How Can I Tell If Our OBC is Refundable?

[sasset]

How do I know if it's refundable? Our deposit says NRD on the invoice which makes that very clear. Nothing regarding the OBC.

[LGW59]

3 minutes ago, sasset said:

How do I know if it's refundable? Our deposit says NRD on the invoice which makes that very clear. Nothing regarding the OBC.

Generally OBC from Celebrity is not refundable.  If you are also getting OBC from a TA, that will not be loaded until you are on-board and their OBC is usually refundable, at least it is from my TA.

[jelayne]

Any OBC from Celebrity is non-refundable, use it or lose it.  OBC which some TAs give clients is frequentrly ( but not always) refundable.

[sasset]

That's what I thought.  I've never used a TA, but I remember checking my account near the end of a cruise and had about $68 still in OBC which was refunded. Now this was at least as far back as 2019. 

[davekathy]

Just now, sasset said:

That's what I thought.  I've never used a TA, but I remember checking my account near the end of a cruise and had about $68 still in OBC which was refunded. Now this was at least as far back as 2019. 

You got lucky then even in 2019. We've had a $1.00 of NRD OBC left on our onboard account and Celebrity didn't refund that. 

[wrk2cruise]

When onboard you can check your account.   Refundable is coded something like OBCR and non refundable OBCN.

[cruisestitch]

1 hour ago, sasset said:

How do I know if it's refundable? Our deposit says NRD on the invoice which makes that very clear. Nothing regarding the OBC.

It’s easy to tell once you are on the cruise. Both the account listing on the in room television and on the app will delineate between OBC – N and OBC – R, and you can always check at Guest relations too.

 

I don’t know any way to tell before the cruise

[wrk2cruise]

Before the cruise you can look at cruise planner.   Any OBC there is definitely non refundable.   Any additional from TA is probably refundable but check once onboard.

[Denny01]

Also, I’ve heard and seen it on mine, the non-refundable OBC is used up first, then the refundable, so if any is left, it would be the OBCR. 

 

Den

[GRBlizz]

In the old days, you could get cash at the Casino using OBC, but I assume that is no longer the case? 

[cruisestitch]

1 minute ago, GRBlizz said:

In the old days, you could get cash at the Casino using OBC, but I assume that is no longer the case? 

Yes now you can get chips to gamble at the table games or you can get money put into the slot machine account to gamble and keep whatever you win.

[GRBlizz]

57 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

Yes now you can get chips to gamble at the table games or you can get money put into the slot machine account to gamble and keep whatever you win.

So you can get the chips, not gamble, and turn them back in for cash? Seems like a pretty easy way to make OBC refundable.

[RTShaker]

10 minutes ago, GRBlizz said:

So you can get the chips, not gamble, and turn them back in for cash? Seems like a pretty easy way to make OBC refundable.

My understanding is that they are "special" marked chips that can not be turned in for cash.

[mahdnc]

8 minutes ago, RTShaker said:

My understanding is that they are "special" marked chips that can not be turned in for cash.

 

But I think once you play the special chip (say at blackjack) and if you win, your payout includes your winnings and a real chip to replace the special one you used.  

[RTShaker]

37 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

But I think once you play the special chip (say at blackjack) and if you win, your payout includes your winnings and a real chip to replace the special one you used.  

Correct

[GRBlizz]

Got it, thanks!

 

[wrk2cruise]

52 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

But I think once you play the special chip (say at blackjack) and if you win, your payout includes your winnings and a real chip to replace the special one you used.  

 

No.   You're bet is not collected and real chips for what you won is added, so you still have the promo chips you bet.

[mahdnc]

4 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

No.   You're bet is not collected and real chips for what you won is added, so you still have the promo chips you bet.

 

So if you make an even money bet with a $10 OBC chip and win, are you saying you get paid $20 in real chips and you retain the OBC chip?

[PaperSniper4]

Not sure if this was mentioned: If you have both non-refundable OBC and refundable OBC (as from your TA), the non-refundable OBC in your account will be used first. I think all cruise lines do that. I know Celebrity and Princess do.

 

 Doug

[wrk2cruise]

11 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

So if you make an even money bet with a $10 OBC chip and win, are you saying you get paid $20 in real chips and you retain the OBC chip?

 

Sorry not a table gambler.  But assuming if you normally would bet 2 $5 chips ($10) and if you won the dealer would pay you 2 additional $5 chips ($10) and you keep the your bet of 2 $5 chips ($10).

 

When using promo chips the dealer would just add the 2 $5 chips and leave your original 2 promo chips as you didn't lose the bet (the 2 promo chips), just like above.

 

Again not from personal experience at the table but from what I've seen here and from spending quite a bit of time in the casino with DW playing slots.

 

When you hear people say you play until you lose your promo chips it sort of makes sense.   The promo chips only get collected by the dealer when you lose the bet.

 

Edit: This is how I understand it works (to the advantage of the casino).   I will yield to anyone with personal experience which might differ.

Edited August 3, 2022 by wrk2cruise

[jhagen]

No problem, just transfer your OBC to the slots. Gamble if you want and cash out. The cashier will redeem the chit for cash.

[Gig103]

Hey all, bumping...

 

If I call Celebrity and buy OBC, that's always OBCR, right?  If so is there a way to buy OBC from the online planner to save the phone call and wait time?

Thanks!

[Cruise Gopher]

44 minutes ago, Gig103 said:

Hey all, bumping...

 

If I call Celebrity and buy OBC, that's always OBCR, right?  If so is there a way to buy OBC from the online planner to save the phone call and wait time?

Thanks!

I have this question also as to if it’s Refundable OBC. 
 

To answer your question about how to buy it, you can purchase it online in the pre-cruise planner. It looks like you can purchase up to $225 in one transaction online. I don’t know if you call if they will do more than that amount on one transaction.