Use of OBC for gratuities

[cruisegrandma3]

I have more OBC than I will probably use and wonder if I can pay my gratuities with it.  I usually prepay but thought this might be a better way to handle it.  Any suggestions?

 

[MsTabbyKats]

"They" say you can use the OBC to pay gratuities (I plan to do this)....but "they" may change their mind.

[Saint Greg]

I had a cruise where I pre-payed gratuities and ended up not using all of my OBC. Ever since then I don't prepay gratuities just in case in need  something to spend my OBC on.

[cruizergal70]

At this point, I believe everyone who chose the FCC/OBC plans are using it for their gratuities. 

[drsel]

I had a cruise where I pre-payed gratuities and ended up not using all of my OBC. Ever since then I don't prepay gratuities just in case in need  something to spend my OBC on.

I use our leftover OBC to buy as many of our professional photos as possible on the last night, before they throw them in the recycling machine.

 

I heard that the Kodak photographic paper is recycled, but the ink used to print the photos goes to waste.

 

We also buy some duty free alcohol.

 

 

[Saint Greg]

6 minutes ago, drsel said:

42 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

I had a cruise where I pre-payed gratuities and ended up not using all of my OBC. Ever since then I don't prepay gratuities just in case in need  something to spend my OBC on.

You can always encash your unused OBC in the casino

 

I enjoy using onboard credit and gift cards. I don't want to lose that due to people abusing the system. But I don't think the casino was even open when I got my final bill showing I had credits left. That was before they had it on the hub app.

 

Edited August 10, 2020 by Saint Greg

[SwissMrs]

If you have OBC on your account at the end of the cruise go to the Fun Shops and get a gift card for the balance and use it on your next cruise.

[SwissMrs]

Another option is to put any unused portion of your OBC on your Sail and Spend card at one of the slot machines in the casino, wait a few minutes, then go and cash it out at the casino cashier.

[mark316]

2 hours ago, SwissMrs said:

Another option is to put any unused portion of your OBC on your Sail and Spend card at one of the slot machines in the casino, wait a few minutes, then go and cash it out at the casino cashier.

Have done that several times.

[modes]

Yes you can.


Sent from my iPad using Forums

[drsel]

Another option is to put any unused portion of your OBC on your Sail and Spend card at one of the slot machines in the casino, wait a few minutes, then go and cash it out at the casino cashier.

But why do you need to wait for a few minutes

[SwissMrs]

6 hours ago, drsel said:

16 hours ago, SwissMrs said:

Another option is to put any unused portion of your OBC on your Sail and Spend card at one of the slot machines in the casino, wait a few minutes, then go and cash it out at the casino cashier.

But why do you need to wait for a few minutes

The casino folks frown upon this.  If you wait a few minutes they don't question you about it.

[dltvermont]

21 hours ago, SwissMrs said:

The casino folks frown upon this.  If you wait a few minutes they don't question you about it.

 

Ive heard of people loading it then just making a couple plays on the slot machine then cashing out. I guess that still equals a few minutes !

[Purvis1231]

My plan is to use the OBC for the tips and what is left for other onboard spending. It will not take too long for the OBC to be gone and I will still have a bill at the end of the cruise. I doubt there will not be a lot of new OBC from price reductions because the prices are trending up. This could change once cruising resumes if Carnival cannot sell enough rooms but again I doubt this will happen. 

Edited August 12, 2020 by Purvis1231
typo

[SwissMrs]

5 hours ago, dltvermont said:

 

Ive heard of people loading it then just making a couple plays on the slot machine then cashing out. I guess that still equals a few minutes !

It does.  I don't like to play slots, just use the machines as a means to cash out my OBC. 

[monykalyn]

On 8/10/2020 at 6:09 PM, SwissMrs said:

Another option is to put any unused portion of your OBC on your Sail and Spend card at one of the slot machines in the casino, wait a few minutes, then go and cash it out at the casino cashier.

Last time I did that-decided to play with $20-made another $100 lol-did cash it out then as I figured that is never going to happen again.

[drsel]

Last time I did that-decided to play with $20-made another $100 lol-did cash it out then as I figured that is never going to happen again.

That is unbelievable.
when I play slots, which is very rare, I usually lose about 60%

[simplelife]

Yes, I have done it many times.

[monykalyn]

On 8/13/2020 at 7:54 AM, drsel said:

That is unbelievable.
when I play slots, which is very rare, I usually lose about 60%

Right? Husband wanted to keep playing and I'm grabbing the ticket and running lol! Not like Las Vegas, where we play craps and generally come out ahead.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Craps is the same on the ship as in Vegas. You can lose or win in both places. If you want to spend $1,000s on slots every day, you will come out ahead. I know a person that does 6-8 thousand on slots on every cruise. Depending on the length of the cruise. Usually 7-9 cruises a year for her. She is always ahead at the end of every cruise. Every year she is profits a minimum of $30,000.00. One year she passed $150,000.00  I could never do that. She is always getting MAJOR perks to cruise. To me that is crazy. Why would they want here to keep coming back?

[arby70]

On 8/10/2020 at 5:07 PM, SwissMrs said:

If you have OBC on your account at the end of the cruise go to the Fun Shops and get a gift card for the balance and use it on your next cruise.

This.is a great idea!

[d9704011]

15 minutes ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

If you want to spend $1,000s on slots every day, you will come out ahead.

I’m not much of a gambler but I do know something about numbers and chance.  My understanding is that slot machines are programmed to pay out about 95% of the time over the long term.  So, over a long time a gambler is almost certain to lose money.  Of course, those who don’t gamble too long and take advantage of a ‘winning streak’ and know when to cash in their chips as they say, can end up walking away better off than when they started.  All those hotels and neon light in Vegas weren’t financed by casinos losing money.

Edited August 16, 2020 by d9704011

[Moviela]

Playing in the casino aboard ship is not like playing in Vegas. The rules of table games have slightly different rules that give a larger edge to the house. Some slots in Vegas do have an expected rate of return of about 97%, but many have an 83% rate. The ones on the ship are set for 80%, and truly large progressive jackpots are limited. The games are honest, and I have never seen them engage ways to shave the players chance. I don't see them closing tables, changing dealers, or excessive shuffling. On the slot side they don't change odds depending on time of day or size of the crowd. On the housekeeping side they could wipe down the machines more often, service card and cash readers so they work first time everytime, replace bad switches, and make sure the audio works on every machine. 

 

If you need to use excessive OBC, they do sell Remy Martin Louis XIII for $3,500.00 per bottle in the gift shop.

[drsel]

Craps is the same on the ship as in Vegas. You can lose or win in both places. If you want to spend $1,000s on slots every day, you will come out ahead. I know a person that does 6-8 thousand on slots on every cruise. Depending on the length of the cruise. Usually 7-9 cruises a year for her. She is always ahead at the end of every cruise. Every year she is profits a minimum of $30,000.00. One year she passed $150,000.00  I could never do that. She is always getting MAJOR perks to cruise. To me that is crazy. Why would they want here to keep coming back?

if Cruise casino slot machines are set for an 80% pay out, then how can she keep on winning every time?
she has to lose 20% on an average