OBC toward gratuities

[PreciousPetal]

I will be going on the Summit next year. If I take the obc perk, can that be applied towards the daily gratuities?

[PreciousPetal]

Thanks. I have been on some cruise lines that do not honor obc towards gratuities. Good to know that Celebrity does. I will choose that perk then.

[Jim_Iain]

Actually depending on the length of the cruise and the perks being offered it can be advantageous to pay the upgrade from the Go Big to Go Bigger. Often you can upgrade the package for $100 and choose the OBC of $150 pp.

 

The best deal if you drink is the Classic package. From there figure out your tips for the length of the cruise and see if the OBC is more. The worse deal is generally the Internet unless you need 2 connections.

[GUT2407]

Sure can.

[GUT2407]

Actually depending on the length of the cruise and the perks being offered it can be advantageous to pay the upgrade from the Go Big to Go Bigger. Often you can upgrade the package for $100 and choose the OBC of $150 pp.

 

The best deal if you drink is the Classic package. From there figure out your tips for the length of the cruise and see if the OBC is more. The worse deal is generally the Internet unless you need 2 connections.

 

Yep, always do the sums.

[NantahalaCruiser]

Thanks. I have been on some cruise lines that do not honor obc towards gratuities. Good to know that Celebrity does. I will choose that perk then.

 

It's my understanding that unrestricted OBC can be used for gratuities on Celebrity, but restricted OBC cannot. Since the Go Big OBC is restricted OBC it cannot be used for gratuities.

[cruisestitch]

As I wrote in the other thread on this topic, I have never seen any form of "restricted" OBC on Celebrity. Perhaps this happens on other lines?

[GUT2407]

Never heard of Restricted OBC, what line is that on.

[thebutlerdidit]

It's my understanding that unrestricted OBC can be used for gratuities on Celebrity, but restricted OBC cannot. Since the Go Big OBC is restricted OBC it cannot be used for gratuities.

 

Any OBC applied to your onboard account offsets any charges made. The only restriction I've heard mentioned is that future cruise deposits must be a separate charge.

[jb008]

There are two forms of OBC, Refundable (-R) and Nonrefundable (-N). The OBC-R can be credited back to you at the end of the cruise if not spent (examples of OBC-R can include gifts from TA, cancelled excursion that credits back to your account, or OBC paid for in advance of the cruise), unused OBC-N is forfeited at the end of the cruise. I think they may show on your account as OBN and OBR.

 

OBC-N is not supposed to be useable for regular casino chips or cash back from the casino to "play slots" (both cashing in chips and cash from the window carries a fee, something like 5%). YMMV, but reports seem to be indicating this is getting more carefully enforced as time goes on.

 

Aside from these cashing out style things, AFAIK there's no other restriction on what OBC-N can be used for. Basically, the OBC-N is depleted first and OBC-R is used last. Specific to your tipping question, we used OBC(-N) to pay additional gratuities (beyond the auto-tip, which we had as one of our perks) on EQ earlier this month. The pursuer's desk had a form that allowed us to add an extra tip charged back to the room account with spaces for the butler (if applicable), cabin steward, assistant cabin stewards, "other housekeeping services", and "dining services". Where Other and Dining services were shared amongst all the staff and couldn't be earmarked for any specific person.

Edited July 28, 2016 by jb008

[Junebug1]

It's my understanding that unrestricted OBC can be used for gratuities on Celebrity, but restricted OBC cannot. Since the Go Big OBC is restricted OBC it cannot be used for gratuities.

 

We have used Go Big OBC 2xs to pay our gratuities.

[DrivesLikeMario]

It's my understanding that unrestricted OBC can be used for gratuities on Celebrity, but restricted OBC cannot. Since the Go Big OBC is restricted OBC it cannot be used for gratuities.

 

That's not correct with Celebrity.

[morrisretired]

Our TA called Celebrity when we were booking our cruise, to verify that we could use the $300 OBC, toward the gratuities. He noted the person's name from Celebrity on our reservation, in case there was a problem later. Norwegian is one that will not let use the OBC, to apply toward the gratuities. We had to get their OBC through the NCL Casino.

[AnnetteSC]

I copied this from my confirmation email:

 

Bonus Shipboard Credit and More

• $300.00 Bonus Shipboard Credit (Inside, Ocean-view, Balcony, Suite)

Member Benefits and Added Values:

• Go Better Classic Beverage Package

Two complimentary perks: Valid for new bookings made 4/1/16 - 5/1/16 in ocean-view stateroom or above. Beverage packages vary by ship, are on a per-cruise basis and no refunds issued for unused amounts. Packages may not be shared. Not applicable to gift shop, mini-bar, room service or Enomatic® wine dispenser. No onboard cancellations after day of embarkation. Must be 21 or older to purchase/consume alcohol. Shipboard credit has no cash value, applicable to cruise only, is nontransferable, not redeemable for cash and will expire if not used by 10 p.m. on the final night of the cruise. Not applicable to 3rd or 4th guests. Classic non-alcoholic beverage package and Internet package (40 minutes) are applicable to each 3rd and 4th guest in ocean-view and above.

• Go Better Bonus Shipboard Credit (included in cruise line shipboard credit shown above)

[WestLakeGirl]

Yes, the OBC received as part of the Celebrity promotions is non refundable and cannot be redeemed for cash.

 

OBC received as a gift is refundable.

 

See post 10 above for further information.

[AnnetteSC]

Yes, the OBC received as part of the Celebrity promotions is non refundable and cannot be redeemed for cash.

 

OBC received as a gift is refundable.

 

See post 10 above for further information.

 

Yes but the OP asked if OBC from Celebrity could be used for daily gratuities to which I responded yes. Another person responded no. That is why I copied my confirmation email above.

Edited August 4, 2016 by AnnetteSC

[roquejo]

It's my understanding that unrestricted OBC can be used for gratuities on Celebrity, but restricted OBC cannot. Since the Go Big OBC is restricted OBC it cannot be used for gratuities.

 

It's sad that someone would post false information like this to mislead others.

 

The cruise I know that you can't use the OBC for gratuities is NCL. Both sister cruise line RCCL and X allows OBC to use for gratuities.

[Momma Rene]

There are two forms of OBC, Refundable (-R) and Nonrefundable (-N). The OBC-R can be credited back to you at the end of the cruise if not spent (examples of OBC-R can include gifts from TA, cancelled excursion that credits back to your account, or OBC paid for in advance of the cruise), unused OBC-N is forfeited at the end of the cruise. I think they may show on your account as OBN and OBR.

 

OBC-N is not supposed to be useable for regular casino chips or cash back from the casino to "play slots" (both cashing in chips and cash from the window carries a fee, something like 5%). YMMV, but reports seem to be indicating this is getting more carefully enforced as time goes on.

 

Aside from these cashing out style things, AFAIK there's no other restriction on what OBC-N can be used for. Basically, the OBC-N is depleted first and OBC-R is used last. Specific to your tipping question, we used OBC(-N) to pay additional gratuities (beyond the auto-tip, which we had as one of our perks) on EQ earlier this month. The pursuer's desk had a form that allowed us to add an extra tip charged back to the room account with spaces for the butler (if applicable), cabin steward, assistant cabin stewards, "other housekeeping services", and "dining services". Where Other and Dining services were shared amongst all the staff and couldn't be earmarked for any specific person.

 

How do you determine on your Celebrity online record whether it is OBC-N or OBC-R? I cannot find the credit on my record. Should I call before I board?

[WestLakeGirl]

What was the source of the OBC? That is how you will know