OBC cannot be used towards gratuities!

[Gonzo70]

The main differentiating factor in whether OBC provided by a travel agent is refundable or not is if it is coming out of their commission (in which case it is generally always refundable) or if it is a promotion they are merely passing on, but is coming from Celebrity (in which case it is usually non-refundable and may carry some additional restrictions).

[Luvcrusn]

The main differentiating factor in whether OBC provided by a travel agent is refundable or not is if it is coming out of their commission (in which case it is generally always refundable) or if it is a promotion they are merely passing on, but is coming from Celebrity (in which case it is usually non-refundable and may carry some additional restrictions).

You are absolutely correct. In our case, using a large online, well known, high volume TA, the part of the OBC given by them, it is stipulated as OBCN. They confirm it verbally and expiring at 10PM the last night of the cruise. However, in every case, we've seen their portion show up on our account reviews as OBCR and had it handed back in cash the last day (or once when we didn't stop at GS credited to our credit card).

Another example of what you read in print being different than in actuality follows. We received a X gift card from one of our credit cards as an award. (Not a X credit card) The print on the back says for new bookings only. Twice, we called our TA and they were able to apply the amount of the card to existing reservations toward final payment. Confusing!

Technically, the fine print says one thing, but in actuality the fine print isn't put into practice. It's certainly not what you can count on.

[Banjo]

I had OBC both from my big box TA and small amount from Celebrity for a recent TA on Reflection, it was used for my gratuities.

[silviaeaston]

I did indeed used my not refundable Celebrity OBC for tips this past Nov.2019....on the Celebrity Reflection. (I do know that on NCL they do not let you use the OBC for tips.)

[Oville]

2 hours ago, silviaeaston said:

I did indeed used my not refundable Celebrity OBC for tips this past Nov.2019....on the Celebrity Reflection. (I do know that on NCL they do not let you use the OBC for tips.)

You’ve replied to a 2018 thread.  The most recent on on this topic is you can’t use the Celebrity non-refundable OBC pre-cruise but can do so once onboard.  

 

 

[aaaaa]

Any update on this?  Can non-refundable OBC from a TA be applied to the the standard gratuity charge?

[jelayne]

2 minutes ago, aaaaa said:

Any update on this?  Can non-refundable OBC from a TA be applied to the the standard gratuity charge?

Yes.  Once on the ship any charge your incur will be first deducted from any non-refundable OBC.  So the daily gratuity will be charged to your account and be offset6 by any OBC.

[grandgeezer]

23 minutes ago, aaaaa said:

Any update on this?  Can non-refundable OBC from a TA be applied to the the standard gratuity charge?

I’ve booked 46 cruises through different online travel agents and have never received a non-refundable obc, all refundable.

[jelayne]

We have occasionally received non-refundable OBC when booking with a TA.  It only occurred a couple of times but it was described as a joint marketing effort between the TA & X and the OBC was non-refundable.

[davekathy]

3 hours ago, aaaaa said:

Any update on this?  Can non-refundable OBC from a TA be applied to the the standard gratuity charge?

Refundable and non refundable OBC can used for gratuities as well as many other onboard expenses. 

OBC Spending:

Acupuncture

Airport transfers

Alcove Rental (some ships)

Apple products etc. and Ilounge classes

Art Auctions

Babysitting

Barber Shop services (Edge only)

Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water

Bingo

Bottles of wine

Casino

Chef’s Table

Duty free liquor and cigarettes

Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

Extend Your Stay program

Fitness classes

Flowers

Gelato

Gift shop souvenirs, purses, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Gratuities, and extra gratuities

Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

Hair and nail salon

Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

Internet

Laundry/pressing/dry cleaning

Luggage Valet

Martini Flights

Medical Center purchases (but not treatments)

Mini bar

Portrait photo sessions

Pay-per-view movies

Persian Gardens passes

Photos & cameras

Room service up charge items, and late night delivery fee

Shore Excursions

Shuttle to town (some ports)

Spa -- massages and treatments

Specialty restaurants

Teeth Whitening

Telephone calls using ship's system

Transfer to another passenger's account

Voyage in Review DVD

Wine and liquor tastings

Zumba

 

[_lefty26_]

Just noticed a service charge added to my credit card and not deducted from my OBC purchase for Specialty Dining Package

[PTC DAWG]

13 minutes ago, _lefty26_ said:

Just noticed a service charge added to my credit card and not deducted from my OBC purchase for Specialty Dining Package

Don't you have to specify how you want to pay for things in the cruise planner?  OBC or CC...it was that way on my last cruise on Apex last fall.  

[Jim_Iain]

Wow.. this is really an old original post - Dating back to 2018.   

[davekathy]

Resurrection 2023. 

[_lefty26_]

45 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Don't you have to specify how you want to pay for things in the cruise planner?  OBC or CC...it was that way on my last cruise on Apex last fall.  

Dining Package price deducted from OBC, no mention of service charge in pricing!

This was added to the pricing as an additional charge!

[CanuckCruizer]

9 minutes ago, _lefty26_ said:

Dining Package price deducted from OBC, no mention of service charge in pricing!

This was added to the pricing as an additional charge!

Hi lefty26 - so what do you mean - the 20% gratuity was charged, separately, to your credit card and the amount of the package came off your obc?  I am contemplating booking and using my obc, so inquiring minds want to know? 🙂

Thanks,

Canuck

 

[whattodo]

I confirmed with onshore team today that Celebrity's OBC can be used for gratuities onboard but cannot use it to prepay. 

I will have a tough time using the rest of OBC after paying gratuities. X rep said I cannot use OBC to pay for deposit on future cruise, is that correct? That's what I was thinking about doing. 

I read on RCCL board people have successfully cashed out nonrefundable OBC on slot machines. Has anyone done that on Celebrity ships? If so, how to do that? 

[_lefty26_]

3 minutes ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Hi lefty26 - so what do you mean - the 20% gratuity was charged, separately, to your credit card and the amount of the package came off your obc?  I am contemplating booking and using my obc, so inquiring minds want to know? 🙂

Thanks,

Canuck

 

Not cruising until 2/24. Pre purchased a 6 night dining package at precruise pricing. The advertised price was deducted from OBC. I just reviewed my credit card usage for 2022 and noticed an additional charge which I believe was an added Service Charge. Haven’t received response from Celebrity.

[cruisestitch]

1 minute ago, whattodo said:

I confirmed with onshore team today that Celebrity's OBC can be used for gratuities onboard but cannot use it to prepay. 

I will have a tough time using the rest of OBC after paying gratuities. X rep said I cannot use OBC to pay for deposit on future cruise, is that correct? That's what I was thinking about doing. 

I read on RCCL board people have successfully cashed out nonrefundable OBC on slot machines. Has anyone done that on Celebrity ships? If so, how to do that? 

Because this gets asked so often I've compiled a list of things to spend OBC on. The only thing I know of now that you CAN'T buy with OBC is a deposit on a Future Cruise. You need a credit card for that.  Also, there may be some card game in the casino with a cash only buy-in.   If they do a fundraiser, like selling t-shirts to “save the reefs” and the like, expect to need cash for that.  Otherwise, here you go:

 

 

*Acupuncture

*Airport transfers

*Alcove Rental (some ships)

*Apple products etc. and Ilounge classes

*Art Auction Purchases

*Babysitting

*Barber Shop services 

*Behind the Scenes Tours

*Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water — if not in your package, also beverages above your package limits

*Bingo and Deal or No Deal

*Bottles of wine

*Casino

*Chef’s Table

*Corkage charged if you bring your own bottles of wine to the MDR

*Duty free liquor and cigarettes

*Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

*Extend Your Stay program

*Fitness classes

*Flowers

*Gelato

*Gift shop souvenirs, purses, watches, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

*Gratuities, and extra gratuities

*Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

*Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

*Hair and nail salon

*Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

*Internet if not in your package, also Internet upcharges 

*Laundry/pressing/drycleaning

*Liquor Tasting events

*Luggage Valet

*Martini Flights

*Medical Center purchases 

*Mini bar

*Portrait photo sessions

*Pay-per-view movies

*Persian Gardens passes

*Personal Training Sessions

*Photos & cameras

*Room service up charge items, and late night delivery fee

*Ryde spinning classes

*Shore Excursions

*Shuttle to town (some ports)

*Spa -- massages and treatments

*Specialty restaurants

*Teeth Whitening

*Telephone calls using ship's system

*Transfer to another passenger's account

*Voyage in Review DVD

*Wine and liquor tastings

*Zumba

[CanuckCruizer]

17 minutes ago, _lefty26_ said:

Not cruising until 2/24. Pre purchased a 6 night dining package at precruise pricing. The advertised price was deducted from OBC. I just reviewed my credit card usage for 2022 and noticed an additional charge which I believe was an added Service Charge. Haven’t received response from Celebrity.

Hi lefty - wow - that sounds bizarre.  Please post "if" you hear back from Celebrity about this.  

I am waiting to hear back from them myself - their online IT dept has struck again....they have our booking listed in Canadian (which is correct) but then the balance owing is listed in US FUNDS - lol.  The levels of incompetence never cease to amaze....

Thanks,

Canuck

[39august]

Yes, to casino. Some use slots. I use table games. For that, get amount on Non OBC from cashier. You will get that amount in promotional chips. Whatever you win will be returned to you with money chips. Cash out after a few plays if you wish, or play on for as long as the chips last. 

[jelayne]

We have used OBC just last week in the Cruise Planner to pay for specialty dining reservations and the  total cost with the added gratuity was taken from our OBC.

[whattodo]

Thanks for the list Cruisestitch. 

39august - I have not visited cruise casino but have done that on land few times years ago. What is the process onboard at the slot machine? I assume it'll ask me to put in room card, follow instructions on display. Does it allow me to state the amount I want for playing that slot? So if I put in $300, it will charge my room and it will be paid with available OBC, right? Will that transaction require me to play that slot for a period of time? If I play slot for 10 minutes and I win $10 or lose $20, will I get a slip to exchange remaining $ if I quit playing? TIA

 

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, whattodo said:

I confirmed with onshore team today that Celebrity's OBC can be used for gratuities onboard but cannot use it to prepay. 

 

I will have a tough time using the rest of OBC after paying gratuities. X rep said I cannot use OBC to pay for deposit on future cruise, is that correct?

 Correct, you cannot use OBC to pre-pay gratuties.

 

 Correct, you cannot use OBC to make deposits on future cruises.

 

4 hours ago, whattodo said:

I read on RCCL board people have successfully cashed out nonrefundable OBC on slot machines. Has anyone done that on Celebrity ships? If so, how to do that? 

 

 I have been able to do this in the past.   I used my room key and logged into my account on a slot machine.  (default password is your birth date).  I then did a room charge for $$$ and used that money for a couple of spins on the slot machine.  On one cruise I was able to cash out for the full amount of credit.  On another cruise when I cashed out, only my winnings were paid out and the remainder of the OBC I had deposited was credited back to my on board account.   As other said, this works on some ships and not on others.  

 

 My most frequent use of OBC is for extra gratuties (tips)  to staff on board who I see have gone over and above or stood out to us in a positive way.  I have done this at odd times during a cruise and at the end of the cruise.  

 

[bstoeck]

I have a small wallet sized card the Casino staff gave me while on the Summit last week with the steps to take cash from the slot machines and it worked like a charm:

 

Tap your Seapass Card

Choose Account option

Touch Personal Banker button

Enter 4 digit PIN (your Month and Day of Birth)

Touch Transfer to Game button

Select Promo ($)

Select amount "Other" button  (this is where you enter your on board Credit amount)

then hit CASH OUT  and take ticket to Casino cashier

 

This works on most Celebrity ships - I also did this recently on the Silhouette and Equinox with no issues.