prepaid gratuities.  Daily (non-prepaid) gratuities are onboard charges.

 

Data point:  I've been using shareholder OBC toward gratuities for many, many years and as recently as May. 

 

 

Thanks for clarifying

[sgwriter]

Sounds to me like they take a hard line on their official policy statement but treat it loosely in actual practice on board.

[exm]

3 hours ago, sgwriter said:

Sounds to me like they take a hard line on their official policy statement but treat it loosely in actual practice on board.

 

Otherwise go to the casino, get $100 in chips and cash out.

[the penguins]

On 8/11/2019 at 2:53 PM, Wine-O said:

 

I understand that, but the question is, can it be used to pay gratuities or a portion thereof?  I read somewhere that it cannot. 

 

I don't think you can use any OBC for booking a new cruise, refundable or non-refundable.  I've always had my credit card charged.   🍷

Yes, it just gets deducted from anything you spend on board. In fact once it's applied to your account you can use it for anything you pre order. 

[the penguins]

5 hours ago, exm said:

 

Otherwise go to the casino, get $100 in chips and cash out.

You can't cash out promotional chips.

[exm]

5 hours ago, the penguins said:

You can't cash out promotional chips.

 

Charge $100 to your room in the casino, cash those out. Simple and works.

[Ourusualbeach]

12 hours ago, exm said:

 

Otherwise go to the casino, get $100 in chips and cash out.

Better to take it out through the slot machine.  

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, exm said:

 

Charge $100 to your room in the casino, cash those out. Simple and works.

 

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Better to take it out through the slot machine.  

Can't do transfer via slot machine on some of the older ships.