Fun uses for onboard credit - besides spa?

[WAvoyager]

We will be on a couple of 7 day cruises this spring.   We have excursions and specialty dining all set up.  All passengers (except little one) have Princess+.

 

we also have $$ in onboard credits.  Besides spa treatments, I’m wracking my brain to figure out what we’re going to spend the credits on.  We’ll be on the Majestic for one of the cruises, so I can’t even rent a cabana.

 

so what are y’all’s recommendations for how to spend onboard credits?  Looking for fun ideas I may not be aware of.

[Kmkub]

Casino and gift shops.

 

There used to be balcony dining options, but I think those are gone right now.

 

Have you looked into The Enclave?

[Kmkub]

Some of the room service items are extra. We ordered calamari from Sabatinis to the sun deck while watching football. It was $8.

[capriccio]

Other possibilities include:

• Princess excursions.
• The Chef's Table (not sure that has resumed) and/or the Winemakers Dinner (has been available on some Royal class ships according to various 'live from' threads).  Ask when you get on board.

[Kmkub]

1 minute ago, capriccio said:

Other possibilities include:

• Princess excursions.
• The Chef's Table (not sure that has resumed) and/or the Winemakers Dinner (has been available on some Royal class ships according to various 'live from' threads).  Ask when you get on board.

There are reports of Chef’s Table happening, minus the galley visit.

 

We called The dine line the moment we got on Enchanted last month. It wasn’t offered.

[capriccio]

Just now, Kmkub said:

There are reports of Chef’s Table happening, minus the galley visit.

 

We called The dine line the moment we got on Enchanted last month. It wasn’t offered.

You're correct.  I got them mixed up.  Chef's Table has been mentioned as being available on some ships/some cruises but I haven't seen that the Winemaker's dinner is being offered.  But in both cases, it is worth asking upon boarding.

[MWcruiser]

We’ve used some for formal photos.   If any is refundable, you can get a check for unused amount about 6-8 weeks after your cruise.

[Kmkub]

1 minute ago, MWcruiser said:

We’ve used some for formal photos.   If any is refundable, you can get a check for unused amount about 6-8 weeks after your cruise.

It’s quicker to just put it all in your medallion in the casino and take it to the cashier. Do that for non refundable, too.

[donaldsc]

I have used OBC to buy several watches that my wife would have never let me buy with real money.  Since I don't spa, don't gamble, almost never take ship excursions, don't need photos and I bring my own wine on board if necessary - there isn't a whole lot of other stuff to do w the OBC.  As an aside, I wonder if I can use the OBC to pay for the corkage fee on the wine that I bring on board?

 

DON

[Kmkub]

2 minutes ago, donaldsc said:

I have used OBC to buy several watches that my wife would have never let me buy with real money.  Since I don't spa, don't gamble, almost never take ship excursions, don't need photos and I bring my own wine on board if necessary - there isn't a whole lot of other stuff to do w the OBC.  As an aside, I wonder if I can use the OBC to pay for the corkage fee on the wine that I bring on board?

 

DON

Yes. It goes towards anything you charge.

[marden1970]

Let your little one go wild in the gift shop🙂

[suzyed]

1 hour ago, Kmkub said:

There are reports of Chef’s Table happening, minus the galley visit.

 

We called The dine line the moment we got on Enchanted last month. It wasn’t offered.

We did the same....they told me the same thing and then we heard they did have a couple of them. 
We did the Winemakers Dinner and it was great!

[WAvoyager]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

I didn’t realize OBC could offset any room charge - I thought you had to specifically use it for a transaction.   That should make it easier.  And I definitely didn’t realize you could use it in the casino.  They already gave us casino credits, so I assumed the OBC had to be used for other things.

 

Formal photos is a really good idea.  We’re going with my (88 y.o.) Mom, so hopefully we can plan something for one of the formal nights.

 

turning our DD loose in the gift shop would be a baaaad idea though!  Last time onboard, we told her she could pick two things.  She found LARGE bags of candy, and stuck to her guns that we said she could pick!  😂

[WAvoyager]

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

I have used OBC to buy several watches that my wife would have never let me buy with real money.  Since I don't spa, don't gamble, almost never take ship excursions, don't need photos and I bring my own wine on board if necessary - there isn't a whole lot of other stuff to do w the OBC.  As an aside, I wonder if I can use the OBC to pay for the corkage fee on the wine that I bring on board?

 

DON

👍

 

Under normal circumstances that would be a perfect suggestion for me, but I need to start reducing my watch collection.  You know there’s a problem when your watches are worth as much as your cars, and rotating your watches means you only wear the same one every other month (or two).

[Kmkub]

12 minutes ago, WAvoyager said:

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

I didn’t realize OBC could offset any room charge - I thought you had to specifically use it for a transaction.   That should make it easier.  And I definitely didn’t realize you could use it in the casino.  They already gave us casino credits, so I assumed the OBC had to be used for other things.

 

Formal photos is a really good idea.  We’re going with my (88 y.o.) Mom, so hopefully we can plan something for one of the formal nights.

 

turning our DD loose in the gift shop would be a baaaad idea though!  Last time onboard, we told her she could pick two things.  She found LARGE bags of candy, and stuck to her guns that we said she could pick!  😂

It just all lumps together as a negative balance on your cabin account. On our cruise last month, we started with -900! Part of it because I pre purchased enclave and internet. You still have to “buy” them on board.

[WAvoyager]

8 minutes ago, Kmkub said:

It just all lumps together as a negative balance on your cabin account. On our cruise last month, we started with -900! Part of it because I pre purchased enclave and internet. You still have to “buy” them on board.

We’ve purchased Enclave for two for the trip.  It shows as “reserved” and “paid” - do I still have to “buy” it onboard?

 

 

[Kmkub]

21 minutes ago, WAvoyager said:

We’ve purchased Enclave for two for the trip.  It shows as “reserved” and “paid” - do I still have to “buy” it onboard?

 

 

It’s why I put buy in quotes. The amount you paid will show as a negative in your account when you board. As soon as the ship hits international waters, a “purchase” will show to offset the negative balance. It’s to keep the sailing’s balance sheet together in one place.

[caribill]

5 hours ago, WAvoyager said:

We have excursions and specialty dining all set up. 

 

we also have $$ in onboard credits.

 

I assume you paid in advance for the shore excursions, so you are asking how to use the non-refundable OBC.

 

The way it works with the shore excursions (at least before the pandemic shutdown) is that the on board account will pretend what you paid is in the account and then the shore excursions costs are subtracted from the onboard account balance.

 

But when they do this, they use up non-refunable OBC first. So in effect, you are using up the OBC and end up with refundable OBC left. If you do not spend this during the cruise, then it will be refunded to you. If the refundable balance is $25 or less, it can be refunded on board at the end of the cruise at the Passenger Services desk. If the refundable balance is more than $25, a check will be mailed to you weeks after the cruise ends.

 

So after a day or two, check your on board account to see if the OBC left is marked refundable.

 

[WAvoyager]

2 hours ago, Kmkub said:

It’s why I put buy in quotes. The amount you paid will show as a negative in your account when you board. As soon as the ship hits international waters, a “purchase” will show to offset the negative balance. It’s to keep the sailing’s balance sheet together in one place.

That makes sense - the part that threw me was “you still have to buy them onboard “ - I think that could read “it will be “bought” (automatically) onboard”.

[WAvoyager]

10 minutes ago, caribill said:

 

I assume you paid in advance for the shore excursions, so you are asking how to use the non-refundable OBC.

 

The way it works with the shore excursions (at least before the pandemic shutdown) is that the on board account will pretend what you paid is in the account and then the shore excursions costs are subtracted from the onboard account balance.

 

But when they do this, they use up non-refunable OBC first. So in effect, you are using up the OBC and end up with refundable OBC left. If you do not spend this during the cruise, then it will be refunded to you. If the refundable balance is $25 or less, it can be refunded on board at the end of the cruise at the Passenger Services desk. If the refundable balance is more than $25, a check will be mailed to you weeks after the cruise ends.

 

So after a day or two, check your on board account to see if the OBC left is marked refundable.

 

Yes, we prepaid for an excursion and premium dining, and Enclave access.  So the non-refundable OBC should cover those, and the amount we prepaid will be mailed back to us as a refund?  Great!   Do I have to go to guest services to “settle up”, or will that be automatic?

 

good news.  I thought we were going to have to figure out more stuff to spend money on to use up the OBC.  When I asked if the OBC could be applied to the stuff I was 

making reservations for (and pre-paying), they said no, I could only use the OBC when I got onboard-no mention of any refund.

[MissP22]

4 hours ago, donaldsc said:

I have used OBC to buy several watches that my wife would have never let me buy with real money. 

I don't know why you don't think of it a "real money" when in fact it is actual cash in all respects. 

Take as much of it home with you & use it as you would elsewhere instead of trying to burn it up on the ship for overpriced items.

That's of course you do run across some items of great value. 

[caribill]

16 minutes ago, WAvoyager said:

Yes, we prepaid for an excursion and premium dining, and Enclave access.  So the non-refundable OBC should cover those, and the amount we prepaid will be mailed back to us as a refund?  Great!   Do I have to go to guest services to “settle up”, or will that be automatic?

 

 

More that $25 will be automatic.$25 or less must request at guest services at end of cruise.

 

16 minutes ago, WAvoyager said:

good news.  I thought we were going to have to figure out more stuff to spend money on to use up the OBC.  When I asked if the OBC could be applied to the stuff I was 

making reservations for (and pre-paying), they said no, I could only use the OBC when I got onboard-no mention of any refund.

 

Any OBC that was already listed for your cruise in the Personalizer could have been used to help pay for shore excursions when you booked them. The rep you spoke with was wrong.

 

However the OBC can not be used in advance for other items such as specialty restaurants, spa, etc.

[cjpj]

Some of these mentioned before, but here is my list. You could also cancel some other the excursions and rebook them as soon as you get on board, using your credit.

 

Chefs Table

Winemakers Dinner

Excursions

An afternoon at the Sanctuary on a warm sea day

Casino and bingo

Enclave

Bling, cameras, duty free from the shops

Specialty restaurants 

Gelato

 

[azbirdmom]

I think you should be able to add more gratuities to your folio at the Passenger Services desk.  I haven't tried to do it since the implementation of Princess Plus but it was allowable in the past.

[JF - retired RRT]

10 hours ago, MWcruiser said:

We’ve used some for formal photos.   If any is refundable, you can get a check for unused amount about 6-8 weeks after your cruise.

never mind

Edited February 13, 2022 by JF - retired RRT