Buying REFUNDABLE OBC for Use in Casino

I'm sorry for asking a question that has been asked before, but I've reviewed prior posts and the answers are all over the board. Does anyone know for certain how refundable OBC is handled in the casino?

I don't want to have to carry extra cash for use in the casino. I also don't want to be charged a 5% fee for getting cash. So here are my questions....

If I pre-purchase OBC will I be able to use it to get chips in the casino...

1. Without paying a 5% fee?

2. That are regular (not promo) chips?

If not, is there some other way to purchase casino credit up-front without incurring a fee?

Thanks in advance.

This is a guest. If you don't have any non-refundable credit, then I would say yes. I myself being $2000 USD in cash for gambling.

I asked celebrity Captains Club the same question, You can buy on board credit for use in the Casino, regular chips with a 5% fee. It also says the same online under the gift selection. I brought last week before it went up it's now £20.50 for $25. Hope this helps.

This is a guest. If you don't have any non-refundable credit, then I would say yes. I myself being $2000 USD in cash for gambling.

I believe this is key. If you have any non-refundable credit, I am pretty sure you will have issues regardless of how much refundable credit you have. I believe you will only get promo chips. Even without non-refundable credit this approach will be a bit of a gamble itself. I suggest you bring cash for gambling.

I asked celebrity Captains Club the same question, You can buy on board credit for use in the Casino, regular chips with a 5% fee. It also says the same online under the gift selection. I brought last week before it went up it's now £20.50 for $25. Hope this helps.

So if I read this correctly, there is absolutely no benefit to purchasing OBC in advance for use in the casino. You can simply get chips charged to your on-board account - either way you will be charged a 5% fee.

I bought refundable OBC for December cruise on Reflection.

Casino would not give me cash or regular chips even after ALL my non-refundable credit had been used.

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I bought refundable OBC for December cruise on Reflection.

Casino would not give me cash or regular chips even after ALL my non-refundable credit had been used.

 

 

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It seems that the policy is subject to change at the whim of the casino..... hence all of the confusion. Guess I'll just break down and carry cash. Casino cash plus excursion cash, I hate having all of that cash around but it looks like that's the only way to avoid paying a 5% fee and/or being stuck with promo chips.

A possible option is to withdraw cash from the ATM. We had a similar situation earlier this year with needing a lot of cash for excursions plus cash for DH at the casino. We got our bank to increase our daily withdrawal amount to $750 so paying the $6.50 for a withdrawal from the ships ATM and the banks $1.50 was the best option for us.

I bought refundable OBC for December cruise on Reflection.

Casino would not give me cash or regular chips even after ALL my non-refundable credit had been used.

 

 

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Me as well two weeks ago on Reflection. I was told that until all OBC regardless of type has been used, cash could not be given.

I bought refundable OBC for December cruise on Reflection.

Casino would not give me cash or regular chips even after ALL my non-refundable credit had been used.

 

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Bring cash...I purchased gift OBC for casino from Celebrity prior to sailing. Casino would not give back cash from the OBC when DH wanted to use it for electronic Texas holdem (must use cash to sit in). Why pay a penalty for your own money when you'd like to use it in the Casino.

On other cruise lines -

I would set up a casino account in the slot machine. I would transfer OBC money from from sail account into my casino account. I would play the slot, transfer any money to my casino account then cash out, take my voucher to the casino cashier and did cash.

Can you not do that with Celebrity?

A possible option is to withdraw cash from the ATM. We had a similar situation earlier this year with needing a lot of cash for excursions plus cash for DH at the casino. We got our bank to increase our daily withdrawal amount to $750 so paying the $6.50 for a withdrawal from the ships ATM and the banks $1.50 was the best option for us.

fyi...Our bank (charles schwab)refunds all ATM fees worldwide. That could be easier than dealing with celebrity.

OK I'll bring cash. Does anyone know if there is a problem using large bills (e.g. $500 bills) on the ship? I want to keep my cash "wad" to a reasonable size.

OK I'll bring cash. Does anyone know if there is a problem using large bills (e.g. $500 bills) on the ship? I want to keep my cash "wad" to a reasonable size.

You may have some trouble using a $500 bill. While legal tender, I believe the last was printed around the end of WWII and those bills are worth 50-100% more than face value to some collectors. So if you have a $500, better find a collector then use it at the casino.

You'll be stuck with $100s, which the ship's casino deals with quite regularly.

Bring cash...I purchased gift OBC for casino from Celebrity prior to sailing. Casino would not give back cash from the OBC when DH wanted to use it for electronic Texas holdem (must use cash to sit in). Why pay a penalty for your own money when you'd like to use it in the Casino.

Was this for a tournament or a cash game? If a tournament, this is unusual - even under the new policy they have always allowed you to withdraw cash for Tournament entry fees.

A little of 12 months ago it was a common practice for passengers who had Non refundable OBC to get CASH out of the Casino by paying a 5% fee. This cash was charged against the NOBC which clearly what it is not designed for. It became so common knowledge on this and other forums of how to effectively get a discount on a cruise fare that Celebrity has finally put a stop to the practice. I understand that the Casino has no way of determining whether advances on a seapass card are NOBC or refundable OBC hence they treat all OBC as the same and will only issue promotional credits or chips. Promotional chips cannot be redeemed for cash but the winnings resulting from their use can be. Either way you will be charged a 5% surcharge by the casino if you want to use OBC for use in the casino. Whether or not the charges for use of the ATM equate to 5% or less I don't know but it would be worth checking out if one doesn't want to bring cash. As the ATM dispenses $US non US customers would have to take currency transaction fees into account

A little of 12 months ago it was a common practice for passengers who had Non refundable OBC to get CASH out of the Casino by paying a 5% fee. This cash was charged against the NOBC which clearly what it is not designed for. It became so common knowledge on this and other forums of how to effectively get a discount on a cruise fare that Celebrity has finally put a stop to the practice. I understand that the Casino has no way of determining whether advances on a seapass card are NOBC or refundable OBC hence they treat all OBC as the same and will only issue promotional credits or chips. Promotional chips cannot be redeemed for cash but the winnings resulting from their use can be. Either way you will be charged a 5% surcharge by the casino if you want to use OBC for use in the casino. Whether or not the charges for use of the ATM equate to 5% or less I don't know but it would be worth checking out if one doesn't want to bring cash. As the ATM dispenses $US non US customers would have to take currency transaction fees into account

Just to clarify - there is no longer a 5% charge since they introduced the promo chips.

Just to clarify - there is no longer a 5% charge since they introduced the promo chips.

I agree, last autumn on the Eclipse we transferred out non refundable OBC to slot credits at no charge. Managed to turn a small profit by regularly cashing out our winnings as we played (you get the vouchers when you can cash in for real money, again at no charge)