Reservations online vs on the ship

[Js1126]

Hoping for some help and direction from the group for a couple questions I have. We are sailing in March on the constellation and are thinking about speciality dining, spa, and excursions. We received a $350 obc with our res. So my question is, to maximize the credit, would we be better served waiting til we board to make any of these reservations, or can we make them online ahead of time but charge them against our obc. We have the bev package already and typically don't spend additional money once on board except for tips. So since the obc covers more than our tips, we want to make sure we use it all.

 

Also, if you have any particular speciality dining recommendations for constellation, please let me know. We are thinking Tuscan grille? (But only if we can use our obc towards it vs paying extra out of pocket).

 

Thanks!

[valeep]

If you do book online, that is immediately charged to your credit card. If you wait, it will go on your OBC so I would wait if you do not have any other expenses planned. Depending on the reservations that day, there are discounts on the specialty restaurants.

 

Cheers!

[az_tchr]

Hoping for some help and direction from the group for a couple questions I have. We are sailing in March on the constellation and are thinking about speciality dining, spa, and excursions. We received a $350 obc with our res. So my question is, to maximize the credit, would we be better served waiting til we board to make any of these reservations, or can we make them online ahead of time but charge them against our obc. We have the bev package already and typically don't spend additional money once on board except for tips. So since the obc covers more than our tips, we want to make sure we use it all.

 

Also, if you have any particular speciality dining recommendations for constellation, please let me know. We are thinking Tuscan grille? (But only if we can use our obc towards it vs paying extra out of pocket).

 

Thanks!

 

Well - You cannot use OBC toward paying for a future cruise even on board. Good idea though. If you future cruise is coming up in a week or two then make it on board unless there is a promo today you really like. Then transfer it to a big box TA to get additional OBC from then within 60 days. Do not take the OBC on your current cruise.

 

You can use OBC for Tuscan but only if you book when on board. OBC can always be used to buy promo chips in the casino if they are not allowing cashing out with 5% charge. You have to bet them once then get regular ones good for cash. Betting red / black on roulette gives you only a 3% chance to lose everything on zero or go pay for a second dinner at Tucsan.

Edited February 7, 2016 by az_tchr

[Sj0hn]

We were able to cash out our OBC minus 5% at the casino. Personally I wasn't impressed by Tuscan but heard the other specialty was good. I'd wait to book excursions until on the ship - I've found the only excursions that are full before getting onboard tend to be private ones. You can make reservations at the spa ahead of time and you aren't charged until on the ship so you can use your OBC. The appts. are easy to cancel if you change your mind - I think a 6 hr notice.