I'm confused about the new OBC rules. Need some advice please.

[danajjj]

To make a long story short, on our last cruise (we had 3 rooms booked) and did not receive the OBC for booking while onboard. It could not be worked out while I was onboard, so I contacted the Miami office when I returned home. Without going into all the boring details, we worked out that I would receive the OBC ($300) on my next cruise which is a 3nt cruise this upcoming weekend. So I am expecting a $350 OBC b/c we booked during a WOW sale.

 

While I was on the phone getting this straightened out with RCI, I explained that I was travelling with my 12yr old and wasn't sure that I would spend the entire OBC. She assured me several times that whatever I did not spend would be returned onto my CC.

 

I am a little skeptical since what you are told by someone at RCI isn't always accurate. Since I wasn't sure that I wouldn't lose the OBC not spent, I had decided to just take part of the money out at the casino. I know I would be charged the 3% but I figured a bird in the hand was better than nothing (and not worth the hassle of arguing the 3%). Now I have read that money taken out of the casino doesn't go against your OBC but goes against your CC.

 

Does anyone know the rules of how this OBC would be used/refunded? Any suggestions (other than going on a spending spree for stuff I don't want) on how to preserve this OBC. I guess I could always take my chances and if I "lost" part of it, I could take it up with the Miami office again. I hope it doesn't come to that b/c it is such a hassle and takes time and effort that I really don't have. TIA. I appreciate your input.

[cassieroll]

Can you go to the casino and get cash?

[Theresa522]

I also have some what of a large OBC $650 for a 5 night cruise. I wonder if this can be used towards the daily tips added to my bill?

[danajjj]

I know if you put the tips onto your seapass it can be used toward the tips which I plan to do. I had planned to take some of it out as cash in the casino, but I recently read here that the cash you take out at the casino is not applied to your OBC but to your CC.:confused:

[PattyG12]

Hello Dana ... In January on the Majesty we took cash out at the casino and it was added to my sea pass at the end of the trip. You could also book another cruise and use it up that way.

[kyriecat]

Hello Dana ... In January on the Majesty we took cash out at the casino and it was added to my sea pass at the end of the trip. You could also book another cruise and use it up that way.

Unless they changed the rules recently, you can't do that. Each time I booked another cruise onboard, the deposit was applied to my credit card and not my sea pass card. I was told that I had to use a credit card for the deposit.

[silentbob007]

I've been given the option of using my SeaPass for a future-cruise booking by the LA ... of course, even though I chose that, my CC was charged instead, so you your mileage my vary.

[kyriecat]

I've been given the option of using my SeaPass for a future-cruise booking by the LA ... of course, even though I chose that, my CC was charged instead, so you your mileage my vary.

I guess they must have changed the rules recently. I haven't bought a next cruise since May and I've only bought a total of 5 cruises onboard over the past few years. I didn't know I needed a CC the first time and had to go back to my cabin and get it. Last time I forgot to bring the CC and had to go get it because the LA wouldn't take my sea pass.

 

Unless you have a cash account for your sea pass, all sea pass charges not covered by OBC will end up on your credit card.

[danajjj]

I've never had to give my CC to the LA to book a cruise, but I don't think it was charged to my seapass. It was a good idea though.

 

I've never had any OBC left over, so I have no clue whether cash from the casino is taken from OBC or charged to your CC. Anyone else have any feedback?

[danajjj]

I'm still confused particularly looking at other threads.:confused: Any advice on what you would do...try taking the money out of the casino? go to the pursers desk? take it up with the Miami office if it isn't refunded (don't really want to spend the time and hassle to do this... but will if necessary). This is a policy change (not refunding OBC) I'm definitely not happy about!:mad:

[wieslaw]

I'm still confused particularly looking at other threads.:confused: Any advice on what you would do...try taking the money out of the casino? go to the pursers desk? take it up with the Miami office if it isn't refunded (don't really want to spend the time and hassle to do this... but will if necessary). This is a policy change (not refunding OBC) I'm definitely not happy about!:mad:

 

Hi,

 

I read your thread and some of your posts in other thread dealing with OBC credits / refunds. Similar to you, I have noticed different answers given by different people - they were probably based on their experience, but they did not specify what "OBC" they did have ..... and not all OBCs are the same. OBC given by TA could be different and it might or may not have 'cash' value , ..... OBC from RCI might be different if it is given for Next Cruise booking ( my specifically states that "is not redeemable for cash" ) ....... Visa based OBC is 'cash', not sure about the stock ownership OBC , ....... they are all different, so not the same rules will apply.

 

your situation is still different because your OBC was not given to you when you cruised on the previous cruise ...... so perhaps none of the 'answers' will apply to you...... perhaps that was something that RCI did wrong and they can apply different solution.

 

Probably the revenue dept is the only one ( if you find the right knowledeable person there ) to give you the correct answer. I doubt that the cruise ship's 'guest services' will be able to help you.

Do you know if your original OBC was able to be redeemed in "cash " ? it should specify that on your original 'booking' that was done on board the ship.

Did you get anything in a written form ( email or whatever) from the "Miami office" after talking with them ? That would be a big help.

 

Wes

[danajjj]

Hi,

 

I read your thread and some of your posts in other thread dealing with OBC credits / refunds. Similar to you, I have noticed different answers given by different people - they were probably based on their experience, but they did not specify what "OBC" they did have ..... and not all OBCs are the same. OBC given by TA could be different and it might or may not have 'cash' value , ..... OBC from RCI might be different if it is given for Next Cruise booking ( my specifically states that "is not redeemable for cash" ) ....... Visa based OBC is 'cash', not sure about the stock ownership OBC , ....... they are all different, so not the same rules will apply.

 

your situation is still different because your OBC was not given to you when you cruised on the previous cruise ...... so perhaps none of the 'answers' will apply to you...... perhaps that was something that RCI did wrong and they can apply different solution.

 

Probably the revenue dept is the only one ( if you find the right knowledeable person there ) to give you the correct answer. I doubt that the cruise ship's 'guest services' will be able to help you.

Do you know if your original OBC was able to be redeemed in "cash " ? it should specify that on your original 'booking' that was done on board the ship.

Did you get anything in a written form ( email or whatever) from the "Miami office" after talking with them ? That would be a big help.

 

Wes

 

Thank you so much for your response. You are right. My situation is probably fairly unique. The original OBC was OBC for booking while onboard, so I think it would fall into the category of non-refundable OBC. I think I will just see what happens onboard. I may just have to do a spa treatment.:p Once I do that, have a few drinks, and pay for some things on Cococay, it may be a non-issue. If I have a significant amount of OBC leftover and it is not refunded, I guess I will just follow through with

the revenue dept. like you suggested after I return. Again, thanks for the well thought out response.

[kyriecat]

Thank you so much for your response. You are right. My situation is probably fairly unique. The original OBC was OBC for booking while onboard, so I think it would fall into the category of non-refundable OBC. I think I will just see what happens onboard. I may just have to do a spa treatment.:p Once I do that, have a few drinks, and pay for some things on Cococay, it may be a non-issue. If I have a significant amount of OBC leftover and it is not refunded, I guess I will just follow through with

the revenue dept. like you suggested after I return. Again, thanks for the well thought out response.

If you have leftover non-refundable OBC, you should be able to get it as cash from the casino (minus 3% service fee). My folks were able to get theirs back that way, but it sounds like the policies currently vary by ship. I assume since the OBC policy change is still fairly new, personnel training onboard is still catching up. Last year, they automatically refunded any excess OBC, no matter the source, to your credit card. It sounds like a few ships were doing that recently. It probably takes them time to determine the source of the OBC and whether the any leftover amount is refundable.