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We have booked Navigator with a popular online agency. They have offered as perks, pre-paid tips, speciality dinner and spa credit. Great, huh. But these credits will not show up until we are onboard. Since we will have anytime dining, our tips must be prepaid at time of booking. So now, I will have a credit for the amount of tips I paid. Also, if I pre book a spa or dinner reservation, my credit card will be charged. So now, more credit. My question: can I go to guest services and have these charges reversed once onboard, since they will be double charges for the same things? Or will any leftover OBC be refunded at the end do cruise? I doubt I can use up that much OBC. What do you recommend?

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We have booked Navigator with a popular online agency. They have offered as perks, pre-paid tips, speciality dinner and spa credit. Great, huh. But these credits will not show up until we are onboard. Since we will have anytime dining, our tips must be prepaid at time of booking. So now, I will have a credit for the amount of tips I paid. Also, if I pre book a spa or dinner reservation, my credit card will be charged. So now, more credit. My question: can I go to guest services and have these charges reversed once onboard, since they will be double charges for the same things? Or will any leftover OBC be refunded at the end do cruise? I doubt I can use up that much OBC. What do you recommend?
Change your TA
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I have yet to get a TA to give perks, but I'd say wait until you're on board. But be sure to reserve it the first day. I had a receipt for Century and the gratuities appeared on the receipt. For Royal, my balcony credit and my OBC have also appeared on the receipt.

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Couldn't agree more....this is first and last time. I will be looking for someone new next cruise, but this still does not answer my question. Anyone have any real advice? Thanks so much.

 

It has been my experience the specialty dinner offer can not be booked until on the boat as well as your spa reservations. As for your pre paid tips..... I have not come across that. Thinking this would just have to be credit on your account.

I unfortunately have never had the issue of having credit left on my sea pass card.

How long before you sail? Maybe if your TA doesn't have these answers RC will.

Good luck and hope this helps!!

D

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We have booked Navigator with a popular online agency. They have offered as perks, pre-paid tips, speciality dinner and spa credit. Great, huh. But these credits will not show up until we are onboard. Since we will have anytime dining, our tips must be prepaid at time of booking. So now, I will have a credit for the amount of tips I paid. Also, if I pre book a spa or dinner reservation, my credit card will be charged. So now, more credit. My question: can I go to guest services and have these charges reversed once onboard, since they will be double charges for the same things? Or will any leftover OBC be refunded at the end do cruise? I doubt I can use up that much OBC. What do you recommend?

Cancel anytime dining.

Then when on the ship sign up for it.

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I would suggest not to pre-book spa or dining, there is really no need. You can book these once onboard to use your credit. Even for popular dining times, I have found that if I go and book immediately when I board there is still ample selection of days/times to choose from and it is a lot less hassle than trying to sort out refunds.

 

Enjoy your cruise

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And another reason for wanting to book my dinner before I board, is I could take advantage of the "celebration set sail" dinners that rCCL has. If you book your dinners online,and eat on

night 1 or 2 you get a $30.00 beverage credit for that dinner. Not a deal breaker, but would be nice to take advantage of this offer.

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This is common and not a problem. Specialty dining and spa reservations can easily be made on board. If you do not think you will use the OBC from the tips then as others have said change to traditional dining and switch once on board. Certainly no reason to change TA that offers these perks.

Edited by bigeagle12
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I think your TA gave you good perks. Seems like you are creating your own problems. Don't prebook the spa, it's not necessary; book your dinner onboard, never an issue and the other OBC is refundable.

 

Certainly not trying to create problems for myself.....hence my question. Just wanted to take advantage of the beverage credit for the dinner.....but this is only possible if I book prior to boarding. So, in order to not create problems, I will just forget this and book my dinner once onboard. Thank you for your thoughts.

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I also believe I know the online agency you are using and I booked through them for my Feb 2013 cruise for the perks, they were well worth it. I would book through them again if they have a better deal than booking through RC. You cannot pre-book these perks, you have to do this on the ship. I had no problem getting the times and days I wanted once onboard. With the pre-paid gratuities, I chose MTD and had no problem, your TA can take care of that for you, you do not have to pick traditional dining. I also got OBC with them and it was there on the second day, no problems at all. In your documents from them it should spell out how to redeem all these perks and in order to get them, you do have to follow their directions. Give them a call if you have any questions, they are very helpful.

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Cancel anytime dining.

Then when on the ship sign up for it.

 

My thought exactly, including any specialty restaurants. I have the same deal with my upcoming cruise, but have regular dining, and when I went to pre-book Chops Grille for Valentine's Day, I realized that it would be charged to my credit card--Decided to defer it once on board. Also, my credit to the specialty restaurant can only be used on port days.

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I also believe I know the online agency you are using and I booked through them for my Feb 2013 cruise for the perks, they were well worth it. I would book through them again if they have a better deal than booking through RC. You cannot pre-book these perks, you have to do this on the ship. I had no problem getting the times and days I wanted once onboard. With the pre-paid gratuities, I chose MTD and had no problem, your TA can take care of that for you, you do not have to pick traditional dining. I also got OBC with them and it was there on the second day, no problems at all. In your documents from them it should spell out how to redeem all these perks and in order to get them, you do have to follow their directions. Give them a call if you have any questions, they are very helpful.

 

So, how exactly did they take care of the pre-paid gratuities? Did your TA refund this? Mine said she cannot.....that the same amount will just show up as OBC.

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I use an online TA and it goes like this:

OBC were listed on the invoice and it showed up on account onboard.

Gratuities were prepaid as if we paid it ourselves, even with Anytime dining.

Specialty dining: I printed out a coupon and booked while onboard. It could only be used on a port day.

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As far as on board credit for gratuities, we have had on board credit that we did not use up by the end of the cruise. If it is refundable - and guest relations will be able to tell you - you can either cash out on the last night or take a credit to your credit card. If it not refundable you have to spend it or take it out in cash with the cashier in the casino (5% fee).

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Couldn't agree more....this is first and last time. I will be looking for someone new next cruise, but this still does not answer my question. Anyone have any real advice? Thanks so much.

 

Changing the TA is really not necessary. Based on your perks, I bet we use the same agency. They are reputable. Yes, there are limitations, such as needing to book the restaurant on board, and picking the spa treatment from 3 or 4 choices and doing it on a port day. But even with those limitations, the perks are still by far the best out there that I've found. I am pretty sure the limitations are set by RCI, not the TA, as they are group booking perks.

 

As for the pre-paid tips and anytime dining and the extra on board credit you will have. I think you might use up that credit faster than you think once on board, lol...it goes quickly! But as others have said, it is refundable.

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I use an online TA and it goes like this:

OBC were listed on the invoice and it showed up on account onboard.

Gratuities were prepaid as if we paid it ourselves, even with Anytime dining.

Specialty dining: I printed out a coupon and booked while onboard. It could only be used on a port day.

 

 

That is exactly how mine worked too.

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Changing the TA is really not necessary. Based on your perks, I bet we use the same agency. They are reputable. Yes, there are limitations, such as needing to book the restaurant on board, and picking the spa treatment from 3 or 4 choices and doing it on a port day. But even with those limitations, the perks are still by far the best out there that I've found. I am pretty sure the limitations are set by RCI, not the TA, as they are group booking perks.

 

As for the pre-paid tips and anytime dining and the extra on board credit you will have. I think you might use up that credit faster than you think once on board, lol...it goes quickly! But as others have said, it is refundable.

 

Well thank you for this. I agree, these perks tht were offered is exactly why I chose to use this particular agency. I think I just got a agent that did not communicate well. I appreciate you answering my question. Now if only I could get my confirmation docs. About how long did it take to get a confirmation with this agency?

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Also the Spa Credit needs to be used on a Port day and it is good only for specific services - they will have a list on board.

 

How does the spa credit work? Did you print out a coupon or does it show up on your account the first day so you can make a reservation right away? Do you remember which services are offered?

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So, how exactly did they take care of the pre-paid gratuities? Did your TA refund this? Mine said she cannot.....that the same amount will just show up as OBC.

Check your invoice from your TA and then your Guest Confirmation Copy from RCI (which your TA should provide you with).

 

When you include MTD in your booking, your gratuities are included in your final payment. See if they did not already deduct your gratuities.

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