How can On Board Credit be used/not used?

[comcox]

I will be sailing with Cunard for the first time next month (two different cruises) and I wanted to find out how On Board Credit can be used and if there are any restrictions on its use.  Some of my credit is the Stockholder's Benefit which I gather cannot be used for gratuities or the casino.  Are there other things it cannot be used for?  The rest of my OBC came from the Cunard booking agent; how can this be used?  Part of my challenge is that I don't drink alcohol, sodas, coffees, etc. so I'm trying to decide how else I may use it.  Thanks for any information.

[exlondoner]

Ordinary OBC can be used for gratuities. Otherwise, there are trips (not much use on a Transatlantic), the shops, the laundry service, spa sessions, and I'm sure other things I can't think of.

[PORT ROYAL]

14 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Ordinary OBC can be used for gratuities. Otherwise, there are trips (not much use on a Transatlantic), the shops, the laundry service, spa sessions, and I'm sure other things I can't think of.

Just to add

Dining in Kings Court or Verandah.

WiFi/Internet

Flowers, Fruit, Corsages

Special dining and platters with Room Service

Think Dressing Gowns may still be available for purchase

 

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by PORT ROYAL
Kings

[exlondoner]

And for things like art class equipment, or exercise classes that are extra, hairdressing, or a tour of the ship, if they are still doing them.

[PORT ROYAL]

Private Dance Classes

 

[comcox]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Ordinary OBC can be used for gratuities. Otherwise, there are trips (not much use on a Transatlantic), the shops, the laundry service, spa sessions, and I'm sure other things I can't think of.

Glad to hear regular OBC can be used for gratuities.  I do plan to purchase internet minutes, otherwise I will be raiding the Godiva shop for tons of chocolate😉

Edited December 8, 2021 by comcox

[PORT ROYAL]

18 minutes ago, comcox said:

Glad to hear regular OBC can be used for gratuities.  I do plan to purchase internet minutes, otherwise I will be raiding the Godiva shop for tons of chocolate😉

If one is seeking a major chocolate fix, suggest the wonderful Sir Samuel’s Godiva Chocolate Fondue.  Or a Chocolate Afternoon Tea.

Edited December 8, 2021 by PORT ROYAL
Afternoon Rea

[PORT ROYAL]

1 hour ago, comcox said:

I will be sailing with Cunard for the first time next month (two different cruises) and I wanted to find out how On Board Credit can be used and if there are any restrictions on its use.  Some of my credit is the Stockholder's Benefit which I gather cannot be used for gratuities or the casino.  Are there other things it cannot be used for?  The rest of my OBC came from the Cunard booking agent; how can this be used?  Part of my challenge is that I don't drink alcohol, sodas, coffees, etc. so I'm trying to decide how else I may use it.  Thanks for any information.

Alcohol free cocktails, a wonderful fruit punch that arrives in cocktail glass with all the decorations and trimmings.  Also there is freshly squeezed fruit juices from the Bar.

[LadyL1]

I don’t think excursions have been mentioned, but these must be purchased once onboard.

[comcox]

43 minutes ago, LadyL1 said:

I don’t think excursions have been mentioned, but these must be purchased once onboard.

I've already pre-booked some excursions as I want to make sure I got them, but am holding off on a couple of ports so that is a possibility.

[57eric]

Also photography.  But I want to double check on the private dance classes.  I always thought this was a direct arrangement with the instructors.

[PORT ROYAL]

1 hour ago, 57eric said:

Also photography.  But I want to double check on the private dance classes.  I always thought this was a direct arrangement with the instructors.

One will stand corrected, but one appeared to witness a paper transaction involving a keycard after a lesson in the Yacht Club.

 

[kmerlin14]

We used some for cufflinks in the gift shop when my husband forgot his. The first formal night, he had to use paperclips. Some of the entertainers will sell CDs etc. that you can purchase with your OBC. If we actually get to go on our cruise, I might use some for transfers to the airport.

 

[exlondoner]

One thing you are not allowed to use it for is medical expensive. I suspect this may include Covid tests.

[FritzG]

We learned the hard way that you can't use it in the casino.  

 

[PORT ROYAL]

On 12/8/2021 at 12:18 PM, PORT ROYAL said:

If one is seeking a major chocolate fix, suggest the wonderful Sir Samuel’s Godiva Chocolate Fondue.  Or a Chocolate Afternoon Tea.

Footnote.

Suggest one takes the Fondue early In the voyage, because prime fondue fruits such as Strawberries and the like, can become a tad less every day that passes.

[neeuqdrazil]

On 12/8/2021 at 7:33 AM, PORT ROYAL said:

Alcohol free cocktails, a wonderful fruit punch that arrives in cocktail glass with all the decorations and trimmings.  Also there is freshly squeezed fruit juices from the Bar.

 

When I was on board last (May 2019) the Verandah had an entire section of alcohol free cocktails, mostly using Seedlip - there was a Mule that was delightful. 

[Underwatr]

On 12/9/2021 at 4:11 AM, exlondoner said:

One thing you are not allowed to use it for is medical expensive. I suspect this may include Covid tests.

Another where onboard credit can't be used (and the "cannot" list is much shorter than the "can" list): Future cruise bookings.

I tend to be in a mad scramble toward the end, trying to use up the last OBC dollar without going over by too much. 

[ovccruiser]

Maximum OBC for shareholder benefit is $250 per cabin minimum 14 days works out at $17.85 per day per couple if there are two sharing a cabin, shouldn't really be hard to spend that on coffees, glass of wine or beer.

[PORT ROYAL]

16 minutes ago, ovccruiser said:

Maximum OBC for shareholder benefit is $250 per cabin minimum 14 days works out at $17.85 per day per couple if there are two sharing a cabin, shouldn't really be hard to spend that on coffees, glass of wine or beer.

About two days, with bottled wine at Dinner, day drinks and evening cocktails. 😃

[Underwatr]

I get US veteran credit (matches the stockholder credit) as well as onboard booking/FCC credit which is usually $300/person and goes up from there. If we had kept our 12-night Christmas booking it would have totaled $1600 plus gratuities.

[ovccruiser]

I did a cruise a few years ago which we had booked whilst we were on a cruise, $300 each obc, my $250 stockholder credit total $850 obc easily spent in 14 days.

[majortom10]

On our recent cruise we had in total $1840 OBC and struggled to spend it and ended up buying a watch for $699 with the intention of selling it but now struggling to sell it so lesson learnt but having said that not being big alcohol drinkers we did struggle what to spend it on.

[PORT ROYAL]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

On our recent cruise we had in total $1840 OBC and struggled to spend it and ended up buying a watch for $699 with the intention of selling it but now struggling to sell it so lesson learnt but having said that not being big alcohol drinkers we did struggle what to spend it on.

This made one smile.  
DW had a member of her Team who, let’s say loved money, cruising regularly with “P”.  Before leaving she obtained wished items from relatives, friends and colleagues, being anything from tobacco products to cosmetics, then when onboard exchanged prices by emails to their private addresses, agreeing sales before utilising her (and Husband’s) OBC.  She never made a profit from sales, but openly admitted this method partially paid for the next cruise.

 

[Victoria2]

If all attempts at spending OBC fail, then go to the front desk and have the remainder assigned to  crew gratuities.