I thought my $600 OBC was refundable, it's NOT!

[mafig]

I see my $600 obc is listed as non-refundable on MSC's site.  When I booked this cruise my TA said it was refundable.  I can manage to spend it, or whatever's left cash it out in the casino, but I now wonder if this obc really came from the travel agent or if it came from MSC.

Anyone know?

 

I am done with the Travel Agent anyway, due to non-responsiveness.

[Greenhopster]

I understood OBC was a perk for booking a certain. Never though it was refundable. Now, as for travel agents, don't give up on them, just get a good one. We have used the same person for 15 or so cruises, and he was always prompt with answers and remedies. My most recent booking, which departs at Christmas week, he was able to rebook me, same room, ship, and date, increased my OBC and reduced my balcony fare. There is no better/affordable way to travel than a cruise.

[shipgeeks]

Not MSC, but we have been getting OBC from both our TA and the line.  I notice that neither is refundable.  Neither was specified as such until our final statement, when it was too late.  But now I know.

[lcpagejr]

Why would you think OBC is refundable?? Even if misinformed by TA??  Under your thought process...why call it OBC?? Just reduce your cruise fare at booking.  OBC is widely understood to use it or lose it.

[mafig]

11 hours ago, lcpagejr said:

Why would you think OBC is refundable?? Even if misinformed by TA??  Under your thought process...why call it OBC?? Just reduce your cruise fare at booking.  OBC is widely understood to use it or lose it.

 

Because I have received OBC back in cash on the last day on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and NCL.

That's why!

[mafig]

Also, when you go into your on-board account, on at least the above-mentioned lines, the OBC is 

divided into REFUNDABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE, with Refundable used first.

 

 

[carlmm]

3 hours ago, mafig said:

 

Because I have received OBC back in cash on the last day on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and NCL.

That's why!

That is interesting. How did you get thos kind of OBC?

The time I habe heard about refundable OBC was, when somebody had actually out cash/real money in before the cruise

[mafig]

My OBC has always been that way when coming from my TA.  It is, of course, non refundable coming from the cruise line.

Sometimes with gratuities, specialty restaurants, excursions, etc., there is none left over, but when it is I've gotten it back.

[racephoto]

20 hours ago, lcpagejr said:

Why would you think OBC is refundable?? Even if misinformed by TA??  Under your thought process...why call it OBC?? Just reduce your cruise fare at booking.  OBC is widely understood to use it or lose it.

Refundable OBC is absolutely a thing. You can get it from your travel agent as a booking incentive, or more commonly when excursions or ports are canceled and the fees are refunded to your onboard account. It generally tells you on your account if it’s refundable or not. Even if it IS refundable, it’s best to withdraw it before the end of the cruise in whatever manner you can. I had $117 from a canceled excursion on a Princess cruise and it took them MONTHS to refund it and they mailed me a check. 

[georgetheblue]

The OBC from my TA doesn’t show up until I board.  It’s the process they use to purchase it.  Pre covid, the unused portion was refunded by check from Princess a few weeks after the cruise.  I just asked my TA if it is still refundable, answer NO but depends on the cruise line.  It can’t be used until onboard and by then the speciality restaurants are already booked solid as are most excursions.  My fare is AI anyway so there’s not much to add when already onboard.  I use the cruise line OBC to upgrade the  excursions, Wi-Fi, drinks, speciality dinners etc.  Theirs gets used first anyway.  I don’t really need a trip to EFFY to spend $700 on a 6 night cruise but Im not leaving anything $$ on the table.  I might need to learn the casino trick this trip.

[DaKahuna]

On 10/11/2022 at 7:18 AM, mafig said:

 

Because I have received OBC back in cash on the last day on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and NCL.

That's why!

 

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean handle OBC differently than MSC.  MSC does not refund any OBC whether from the cruise line or from your travel agency.  The only way to make it refundable is through the casino.  

 

[mnpurple]

Some OBC is refundable. When we were on Seaview the YC concierge actually informed us we had additional credit for each of our three rooms booked for our family. We were refunded in cash by the concierge for the portion we didn't use.

 

We have also gone through the casino to get OBC cashed out when on the Divina.

Edited September 23, 2023 by mnpurple

[lcpagejr]

18 minutes ago, mnpurple said:

Some OBC is refundable. When we were on Seaview the YC concierge actually informed us we had additional credit for each of our three rooms booked for our family. We were refunded in cash by the concierge for the portion we didn't use.

 

We have also gone through the casino to get OBC cashed out when on the Divina.

Thats what  I do.... I take a cash advance against room ...play a few slots and cash out.... 

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, lcpagejr said:

Thats what  I do.... I take a cash advance against room ...play a few slots and cash out.... 

 

 Can you do this at the machine/table or do you have to go to the cashier's cage? 

 

 I guess i will have a talk with the Concierge and see if any of my OBC is refundable or not.   

 

Edited September 23, 2023 by DaKahuna

[EllieinNJ]

My TA gives me a choice of OBC on the ship or cash back which is sending me a check after the cruise. 

[lcpagejr]

4 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Can you do this at the machine/table or do you have to go to the cashier's cage? 

 

 I guess i will have a talk with the Concierge and see if any of my OBC is refundable or not.   

 

I watch my room charge statement and calculate my mandatory gratuities then I know how much extra i have left.  Ive never gone directly to cashier… just charged the amount to my room on one of slot machines. Then i cashed out and took ticket voucher to cashier for cash 

[luckyinpa]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

My TA gives me a choice of OBC on the ship or cash back which is sending me a check after the cruise. 

my TA had offered this on a very large amount of OBC for a cruise but i didnt know he could do it for lower prices cruises as well. but after booking today he called MSC and they told him NO OBC is ever given back so he will mail me a check. so glad i asked. people must be furious when they find out they lost OBC!

[DaKahuna]

57 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

my TA had offered this on a very large amount of OBC for a cruise but i didnt know he could do it for lower prices cruises as well. but after booking today he called MSC and they told him NO OBC is ever given back so he will mail me a check. so glad i asked. people must be furious when they find out they lost OBC!

 

 I know I would be very upset should that happen to me. 

 

 What's interesting is that some people are reporting that they received the remaining OBC and others repeat what your TA told you - MSC never gives back OBC.  Oh well, I will plan for a zero sum game on our February cruise.

 

[RC Dancers]

How nice to have a big OBC. We had $700 on another cruise line due to a price adjustment. We cashed out (about $100) in the casino at the end of the cruise.

[EllieinNJ]

11 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

my TA had offered this on a very large amount of OBC for a cruise but i didnt know he could do it for lower prices cruises as well. but after booking today he called MSC and they told him NO OBC is ever given back so he will mail me a check. so glad i asked. people must be furious when they find out they lost OBC!

I learned my lesson on Carnival.  I had a $600 OBC from Carnival which I used up $500 on excursions.  I also had $300 from my TA.  I used $50 in the casino.   When they told me all OBC is not refundable I was furious.  I guess I could have cashed it all out in the casino.  What we did was buy gift cards at Cherry on Top, the candy store. 

[luckyinpa]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

I learned my lesson on Carnival.  I had a $600 OBC from Carnival which I used up $500 on excursions.  I also had $300 from my TA.  I used $50 in the casino.   When they told me all OBC is not refundable I was furious.  I guess I could have cashed it all out in the casino.  What we did was buy gift cards at Cherry on Top, the candy store. 

 

until reading on this forum, i had no idea that auto refund to CC was such a luxury that ive gotten on royal. i definitely see that as a perk now vs MSC.  im glad i read , read. read. ive been teased for researching too much but this vindicates me for sure!!!!

 

on my retirement cruise im getting 2300 from TA and 800 from X and i cant imagine if i was on msc and not aware that they were keeping that all from me! i'm also shocked that there hasnt been consumer uprising over this issue to change the msc rule that no one gets their money back. i also wonder what their 'theory' is that they get to keep the TA OBC.

[EllieinNJ]

I always got my OBC refunded from NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean.  I was new to Carnival and now MSC so I didn't know that they don't refund it.

[lcpagejr]

13 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

 

until reading on this forum, i had no idea that auto refund to CC was such a luxury that ive gotten on royal. i definitely see that as a perk now vs MSC.  im glad i read , read. read. ive been teased for researching too much but this vindicates me for sure!!!!

 

on my retirement cruise im getting 2300 from TA and 800 from X and i cant imagine if i was on msc and not aware that they were keeping that all from me! i'm also shocked that there hasnt been consumer uprising over this issue to change the msc rule that no one gets their money back. i also wonder what their 'theory' is that they get to keep the TA OBC.

All I can say is ...OBC = On Board Credit. Nothing deceiving about this. Its money to be used on the ship and will be debited off any purchases/withdrawals you make!! As several of us have stated...there are ways to pocket cash...but you need to make transactions on the ship. Seems simple to me to understand?! Those who say they get unspent $$ back from other lines....I don't consider that OBC. Its like the Govt holding your cash since you have too much withdrawn (lol). In this case why wouldn't you just reduce the  price of your cruise at payment?? 

Edited September 24, 2023 by lcpagejr

[EllieinNJ]

13 minutes ago, lcpagejr said:

All I can say is ...OBC = On Board Credit. Nothing deceiving about this. Its money to be used on the ship and will be debited off any purchases/withdrawals you make!! As several of us have stated...there are ways to pocket cash...but you need to make transactions on the ship. Seems simple to me to understand?! Those who say they get unspent $$ back from other lines....I don't consider that OBC. Its like the Govt holding your cash since you have too much withdrawn (lol). In this case why wouldn't you just reduce the  price of your cruise at payment?? 

Because I would use that cash to individually pay my steward, waiters and anyone else who helped me during the cruise, in addition to the DSC .

[lcpagejr]

45 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

Because I would use that cash to individually pay my steward, waiters and anyone else who helped me during the cruise, in addition to the DSC .

You can still do that...Just go to Casino , as stated above, and apply cashout to balance on your account. FYI...Sometimes it takes up to a couple days for OBC to show on your account

Edited September 24, 2023 by lcpagejr