Using OBC in Casino

[jking325y]

I have two cabins booked for my family for an upcoming cruise and am receiving $750 OBC per cabin. $250 is refundable, but $500 is non-refundable (meaning $1,000 total). We already have prepaid gratuities, beverage package and specialty dining. I have no desire to go to the spa. I've heard conflicting info on going to the casino and charging to your on board account to get the cash. I understand that they charge 5%, but I've recently heard that they no longer allow that. Has anybody recently had an experience? The most recent post I found was back in February.

[MsB1254]

We were just on Celebrity Equinox returning Sept. 20th. We had a large ship credit and were able to take money out in the casino and they charged the 5% so if they changed the policy it must be very, very recent.

[az_tchr]

Would really be hard to change that policy unless they banned putting cash taken at the casino on your Sea Pass and only allowed the ATM. can't do that as the ATM would quickly run out of $$.

[Pipo]

We cashed out all of the OBC (refundable and non-refundable) at the casino during our first night aboard the Reflection two weeks ago. No questions asked from the cashier. The only condition was do it in multiples of $10.

I also payed a roulette game with my SeaPass account, they charged the 5% commission and the transaction had to be approved by a supervisor at the table. After that, they gave me my chips.

Edited October 4, 2015 by Pipo

[bEwAbG]

It's a bit of a misnomer to say you're cashing out your OBC. You are getting a cash advance on your cabin ostensibly for use in the casino (which they'll do for anyone) and that charge plus 5% is put on your bill.

[nekzaadvakil]

We were on the Silhouette in June and had no problems taking out the OBC in the Casino. Swiped my sea pass card, charged me USD 105 and gave me USD 100 in chips at the roulette table. Alternately do the same for cash at the cashier.

[wallie5446]

It's a bit of a misnomer to say you're cashing out your OBC. You are getting a cash advance on your cabin ostensibly for use in the casino (which they'll do for anyone) and that charge plus 5% is put on your bill.

 

Exactly. Weather we have had OBC or not, we have always been able to get cash for the 5% courtesy fee. The OBC just covers what we draw, once it is used, any more is cleared by the credit card covering at the end of the cruise.

Edited October 5, 2015 by wallie5446

[LzyCruiser_NWA]

We will have over $300 OBC on our next cruise but I believe it's $150 per person from the 123 GO.

 

Do can I take all $300 out at once minus the 5% or do i have to do 150 on my seapass card then 150 on my wife's?

[mafig]

LOL. You know about a few weeks ago I asked this same question and about half the respondents said I couldn't do it.:confused:

[cb at sea]

I would cancel some of the "pre-booked" things once onboard, and rebook using the OBC. I wouldn't give up the 5%!

[cherylroslyn]

LOL. You know about a few weeks ago I asked this same question and about half the respondents said I couldn't do it.:confused:

I know, I have seen people answer this question wrong over and over. The casino will always give you cash (which they would like for you to use in the casino) at any time for the 5% fee.

 

This is supposed to be for use in the Casino, but no one is going to follow you to a machine and watch you play it.

 

If Celebrity stopped allowing people to take cash from a credit card to use for gambling, you would see a sharp decrease in the amount of people gambling on the ship. People like to do a little gambling and not have to worry about bringing thousands of dollars on the ship in cash.

 

I seriously doubt they will ever do away with this practice.

 

I think when people answer the question they are confusing "Can you do it for free?" with "Can you do it at all?".

[wallie5446]

We will have over $300 OBC on our next cruise but I believe it's $150 per person from the 123 GO.

 

Do can I take all $300 out at once minus the 5% or do i have to do 150 on my seapass card then 150 on my wife's?

 

One card as they are both linked to the same account. Now getting a drink at the bar :eek: you need both ;)

[wallie5446]

LOL. You know about a few weeks ago I asked this same question and about half the respondents said I couldn't do it.:confused:

 

I know, I have seen people answer this question wrong over and over. The casino will always give you cash (which they would like for you to use in the casino) at any time for the 5% fee.

.

 

It makes me wonder if some of those responses' had ever really tried to do so.

[jking325y]

Thank you to everyone who replied. This is going to make things a lot easier!

[cherylroslyn]

It makes me wonder if some of those responses' had ever really tried to do so.

I agree...because it is so routine......

[A Sixth?]

For the first time I'm going to cash in my cabin credits so I can off-set the soaking I'm taking on my Canadian dollars paying final payment exchange rates.

 

[Beanb41]

For the first time I'm going to cash in my cabin credits so I can off-set the soaking I'm taking on my Canadian dollars paying final payment exchange rates.

 

 

Is your cruise not quoted in Canadian dollars thus negating any exchange fluctuations. I have booked cruises on Celebrity in both NZ and Australian dollars depending which country I chose to use for the booking and once I had paid the deposit the price has never changed. Being from NZ I was conscious how the $NZ was fairing against $A though when I made my booking in Australia.