How do you use your OBC?

[Aruba76]

Because of promotions and a Celebrity Passages benefit, we have a lot of OBC on our Scandinavian cruise. We don't usually go on Celebrity excursions because we prefer to do them on our own, and we also have the beverages package. We cannot book any spa treatments using OBC at this time because they have to go through Canyon Ranch rather than the ship. The only way, I have been told, to be able to use OBC for the spa is to book onboard. With only two sea days on a 12 night cruise, I think it may be difficult at best to get an appointment on a sea day. We are also in a suite so we receive two complimentary dinners in a specialty restaurant (and with the new suite restaurant, we may not even use this benefit). So, we are looking for suggestions on how others use their OBC. I must say, I hope all our problems are this big!! :)

[Groovybusybee]

Handbags!

 

 

Never been on a cruise when I didn't see at least one that caught my eye.

 

Deb

[WestLakeGirl]

Bingo

Zumba

Wine over the price allowance of the package

Photos

Sending postcards home (guest relations will do this

Wine with room service (not included in beverage package)

Casino

Airport transfers

Shuttles (often not free in Europe ports)

 

Any left over, withdraw from casino for 5% fee

[TN Vol Fan]

Spring for some neat pix and the CD. Buy a special bottle of wine. Play in the casino. Shop for that special piece of jewelry or watch. Enjoy the cruise.

[cruisestitch]

You can buy a t shirt for the Free Dance or Free Walk, benefits breast cancer research, even if not participating in the event.

 

Don't forget the duty free liquor store, sometimes they have good sales.

 

CD's or DCD's from the on board entertainers are good souvenirs. They re usually for sale in the liquor store or sometimes after their shows near the theater.

[ptrpanpens]

OBC from travel agent is refundable automatically. Celebrity OBC can be used to purchase cash in the casino for a 5% fee. Much better than losing it.

[iHeartGlaciers]

I was told OBC can be used to pay gratuities at the end if you didn't prepay. I had to prepay because we we're select dining, so I didn't take advantage of this.

 

We used ours on wine and ended up booking an excursion even though we usually do the ports on our own.

 

If you go to the spa as soon as you get on board, you should be able to snag an appointment for one of the sea days (especially if you're flexible on the time slot you want).

[hcat]

Handbags!

 

 

Never been on a cruise when I didn't see at least one that caught my eye.

 

Deb

 

Handbag for sure..,,, esp if they have M Kors shop!

 

OP .

if you book spa when you board you should find a nice appt time.... never had a problem and if you are in a suite your concierge or butler could assist as well. Maybe get your hair done., manicue/ pedicure...they have services for men and women,. If you did not pre-pay grats, can add them onto acct and set off with OBC You can order special treats for bon voyage...flowers etc.

 

We book and pre-pay for our excursions, gratuities, and specialty dining and use OBC for photos, Spa, shopping, trinkets...we never have any left over

Edited August 10, 2014 by hcat

[Lois R]

Guess it depends on what you like/like to do:).......

Jewelry can be nice. Not sure how much credit you have but the

fine jewelry store on the ship has some beautiful items.:)

 

You said you already have the drink package but if you enjoy a nice

bottle of wine? If you don't have the Wine Package? You could buy

a bottle of wine......:D

 

I never have enough obc to worry about not using it all up;) next

cruise I will a large credit too...no worries about having any of it

leftover;)

[Aruba76]

Thank you for all the great suggestions! Now we are going to have trouble deciding how to use it!

[ClaudiaB]

Specialty restaurants - and we're like you, we sail a lot of 14-nighters and get two free but we usually eat 5 or 6 in them on 14 nights.

We also use them for our beverages since we have yet to get a beverage package.

 

Last night of the cruise if we have any leftover I check out the shops and last time I had $100 or so and came back with a pretty cute little cross body bag.

[4774Papa]

Can't you withdraw cash at the casino for a 5% fee.

[nyfeds]

We hope to use ours for ship excursions.

[Cruise Junky]

Specialty restaurants and upgrade of the beverage package

[Mr. Click]

Specialty dining and photos for us.....I am not a big fan of ship's photographers but DW is so paying the price is easier with "free" money. We are not big drinkers and for our next trip we have pre-paid grats, Classic Bev Package and $300 in obc so I guess we will be buying a lot of pictures.....

[Penzance]

On another cruise line that we have often sailed with, when they present you with the final bill, they just deduct the OBC from the total. Is that not the case with Celebrity?

[WestLakeGirl]

That is how they do it on Celebrity, too, it the OP was concerned that their on board spending might be less than the OBC, when a beverage package and specialty dining are already accounted for

[Penzance]

Oh, I see, thank you.

[Sloop-JohnB]

Lol, I NEVER have a problem spending money aboard ship in a cruise.

 

Past tallies have included:

 

Daily Gratuities - Specialty Restaurants - Drinks above the Premium Bevvy Packages - Shore Excursion (sometimes Celebrity offers something that is worth doing thru the ship) - Photos or a Photo Pkg with CD - Spa Services - Laundry & Dry cleaning - Special Events on Sea Days (Wine Tastings, Behind the Scenes Tour, Champagne Tea or the Chef's Table) - and Shopping :D

 

Shopping would definitely be my downfall... Be it Celebrity Souvenirs (Polo Shirts, Playing Cards, Celebrity Cookbook etc) - the Boutiques (Clothing, Jewellery, or Handbags) - or those Blue Box Special Days... I always come home with several things that I've found aboard & bought

 

Ya, I admit it we love the ship experience as much as we do the rest of our vacation.

 

Cheers!

Edited August 10, 2014 by Sloop-JohnB

[sandyss]

iPad or other items at the iStore.

[Lois R]

On another cruise line that we have often sailed with, when they present you with the final bill, they just deduct the OBC from the total. Is that not the case with Celebrity?

 

Yes, that is the exact same way Celebrity does it. But I guess the

original poster thinks they may not buy enough items to use up the

entiire credit.

[Bohemian]

We're going to be on the Silhouette in September and have a sizable OBC. I was wondering if we could use $200 (or whatever they charge) for a future cruise booked on the ship from the OBC.

[WestLakeGirl]

No,not as of now.

[socreader]

Because of promotions and a Celebrity Passages benefit, we have a lot of OBC on our Scandinavian cruise. We don't usually go on Celebrity excursions because we prefer to do them on our own, and we also have the beverages package. We cannot book any spa treatments using OBC at this time because they have to go through Canyon Ranch rather than the ship. The only way, I have been told, to be able to use OBC for the spa is to book onboard. With only two sea days on a 12 night cruise, I think it may be difficult at best to get an appointment on a sea day. We are also in a suite so we receive two complimentary dinners in a specialty restaurant (and with the new suite restaurant, we may not even use this benefit). So, we are looking for suggestions on how others use their OBC. I must say, I hope all our problems are this big!! :)

 

It has been our experience that we need to wait until we are onboard to use our OBC. But, you can always have your Butler use his influence to obtain the desired spa times and treatments- it is part of his job. If Celebrity has rolled out its new suite policies you will be assigned a concierge who will do everything in their power to meet every desire - truly. We were on the Infinity for the Month of March in a Celebrity Suite. Infinity was the test ship for the new suite treatment. There was nothing we wanted that was not made an effort to obtain including a personal interview with the Chief Engineer for DH . If we were not in contact with the Concierge that day she called us to determine if there was anything we needed and did a followup to see how it went. She arranged a hard to get restaurant reservation for 8 and assisted with making sure we had great goodies for all of the folks on the Cabin Crawl. Have a great cruise we love the Celebrity Suites.

Edited August 10, 2014 by socreader

[ondeckatsea]

On Caribbean cruises I take the credit back in cash at the casino, minus 5%. On European cruises I have some extra cash to spend on expensive tours which is left over from the Caribbean. I use the Celebrity credit card and get on-board credit for that as well. That's how it works for us.