OBC Help

[Reds4life]

I was hoping to book excursions ahead of time and then pay once onboard with OBC. Is there a way to do this? I am new to the website and it seems to not allow this, also does not allow me to add/delete items from the cart, and does not provide many details of what is included on the excursion. Tried to call the toll free number and got two different uninformed agents that really could not understand my question (yes, I do have an accent from Southern Ohio) and put me on hold and then hung up. TIA

[CruiserBruce]

Nope. OBC is for on board spending. You can wait and hope to book your excursions once you board.

[Reds4life]

10 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Nope. OBC is for on board spending. You can wait and hope to book your excursions once you board.

So even though you plan on spending it on an excursion once on board there is no way to reserve ahead?

[CruiserBruce]

Just now, Reds4life said:

So even though you plan on spending it on an excursion once on board there is no way to reserve ahead?

You can book ahead, but you pay at time of booking, and you can't use OBC before you board. Some have suggested that you could book and pay in advance, then cancel once on board and re-book the excursion. The problem then is by canceling on board, the refunded money will go to your on board account.

[Reds4life]

I think we may just take a chance on waiting until onboard. Are the prices the same usually?

[iflyrc5]

20 minutes ago, Reds4life said:

I think we may just take a chance on waiting until onboard. Are the prices the same usually?

Yes - the price will be the same.

 

[sandiego1]

There have been occasions where the price has changed on a shore excursion. Also, they do sell out. So if you have your heart set on one, you should book

it in advance 

[oaktreerb]

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

You can book ahead, but you pay at time of booking, and you can't use OBC before you board. Some have suggested that you could book and pay in advance, then cancel once on board and re-book the excursion. The problem then is by canceling on board, the refunded money will go to your on board account.

If you paid by credit card the refund will go back to the credit card.  If you cancel the excursion you lose your reservation and you may may not be able to rebook, especially if it has been waitlisted.

[0106]

@Reds4life I book any MUST do excursions ahead of time.

 

FYI- you can use your OBC for Crew Appreciation (formerly known as gratuities). 15.50/day for 2 people for a week is $217.  

[CruiserBruce]

4 minutes ago, oaktreerb said:

If you paid by credit card the refund will go back to the credit card.  If you cancel the excursion you lose your reservation and you may may not be able to rebook, especially if it has been waitlisted.

If you are on board when you cancel?....that is not what has happened in the past to us. I agree...there are risks of the cancel on board, rebook plan.

[Reds4life]

We have $300 per suite for 5 day cruise. They said $17 per day times 5 time 2 so that's $170 of it. We wanted to use the other $130 towards an excursion if we could. I know my daughter will want internet too so I know there's no much left but every little bit helps. We don't drink alcohol so no drink packages and don't do specialty dining.

[sandiego1]

I just remembered that there are a few shore excursions that have unique cancellations policies, including a cancellation fee and time limits. Most of the time these are overnight tours but I did see a few that were just a day tour. I guess it depends on the vendor or other tickets. For example, I saw a tour to Alhambra that couldn’t be cancelled without a penalty. This is probably because they have to buy specifically times entrance tickets in advance. The cancellation restrictions are clearly listed on the HAL site 

[sandiego1]

3 minutes ago, Reds4life said:

We have $300 per suite for 5 day cruise. They said $17 per day times 5 time 2 so that's $170 of it. We wanted to use the other $130 towards an excursion if we could. I know my daughter will want internet too so I know there's no much left but every little bit helps. We don't drink alcohol so no drink packages and don't do specialty dining.

For a 1 week cruise, the Premium package was $140. So you’ll have no extra OBC leftover if you purchase it. The other package levels have insufficient bandwidth IMO.

[Banditswife]

I am hoping we can use our OBC for crew appreciation.  I was told by a HAL rep we couldn't.  I am hoping you frequent cruisers/posters are correct.  We have $200 OBC pp for each of our 7 day cruises coming up.  My question is, will they deduct the $15.50 per day from our OBC individually?  Or deduct $31 per day from 1 account.

[0106]

13 minutes ago, Reds4life said:

We have $300 per suite for 5 day cruise. They said $17 per day times 5 time 2 so that's $170 of it. 

You are correct; suite gratuity is $17/day. Internet will be $10-20/day.  Are you sure you aren’t going to want a soda or non-alcoholic smoothie while onboard?  

If you have your heart set on a special excursion,  you should book it now.

[CruiserBruce]

5 minutes ago, Banditswife said:

I am hoping we can use our OBC for crew appreciation.  I was told by a HAL rep we couldn't.  I am hoping you frequent cruisers/posters are correct.  We have $200 OBC pp for each of our 7 day cruises coming up.  My question is, will they deduct the $15.50 per day from our OBC individually?  Or deduct $31 per day from 1 account.

OBC can be used for any charge against your on board account, except casino. They will most likely take the amount from each person in the cabin's account...it is usually charged to each person individually.

[Reds4life]

3 hours ago, sandiego1 said:

For a 1 week cruise, the Premium package was $140. So you’ll have no extra OBC leftover if you purchase it. The other package levels have insufficient bandwidth IMO.

We will have $130 per room left after tips and have 3 rooms. So $390. This is a 5 day cruise also

[DaveOKC]

Just back - we prepaid for an excursion on our credit card and ended up cancelling when onboard.  Credit went to our onboard account.

 

[Daniel A]

On 10/31/2022 at 2:40 PM, CruiserBruce said:

You can book ahead, but you pay at time of booking, and you can't use OBC before you board. Some have suggested that you could book and pay in advance, then cancel once on board and re-book the excursion. The problem then is by canceling on board, the refunded money will go to your on board account.

 

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

Just back - we prepaid for an excursion on our credit card and ended up cancelling when onboard.  Credit went to our onboard account.

 

I pre-booked a number of excursions for my next cruise (first on HAL.)  I have a ton of OBC and I was hoping to go to the excursions desk once onboard and ask if any excursions are waitlisted.  If they're not wait listed, I was looking to cancel at the excursions desk and immediately rebook with the OBC.  Will that work?

 

If the money from the CC goes to the onboard account, do they use the OBC up first then go to the refunded cash amounts?  Do they refund unused account funds to the original form of payment?

[CruiserBruce]

6 hours ago, Daniel A said:

 

I pre-booked a number of excursions for my next cruise (first on HAL.)  I have a ton of OBC and I was hoping to go to the excursions desk once onboard and ask if any excursions are waitlisted.  If they're not wait listed, I was looking to cancel at the excursions desk and immediately rebook with the OBC.  Will that work?

 

If the money from the CC goes to the onboard account, do they use the OBC up first then go to the refunded cash amounts?  Do they refund unused account funds to the original form of payment?

What you are proposing is the solution we have discussing. You have to hope there isn't a wait list...a big hope in many cases. 

 

Money in your account is always used in the order of non-refundable first, then refundable monies next.

[Daniel A]

1 hour ago, CruiserBruce said:

What you are proposing is the solution we have discussing. You have to hope there isn't a wait list...a big hope in many cases. 

 

Money in your account is always used in the order of non-refundable first, then refundable monies next.

If there's a wait list for any particular excursions, then I would leave them alone.  I would only be switching any excursions that I could immediately rebook right then and there.

 

As an aside, can I wait until I am onboard to book the unlimited laundry package?  I'd like to use some OBC for that.

[CruiserBruce]

1 minute ago, Daniel A said:

If there's a wait list for any particular excursions, then I would leave them alone.  I would only be switching any excursions that I could immediately rebook right then and there.

 

As an aside, can I wait until I am onboard to book the unlimited laundry package?  I'd like to use some OBC for that.

I am pretty sure you can wait until on board to book laundry. 

[oaktreerb]

9 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Just back - we prepaid for an excursion on our credit card and ended up cancelling when onboard.  Credit went to our onboard account.

 

But you should be reimbursed on your credit card at the end of the cruise if not otherwise spent, it is refundable

[oaktreerb]

6 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

If there's a wait list for any particular excursions, then I would leave them alone.  I would only be switching any excursions that I could immediately rebook right then and there.

 

As an aside, can I wait until I am onboard to book the unlimited laundry package?  I'd like to use some OBC for that.

Laundry is a great way to spend that OBC.

[crystalspin]

12 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

As an aside, can I wait until I am onboard to book the unlimited laundry package?  I'd like to use some OBC for that.

You book the unlimited laundry when you send in (leave on bed with form) your first items. You will be charged $7/day ($9/day in Europe) for each night of your cruise, no matter what day you start leaving laundry, so don't wait!