Rare terrydtx Posted March 12, 2022 #1 Share Posted March 12, 2022 We have $300 OBC from a HAL promo when we booked in 2020 for our Oosterdam cruise in August. My wife wants to book a spa service before we board but there is no way we can find to book the spa service pre cruise, with the OBC. The HAL web site wants CC to pay for the purchase. Thanks for any help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobTheGob Posted March 12, 2022 #2 Share Posted March 12, 2022 I've never come across a way to do this. You either pay with a CC before the cruise or wait and book on the ship with the OBC. I also wish this was an option - but I don't think so... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 12, 2022 #3 Share Posted March 12, 2022 Onboard is onboard. There is no way to use it ahead of time. I am not sure of the rationale 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted March 12, 2022 Author #4 Share Posted March 12, 2022 27 minutes ago, Mary229 said: Onboard is onboard. There is no way to use it ahead of time. I am not sure of the rationale We normally book suites on Celebrity and get $800 to $1200 in OBC for booking them, which can all be spent on excursions and any shore excursions or ship services like the spa and specialty restaurants pre cruise. On Celebrity the OBC shows in our online account like a back account. So disappointed in HAL policies and our August cruise will be most likely our last, we only booked it to use up FCC from a canceled 2021 Greek cruise. We have 5 future cruises booked in suites with Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john2003 Posted March 13, 2022 #5 Share Posted March 13, 2022 (edited) I believe you can call Ship Services three days before the cruise. I gather this works for Shore Excursions so don't see why it wouldn't be similar for the spa. Edited March 13, 2022 by john2003 Added info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted March 13, 2022 #6 Share Posted March 13, 2022 I think it’s a step in the right direction that HAL has set up pre-reservation via credits designated to be used for dining and shore excursions with the Have it All promo. It worked well when I used it. I’m hoping that leads to using any OBC for pre-booking things such as spa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syr fan Posted March 14, 2022 #7 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Well that explains why I can't book excursions ahead of time, but my drinks and gratuities are prepaid, what can I use the OBC for? Can I use it in the casino? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 14, 2022 #8 Share Posted March 14, 2022 14 minutes ago, syr fan said: Well that explains why I can't book excursions ahead of time, but my drinks and gratuities are prepaid, what can I use the OBC for? Can I use it in the casino? Once onboard you can use your OBC. Until then you just have to wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted March 14, 2022 Author #9 Share Posted March 14, 2022 15 minutes ago, syr fan said: Well that explains why I can't book excursions ahead of time, but my drinks and gratuities are prepaid, what can I use the OBC for? Can I use it in the casino? Good question, I guess you can only use it on products and services or items in the stores once we board. My wife prebooked a spa service now with our CC so our OBC may be used for bottles of wine at dinner. Our shore excursions are also pre booked with the CC. Not happy with HAL at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted March 14, 2022 #10 Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 hour ago, syr fan said: Well that explains why I can't book excursions ahead of time, but my drinks and gratuities are prepaid, what can I use the OBC for? Can I use it in the casino? Technically NO. It often will say this on your Onboard account. HOWEVER, on some ships they do not catch this and it goes through. Typical HAL, it varies from ship to ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermeulT Posted March 14, 2022 #11 Share Posted March 14, 2022 4 hours ago, syr fan said: Well that explains why I can't book excursions ahead of time, but my drinks and gratuities are prepaid, what can I use the OBC for? Can I use it in the casino? once on board you can check with the shore excursion desk and they can cancel your reservation made with the CC and rebook you using OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted March 14, 2022 #12 Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 minute ago, VermeulT said: once on board you can check with the shore excursion desk and they can cancel your reservation made with the CC and rebook you using OBC. Be careful though - if the excursion is waitlisted, this might not work or you might not be able to get the time you want. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea42 Posted March 14, 2022 #13 Share Posted March 14, 2022 1 minute ago, VermeulT said: once on board you can check with the shore excursion desk and they can cancel your reservation made with the CC and rebook you using OBC. Yep, this can be done with spa appointments also. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_gal_50 Posted March 14, 2022 #14 Share Posted March 14, 2022 6 hours ago, terrydtx said: Good question, I guess you can only use it on products and services or items in the stores once we board. My wife prebooked a spa service now with our CC so our OBC may be used for bottles of wine at dinner. Our shore excursions are also pre booked with the CC. Not happy with HAL at all. Hal needs to stop using 5 year olds as computer people. I’ve had error after error on the koningsdam on my account. It’s like whack a mole. Fixing this is now my full time job, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare zgscl Posted March 15, 2022 #15 Share Posted March 15, 2022 13 hours ago, terrydtx said: Good question, I guess you can only use it on products and services or items in the stores once we board. My wife prebooked a spa service now with our CC so our OBC may be used for bottles of wine at dinner. Our shore excursions are also pre booked with the CC. Not happy with HAL at all. You should be able to wait to book spa services onboard. I have never had an issue getting an appointment unless you need it at a really specific time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare zgscl Posted March 15, 2022 #16 Share Posted March 15, 2022 9 hours ago, Sea42 said: Yep, this can be done with spa appointments also. This is good to know...I might just have to do that with my dining reservations. Hopefully they will one day figure out how to make the OBC available in advance or just take reservations and not charge until onboard. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted March 15, 2022 Author #17 Share Posted March 15, 2022 5 hours ago, zgscl said: This is good to know...I might just have to do that with my dining reservations. Hopefully they will one day figure out how to make the OBC available in advance or just take reservations and not charge until onboard. I do not think it has anything to do with having a system that will allow this, it might be more they want to make it harder to use any OBC you get. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberta Quilter Posted March 15, 2022 #18 Share Posted March 15, 2022 As John2003 mentioned, there is a way to book shore excursions 3 days in advance using OBC by calling in. I know because I've done it (before Covid). I don't see why one couldn't do the same with spa or specialty dining. Just call in to Ship Services and book it over the phone. If it works like the shore excursions, the charges will show on your account (after your OBC credits). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now