Can You Use TA Provided OBC to Book Excursions Online?

[mnocket]

I got a bunch of TA provided OBC, but I'm in Yacht Club and everything is included except excursions.  I'd like to book my excursions in advance, but I'm concerned that I will need to wait until I'm onboard in order to use my TA's OBC (it doesn't show on MSC's website and I'm told it won't show up until I board the ship).  

 

If I can't book in advance, do people have much luck waiting until they board before booking excursions?

 

Thanks.

[Georgia_Peaches]

In my experience the TA OBC only kicks in after you board so you can't use it on things like excursions.  On my first MSC  cruise, the OBC offered by my TA never kicked in at all.  They said there was a glitch in the MSC system which rejected  it altogether so we had to take it as a refund check when we got home.  I don't think this is a common occurrence but my point is, they don't recognize any outside OBC until it registers in their system after you embark.

Edited March 27, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[mnocket]

11 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

In my experience the TA OBC only kicks in after you board so you can't use it on things like excursions.  On my first MSC  cruise, the OBC offered by my TA never kicked in at all.  They said there was a glitch in the MSC system which rejected  it altogether so we had to take it as a refund check when we got home.  I don't think this is a common occurrence but my point is, they don't recognize any outside OBC until it registers in their system after you embark.

Thanks.  That's pretty much what I was afraid of.  

[mmbcater]

On board credit is just that on board... you can use it to book excursions when you are on board.

 

[JT1962]

From my experience, the TA OBC may not post to your account until the day after you board. The TA OBC is USUALLY, refundable. If that is the case, you would be better off financially to book the Shore Excursions prior to boarding at a discount (up to 20%), then get a refund of the excess OBC at the end of the cruise. You could also charge the OBC to your cabin at a slot machine, then cash out and get cash at the casino window.

[mnocket]

16 minutes ago, JT1962 said:

From my experience, the TA OBC may not post to your account until the day after you board. The TA OBC is USUALLY, refundable. If that is the case, you would be better off financially to book the Shore Excursions prior to boarding at a discount (up to 20%), then get a refund of the excess OBC at the end of the cruise. You could also charge the OBC to your cabin at a slot machine, then cash out and get cash at the casino window.

Thanks.  I'll check if the TA's OBC is refundable.

[LiquidWu]

Be creative 😉
On board you can exchange your OBC (refundable or not) e.g. into casino chips. Then you play a little, roulette for example has a minimum stake of only 1$.
Afterwards you exchange the casino chips for cash. Done 🙂

Edited March 28, 2023 by LiquidWu
Oh sorry, just saw that JT has already suggested something very similar. Then take my post as confirmation that it works so ;-)