OBC Limited Uses? Something new?

[Lineaway]

My question:

Anyone recently off Celebrity had charges added to their credit card even with OBC left on the cabin account because some cabin charges are excluded from certain types of OBC? So basically you had OBC left that couldn't be used and then lost and on top of that you got a charge on your Visa. This would involve Tips, Casino withdrawls, supposed exclusions if you have the non refundable OBC.

 

My Scenario:

I booked what I thought was a great deal a couple months back for a cruise on the Silhouette next winter. I haven't been on Celebrity in 5 years. After all the OBC promos (TA, Cruisline and Shareholders )are added up I will have something like 700 OBC in addition to the prepaid grats and classic Bev package. I planned on upgrading to the Premium Bev along with a couple shore excursions, then maybe some misc. charges onboard. However, that will only be about 1/2 of my OBC. I didn't want to lose the rest. I figured to take out 2-3 hundred at the casino ( a search on CC in the past suggests a service fee which I have no problem with) now I find on the website that some OBC cant be used in the Casino period.

 

I called Celebrity today and the phone rep ( I know, its hit or miss with the phone reps) had to look it up stating they just changed it and she had to find it. Which is why I am wondering if this really is something new. She then told me that only prepaid OBC could be taken out and any additional would go against my credit card even if I had a positive balance of OBC.

 

I have not had any problems in the past either on Princess,Carnival or RCL with the Stockholders credit (I have both stocks). Both companies state basically the same that the shareholders credit can't be used for Tips. However, its always applied at the end.

 

I did find on the website that some OBC can't be used in the Casino. But some can although no service fee was mentioned.

 

So, is this something new? Will I lose the rest? I assume none of my OBC is the prepaid the rep mentioned that is refundable or withdrawable in the casino???? The phone rep couldn't even tell me what type of OBC I had.

[ghstudio]

I don't believe that any of the 1-2-3 obc offers said that you couldn't use in the casino. They can't change the rules now.

[suec12]

This has been discussed quite a bit and it did seem you could usually withdraw OBC at the casino. But I think there have been more and more OBC's being given out - esp. by the cruise line. It makes sense that X might let you walk away with OBC from a TA but probably not OBC that X gave you. Hopefully other posters will have more concrete info - in the meantime you can mull over what to do with $700 on the ship!

[miched]

I was told by the Future Cruise Planner in Nov when I booked a few cruises that came with a lot of SBC that Celebrity was in the process of not allowing the SBC to be withdraw as cash from the casino.

 

The only other thing that your SBC can't be used for is a Future Cruise deposit.

 

Don't know of anything else that they would not allow it for.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[jelayne]

The OBC from your TA is normally refundable and they charge against the non-refundable OBC first. On our last 3 cruises I have received a credit on my credit card for the unused OBC from our TA.

 

You lucked out by getting both a promotion with drink package & OBC plus getting Shareholder OBC. Normally you can't get the Shareholder OBC if you receive any promotion from X.

[Bobocasey]

I have found that it is harder and harder to get Shareholder obc from X. I just got off of HAL and my stockholders credit was used first to pay for tips and the obc from the TA could be refunded back to me/.

[Lineaway]

I appreciate your answers as maybe this really is a new change (or enforcement of an old rule?) and none of us are really sure or clear on it.????? Seems like with the amount of promos going out recently they would figure a way to limit their costs by forcing OBC back into sales. I was figuring to get a couple Future Cruise Credits to use up what I hadn't spent if they really are limiting use but do they not allow that either? That one I hadn't heard.

 

Is it probable that TA OBC is the refundable type? Would it ever not be?

 

Not trying to split hairs here but it would be nice to know what I can and can't use these credits for.

 

I really do figure about 2-300 for table games in the casino so even if they do let me withdraw it I may not be keeping it.

 

Side note. The Celebrity phone rep had no idea what type of OBC I had and its not listed on my trip summary on the Celebrity website.

[Lineaway]

I am still fine with my booking and all the perks. Its a good deal but maybe not the steal I thought it was.

 

As for Shareholder credits, I have been lucky so far. All our cruises in the last 7 years have allowed the perk. They are getting more picky with exclusions though. We have an NCL cruise booked and I looked into their stock also but their rules are even more restrictive than RCL or CCL.

 

The only other thing I have noticed is the way to send in for your credit seems to change yearly. I will be jumping that hoop around Christmas for this cruise.

[jelayne]

Your TA can tell you if the OBC they are giving is refundable or non-refundable.

 

The Celebrity rep can't see the TA OBC as it isn't a part of the booking. Just prior to a sailing a TA forwards the OBC to Celebrity. Just a FYI, it generally takes until day 2 or 3 until OBC shows on your account.

[midwestchick]

Your TA can tell you if the OBC they are giving is refundable or non-refundable.

 

The Celebrity rep can't see the TA OBC as it isn't a part of the booking. Just prior to a sailing a TA forwards the OBC to Celebrity. Just a FYI, it generally takes until day 2 or 3 until OBC shows on your account.

 

My TA OBC shows on my invoice. Why shouldn't an X rep be able to see it?

This whole OBC thing has me totally confused.

So, can I or can I not get cash in the casino for my X OBC? I know it's not refundable but I should be able to use it as I choose. Some say yes for the casion, while others state you can't use X OBC to get cash in the casino. I understand you do lose a percentage doing this.

[grandgeezer]

I can see why the cruise line wouldn't want you to be able to redeem it in the casino. Say they give you a $200 obc. If you could redeem it in the casino, it cost them $190 ($200minus 5% which is $10). If you are forced to use it on drinks or in the gift shops it probably cost just a few dollars. One domestic beer is $5.50 plus 18% tip. At the volume they buy at, it probably cost them $.50. I get it for less than $.70 including tax, at home.

[gimletgal]

Any cash withdrawn in the casino is charged to your on board account - plus the 5%

 

If you have OBC (N or R) it will offset all of your on board charges until you run out of it. Then, any further charges go to the credit card on account.

 

When you withdraw the $$ in the casino, you just say "I would like $100" (or whatever amount), they tell you there will be a 5% charge, give you $100 cash, and $105 is charged to your account. OBC never enters into the conversation. The cashier in the casino could care less. They have absolutely no idea if you have any OBC or not.

 

No change. Same as always. Enjoy your OBC and spend it any way you wish!

Edited April 5, 2015 by gimletgal

[uncle-b]

We get the stock credit on almost every cruise we go on. We also usually get some TA OBC. We always have been able to use our OBC for gratuities. What we have left is always credited back to our credit card within a few days. We go on 2 cruises a year and never had a problem.

 

Sandra

[gdpups]

On my January Summit cruise I had $300 OBC from my TA which in the past has always been refundable. I checked with Guest Services towards the end of my cruise to make sure and found out $275 of it was non-refundable and $25 was refundable, so questioned why. Guest Services told me it that way because it was a "promotion" from the TA. When I continued to question why I was told it was listed that way because of the way the TA coded it.

 

I asked Guest Services to check into it with their head office and was told it would probably take 24-48 hours to get an answer. Within an hour the same person I spoke to left a message on my cabin phone saying exactly the same thing she told me in person, so I don't believe she even checked.

 

In January I was able to cash the excess money (about $75) at the casino for cash, less the 5 %. I'm coming up on two more cruises with hefty OBC, so hoping this time it's coded correctly and if I have extra I can cash it at the casino. I'd love to hear if it's still possible from recent cruisers.

[gimletgal]

On my January Summit cruise I had $300 OBC from my TA which in the past has always been refundable. I checked with Guest Services towards the end of my cruise to make sure and found out $275 of it was non-refundable and $25 was refundable, so questioned why. Guest Services told me it that way because it was a "promotion" from the TA. When I continued to question why I was told it was listed that way because of the way the TA coded it.

 

I asked Guest Services to check into it with their head office and was told it would probably take 24-48 hours to get an answer. Within an hour the same person I spoke to left a message on my cabin phone saying exactly the same thing she told me in person, so I don't believe she even checked.

 

In January I was able to cash the excess money (about $75) at the casino for cash, less the 5 %. I'm coming up on two more cruises with hefty OBC, so hoping this time it's coded correctly and if I have extra I can cash it at the casino. I'd love to hear if it's still possible from recent cruisers.

 

If it ($275) was a promo received by the TA from Celebrity - and passed on to you - then, yes, it would be coded OBC-N.

 

The $25 OBC probably came direct from the TA. Therefore, OBC-R.

[MR_T]

We had $375 obc which $300 was from the 123 promo and we took every penny out at the casino.. This was on the silhouette 1st match 2015!

[Karynanne]

Any cash withdrawn in the casino is charged to your on board account - plus the 5%

 

If you have OBC (N or R) it will offset all of your on board charges until you run out of it. Then, any further charges go to the credit card on account.

 

When you withdraw the $$ in the casino, you just say "I would like $100" (or whatever amount), they tell you there will be a 5% charge, give you $100 cash, and $105 is charged to your account. OBC never enters into the conversation. The cashier in the casino could care less. They have absolutely no idea if you have any OBC or not.

 

No change. Same as always. Enjoy your OBC and spend it any way you wish!

 

Exactly. At the casino, you're withdrawing cash to be used as you wish. Never once have I been asked or told anything about OBC. The "charge" goes against my Celebrity account.

[wallie5446]

Exactly. At the casino, you're withdrawing cash to be used as you wish. Never once have I been asked or told anything about OBC. The "charge" goes against my Celebrity account.

 

Same for us last Nov. We also had friends withdraw $600 at the Casino cashier to zero out their OBC. Then used it to pay for our non ship excursion's.

Yes they were charged a 5% fee to do this.

 

ps: Lineaway, you will be fine.

Edited April 5, 2015 by wallie5446

[nojoke]

This is probably not answering your question, BUT we have on a couple of occasions had extra OBC. I have used it for a new hair style, bought take-home gifts for the family in the gift shop. Last cruise we had about $7 unused--not a big problem. Keep track of how much you have left to spend as you near the end of the cruise. Spend it on the spa, the shops, specialty dining--whatever--don’t take a chance that you lose it. Actually, some of the gift shop souvenir-type items are quite good quality.

[hvsteve1]

Our next cruise will have $550 OBC along with a beverage card and gratuities from Celebrity and an as yet unknown amount from our TA. I'm sure we will spend every dime of it as we will consider it found money (I know it's not) and allow us to upgrade the beverage card, go to specialty restaurants and allow my wife to buy trinkets without me saying, "You're spending HOW MUCH on that?" :eek:

[Lineaway]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't think there would be a problem getting any back but this time it just sounded too realistic from the phone rep along with her reply its something new from a couple weeks back. Guess I have 11 months to watch these boards for anyone posting they lost the unused OBC.

[huskerc]

I have to agree that I'd be skeptical of anyone who talks about it as "withdrawing OBC". You're just making a charge to your seapass account.

[Iamthesea]

I was onboard the Reflection last week. Had $500 OBC from Celebrity. Used it at specialty restaurants and to pay the 3rd person gratuity for our stateroom.

 

On the last night, I was down to -$76.00 on my account balance. I went to the casino and asked for $70. No problem. There was a $3.50 charge. I used the cash, along with cash that I brought onboard, to tip extra to my Butler, room stewards and dining staff.

 

My final bill had a -$3.50 balance. :D

 

My question:

Anyone recently off Celebrity had charges added to their credit card even with OBC left on the cabin account because some cabin charges are excluded from certain types of OBC? So basically you had OBC left that couldn't be used and then lost and on top of that you got a charge on your Visa. This would involve Tips, Casino withdrawls, supposed exclusions if you have the non refundable OBC.

 

Where have you read that someone received charges on their credit card after the cruise? :eek: Now you have me worried. I kept up with my charges on the interactive TV. Even checked it the last morning and it still showed -$3.50. I never received a paper bill.

[Lineaway]

I didn't read anywhere that someone had a charge on their visa with a positive balance of OBC. I was trying to post a question and use an example. I had a tough time posting this question so that someone would understand what I was asking. Must have written it and re written it 4X. My original question was based on what I read on the Celebrity website regarding OBC not being able to be used in the casino. So I called and the rep said it was a new policy based on purchased vs non refundable OBC. It got confusing hence my post.

 

I appreciate all the answers so it looks like for now I can W/D at least half for whatever.

[Iamthesea]

I didn't read anywhere that someone had a charge on their visa with a positive balance of OBC. I was trying to post a question and use an example. I had a tough time posting this question so that someone would understand what I was asking. Must have written it and re written it 4X. My original question was based on what I read on the Celebrity website regarding OBC not being able to be used in the casino. So I called and the rep said it was a new policy based on purchased vs non refundable OBC. It got confusing hence my post.

 

I appreciate all the answers so it looks like for now I can W/D at least half for whatever.

 

 

OK, thank you. Yes, the question was a bit confusing. After reading "So basically you had OBC left that couldn't be used and then lost and on top of that you got a charge on your Visa.", I had visions of receiving my Visa bill in the mail and having all these charges that I thought were deducted from my OBC. :rolleyes:

 

I hope that my experience from last week helped you. ;)