YC upgrade through Concierge

[no1talks]

23 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

No, I haven’t done that!  What’s the process?

On the slot machines, one has the option to use OBC for credits in the machine.

 

Once loaded from your account, the credits can be gambled or cashed-out as a regular voucher.

 

We don't convert all our OBC to cash-out vouchers all at once, but do a bit here and a bit there.

[DaKahuna]

@MonsterJoe @no1talks   So MSC does not do like Celebrity and force you to gamble about 50% before letting you convert to cash?  There have been reports on the Celebrity Board that you need to bet at least 50% of what you charge or they will lock your account preventing further transfers.  

 

[no1talks]

1 minute ago, DaKahuna said:

@MonsterJoe @no1talks   So MSC does not do like Celebrity and force you to gamble about 50% before letting you convert to cash?  There have been reports on the Celebrity Board that you need to bet at least 50% of what you charge or they will lock your account preventing further transfers.  

 

As of our last cruise, there were no restrictions.

 

It is true that other lines are strict on this topic, even going so far as to exclude OBC use in the casino entirely.

 

If MSC tightens their policy, it will be a significant strike against them, as far as we are concerned.

[DaKahuna]

Just now, no1talks said:

If MSC tightens their policy, it will be a significant strike against them, as far as we are concerned.

 

 I am not sure i would go that far.  I have learned to work withing Celebrity's restrictions and it works out for us.  It is nice that MSC does not impose the same restriction though. 

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

20 minutes ago, MonsterJoe said:

Put credits on a slot machine from your room card - it will automatically use OBC first if they're there, then immediately cash out.  Bring it to the teller and get your cash. Some ships have little kiosks where you can cash out (up to a certain amount in the hundreds) and you don't even have to talk to anyone.  

I use this method extensively throughout the cruise to get money for tips, or to have some walking cash in the ports.

OMG...how did I not know this!!!  Thanks for the tip and for once again validating my time spent on CC 😊.

[Georgia_Peaches]

16 minutes ago, no1talks said:

On the slot machines, one has the option to use OBC for credits in the machine.

 

Once loaded from your account, the credits can be gambled or cashed-out as a regular voucher.

 

We don't convert all our OBC to cash-out vouchers all at once, but do a bit here and a bit there.

I'm definitely checking this out on the first night.  I think one of the reasons this has slipped by me is I don't carry a lot of cash to the casino and often end up charging to the room and paying anything I owe from the casino at GS before I disembark...but I'm changing that strategy and just sticking with cash.  It's too easy to "charge the room".

[Georgia_Peaches]

17 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

@MonsterJoe @no1talks   So MSC does not do like Celebrity and force you to gamble about 50% before letting you convert to cash?  There have been reports on the Celebrity Board that you need to bet at least 50% of what you charge or they will lock your account preventing further transfers.  

 

Not sure.  On Celebrity there is an option to 'Use Promo' or 'Charge Room'. I always charge the room for my play.    The 'Charge Room' feature goes to one's shipboard account and the 'Use Promo' draws from any accumulated free play or Celebrity promo that isn't from outside OBC (like from a TA). 

 

When using Promo play, one has to play 50% before cashing out.  If one wins a sum that they wish to cash out before reaching the 50% threshold, the cash out ticket will only reflect the winning amount and the unused 50% portion the promo will revert back.  

 

Since OBC is attached to the shipboard account and not the player's promo account, I can't see how they could make you play 50% of the OBC before cashing out. The casino machine has no way of knowing how much obc is attached to a shipboard account.

 

Maybe those who have reported having to play 50% were confusing Promo Play with OBC?...For as much as I've gambled on Celebrity ships, that's never happened to me.

[chrisgp999]

On 9/18/2024 at 5:32 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

Sorry, not understanding how it's irrelevant.  While what you have said is true, so is the notion that booking early saves money.  It just does.  Confused.

When and how one procures a cruise, YC or not, is not irrelevant.  The complaints by those who chose to purchae their cruise at a certain time and in a certain way is the irrelevant part.  MSC, as most other enterprises, will price and market their product based on a number of economic factors.  Complaining that one paid more than someone else who purchased their cruise earlier or later or was blessed by the upgrade fairy, while being psychologically therapeutic, will not influence MSC's marketing structure one bit.   

[mnpurple]

While on Euribia, we were told by the concierge that we could not use the non-refundable OBC in the casino. That however proved to be wrong. We tried anyway and started out with a small amount. Lucky for me, I won on a couple spins! We then went back a few more times to continue getting our OBC, which we also use for extra gratuities.