RCI Credit card reward points

[migdet71]

Virtual RCI newbie here-well, just booked our second.  Anyway we signed up for the RCI card at future cruise desk and met our purchase obligations, so we got 30K points per card (DW and I each got one).  Now what???  Any suggestions on how to best use the points?  Fare reduction, onboard credit, Wi-fi package?  Not sure what the best option is and was hoping for some guidance from some Loyal Royals.  Thanks in advance

[Weluv2cruise2gether]

Since my husband is a casino prime member, he already gets free drinks in the casino. So the cost of the ultimate beverage package for him and a refreshment package for me is not worth buying. So we cash in points to get OBC to help cover the cost of drinks when not in casino.

[Tree_skier]

I always take OBC.  You can use it for any purchase you want in the cruise planner and take advantage of pre cruise sales.  If you don't use it pre cruise it will be available on board for any ship board purchases.

 

Ive never done the Upgrade option but it seems way to complicated to me.

[doublej]

Apply it to On board credit... Use it to cover your gratuities..  download remaining to slot machine.  Cash out ticket.  or let go back to credit card

[Cherful59]

I have never gotten enough points for a cruise, but I don’t exclusively use this card.  I do onboard credit as well, for purchases, casino, gratuity, what ever works.  5000 points will get you $50.00 in on board credit.

Edited May 30 by Cherful59

[Cigar King]

If you are going to cruise a lot, then the best value is to take it for the free cruises.  If not, OBC.  Points expire after 7 years.

[cruiseguy1016]

Those 30,000 points equal $300 in cash. It doesn't matter if you use it for reduction in cruise fare or OBC. I would use it to reduce the cost of your cruise fare. It'll be less money up front for the cruise. If you plan on using the card a lot before your cruise, you could use those additional points for OBC.

Edited May 31 by cruiseguy1016

[FOXTROT]

That amount we would use OBC. Paying for gratuities or whatever on the ship. 

[SAN415]

I guess you probably figured this out, but in case you need the information, you sign on to your card site. Then click where your points are listed, it says : " view my cruise points" Then click  on "Redeem my cruise points"

You can check out what you can use your points for  without going any further, but don't wait till the last minute. I think  you need to give them a week or so to get them in your OBC account. If it seems to be taking too long and you want to use the OBC to pay for something online like excursions or dinners, you can call them and they will get them deposited right away for you.

You will have the choice of shared OBC or just OBC for one person. We do the shared OBC so that we each can use them with either key card. 

This type of OBC will be refunded if you don't use it all while onboard. It will go to the credit card you are using for your ship account.

I hope I didn't make any errors,  I'm going from memory.

[cruisestitch]

19 hours ago, migdet71 said:

Virtual RCI newbie here-well, just booked our second.  Anyway we signed up for the RCI card at future cruise desk and met our purchase obligations, so we got 30K points per card (DW and I each got one).  Now what???  Any suggestions on how to best use the points?  Fare reduction, onboard credit, Wi-fi package?  Not sure what the best option is and was hoping for some guidance from some Loyal Royals.  Thanks in advance

Assuming you are planning to sail on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Again, your best use of points is for fare reduction

[leaveitallbehind]

19 hours ago, Cherful59 said:

I have never gotten enough points for a cruise, but I don’t exclusively use this card.  I do onboard credit as well, for purchases, casino, gratuity, what ever works.  5000 points will get you $50.00 in on board credit.

Certainly times have changed and the point values aren't what they used to be. But many years ago when the RCCL Visa card was first introduced we got one, which I used exclusively for business travel and entertainment expenses, which at the time were fairly high.  Within two years we qualified for a free double occupancy 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom from the points. We gave up that card some years ago but have recently gotten the Celebrity Visa card as a back up card. Those days are gone, as I believe are the point values, but OBC is still nice - LOL.

Edited May 31 by leaveitallbehind

[migdet71]

Thanks for the input, everyone!!  I was afraid if I went in to see what I could redeem for that I'd be committed at that point.  Good to know we can snoop around.  Next cruise isn't til November, so plenty of time.  Cheers!!

[cruiseguy1016]

3 hours ago, SAN415 said:

You will have the choice of shared OBC or just OBC for one person. We do the shared OBC so that we each can use them with either key card. 

 

 

It's not the key card that matters, it's the credit that pays the on-board expense account. If you are using separate credit cards, then sharing the OBC is the way to go. If you are paying the account with the same credit card, you don't need to share the OBC because it all ends up on the same credit card anyway.

[Cherful59]

4 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Certainly times have changed and the point values aren't what they used to be. But many years ago when the RCCL Visa card was first introduced we got one, which I used exclusively for business travel and entertainment expenses, which at the time were fairly high.  Within two years we qualified for a free double occupancy 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom from the points. We gave up that card some years ago but have recently gotten the Celebrity Visa card as a back up card. Those days are gone, as I believe are the point values, but OBC is still nice - LOL.

It doesn’t cost me anything and I always charge my RCCL cruises, excisions and anything I purchase from them on it and periodically other things, so I agree, the onboard credit has been nice.

[Tree_skier]

4 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Certainly times have changed and the point values aren't what they used to be. But many years ago when the RCCL Visa card was first introduced we got one, which I used exclusively for business travel and entertainment expenses, which at the time were fairly high.  Within two years we qualified for a free double occupancy 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom from the points. We gave up that card some years ago but have recently gotten the Celebrity Visa card as a back up card. Those days are gone, as I believe are the point values, but OBC is still nice - LOL.

A couple of times a year, in the last couple of years, they have had quadruple points month for any Royal purchase.  The last one was in Nov last year.  I bought all my cruise planner stuff for every cruise I had booked and scored a fair number of points.  It is just a back up card I use when a vendor doesn't take Amex but it is surprising how much quick I can rack up a couple hundred bucks in OBC.  

[cruisestitch]

Let me explain my earlier remark that OBC is not the best use of points FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE CRUISING AGAIN.

 

If you use that credit card on board to purchase the things you would be using the OBC for, you will get double points.

 

so use the points for a fare reduction which will then be a credit on your current statement, and start again accruing new points on board getting the bonus

[cruiseguy1016]

1 hour ago, cruisestitch said:

Let me explain my earlier remark that OBC is not the best use of points FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE CRUISING AGAIN.

 

If you use that credit card on board to purchase the things you would be using the OBC for, you will get double points.

 

so use the points for a fare reduction which will then be a credit on your current statement, and start again accruing new points on board getting the bonus

 

You also get double points when you use the card to pay for the cruise. The bottom line is, all of those points, when redeemed, are converted to cash that is used to either to pay for the cruise or use as OBC.

[Cigar King]

On 6/1/2024 at 8:20 AM, cruiseguy1016 said:

The bottom line is, all of those points, when redeemed, are converted to cash that is used to either to pay for the cruise or use as OBC.

The difference is the points used for a "free" cruise are worth twice as much as points used for OBC.  125k points gets me either $1,250.00 in OBC OR $2,500.00 towards the cruise price.  To be clear, that's based on the cost, but, I typically get $2,400.00 or so per redemption.

[RosieRoo]

I made the mistake of trying to use 75,000 points for a companion fare, which it says can be up to $1500. The problem is they remove all the discounts from your booking before applying the $1500 thereby making it worth about $900 in the end. I wouldn’t try to use them that way again. I have never tried for the free cruise.