Excess On Board Credit.

[erewhon]

There has been a significant price drop for our stateroom category, (cruising next month), after contacting our Travel Agent, we are to receive some On Board Credit. This means that we probably will have more OBC than we will use.

 

Is it possible to make a cash withdrawal from this credit to use in the envelopes for the individual crew members we wish to tip extra?

[dakrewser]

Not directly. You can go to the casino and charge play on the slots to your account. When you "cash out", the money comes to you in cash - to spend any way you'd like.

[sail7seas]

There has been a significant price drop for our stateroom category, (cruising next month), after contacting our Travel Agent, we are to receive some On Board Credit. This means that we probably will have more OBC than we will use.

 

Is it possible to make a cash withdrawal from this credit to use in the envelopes for the individual crew members we wish to tip extra?

 

You asked this in such a graceful way.

Nicely put. :)

A number of CC'ers have successfully done as was recommended above.

 

[mackfam]

Were you able to get the OBC after final payment? There has been a huge drop in price for our upcoming cruise in the last few weeks but when I asked my TA about an upgrade or OBC she said "no".

[sapper1]

The casino route is definitely the way to go. You can get cash against your account at the front desk but they will charge you a percentage. I believe I have read on CC that it is 3%.

A friend needed cash on a recent cruise so I told her about the casino trick and we went to try it. It worked like a charm.

[rafinmd]

The other option would be to go to the front desk and ask for an increase in the HSC. The form asks for a reason and I would guess that "due to superb service from Joe and David" would be as much appreciated by those people as the cash envelope.

 

Roy

[StartrainDD]

We tried to do what Roy suggests and the front desk personnel "Beamed." But then they told us that an increase would be spread in the same percentages as the standard "Service charge." We could not direct it to individuals. This was a few years back, so things may have changed... (We ended up giving those special crew members our own envelopes with cash.)

 

The casino option still works. This is what we do:

If you have excess OBC that is non-refundable, go to the casino, put your key-card in a slot machine, and charge money against your on-board account. Cash-out of the machine, then take your card to the cage and cash out. I think the limit is $300 per day, but we've only done $200 so I'm not positive about that amount. No fee is charged.

Now, on our just completed Statendam cruise I did this the first sea day. The cashier was a bit 'snippy' when I cashed out. She said "If you do this again (put money on the card and cash it out without gambling) we will put a freeze on your card." I didn't need to withdraw any more but that was the first time I received this type of comment.

One option I thought of (should I need to get more in the future) is to take the "Cash out" in casino chips (that is an option) and then just cash them in a few at a time.

[CaveDiving]

...The casino option still works. This is what we do:

If you have excess OBC that is non-refundable, go to the casino, put your key-card in a slot machine, and charge money against your on-board account. Cash-out of the machine, then take your card to the cage and cash out. I think the limit is $300 per day, but we've only done $200 so I'm not positive about that amount. No fee is charged.

Now, on our just completed Statendam cruise I did this the first sea day. The cashier was a bit 'snippy' when I cashed out. She said "If you do this again (put money on the card and cash it out without gambling) we will put a freeze on your card." I didn't need to withdraw any more but that was the first time I received this type of comment.

One option I thought of (should I need to get more in the future) is to take the "Cash out" in casino chips (that is an option) and then just cash them in a few at a time.

 

Evidently the register in the cashier's booth shows if you haven's gambled at all. So take a few turns in a penny slot machine and you should be OK.

 

Scott & Karen

[Typhoon1]

The front desk will reimburse any remaining funds on the last day of your cruise.

[cruz chic]

The front desk will reimburse any remaining funds on the last day of your cruise.

 

That is not true. If the obc is from Hal directly it is generally not refundable.

[SilvertoGold]

That is not true. If the obc is from Hal directly it is generally not refundable.

 

This is very true and I have 3 packages of smoked salmon form the Shops to show for it! Yum!

[serendipity1499]

The front desk will reimburse any remaining funds on the last day of your cruise.

 

Since when?

[Rascal Brown]

On a cruise a few years ago I saw that I had a lot if OBC left on the last night of the cruise. I bought cosmetics, and other items and decided to just lose the last few dollars. I was surprised when my AE bill arrived with a HAL credit. I then found out that credit that came from another source (mine came fom Costco) will be credited back to you.

[ScriptOhio]

The front desk will reimburse any remaining funds on the last day of your cruise.

 

Since when?

 

My experience is that you can not get reimbursed for unused shipboard credit (or remaining funds) that comes from HAL (with one exception, i.e. refund of port charges due to a missed port). However, you can get a reimbursed for unused shipboard credit that was purchased for you (i.e. travel agent promotion/bonus/gift, etc.)

Edited September 17, 2015 by ScriptOhio

[CJcruzer]

So how does HAL differentiate how and from which source you used your OBC.. For instance if you have OBC from HAL, and also from TA and/or shareholder's credit.

 

Do they take the Non HAL OBC into account first when it is used against on account charges?

Edited September 17, 2015 by CJcruzer

[kevingastreich]

I just want to say...your cruise book is quite impressive!:eek:

[CaveDiving]

So how does HAL differentiate how and from which source you used your OBC.. For instance if you have OBC from HAL, and also from TA and/or shareholder's credit.

 

Do they take the Non HAL OBC into account first when it is used against on account charges?

 

In my experience, the HAL non-refundable OBC credits are considered to be used first.

 

Scott & Karen

[erewhon]

Were you able to get the OBC after final payment? There has been a huge drop in price for our upcoming cruise in the last few weeks but when I asked my TA about an upgrade or OBC she said "no".

 

When I noticed the price drop, I mentioned it to our Travel Agent, who contacted the HAL agent.

The message we received was that the price was for new bookings, but would we accept some OBC? ....... we agreed.

[erewhon]

Thank you everyone for the information, we will learn how to use the casino.