Can I pre-purchase a shore excursion with onboard ship credit?

[pitterpattershoppe]

We booked our cruise through a popular online travel site. Part of the incentive was a $200 onboard ship credit. I've completed our Express Docs and went to search for our credit. I can not find reference to it anywhere.

I'm about to push submit on a shore excursion that we wish to use our onboard ship credit on, but it sounds as though it would be charged to our credit card right now instead of using our onboard credit.

So, can I pre-purchase a shore excursion with our onboard credit or not?

We usually book our excursions outside of the cruise company. However, we are/were planning on booking one through the cruise company this time in order to use up our credit. I'm afraid that if we book it after boarding, it will be sold out...it's a Medallion Collection excursion.

Thanks!

PS - If we cannot use the credit to pre-purchase a shore excursion, can it be applied to tips at the end of the cruise? We purchase very little on cruises...just magnets and post cards, that kind of thing.

[Mary Ellen]

On board credit can only be used on board. It will appear as a credit towards whatever gets charged to your account. I've received cash back at the end of a cruise for what wasn't used.

[elycelynne]

Yes, it definitely can and will be applied to your tips. But no, you won't be able to use it for anything you pre-purchase.

[pms4104]

If you pre-purchase shore ex before sailing, you will not be able to use your OBC for that ... your credit card will be charged immediately.

You can wait til you board to buy shore ex, but some very popular ones may be sold out by that time.

The OBC can be used to cover your Hotel Service Charge. The credit shows up on your onboard account, and purchases and HSC are charged against it til it's gone.

[1948buddy]

I purchase shore excursions sold through the ship. The OB credit is merely a credit to your sign and sail account to be spent on whatever you like.

[pitterpattershoppe]

Thanks for the super quick answers! I greatly appreciate it. :D

Now, to decide what to do. Hmm.

[sail7seas]

No.
When you prebook anything before you board the ship, you pay with credit card at the time of booking.

If you want to use your OBC, you must use it on board.

[Cruising-along]

On the positive side, enjoy an extra drink or two, extra purchases in the gift shops, etc. As everyone has said, OBC is used only for onboard purchases. You won't be able to use it for your pre-purchased shore excursion, but most other things, including tips, you can use it. I think the only thing you can't apply it towards is the casino.

We've been fortunate to have so much OBC on our cruises that we end up with a very low final statement. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

One thing -- get an e-mail from that travel company so that you have it in writing just in case you get on the ship and find out that you don't have it.

Book your excursion now -- some do sell out very quickly.

Keep in mind that the Hotel Service Charge is now $11.50 per person per day. For a 7 day cruise -- that will be $161 for both of you. That's a good chunk of that $200.