Shipboard Credit

[grandgeezer]

If you don't spend all of your shipboard credit can you carry it over to a future cruise or do you lose it? We have friends who have accumulated $300 shipboard credit for a seven day cruise next month. Since they don't drink alcohol, gamble (casino and bingo), or buy alot of jewelry or souvineers (this is their 13th cruise), they are concerned about the money they don't spend. If they have to, they'd rather spend it than lose it, though carrying it over would be their first option.

[Odd Ball]

I can't answer that question but they can use the money other ways.

$140.00 can be used for tips. Hal will automatically charge 10 Per Person Per Day.

How about an excursion or two ?

 

Sodas ?

[Len3]

Our cabin bill is always beyond $300 and we don't drink. It's not hard to use up just $300 - have some fun!

[sail7seas]

I don't think there is any sort of 'carry over' system.

 

They may wish to speak with the office about options.

 

Perhaps a lovely day at the Spa for massages, manicures etc

Or some of the Spa Products could eat up that shipboard credit fast.

 

Maybe a special shore excursion?

Laundry/dry cleaning service so they come home with clean clothes?

 

It really is awfully easy to spend those shipboard credits.

 

 

[saltydog28]

Hi grandgeezer,

 

I could be totally wrong about this, but I think you can apply the credit at the casino, get the coins or chips, then turn them in for cash. I think I read this awhile back, but like I said, I could be totally wrong.

 

Take care,

Pat.

[JayS]

"I could be totally wrong about this, but I think you can apply the credit at the casino, get the coins or chips, then turn them in for cash. I think I read this awhile back, but like I said, I could be totally wrong."

 

IF (and I am not sure ) you are allowed to use the credits in the casino you will probably have to pay a few percent charge to do this.

 

Best is to use it the way the other posters suggested.

[Tricia724]

Do they use the Internet? Perhaps they may wish to buy an Internet package or simply send an email to family or friends.

 

How about special coffees, lattes, or cappucinos....or a clamshell or adventure at Half Moon Cay....if the ship stops there.

 

Even though they don't ordinarily buy much at the shops, if there is a shipboard credit hanging in the balance that will be lost, I'm sure they could find something for themselves or for a gift that could utilize a few dollars.

 

After the tips are deducted, they will only have $160 to spend. I'm sure they'll find a way to take advantage of it.

[saltydog28]

IF (and I am not sure ) you are allowed to use the credits in the casino you will probably have to pay a few percent charge to do this.

 

Hi Jay, I thought that you were charged a fee only if you used a credit card.

 

I hope someone can set me straight before I cruise in a few weeks.

 

Pat.

[bepsf]

Even though they don't ordinarily buy much at the shops, if there is a shipboard credit hanging in the balance that will be lost, I'm sure they could find something for themselves or for a gift that could utilize a few dollars.

 

I agree - the quality of merchandise sold onboard appears to be improving, and there's always the holidays to shop for!

;)

[cruisldy]

If you do get money from the casino, you have to charge it against your onboard account, which is the same as charging it to your credit card, as most people leave an imprint for the charges. Therefore, Holland America and Carnival charge 3% of the amount that you get from the casino cashier. I know because unsuspcting me, assumed that they were the same as RCI and Celebrity, who don't charge and went strolling up to the casino cashier to get money, to be told about the 3%. We have a Ryndam cruise coming up and you can believe I will be hauling money out of the savings, getting T checks to cash for our casino play, this trip. I is written up on the Holland sight, I believe under those "Things to know before you go" or in the description on the casino onboard, I can't remember which, and was too lazy to look for it. But I know it is there.

[Navy_Chief]

This is just an observation / comment: So your TA or maybe HAL gave you some sort of SBC for use on the ship. Now if your like me and deposit cash at the beginning of the cruise for my Shipboard Account (Vs the trusty Credit Card), how is HAL going to be able to tell what was SBC and what was deposited if there's some sort of "limit" as to the intended purpose of the SBC? Seems to me there is no way that there could be a sort of "watchdog" as to how you spend that SBC. Just a thought..........:D

 

To ther OP's question, you can easily go through $300 on a cruise; as I said, I put a cash (actually Travler's Cheques) deposite at the beginning of the cruise with the Front Desk for my SB Account. Whatever I don't spend, it is returned to me at the end with my bill marked "Paid in Full" at the Front Desk.

[RuthC]

There may be some exclusions to this based on the source of the credit, but I don't believe your friends need to feel forced to spend when they don't want to. I think they will get any unspent balance returned to them in cash.

[RuthC]

It took eleven posts today before I got the WSOD. Not bad.

[giraffez]

If you don't spend all of your shipboard credit can you carry it over to a future cruise or do you lose it? We have friends who have accumulated $300 shipboard credit for a seven day cruise next month. Since they don't drink alcohol, gamble (casino and bingo), or buy alot of jewelry or souvineers (this is their 13th cruise), they are concerned about the money they don't spend. If they have to, they'd rather spend it than lose it, though carrying it over would be their first option.

 

 

how did you accumulate your shipboard credit in the first place?

[molly361]

This did not happen on HAL but it did on the QM2- We had bought ourselves shipboard credit and Cunard had given us $100 shipboard credit- At the end of the cruise we had a credit balance and Cunard was not going to refund it saying it was their portion of the money that was left unused- It took a letter to Cunard but I did get the money refunded- Since that time we make sure to only have enough shipboard credit (we always prebuy some as we go along prior to the cruise) where we don't have a credit at the end of the cruise-

[Navy_Chief]

This did not happen on HAL but it did on the QM2- We had bought ourselves shipboard credit and Cunard had given us $100 shipboard credit- At the end of the cruise we had a credit balance and Cunard was not going to refund it saying it was their portion of the money that was left unused- It took a letter to Cunard but I did get the money refunded- Since that time we make sure to only have enough shipboard credit (we always prebuy some as we go along prior to the cruise) where we don't have a credit at the end of the cruise-

That's just to the point I was making; how can a cruise line possibly say "Oh that's our portion, no refund." ????? That's just plain rediculous, besides, in your case, it wasn't "their" money if you pre-purchased the credit :eek: . No wonder they were quick to give it back to you. I would have argued the point with the Hotel Manager on the spot. Glad to see you came out on top with that one.

[anley]

Give your friend a list of things they can bring back from the cruise for you and your other friends. Watches , jewelry , booze , hats , logo wear. They really have a lot of good things to buy on board.

This is their chance to be a good buddy:):)