OBC question

[shot2bits]

I didn't get any OBC from Celebrity or my TA so I bought some as a 'gift' to us for use if and when we need it. I guess we will register a credit card when we board to cover stuff we may buy on board. We have the classic drinks package through the 1,2,3 go promo. My question is, with a card registered, if we spend on board, will they use the OBC before they start debiting stuff to our card? Thanks.

[Grandmaanne7]

Yes. All OBC will be used before anything is debited from any other form of payment.

[GUT2407]

I didn't get any OBC from Celebrity or my TA so I bought some as a 'gift' to us for use if and when we need it. I guess we will register a credit card when we board to cover stuff we may buy on board. We have the classic drinks package through the 1,2,3 go promo. My question is, with a card registered, if we spend on board, will they use the OBC before they start debiting stuff to our card? Thanks.

 

Yes

 

They use

 

Non refundable OBC

 

REFUNDABLE OBC

 

card

 

In that order

[keesar]

A word of advice. Make sure you get your OBC posted to your account. It will typically show up on the second day of your cruise. Also, bring a copy of your final billing statement along with proof of having paid for the OBC. Ours was not posted and the ship had no record of it. We were not the only ones that were initially denied.

[shot2bits]

Thanks for that Keesar, I'll take all the docs, just in case!

Edited July 4, 2015 by shot2bits

[Project_gal]

I didn't get any OBC from Celebrity or my TA so I bought some as a 'gift' to us for use if and when we need it. I guess we will register a credit card when we board to cover stuff we may buy on board. We have the classic drinks package through the 1,2,3 go promo. My question is, with a card registered, if we spend on board, will they use the OBC before they start debiting stuff to our card? Thanks.

 

This is what we confirmed during our latest cruise. It is a fuller answer than you asked but may answer future questions you may have:-

 

There was a great deal of discussion about OBC before we left for this cruise and it was one of the things I promised to report back about.

 

We started the cruise with a large amount of OBC [non-refundable] from Celebrity and even more purchased OBC [refundable] so, on embarkation, I did not register a credit card. I really did not want any refundable surplus to go onto our credit card and take an exchange rate hit as we could always use it on another cruise. We did, however, want to get access to some of the OBC as cash during the cruise for our additional gratuities and to use in the Casino.

 

Early on, my husband checked with the Casino that [in a PH] we could draw out cash without paying the surcharge. We could but, as there was no letter about this in our suite, I am not sure which suites receive this concession.

 

My husband withdrew the first amount without any problem. The next time he tried, he was told that he could not unless a credit card was registered to the account. We asked the Michael's Club to clarify this as it did not seem reasonable with the amount of OBC we had.

 

The clarification was: if you still have unused non-refundable OBC, you cannot withdraw cash from the Casino without registering a credit card. We still had roughly US$150 non-refundable OBC. The original cashier had made an error. We registered our credit card and were then able to continue withdrawing cash.

 

We had credit left at the end of the cruise and I was able to withdraw that, in cash, at Guest Relations on the final day.

 

Here is the important part: the total withdrawn from the Casino plus refunded at the end of the cruise exceeded the refundable OBC.

[Lastdance]

We had an issue with our OBC this past cruise that just ended in Barcelona today. It took until day 6 to actually see the posting of our additional $200. Even though this was from Celebrity, it took 6 days to post. I canceled a facial because I didn't know if it would show up on mu account, but was able to shop at the last minute...[emoji320]I was very unhappy, but Celebrity did a great job with our anniversary so I am not too upset. Traveling nowadays is full of problems... Never free of stress!

[Apeeler]

I think 'Project_Gal' has answered a question I had but just to get a definitive answer maybe someone can put my mind at rest please.

 

I'm thinking of purchasing OBC (gifted) as currently will get a good rate. My understanding is that I can go to the casino and get REAL money (US dollars) cash at any point in the cruise is this correct? Am aware of the 5% charge levied!

 

This money I'd use ashore for private excursions etc....

 

Andy & Jane

[Project_gal]

I think 'Project_Gal' has answered a question I had but just to get a definitive answer maybe someone can put my mind at rest please.

 

I'm thinking of purchasing OBC (gifted) as currently will get a good rate. My understanding is that I can go to the casino and get REAL money (US dollars) cash at any point in the cruise is this correct? Am aware of the 5% charge levied!

 

This money I'd use ashore for private excursions etc....

 

Andy & Jane

 

Andy & Jane

 

Yes, you are correct. ON our last two cruises the 5% was waived because we were in a PH but, at the current rates, purchasing OBC in the UK will get you dollars for your use on shore at a rate much better than you can anywhere else even if you do have to pay the 5%.

 

We were confused about what was and was not possible before that cruise and there was also confusion on Cruise Critic and, for that reason, we made a point of getting full clarification through the Michael's Club Concierge.

 

You must have a credit card registered at check-in [or at sometime later] before you can with draw OBC in cash at the Casino if you also have non-refundable OBC but that does not mean that you have to have any credit refunded to your credit card. Just go along to Guest Relations once you have made your last charge against your on board account and request a refund in cash.

 

Unless you will not have any use for US$ in the foreseeable future, do not have the refund made to your credit card or you may well lose out on the transaction even if you have no foreign currency charge on your credit card because of the exchange rates uses.

 

They will check carefully that what is left is refundable but, otherwise, there is no issue.

[rcixfan5]

They use

 

Non refundable OBC

 

REFUNDABLE OBC

 

card

 

In that order

 

 

Like all things celebrity, good luck.

 

I had both non refundable and refundable OBC on a May 2015 cruise. My balance was $-50 at the end of the cruise. I got about $-10 credited back to my card. Celebrity kept the other $40. So it appears they don't apply the OBC in a consistent way.

 

I have emailed celebrity two times already, yet to get an acknowledgement they got the email. Using the celebrityonetouch address.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Apeeler]

Andy & Jane

 

Yes, you are correct. ON our last two cruises the 5% was waived because we were in a PH but, at the current rates, purchasing OBC in the UK will get you dollars for your use on shore at a rate much better than you can anywhere else even if you do have to pay the 5%.

 

Thanks Sue, yes I'd done my sums and as you say even with the 5% charge still come out tops :)

 

Andy & Jane