On board credit

[SSFrance69]

Apologies if this has been asked before. I did a search and found nothing. Can on board credit be used to make purchases in the on board boutiques? Also how does it work? For on board purchases, such as the difference you pay between a beverage from the classic to premium, spa charges, boutiques, etc... do they  automatically come out of your on board credit, or do you have to request that at the time of purchase, or go to guest relations towards the end of the sailing and ask them to deduct however many purchases can be covered by your credit? 

 

Thanks for any replies. Looking forward to spending my "free" money next month.

[bikerunner]

The charges to your room are just added to total.  The OBC is automatically used.  

[jelayne]

Any charges are deducted from your OBC until that is depleted.  Once your OBC is spent charges will go against your credit card at the end of the cruise.

FYI  If you didn’t prepay the daily gratuities those are also charged against your OBC.  

[davekathy]

1 minute ago, SSFrance69 said:

Apologies if this has been asked before. I did a search and found nothing. Can on board credit be used to make purchases in the on board boutiques? Also how does it work? For on board purchases, such as the difference you pay between a beverage from the classic to premium, spa charges, boutiques, etc... do they  automatically come out of your on board credit, or do you have to request that at the time of purchase, or go to guest relations towards the end of the sailing and ask them to deduct however many purchases can be covered by your credit? 

 

Thanks for any replies. Looking forward to spending my "free" money next month.

OBC can be used for all onboard purchases. The purchases will be automatically removed from your OBC. If you have nonrefundable and refundable OBC nonrefundable OBC account will be used first and then refundable OBC. 

[SSFrance69]

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

OBC can be used for all onboard purchases. The purchases will be automatically removed from your OBC. If you have nonrefundable and refundable OBC nonrefundable OBC account will be used first and then refundable OBC. 

Thanks for the reply! I tried to use it for my pre-purchase of Tuscan restaurant, but for whatever reason, it still had me put in a credit card and went on that, even though I thought I clicked a button for redeem credit. Not worth a fuss though. There will be plenty of other things to spend it on once we get on board. 😁

[davekathy]

5 minutes ago, SSFrance69 said:

Thanks for the reply! I tried to use it for my pre-purchase of Tuscan restaurant, but for whatever reason, it still had me put in a credit card and went on that, even though I thought I clicked a button for redeem credit. Not worth a fuss though. There will be plenty of other things to spend it on once we get on board. 😁

Purchases using OBC can only be used onboard the ship. 

[cruisestitch]

I don’t think that is correct.  I have used OBC for booking shore excursions pre-cruise.

[davekathy]

4 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

I don’t think that is correct.  I have used OBC for booking shore excursions pre-cruise.

Now that you mention it, I have too for shore excursions. I stand corrected. 

[Bo1953]

It also depends on where the OBC is coming from, if a TA, then that will post after boarding a day or two...

 

If X, then OBC should be readily available for use before sailing.

 

It is not clear where the OBC is from.

 

bon voyage

[NorthStarStateCruiser]

42 minutes ago, SSFrance69 said:

Apologies if this has been asked before. I did a search and found nothing. Can on board credit be used to make purchases in the on board boutiques? Also how does it work? For on board purchases, such as the difference you pay between a beverage from the classic to premium, spa charges, boutiques, etc... do they  automatically come out of your on board credit, or do you have to request that at the time of purchase, or go to guest relations towards the end of the sailing and ask them to deduct however many purchases can be covered by your credit? 

 

Thanks for any replies. Looking forward to spending my "free" money next month.

Although that I believe in general purchases made onboard at the shops are charged to your onboard account, my wife made a purchase for a piece of jewelry at one of the shops and that was charged directly to the card on file (separate transaction) instead of the onboard account.  You may be able to tell the cashier whether you want the charge to be applied to the card directly or to the onboard account.  What might have been the issue was that there was no OBC in the account, so that may have triggered to make the charge to the card directly.

[D. B.]

You Do Not have to Spend all your OBC.

 You can get Cash by loading your OBC into a slot machine in the Casino then spin one small bet and press  Cash Out . Take the ticket to the Casino Cashier and redeem it for Cash.

[RTShaker]

FYI, the OBC is also available for use should you need to visit medical for any reason. Not the most desirable or exciting use for it, but....

[davekathy]

Here is a list of what OBC can be spent on. @cruisestitch put the list together. I saved it. 

 

OBC Spending:

Acupuncture

Airport transfers

Alcove Rental (some ships)

Apple products etc. and Ilounge classes

Art Auctions

Babysitting

Barber Shop services (Edge only)

Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water

Bingo

Bottles of wine

Casino

Chef’s Table

Duty free liquor and cigarettes

Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

Extend Your Stay program

Fitness classes

Flowers

Gelato

Gift shop souvenirs, purses, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Gratuities, and extra gratuities

Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

Hair and nail salon

Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

Internet

Laundry/pressing/drycleaning

Luggage Valet

Martini Flights

Medical Center purchases (but not treatments)

Mini bar

Portrait photo sessions

Pay-per-view movies

Persian Gardens passes

Photos & cameras

Room service up charge items, and late night delivery fee

Shore Excursions

Shuttle to town (some ports)

Spa -- massages and treatments

Specialty restaurants

Teeth Whitening

Telephone calls using ship's system

Transfer to another passenger's account

Voyage in Review DVD

Wine and liquor tastings

Zumba

 

[RICCruisers]

3 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

It also depends on where the OBC is coming from, if a TA, then that will post after boarding a day or two...

 

If X, then OBC should be readily available for use before sailing.

 

It is not clear where the OBC is from.

 

bon voyage

Spot on Bo. Glad I read thru to your post before posting mine. I will add that if you are pre-purchasing something on the website be careful to make sure you enter the amount that should be deducted from your OBC prior to clicking the make this purchase button. 

[SSFrance69]

4 hours ago, davekathy said:

Now that you mention it, I have too for shore excursions. I stand corrected. 

Yeah it was there as an option to redeem the credit for the reservation. I think it was a user error thing and I clicked a wrong button or something. Not the end of the world.

[SSFrance69]

4 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

It also depends on where the OBC is coming from, if a TA, then that will post after boarding a day or two...

 

If X, then OBC should be readily available for use before sailing.

 

It is not clear where the OBC is from.

 

bon voyage

The on board credit was part of the package from Celebrity for booking an Aqua Class stateroom.

[SSFrance69]

22 minutes ago, RICCruisers said:

Spot on Bo. Glad I read thru to your post before posting mine. I will add that if you are pre-purchasing something on the website be careful to make sure you enter the amount that should be deducted from your OBC prior to clicking the make this purchase button. 

That's probably where I goofed. I did something wonky when making the reservation. The option was there but it still made me put in a card and then when I clicked the button to redeem the credit for the reservation, it came back as having been charged to the card. 

[BettyCruiser]

I think the part many people miss is actually keying the dollar amount to be used. If you have $400 OBC and want to purchase an excursion for $196.98, then you have to check the box and key 196.98 in the box and it will apply the OBC and your total will say 0.00 due and nothing is charged to your card. 

[Bo1953]

44 minutes ago, SSFrance69 said:

That's probably where I goofed. I did something wonky when making the reservation. The option was there but it still made me put in a card and then when I clicked the button to redeem the credit for the reservation, it came back as having been charged to the card. 

You can call Captains Club, if you are a member or the general number and have them change it for you...

 

bon voyage

Edited June 30, 2023 by Bo1953

[RTShaker]

1 hour ago, davekathy said:

Here is a list of what OBC can be spent on. @cruisestitch put the list together. I saved it. 

 

OBC Spending:

Acupuncture

Airport transfers

Alcove Rental (some ships)

Apple products etc. and Ilounge classes

Art Auctions

Babysitting

Barber Shop services (Edge only)

Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water

Bingo

Bottles of wine

Casino

Chef’s Table

Duty free liquor and cigarettes

Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

Extend Your Stay program

Fitness classes

Flowers

Gelato

Gift shop souvenirs, purses, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Gratuities, and extra gratuities

Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

Hair and nail salon

Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

Internet

Laundry/pressing/drycleaning

Luggage Valet

Martini Flights

Medical Center purchases (but not treatments)

Mini bar

Portrait photo sessions

Pay-per-view movies

Persian Gardens passes

Photos & cameras

Room service up charge items, and late night delivery fee

Shore Excursions

Shuttle to town (some ports)

Spa -- massages and treatments

Specialty restaurants

Teeth Whitening

Telephone calls using ship's system

Transfer to another passenger's account

Voyage in Review DVD

Wine and liquor tastings

Zumba

 

Medical center treatments were include in April on the Millennium. DAMHIK

[bjahil47]

3 hours ago, D. B. said:

You Do Not have to Spend all your OBC.

 You can get Cash by loading your OBC into a slot machine in the Casino then spin one small bet and press  Cash Out . Take the ticket to the Casino Cashier and redeem it for Cash.

Not anymore.  You need to bet at least 50% of it or they will lock your account for remainder of cruise and you will not be able to use it for gambling.

[D. B.]

43 minutes ago, bjahil47 said:

Not anymore.  You need to bet at least 50% of it or they will lock your account for remainder of cruise and you will not be able to use it for gambling.

I'm not surprised that they figured out how to block that redemption!

[cruisestitch]

5 hours ago, D. B. said:

You Do Not have to Spend all your OBC.

 You can get Cash by loading your OBC into a slot machine in the Casino then spin one small bet and press  Cash Out . Take the ticket to the Casino Cashier and redeem it for Cash.

That works on some ships but not all of them!

[cruisestitch]

2 hours ago, RTShaker said:

Medical center treatments were include in April on the Millennium. DAMHIK

I hope everything is all right. I will update my list although I’m sure that the old list will be hanging around for a while as people quote it.

[RTShaker]

2 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

I hope everything is all right. I will update my list although I’m sure that the old list will be hanging around for a while as people quote it.

All good. DW had a bad bout of bronchitis. Because you can't buy cough meds at the shops anymore it required a trip to medical to get some.