Travel agent OBC

If we receive OBC from our travel agent, can we get it cashed out or credited to or credit card if we don't use it on board?

If we receive OBC from our travel agent, can we get it cashed out or credited to or credit card if we don't use it on board?

I believe TA OBC is non-reimbursable and must be used on board. You can not cash it.

TA OBC is refundable.

Celebrity OBC is use or lose.

Actually, it depends. We just got off the Summit & had $150 from TA. $75 was refundable & $75 was not. It just depends on how they report it.

Actually, it depends. We just got off the Summit & had $150 from TA. $75 was refundable & $75 was not. It just depends on how they report it.

I am guessing that $75 was from the TA (OBC-R-refundable) and $75 was through the TA (from Celebrity OBC-N) which would make it non-refundable. We've never had a Celebrity cruise without TA OBC which was always marked as refundable (OBC-R)

Okay, so how do we find out?

Can it be used for gratuities?

Okay, so how do we find out?

 

Can it be used for gratuities?

Your gratuities will automatically go on your Sea Pass card. Celebrity will deduct these charges from the OBC-N first (non-refundable).

If all of your OBC-N is used up, charges will start going against your OBC-R.

OBC will be indicated on your statement as "N" or "R". You can have a statement printed out at any time at Guest Relations, or look on your TV, where you can monitor all of your charges.

It's been our experience on X that unused OBC "gifted" to us by our TA is just that, a gift, and has been given to us at the end of a cruise in the form of a credit to the credit card we used for our onboard account. It's my understanding that only OBC provided by X is subject to the "use it or lose it" rule. I have, however, read on these boards that some folks take their unused OBC as an advance from the casino and pay the 4%(?) fee, figuring walking away with 96% of the unused OBC is better than losing !00% of it.

so can it be used to pay gratuities?

so can it be used to pay gratuities?

I thought I answered that question in post #7.

I thought I answered that question in post #7.

You did.

If you have OBC R or N and you don't use it all. Go to the Casino on the next to the last night and get a cash advance on you sea pass card. If they give you chips then come back later and cash them in. If they give you cash, pocket it.

You have used all your OBC. There may be a cash advance charge of $10 or 10% whichever is greater but it beats leaving money on the ship.

Just got off the Eclipse, had my excess TA OBC reimbursed.

Celebrity was very good in using the credit we received from the 1-2-3 first, then tapped the TA OBC.

It's been our experience on X that unused OBC "gifted" to us by our TA is just that, a gift, and has been given to us at the end of a cruise in the form of a credit to the credit card we used for our onboard account. It's my understanding that only OBC provided by X is subject to the "use it or lose it" rule. I have, however, read on these boards that some folks take their unused OBC as an advance from the casino and pay the 4%(?) fee, figuring walking away with 96% of the unused OBC is better than losing !00% of it.

Hi Lysolqn,

In most cases, the above information is correct. Last I heard, the casino fee is currently 5%. Still, 95 cents on the dollar, is better than losing the non-refundable OBC.

If one decides not to go to casino for cash as described in above posts, is the unused TA OBC automatically put back on credit card or must one go to guest services to request this?

If one decides not to go to casino for cash as described in above posts, is the unused TA OBC automatically put back on credit card or must one go to guest services to request this?

Just yesterday we cashed in points from our RCCL and Celebrity Visa cards for the OBC. I asked the CC Rep if I could just have it applied as a credit to the card, and was told no. BUT:eek: any that I did not use would be automatically processed as a credit to the card.

Any non-refundable amounts would be used first.

We just got back from the Solstice and had OBC from both our TA and Celebrity. The TA OBC was used up and then all but 8 cents of the Celebrity OBC. My Visa was credited with the 8 cents within 2 days of being home! We tried to use all the Celebrity OBC because we thought it was use it or lose it, apparenlt not.

Just to clarify, the Celebrity OBC was not given to us till well after the TA OBC was used up.