Combined On Board Credits on Royal Caribbean

[A1A Cruiser]

I have an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise booked while sailing on another ship, so I consequently qualified for an on board credit.  However, as a Royal Caribbean shareholder I also qualify for another on board credit, which credit is combinable with the first OBC.  The issue is that although the NextCruise OBC can be used toward gratuities, the shareholder credit cannot.  I don't know how rigidly they enforce that rule, but assuming it's enforced I'd like to use the shareholder credit for something like specialty dining or internet access, leaving the NextCruise OBC available to apply toward gratuities.  The problem is that I don't see any instruction anywhere indicating how to designate which OBC is used for which expenses.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  If so, how does one specify which OBC gets applied to particular expenses?  Thanks!

[firefly333]

They add up my obc and show it as a total. They have always since I've cruised allowed obc to be used toward tips. If they change it I'm sure there would be a huge outcry.

 

In the case of refundable and nonrefundable obc, nonrefundable woukd be used first. 

 

In your case both are nonrefundable and are treated the same. Not one person has ever said their nonrefundable obc was broken up by which could be applied toward tips. If they start treated obc different you will see people here howling against it. Wouldnt happen.

 

All your nonrefundable obc will be treated the same and used first.

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, A1A Cruiser said:

The issue is that although the NextCruise OBC can be used toward gratuities, the shareholder credit cannot.  

I have used shareholder OBC for gratuities for years, and as recent as May 2023. 

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, A1A Cruiser said:

I have an upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise booked while sailing on another ship, so I consequently qualified for an on board credit.  However, as a Royal Caribbean shareholder I also qualify for another on board credit, which credit is combinable with the first OBC.  The issue is that although the NextCruise OBC can be used toward gratuities, the shareholder credit cannot.  I don't know how rigidly they enforce that rule, but assuming it's enforced I'd like to use the shareholder credit for something like specialty dining or internet access, leaving the NextCruise OBC available to apply toward gratuities.  The problem is that I don't see any instruction anywhere indicating how to designate which OBC is used for which expenses.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  If so, how does one specify which OBC gets applied to particular expenses?  Thanks!

The shareholder OBC can most definitely be used for gratuities/

[A1A Cruiser]

That's great news!  RCL's Shareholder Relations Website claims that it cannot, but I wondered how they would discern on board how to designate different credits.  Our next cruise will be the first with 2 combined on board credits, one of those being the shareholder credit.  Just out of curiosity, have you personally used, or are you familiar with anyone who has used, the shareholder OBC toward gratuities?  I would think that RCL should amend their shareholder site information to avoid confusion, in that event.  Thanks!

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, A1A Cruiser said:

Just out of curiosity, have you personally used, or are you familiar with anyone who has used, the shareholder OBC toward gratuities? 

The ship/account doesn't differentiate where the OBC was from to make charge decisions - it can be used for ANY on board expenses on the account. Don't expect all the info on the RCI web site to be accurate and updated.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Biker19

[A1A Cruiser]

Thanks once more.  While I doubted that the system was sophisticated enough to differentiate, I was also accepting the veracity of those statements on the RCL shareholder website.  It frankly makes more sense to treat all OBC the same, with the possible exception of refundable vs. non-refundable.

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, A1A Cruiser said:

with the possible exception of refundable vs. non-refundable.

Even that makes little diff since you can cash out both kinds via the slot machine in the casino.

[firefly333]

20 minutes ago, A1A Cruiser said:

That's great news!  RCL's Shareholder Relations Website claims that it cannot, but I wondered how they would discern on board how to designate different credits.  Our next cruise will be the first with 2 combined on board credits, one of those being the shareholder credit.  Just out of curiosity, have you personally used, or are you familiar with anyone who has used, the shareholder OBC toward gratuities?  I would think that RCL should amend their shareholder site information to avoid confusion, in that event.  Thanks!

I've probably used the obc from shareholders obc a dozen times since covid.

 

One of the other who answered you is a travel agent and has the experiences of all his clients to draw from. Everyone who replied cruises a lot. I get it you think we might be wrong and now added have we actually done this ...  YES. 

 

This site if someone posted incorrect there would be tons correcting them. 

[A1A Cruiser]

Much appreciated!  I am comfortable accepting the advice of the folks who have responded.  Looking forward to using the shareholder OBC myself going forward.  Again, many thanks.

[jwlane]

24 minutes ago, A1A Cruiser said:

 I was also accepting the veracity of those statements on the RCL shareholder website.

Website (as far as I can discern) never mentions "gratuities".  It says "Onboard credit may not be used for onboard service charges or pre-purchased activities."  What that means?  Dunno.

[A1A Cruiser]

That's correct - I just interpreted service charges to mean gratuities.  That may be my error!