Pro's vs Con's of Shipboard Credit.....GO!

[KSHowards]

We received some shipboard credit...what exactly is it? Is it worth it?

Thanks

 

[Tractortom]

Simple, it is the same as MONEY for you to spend on-board the ship. Everything on the ship is paid with your key card, and at the end of the cruise this amount is charged to a credit card that you give them before you board. So instead of starting your account at $0 you have money to spend. Is it worth it? YES!

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Shipboard credit is free money to use towards purchases on your shipboard account. Totally worth it! We booked through DU for the shipboard credit and it is paying for our cabana on CC. If we hadn't had the shipboard credit we probably would not have gotten one. We figured since we were going on the cruise anyway might as well get some free money out of the deal

 

[apathetic]

Some credits are refundable, meaning if you don't use them you can get the money from Disney. Usually credits from travel agents fall in this category. Some, like those Disney gives you for booking onboard, are non-refundable so you have to spend them or lose them. Usually there is no problem using them.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I got one word, here:

booze

 

[KSHowards]

Simple, it is the same as MONEY for you to spend on-board the ship. Everything on the ship is paid with your key card, and at the end of the cruise this amount is charged to a credit card that you give them before you board. So instead of starting your account at $0 you have money to spend. Is it worth it? YES!

So it's dollar for dollar?

 

[tink1970]

Yes-we booked through DreamsUnlimited and have $1000 OBC for our July cruise. This will pay for gratuities and about 2/3 of our excursions. It's a good thing...free money

 

[dcassetta]

There are no cons to shipboard credit!

 

[Floridatinaherb]

So it's dollar for dollar?

Yep Dollar for Dollar

 

[TestingH2O]

So it's dollar for dollar?

Yes, dollar for dollar. You can use it for any on-board expenditures. These include gratuities, alcohol, smoothies, excursions booked through the ship, and items purchased in the gift shops.

 

[clten]

Some credits are refundable, meaning if you don't use them you can get the money from Disney. Usually credits from travel agents fall in this category.

You are correct in that credits from Travel Agents are refundable. However, if you don't use them, you don't get the cash. They are refunded to the original form of payment -- which would be the Travel Agent's credit card. So make sure you use all the credit you are given.

As others have said, there are no cons to having an onboard credit. If using a travel agent to get an OBC, you've given up a little control (changes and payments to your reservation have to go through your travel agent) but the big things you need to do (using the DCL website to do your check-in to get a Port Arrival time or sign up for ticketed activities or excursions when your booking window opens) you can still do directly. So very few cons to using a TA in order to get "free" money.

 

[KSHowards]

I guess i assumed they were they same kind of credit as one would get on a resort. Which my dealings with those types are a sham. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Which my dealings with those types are a sham.

I guess you've been to Itchy and Scratchy Land?

 

[KSHowards]

I guess you've been to Itchy and Scratchy Land?

View attachment 228519

LOL

 

[FigmentSpark]

The only Con to OBC is if you aren't watching your spending, you may spend more than you thought and owe at the end of the cruise.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

OBC can be used for DCL excursions, booze, souvies, hyper-expensive teas, booze, more booze, booze.

 

[undertheradar]

OBC can be used for DCL excursions, booze, souvies, hyper-expensive teas, booze, more booze, booze.

Did you say booze?

 

[BartmanLA]

You might get a notice when you get to your stateroom showing that you have OBC and how much it is, and it will be applied to your ship board account for extra charges like alcohol, specialty coffee's and beverages. Also for things like snacks at the theaters and additional costs items from Room Service or for purchases at the onboard shops.

 

[hrhdhd]

You are correct in that credits from Travel Agents are refundable. However, if you don't use them, you don't get the cash. They are refunded to the original form of payment -- which would be the Travel Agent's credit card. So make sure you use all the credit you are given.

I don't understand this comment; my travel agent's credit card is never tied to my booking. (And if your bookings aren't showing up on your credit card statements, you should RUN, not walk, to a new travel agent.) A passenger may get a refund to the card on file for the account (his or her own), but one should also be able to get cash on the last night.

 

[dcassetta]

I don't understand this comment; my travel agent's credit card is never tied to my booking. (And if your bookings aren't showing up on your credit card statements, you should RUN, not walk, to a new travel agent.) A passenger may get a refund to the card on file for the account (his or her own), but one should also be able to get cash on the last night.

Not the payment for the cruise itself, but the payment for the onboard credit. Disney does not provide that as a courtesy to travel agents. The travel agent, or their agency, pays for it. So, if you do not use the onboard credit, it may be refunded to the agency.