OBC... What can or can't they be used for

[MIAMIMEDIA]

I apologize, in advance, if this is a "Duh" question :confused: (First time with an OBC)

 

When you receive an OBC what can it be used for? What can't in be used for?

 

Gift Shop?

On board shop (liquor, jewelry)?

Bar Tab?

Kids Arcade?

Speciality Resturant?

Salon?

Casino?

 

 

Thanks for helping a newbie:)

[AlanAllyn]

I don't know about the kid's arcade, but it can be use3d for all of the other things, as well as excursions booked through X and gratuities.

[Room Service!]

MIAMIMEDIA, I believe everything you listed could be done with an OBC. I'm not familiar with the arcade though.

[Lois R]

I apologize, in advance, if this is a "Duh" question :confused: (First time with an OBC)

 

When you receive an OBC what can it be used for? What can't in be used for?

 

Gift Shop?

On board shop (liquor, jewelry)?

Bar Tab?

Kids Arcade?

Speciality Resturant?

Salon?

Casino?

 

 

 

Thanks for helping a newbie:)

 

Hi:)...the credit will be put onto your account and then whatever

you purchase will just be deducted from that total until the credit

is used up. Make sense? Once you hit 0 you will then owe them,

instead of having a credit balance;)

[cb at sea]

Anything you purchase on the ship....

[jackdiamond]

How about tips?

[krewzin]

How about tips?

 

 

 

Don't stand up in canoes.:D

[Fridaynightlights]

OBC cannot be used for tips. I also think it can't be used in the casino.

[SeaCod]

Not true, Celebrity charges your account each day for tips, so tips will be deducted each day from account balance that inludes OBCs.

[cruisestitch]

Yes, it most definitely can be used for tips, with the tiny exception of any tip you may want to give a server who brings you room service. He/she is traditionally tipped in cash.

[2forseas]

I believe I read that X will issue a credit back on your credit card if there is any remaining OBC - can anyone verify this from experience?

[PartyAllDaTyme]

I believe I read that X will issue a credit back on your credit card if there is any remaining OBC - can anyone verify this from experience?

 

It depends on the source. OBC from a TA or from a price drop is refundable, but (I believe) OBC from shareholder's bonus or an onboard booking promotion is not. They do use up the nonrefundable OBC before they start using the refundable OBC. Not from experience, but from reading other posts.

 

I'm not certain, but I believe OBC could be used in the casino. You can either bring your own cash or ask for an advance from your shipboard account (subject to a 3% fee to discourage people from using the casino as an ATM), so you should be able to draw on your OBC for this.

[julia]

OBC cannot be used for tips. I also think it can't be used in the casino.

 

 

NOT TRUE!

 

OBC is your onboard credit. It is your "starting point".

 

Everything billed to your account onboard will be covered by your original OBC.. including gratuities.

[Lois R]

NOT TRUE!

 

OBC is your onboard credit. It is your "starting point".

 

Everything billed to your account onboard will be covered by your original OBC.. including gratuities.

 

Hi Julia, thank you:)

[kitkat9438]

I apologize, in advance, if this is a "Duh" question :confused: (First time with an OBC)

 

When you receive an OBC what can it be used for? What can't in be used for?

 

Gift Shop?

On board shop (liquor, jewelry)?

Bar Tab?

Kids Arcade?

Speciality Resturant?

Salon?

Casino?

 

Thanks for helping a newbie:)

 

You can use it for anything you would charge on the ship, which is the above plus a lot more, such as soda or drink package, tips, etc.

[DebbieMacG]

You can use it in the Casino :)

[Moeve]

Oh dear this is another one where you need to READ the fine print. Some OBC specify that they CANNOT be used for tips. So be on the safe side and ASK the person or insititution who is issuing the OBC.

[cruisestitch]

Can you elaborate please? This would be a new one. I know that BOA Visa OBC and shareholder OBC aren't limited in any way, so would like to know more about this. Thanks.

[Infi]

You're definitely able to use OBC from a price drop on tips, I know from experience.

[julia]

We always have OBC's on each cruise.... one from shareholder credit, one from online TA, and occasionally from a price drop after final payment. They have always gone towards gratuities, specialty restaurants, cocktails, etc.

 

On our upcoming Solstice cruise, our grats are prepaid, so therefore, our OBC will be gone 68 seconds after boarding when we each get the classic liquor package! :p

 

(Oh yeah... HI back to Lois!!)

[Andy]

Hi Everyone !

 

There is a fair amount of confusion on this topic, and rightfully so. The "new" answer is not EVERY OBC can be used for everything. For the most part, most OBC's CAN be used for everything. However, (and this is a big however) some recent TA Promotions have clearly stated that specific OBC promotions cannot be used towards gratuities or in the Casino.

 

While that's a small pecentage of what most of us are asking, the fact remains it's buyer beware, and you should do your homework. If you are using a TA, you should ask specific questions about any OBC's they offer.

 

If it's a Celebrity (i.e. Shareholder or Price Drop OBC) or redemption OBC such as Bank of America Credit Card Points, my understanding is, they can be used for anything.

 

When you board the ship, ask questions. After the first 2 days of your Cruise, ask for a printout of your shipboard account. On the statement, any OBC's will show as 2 types: either OBR (refundable) and OBN (non-refundable). If you have both types of OBC's, currently, OBN's (non-refundable) are deducted first, which is very fair.

 

I realize this is a lot to digest, and I hope you find it helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Enjoy your OBC's :)

[cruisestitch]

So, this being a new one for me, I'm wondering if this third type of OBC (no gratuities, no casino) is designated differently on the on board account? Thanks for all your clarification on this, Host Andy.

[jackdiamond]

Andy,

Thanks for posting.

Jack

[dy123]

Could one use OBC to pay for the off shore excursions? I would assume not, as the trips are provided by a third party and not the cruise....but may be?

[Lois R]

Could one use OBC to pay for the off shore excursions? I would assume not, as the trips are provided by a third party and not the cruise....but may be?

 

If you book your excursions while you on board the ship then yes,

the obc can be used for them.

The only time it would be a 3rd party is if you did not book through

the cruiseline.