Strategies for OBC with all the upcoming price increases

[sloopsailor]

Because of all the price increases coming around the middle of Feb (bev packages, crew appreciation, wifi, and now specialty dining), we have already booked the Plus package and two specialty dining reservations to beat the increases. Unfortunately, we had to pay via credit card instead of waiting to get onboard and booking using OBC, which we have a generous amount due to shareholder and TA bonuses, both of which are not refundable. If - and that is a BIG if - we don't use all our OBC up, is there a way to convert any unused balance into cash before the cruise is over? Or do we just lose it? 

 

Thanks in advance for your advice. 

[EDDY0827]

Head to the casino and cash out there. Transfer the amount you want to cash out and add it to your casino account that you set up to play. Play a few bucks and then cash out at the casino cage.

Easy-peasy. Do this before the last night of your cruise.

[LACruiser88]

7 minutes ago, EDDY0827 said:

Head to the casino and cash out there. Transfer the amount you want to cash out and add it to your casino account that you set up to play. Play a few bucks and then cash out at the casino cage.

Easy-peasy. Do this before the last night of your cruise.

On our recent Regal cruise, the HGM told us that the casino will be changing over to a new system that will not be mixed with the ship's OBC's and it will prevent you from laundering your OBC's thru the casino. 

[voljeep]

9 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

On our recent Regal cruise, the HGM told us that the casino will be changing over to a new system that will not be mixed with the ship's OBC's and it will prevent you from laundering your OBC's thru the casino. 

will next be excursion credit have to be used for excursions?

[Bgwest]

20 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

On our recent Regal cruise, the HGM told us that the casino will be changing over to a new system that will not be mixed with the ship's OBC's and it will prevent you from laundering your OBC's thru the casino. 

Credit/Blame this change on too many similar threads/posts.

[voljeep]

4 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

Credit/Blame this change on too many similar threads/posts.

saving one punch on a coffee card?

[Musky Ike]

3 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

On our recent Regal cruise, the HGM told us that the casino will be changing over to a new system that will not be mixed with the ship's OBC's and it will prevent you from laundering your OBC's thru the casino. 

I would would gamble less or not at all if I had to play with additional $$ rather than OBC.

[Cruise Raider]

4 hours ago, sloopsailor said:

Because of all the price increases coming around the middle of Feb (bev packages, crew appreciation, wifi, and now specialty dining), we have already booked the Plus package and two specialty dining reservations to beat the increases. Unfortunately, we had to pay via credit card instead of waiting to get onboard and booking using OBC, which we have a generous amount due to shareholder and TA bonuses, both of which are not refundable. If - and that is a BIG if - we don't use all our OBC up, is there a way to convert any unused balance into cash before the cruise is over? Or do we just lose it? 

 

Thanks in advance for your advice. 

Are you sure the OBC from your TA is not refundable?  Much of the OBC given to you by your TA is refundable.  

[Honolulu Blue]

5 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

On our recent Regal cruise, the HGM told us that the casino will be changing over to a new system that will not be mixed with the ship's OBC's and it will prevent you from laundering your OBC's thru the casino. 

Thanks for sharing. I was recently on a Celebrity cruise and the notes in their newsletter went the opposite way - we were explicitly allowed to use OBC in the casino.

[travelin.sisters]

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Are you sure the OBC from your TA is not refundable?  Much of the OBC given to you by your TA is refundable.  

ours never has been refundable

[coo359a2]

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Are you sure the OBC from your TA is not refundable?  Much of the OBC given to you by your TA is refundable.  

 

Ours has always shown as nonrefundable too.

[jeeper2]

On our recent Discovery cruise only $100 was indicated as non refundable.  Of that hundred, I used all but $1, and anticipated a check from Princess for $800.  Less than two weeks later we received a check for $801. Hmmm.😊

[sloopsailor]

4 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Are you sure the OBC from your TA is not refundable?  Much of the OBC given to you by your TA is refundable.  

 

The conditions of the excellent deal we received has the OBC as non-refundable. The rest of the OBC is shareholder benefits of $250.

[billco]

Looked at the fine print of the current BSE sale. Have the terms always been "Credit must be used on the single voyage that it was awarded in connection with, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours, and expires at the end of that voyage."

[Cruise Raider]

10 hours ago, travelin.sisters said:

ours never has been refundable

Hmmm .. is that right?  I suppose it depends on multiple factors but, for the most part, our outside TA’s OBC has almost always been refundable.  

[Steelers36]

13 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Are you sure the OBC from your TA is not refundable?  Much of the OBC given to you by your TA is refundable.  

 

10 hours ago, travelin.sisters said:

ours never has been refundable

 

10 hours ago, coo359a2 said:

 

Ours has always shown as nonrefundable too.

 

8 hours ago, sloopsailor said:

 

The conditions of the excellent deal we received has the OBC as non-refundable. The rest of the OBC is shareholder benefits of $250.

 

41 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

Hmmm .. is that right?  I suppose it depends on multiple factors but, for the most part, our outside TA’s OBC has almost always been refundable.  

 

From the above, I would say @Cruise Raider has a good TA and the rest of you should find a new one.

 

I use a TA that gives a cash discount off the fare and we pay the net amount up front.  I have read that some agencies charge guests the full fare and then rebate back with OBC.  In order to be equivalent to guests who use discounting TA's like I do, you would for sure want that OBC to be refundable.  I have also read that some agencies (like the infamous Big Box) give back store credits.  Those are like cash in your pocket as well.  I prefer our cash discounts, but a store credit would be a better option than non-refundable OBC - especially for a guest that normally books the inclusive Plus package.

 

ETA:  I should point out that Group OBC from an agency is always non-refundable, but that is another beast from a cruise fare deal/discount below the Princess pricing.

Edited December 20, 2022 by Steelers36

[sloopsailor]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

From the above, I would say @Cruise Raider has a good TA and the rest of you should find a new one.

 

Good TAs aren't always measured on whether the OBC they offer is refundable or not.  If you knew how large the discount was on my fare, you would realize that the OBC given is just icing on the cake. Considering how much he saved me, I could easily afford to lose that non-refundable OBC and still come out far ahead in the end.

 

 

[that]

3 hours ago, billco said:

Looked at the fine print of the current BSE sale. Have the terms always been "Credit must be used on the single voyage that it was awarded in connection with, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours, and expires at the end of that voyage."

Think so

[Steelers36]

13 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

 

Good TAs aren't always measured on whether the OBC they offer is refundable or not.  If you knew how large the discount was on my fare, you would realize that the OBC given is just icing on the cake. Considering how much he saved me, I could easily afford to lose that non-refundable OBC and still come out far ahead in the end.

 

 

IDK how much OBC is in question, but if you got a fare discount, then the OBC is likely group OBC which is non-ref.  The largest group OBC I have had from a single voyage booking is $85.

[memoak]

3 hours ago, billco said:

Looked at the fine print of the current BSE sale. Have the terms always been "Credit must be used on the single voyage that it was awarded in connection with, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino, is not applicable during the land portion of cruisetours, and expires at the end of that voyage."

It may be that they will treat OBC used in the casino like they do with “free play dollars”. This would mean you can only cash winnings not the unused amount

[sloopsailor]

2 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

IDK how much OBC is in question, but if you got a fare discount, then the OBC is likely group OBC which is non-ref.  The largest group OBC I have had from a single voyage booking is $85.

 

And that is exactly how much OBC was given. Great fare, though!

[Steelers36]

18 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

 

And that is exactly how much OBC was given. Great fare, though!

Okay.  So that is always going to be non-ref.  I never leave cash balance on the ship, however.