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

[MikeGS]

Platinum and Gold Castaway Club members get to book a day earlier than Silver and general public. You can use a TA to do this. On this day, you or your TA has to call to make the booking as the new dates are not released to the website until the following day.

Thanks... I'm gearing up to book my next cruise. Sounds like I won't get earlier than general public (I'm silver). But I'm still very excited!

 

[lbus42]

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

Thanks

You do not pay for anything on the ship with cash or a credit card. Before you board, you will set up an onboard account, tied to a credit card. Any credits that you get from a TA or that you purchase beforehand are applied to that account to give you a positive balance. Any purchases (Palo, Remy, gift shops, excursions, alcohol, gratuities) that you make on the ship are subtracted from that account. Once the credits are used up, DCL will allow you to continue to purchase taking your account into a negative balance up to a certain amount based on the length of your cruise. This is typically around $300 to $500. Once the purchases get up to that amount then DCL will charge your credit card and your account will go down to $0 again. This goes on until your cruise ends. On the final morning of the cruise, you will have to go down to the front desk and settle up on any outstanding balances. It is recommended that you do this the evening before because the lines will be long on the final morning.

 

[mmouse37]

You do not pay for anything on the ship with cash or a credit card. Before you board, you will set up an onboard account, tied to a credit card. Any credits that you get from a TA or that you purchase beforehand are applied to that account to give you a positive balance. Any purchases (Palo, Remy, gift shops, excursions, alcohol, gratuities) that you make on the ship are subtracted from that account. Once the credits are used up, DCL will allow you to continue to purchase taking your account into a negative balance up to a certain amount based on the length of your cruise. This is typically around $300 to $500. Once the purchases get up to that amount then DCL will charge your credit card and your account will go down to $0 again. This goes on until your cruise ends. On the final morning of the cruise, you will have to go down to the front desk and settle up on any outstanding balances. It is recommended that you do this the evening before because the lines will be long on the final morning.

Actually, you don't have to go down to Guest Services to settle up. It is automatic if you have a credit card on file. We like to check our account along the way with print outs from guest services to make sure everything is OK. The only time I would stop at guest services on the last night or last morning is if I found something amiss with our account (erroneous charge or gift card not applied correctly, etc.). By checking along the way it minimizes our having to stand in any lines at guest services!!

MJ

 

[lbus42]

Actually, you don't have to go down to Guest Services to settle up. It is automatic if you have a credit card on file. We like to check our account along the way with print outs from guest services to make sure everything is OK. The only time I would stop at guest services on the last night or last morning is if I found something amiss with our account (erroneous charge or gift card not applied correctly, etc.). By checking along the way it minimizes our having to stand in any lines at guest services!!

MJ

Yes, you are right. I had forgotten that.

 

[CM Dad]

Who would have any OBC left after a cruise!? Very hard to do in my opinion. After tips, drinks, souviners, etc I'm paying!

I did on one cruise when we traveled with a group of 14, ages 12 weeks to 60 years. I had been able to reserve 2 cabanas on Castaway Cay and had added enough stateroom credit from my Disney Vacation Account to cover them plus other excursions/expenses. We were unable to dock due to rough seas and I ended up with unused stateroom credit that got refunded to my vacation account.