Spending OBC

[hiccups]

We also use it for airport transportation after the cruise.  It's more expensive than a cab/Uber, but not so much so that we feel totally ripped off.

Also keep an eye out on the excursion sales--we've booked a few at reasonable prices during the sales.

[kokopelli-az]

@cruisestitch   Celebrity states (in the link below) that using OBC for medical bills is not allowed. 

 

And to the OP,  direct from Celebrity's website is their explanation of how to use OBC.  They do not mention everything it can be used for, especially in the casino, which is my favorite place to use it:

https://www.celebritycruises.com/blog/onboard/how-to-use-cruise-onboard-credit-like-a-pro 

[cruisestitch]

thank you -- I have only used the medical center for purchases (cough medicine and the like) so I didn't know OBC can't be used for medical treatment -- I will modify my list accordingly.

[kokopelli-az]

2 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

thank you -- I have only used the medical center for purchases (cough medicine and the like) so I didn't know OBC can't be used for medical treatment -- I will modify my list accordingly.

You might clarify with Celebrity being able to use it for BandAids etc in the Clinic vs having to see a nurse/doctor.     If you purchase BandAids etc in one of the shops vs going to the Medical Center to purchase them might make a difference. 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I used my non-refundable OBC to tip my butler and my cabin attendant.  Granted, it was not possible to tip my waiter, but I was dining in Luminae and tips are pooled in there anyway since pretty much everyone assists you at one time or another.  I left them a very large tip for the pool since they were all wonderful.

[jmb4534]

Does the cruiseline automatically use your non-refundable OBC's first? That way, toward the end of the cruise you will know what is left will be returned to your method of payment if unused. 

[cruisestitch]

That’s exactly how Celebrity does it.

[Phxazzcruisers]

On 12/22/2019 at 1:09 PM, Cruise Raider said:

I like hitting the Apple Store .. a new iPad would be great!! 

Good luck, I hope you can find the one you want.  Supplies are limited and are not always the most current.

[RealBatman]

How do you determine refundable OBC from non-refundable? We have 4 separate entries on our Booking Confirmation without any notations, in the OBC section of the document. 🙂 

[Cruise Raider]

10 minutes ago, Phxazzcruisers said:

Good luck, I hope you can find the one you want.  Supplies are limited and are not always the most current.

 

They had nothing last time I went in.  I still ended up buying some electronics though.  I am hoping to find something next time onboard, but if not,  my OBC is all nonrefundable so will have to find something to spend it on.  

[Luvcrusn]

41 minutes ago, jmb4534 said:

Does the cruiseline automatically use your non-refundable OBC's first? That way, toward the end of the cruise you will know what is left will be returned to your method of payment if unused. 

They use up the OBC-N before touching the OBC-R. You can get any OBC-R refunded automatically to your method of payment (credit card on file) or get it in cash the last night (or sometimes morning) if you'd like.

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, RealBatman said:

How do you determine refundable OBC from non-refundable? We have 4 separate entries on our Booking Confirmation without any notations, in the OBC section of the document. 🙂 

 

If you booked directly with Celebrity, it is most likely non-refundable.  Usually, the refundable OBC comes from a travel agency.  There are exceptions to every rule, though, so I stress the words 'likely' and 'usually' above.  
You can always go to the guest services desk and get a print out of your folio.  There will be an indicator next to your credit of NR or R ... something like that.  They will explain it to you if you ask.  

[Luvcrusn]

3 minutes ago, RealBatman said:

How do you determine refundable OBC from non-refundable? We have 4 separate entries on our Booking Confirmation without any notations, in the OBC section of the document. 🙂 

Usually any OBC that you've received from X will be OBC-N. The OBC that shows up in your Cruise Planner as available for use before your cruise is that variety. OBC from TA's is most times refundable. You can go into your account once on board and it will be marked.

[jmb4534]

Thanks a bunch to all who responded. I usually don't have this problem, but with all the 'perks' now it's a nice problem to have. This 'old' cruiser just learned something new!

[Phxazzcruisers]

31 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

They had nothing last time I went in.  I still ended up buying some electronics though.  I am hoping to find something next time onboard, but if not,  my OBC is all nonrefundable so will have to find something to spend it on.  

Last time we got an Apple pen, Apple wireless ear buds and an iWatch....

 

[varoo]

46 minutes ago, Phxazzcruisers said:

Good luck, I hope you can find the one you want.  Supplies are limited and are not always the most current.

 

So true.  It seems that what they have for sale in their ship's apple store is very haphazard.

 

When they had an iPad for sale and also a combination cover/keyboard for the iPad, we wanted to buy both, except that the cover/keyboard they were selling did not fit the iPad model they were selling.

 

One day during the cruise they were selling t-shirts for the World Wildlife Fund.

It is the exact same World Wildlife t-shirt that they have been selling for at least the past 3 years.

 

I mentioned that fact to the guy who was selling them.  He just shrugged and replied "That's what they send us."

So I wrote a letter to the WWF suggesting that if they changed to a different style and color t-shirt they could sell a whole lot more of them as every previous cruise passenger who wants one already has it.

I never received a reply, and on my last cruise they were still selling the same t-shirt that they had for sale last time, and the time before that, and the time........

 

[varoo]

49 minutes ago, Luvcrusn said:

They use up the OBC-N before touching the OBC-R. You can get any OBC-R refunded automatically to your method of payment (credit card on file) or get it in cash the last night (or sometimes morning) if you'd like.

 

Sometimes they just use the codes OBN and OBR instead.

 

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, Phxazzcruisers said:

Last time we got an Apple pen, Apple wireless ear buds and an iWatch....

 

 

I got an iPad Pro ... was hoping for a mini.  Now, I would take any type of iPad or Mac, even if I pay more for it.  I'd never use the pen .. maybe the ear buds. 

 

[thon]

1 hour ago, varoo said:

 

So true.  It seems that what they have for sale in their ship's apple store is very haphazard.

 

When they had an iPad for sale and also a combination cover/keyboard for the iPad, we wanted to buy both, except that the cover/keyboard they were selling did not fit the iPad model they were selling.

 

One day during the cruise they were selling t-shirts for the World Wildlife Fund.

It is the exact same World Wildlife t-shirt that they have been selling for at least the past 3 years.

 

I mentioned that fact to the guy who was selling them.  He just shrugged and replied "That's what they send us."

So I wrote a letter to the WWF suggesting that if they changed to a different style and color t-shirt they could sell a whole lot more of them as every previous cruise passenger who wants one already has it.

I never received a reply, and on my last cruise they were still selling the same t-shirt that they had for sale last time, and the time before that, and the time........

 

I bought one the first time I saw them but you are absolutely right - I’m not interested in buying another ‘exactly the same’ t-shirt no matter how old the cause.

[drakes2]

On 12/21/2019 at 4:41 PM, hrhdhd said:

A nice purse or a piece of John Hardy jewelry. Or both, with that amount. 😉

Bought a nice JH necklace recently on the Equinox with black amethyst stones. Very stunning piece. My friend bought the earrings. 

[NMTraveller]

Specialty dining or excursions.  Jewelry or perfume for the wife.

 

Bring me along and I can spend it very quickly 🙂

Edited December 24, 2019 by NMTraveller

[cve]

On 12/23/2019 at 6:29 PM, Cruise Raider said:

 

I got an iPad Pro ... was hoping for a mini.  Now, I would take any type of iPad or Mac, even if I pay more for it.  I'd never use the pen .. maybe the ear buds. 

 

Was it the 10.5”? I was hoping for an 11 and all they had was the older 10.5 pro on the Infinity.

[Cruise Raider]

24 minutes ago, cve said:

Was it the 10.5”? I was hoping for an 11 and all they had was the older 10.5 pro on the Infinity.

 

It was the smaller version .... but at the time, it was the latest version.  I actually didn't need the 'pro' and would have been just as happy going with a very basic version but they didn't have those in stock at the time.  

[HS2BS]

Last week on the Summit(12/14/19) I went into the Apple store on the first night to find out the availability of an iPad. Salesperson said that there were none on board, but to check back later in the cruise. Since we left out of San Juan and the next stop would be St. Thomas, I checked the next night and was informed that a shipment arrived. Even thought they were on board it would take a couple days before the store had physical possession. He allowed me to see the inventory sheets and I was able to select a series 7 with 128 gig in silver. Two days later he called our stateroom to inform me that he had received them. Used both non refundable and refundable obc for the purchase.

 

Hal

[Mr&MrsBee]

Used our OBC to gamble.  Took $100 played roulette and cashed out $115.  Guess I was lucky as I figured if I got back $48 it would be OK.