travel agent on board credit: is it refundable?

[blueboro]

How do people end up not using OBC??? I have never had any left over. LOL

 

On our recent 7-day Caribbean cruise we had $550 OBC and had an additional $50 credit after we missed Grand Cayman. Because we had pre-paid grats, free internet, did not care about excursions, and nothing in the shops was attractive we got $200 refunded. We spent about $220 on the 3 specialty dining package and bought a few things we didn't need or want in the shops with the "Use it or Lose it" OBC.

[El Crucero]

So there was no way to spend all the OBC.

 

Extra tips for staff who went out of their way to make your cruise memorable? And believe me, they will remember you the next time your paths cross on a future cruise, right down to your last name! We always spend our OBC, one way or another. We always seem to get outstanding service, it's a mystery to me. ;p

[chamima]

Extra tips for staff who went out of their way to make your cruise memorable? And believe me, they will remember you the next time your paths cross on a future cruise, right down to your last name! We always spend our OBC, one way or another. We always seem to get outstanding service, it's a mystery to me. ;p

 

 

We just don't seem to be able to trust that it will really get to the crew we designate.

On our last cruise we had extra OBC but still chose to tip (the extra, in addition to the pre-paid) in cash and figured out how to use up the OBC on other things.

[Lastdance]

We always come home with some OBC...at least so far anyway. I am very thankful for the amount my TA gives, along with birthdays from Celebrity, booking onboard from Celebrity and extra from booking a suite. The money I come home with adds to my travel account, but I have to actually put that money in due to it being on my credit card. :) I believe in the "every little bit counts" philosophy.

 

As far as tips go, doing a great job and going beyond is a great way to tip in cash for a job well done, along with turning in those special comment's cards!!!

[mafig]

Extra tips for staff who went out of their way to make your cruise memorable? And believe me, they will remember you the next time your paths cross on a future cruise, right down to your last name! We always spend our OBC, one way or another. We always seem to get outstanding service, it's a mystery to me. ;p

 

 

We always tip extra and plan ahead, so I never think of it as coming out of our OBC.

[maxsales]

With the "Go Best" package there is little not included, so the OBC from our TA won't be used. So is the answer "yes" to my question please, as Bo1953 seems to indicate? I really want that $400 back to offset the expense incurred for our suite.

 

It depends on the travel agent as this is a side deal you made with them Celebrity is not involved. I would ask that question to my travel agent. You can always use the travel agent OBC to book a shore excursion.

[maxsales]

If the OBC is truly a gift from the TA, then it is refundable.

 

If the OBC is from Celebrity via the TA, then it is not refundable. I know with another cruise line the cruise line gives amenity points to the TA to "spend" as the TA would like. Options for using these amenity points include OBC (non-refundable as it really comes from the cruise line), a bottle of wine, etc. Other options include applying the points to an increased commission for the TA in which case the TA gives none of it to the client.

 

Unless you are the travel agent you can't make that statement. The side deal that a client makes with a travel agent is exactly that and the terms need to be agreed upon. That additional OBC the travel agent is providing may be coming straight from their commission and as such is not regulated by the cruise line, or they may be a group incentive which definitely would not be refundable. If not used it may or may not be refunded.

 

Always ask your travel agent what the terms of the additional OBC are.

[39august]

mafig, Thanks for your input. Having a lot of OBC left had worried me. So, it is like RCI. You can get cash back on the last day.

[Baron Barracuda]

If you gamble on slot machines in the casino, you can put some of your OBC on your card to use in the slots. No fee. BUT, you can only play this credit. Any of your winnings, you can cash out. While just on Equinox, DH put $200 on his card and got $240. credit. He did this twice. He was able to cash out over $400. of winnings, so he turned our OBC into cash. His sister wasn't so lucky though. She didn't turn much of her OBC into cash.

 

If you elect to use casino to launder your obc's it's better to stick with the even money bets on roulette. On Equinox last month our cc group did a slot pull where 80 of us plugged $1200 into a $1 Wheel of Fortune machine. Our "winnings" totaled only $400. :eek: 66% loss on that many pulls shows how rigged the machines are. Last April on Eclipse our slot pull lost 75% after one round. It's fun to do as a group but would never play them on my own.

[maxsales]

mafig, Thanks for your input. Having a lot of OBC left had worried me. So, it is like RCI. You can get cash back on the last day.

 

Not necessarily there is refundable OBC, non-refundable OBC both from the cruise line. You may also have OBC provided by a travel agent this may or may not be refundable.

 

Regarding OBC provided by your travel agent ask them directly what will happen to any amount unused at the end of the cruise. Don't just assume it will be refunded to you.

[chamima]

Not necessarily there is refundable OBC, non-refundable OBC both from the cruise line. You may also have OBC provided by a travel agent this may or may not be refundable.

 

Regarding OBC provided by your travel agent ask them directly what will happen to any amount unused at the end of the cruise. Don't just assume it will be refunded to you.

 

 

On Celebrity all you have to do is to look at your account on the TV in your cabin.

If it says OBN - it's not refundable

If it says OBR - it is.

ALL onboard credit is designated one way or the other.

 

(It's a good idea to check your account periodically anyways to see if there are any erroneous charges.)

[jagoffee]

Not necessarily there is refundable OBC, non-refundable OBC both from the cruise line. You may also have OBC provided by a travel agent this may or may not be refundable.

 

Regarding OBC provided by your travel agent ask them directly what will happen to any amount unused at the end of the cruise. Don't just assume it will be refunded to you.

 

What are some examples of OBC from Celebrity that is refundable?

Thank you.

[Charles4515]

What are some examples of OBC from Celebrity that is refundable?

Thank you.

 

The only examples I can give you is OBC that is from your travel agent. And refunds of port charges. Or that someone bought you as a gift. None I ever recieved as a booking promotion has been refundable.

[chamima]

What are some examples of OBC from Celebrity that is refundable?

Thank you.

 

 

I think port fees for ports that are missed are refundable (mostly because they are taxes that the passenger paid in the first place.)

Also, an OBC that is the result of a problem (cancelled cruise, etc.) might be refundable.

We had an OBC from Princess because of a cancelled cruise and it was small but refundable but have never had that situation with Celebrity (thank goodness!!!! )

[ChucktownSteve]

;p

If you elect to use casino to launder your obc's it's better to stick with the even money bets on roulette. On Equinox last month our cc group did a slot pull where 80 of us plugged $1200 into a $1 Wheel of Fortune machine. Our "winnings" totaled only $400. :eek: 66% loss on that many pulls shows how rigged the machines are. Last April on Eclipse our slot pull lost 75% after one round. It's fun to do as a group but would never play them on my own.

 

On our Summit cruise one of the roll call members organized a "roulette pull" instead of slots and we each walked away with over $20. That was even after giving the casino employee an equal share of the winnings. They can't tighten the wheel like they can tighten the slot they put you on. :evilsmile:

 

Back to the OBC...on my last two cruises, through two different TAs, none of the OBC was refundable. The excuse was some type of cross promotion between the TA and Celebrity.. I think it was just an excuse for Celebrity to keep as much as they could. So I got even with them. On my last two cruises, they were selling JW blue at 2 bottles for $310. I forced them to price match with the island liquor store so I got two for $198 using their non refundable OBN. ;p Three bottles on my last cruise @$99 each which is half what my local store charges. What made it sweeter was they were the last three bottles on board so they couldn't sell any more at regular price.

Edited March 12, 2017 by ChucktownSteve

[jagoffee]

The only examples I can give you is OBC that is from your travel agent. And refunds of port charges. Or that someone bought you as a gift. None I ever recieved as a booking promotion has been refundable.

 

I think port fees for ports that are missed are refundable (mostly because they are taxes that the passenger paid in the first place.)

Also, an OBC that is the result of a problem (cancelled cruise, etc.) might be refundable.

We had an OBC from Princess because of a cancelled cruise and it was small but refundable but have never had that situation with Celebrity (thank goodness!!!! )

 

Good examples that I have never experienced.

[39august]

FYI, I was surprised to learn from my TA that she would send me a check for unused OBC after the cruise! If I hadn't started this thread, I would not have thought to ask her how to get the credit back.

[easyboy]

FYI, I was surprised to learn from my TA that she would send me a check for unused OBC after the cruise! If I hadn't started this thread, I would not have thought to ask her how to get the credit back.

Good to know your thread yielded results. At least, it paid off, pun intended.

[Swampduck]

We always come home with some OBC...at least so far anyway. I am very thankful for the amount my TA gives, along with birthdays from Celebrity, booking onboard from Celebrity and extra from booking a suite. The money I come home with adds to my travel account, but I have to actually put that money in due to it being on my credit card. :) I believe in the "every little bit counts" philosophy.

 

As far as tips go, doing a great job and going beyond is a great way to tip in cash for a job well done, along with turning in those special comment's cards!!!

 

 

Crikey, you are all very lucky to get the extra OBC from your TA. I have booked with the same travel agent for the past 5 years and have just booked my 6th Celebrity cruise with her for this year. As yet, and I am very disappointed, to say, that I have never received £1 or $1 in OBC, from her, I use the same lady each time. No perks of any sort for recommending their company to my friends, who have also booked through them. I think, :confused:reading the posts here, that I should've changed TA a while ago. Maybe they don't give OBC here in Northern Ireland, but if they did, it would be nice!!:loudcry:

[BEAV]

On our next cruise we have $500 OBC from Celebrity and $195 refundable OBC from the TA. When charges begin appearing on your shipboard account, which OBC "pool" are they working off of first...the Celebrity or TA OBC?

[Charles4515]

On our next cruise we have $500 OBC from Celebrity and $195 refundable OBC from the TA. When charges begin appearing on your shipboard account, which OBC "pool" are they working off of first...the Celebrity or TA OBC?

 

 

 

When I had both they used the Celebrity OBC before the TA OBC.

[GottaKnowWhen]

What are some examples of OBC from Celebrity that is refundable?

Thank you.

This is a unlikely way to get "Celebrity OBC", but we had pre-paid for an expensive shore excursion. (Chef's Tour). On embarkation day we received a note that the excursion was cancelled. The money paid for the excursion rolled into our OBC account and, as far as I could track it, was dipped into only after our OBC-Nonrefundable and other OBC-Refundable had been exhausted; the unused portion was credited to the card used originally to pay for the excursion. It was a bit difficult to track since I had used the same card for the advance purchase as I used for the onboard guarantee.

 

If you have a cash account, then I suppose any refundable OBC might be in the form of cash. But for sure, if you use a card to guarantee your account, then any refund goes as a credit to the card; no cash payout.

 

Stan

[varoo]

We just don't seem to be able to trust that it will really get to the crew we designate.........

We had been wondering the same thing, so on the first leg of a B2B we designated a tip for our stateroom attendant.

He thanked us profusely and verified that he did indeed receive the full amount we had specified for him.

 

 

 

 

On our next cruise we have $500 OBC from Celebrity and $195 refundable OBC from the TA. When charges begin appearing on your shipboard account, which OBC "pool" are they working off of first...the Celebrity or TA OBC?

The non-refundable OBC (which is shown as OBN) is used before the refundable OBC (shown as OBR), regardless of the source.

[janetz]

I know OBC from the cruise line is non-refundable. On RCI any TA OBC or OBC from RCI credit card points are totally refundable. I hope this is the case on Celebrity as well.

 

Yes it is.

[dodger1964]

We normally spend $0 to about $20 for a 7 day cruise while onboard.

 

Last cruise we spent nothing but had large Obc. We decided to buy an iPad for gift and we had to pay $70. Our other option was to try the 50/50 casino method for non refundable Obc and get refundable back, but since iPads are same price as purchased on land thought that would be good choice.