Celebrity: Onboard Credit

[Paul_BB]

Dear community,

We have been given so called "onboard credit" of $240. Is it a real thing or something useless?

What are the hidden costs of the cruise. Are we to expect a large bill after the cruise for something that we were not aware of?

Thanks!

 

 

[Sigyn]

It's a real thing. Use it for anything you want to purchase - excursions, restaurants on board, things you buy onboard, etc. I've read others use it for gratuities, etc., too, but I'm not sure how you do that. 

 

There were no hidden costs as long as you pay your gratuities in advance, and those aren't hidden since you're told you have them due. We just got off our cruise and we paid nothing extra other than an excursion we bought on board. 

Edited July 16, 2023 by Sigyn

[Northern Aurora]

Hopefully cruisestitch will see this post.  She has assembled a comprehensive list of items which can be purchased with OBC.  Just about the only item which can not be purchased with OBC is a deposit on a future cruise when booking onboard with the future cruise office.

 

There are two types of OBC.  Unused refundable OBC will be returned to the credit card on file.  Non-refundable OBC is is a "use or lose" situation.

 

If you want to use your OBC for additional tips, just drop by Guest Relations and ask for an easy to complete form.  Folks who are in suites can just ask one of the Retreat Concierges for the form.

[MamaFej]

@cruisestitch, you're being paged.

 

 

[keesar]

1 hour ago, Paul_BB said:

Dear community,

We have been given so called "onboard credit" of $240. Is it a real thing or something useless?

What are the hidden costs of the cruise. Are we to expect a large bill after the cruise for something that we were not aware of?

Thanks!

 

 

You should check your invoice to see what other perks you may have gotten.  Many cruisers pay for a fare which includes tips, basic internet and a classic (basic) drink package.  If not, your account will be assessed a gratuity fee which will pretty much use up most of that $240 on a 7 day cruise.  

 

If your travel agent has given you that amount to spend, you will have to wait until you cruise to spend it. If from Celebrity, you can book items in advance through Managing  Reservation or by calling Celebrity.

[Georgia_Peaches]

It’s real. Just make sure you use it because it’s likely not refundable so use or lose. And btw…I thought I was a skeptic… lol. FYI… obc is a thing. Use it and enjoy!  😊. 

[cruisestitch]

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.   And 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 fees

*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

 

They will always use non-refundable OBC first,  then refundable OBC, And if you run out of that then it goes on your credit card

[Missusdubbya]

2 hours ago, Paul_BB said:

What are the hidden costs of the cruise. Are we to expect a large bill after the cruise for something that we were not aware of?

if you booked on the Australian website your gratuities are included in the fare, there will be a line on your invoice noting this

[VitaminSea53]

If you have OBC left at the end of your cruise, will they automatically use it to cover any costs you accrued on-board?  Or do you have to go to Guest Relations to tell them to apply the OBC?

[OriginalBoat]

30 minutes ago, VitaminSea53 said:

If you have OBC left at the end of your cruise, will they automatically use it to cover any costs you accrued on-board?  Or do you have to go to Guest Relations to tell them to apply the OBC?

 

You do not have to go to guest relations.  Think of OBC more as a credit to your account.  Everything onboard is charged to your portfolio (room).  With OBC you start with a negative account balance and if it's positive by the end of the cruise, that amount gets charged to your card.  If it's negative but non-refundable, you lose it.  If it's negative and refundable, it'll get refunded to your card.

Edited July 17, 2023 by OriginalBoat

[OriginalBoat]

I forgot, there is one instance where you may need to go to guest relations.  If the two people in the room both have OBC and the portfolios aren't properly linked, you may need to stop by to have them linked up.  This can be done anytime during the cruise. 

 

It's not a problem if both people "use up" their OBC, but if one is negative and non-refundable and the other has a balance, it might be worth a stop.  I've seen this happen if the people traveling together have different last names even if the same credit card was entered into the app.  See: "*Transfer to another passenger's account" on the wonderful list above.

[Northern Aurora]

49 minutes ago, VitaminSea53 said:

If you have OBC left at the end of your cruise, will they automatically use it to cover any costs you accrued on-board?  Or do you have to go to Guest Relations to tell them to apply the OBC?

 

Are you asking about refundable OBC or non-refundable OBC?  My experience is that Celebrity will apply OBC to any costs accrued on board.

 

[Tee & Chilli]

$240 is an odd amount. Is it from a TA? 

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

Are you asking about refundable OBC or non-refundable OBC?  My experience is that Celebrity will apply OBC to any costs accrued on board.

 

It makes no practical difference on the ship. X will automatically deduct Non refundable first then swop to refundable. No brainer what to do with it:

1) the boss checks for her favourite perfume which is often a "bargain" on the ship 

2) the rest we invest wisely in the casino.

[Paul_BB]

5 hours ago, Missusdubbya said:

if you booked on the Australian website your gratuities are included in the fare, there will be a line on your invoice noting this

Thanks! There is a line on our invoice stating "service charges for dining and room attendants included". Is that it? Sorry, we do not know what exactly gratuities means. In Australia tipping is not compulsory and not expected.

 

[Nachosdelux]

35 minutes ago, Paul_BB said:

Thanks! There is a line on our invoice stating "service charges for dining and room attendants included". Is that it? Sorry, we do not know what exactly gratuities means. In Australia tipping is not compulsory and not expected.

 

 

Yes, the "service charge" is the gratuities.  Tipping on this ship beyond the (pre-paid) gratuities is also not required and not expected.  You are of course free to give a little extra if you so desire.

 

[WestLakeGirl]

In the cruising world, “tips” “gratuities” and “service charges” are used interchangeably.  

[d9704011]

14 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Because this gets asked so often I've compiled a list of things to spend OBC on.

A pretty exhaustive list; thank you.

 

Can you comment on whether OBC can be used to book (pay for) something prior to the cruise i.e. advance booking of an excursion?

[the penguins]

8 hours ago, Paul_BB said:

Thanks! There is a line on our invoice stating "service charges for dining and room attendants included". Is that it? Sorry, we do not know what exactly gratuities means. In Australia tipping is not compulsory and not expected.

 

Celebrity simply add the tips/gratuities to the base price of your cruise so yes you are "tipping". All the drinks and for example spa treatments, also include a gratuity, and again these are built into the price.

[cruisestitch]

25 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

A pretty exhaustive list; thank you.

 

Can you comment on whether OBC can be used to book (pay for) something prior to the cruise i.e. advance booking of an excursion?

Some of it might be usable before the cruise.  Sign in to your booking and you should see a message that you have on board credit to use.

[Joanne G.]

59 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

A pretty exhaustive list; thank you.

 

Can you comment on whether OBC can be used to book (pay for) something prior to the cruise i.e. advance booking of an excursion?

I was able to use OBC (received as a promotion for booking) towards excursions booked in advance of the cruise.  

[horseymike]

14 hours ago, VitaminSea53 said:

If you have OBC left at the end of your cruise, will they automatically use it to cover any costs you accrued on-board?  Or do you have to go to Guest Relations to tell them to apply the OBC?

Automatically 

[horseymike]

9 hours ago, Paul_BB said:

Thanks! There is a line on our invoice stating "service charges for dining and room attendants included". Is that it? Sorry, we do not know what exactly gratuities means. In Australia tipping is not compulsory and not expected.

 

Hope you have a great cruise mate , cheers 🍻 

[wrk2cruise]

1 hour ago, d9704011 said:

Can you comment on whether OBC can be used to book (pay for) something prior to the cruise i.e. advance booking of an excursion?

 

OBC from Celebrity (Non-Refundable) should be available in Cruise Planner and can be applied to any purchases made there.   Refundable OBC from a TA will not be available in Cruise Planner and will be posted to your account onboard by day 2 of the cruise.

[vagolferbob]

Noticed from list above that casino is an option. How do you set some OBC aside for casino use?