jameslee Posted March 20, 2023 #201 Share Posted March 20, 2023 On 1/8/2023 at 4:42 PM, Cruise Gopher said: You can purchase OBC. It posts as Celebrity Cruises. I did it earlier this week and already got Points awarded in my account. Works just fine. can we purchase the OBC credit online or do we need to call in for that in order for the amex special offer to trigger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Gopher Posted March 20, 2023 Author #202 Share Posted March 20, 2023 1 minute ago, jameslee said: can we purchase the OBC credit online or do we need to call in for that in order for the amex special offer to trigger? Either is fine. But if you want to purchase a large amount then it’s easiest to just call them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 21, 2023 #203 Share Posted March 21, 2023 On 1/8/2023 at 4:42 PM, Cruise Gopher said: You can purchase OBC. It posts as Celebrity Cruises. I did it earlier this week and already got Points awarded in my account. Works just fine. I was trying to purchase OBC for my Celebrity Cruise but can't seem to find it, I went thru all sections of cruise planner on www.celebritycruises.com. I see other items like wifi and chocolate but not obc. Where is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Gopher Posted March 21, 2023 Author #204 Share Posted March 21, 2023 3 hours ago, jameslee said: I was trying to purchase OBC for my Celebrity Cruise but can't seem to find it, I went thru all sections of cruise planner on www.celebritycruises.com. I see other items like wifi and chocolate but not obc. Where is it? https://www.celebritycruises.com/gifts Scroll down and click on onboard credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 21, 2023 #205 Share Posted March 21, 2023 12 hours ago, Cruise Gopher said: https://www.celebritycruises.com/gifts Scroll down and click on onboard credit. Thanks. Very helpful. I think they manually have to approve purchases I just purchased but no debit from card yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 22, 2023 #206 Share Posted March 22, 2023 On 3/11/2023 at 6:18 AM, kwokpot said: There's a loophole to avoid a clawback of bonus points from AMEX if the purchased OBC is refunded at the end of the cruise;use a different credit card onboard than the AMEX account you used to purchase the OBC. If the OBC is refunded to a different credit card AMEX will have no idea that the transaction has occurred, thus no chance of a clawback of bonus points. Is it possible to use the OBC to play slots then withdraw the remaining balance as cash from slot machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 22, 2023 #207 Share Posted March 22, 2023 On 2/26/2023 at 6:24 AM, wrk2cruise said: @kwokpot Did you eventually get statement credit for it. I had a similar situation when I used my Amex for my onboard account on Summit. Got this email but then several days later got another saying it didn't qualify for the credit due as the charge eventually came through as SummitOnboard or something like that. Did you get credit for it eventually? Did you purchase the onboard credit from the celebrity.com website by logging into your account? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwokpot Posted March 22, 2023 #208 Share Posted March 22, 2023 1 minute ago, jameslee said: Is it possible to use the OBC to play slots then withdraw the remaining balance as cash from slot machine? No, you can only cash out winnings. So for example you have $20 in the machine and spin $1and win $2. You can cash out the $2 but you must play out the remaining $19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 22, 2023 #209 Share Posted March 22, 2023 1 minute ago, kwokpot said: No, you can only cash out winnings. So for example you have $20 in the machine and spin $1and win $2. You can cash out the $2 but you must play out the remaining $19 oh I see. Do you know if I purchase $1000 in obc by calling in then I don't use the obc, can i get it back out as cash from guest services? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwokpot Posted March 22, 2023 #210 Share Posted March 22, 2023 3 minutes ago, jameslee said: Did you get credit for it eventually? Did you purchase the onboard credit from the celebrity.com website by logging into your account? Yes, I did. I purchased pre-cruise slot credits which gives you a 10% bonus. The pre-cruise slot credits purchase did qualify and I received the extra membership points literally 2 days after the charge went through, way before I got on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwokpot Posted March 22, 2023 #211 Share Posted March 22, 2023 2 minutes ago, jameslee said: oh I see. Do you know if I purchase $1000 in obc by calling in then I don't use the obc, can i get it back out as cash from guest services? Not sure about that, so I can't advise you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMiz Posted March 22, 2023 #212 Share Posted March 22, 2023 15 minutes ago, kwokpot said: No, you can only cash out winnings. So for example you have $20 in the machine and spin $1and win $2. You can cash out the $2 but you must play out the remaining $19 When did they change that ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwokpot Posted March 22, 2023 #213 Share Posted March 22, 2023 (edited) 16 minutes ago, TheMiz said: When did they change that ? I'm talking specifically about purchased slot credits, not about charging your account for slot money. Sorry for the confusion. Edited March 23, 2023 by kwokpot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chamima Posted March 23, 2023 #214 Share Posted March 23, 2023 11 hours ago, jameslee said: oh I see. Do you know if I purchase $1000 in obc by calling in then I don't use the obc, can i get it back out as cash from guest services? Yes. On the last full day of your cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterBill99 Posted March 24, 2023 #215 Share Posted March 24, 2023 On 3/22/2023 at 7:32 PM, jameslee said: oh I see. Do you know if I purchase $1000 in obc by calling in then I don't use the obc, can i get it back out as cash from guest services? You don't even need to do that if you don't want to walk around with that much cash. They'll just credit back to your card on file whatever refundable OBC you have on your account at the end of the cruise. Just make sure it isn't the AMEX card you used this offer on, or they'll claw back the points. You also don't want to send the money back to a credit card that offers cash/points because you'll be "charged" whatever percentage you'd get on a purchase. What I know that I have money being refunded at the end of a cruise, I use a debit card for my shipboard account, so it goes back without costing me anything. It shows up really quickly, a day or two after the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 24, 2023 #216 Share Posted March 24, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, MisterBill99 said: You don't even need to do that if you don't want to walk around with that much cash. They'll just credit back to your card on file whatever refundable OBC you have on your account at the end of the cruise. Just make sure it isn't the AMEX card you used this offer on, or they'll claw back the points. You also don't want to send the money back to a credit card that offers cash/points because you'll be "charged" whatever percentage you'd get on a purchase. What I know that I have money being refunded at the end of a cruise, I use a debit card for my shipboard account, so it goes back without costing me anything. It shows up really quickly, a day or two after the cruise. oh I don't mind walking with the cash, it is better then getting from atm. I was wondering though I read the obc online it says "Please note that a 5% handling fee will be assessed if the credit is redeemed in the casino." so for the obc if I buy $1000 i cannot use it at casino otherwise they charge me $50? but at the end of the cruise if I don't use the obc I can completely cash out it without paying the fee? Also, I have some free onboard credit from TA. Is the non-refundable obc used first before the refundable? Edited March 24, 2023 by jameslee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chamima Posted March 24, 2023 #217 Share Posted March 24, 2023 1 hour ago, jameslee said: oh I don't mind walking with the cash, it is better then getting from atm. I was wondering though I read the obc online it says "Please note that a 5% handling fee will be assessed if the credit is redeemed in the casino." so for the obc if I buy $1000 i cannot use it at casino otherwise they charge me $50? but at the end of the cruise if I don't use the obc I can completely cash out it without paying the fee? Also, I have some free onboard credit from TA. Is the non-refundable obc used first before the refundable? We had the same question and it seems, yes, if you get it from the casino they will charge 5%. Non-refundable OBC is used first (and also disappears at the end of the cruise if not used on board). Sometimes OBC from the travel agent is refundable, sometimes not. Check your account when you board. 7 hours ago, MisterBill99 said: You don't even need to do that if you don't want to walk around with that much cash. They'll just credit back to your card on file whatever refundable OBC you have on your account at the end of the cruise. Just make sure it isn't the AMEX card you used this offer on, or they'll claw back the points. You also don't want to send the money back to a credit card that offers cash/points because you'll be "charged" whatever percentage you'd get on a purchase. What I know that I have money being refunded at the end of a cruise, I use a debit card for my shipboard account, so it goes back without costing me anything. It shows up really quickly, a day or two after the cruise. The problem with doing this is that if you book another cruise while on board they will charge it to the credit card on file. Our Amex is our oldest and most steady card so we like future cruise deposits to be on it. That way if we cancel we know the deposit won't get lost on a cancelled card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterBill99 Posted March 24, 2023 #218 Share Posted March 24, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, jameslee said: oh I don't mind walking with the cash, it is better then getting from atm. I was wondering though I read the obc online it says "Please note that a 5% handling fee will be assessed if the credit is redeemed in the casino." so for the obc if I buy $1000 i cannot use it at casino otherwise they charge me $50? but at the end of the cruise if I don't use the obc I can completely cash out it without paying the fee? Also, I have some free onboard credit from TA. Is the non-refundable obc used first before the refundable? First, my experience is that OBC from TA's has always been refundable. Only OBC from the cruise line is non-refundable. Similarly, I don't think they're not going to charge you 5% to access your refundable OBC that you have on your account. I believe that would only be if you had no credit and pulled more on your account, which would be charged to a credit card. People have even reported being able to access non-refundable OBC from slot machines and then cashing out, and I've never heard anyone talk about a surcharge. As for getting cash, if I am flying home, I prefer not to have to carry a lot of money in my wallet if there is a good option. If I drove to the port, it's a different story, although I'd still need to get to an ATM to deposit the cash since I charge everything I can and would have no use for that much cash. Edited March 24, 2023 by MisterBill99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterBill99 Posted March 24, 2023 #219 Share Posted March 24, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, chamima said: We had the same question and it seems, yes, if you get it from the casino they will charge 5%. Non-refundable OBC is used first (and also disappears at the end of the cruise if not used on board). Sometimes OBC from the travel agent is refundable, sometimes not. Check your account when you board. The problem with doing this is that if you book another cruise while on board they will charge it to the credit card on file. Our Amex is our oldest and most steady card so we like future cruise deposits to be on it. That way if we cancel we know the deposit won't get lost on a cancelled card. I have never had TA OBC that is not refundable. Obviously, it's possible, and as you said, check when on board. I covered the casino 5% in my other reply. Bottom line, I don't believe it is charged if you have a credit in your account. Someone is free to correct me based on their personal experience (not what the fine print says). As with the AMEX offer, things often do not work the way the fine print would lead you to believe. As for the issue of booking a future cruise, you can give them a different card to use when you book it. Did that on my latest cruise. If you do not give them a card, it will default to your card on file. I used a Bank of America card where I get 5.25% back on travel. Obviously, I did not want to use that for my large refund of refundable OBC. Edited March 24, 2023 by MisterBill99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisemover Posted March 26, 2023 #220 Share Posted March 26, 2023 Do MoveUp upgrades qualify for the Amex Offer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise Gopher Posted March 26, 2023 Author #221 Share Posted March 26, 2023 6 hours ago, cruisemover said: Do MoveUp upgrades qualify for the Amex Offer? No, I don’t believe so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMiz Posted March 26, 2023 #222 Share Posted March 26, 2023 8 hours ago, cruisemover said: Do MoveUp upgrades qualify for the Amex Offer? As long as it is charged through Celebrity One important thing to remember don't way until last day to use your offer you could get screwed Last year I took advance of a Hilton offer think it was for $75 back and the last day was Jan 1st 2022 We stayed at a Hilton Embessy Suites per cruise , I never got my $75 so I contacted Amex they looked into the charge well their answer was the actual charge didn't post until Jan 2nd so they would not honor it. My charge went in on a Dec 30th stay for a Dec 31st NYE cruise . Allow a few days to be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisemover Posted March 26, 2023 #223 Share Posted March 26, 2023 6 hours ago, TheMiz said: As long as it is charged through Celebrity Thanks for the advice. Do you know if the purchase is charged through Celebrity? I read a third-party handles the bids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chamima Posted March 26, 2023 #224 Share Posted March 26, 2023 2 minutes ago, cruisemover said: Thanks for the advice. Do you know if the purchase is charged through Celebrity? I read a third-party handles the bids. i wouldn't count on that qualifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jameslee Posted March 28, 2023 #225 Share Posted March 28, 2023 I tried calling today at8002426374 to buy $1000 obc and rep told me make sure you have someone in mind otherwise it is non refundable is this true? Or are all purchasable obc refundable at end of cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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