How to manage a large amount of OBC

In all of our 26 years of cruising we have a situation that we have not encountered previously. I am hoping that some of you have and can share some ideas with us.

We booked a 2 week Alaska cruise for next summer. We booked thru a Big Box TA. We have ended up with total OBC in the amount of $1650:

HAL….$500

TA….$900

CCL stock benefit……$250

We will have the Explore4 program so will not spend money on beverages, gratuities, or internet minutes. We do not gamble and purchase very little in the shops. The big box TA advised me to use their OBC last as what remains from that can be credited back to a credit card. That would leave us with $750 from HAL & CCL stock. I was told that HAL OBC is use or lose. I don't know about CCL.

This situation would be no problem on Princess as you can book shore excursions prior to sailing and have your ship board account billed. HAL does not do it that way and we would hate to lose an opportunity ashore waiting to book shore excursions on board so that we could use our OBC.

Any suggestions?

Judith

Explore4 now includes gratuities and internet?

In all of our 26 years of cruising we have a situation that we have not encountered previously. I am hoping that some of you have and can share some ideas with us.

 

We booked a 2 week Alaska cruise for next summer. We booked thru a Big Box TA. We have ended up with total OBC in the amount of $1650:

HAL….$500

TA….$900

CCL stock benefit……$250

 

We will have the Explore4 program so will not spend money on beverages, gratuities, or internet minutes. We do not gamble and purchase very little in the shops. The big box TA advised me to use their OBC last as what remains from that can be credited back to a credit card. That would leave us with $750 from HAL & CCL stock. I was told that HAL OBC is use or lose. I don't know about CCL.

 

This situation would be no problem on Princess as you can book shore excursions prior to sailing and have your ship board account billed. HAL does not do it that way and we would hate to lose an opportunity ashore waiting to book shore excursions on board so that we could use our OBC.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Judith

Just go have fun. Dine out every night. You can also give a little extra to the staff for good service. The Thermal Suite is a good investment. Part of the gratuities will cover your 14 days of hotel charges up to $13.50 a day or $189 per person or $278. most of all have a fun trip and enjoy it.

Explore4 now includes gratuities and internet?

There version we got in August from the FCC on board did. $200 credit for Internet, the $50/day beverages and gratuities. On the 20 day cruise we booked that comes to quite a bit of $$.

Pretty sure the CCL OBC is also use it or lose it.

I'm not sure how you can 'order' your OBC for usage, but I wouldn't mind having your problem.

In all of our 26 years of cruising we have a situation that we have not encountered previously. I am hoping that some of you have and can share some ideas with us.

 

 

 

We booked a 2 week Alaska cruise for next summer. We booked thru a Big Box TA. We have ended up with total OBC in the amount of $1650:

 

HAL….$500

 

TA….$900

 

CCL stock benefit……$250

 

 

 

We will have the Explore4 program so will not spend money on beverages, gratuities, or internet minutes. We do not gamble and purchase very little in the shops. The big box TA advised me to use their OBC last as what remains from that can be credited back to a credit card. That would leave us with $750 from HAL & CCL stock. I was told that HAL OBC is use or lose. I don't know about CCL.

 

 

 

This situation would be no problem on Princess as you can book shore excursions prior to sailing and have your ship board account billed. HAL does not do it that way and we would hate to lose an opportunity ashore waiting to book shore excursions on board so that we could use our OBC.

 

 

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

 

Judith

Spend in the spa, Buy the Black Label Photography, do some early Holiday Shopping - buy your spouse a nice watch....treat your MDR table companions to the Pinnacle. Book the behind the scenes tour if offered.

Those booking suites (including Vista Suites) with Explore4 also receive $200 internet credit and prepaid gratuities. Our experience is that HAL OBC is used first, non-HAL OBC is usually refundable.

What a good problem to have! We actually are in the same boat, so to speak. We don't have as much as you do but we do have free gratuities. I would book your must have shorex in advance and your other shorex onboard to use up some of the OBC. The wine covered by the SBP is not very good in my opinion so I would look into getting a wine package (or two). It sounds like you're in a Neptune Suite so laundry is already free. You could dine at specialty restaurants; sign up for special meals like the Cellar Master's Dinner, there are wine tastings and beer tastings for a price. You could try playing Bingo; at the prices they charge that may make a dent in your OBC. The thermal suite is a good suggestion. There are also fitness classes for a cost. You could use the spa for massages, or get a mani/pedi. You could buy flowers for your room. You could buy cookbooks or other HAL items for gifts for people back home. You could buy pictures or a photo package. Since you're going to Alaska, why not use the OBC for a flightseeing excursion through HAL? I don't think those sell out in advance but I could be wrong about that.

Buy a couple of $250 Beverage Cards -- you can use them to buy some nice wines at dinner (not included in the Explore4 Signature Beverage package). What you don't use from those Beverage Cards will be refunded to your Credit Card.

HAL lumps all those ship board credit as one big ship credit. Thus the ship can not determine what monies came from whom.

:) I've encountered this situation many times. What I do is go to the casino put in $50 or $100 at a time on my casino card play a couple spins on the slots and then cash out. perfectly legal.

Well, you certainly have a very nice problem indeed :)

The non refundable OBC (HAL & CCL) is the first that HAL uses as I understand things so that is what you have to use up.

How about going to a Cellar Master Dinner or the Master Chef Table? They are very nice :)

Have anyone that you want to get a nice Christmas gift for? Watch, etc.?

And if push comes to shove, hit the casino, charge some obc to your slot game, play a bit, wait a couple of days and cash out. No charge and you can get some of your OBC back that way.

Buy a couple of $250 Beverage Cards -- you can use them to buy some nice wines at dinner (not included in the Explore4 Signature Beverage package). What you don't use from those Beverage Cards will be refunded to your Credit Card.

HAL lumps all those ship board credit as one big ship credit. Thus the ship can not determine what monies came from whom.

Great idea on the Beverage cards KK :). Any unused amount is refunded so all the OP has to do is activate them and get the odd nice bottle of wine and let the rest be refunded.

In all of our 26 years of cruising we have a situation that we have not encountered previously. I am hoping that some of you have and can share some ideas with us.

 

We booked a 2 week Alaska cruise for next summer. We booked thru a Big Box TA. We have ended up with total OBC in the amount of $1650:

HAL….$500

TA….$900

CCL stock benefit……$250

 

We will have the Explore4 program so will not spend money on beverages, gratuities, or internet minutes. We do not gamble and purchase very little in the shops. The big box TA advised me to use their OBC last as what remains from that can be credited back to a credit card. That would leave us with $750 from HAL & CCL stock. I was told that HAL OBC is use or lose. I don't know about CCL.

 

This situation would be no problem on Princess as you can book shore excursions prior to sailing and have your ship board account billed. HAL does not do it that way and we would hate to lose an opportunity ashore waiting to book shore excursions on board so that we could use our OBC.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Judith

Hi Judith,

Please don’t fret. Your problem(?not really a problem but a situation), is easily resolved. I have faced this case many times. In fact, at the end of 2018, we will be on the Grand Asia, then BTB with the Panama Canal, then BTB with the World. And We will set a personal record for OBC. We will wind up with over $7,000 of OBC. Now obviously, I’m not going to fritter this amount away. There are several ways it can be handled.

By the way, I am not aware that the Explore4 program has anything to do with the internet or with gratuities.

First of all, take all of the OBC that was supplied by the TA and plan on leaving it in your On board account till the end of the cruise. At that time, it will be refunded to you in cash or credited to your credit card. This usually will take care of at least half of the OBC.

Then secondly, for a 3% charge, you can get cash from the front desk (possibly if you like in foreign currency) during the cruise. So in your example, $900 will be returned to you by HAL at the end of the cruise. And if you take three withdrawals of $250, it will cost you a total of $21.50 to clear out all of the OBC. Of course, if during your cruise, you spend any money on the ship, e.g. internet time or Hotel Service Charges then that amount would not need to be withdrawn.

I am not mentioning using the casino, as that is a bit more involved. But all it might save you would be the $21.50.

I hope this assuages your fears of not being able to work with HAL.

Enjoy your cruise,

Scott & Karen

Spa spa spa spa spa appointments and lots of extra tips for the great service you receive. I would definitely hope to make someone's day with an unexpectedly large tip! :)

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There is no "managing"...it's a credit against anything you charge. If you don't spend it all, it will be refunded, assuming it's all refundable. If it's not refundable, then it was "free" stuff to start with, and you're not out anything.

Don't book anything in advance...book it all on the ship to get the most BANG from your free bucks!

I've got to ask as we have nearly the same "problem" booked thru Big Box Ctore and have a ton of OBC... But I did not believe the stockholders credit could be used with the Explore 4 promo and we are in a suite. Can you clarify for this dummy ;)

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It seems as if you must use a minimum of $750. The daily service charge would erase $350. That leaves $400 to burn. Nice shore excursions, some specialty dining and a spa visit booked once on board could wipe out that in a hurry. Or am I missing something?

On our last cruise, we had a similar situation, and that's how we drew down what we had to, while taking about $250 back on the credit card.

During the cruise, I frequently checked with the front desk to affirm we were drawing down correctly. By the way, the Maasdam encountered problems, and twice we were awarded additional credits during the 49-day cruise. It's nice to have them pay you when you get off the ship.

we are booked in a Vista Suite. Our reservation with Explore 4 includes, and states in writing, that we will receive prepaid gratuities and 200 mins. internet. In fact, that is on the HAL website. We are not interested in the Casino at all. We like the wine selections with the beverage package and do not feel the need to upgrade. We are not spa people.

What I would like to do is use much of the OBC for shore excursions. We were very pleased with the HAL shore excursions on our Alaska cruise this year. If I wait to book until we are on board do you all think that anything will be available?

I did not mean to imply that our situation is a "problem." We just don't want to leave unused funds on the books.

Judith

I've got to ask as we have nearly the same "problem" booked thru Big Box Ctore and have a ton of OBC... But I did not believe the stockholders credit could be used with the Explore 4 promo and we are in a suite. Can you clarify for this dummy ;)

 

 

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Be sure to apply for the shareholder's credit. The Explore 4 is only a promo and shouldn't in any way interfere with your shareholder's credit.

Delete

Be sure to apply for the shareholder's credit. The Explore 4 is only a promo and shouldn't in any way interfere with your shareholder's credit.

Thank you!

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we are booked in a Vista Suite. Our reservation with Explore 4 includes, and states in writing, that we will receive prepaid gratuities and 200 mins. internet. In fact, that is on the HAL website. We are not interested in the Casino at all. We like the wine selections with the beverage package and do not feel the need to upgrade. We are not spa people.

 

What I would like to do is use much of the OBC for shore excursions. We were very pleased with the HAL shore excursions on our Alaska cruise this year. If I wait to book until we are on board do you all think that anything will be available?

 

I did not mean to imply that our situation is a "problem." We just don't want to leave unused funds on the books.

 

Judith

There will be plenty of shore excursions still available for you to book onboard.

I'm in the same situation. For the poster that asked, yes, in suites the gratuity is included in explore 4.

I am only worrying about spending anything but the HAL credit. The TA obviously is refundable. It's cash off the cost of the trip.

I did prebook everything I wanted not wanting to chance missing a meal or excursion. I'll get the spa pass, and just maybe buy bottles of wine for the cabin onboard. I could buy something in the shops I guess as well.

we are booked in a Vista Suite. Our reservation with Explore 4 includes, and states in writing, that we will receive prepaid gratuities and 200 mins. internet. In fact, that is on the HAL website. We are not interested in the Casino at all. We like the wine selections with the beverage package and do not feel the need to upgrade. We are not spa people.

 

 

 

What I would like to do is use much of the OBC for shore excursions. We were very pleased with the HAL shore excursions on our Alaska cruise this year. If I wait to book until we are on board do you all think that anything will be available?

 

 

 

I did not mean to imply that our situation is a "problem." We just don't want to leave unused funds on the books.

 

 

 

Judith

If you book the first day, you will still have plenty of choices for excursions, esp the expensive ones.

So you need to spend $1650 onboard? Three words: spa, champagne, jewelry [emoji2][emoji106]

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What about cooking classes? If you like them, those might eat up a bit of OBC.