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What can I do with my onboard credit?

2theship

By 2theship,
in Celebrity Cruises

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2theship

2theship

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Like almost everyone else, we have $300 of non-refundable onboard credit for our next cruise. We also have a drink package and free gratuities. Our Elite status gives us free laundry and internet; we aren't interested in the specialty restaurants and we've already paid for our shore excursions.

 

On our past cruises with the 123Go promo, we've gone to the casino and gotten cash. We've used some of it in the casino but certainly not all. I've read recently that Celebrity will no longer give you cash from your account in the casino. Is that still true and, if so, is there some other way of getting your OBC?

 

Thanks!

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2theship

2theship

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Head to the shops and buy $300 worth of clothing or other items that you can donate to charity when you get home.

 

 

Good idea but I was hoping to use the money for additional tips onboard.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

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Miaminice "Live from...." Rare

Miaminice

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Posted
I guess what I'm really asking is - is there any way that I can just get the cash?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Not without a risk...

 

Go to the casino, get promo chips, and bet 50% on red 50% on black...

you will get the winnings as regular chips which can be returned.

After like 5 times you converted all promo chips - unless the ball falls on 0 :)

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dkjretired

dkjretired

Posted
Posted
Like almost everyone else, we have $300 of non-refundable onboard credit for our next cruise. We also have a drink package and free gratuities. Our Elite status gives us free laundry and internet; we aren't interested in the specialty restaurants and we've already paid for our shore excursions.

 

On our past cruises with the 123Go promo, we've gone to the casino and gotten cash. We've used some of it in the casino but certainly not all. I've read recently that Celebrity will no longer give you cash from your account in the casino. Is that still true and, if so, is there some other way of getting your OBC?

 

Thanks!

 

A little off topic but Elite's don't get free laundry or internet.

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2theship

2theship

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A little off topic but Elite's don't get free laundry or internet.

 

 

We get 90 minutes each (3 hours total) of free internet and one bag each of free laundry. Enough to serve our needs without additional purchase.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited by 2theship
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ChucktownSteve

ChucktownSteve

Posted
Posted (edited)
Bingo? Duty free liquor? Partial on iPad mini? New watch? Lots of choices.

 

Just an FYI, the liquor bought on board is not duty free. It counts towards your customs limit or you will pay duty. Unless the agent just waves you through like he did for me.

 

BBsails: TA OBC is still refundable. Check out your cabin TV account status. OBN is non refundable, OBR is reundable.

Edited by ChucktownSteve
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phoenix_dream

phoenix_dream

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Just an FYI, the liquor bought on board is not duty free. It counts towards your customs limit or you will pay duty. Unless the agent just waves you through like he did for me.

 

BBsails: TA OBC is still refundable. Check out your cabin TV account status. OBN is non refundable, OBR is reundable.

Yes and then again, maybe not. We have always found TA OBC to be refundable. But on an upcoming cruise, the TA we use (the largest, not to be named one many people on these boards use) told us that none of the OBC we were getting would be refundable - it would all be considered 'combined' with Celebrity's. I had posted a thread about it at the time and got a lot of push back that this could not be correct. I have not sailed yet, so can't confirm one way or another - just mentioning what I was told. And the particular TA rep I was dealing with seemed very knowledgeable about Celebrity, and they definitely understood my question as I re-asked it since I was so surprised at the answer. It could be that this was unique to the perks on this particular cruise - not sure.

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ChucktownSteve

ChucktownSteve

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Yes and then again, maybe not. We have always found TA OBC to be refundable. But on an upcoming cruise, the TA we use (the largest, not to be named one many people on these boards use) told us that none of the OBC we were getting would be refundable - it would all be considered 'combined' with Celebrity's. I had posted a thread about it at the time and got a lot of push back that this could not be correct. I have not sailed yet, so can't confirm one way or another - just mentioning what I was told. And the particular TA rep I was dealing with seemed very knowledgeable about Celebrity, and they definitely understood my question as I re-asked it since I was so surprised at the answer. It could be that this was unique to the perks on this particular cruise - not sure.

 

Sometimes the cruise line passes OBC "through" the TA as a special perk for the TA's customers and that is not refundable. If the TA supplies it and not a pass through, it's refundable. That's why I always ask my TA before booking what the source of the OBC is.

 

It was good of your TA to warn you ahead of time. Some don't.

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helen haywood

helen haywood

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I, too, have had OBC from a TA that Celebrity said was non-refundable. It definitely came from the TA, I had nothing from X on that cruise, and it was labeled as OBN and confirmed at Guest Services. That was the first time I'd ever seen OBC from a TA non-refundable.

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S&G1968

S&G1968

Posted
Posted

Unfortunately you cannot get straight cash... you have to use it or lose it...

 

In my situation on Celebrity everything is included in my room which is the amenity for a Royal Suite or Penthouse... unlimited dining, laundry, unlimited internet... in room unlimited bar, free drinks.... so the credit that I get is used to get a massage or if I buy something something on board...

 

~Steve

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Fouremco

Fouremco

Posted
Posted
Just an FYI, the liquor bought on board is not duty free. It counts towards your customs limit or you will pay duty. Unless the agent just waves you through like he did for me.

 

BBsails: TA OBC is still refundable. Check out your cabin TV account status. OBN is non refundable, OBR is reundable.

Steve, you are confusing two separate albeit related issues. When used to describe an airport, cruise port, cruise line or similar shop, "duty free" refers to the point of purchase and has nothing to do with US Customs. Liquor and other items are simply being sold without the local government sales tax (or "duty") added in. Consequently, it is perfectly correct to refer to bottles purchased aboard as being "duty free".

 

You may have avoided paying the the foreign duty on those bottles, but the US customs reserves the right to charge you tax on it once you try to bring it back into the States—if you have more than your duty free allowance. The same applies to the customs regimes in most countries.

 

Buy a bottle at a regular Canadian liquor outlet and, because of taxes (or duty), you'll pay more for the bottle than you would at the (duty free) airport shop on the way home. But when entering the US, customs will treat both bottles equally and will charge you duty if you surpass your exemption limit.

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Cuizer2

Cuizer2

Posted
Posted (edited)
I guess what I'm really asking is - is there any way that I can just get the cash?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Go to the steakhouse and find twelve people at $25 each (that is $300) and offer to pay for their meal if they will give you $20. You'll end of with $240 (and they save $5 each).

 

BTW, if you want to know the technical term for this, it's called money laundering.

Edited by Cuizer2
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Cruise Raider Great Review Rare

Cruise Raider

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Maybe you can cancel your shore excursions and book those while onboard to use your non-refundable OBC.

 

Your other options could include access to the Persian Gardens, a massage or beauty salon option, the boutiques onboard (including the liquor store), additional tips through placing them on your folio instead of cash, casino play, photos taken onboard, a DVD of your cruise, bingo or an upgrade to the premium package if you don't already have it. Not sure if you are flying, but you can purchase your transfers back to the airport while onboard ... and even use luggage valet if you qualify (flight time, airport, airline).

 

Never would I presume that all staff / crew drink alcohol, but if you really like your steward, I know they have crew parties and we have sometimes bought them something onboard, like a nice bottle of wine and left it for them. I think with the package, you would even get a small discount. If you like really nice wines yourself, you can always buy a bottle for your table, also at a discount. Might be nice to do that for a few of them ... you'd be surprised how quickly $300 will be eaten up.

 

Suffice it to say, I have never had any trouble spending all of my onboard credit! Oh...take it back, once I had like $5 leftover....how I even let that happen, I will never know! :D

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dodger1964

dodger1964

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Posted

I agree with above, cancel shore excursions would be my first choice.

 

last option would be to buy something (like an ipad) that you can easily sell as new back home, or give as gift. (if you go the "buy an ipad for gift route, lmk and I can send you my address!:rolleyes:)

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