What to buy with all this onboard credit???

[Pipo]

Spend it in something tangible, that doesn't depreciate fast and that will really last. Luxury watches is always a good investment, like a Breitling or an Omega... $400 won't cover not even half of the price of any of those watches, but see it as a discount.

[bluzchk]

I know this will seem like an odd question with too many variables at play, but between our two staterooms booked and our anticipated spending on excursions/dining/spa, I would estimate our family will have probably $800 or so of onboard credit to "dispose" of before the cruise ends. We are on the Equinox in July going from Barcelona to Athens.

 

 

 

Perhaps the best way to phrase the question is what items did you buy on the ship that you thought were a good purchase?

 

 

 

I already have a bunch of watches much nicer than anything on the ship. My wife does not want any more jewelry, and ship prices are never a great bargain for those items. We don't smoke. We might enjoy a nice bottle of alcohol, but dragging a $40 bottle of vodka back to the US does not seem a good move (guessing a $500 bottle of some wildly high end product might make more sense).

 

 

 

Anyway, any suggestions?

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

Hi there! My daughter and I are on the same cruise! I was thinking I was going to use it for tips....but I've never had a Michael Kors bag either! Lol

[Muushka]

Thank you both. I am confirming the additional $325 is from the TA (asking them), so I can then know that this will be refundable OBC since its from them, and therefore it will go back on my CC last day of cruise.

 

That is correct. I verified it with 2 different people on our last cruise and they did exactly what they said they would do.

Non refundable used first. Which is amazing to me!:)

 

Go to the cashier and ask to take out what you want... Give them your sea pass card & They give you a receipt to sign and you get charged 5%

 

And then they say to you "Good luck"! Like I'm going to gamble!:D

[2theship]

I would also be interested to know what Apple products they carry on board. I didn't even think to look last week, and it would be great to pick up converters and chargers and cases, if they have such accessories.

 

Things may have changed but when my iPhone charger died, there were none available for separate purchase.

 

If the cosmetics store stocks a brand I use, I may make a purchase there. Their prices are the same as department stores at home but without the sales tax.

[BosoxI]

Spend it in something tangible, that doesn't depreciate fast and that will really last. Luxury watches is always a good investment, like a Breitling or an Omega... $400 won't cover not even half of the price of any of those watches, but see it as a discount.

 

Not a wise decision, especially if cruising in the Carib where there are some decent prices to be had and from authorized dealers, at that.

[Pipo]

Not a wise decision, especially if cruising in the Carib where there are some decent prices to be had and from authorized dealers, at that.

Prices aboard are not the big deal, but X has a price match policy. If somebody finds a product in a store at a lower price, the cruise will match that price, and you can still use the OBC to pay for it.

It's a matter of taking the best value of OBC, not getting the lowest price.

[Blondebomb]

When on board our last cruise in Jan the deal came to book another cruise with the all the extra's$$$ ( we don't drink but will get a smoothie or diet coke, here or there)

Since we were booking on about the last day of the cruise I too was thinking, "How am I going to spend this FREE Money" Ha. I am a bargain shopper and hate to waste money.

 

I had already priced some John Hardy bracelets (woven handmade silver) at different ports and back home.

Since I had just switched from wearing gold to silver, that was my gift of choice. We had to add a few bucks but it was worth it. Great quality too. I wear it everyday and I love it!

I am glad my husband suggested it since I would never had thought of looking at the jewelry on ship. I don't own a lot of jewerly but only buy quality pieces. This fit the bill for me.

 

Leave in 2 days to Bermuda. More on board credit. Hmmmmmm, more FREE money!

 

Susan from Indiana

[BosoxI]

Prices aboard are not the big deal, but X has a price match policy. If somebody finds a product in a store at a lower price, the cruise will match that price, and you can still use the OBC to pay for it.

It's a matter of taking the best value of OBC, not getting the lowest price.

 

Maybe prices aren't a big deal for you, but they are for me. Selection, too, as the likeliehood of finding the watch I really want is nil on board any ship I'm likely to be on. How do you prove the shop on land actually has a lower price? I've bought maybe seven watches in Mexico and the Carib, and, believe me, you won't find any of them on board a Celebrity ship. No, my friend, better to waste the OBC on cologne, clothing, or maybe some inexpensive piece of (overpriced) jewelry. Watches are too much trouble.

[Tiggertastic]

We've had 6 watches from citizen to omega off ships and not had an issue with any

[LabGuy64]

could they use it towards a future cruise?

 

 

 

Celebrity OBC is non refundable but your TA OBC is refundable and they are listed separately on your account. It is Celebrity policy to use Non refundable credit first thus you want to spend all of the Celebrity OBC or you lose it and get the TA OBC refunded. They will do this by putting it on your credit card or in cash at Guest relations on the last night. Don't forget your must have T shirt. Specialty restaurants are also a good way to use non refundable OBC

[Tiggertastic]

No they take deposits straight from your credit card and don't put them on your account

[rjp50]

Go to the cashier and ask to take out what you want... Give them your sea pass card & They give you a receipt to sign and you get charged 5%

 

Have you personally done this? If so, how recently?

 

Celebrity's web site explicitly states that you can not use the OBC in the casino.

[gergles]

Have you personally done this? If so, how recently?

 

Celebrity's web site explicitly states that you can not use the OBC in the casino.

 

You can't walk in and say "I'd like to cash out my OBC, please", but you can say "I'd like to charge $100 to my account", and that charge (plus the 5% fee) will deduct from your OBC. Nobody has ever reported otherwise.

[rjp50]

You can't walk in and say "I'd like to cash out my OBC, please", but you can say "I'd like to charge $100 to my account", and that charge (plus the 5% fee) will deduct from your OBC. Nobody has ever reported otherwise.

 

That would be nice, but then why does the Celebrity web site say this:

 

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.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/frequently-asked-questions#internationalSailings

 

Unless there is another way of reading this, this says you can not say "I'd like to charge $100 to my account" and then have it settled using OBC ... even if your intent is to actually gamble with it. Perhaps this is the written rule but it is not enforced on the ships? That's why I would like to get first hand accounts of people who have recently used this tactic to get cash from the casino using OBC.

Edited June 2, 2015 by rjp50

[bigbenboys]

That would be nice, but then why does the Celebrity web site say this:

 

 

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/frequently-asked-questions#internationalSailings

 

Unless there is another way of reading this, this says you can not say "I'd like to charge $100 to my account" and then have it settled using OBC ... even if your intent is to actually gamble with it. Perhaps this is the written rule but it is not enforced on the ships? That's why I would like to get first hand accounts of people who have recently used this tactic to get cash from the casino using OBC.

 

Maybe I look at a little different. I cant go to the casino and put my seapass card in the machine and spend OBC money. When I do have OBC and I ask for a draw from my account at the casino cage. They do not say to me I'm sorry you have OBC and we cant give you any cash. Now go spend your money on wine or a bag. The wine I like on Celebrity is $25 a glass. So it does not take me long to go through OBC. Back at home the bottle is not that much more, but I'm on vacation.

[sr4mjc]

I'm going to have a decent amount of OBC on our Infinity cruise. How much would internet be for one device for a 14 night cruise? Is internet even available all the way around the horn?

Edited June 2, 2015 by sr4mjc

[rjp50]

I just called Celebrity and they confirmed that you can NOT use OBC in the casino. Not being a casino user, I know nothing of how one would normally get money to use there. I'm wondering if anyone has found a way around this restriction?

[Karynanne]

I just called Celebrity and they confirmed that you can NOT use OBC in the casino. Not being a casino user, I know nothing of how one would normally get money to use there. I'm wondering if anyone has found a way around this restriction?

 

 

I've gone to the Casino cage many times, and have cashed out OBC. I ask for a specific amount...hand them my Seapass card...sign for the money, and leave. Very easy process.

[stipmom]

On my ten day Equinox cruise they had an unlimited internet pkg available for $299 but it needed to be purchased on the first two days.

[rjp50]

I've gone to the Casino cage many times, and have cashed out OBC. I ask for a specific amount...hand them my Seapass card...sign for the money, and leave. Very easy process.

 

That's encouraging. Was this on Celebrity? Was it recently? Not being familiar with how the casinos work, do they hand you chips that you would later have to redeem? I wonder why they say you can't use OBC in the casinos if it turns out that you can?

[gergles]

That's encouraging. Was this on Celebrity? Was it recently? Not being familiar with how the casinos work, do they hand you chips that you would later have to redeem? I wonder why they say you can't use OBC in the casinos if it turns out that you can?

 

Dude, there are hundreds of posts about this on this forum. Use the search feature for "OBC casino" and you will read them all where everyone has posted about doing what I said in my original post. The website also says that you get fresh flowers in Concierge class (which is a lie) and all sorts of other inaccurate things. There is one billing system onboard the ship, and things billed to your account clear your OBC first, period.

[MR_T]

I was on a celebrity eclipse cruise on the 9th-16th may 2015 and took all $300 our of our ship obc via the casino without any questions... even though it said on the website you couldn't do it...

 

I guess they tell you you can't as they don't want you to do it but in reality there's no way of stopping you as their system doesn't allocate it differently when using the casino to take it out...

 

It's pretty easy... I Walk to desk, I hand over sea pass card, I ask for $100 at a time, they hand me a receipt to sign, they hand over the cash, I put said cash back in the slots, then I start again!! [emoji16]

[suekay]

I was on a celebrity eclipse cruise on the 9th-16th may 2015 and took all $300 our of our ship obc via the casino without any questions... even though it said on the website you couldn't do it...

 

I guess they tell you you can't as they don't want you to do it but in reality there's no way of stopping you as their system doesn't allocate it differently when using the casino to take it out...

 

It's pretty easy... I Walk to desk, I hand over sea pass card, I ask for $100 at a time, they hand me a receipt to sign, they hand over the cash, I put said cash back in the slots, then I start again!! [emoji16]

 

DH does exactly the same😁

[shoreham01]

We remove the automatic service charge before we travel, and then put it back on again when we board the ship. That way you can pay for it with OBC. I think you can only do this if you have set time dining, not anytime.

 

If you don't have the drink package included, use it for that too. It soon goes!

[Tiggertastic]

Dude, there are hundreds of posts about this on this forum. Use the search feature for "OBC casino" and you will read them all where everyone has posted about doing what I said in my original post. The website also says that you get fresh flowers in Concierge class (which is a lie) and all sorts of other inaccurate things. There is one billing system onboard the ship, and things billed to your account clear your OBC first, period.

 

 

We've had fresh flowers in concierge every time. It's not a big bunch, only a small number.