Is the casino cash advance fee still waived in a suite?

[Project_gal]

Jenna

 

Many thanks for checking for me. I can fully understand the tightening of the rules knowing, from Cruise Critic, how this has been abused in the past to obtain non-refundable OBC. It is just an inconvenience for those of us from outside the US who actually purchase their OBC. As I have said, my husband will only use cash in the slots.

[emmas gran]

Hi

 

We were on Solstice in Sept/Oct and did not spend all of the OBC we had purchased. I obtained the $$ refund from guest services at no charge rather than it go to my credit card (I bought when the rate was under £15 per $25). We were only in a regular balcony.

Liz

[Project_gal]

Hi

 

We were on Solstice in Sept/Oct and did not spend all of the OBC we had purchased. I obtained the $$ refund from guest services at no charge rather than it go to my credit card (I bought when the rate was under £15 per $25). We were only in a regular balcony.

Liz

 

Liz

 

There should not be any problem having any refundable OBC refunded in cash at the end of the cruise without any surcharge. The doubt has been able obtaining cash for use in the Casino during the cruise.

[gary2835]

Somebody please tell me what an upper suite is? We will be in a celebrity suite in December. Linda plays slots and wanted to use the on-board credit given us by Celebrity when we booked. Will she be able to get those slot chips?

[Project_gal]

Somebody please tell me what an upper suite is? We will be in a celebrity suite in December. Linda plays slots and wanted to use the on-board credit given us by Celebrity when we booked. Will she be able to get those slot chips?

 

"Upper" or "high-end" suites vary according to context! The phrases are used to differentiate different type of suites where perks vary according to type of suite. (e.g. once Michael's Club was originally only available to Celebrity Suite and above; only RS and above receive unlimited specialty dining, etc.).

 

However, as far as the 5% surcharge being waived in the Casino, I believe that this is perk for all suites (including a Celebrity Suite).

[bjahil47]

Just got off the Equinox. We were told at Guest Relations and the casino you can only use your OBC Refundable for gambling. And since I wanted to play slots, it was put on my card and I had to gamble so much before it became "real cash" I could exchange for cash. I was in a Sky Suite 2.

 

Also, you can use any OBC for additional tips to Butler, Waitstaff, etc. BUT, any amounts to waitstaff in dining venues is put in a pool and not directly to whom you specify! Having been given incorrect info at beginning of cruise and turning in the form on

Last day I had to quickly scramble to spend OBCN as I wanted the extra tips to go to my waiter specifically, therefore I gave him cash. Hope this helps!

Edited November 20, 2016 by bjahil47

[Project_gal]

Also, you can use any OBC for additional tips to Butler, Waitstaff, etc. BUT, any amounts to waitstaff in dining venues is put in a pool and not directly to whom you specify! Having been given incorrect info at beginning of cruise and turning in the form on

Last day I had to quickly scramble to spend OBCN as I wanted the extra tips to go to my waiter specifically, therefore I gave him cash. Hope this helps!

 

Are you speaking of basic gratuities or additional tips? All basic gratuities go into the pool even if you pay in cash. I have been categorically assured, in the past, that if you complete the form for additional gratuities from you OBC, it will be given directly to the person you named on the form.

[kk99]

Onboard Silhouette (11/20) and a Blue Chip member. I asked the casino host and this is the current policy on this ship. The 5% percent charge is waived for all suites. Any Blue Chip rebate money is in promo credits for slots or promo chips for tables. Charges to your seapass for cash are given in Promo chips for tables or slot credits.

 

If you specifically bought precruise casino credit, they will give you the real table chips instead of promo chips. So if you are in a suite and prebought casino credits, get the real table chips , then if you want to play slots with cash, wait a little and cash them in for cash. They will probably close this avenue as well, but it worked yesterday for one of my siblings.

 

There is no consistency between the ships as the managers sometimes make variations from the standard published rules. I only see the rules tightening.

 

Project Gal, I still believe the best answer is setting up a line of credit for your husband if he does not want to carry cash with him. I wish that Celebrity officially publish their guidelines to clear up the confusion over the credits and charges.

[rcsharp121]

We are new to celebrity (cruised with princess 3 times) and we board the Reflection on Saturday. In the past on princess ships we would just use our cruise card at a table and pull money off there at no additional charge nor were the chips "funny money". Is this not how it works on celebrity? Should I be bringing cash to play at the casino?

 

We typically keep our chips till the end of the cruise and cash out then by either taking the cash or paying off our account.

We also received $300 OBC for this cruise, will this not just be used to cover what you have on your account regardless if its for gratuities or from the casino?

[Project_gal]

Project Gal, ... I wish that Celebrity officially publish their guidelines to clear up the confusion over the credits and charges.

 

I agree. I emailed the Shoreside Concierge in the hope of getting a definitive answer but received no reply. I guess that they do not want to commit themselves to anything.

[kk99]

ProjectGal,

I communicated this to both the Silhouette Guest Relations and Hotel Manager who are absolutely lovely people to email shoreside, as well as asking the Silhouette casino manager.

 

I believe that if people are able to us their refundable obc and get real chips and slot play from their obc, and not the promo chips or slot credits , they should consider themselves fortunate as the published rules from Miami shoreside casino corporate are different.

 

We will be back on a ship the first week of January, and will report if there are any other changes. Everyone have a lovely upcoming cruise.

[FeelingCruisy]

Is that definitely true about refundable credit? Others have reported otherwise. Is it possible that it has been belatedly realised that the two types of OBC should be treated differently?

sorry for the late reply. We calculated how much we can take out (after all expenses) and requested cash from the casino at the cage. We were given cash, no fee. It could be because we were in the RS? But she did mentioned something about waiving the 5% (wasn't paying attention, anything $ waived is good). We sailed Constellation last month. We'll be on the Eclipse in a couple weeks and let me try it again!! (lots of OBC and OBN)

Edited November 23, 2016 by FeelingCruisy

[FeelingCruisy]

Just got off the Equinox. We were told at Guest Relations and the casino you can only use your OBC Refundable for gambling. And since I wanted to play slots, it was put on my card and I had to gamble so much before it became "real cash" I could exchange for cash. I was in a Sky Suite 2.

 

Also, you can use any OBC for additional tips to Butler, Waitstaff, etc. BUT, any amounts to waitstaff in dining venues is put in a pool and not directly to whom you specify! Having been given incorrect info at beginning of cruise and turning in the form on

Last day I had to quickly scramble to spend OBCN as I wanted the extra tips to go to my waiter specifically, therefore I gave him cash. Hope this helps!

OBR can only be used for gambling??? I thought it's treated like a regular credit for anything. Anyway, we were told about the pool too. Just want to clarify about the pool. We were told by guest relations, all tips goes to the pool, except for the butler. Anything you write for the butler goes directly to him. I then confirmed it with our butler, he said it was true. Anyway, we got the cash and gave him cash instead, just to be on the safe side. This was Constellation last month.