How Would You Use Extra OBC?

[DisneeRunner]

It is looking like we may end up with about $4,000 on a 7 night Alaska cruise next year. We anticipate our cruise being cancelled this year which would mean (assuming Disney follows the pattern they've been following) we'd receive a 125% credit. The difference between the new cruise cost (we booked a back up) and the 125% is just under $4k.

We may opt for the refund instead of the credit if we can't spend this much money (or at least the amount we actually paid) but if you had this much onboard credit, how would you spend it? I know excursions, drinks, and Bingo are options, but I don't see that totaling almost $4000 for two people!

 

[SamFaniam]

It is looking like we may end up with about $4,000 on a 7 night Alaska cruise next year. We anticipate our cruise being cancelled this year which would mean (assuming Disney follows the pattern they've been following) we'd receive a 125% credit. The difference between the new cruise cost (we booked a back up) and the 125% is just under $4k.

We may opt for the refund instead of the credit if we can't spend this much money (or at least the amount we actually paid) but if you had this much onboard credit, how would you spend it? I know excursions, drinks, and Bingo are options, but I don't see that totaling almost $4000 for two people!

Some of the excursions in Alaska are really exciting, and also really pricey. So maybe you think about that helicopter trip to the glaciers or the float plane over the fjords or dog sledding.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Do they sell Disney gift cards or park tickets aboard? Or can the onboard credit be applied to a future cruise or a placeholder booking? I'm in a similar situation as the OP and I'm trying to figure out the best options.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Hey, @WebmasterJohn , do you think a DU agent can chime in here? I've got a related question in to my agent, and I think there will be a good number of people in this situation when the next round of cancellations happens. Is there somewhere we can go to see what the rules about the credit are?

Thanks!

 

[SamFaniam]

Do they sell Disney gift cards or park tickets aboard? Or can the onboard credit be applied to a future cruise or a placeholder booking? I'm in a similar situation as the OP and I'm trying to figure out the bests options.

They do not sell gift cards or park tickets on the ships. In the past, there was no way to apply OBC to a future cruise. I don’t know if that would change in the future.

 

[DisneeRunner]

They do not sell gift cards or park tickets on the ships. In the past, there was no way to apply OBC to a future cruise. I don’t know if that would change in the future.

I don't think you can apply an OBC to a future booking, because that is charged to your card and not to your onboard account. I have heard of a few people being able to split the credit between two cruises.

 

[MomOTwins]

Upgrade to Concierge would be an option. You could book flights and a night-before hotel through DCL. And a lot of Alaska excursions are super pricey--helicopter or plane tours, private boat charters. Candidly, it'd be super easy for me to spend that cash.

Just remember that even though you have already booked your backup, the 125% is for new bookings only, so you'd have to cancel and rebook rather than transfer the credit to your existing booking.

 

[DisneeRunner]

Upgrade to Concierge would be an option. You could book flights and a night-before hotel through DCL. And a lot of Alaska excursions are super pricey--helicopter or plane tours, private boat charters. Candidly, it'd be super easy for me to spend that cash.

Just remember that even though you have already booked your backup, the 125% is for new bookings only, so you'd have to cancel and rebook rather than transfer the credit to your existing booking.

I specifically asked DCL if the credit could be applied to a current booking and was told it could be. It sounds like that may not have always been the policy, but I confirmed with two agents that that was the case. I've never booked flights through DCL - didn't even realize that was an option! Definitely something to consider.

 

[MomOTwins]

I specifically asked DCL if the credit could be applied to a current booking and was told it could be. It sounds like that may not have always been the policy, but I confirmed with two agents that that was the case. I've never booked flights through DCL - didn't even realize that was an option! Definitely something to consider.

Hmmm, interesting. Definitely a change from what they were saying at first. Probably a sign that more people are taking a refund than they expected.

 

[kuhltiffany]

I would definitely book some of the amazing excursions like the Helicopters or something. Alaska is one spot it would be worth it!

 

[ajo]

This thread might be helpful.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/list-of-ways-to-spend-money-on-your-cruise.3782786/page-2

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This thread might be helpful.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/list-of-ways-to-spend-money-on-your-cruise.3782786/page-2

Just be aware not all those items on the list can be charged to an onboard account.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I don't think you can apply an OBC to a future booking, because that is charged to your card and not to your onboard account. I have heard of a few people being able to split the credit between two cruises.

Somewhat true. When our 12 night med got cancelled with 2 rooms booked, we got a ton of extra credit. Since the cruise was already paid, we used the balance to prepay all of our tips and have enough for all the excursions on the 11 night in '21, and pay off our 7 night Western over spring break next year and put a balance on our rooms for the majority of our excursions for that cruise as well.

 

[SamFaniam]

pay off our 7 night Western

Everything else in your post was as expected, but I wanted to ask you about this point specifically. You were allowed to use OBC to pay off another cruise?

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Yes. The 12 night was our second cancelled cruise. With the first one, we were only allowed to place the 125% on one upcoming cruise. Policies changed and when they recently canceled the 12 night , I was allowed to spread it all out. I could have even purchased a 3rd cruise if I chose.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I went on a 7-night Alaska last year. While I booked most of my excursions independently, you could use your credit to book through DCL. The Glacier Explorer tour on Endicott Arm Day can only be booked though DCL and is a must-do, IMO. Dinner/Brunch reservations at Palo. Spa treatments for sea days. A wine package. And I second the recommendation to prepay your tips.

 

[monkeydawn]

Maybe I am confused but I keep seeing the recommendation to prepay tips. By prepay, is it meant before the cruise? I thought you could only use the OBC once you had boarded which is why I am confused.

You could certainly find out the tip amount and mentally set that amount of your OBC aside. Is that what you all mean?

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

If you don't already have a balcony (maybe I missed it) I would 100% upgrade to that. I wouldn't do concierge though, but that is just me. There are amazing excursions in Alaska. A helicopter is a once in a lifetime (for me anyway) and it was an amazing experience, but expensive for sure! This would eat up nearly 1k.

Put it toward your gratuities, maybe give a little extra since you have it, if the service is great.

Get a wine package so you can have drinks at dinner.

Visit the spa?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Maybe I am confused but I keep seeing the recommendation to prepay tips. By prepay, is it meant before the cruise? I thought you could only use the OBC once you had boarded which is why I am confused.

You could certainly find out the tip amount and mentally set that amount of your OBC aside. Is that what you all mean?

What happens is it's added it to the total trip cost. Any overage payment on the actual cost of the cruise goes to your onboard account (pre-paid onboard credit). Gratuities are charged to your onboard account.

 

[taaren]

They do not sell gift cards or park tickets on the ships. In the past, there was no way to apply OBC to a future cruise. I don’t know if that would change in the future.

This was not true for me in 2012 or 2017 on the Wonder, it may have changed since then. On my 2nd and 6th cruises I happened to win some OBC (through DVC presentation & Bingo) towards the end of the trip, didn't have anything booked in the spa or excursions those trips, had already prepaid my tips, so I went to the gift shop and bought gift cards. They don't have them on display, but I asked the gift shop people, and they said sure I could purchase them and rang me up with gift cards that were kept under the cash register.
First time I think I walked off with about $200 in DGC and it was under $100 for the other cruise, I'd have to look at my old posts to remember the amount. But it was fun to have spending money from my cruise the next time I was in the parks!