OBC for a cancelled port - How do I use it?

[marianoam]

Hi, everyone! This is my first time cruising with HAL and I was just notified about the cancellation of Half Moon Cay on my Veendam sail next April. I was offered $100pp in OBC.

This might sound silly, but I don't know how it works.

1) Will it be on my account on embarkation day?

2) It can be used for specialty dining, spa, excursions, drinks, drink packages and more, right?

3) Does it include service charges? For example, if I buy a drink of $9 plus service charge (let's say $10 with service charge), I will have $90 left, right? Or will I have $91 left and the service charge is paid by credit card/cash on my last day?

4) Is it possible to follow my account movements (and the OBC) on the TV or the app onboard?

Thanks!

[CJcruzer]

The OBC should appear on embarkation when you look at your account.  If not, within a day or two, but follow up on it.  I have always had my OBC appear on embarkation day.

 

Can be used towards  ANYTHING that can be/is charged to your account. Including your gratuities.

 

As for drinks, whatever the drink total/receipt generated shows, that is what is charged to your account.  Accordingly your OBC can absorb that, if there is any or enough remaining.

 

you can follow your account on the navigator app, once onboard.  Also most if not all ships have a machine by the guest services front desk, where you can swipe your card and your account statement to date will be printed.

 

So yes any purchases made for spa, specialty dining, drinks, wine packages, onboard store purchases, etc that are posted to your onboard account would be deducted against your onboard credit.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Carol

 

 

Edited November 22, 2019 by CJcruzer

[Alberta Quilter]

The answers to all of your questions is YES.  For #3, using your example, you'll have $90 left.  you can also use the OBC for laundry, daily service charge, bingo, onboard shopping, and most other onboard charges.  It cannot be used in the casino or to make a deposit on a future cruise.

[knittinggirl]

It should be on your account, but not always.  Be sure to take with you the printed copy of the OBC confirmation.  I make sure it's been added to our receipt from the TA or HAL.

 

You should be able to use it for anything onboard, but you need to use it up.  It won't be refunded to your credit card.

[puppycanducruise]

I'm not sure when it will show up on your account, but it should show up when you board.

You can use it for anything on board - meals, drinks, spa or tips.

Have a great cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Your $100 shipboard credit can be used for anything on the ship -- even the shops.  On drinks the service charge is paid by that credit.  You can even use it to pay the gratuities.

 

The only thing you can't use it for is the casino.

 

If yo drink a lot, I would suggest getting s Beverage Card.  That way if there should be anything left over you won't lose it -- it will be credited back to your charge card.

[marianoam]

Perfect. Thank you, everyone! Very helpful!

[Homosassa]

Usually,  on board charges  will be charged against your OBC  first to use it up before any charges accrue to your on board account that you have set up to be paid by credit card or cash.  This includes the daily service charge.  

 

The $100 per person OBC will disappear fast.

 

When you check your account, it will be clear what OBC you have and the daily deduction from the OBC.

[marianoam]

39 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Your $100 shipboard credit can be used for anything on the ship -- even the shops.  On drinks the service charge is paid by that credit.  You can even use it to pay the gratuities.

 

The only thing you can't use it for is the casino.

 

If yo drink a lot, I would suggest getting s Beverage Card.  That way if there should be anything left over you won't lose it -- it will be credited back to your charge card.

 

If I'm understanding correctly, what you're saying is that I can buy a $200 Beverage Card (using both guests OBC), and if I don't use it at all I will be credited $200 back to my credit card?

[marianoam]

Also, I'm a little confused about the OBC for a cancelled port.

 

I understand that this is not refundable, but port taxes for a cancelled port should be fully refundable, as I've already paid them. What am i missing here?

[Alberta Quilter]

I've not experienced a cancelled port prior to the cruise before but have during the cruise.  While onboard, the port fees are credited to one's onboard account.  I would think that would be the easiest way for them to credit it back to you.  Did it not say on your notification of the itinerary change (or when you were offered the OBC)?

[catl331]

Port taxes are refunded to your account like an additional OBC.  However, I'm not sure that there are any port taxes for HMC.

Edited November 22, 2019 by catl331

[marianoam]

Just now, Alberta Quilter said:

I've not experienced a cancelled port prior to the cruise before but have during the cruise.  While onboard, the port fees are credited to one's onboard account.  I would think that would be the easiest way for them to credit it back to you.  Did it not say on your notification of the itinerary change (or when you were offered the OBC)?

 

No, it just says that we'll be receiving $100 pp as OBC (courtesy), that can't be used in the casino or redeemed for cash. My TA just told me that port fees will be credited 7 days after debarkation.

 

So, I assume this OBC is a courtesy and the fees will be a credit. On my credit card? As a check? I don't know.

[catl331]

3 minutes ago, marianoam said:

My TA just told me that port fees will be credited 7 days after debarkation.

We've always gotten them credited to our on-board account ... like OBC.

[marianoam]

Just now, catl331 said:

We've always gotten them credited to our on-board account ... like OBC.

 

As refundable OBC, I assume, as it's money you've already paid and belongs to you. Right?

 

But the e-mail with this $200 OBC clearly says that it can't be redeemed by cash. So maybe it is not related to port fees... 

[Alberta Quilter]

They're two different issues.  I believe the OBC is for your inconvenience and any refund of the port fees will be credited to your onboard account as catl331 says.  Yes, the port fee credit should be refundable.  But, honestly, your HSC will likely eat up most of that $200, unless you have pre-paid gratuities.  I never have any issue spending the non refundable OBC, even with pre-paid grats.

[marianoam]

3 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

They're two different issues.  I believe the OBC is for your inconvenience and any refund of the port fees will be credited to your onboard account as catl331 says.  Yes, the port fee credit should be refundable.  But, honestly, your HSC will likely eat up most of that $200, unless you have pre-paid gratuities.  I never have any issue spending the non refundable OBC, even with pre-paid grats.

 

Yes, my gratuities have been prepaid. So I'm kinda stuck with $200 in OBC that I don't know if I need... Can I buy chips at the casino with that? Even if they are "promotional" chips? Or open an account in the slot machines?

[CJcruzer]

13 minutes ago, marianoam said:

 

As refundable OBC, I assume, as it's money you've already paid and belongs to you. Right?

 

But the e-mail with this $200 OBC clearly says that it can't be redeemed by cash. So maybe it is not related to port fees... 

 

It is probably a goodwill gesture on behalf of HAL for the change in itinerary, not actual port fee/gov’t tax reduction - those are usually not an even dollar amount, anyway,

 

So as it is being given by the cruise-line as compensation, I would likely say that it is NOT redeemable for cash.  A wine package, specialty dining, spa treatment should use that up fairly quickly.  Also perhaps booking  a shore excursion once on board ?    

 

Carol.

[marianoam]

3 minutes ago, CJcruzer said:

 

It is probably a goodwill gesture on behalf of HAL for the change in itinerary, not actual port fee/gov’t tax reduction - those are usually not an even dollar amount, anyway,

 

So as it is being given by the cruise-line as compensation, I would likely say that it is NOT redeemable for cash.  A wine package, specialty dining, spa treatment should use that up fairly quickly.  Also perhaps booking  a shore excursion once on board ?    

 

Carol.

I just needed one excursion, which I have already booked in advance... I will try to cash it out at the casino... That cash would be extremely useful for the rest of my trip once I debark.

[knittinggirl]

We had our itinerary changed on the Veendam about a year ago.  We lost two ports before our cruise, and our 13-day cruise turned into an 11-day cruise.  We had a fare reduction, OBC and port fees adjusted before payoff date.

 

We also had a few ports cancelled on an ongoing cruise.  There we got a port fee refund.  We also had a port stay extended a few times, but no changes in the port fees. 

 

We had a port cancelled on our last cruise, and we ended up getting to Halifax a day early for an overnight.  Strangest thing, the port was allowing us off the ship, they organized extra EXC tours, but the shops in the port were not open until the next day, the day we were originally scheduled to arrive.

[marianoam]

1 minute ago, knittinggirl said:

We had our itinerary changed on the Veendam about a year ago.  We lost two ports before our cruise, and our 13-day cruise turned into an 11-day cruise.  We had a fare reduction, OBC and port fees adjusted before payoff date.

 

We also had a few ports cancelled on an ongoing cruise.  There we got a port fee refund.  We also had a port stay extended a few times, but no changes in the port fees. 

 

We had a port cancelled on our last cruise, and we ended up getting to Halifax a day early for an overnight.  Strangest thing, the port was allowing us off the ship, they organized extra EXC tours, but the shops in the port were not open until the next day, the day we were originally scheduled to arrive.

My cruise has been fully paid (it was a promo rate). When you got the port refunds, where they refunded to your credit card?

[knittinggirl]

12 minutes ago, marianoam said:

My cruise has been fully paid (it was a promo rate). When you got the port refunds, where they refunded to your credit card?

The port fees were refunded on our onboard account.

 

On the Veendam, it happened months before final payment date.  They just reduced our final payment amount.  We were not even close to paying it off at the time.

[catl331]

1 hour ago, marianoam said:

As refundable OBC, I assume, as it's money you've already paid and belongs to you. Right?

I don't really know, as we've never had any unused OBC, but I presume it's refundable to the credit card you used to pay the fare. 

Edited November 22, 2019 by catl331

[Alberta Quilter]

1 hour ago, marianoam said:

 

Yes, my gratuities have been prepaid. So I'm kinda stuck with $200 in OBC that I don't know if I need... Can I buy chips at the casino with that? Even if they are "promotional" chips? Or open an account in the slot machines?

As far as I'm aware, you will NOT be able to use this OBC in the Casino.  It may appear that you can but someone reported that he was charged after disembarkation for the OBC used in the Casino.  I would find another way to use it.  What about a bottle of wine or wine package.  Unlimited laundry?  Failing all that, you could always donate any unused, non refundable OBC to the crew.

[HokiePoq]

4 hours ago, marianoam said:

My cruise has been fully paid (it was a promo rate). When you got the port refunds, where they refunded to your credit card?

Since we missed two ports on our recent cruise, shore excursions were refunded and some fees although they were not itemized.  We ended up with a credit balance that was refunded to our credit card.    All of this had been prepaid.   For a courtesy OBC it needs to be spent onboard as specified.