What happens to unused OBC

[seguincruiser]

Due to major drop on my cruise I have $1130 on OBC for two cabins (DH & I and kids). We rarely spend much on board ship and have already booked all our excursions with private parties. Do I lose this money if I don't use it?

[snc_cam]

Unfortunately the answer is "it depends". There are two classes of OBC, refundable and non-refundable. If it is "refundable", they will post a credit (write a check?) to your credit-card account at the end of the cruise for any leftover. If it is "non-refundable", it is lost.

 

If you go to your cruise documents, it will tell you if it is refundable or not.

 

And wow, you had a really nice price drop. Me, I have price increases on all three of my currently booked cruises... Fortunately, don't have to pay those :)

 

Steve

[Bookbug53]

Due to major drop on my cruise I have $1130 on OBC for two cabins (DH & I and kids). We rarely spend much on board ship and have already booked all our excursions with private parties. Do I lose this money if I don't use it?

 

You may rarely have spent much on previous cruises but this could be different. Since this is an OBC from a price drop it is probably not refundable. GO SPEND IT! Try those things you never did before. :p

[champagne123]

OR.....you may send it to ME. This would just about cover our BAR BILL...LOL

 

:D:D:D

[092306]

I didn't know OBC from price drops may not be refundable, good info, thanks!

[nowendy]

simple, a trick i learned about on here..... go to the casino, charge the amount to your sign and sail, cash out, go to cashier and get your money........

 

try it on a smaller amount first make sure you know how to do it, then go for it.

[xowendyxo]

We had non-refundable OBC on our cruise. We went to the casino, played slots, and as soon as I got a little ahead, I cashed out. Because you get cash from the casino, it's like getting a cash refund!

 

I don't know if you can do this, but I suppose you could just go to a slot machine, load x amount of dollars onto it do one pull and then cash out??

[xowendyxo]

simple, a trick i learned about on here..... go to the casino, charge the amount to your sign and sail, cash out, go to cashier and get your money........

 

try it on a smaller amount first make sure you know how to do it, then go for it.

 

What are the chances that both of our user names are wendy and we posted the exact same thing at the exact same time??? :eek:

[klaner64]

I would try the steakhouse, do the tour, maybe a massage and alot of DOD's.

[Stacy_C]

From what I understand, you can cash it out in the casino.

 

Quoted from somewhere else: I've also heard that you can stick your sign and sail into a slot machine, download the money onto your card, then go cash out at the casino cage. I've never done this but I have read on here about others doing it.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Stacy_C
typo

[scuddles]

We received a check for what we didn't spend on our OBC and it was all from price drops ($660). I would try the Casino way too. That way you get your cash up front.

 

 

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[love2traveljen]

Treat yourself to the spa! Lots of it! :)

 

 

Jen

Former Royal Caribbean employee, 10 years at sea :)

[Carnival_Brides]

I haven't booked early saver in over a year, but I'm pretty sure that OBC from ES price drops is refundable. If you booked a special that included OBC, than that's usually not refundable and if it's gifted in the form of cruise cash that is not refundable. We are also fans of the casino method.

 

I *think* that the OBC and it's terms should be listed on your cruise docs. When we had OBC as part of a special in November, it definitely said that it was non-refundable.

[snc_cam]

I just went and looked at two of my bookings. For one, I have an OBC that I got when booking the cruise onboard the Freedom last Dec. This OBC is "non-refundable". For the shareholder OBC, this is "refundable". This information can be found in the "print General Information" section of "View My Documents" under "Manage Bookings".

 

Steve

[cruisingbajan]

I would ask a question when I get on board. On my honeymoon cruise we had a significant amount of OBC through price drops as well. I was told by my TA that it was non refundable.

 

I found out later while onboard that it was refundable.

 

You just never know.

[snc_cam]

I would ask a question when I get on board. On my honeymoon cruise we had a significant amount of OBC through price drops as well. I was told by my TA that it was non refundable.

 

I found out later while onboard that it was refundable.

 

You just never know.

 

it NEVER hurts to ask. what is the worst they can say, "No"? :)

[cruisingbajan]

it NEVER hurts to ask. what is the worst they can say, "No"? :)

 

So true..:)

 

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[Need-a-vacation]

Due to major drop on my cruise I have $1130 on OBC for two cabins (DH & I and kids). We rarely spend much on board ship and have already booked all our excursions with private parties. Do I lose this money if I don't use it?

 

I assume it could go towards tips? Not sure how long your cruise is, but that could eat up a big chunk

 

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[bunchesofun]

I've never had the casino method work for me. I must be doing something wrong.:rolleyes:

 

We tried it last cruise. We needed some cash for the trip home. Downloaded $100 to the card. Played for an hour, breaking even. Went to the cashier and got my $100. It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

[SadieN]

From what I understand, you can cash it out in the casino.

 

 

 

Quoted from somewhere else: I've also heard that you can stick your sign and sail into a slot machine, download the money onto your card, then go cash out at the casino cage. I've never done this but I have read on here about others doing it.

 

 

This.

 

We had an even larger OBC during the Swine Flu fiasco.

Used it for tips, soda cards and spending money.

[adaptabl]

OBC from price drops is refundable. If you do not use it you get a cheque from Carnival a week or two after your cruise. The last two cruises I had significant OBC from price drops. We used it to pay the tips and the few small items we buy. The balance was refunded by cheque.

 

FYI the non refundable OBC credit is used up first then the refundable OBC is used to cover any balance.

 

You cruise documents should show the seperate amounts of refundable and non refundable OBC.

[belkin]

Wow, nice score on the OBC.

 

They will use your non-refundable OBC first. Hopefully you did not prepay your tips and this can use up some of the non-refundable.

 

You could always get the kids soda cards or plan an evening at the steakhouse.

 

If you can see how much you have online that is great because you can pre-plan. We always go to the kiosks and print out our statement out the first day. It will list refundable vs non-refundable.

 

If we have any non-refundable left we wait until a day or two before the end of the cruise and go to the casino.

 

Example: You have $200 in non-refundable OBC. Go to a slot machine and set up your card which is very easy to do. Then tell it you want $200 to be added from your sign and sail account. Place a few bets and then head to the cage and tell them you want to cash out.

 

Do not wait until the last minute to do this in case you have a problem. If you have to go to one of the shops and buy jewelry, cologne or something so you don't lose the money.

[originalgolfer]

I believe you can just go to the casino cage....Pull out the amount of cash you want I the form of chips....just go walk around a bit then cash it out. It's all effectively doing the same thing.

 

Also back in 2009 I would pull straight cash from the casino cage. I don't remember...I could swear there was one scenario where you would be charged 3% or so to take money out maybe it was the cash at the cage I don't remember.

 

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[sailor_jimc]

Are we certain that if you have both refundable and non refundable OBC that they would use the non refundable first? It would be a dirty trick for them to take from the refundable pile first and then at the end say "sorry, the left over amount is non refundable"

 

And I disagree with those saying that they should spend it on things they would not normally do. If its non-refundable, sure why not. But if its from a price drop then it's their money and blowing on stuff they normally wouldn't spend money on makes no sense.

[sjcruiser]

Congrats on the large price drop. Since it's there money, or part of your money refunded, I would spend every bit of it on the cruise, mostly on excursions and in the casino.