Can I use Onboard credits ( OBC ) for daily gratuities ?

We booked our cruise through Costco Travel and ended up getting onboard credit from Costco and some additional shipboard credit from RCI.

Can I use the Onboard credit to pay the daily tips ?

Yes.

We booked our cruise through Costco Travel and ended up getting onboard credit from Costco and some additional shipboard credit from RCI.

Can I use the Onboard credit to pay the daily tips ?

Just don't pre-book My Time Dining because the tips will be charged pre-cruise and won't be using onboard credit.

Actually the answer is "probably" but not definitely. Some OBC comes with certain restrictions such as cannot be used in casino and/or cannot be used for gratuities. If your OBC is coded that it is not for gratuities, you will have to find another use. Most OBC is not restricted like this, but some is - as such you will need to inquire at guest relations while onboard to see if any restrictions are attached to your OBC (if your travel agent is not able to procure this information for you in advance).

We had no problem using our OBC for gratuities on Adventure of the Seas just a few months ago...

We booked our cruise through Costco Travel and ended up getting onboard credit from Costco and some additional shipboard credit from RCI.

Can I use the Onboard credit to pay the daily tips ?

Answered correctly above. Only thing I would again mention that was above is the my time dining. If you do that, they make you prepay your tips and you can't use the on board credit.

It is funny, we have actually had to hold off on concern of having too much on board credit :eek:

With the My Time Dining, and then a spa treatment for my wife and some other on board items that if you pre-book are charged immediately...you wonder what you will use all the credit for. Casino, drinks, and duty free scotch I guess :)

Thanks All !

I don't like casinos & won't be using spa services so the OBC will go towards tips & partly towards shore excursion.

Just don't pre-book My Time Dining because the tips will be charged pre-cruise and won't be using onboard credit.

But the OP might not have a choice...Traditional dining may only be waitlisted in which case MTD will automatically be assigned and pre-charged...In that case they should make sure they are waitlisted and have those charges reversed if the MDR becomes available pre-cruise.

Or, the OP wants MTD.... they can sign up for it on board. The charges for MTD will be applied to their On Board Account at that time and the daily gratuities amount won't be applied as a result.

I was able to get Traditional dining :)

But the OP might not have a choice...Traditional dining may only be waitlisted in which case MTD will automatically be assigned and pre-charged...In that case they should make sure they are waitlisted and have those charges reversed if the MDR becomes available pre-cruise.

That's a nice tip ! I didn't know I could switch from Traditional to MTD and vice versa on the ship too .

What do you prefer - MTD or Traditional dining ?

Or, the OP wants MTD.... they can sign up for it on board. The charges for MTD will be applied to their On Board Account at that time and the daily gratuities amount won't be applied as a result.

Actually the answer is "probably" but not definitely. Some OBC comes with certain restrictions such as cannot be used in casino and/or cannot be used for gratuities. If your OBC is coded that it is not for gratuities, you will have to find another use. Most OBC is not restricted like this, but some is - as such you will need to inquire at guest relations while onboard to see if any restrictions are attached to your OBC (if your travel agent is not able to procure this information for you in advance).

Not true!!!

Name one OBC that can't be used for anything including tips and casino

Not true!!!

Name one OBC that can't be used for anything including tips and casino

It's possible that such an OBC exists, but given the way they do tips now, the unlikely scenario would be a cruiser has this limited OBC, they prepay their tips and the only charge to their Seapass account is at the Casino. If I have such a $50 restricted OBC, I know for certain I would have at least $50 in non-casino charges.

With a baby, we definitely preferred MTD over Traditional dining. Made reservations for 6/6.15pm every evening which gave us a tiny window of time to eat before baby got cranky. If traveling with adults, we would go for Traditional dining - the atmosphere and 'vibe' just seems well...nicer :)

FWIW, we have used Costco before, and their OBC can be used for anything, including the tips. Enjoy your cruise.

I am currently booked with a group and we're receiving a $50 OBC per stateroom. The rep from Royal Caribbean that I have been dealing with told me that this OBC may not be used for gratuities.

Just passing on what was mentioned to me. :)