Onboard credit in the Casino

[fleckle]

I think we all tend to overthink this issue. In the end, they take the amount you spent on board, and first apply the OBC-N, then the OBC-R. If there is money left and it's OBC-R, they put it back on your credit card. If it[s OBC-N, they don't.

Some very good points of which everyone may not have been aware.

 

So it is easiest simply to use the OBC-N to pay for gratuities, wine or other beverages (if you don't have a drink package), shore excursions, specialty restaurants, transfers, spa treatments, dry cleaning or laundry (if not getting them free), all purchases in the onboard stores, extra charge items on menus, classes in the gym or i-lounge; just about anyplace other than the casino.

 

I would only forfeit the 5% to withdraw cash from the casino if I had OBC-N left over that I would otherwise lose.

 

But somehow it seems that I always manage to use up all the OBC-N, and then if there is any leftover OBC-R, it is refunded to me.

 

Edited January 3, 2014 by fleckle

[tonyrocks922]

Hello,

 

Just wondering if anyone has withdrawn OBC in the casino recently. I was just looking at Celebrity's FAQ and saw this:

 

Where can I use my onboard credit?

Onboard credit received from Celebrity Cruises can be used almost anywhere on board to enhance your vacation—specialty dining reservations, beverage packages, shore excursions, spa services – practically anywhere except the casino.

[WestLakeGirl]

It's said that for years but its never been true

[cruisestitch]

Both in April and in July I was able to withdraw OBC from the casino for the usual fee.

 

I have heard that some travel agents give OBC that is not to be used in the casino, and I have seen some Celebrity-sourced promotions with the same language, but I don't think that there is any way for the casino to determine the source of any OnBoard Credit. They simply create a receipt, the same as the shops or any other outlet on board creates a receipt, and the money is taken from your SeaPass account.

[Eddie's Girl]

Hello,

 

 

 

Just wondering if anyone has withdrawn OBC in the casino recently. I was just looking at Celebrity's FAQ and saw this:

 

 

 

Where can I use my onboard credit?

 

Onboard credit received from Celebrity Cruises can be used almost anywhere on board to enhance your vacation—specialty dining reservations, beverage packages, shore excursions, spa services – practically anywhere except the casino.

 

 

Does these mean the shops too?

[need2bespoiled]

Does these mean the shops too?

 

As of yet, there have been no reports of OBC not being able to be used anywhere on-board.

 

There is no cash used, anywhere on-board EXCEPT the casino. In the stores you pay with your seapass card. Charges first go against your OBC, then your provided method of payment (usually a credit card).

 

I never thought of it until this point, but I suppose someone MIGHT be able to avoid the 5% charge by buying something in a store to use up the OBC. Then when it is returned, it is returned to the seapass acount via a credit, presumably refundable, as opposed to OBC-N. I won't be trying this, we almost always use up our OBC and more, but it would be interesting to hear what the experience of others is.

 

Happy sailing,

Jenna

[jb008]

I was pleasantly surprised on our last cruise (12/2014) that our 20.73 OBN-OBC was refunded to my AmEx a few days after they closed out the folio.

 

I just double checked the statement and it's definitely marked as OBN so it was a pleasant surprise to get the refund. Not sure if there's a magic amount that just get's automatically refunded (<$25?), or we just got lucky - but it definitely was an OBN. Although $75 was an OBC from our TA, so maybe even though it's marked as OBN it gets treated differently than the X promo OBNs...? Only two possibilities I can come up with to rationalize why they paid us to get off the ship. :cool: