Using OBC

[basor]

We have a large amount of OBC for an upcoming Oceania Cruise (never had this problem before:)).... is there a way to get the OBC as cash during the cruise. We have prepaid gratuities, free unlimited internet so the basics are already covered. We will certainly use some of the OBC for wine, etc. but usually we bring our own wine to drink out on our verandah enjoying the view. I know on Princess, you can go to the casino, put your room card in the slot machine, download a certain amount of cash from your shipboard account for no fee and then take the card and cash it out.

 

Appreciate any thoughts on this "problem":)

[sitraveler]

No, use it or lose it

[orchestrapal]

No, use it or lose it

 

Not always. If the OBC was given by your TA and NOT by O you may be able to get it credited to your charge account.

[rallydave]

We have a large amount of OBC for an upcoming Oceania Cruise (never had this problem before:)).... is there a way to get the OBC as cash during the cruise. We have prepaid gratuities, free unlimited internet so the basics are already covered. We will certainly use some of the OBC for wine, etc. but usually we bring our own wine to drink out on our verandah enjoying the view. I know on Princess, you can go to the casino, put your room card in the slot machine, download a certain amount of cash from your shipboard account for no fee and then take the card and cash it out.

 

Appreciate any thoughts on this "problem":)

 

As others have said, if from Oceania use it or lose it however, last year on HAL we used your methods in the Casino and did get the HAL provided OBC back in cash without and transaction fee. Not sure if that will work on O but, worth a try. And, even if the card in the slot machine doesn't work, can't be sure but, you can probably get chips or cash at the Casino window for a small fee and either keep the cash or simply return the chips later in the cruise for cash. They will put the withdrawal against your OBC and still money ahead less the transaction fee but, still cash in your pocket for the previously non-refundable OBC>

[Travelcat2]

We have a large amount of OBC for an upcoming Oceania Cruise (never had this problem before:)).... is there a way to get the OBC as cash during the cruise. We have prepaid gratuities, free unlimited internet so the basics are already covered. We will certainly use some of the OBC for wine, etc. but usually we bring our own wine to drink out on our verandah enjoying the view. I know on Princess, you can go to the casino, put your room card in the slot machine, download a certain amount of cash from your shipboard account for no fee and then take the card and cash it out.

 

Appreciate any thoughts on this "problem":)

 

If Oceania's policies are the same as their sister company, Regent, you can not use OBC's in the casino. Perhaps a Oceania regular could verify this for you:)

[LHT28]

I do not believe you can take the OBC in cash for the casino

I have not tried it

 

On your invoice it will state if the OBC is refundable or non refundable

[mountain grandma]

Unless they have changed their policies in the last 5 or 6 months since our last cruise, you cannot use the OBC in the casino. We tried that already.

 

We also amass a lot of OBC now and have a hard time spending it! :D I guess there are worse problems but we still do our best to spend the non-refundable portion. We try to take some ship's tours (even though we prefer the smaller private tours) and wait to book them until after we board in order to use up some of the credits. I also use the spa once or twice, DH buys wine and an internet package, and we buy some things in the gift shop when we can.

 

So far, we have managed to use up all of it on each cruise but it is getting harder as we sail more and earn more at each new level.

 

Billie

[waterbug123]

Unless they have changed their policies in the last 5 or 6 months since our last cruise, you cannot use the OBC in the casino. We tried that already.

 

 

Can you not use your room card/key to get chips in the casino?

[kiawahdon]

Got off Marina 11days ago. Here is what I experienced. Can get cash/chips from casino and charge to your shipboard A/C. However there is a 5% fee. Also, if the OBC originates from an outside source ie your TA or your own Bon voyage gift to yourself, you can get the cash without the 5% fee.

[rallydave]

Got off Marina 11days ago. Here is what I experienced. Can get cash/chips from casino and charge to your shipboard A/C. However there is a 5% fee. Also, if the OBC originates from an outside source ie your TA or your own Bon voyage gift to yourself, you can get the cash without the 5% fee.

 

Really good news and what I expected in a previous post. Instead of purchasing the overpriced boutique items with the OBC that is non-refundable simply purchase the chips in the casino and it will be charged to your onboard account plus a 5% fee so you then cash the chips back in later that evening or the next day and you have 95% of your non-refundable OBC in cash rather than wasting it on things you really don't need from the boutique.

 

Not a 100% return but, 95% is better than the overpriced items in the ships store.

[JimandStan]

Really good news and what I expected in a previous post. Instead of purchasing the overpriced boutique items with the OBC that is non-refundable simply purchase the chips in the casino and it will be charged to your onboard account plus a 5% fee so you then cash the chips back in later that evening or the next day and you have 95% of your non-refundable OBC in cash rather than wasting it on things you really don't need from the boutique.

 

Not a 100% return but, 95% is better than the overpriced items in the ships store.

 

Non refundable OBC's may not be used in the Casino at all.

 

In order to be used to buy Casino Chips, the source of the funding for the OBC would have to be cash money paid to Oceania, (i.e. no promotional dollars) which would put said OBC in the refundable column, anyway.

[LHT28]

Not all OBC's from your TA are created equal

 

Check that TA OBC are really from the TA & not part of their promotions from the cruise line

[rallydave]

Non refundable OBC's may not be used in the Casino at all.

 

In order to be used to buy Casino Chips, the source of the funding for the OBC would have to be cash money paid to Oceania, (i.e. no promotional dollars) which would put said OBC in the refundable column, anyway.

 

The post before mine indicated that the writer had just come back from a cruise and was able to get casino chips from their OBC by paying a 5% premium which I covered in my post.

 

Unsure how you can make the quoted statements when another cruiser stated they could do exactly what I said. On another cruise line was told by many other long time cruisers as well as staff in the Casino I couldn't do what I described and as I suggested, I tried it with a small amount and voila, it worked so I went back and got the rest of my non-refundable OBC in cash.

 

Wasn't sure it would work on O until the other poster stated it would and again suggest just try it and if it works great, and if not, you simply pay back your account with the cash you get from your account. No harm no foul.

 

Your quoted post may or may not be correct.

[Travelcat2]

Non refundable OBC's may not be used in the Casino at all.

 

In order to be used to buy Casino Chips, the source of the funding for the OBC would have to be cash money paid to Oceania, (i.e. no promotional dollars) which would put said OBC in the refundable column, anyway.

 

Agree -- this is how it works on Regent as well.

[JimandStan]

Agree -- this is how it works on Regent as well.

 

I'd have to say that this is the way that OBC's have worked on every cruise line which we have ever sailed, going all the way back to the late 1960's.

 

None of them (Cunard, Home Lines, HAL, Royal Viking, Princess, even Sitmar) ever allowed promotional Dollars to be "cashed out" through the Casino.

[burm]

If Oceania's policies are the same as their sister company, Regent, you can not use OBC's in the casino. Perhaps a Oceania regular could verify this for you:)

 

 

I asked just over a week ago and was told that I could not use OBC in the casino.

 

Wanna see my 2 new Furla bags - value $700?

[mountain grandma]

I'd have to say that this is the way that OBC's have worked on every cruise line which we have ever sailed, going all the way back to the late 1960's.

 

None of them (Cunard, Home Lines, HAL, Royal Viking, Princess, even Sitmar) ever allowed promotional Dollars to be "cashed out" through the Casino.

 

When you say "promotional credit" are you including the OBC we receive as Silver members?

 

Billie

[rallydave]

I'd have to say that this is the way that OBC's have worked on every cruise line which we have ever sailed, going all the way back to the late 1960's.

 

None of them (Cunard, Home Lines, HAL, Royal Viking, Princess, even Sitmar) ever allowed promotional Dollars to be "cashed out" through the Casino.

 

Totally agree that this is the way the cruise lines want it to work and what they tell people about how it works however, I assure you that less than a year ago on HAL I was able to cash out all of my leftover non-refundable OBC in cash by simply taking cash advances against my on board account in the casino. The advance was charged against my account which included the non-refundable OBC. My OBC account ended up at zero and I had the cash from the casino in my pocket.

 

kiawahdon reported earlier in this thread that Oceania charged him 5% to do exactly the same thing that I did. Again, was told by many people including the on board staff that what I wanted to do would not work but, it did and it can work on other lines depending on how the on board account is programmed. Thus the suggestion to try it with a small amount of money and see if it works and then if it does, redeem the rest of you unused OBC the same way and if it doesn't, simply pay your final bill with the cash you did get in the casino.

 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained and like I said, what you and tc are saying is what the staff believes will occur and what they want to occur but, doesn't always occur that way.

 

Have no issues with you saying what you believe to be the way this works however, there are oftentimes exceptions and this is one of them.

 

Thanks,

[Jancruz]

Can you not use your room card/key to get chips in the casino?

 

Yes, up to $500 a day with a 5% fee

Jancruz1

[JimandStan]

When you say "promotional credit" are you including the OBC we receive as Silver members?

 

Billie

 

Technically speaking, yes, because that would be a credit which is certainly promotional in nature, and they have to make the rules with an eye to those who who will then just immediately demand cash back at the Front Desk and look at it as a rebate on the cost of the Cruise (which is not a desired outcome).

 

Where you may find some wiggle room on this is that with people demanding that Oceania Club Rewards should not be lost in the event of duplication of benefits, some clients, who have all of their other bases covered, may receive a refundable credit.

Edited March 6, 2014 by JimandStan

[waterbug123]

Yes, up to $500 a day with a 5% fee

Jancruz1

 

Ok, so say I have $200 in non-refundable OBC. I go to the casino and use my key card to get $300 worth of chips to play blackjack. I buy nothing else all week.

 

My account theoretically would look like this:

-$200 starting balance

+$300 casino charges

+100 balance due to be charged on credit card at end of cruise. Or are you saying their computer system is programmed to only apply the credit on my account to spa/drink/excursion charges and not casino charges if it's a non-refundable credit? But if the OBC was refundable it would apply it? Seems like this is all automated so it seems surprising that the computer would A) determine whether your OBC is refundable or not, and more importantly B) differentiate between applying it toward casino charges vs. other charges.

[rallydave]

Ok, so say I have $200 in non-refundable OBC. I go to the casino and use my key card to get $300 worth of chips to play blackjack. I buy nothing else all week.

 

My account theoretically would look like this:

-$200 starting balance

+$300 casino charges

+100 balance due to be charged on credit card at end of cruise. Or are you saying their computer system is programmed to only apply the credit on my account to spa/drink/excursion charges and not casino charges if it's a non-refundable credit? But if the OBC was refundable it would apply it? Seems like this is all automated so it seems surprising that the computer would A) determine whether your OBC is refundable or not, and more importantly B) differentiate between applying it toward casino charges vs. other charges.

 

You've got in Meg and said so much better than I did how to get your non-refundable OBC back in cash. One minor addition to your great example is that casino charges would be $315 because of the 5% charge to get the chips in the casino and your balance due would be $115.

 

You could have returned the chips for $300 in cash and would have netted $285 from the non-refundable OBC. If the cruise lines are able to reprogram the on-board accounts, this won't work and since we don't know how they have the accounts programmed, a small withdrawal and then reviewing your account will let you know if you can get further cash from your OBC or not.

 

Thanks for your wonderful analogy and explanation of how to possibly get your non-refundable OBC as cash. As I earlier stated, it worked exactly this way last year on HAL. It should work the same way with Casino advances as Jancruz explained so only if the computer system for the on board account differentiates the OBC's will this not work.

[Travelcat2]

Sounds to me that this thread just showed Oceania how to fix a glitch in their computer system:)

[rallydave]

Sounds to me that this thread just showed Oceania how to fix a glitch in their computer system:)

 

We actually agree on something.

 

Not too worried about this being fixed anytime soon based on all of the glitches in the Regent and Oceania website and operating systems reported on CC that haven't yet been fixed.

[JimandStan]

Not too worried about this being fixed anytime soon based on all of the glitches in the Regent and Oceania website and operating systems reported on CC that haven't yet been fixed.

 

It sounds like your entire "system" revolves around hoping that the Oceania Accounting system and/or data input staff will be as incompetent as some others which you experienced last year, on a different Cruise Line. :rolleyes:

 

While any such quixotic scheme might have some spasmodic degree of success, it seems fruitless, if not heartless to recommend such a course of action here, knowing full well that the stated policies of Oceania are designed to prevent such activity.

 

Unlike that other Cruise Line which you mentioned, Oceania treats its' passengers with the respect and dignity which I hope that we have earned as responsible adults. Their liberal liquor importing policies and unsupervised lending Library stand in stark contrast to the Big Brother style micromanaging required to keep those mass market passengers in check, and I for one would like to keep it that way.

 

We must ask ourselves, then, if the need to wrest every last cent from Oceania is so great that doing so is worth openly flouting their regulations here and sneaking around (what else is hoping for a book-keeping error?) on the ship.