call from Celebrity today re: OBC

[tbmrt]

Celebrity called me today re: an OLD email question I had sent them.

I had asked about unused OBC's being put back on credit card if our TA gave them to us. Rep told me absolutely not.

 

Since making the initial post to Celebrity awhile ago, I thought I understood from CC posts that OBC's issued from Celebrity are not refundable, but OBC's from TA's are.

 

Don't know if I misunderstood CC posts or Celebrity's Rep did not know policy.

 

So confusing!

[WALKER1313]

We always cash out at the casino and avoid any issues. 5% for the safety.

[Yankee Doodle]

We always cash out at the casino and avoid any issues. 5% for the safety.

 

How do you go about cashing out at the Casino?

 

Thanks,

Nancy

[happy 2 b cruising]

Celebrity called me today re: an OLD email question I had sent them.

I had asked about unused OBC's being put back on credit card if our TA gave them to us. Rep told me absolutely not.

 

Since making the initial post to Celebrity awhile ago, I thought I understood from CC posts that OBC's issued from Celebrity are not refundable, but OBC's from TA's are.

 

Don't know if I misunderstood CC posts or Celebrity's Rep did not know policy.

 

So confusing!

 

Depending on the Travel Agency OBC can either be refundable or not. I have had both kinds of OBC, no set rules. Next time you receive OBC from a TA just ask which kind they are giving you.

[WALKER1313]

Withdraw the amount from the casino cage less the 5% fee.

[stevea36]

Depending on the Travel Agency OBC can either be refundable or not. I have had both kinds of OBC, no set rules. Next time you receive OBC from a TA just ask which kind they are giving you.

 

If you look at your account statement after the second day you will either see OBN (non-refundable) or OBR (refundable). X will use OBN first to offset your account. any left-over OBR will be refunded to the credit card you have on file.

 

Just be aware that if you have a points earning credit card on file this refund will result in negative points being applied to your credit card account.

 

Steve

[ChucktownSteve]

Whenever a TA tells me how much free OBC I get, I always ask the source of it whether it's a pass through from X (non refundable & non combine-able with other perks i.e. shareholder credit) or from the TA.

[JFontaine]

How do you go about cashing out at the Casino?

 

Thanks,

Nancy

 

Go to the casino cage and tell them that you want to charge the amount to your shipboard account and give them your sea pass. You will be given a receipt to sign, one to keep, like any other shipboard charge. If you have $300 credit to use, ask for $285; you will get that amount in cash, and your shipboard account will b charged $285 plus $15 fee. That $300 debit will be applied to your $300 credit for a zero balance.

[Beanb41]

If the OBC is refundable and it will show up on your account as such on your cabin TV you can withdraw it from Guest relations on the last night in cash. If it is non refundable suggest as has been recommended you draw it from the Casino. Non refundable OBC is always used before refundable OBC

Edited October 29, 2015 by Beanb41

[BosoxI]

I can't remember which ship I was on, but I went to Customer Relations with a question about OBCs. The rep asked me if I would like to take the refundable portion in cash, and, of course, I jumped at the opportunity to do so. She volunteered it; I didn't even have to ask. Is this typical?

[CCC's]

Just read a cruise review on CC whereby the cruiser was not allowed OBC which was supplied by their TA (Australia). They went to to Customer Relations and were advised that Celebrity Solstice would not honour that OBC and they need to speak with their TA when they returned home to Australia. They had verifying documentation detailing the OBC given but still Celebrity would not budge.

 

I have $300 OBC from my Australian TA to be used on Solstice departing Sydney 26 November. Should I check immediately upon boarding with Customer Relations that they will honour the OBC ?? I have docs. from my TA outlining the $300 OBC.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[ChucktownSteve]

Just read a cruise review on CC whereby the cruiser was not allowed OBC which was supplied by their TA (Australia). They went to to Customer Relations and were advised that Celebrity Solstice would not honour that OBC and they need to speak with their TA when they returned home to Australia. They had verifying documentation detailing the OBC given but still Celebrity would not budge.

 

I have $300 OBC from my Australian TA to be used on Solstice departing Sydney 26 November. Should I check immediately upon boarding with Customer Relations that they will honour the OBC ?? I have docs. from my TA outlining the $300 OBC.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Usually the OBC doesn't show up on your account for a few days. If it doesn't make it to the ship, it doesn't make it to your account is what I would suspect. I wonder if the person's TA didn't send it on time or at all?

[Beanb41]

Just read a cruise review on CC whereby the cruiser was not allowed OBC which was supplied by their TA (Australia). They went to to Customer Relations and were advised that Celebrity Solstice would not honour that OBC and they need to speak with their TA when they returned home to Australia. They had verifying documentation detailing the OBC given but still Celebrity would not budge.

 

I have $300 OBC from my Australian TA to be used on Solstice departing Sydney 26 November. Should I check immediately upon boarding with Customer Relations that they will honour the OBC ?? I have docs. from my TA outlining the $300 OBC.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Your TA has access to your account and can see if all OBC has been credited. AS for a printout of your OBC account. Take it with you. It is unusual if you have a "Celebrity" printout that Guest Relations don't get it sorted. They have a great deal of discretion around these matters

[CCC's]

Your TA has access to your account and can see if all OBC has been credited. AS for a printout of your OBC account. Take it with you. It is unusual if you have a "Celebrity" printout that Guest Relations don't get it sorted. They have a great deal of discretion around these matters

 

Hi. My only documentation is from my TA's "Booking Confirmation" which was emailed to me when I booked. There is no current mention in my online Celebrity booking regarding this US$300 OBC. I am considering checking with Guest Relations when first boarding and if there is a problem I can still 'phone my TA immediately and get it sorted before I leave Sydney. Well, that is my plan !!

[BosoxI]

I have twice had problems with my OBCs not being credited. On both occasions while at sea. the CRs put me on the phone with my TA. Remember when addressing such a problem, keep a smile on your face, don't blame the rep, say please and thank you, and be understanding. :) Doors will usually open

[Banjo]

I never found this to be an issue.

 

On my last few cruises with Celebrity I had 2 types of OBC, the credit from Celebrity and the TA credit. You will see this on your state room TV account station.

 

It is my understanding that any unused Celebrity OBC was not refundable (unless you do the casino transaction) and the TA OBC was refundable. Celebrity was always very good in using its OBC first, never had tell them. Each cruise I always used up all of Celebrity's OBC on a purchase from gift shop, an excursion or a trip to a specialty restaurant. Not hard to do. The TA OBC has always been credited back to the credit card I listed with them within a day or two after the end of the cruise. Again, never had to tell them.

[Beanb41]

Hi. My only documentation is from my TA's "Booking Confirmation" which was emailed to me when I booked. There is no current mention in my online Celebrity booking regarding this US$300 OBC. I am considering checking with Guest Relations when first boarding and if there is a problem I can still 'phone my TA immediately and get it sorted before I leave Sydney. Well' date=' that is my plan !![/quote']

 

Go back to your TA and ask for a printout of OBC that you have credited to your account. If they say they cant provide it ask why because they have access to it. I have used Australian TA's in the past and never had a problem. The trouble with going to Guest relations on boarding is they probably wont be able to help for a day or two afterwards when all OBC will show up on your account. I can only assume that it comes in electronically from Head Office

[boscobeans]

Hi. My only documentation is from my TA's "Booking Confirmation" which was emailed to me when I booked. There is no current mention in my online Celebrity booking regarding this US$300 OBC. I am considering checking with Guest Relations when first boarding and if there is a problem I can still 'phone my TA immediately and get it sorted before I leave Sydney. Well' date=' that is my plan !![/quote']

 

When we get our luggage tags we always ask our TA for AND GET an up to date copy of the official RCCL (for both Celebrity and RC cruises) invoice which shows all excursions, Cruise line OBC's, beverage packages, air flight information and insurance info for all those items included in the total cruise price. Some other perks and OBC's from the TA may not show up for a day or two on board the ship.

 

As a matter of fact we just got one yesterday for an upcoming cruise in December.

 

bosco

[CCC's]

Go back to your TA and ask for a printout of OBC that you have credited to your account. If they say they cant provide it ask why because they have access to it. I have used Australian TA's in the past and never had a problem. The trouble with going to Guest relations on boarding is they probably wont be able to help for a day or two afterwards when all OBC will show up on your account. I can only assume that it comes in electronically from Head Office

 

I have emailed my Australian TA this morning requesting a written confirmation of my $US300 OBC. I will pursue this until I have full guarantee of the OBC.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice regarding this matter. Better to clear up any possible "problems" before they actually present themselves.

[fleckle]

When using a TA, confusion about OBC refundability is often caused by the way the OBC is described in the TA's description.

 

We are very aware of this because we regularly receive offers from TAs where they show the perks that are really coming from the cruise line together with the perks that the TA is adding, without distinguishing which is which.

 

That makes it appear as though the TA is being very generous and providing all the perks, when they really are not.

(They never mention that you can still get most of the perks they list even if you don't book with them.) ;)

 

It is easy to see how confusion about refundability can arise if someone is not aware of how much of the OBC is really coming from the cruise line and how much of it is coming from the TA.

[BosoxI]

I noticed on the statement my TA provided for final payment the I am getting $600 in OBCs. $400 is from Celebrity and is clearly stated, but there is no mention of where the other $200 is coming from. It would seem it would be from the TA but if it didn't show up in the onboard account, I'd have no proof of anything. Fortunately, I got the statement today and I have plenty of time to straighten things out. Why is nothing easy? :)