$100 OBC - What Do You Use Yours on?

[GUT2407]

As it comes off the final bill I make no plans for it.

[navybankerteacher]

I cannot imagine ever being on a cruise without running up some on-board spending needing to be paid;  so it makes no difference to me if that $100 credit went towards, drinks, spa, service charges, specialty dining or whatever - it will simply reduce the amount I ultimately pay out pocket by $100.

[iancal]

We had a a balance of $200 usd on our RCI Oz/NZ cruise.  Rather than loose it we cashed it in the casino.  I think it cost us five percent but we were able to take the remaining 95 percent home.   It was cruise line OBC...spend it or loose it.....unlike our TA provided OBC. Better than spending on board just for the  sake of spending it.

Edited October 16, 2019 by iancal

[lisiamc]

We either cruise on mostly-inclusive lines or makes sure we have things like pre-paid tips and drinks packages beforehand.  So I’d spend that $100 on speciality dining, if the ship had a nice speciality restaurant.  

[Underwatr]

Many lines won't apply nonrefundable OBC to casino withdrawals, so it's good that you were able to do so.

 

I was on the phone with my TA yesterday in a conference with Cunard, who confirmed that my OBC for December will be $950. I'll be cruising alone, so spending it all may require a spreadsheet.

 

[leaveitallbehind]

16 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

I often have wondered how people get the OBC. It's never happened to us!

 

At least in the US, many cruise lines offer an OBC as part of a given itinerary's booking incentive, which may also include a beverage package, free WiFi, prepaid gratuities, specialty dining, etc.  Often it is also offered as an on board booking incentive for future cruises booked on board.  Typically any OBC offered by the cruise line is non-refundable and is lost if not used while on board.

 

Travel agents will also sometimes offer an OBC as an incentive to book through them.  As this typically would come directly from their commissions, it would usually be a refundable OBC that would be given to you at the end of the cruise is not used.

 

So getting one, again citing US bookings, is just a matter of it being offered as part of the booking package.

Edited October 16, 2019 by leaveitallbehind

[taglovestocruise]

On 10/15/2019 at 12:55 PM, sverigecruiser said:

 

I often have wondered how people get the OBC. It's never happened to us!

Must be a EU thing.  Over here we get OBC, pre paid gratuities and specialty dining perks from TA'S.  Seems like you always get drink packages included, or maybe that is a UK perk. happy cruising

[sverigecruiser]

7 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Must be a EU thing.  Over here we get OBC, pre paid gratuities and specialty dining perks from TA'S.  Seems like you always get drink packages included, or maybe that is a UK perk. happy cruising

 

I have never got a drink package either but it was a few years since we cruised on NCL so that might have changed.

[bcsurvivor2001]

On 10/15/2019 at 3:55 PM, sverigecruiser said:

 

I often have wondered how people get the OBC. It's never happened to us!

My first time getting it.  It was part of the “sale” going on when I bought my cruise - BOGO 1/2 off plus $100 OBC.

[bcsurvivor2001]

On 10/15/2019 at 4:21 PM, navybankerteacher said:

I cannot imagine ever being on a cruise without running up some on-board spending needing to be paid;  so it makes no difference to me if that $100 credit went towards, drinks, spa, service charges, specialty dining or whatever - it will simply reduce the amount I ultimately pay out pocket by $100.

Good to know. Exactely what I was looking for..  DIdn’t know if it just automatically came off my spending or I had to designate it specifically.  I didn’t want to wait til the end only to find out my cc was charged for things but still had this (non-refundable) OBC 😉

[leaveitallbehind]

55 minutes ago, bcsurvivor2001 said:

Good to know. Exactely what I was looking for..  DIdn’t know if it just automatically came off my spending or I had to designate it specifically.  I didn’t want to wait til the end only to find out my cc was charged for things but still had this (non-refundable) OBC 😉

 

Yes - to confirm as I said in my original response it is credited indiscriminately to your on board account as charges are made, regardless of the charge. (Other than as a deposit for a future booking made on board).  But, again, as it will be non-nonrefundable, if your on board charges are less than your OBC, you will lose that unused balance - it is not credited to your credit card or refunded in cash.  Actually very simple.  

[bcsurvivor2001]

10 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

 

Yes - to confirm as I said in my original response it is credited indiscriminately to your on board account as charges are made, regardless of the charge. (Other than as a deposit for a future booking made on board).  But, again, as it will be non-nonrefundable, if your on board charges are less than your OBC, you will lose that unused balance - it is not credited to your credit card or refunded in cash.  Actually very simple.  

Oh I doubt I’ll have less than  the $100  charges for the week 😉😊😂

[GUT2407]

I’m lucky, never have to worry about to spend OBC I have Mrs Gut who is great at it.

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

I’m lucky, never have to worry about to spend OBC I have Mrs Gut who is great at it.

Mrs.66 will tell me what we did with it after the cruise.

[Underwatr]

We never have issues burning through $100 but when we have enough OBC to make it an issue we wander through the shops. The prices may be higher than we would choose the spend "real money" on but when it's a matter of overpriced jewelry vs. leaving a few hundred dollars unspent we opt for the bauble.

[cb at sea]

You really can't pick HOW it's used.  the first $100 you spend will be taken care of by the OBC....it's merely a "credit" to your account....

[EMOSEA]

2-3 days worth of drinks 😅

We don't get a drinking package but we do pre-pay gratuities, so I usually also load up our cruise account with OBC in addition to whatever credit we have when we book it, and use that as my "drinking package" (it's always less than what I'd spend on the actual package).