Non-refundable OBC - what CAN'T it be used for?

[LadyBerard]

We have on board credit from Holland, plus obc for shareholders, plus obc for military, plus onboard credit from gift certificates.  What can't it be used for?  I believe I have read in the past that it cannot be used for daily gratuities or in the casino.  Is that correct?

[richwmn]

First, if you purchased OBC using gift certificates it is refundable - usually back to the payment method but there have been reports that it can come back as cash or to a credit/debit card.

 

For the actual non-refundable OBC (Stock, Military) it can be used for anything, including gratuities, except the Casino and getting cash from the front desk. I know that the information you receive says that it can't be used for gratuities, but that has always been allowed on the ships.

[CruiserBruce]

Been asked and answered many times. Yes, some places say not for casino...seems to be loosely applied. Otherwise OBC can be used for anything changed to your account on board.

[NCTribeFan]

What I find ironic is that for the "free" casino offers, I pay $200 plus taxes/fees but get $200 OBC.  And then that OBC is considered non-refundable so can't be used in the casino.  What?  But I just paid $200 for that casino offer and you say I can't use the offsetting OBC in the casino?  How does that make any sense?

 

Since my main entertainment is evening gambling (I'm a low roller), it would be really nice to know whether NR OBC can actually be used there or not.  I bought a pair of earrings (which I've worn once) to use up some OBC because I wasn't sure whether it would be lost or whether, in the end, it would offset my total spending.

 

To make matters more confusing, on parent company's Carnival line, your OBC can be used in the casino even though it's called non-refundable.  I had huge OBC on each leg of my recent B2B2B and ended up spending it all.  Friends on that sailing, who do not gamble, went to the candy store and bough gift cards to use theirs up, which they'll then apply to balances due on upcoming sailings.

 

Is there anywhere on HAL ships where you can purchase gift cards or would you have to go online before the end of the cruise and purchase that way?

[DaveOKC]

On my $200 casino cruise I received a refund of the unused OBC ($200) and I used some in the casino.  I suspect that these funds are like OBC that you purchase not funds that HAL gives you.

[Banditswife]

On a recent cruise, I was able to charge a small amount to our room which then came out of our OBC.  I wasn't sure if it would work out like that, but it did.  

[SueMo]

On the Nieuw Statendam in October we had both refundable and non-refundable OBC.  We went to the front desk to ask a question about our statement and were told that all deductions (including gratuities) were taken first from the non-refundable OBC, and after that was used up they deducted from the refundable.

[texasreb]

On Carnival I could use the non-refundable OBC in the casino.