Best use of $500 OBC with YC

[PimmCruise]

My dad and I both have solo YC cabins on the meraviglia for Dec 18th. Our cabins came with $500 each for OBC on a 5 night cruise.

 

We will book massages, not sure if speciality dining would be worth it as we are in YC.

 

Tips for  great uses of OBC? 500 seems like a ton when so much is already included:) 

 

[phissy]

Your OBC can be used to pay your DSC . MSC allows this use.

Book excursions onboard.

Also, you can go to casino and play slots and then cash out. 
Put amount on machine from your onboard account . For example, we put $150 on slot machine from onboard account.  Then play a few times, then hit Cash Out button. Next day, go to Cashier with voucher from machine and get cash. Rinse and repeat.   Just keep track when casino is open. Normally it will not be open in port or last night of cruise.
We use the cash for our YC  tips to Staff. 

Edited September 10, 2022 by phissy

[PimmCruise]

8 minutes ago, phissy said:

Your OBC can be used to pay your DSC . MSC allows this use.

Book excursions onboard.

Also, you can go to casino and play slots and then cash out. 
Put amount on machine from your onboard account . For example, we put $150 on slot machine from onboard account.  Then play a few times, then hit Cash Out button. Next day, go to Cashier with voucher from machine and get cash. Rinse and repeat.   Just keep track when casino is open. Normally it will not be open in port or last night of cruise.
We use the cash for our YC  tips to Staff. 

Wow that’s awesome that you can use in casino - Ty 

[mafig]

58 minutes ago, phissy said:

 

 

Also, you can go to casino and play slots and then cash out. 
 Normally it will not be open in port or last night of cruise.
 

I know about not being open in port, but the last night of the cruise?  

[dexddd]

Welcome to CC.

We had this problem once but not that much.  Butcher's Cut is open for lunch and is very good plus there is the Tapas place.  Also lots of stores.

 

Try Gelato and chocolate martini which will not be much but is not free like it used to be on other ships.

[phissy]

1 hour ago, mafig said:

I know about not being open in port, but the last night of the cruise?  

I guess it depends on the waters ship is sailing. 
This has happened to us, sometimes. 
 

[mnpurple]

I would check with the ship concierge to see if you can get unused OBC reimbursed at the end of your cruise first. I think some can and some can't and I don't know how it is determined. We used some for our service charges and were able to cash out the balance with the concierge.  We also had kids in two other rooms and they used theirs for massages and laundry! 

[PimmCruise]

Thanks all, such a lovely problem to have, how do I spend 500 bucks on a vacation ? 😉 

[Two Wheels Only]

But some pewter/wood ship models from the gift shop and then sell them on eBay. Check out how many people are willing to pay 3x the retail price for one.

[Singleandnotmingling]

Such a good problem to have! Definitely can be used on excursions or the casino. Maybe you can buy a cute child a gelato 😊

[Morgsmom]

4 hours ago, mnpurple said:

I would check with the ship concierge to see if you can get unused OBC reimbursed at the end of your cruise first. I think some can and some can't and I don't know how it is determined. We used some for our service charges and were able to cash out the balance with the concierge.  We also had kids in two other rooms and they used theirs for massages and laundry! 

It sounds like it is is cruise (MSC) OBC, therefore likely NOT refundable.  OBC bought or gifted by a travel agent sometimes is.

[Nunagoras]

Pretty much all was said.

 

Permit me a note on casino closing by last night: It depends on what waters you're in and on certain ships it might to be due to a set time block for certain purchases onboard. In some of my cruises before the pandemic from 11PM before your debarkation day, they used to only permit you to purchase drinks onboard, so that your final print bill could be as near the exact amount possible for you to sign in the next morning. Things might to be different now on.

Edited September 10, 2022 by Nunagoras

[PimmCruise]

26 minutes ago, Morgsmom said:

It sounds like it is is cruise (MSC) OBC, therefore likely NOT refundable.  OBC bought or gifted by a travel agent sometimes is.

Yep it was from a booking on MSC. 

[mnpurple]

My credit was due to a cruise cancelled by MSC during Covid. It wasn't a promotion or from a TA.

[PimmCruise]

13 hours ago, mnpurple said:

My credit was due to a cruise cancelled by MSC during Covid. It wasn't a promotion or from a TA.

Good to know 

[Nunagoras]

22 hours ago, PimmCruise said:

Yep it was from a booking on MSC. 

So; that will depend on the type of credit you have: If it is from an unused FCC; then you most likely will be permitted to cash it out from the concierge if not used elsewhere. If it is part of a promotion you'll most likely to be denied cash out from concierge. You can cash it out at casino though as showed above. Have a nice sailing!...