When does OBC and CCL credit show up?

[tartanmom]

I received a large OBC when I booked my cruise and also have CCL credit. Any idea when this shows up in my account and I can use it towards shore excursions? When I try to book excursions I've used up my HIA credit and it says the costs need to be put on a credit card. I don't want to miss out on the excursions I want but I also don't want to waste time onboard trying to get the amounts refunded from my credit card and then put against the OBC. 

[REOVA]

They show on your booking email you get from your TA or HAL. If you get CCL stock credit bring that email with you just in case but ask for a revised booking email to see it now.

 

You have to prepay excursions (if no HIA left) as OBC is for "on board" bookings. So once you board, go to EXC desk (not guest services) and have them switch the prepaid charges to OBC and you will have (refundable) credit back on your statement, which you can spend or get back in cash on the last day of cruise (if not too large). 

[POA1]

It should show up on the PDF attachment to your booking confirmation. Annoying though, you only see the total amount and not the breakdown.

[Haljo1935]

Getting the charges switched from CC to OBC only takes as long as the line is at Shore Exc Desk. Currently on NS where my excursions were moved on Embarkation Day in 16 minutes (based on the photo timestamps). I was 4th in line having arrived 2 min before they opened (1pm) and by 1:14 the change had been made.

As mentioned by others, when done this way, the credit is returned as refundable OBC which is then refunded back to the CC you have on file or in cash, whichever you prefer.

[horseymike]

I had an issue with my CCL shareholder credit not showing up on my itemized statement that HAL emailed to me. I called and asked for the CCL credit to be included on the statement and emailed to me. They took care of it right away.

[NCTribeFan]

My CCL S/H OBC has never shown up on any booking confirmation (I've owned CCL since 2009 and have many, many times on Carnival and a few on HAL since then).  I always print out my email from the cruise line that says it's been credited to my account.

 

I'm not sure I understand the pre-paying via credit card for a shorex and then having it switched to OBC once on board.  But I never have so much OBC that I would need to do that to use it up (I typically spend it in the spa). 

 

Are you saying it gets refunded to my credit card and charged against the onboard account, and uses up OBC?  But then it takes a full billing cycle to be refunded to my credit card, right?  Or do they just credit your onboard account, regardless of what CC you used to pay for the excursion originally?

 

Is this a "trick" to convert spending to refundable OBC which I could then use in the casino?

 

I rarely book ship excursions unless I'm using the HIA credit, but it would be nice to know just how this works.  Thanks!

[Haljo1935]

3 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

...Are you saying it gets refunded to my credit card and charged against the onboard account, and uses up OBC?  But then it takes a full billing cycle to be refunded to my credit card, right?  Or do they just credit your onboard account, regardless of what CC you used to pay for the excursion originally?

 

Is this a "trick" to convert spending to refundable OBC which I could then use in the casino?

 

I rarely book ship excursions unless I'm using the HIA credit, but it would be nice to know just how this works.  Thanks!

The credit is immediate - if you refresh the Navigator App you will see it before you leave the Shore Exc Desk. At disembarkation when they close out your account, HAL will issue credit (if you have any) to whatever card you put on file; how long it takes for you to see that depends on your bank. I always see mine in less than a week. You can also go down to Guest Services and have them give you hard cold cash.

So, no, you're not waiting a full CC billing cycle (or longer) to receive the credit. And because it ultimately goes on the CC on file for the booking, it may or may not be the same CC you used to originally book the excursions. I am not loyal to any one card, so the card I put on file at check-in very likely will be different than the 1 I used when I booked the excursions. 

[habenicd]

What I have run across just today, is that unlike other lines (Royal for instance) I cannot use my OBC online to purchase excursions, dinner reservations, ect. prior to embarkation. This is mildly aggravating as I wanted to use my OBC to "purchase" my niece a small amount of OBC for her first cruise in Feb., as a Christmas gift.  Why would I want to pay interest on that $50 for 2 months (I know it's not that much) until I can stand in line once aboard and get it changed.  Come on HAL it's the 21st century.  Update your OBC accounting within the online account and the app too, for that matter. 

[crystalspin]

OBC = On Board Credit

 

I don't get the outrage.

[Will_Dieterich]

write to 

reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com   Ask them for your OBC and they will send you the pdf.

[BermudaBound2014]

2 hours ago, habenicd said:

What I have run across just today, is that unlike other lines (Royal for instance) I cannot use my OBC online to purchase excursions, dinner reservations, ect. prior to embarkation. This is mildly aggravating as I wanted to use my OBC to "purchase" my niece a small amount of OBC for her first cruise in Feb., as a Christmas gift.  Why would I want to pay interest on that $50 for 2 months (I know it's not that much) until I can stand in line once aboard and get it changed.  Come on HAL it's the 21st century.  Update your OBC accounting within the online account and the app too, for that matter. 

 

HAL really is behind the competition in this arena. I'm not sure there are any cruise lines left that don't allow you to apply OBC to purchases made online prior to the cruise.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, crystalspin said:

OBC = On Board Credit

 

I don't get the outrage.

 

For me, I'm not outraged, but I do think it's just a weee bit annoying to those of us who sail many different lines and have become accustom to OBC being applied pre-cruise.  I have been able to apply my OBC to pre-cruise purchases on every other line I've sailed over the last decade or so. There maybe other lines who also stick to the 'on board' just for use while physically on-board, but if there are, they aren't the lines I've been sailing.

 

It just seems a wasted step. Sure we can easily go to ship services or the shore excursion desk and have the issue rectified, sometimes very easily and quickly as mentioned by Haljo, but it's still an extra step for both the guest and those working onboard. I would think that the shore excursions employees would be much happier spending their time actually selling excursions. Same with guest services.

 

Although, come to think of it, if HAL tries to implement a new policy it would require the tech team to be involved and only the Lord knows how that would go. 😄 

Edited November 6, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[Haljo1935]

While they are used interchangeably, Shipboard Credit and Onboard Credit are slightly different. I can't speak to lines other than Carnival, Princess and HAL - Carnival uses the term "Shipboard" and does allow you to use prior to sailing. HAL calls it "Onboard" and restricts it to use once boarded, but most of it can be moved once you board.

[Crew News]

On 11/6/2023 at 3:12 PM, Will_Dieterich said:

write to 

reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com   Ask them for your OBC and they will send you the pdf.

or just call Customer Service and they will send an email with updated booking OBC while you are still on the phone.  I do this for every cruise.

[FLCruiser97]

37 minutes ago, Crew News said:

or just call Customer Service and they will send an email with updated booking OBC while you are still on the phone.  I do this for every cruise.

But the question still remains...can you book a shore excursion with said OBC before sailing?

[BermudaBound2014]

10 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

But the question still remains...can you book a shore excursion with said OBC before sailing?

 

No. On HAL you must book and pay for said excursion pre-cruise and then physically go to Shore Excursions desk onboard and have them refund your CC and use your OBC. As mentioned, IMO it's a pretty inefficient system. 

[Cruise Suzy]

11 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

But the question still remains...can you book a shore excursion with said OBC before sailing?

 

No, it's On Board Credit But as @BermudaBound2014 mentioned, there is now a work=around.

[FLCruiser97]

OK. Got it. I'm glad this question was asked as I also have OBC on an upcoming sailing and wanted to use it on shore excursions. I shall now book it pre cruise and get the refund onboard.

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, FLCruiser97 said:

OK. Got it. I'm glad this question was asked as I also have OBC on an upcoming sailing and wanted to use it on shore excursions. I shall now book it pre cruise and get the refund onboard.

Be sure you go to Shore Exc Desk not GS and do it before you go on the excursion; GS cannot do the charge move and Shore Exc cannot it once the excursion is past.

[Crew News]

Good luck on finding anyone at the onboard Shore Exc Desk.

[Haljo1935]

15 hours ago, Crew News said:

Good luck on finding anyone at the onboard Shore Exc Desk.

They are always there (and only there) during posted hours. The hours are VERY limited, but they do have them.

Usually have a sign posted at the desk with their hours. Also listed in The Daily (printed program) on the lower portion of back page and in the Navigator App on the "hours" tab.

Edited November 12, 2023 by Haljo1935
Additional comment

[NCTribeFan]

Besides allowing us to use Whatever Credit to pre-purchase items, wouldn't it be nice to be able to apply a Gift Card prior to sailing?  It takes FOREVER to get it done at Guest Services and since I typically have multiple cards (usually for $100 each), it takes even longer.  And the paperwork is just ridiculous.

 

Hmmm.  I suppose I could use a Gift Card to purchase Shipboard Credit which, hopefully, would be preloaded to my account, assuming I opt to have it "delivered" on embarkation day.  That would save the time wasted at the Service Desk and allow those folks to spend more time helping people log onto the wi-fi.  Really, they need a separate desk with 2-3 CS people for the first couple of days phones/wi-fi help only.  

 

That doesn't help with the issue of not being able to use OBC prior to sailing.  I have lots for my January Carnival cruise (B2B with Eurodam) and have pre-purchased water, wi-fi and grats.  Next, I'll book my specialty dining and use some more.  It's so easy.  HAL does need to keep up.

[tartanmom]

On 11/11/2023 at 1:06 PM, Crew News said:

Good luck on finding anyone at the onboard Shore Exc Desk.

True. We had this problem on our Zaandam cruise last Christmas. When it was open and I wanted to get some information I was told to "USE THE APP" and she literally walked away from the desk into a back room! Have always found the crew onboard to be superb but the Shore Excursion rep on that trip was an exception. Voiced my displeasure about her and her snotty, condescending attitude on the feedback form.  

[ngo]

Hi - what if we buy laundry, chocolates etc with a credit card before sailing? Do we still head to shore excursion to get the obc or guest services? Thanks 

[Cruise Suzy]

 

 

1 hour ago, ngo said:

Hi - what if we buy laundry, chocolates etc with a credit card before sailing? Do we still head to shore excursion to get the obc or guest services? Thanks 

 

Shore excursion desk only deals with shore excursions.

 

Guest Services can remove credit card charges for dining reservations while leaving the dining reservation intact. Then you use OBC when actually dining.

 

I have never heard any one being able to have Guest Service transfer credit card charges to OBC for pre-booked services. Laundry is the same price whether pre-purchasing or onboard, so might as well wait until onboard to order.