Purchased OBC - where does it show on my reservation?

[goldesq]

I have a cruise in May and I just ordered some OBC for my room. Where on my reservation online can I view that it was posted? I don't see it listed anywhere. I do see the excursions I booked but not the OBC I bought. (This is NOT credit from my TA...this is money I paid from my CC to be placed on my onboard account).

 

Thanks.

[Bases5]

I have a cruise in May and I just ordered some OBC for my room. Where on my reservation online can I view that it was posted? I don't see it listed anywhere. I do see the excursions I booked but not the OBC I bought. (This is NOT credit from my TA...this is money I paid from my CC to be placed on my onboard account).

 

Thanks.

 

It will not show up anywhere

I have never had a issue but i do bring my receipt

just to be safe.

When buying obc it's kind of like a gift so they don't show it

Somebody else might have bought it and it would be a surprise

when you got it, that why it doesn't show up on your booking.

just like a bottle of wine or a cake will not show up.

I hope this makes since.

Edited March 6, 2016 by Bases5

[goldesq]

It will not show up anywhere

I have never had a issue but i do bring my receipt

just to be safe.

When buying obc it's kind of like a gift so they don't show it

Somebody else might have bought it and it would be a surprise

when you got it, that why it doesn't show up on your booking.

just like a bottle of wine or a cake will not show up.

I hope this makes since.

 

Thank you! Yes, it makes sense except they surely can match the buyers name on the card with the room registration to see it isnt a gift. They could always ask if its a gift as well.

 

I have no receipt since I called and bought it via phone. I guess I will just wait and see. I still have the CC I paid for it on so thats proof enough.

[Bases5]

Thank you! Yes, it makes sense except they surely can match the buyers name on the card with the room registration to see it isnt a gift. They could always ask if its a gift as well.

 

I have no receipt since I called and bought it via phone. I guess I will just wait and see. I still have the CC I paid for it on so thats proof enough.

 

Just call them and have them e-mail you a receipt, I have done this before.

Like I said before. My bought obc has always been there.

Also just in case you don't know bought obc (cruise cash) is non refundable. So make sure you use it.

The one nice thing is Carnival uses non refundable obc first for your charges.

It also shows separately on your ship board account.

Another note: sometimes it will not show up on your statement (onboard account) until later the first evening but you can still use it even thou it's not showing yet.

We have only had bought obc on our account when starting a cruise (no cash or CC) and have never been denied purchases

[goldesq]

Thats odd. They told me it was refundable when I called to place it on my account. They said to keep the CC you use (since I used a gift debit card) because any money I did not use would be refunded to that card that I originally used. I have put that card in my Passport holder for this reason. Maybe I wont buy anymore. I just have a few debit gift cards for $100 that I saved to buy myself OBC for this cruise as a gift (for myself). Maybe I need to call and ask again but I am certain I asked the first time.

[b_cruise]

Thats odd. They told me it was refundable when I called to place it on my account. They said to keep the CC you use (since I used a gift debit card) because any money I did not use would be refunded to that card that I originally used. I have put that card in my Passport holder for this reason. Maybe I wont buy anymore. I just have a few debit gift cards for $100 that I saved to buy myself OBC for this cruise as a gift (for myself). Maybe I need to call and ask again but I am certain I asked the first time.

 

In my experience, it is totally refundable. If u don't use it either cash it at casino or get a cheque. I think the previous poster meant the non refundable credits such as obc you get for a perk. If u have some non refundable credits, they use those first, then use ur refundable ones and what u don't use u get back!

[goldesq]

In my experience, it is totally refundable. If u don't use it either cash it at casino or get a cheque. I think the previous poster meant the non refundable credits such as obc you get for a perk. If u have some non refundable credits, they use those first, then use ur refundable ones and what u don't use u get back!

 

OK, I am now totally confused as I stated in my original post, this was money I placed on my own account; it was not from someone else (like or Carnival) and being placed on my account.

 

I totally understand that I would not get back OBC gifted to me via my TA or via some other source (even Carnival). However, I am talking about my own money being placed on my account prior to the cruise by me.

 

I assumed (and thought I read when I booked the cruise originally but now cannot find) that I would get any $$$ amounts not used on the cruise back via a check mailed to me or automatically placed back on the cc I used to buy it when the cruise ended. (I do know the trick to cash out at the casino but I rarely do that unless I actually need the cash immediately).

 

I guess for peace of mind, I will contact Carnival.

 

Thanks though for trying to clear it up. I really do appreciate it.

[ready2cruzagain]

I thought they stopped letting people buy obc several years ago when Cruise Cash came out.

 

Are you sure that when you called the CS person thought you wanted Cruise Cash and that is what you purchased? If so, then it is not refundable.

[goldesq]

I don't know the name for what I bought, I just know that I did buy it. :) I'm calling Carnival now and will report back.

[goldesq]

I sure am glad I called Carnival. After 20 minutes on hold with a rather snippy rep., she returns to tell me I have no money on my account. She advised me to recheck the balance on the card I used to see if there is a balance. She also advised me there is no record of my call to Carnival buying the credit for my account. Then she informed me that you cannot buy credit for an account with a gift card. Mind you, on the front of the 'card', it does say debit card. (The card is given to me from a company that I do outside work form. This is how they pay their consultants). Add that to the fact that the Carnival rep I spoke with a month ago informed me that my $100 did process through. (I asked initially if he should run $99 because the card's value was $100 and sometimes a small amount extra is taken as a hold). He said he would try $100 first and it worked. He told me to keep the card because if I did not use everything in my Carnival account, the remaining money from the $100 would go back to that card.

 

I learned my lesson. Get a receipt and dont pre-purchase onboard credit.

 

Now, I have to contact the customer service number of the other card and check my balance. Unfortunately, that card is sitting in my passport wallet (thank goodness I kept it) at my parents house and because its 630 am, I cant call yet to ask them to give me the phone number and card number. argggghhhh.

 

The saga continues.

[AndyT3]

At least you kept the card.

 

I love that though, we have no record of your ever calling. I work in the IT department for Americas Best Loved Candle company (that should be a dead give away, if you've ever looked at the label on one of our jars), supporting all our local campus users, and our stores throughout the world, and we keep very detailed logs of EVERY call that comes in or out. Of course, we have the few that never log anything, and then we look like the bad guys when taking the follow up calls. So, that really errks me, when that is used as an excuse lol.

Edited March 6, 2016 by AndyT3

[Cruisesfun65]

.

 

I learned my lesson. Get a receipt and dont pre-purchase onboard credit.

 

 

I think the lesson learned is to always ask for a receipt.

 

We ALWAYS purchase Cruise Cash and have always had great experience with it. If you bought $100, I believe it's very hard not to spend that entire amount so non-refundable is a moot point.

We get the maximum of $500 and have always been able to get a refund IF any of it was left.

Have a great cruise.

[goldesq]

I think the lesson learned is to always ask for a receipt.

 

We ALWAYS purchase Cruise Cash and have always had great experience with it. If you bought $100, I believe it's very hard not to spend that entire amount so non-refundable is a moot point.

We get the maximum of $500 and have always been able to get a refund IF any of it was left.

Have a great cruise.

 

The $100 was just going to be the beginning. I have now a stack of other cards I was going to add to my account this weekend and I posted this message before calling Carnival again to add them.

 

My cruise wont have much charges on the sign and sail card because its port intensive (Mediterranean) with only one sea day. I pre-purchased all my excursions and have all my tips paid for as well. All tours come back pretty late so my days on the ship are quite limited, as in breakfast (maybe) and a late dinner (if at all). I dont gamble and I wont have that much time to drink on the ship nor will I drink much anyway on the ship since I need to be up super early for all my tours. My drinking will probably be off the ship during the day. :)

 

Thus, I cant see much spending going on during the time I am on the ship.

[goldesq]

At least you kept the card.

 

I love that though, we have no record of your ever calling. I work in the IT department for Americas Best Loved Candle company (that should be a dead give away, if you've ever looked at the label on one of our jars), supporting all our local campus users, and our stores throughout the world, and we keep very detailed logs of EVERY call that comes in or out. Of course, we have the few that never log anything, and then we look like the bad guys when taking the follow up calls. So, that really errks me, when that is used as an excuse lol.

 

I am so happy I kept it but he told me to, so I did. Also, I spent a long time on the phone with that guy because I asked a few questions about the ship. It was not a short phone call. I still remember his voice because he was a very sweet man. The call today was over 25 minutes and I told her to log the call after she told me that they had no record of my purchase.

[griz400]

We buy it every cruise, and if you do it "on line", they give an imediate conformation to print, also they send you an email within like 1 minute, ( you can print it as well), also they give an option send like wife or hubby an email shows you sent them a gift ....

The biggest thing i like is when we plan a cruise, in my email i start a new folder, and everything they send me, every purchase we make through fun shops, i put in that older and if there was discrepancy i can get in email and show them pretty easy .. but, there was never a problem so far :)

[Bases5]

The $100 was just going to be the beginning. I have now a stack of other cards I was going to add to my account this weekend and I posted this message before calling Carnival again to add them.

 

My cruise wont have much charges on the sign and sail card because its port intensive (Mediterranean) with only one sea day. I pre-purchased all my excursions and have all my tips paid for as well. All tours come back pretty late so my days on the ship are quite limited, as in breakfast (maybe) and a late dinner (if at all). I dont gamble and I wont have that much time to drink on the ship nor will I drink much anyway on the ship since I need to be up super early for all my tours. My drinking will probably be off the ship during the day. :)

 

Thus, I cant see much spending going on during the time I am on the ship.

 

Good morning

I'm glad you called.

 

I'm a non credit card user so buying my own obc is the only way we go.

 

As of now there is only 2 ways to do this

1 Cruise Cash, This is non refundable. This can be purchased online under Fun Shops thru Carnival. There are ways around that but that's for another post

 

2 Carnival gift card, These can be purchased at retail stores. These stores vary from region to region.

Here we get them at Lowe's and Winn Dixie for example. These gift cards can be used as obc once you get on board. You can load your account with the gift card at guest services or a kiosk.

These are refundable. Carnival say any unused gift card money will be reloaded onto another gift card and mailed to you in a coupled weeks. (since the current gift card is non re loadable) however many people have reported getting a check for the un used portion,

 

 

side note. I have bought cruise cash with visa gift cards online many times. I'm not sure why that guy said you could not.

Edited March 6, 2016 by Bases5

[griz400]

Good morning

I'm glad you called.

 

I'm a non credit card user so buying my own obc is the only way we go.

 

As of now there is only 2 ways to do this

1 Cruise Cash, This is non refundable. This can be purchased online under Fun Shops thru Carnival. There are ways around that but that's for another post

 

2 Carnival gift card, These can be purchased at retail stores. These stores vary from region to region.

Here we get them at Lowe's and Winn Dixie for example. These gift cards can be used as obc once you get on board. You can load your account with the gift card at guest services or a kiosk.

These are refundable. Carnival say any unused gift card money will be reloaded onto another gift card and mailed to you in a coupled weeks. (since the current gift card is non re loadable) however many people have reported getting a check for the un used portion,

 

 

side note. I have bought cruise cash with visa gift cards online many times. I'm not sure why that guy said you could not.

 

 

 

I am not sure if it is non - refundable, but, last cruise we ( cashed out ) at the front desk on the last evening, and if we would have made a purchase, we had a card linked to our account, previous cruises,they just send us a check for the balance ... only the free obc credit is non-refundable

[goldesq]

2 Lessons learned.

1) Do not buy myself Cruise Cash prior to the cruise (I never did learn about it being refundable or not).

2) Always request a receipt and an order number when buying Cruise Cash (although I wont do that again).

 

I called Carnival and they had no record of my purchase so I called the credit card I used. It says debit card. The rep says that it should be run as a credit card. The rep also said that Carnival too the funds on 2/21.

 

I called Carnival back. The first rep explained that she could not see if I had any OBC or cruise cash and I needed to verify same with the Bon Voyage Dept. (That is not what happened or what I was told earlier this morning).

 

I spoke with the Bon Voyage Dept. The rep initially said I had no Cruise Cash. My heart sunk. I told her I confirmed that money was removed from my CC to pay for Cruise Cash and I could prove it (via a CC statement). I asked her how she would like me to confirm it with her. She asked that I check my emails and spam folder for my purchase receipt (which I was never sent and I am 100% sure of it).

 

She then asked for the last 4 digits of my CC. I gave her the information (she claimed that without that information, she couldnt tell me any more information). It was only then that she stated 'Oh, yes...." cruise cash was purchased by me but placed on my mother's account (my mom is on the sailing with me). I said I did not ask for that to be done and requested that it be corrected. Initially, the rep hesitated and said it didnt matter whose name it was posted under. I insisted.

 

Of course, I asked for a receipt to be emailed to me and wrote my order number down.

Fun times. All in all, an hour wasted but lesson learned.

 

As a PS, I dont quite know why but all three reps I spoke with were on the snarky side. It was like they were doing me a favor by checking this info. One even kept trying to talk over me and cut me off multiple times when she misunderstood what I was asking. Maybe they werent thrilled about being up this early. It slightly ticked me off though.

 

***I still dont understand how I can put money on my account and get whatever I dont use back at the end. The reps kept using the term Cruise Cash. All I wanted initially was ,money on my account that I could get back if not spent. From now on, I wont even bother for Carnival.

Edited March 6, 2016 by goldesq

[goldesq]

We buy it every cruise, and if you do it "on line", they give an imediate conformation to print, also they send you an email within like 1 minute, ( you can print it as well), also they give an option send like wife or hubby an email shows you sent them a gift ....

The biggest thing i like is when we plan a cruise, in my email i start a new folder, and everything they send me, every purchase we make through fun shops, i put in that older and if there was discrepancy i can get in email and show them pretty easy .. but, there was never a problem so far :)

 

Ironic. I do the same exact thing for my trips...creating a folder. Unfortunately, I never received an email after my phone purchase with Carnival.

[ready2cruzagain]

2 Lessons learned.

1) Do not buy myself Cruise Cash prior to the cruise (I never did learn about it being refundable or not).

2) Always request a receipt and an order number when buying Cruise Cash (although I wont do that again).

 

I called Carnival and they had no record of my purchase so I called the credit card I used. It says debit card. The rep says that it should be run as a credit card. The rep also said that Carnival too the funds on 2/21.

 

I called Carnival back. The first rep explained that she could not see if I had any OBC or cruise cash and I needed to verify same with the Bon Voyage Dept. (That is not what happened or what I was told earlier this morning).

 

I spoke with the Bon Voyage Dept. The rep initially said I had no Cruise Cash. My heart sunk. I told her I confirmed that money was removed from my CC to pay for Cruise Cash and I could prove it (via a CC statement). I asked her how she would like me to confirm it with her. She asked that I check my emails and spam folder for my purchase receipt (which I was never sent and I am 100% sure of it).

 

She then asked for the last 4 digits of my CC. I gave her the information (she claimed that without that information, she couldnt tell me any more information). It was only then that she stated 'Oh, yes...." cruise cash was purchased by me but placed on my mother's account (my mom is on the sailing with me). I said I did not ask for that to be done and requested that it be corrected. Initially, the rep hesitated and said it didnt matter whose name it was posted under. I insisted.

 

Of course, I asked for a receipt to be emailed to me and wrote my order number down.

Fun times. All in all, an hour wasted but lesson learned.

 

As a PS, I dont quite know why but all three reps I spoke with were on the snarky side. It was like they were doing me a favor by checking this info. One even kept trying to talk over me and cut me off multiple times when she misunderstood what I was asking. Maybe they werent thrilled about being up this early. It slightly ticked me off though.

 

***I still dont understand how I can put money on my account and get whatever I dont use back at the end. The reps kept using the term Cruise Cash. All I wanted initially was ,money on my account that I could get back if not spent. From now on, I wont even bother for Carnival.

 

Like I stated before, when Cruise Cash came out through Bon Voyage, Carnival quit letting people call in and put obc on their accounts. So, when you called in, the CSR probably thought you wanted to purchase Cruise Cash and that is what they did (putting obc on your account was before their time probably). Many times when purchasing items through Bon Voyage you will not get a receipt, that is why I always ask for one. Very important.

 

Cruise Cash IS non-refundable and the others that are stating they received their funds back, well they were lucky because they weren't suppose to.

 

This is from Carnival:

 

Cruise Cash provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges. Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited.

[goldesq]

I think the lesson learned is to always ask for a receipt.

 

We ALWAYS purchase Cruise Cash and have always had great experience with it. If you bought $100, I believe it's very hard not to spend that entire amount so non-refundable is a moot point.

We get the maximum of $500 and have always been able to get a refund IF any of it was left.

Have a great cruise.

 

Do you get the refund via the casino, front desk or a check by mail? Everyone here is claiming the Cruise Cash is not refundable.

 

I even just checked the Carnival website and it states that Cruise Cash is non-transferable and non-refundable. Per the website, "Cruise Cash provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges. Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited."

[Cruisesfun65]

Cruise Cash IS non-refundable and the others that are stating they received their funds back, well they were lucky because they weren't suppose to.

 

This is from Carnival:

 

Cruise Cash provides an immediate credit to a guest's Sail & Sign account. This credit is good for any charge made to their account including taxes and gratuity charges. Cruise Cash is valid for a single voyage and cannot be transferred to future bookings. Cruise Cash is non-refundable and any unused credits will be forfeited.

 

Do you know how often Carnival follows their own rules?

That last line will encourage everyone to spend every single dime on board - and that's exactly what they want you to do.

We've always received our unused money back from Guest Services with Cruise Cash.

[griz400]

Just go to the front desk and cash out on last evening, or wait on check, we spend most of ours, usually only a trivial amount left, 50.00 - 100.00 or so, sometimes we have nothing due to wife in jewelry store ...:)

[ready2cruzagain]

Do you know how often Carnival follows their own rules?

That last line will encourage everyone to spend every single dime on board - and that's exactly what they want you to do.

We've always received our unused money back from Guest Services with Cruise Cash.

If you do a search here on the boards you will find some threads where people thought it was refundable and was shocked when they were told that had forfeited their money.

 

I for one would not take that chance when it clearly states that it is NOT refundable.

[goldesq]

Thank you so much everyone.

 

Essentially, Carnival doesnt always follow their own rules and buyer beware.

 

No more cruise cash for me. I dont want to lose it.