Can you use Shipboard Credit to pay future cruise deposit?

[RickT]

When booking a future cruise onboard, are you able to pay the deposit using your shipboard credit?  For my next cruise I have more than I’ll need and wonder if I can use some of it as the deposit?  I’m guessing you can’t but thought I’d check.

[wrk2cruise]

No.  I think that may be the only thing you can't do with it, except exchange for cash.   Currently they seem to use whatever credit card you have on file to settle your account.   I used to have to bring the physical card with me but no more.

[Northern Aurora]

We frequently book a future cruise while onboard a sailing, and Celebrity has never allowed OBC to be used as a deposit.  One of those procedures they are actually consistent applying.

[ShawninFL]

1 hour ago, RickT said:

When booking a future cruise onboard, are you able to pay the deposit using your shipboard credit?  For my next cruise I have more than I’ll need and wonder if I can use some of it as the deposit?  I’m guessing you can’t but thought I’d check.

 

That would be a very big no....lol.

[Jim_Iain]

Agree -   I booked on board and they said I could use either my Credit Card on file or any other credit card that I chose.  I opted for my credit card on file for the cruise. 

Definitely could not use OBC - Refundable or Non-Refundable.  

[Phxazzcruisers]

AS stated, that would be a big NO.  With the one exception, if you have refundable OBC and do not use it on the cruise, it will go back to your charge card, which is where the deposit will go if you book another cruise, so in effect, that is the only way you can get around it.

[RickT]

Thanks for the replies... guess I’ll be eating at a few specialty restaurants or my wife will be buying a lot of “crap” with our shipboard credit.

[TeaBag]

If your OBC is refundable you don't have to spend it on useless stuff.  it will be credited to your credit card or you can withdraw it in cash from Guest relations

[Oville]

1 hour ago, RickT said:

Thanks for the replies... guess I’ll be eating at a few specialty restaurants or my wife will be buying a lot of “crap” with our shipboard credit.

There’s the shore excursion option, Specialty Dining and other non “crap” shop purchases.  We were on the Silhouette last week and had $465 non refundable OBC, some very nice presents will be under our Christmas tree this year.😉

Edited November 20, 2019 by Oville

[JeanieC,Aston]

Slightly different........can I tag this question to the thread?

 

Can I use OBC to pay gratuities?

 

[RickT]

24 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

 

Can I use OBC to pay gratuities?

 

Yes

[cruisestitch]

Because this gets asked so often I've compiled a list of things to spend OBC on. The only thing I know of now that you CAN'T buy with OBC is a deposit on a Future Cruise. Otherwise, here you go:

 

 

Acupuncture

Airport transfers

Alcove Rental (some ships)

Apple products etc. and Ilounge classes

Art Auctions

Babysitting

Barber Shop services (Edge only)

Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water

Bingo

Bottles of wine

Casino

Chef’s Table

Duty free liquor and cigarettes

Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

Fitness classes

Flowers

Gelato

Gift shop souvenirs, purses, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Gratuities, and extra gratuities

Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

Hair and nail salon

Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

Internet

Laundry/pressing/drycleaning

Luggage Valet

Martini Flights

Medical Center

Mini bar

Portrait photo sessions

Pay-per-view movies

Persian Gardens passes

Photos & cameras

Room service up charge items, and late night delivery fee

Shore Excursions

Shuttle to town (some ports)

Spa -- massages and treatments

Specialty restaurants

Teeth Whitening

Telephone calls using ship's system

Transfer to another passenger's account

Voyage in Review DVD

Wine and liquor tastings

Zumba

[JeanieC,Aston]

Thanks RickT.

Thaks Cruisestich for the list,that's pretty comprehensive.

 

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by JeanieC,Aston

[Miss Vickie]

The strategy I have used successfully several times:

 

If you have refundable OBC save some to be refunded to your credit card.  Use that credit card to deposit the cruise on board, and when refunded to your credit card, the OBC covers that charge.  I find that way more useful than spending it on board just to get rid of it.  

 

This strategy, of course, doesn't work with nonrefundable OBC...

[Mirage]

I have inquired if I could use Non-Refundable OnBoard Credit for future deposits, a number of times when I booked on board.

Years ago I was able to use NR OBC to buy Passages Certificates for some future cruises. Not sure if they still offer those. I wouldn't buy those certificates again if they did as it was difficult to use them. The most recent time I inquired about NR OBC for deposit was this last summer. Each time the answer was no. If it is possible to use NR OBC, I have not been able to for future deposits. 

[NantahalaCruiser]

16 hours ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

Slightly different........can I tag this question to the thread?

 

Can I use OBC to pay gratuities?

 

If you are talking about the standard auto-gratuities, then RickT's "Yes" is correct since the auto-gratuites are charged to your account daily and OBC is credited against any charge to your account.

 

However, if you are talking about using OBC to purchase additional gratuities, then the answer is a Qualified Yes since they can generally not be given to individuals but rather to categories of service.  For example, you cannot use it to provide an additional gratuity to a specific waiter - just to food service in general.  The one exception is that you can use it to give an additional gratuity to your room steward because servicing your room is one of the categories and there is only one person that provides that service.