OBC as part of our 'cruise package'. How do you know if it's a refundable OBC or not?

[yogamom]

We bought a 'cruise package' vacation which included everything (gratuities, wifi, drinks).

 

They also gave us OBC.  How do you know if those OBC are refundable or non refundable?  We don't go to the casino and we also booked most of our excursions privately.  Is there a way to find out in advance?  

[39august]

OBC from your Celebrity booking is nonrefundable. You can spend it on anything on board; spa, shops, specialty dining, photots, etc. Or drop a private excursion and take a ship one instead. 

[cruisestitch]

3 minutes ago, yogamom said:

We bought a 'cruise package' vacation which included everything (gratuities, wifi, drinks).

 

They also gave us OBC.  How do you know if those OBC are refundable or non refundable?  We don't go to the casino and we also booked most of our excursions privately.  Is there a way to find out in advance?  

You can ask the agency you booked through, but there’s no way to see it in your account until you are on board. 
 

Because this gets asked so often I've compiled a list of things to spend OBC on. One thing I know of now that you CAN'T buy with OBC is a deposit on a Future Cruise. You need a credit card for that.  Also, there may be some card game in the casino with a cash only buy-in.   And if they do a fundraiser, like selling t-shirts to “save the reefs” and the like, expect to need cash for that.  Otherwise, here you go:

 

 

*Acupuncture

*Airport transfers

*Alcove/cabana Rental (some ships)

*Apple products, go-pro, etc

*Art Auction Purchases

*Babysitting

*Barber Shop services 

*Behind the Scenes Tours

*Beverages -- Alcoholic, carbonated soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water — if not in your package, also beverages above your package limits

*Bingo and Deal or No Deal

*Bottles of wine

*Casino

*Chef’s Table

*Corkage charged if you bring your own bottles of wine to the MDR

*Duty free liquor and cigarettes

*Extra cost entrees and other items in Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants

*Extend Your Stay program

*Fitness classes

*Flowers

*Gelato

*Gift shop souvenirs, purses, watches, cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, etc.

*Gratuities, and extra gratuities

*Guests dining with you in Luminae (applies to Suite Passengers only)

*Guest entertainers' CD's and DVD's

*Hair and nail salon

*Hollywood hot glass experiences (some ships)

*Internet if not in your package, also Internet upcharges 

*Laundry/pressing/drycleaning

*Liquor Tasting events

*Luggage Valet (FLL and MIA only)

*Martini Flights

*Medical Center purchases 

*Mini bar

*Portrait photo sessions

*Pay-per-view movies

*Persian Gardens passes

*Personal Training Sessions

*Photos & cameras

*Room service fees

*Ryde spinning classes

*Shore Excursions

*Shuttle to town (some ports)

*Spa -- massages and treatments

*Specialty restaurants

*Teeth Whitening

*Telephone calls using ship's system

*Transfer to another passenger's account

*Voyage in Review DVD

*Wine and liquor tastings

*Zumba

 

They will always use non-refundable OBC first,  then refundable OBC, And if you run out of that then it goes on your credit card

[wrk2cruise]

One way you can try to determine is to look at your Cruise Planner.  If it's Non-Refundable OBC from Celebrity it will show at the top as available to spend on things in the Cruise Planner.  OBC from other sources may not be posted until you are onboard.

[leaveitallbehind]

OBC issued by the cruise line is non-refundable and any unused portion at the end of the cruise will be lost.  Refundable OBC is issued by a third party, such as yourself, a friend or family member, or your travel agent, essentially as a gift. Any unused portion at the end of the cruise is issued back as a credit to you. OBC issued by a credit card provider is also refundable and any unused portion will be credited back to the card account. Note that TA issued refundable OBC may be credited back to them and it would then be up to them as to whether or not you receive a credit.  

 

If both are issued on a given cruise, the non-refundable OBC is charged and depleted first by the cruise line, and the refundable OBC to be charged and depleted last.

 

Any charges, other than that which would be a deposit made on board for a future cruise, that are credited to your on board account will have OBC applied to the charges as described. Future cruise deposits are charged directly to your credit card and not to the stateroom's on board account. The OBC will be applied as the charges are incurred and cannot be applied discretionarily. 

Edited June 9 by leaveitallbehind

[yogamom]

7 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

One way you can try to determine is to look at your Cruise Planner.  If it's Non-Refundable OBC from Celebrity it will show at the top as available to spend on things in the Cruise Planner.  OBC from other sources may not be posted until you are onboard.

Thank you for pointing this out.  I can see it now on my cruise planner as available to spend now.  I better figure out a shore ex to use it on.

[miched]

Before the cruise it will show up as available credit as previously posted when looking at Plan My Cruise .  That amount is what  came from the Celebrity and is NR 

You can see that the photo showS $35.65 in the upper right corner

 

 

On Board on your folio it will be indicated  by:

 

OBCPCPN ONB CREDIT PCP NON REFUNDABLE        
 

and cannot be redeemed for cash.   If unused you lose it. 
 

if refundable the amount will go on your credit card if unused at the end of the cruise.  I think if you don’t use a CC you will get back cash. 
 

Best to check with GR, get a printed out foils and ask them what is and what isn’t.  

If the OBC came from Celebrity it is usually NR.   If it came from you TA it can be refundable depending on the promo 

‘

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Edited June 10 by miched

[ChucktownSteve]

Here's something to consider. If you have Refundable OBC and you send it to your credit card, the card will claw back any cash rebate on that credit amount.  That's why I always take the the full ROBC in cash.If I want something above the non refundable amount, I put it on my credit card to get the cash back.  Your account screen on the cabin TV will show R or N in the OBC codes.

[leaveitallbehind]

31 minutes ago, miched said:

If the OBC came from Celebrity it is usually NR.   If it came from you TA it can be refundable depending on the promo 

Just to add, I am not aware of any OBC from Celebrity that would be refundable.  In my experience any OBC issued but them as part of a booking is non-refundable.

 

Typically TA issued OBC is refundable as it would be coming from them as a third party. Their promo's that would include an OBC would be theirs, not the cruise lines. (Other possibly than with group or blocked staterooms they have, which then may be NR).  However, as it is coming from them any unused portion may be refunded to them and any further credit back to you could be at their discretion.

Edited June 10 by leaveitallbehind