"non-refundable" OBC - a way to cash out?

[rjhollan]

If CCL gives me $100 in "non-refundable" OBC, the idea is I have to use it on the cruise, and they won't just cut me a check at the end if I don't spend it all. But what if I go to the casino, draw $100 from my S&S to my casino account at the poker table, then go to the cashier? The cage only pays out cash, so I walk away with $100 cash in my pocket, and my folio at the end of the trip has a $100 "Entertainment" charge from the casino, along with the $100 "non-refundable" offsetting OBC.

 

Has anyone used this to backdoor refund any overages? Or has that not been a problem for people? I don't generate large bar tabs; my last 7-day cruise with a family of 5 generated ~$700 in charges for the week.

[Out to sea!]

Tips on a 7 night cruise for 2 people is about $150 so the OBC can be used to cover most of that.

[rjhollan]

Yes, I realize you'll use more than $100. I was just picking numbers for ease of computation. A more realistic scenario would be something like $700 in OBC, we consume $400 of that in tips, spend another $200 on drinks and stuff. To get the other $100 out, will the Casino trick work?

[PAPERBKWRITER]

That's how it's done. I nearly learned the hard way with non refundable OBC. The last morning when I realized It would be lost I went to GS and had it split between my cabin steward and the wait staff.

[pe4all]

One cruise we had around $500 non-refundable obc. We had pre-paid our grats, so we did the pull out of the slot machine bit. Worked with no problem.

[beckyjohns]

Can someone explain this to me? The only thing I play in the casino is blackjack. I always use cash, but I do see people pull out their s&s card out on occasion and ask to charge money on it. The dealer always tells them that there is a charge to do so (not sure if it's a percentage or a flat dollar amount). Is it different with the slot machines? Meaning, is there not a fee to charge money on the card?

[emelvee]

They'll charge 3% to withdraw money at the casino tables, right?

It's my understanding there is no fee if you put the money in your "bank" at the slot machines, then withdraw the balance.

[beckyjohns]

They'll charge 3% to withdraw money at the casino tables, right?

It's my understanding there is no fee if you put the money in your "bank" at the slot machines, then withdraw the balance.

 

Weird, so no fee at the slot machines, but fees at the tables? If that's the case, couldn't you use the slot machines to basically act as a free ATM?

[Mizzouaholic]

Another great thing about the casino is that you can sit down at a slot machine with your ss card and say put $500 on it. Then go cash out and get your $500 from the cage just like an ATM. The great thing is that if you have your credit card linked to your account with some sort of rewards program(ex: I have my Carnival Mastercard linked to my onboard account) then you will earn reward points on your credit card.

[rjhollan]

Yep, same at the poker table. Costs nothing to transfer from S&S to poker account, it's charged as a purchase (not cash advance) on your linked credit card, and you get cash from the cage.

[beckyjohns]

If poker table and slots are charged as a "purchase", why not at the tables? Not saying you're wrong, just more curious why it differs between games!!

[runamuc]

Charges at the poker tables are considered cash advances. That is why the fee. You credit card also charges a higher interest rate on those. Never could understand why the slots are not. I use the slots and download my OBC and take the cash.

[gtonda]

Another great thing about the casino is that you can sit down at a slot machine with your ss card and say put $500 on it. Then go cash out and get your $500 from the cage just like an ATM. The great thing is that if you have your credit card linked to your account with some sort of rewards program(ex: I have my Carnival Mastercard linked to my onboard account) then you will earn reward points on your credit card.

 

They will shut you down fairly quick if you do not actually play the slots. I did this last year on the Magic. I think you can do $1000/day (maybe less), anyways, I got through day 2 and they shut me down. The Casino manager came out and told me that because I had no slot activity they would no longer allow me to add funds via the slot machines.

[Mizzouaholic]

They will shut you down fairly quick if you do not actually play the slots. I did this last year on the Magic. I think you can do $1000/day (maybe less), anyways, I got through day 2 and they shut me down. The Casino manager came out and told me that because I had no slot activity they would no longer allow me to add funds via the slot machines.

 

I guess i'll just have to wait until the last day and do a large amount then.

[misstopgun]

Charges at the poker tables are considered cash advances. That is why the fee. You credit card also charges a higher interest rate on those. Never could understand why the slots are not. I use the slots and download my OBC and take the cash.

 

The credit cards do not charge higher interest unless you go to the cage and aske for cash. At the tables it is billed to your card as entertainment. It's just like another charge against your S&S that is connected to your credit card.

 

There is a 3% charge at the tables but the record keeping tends to be better if they are tracking your play.

[rjhollan]

There is no "fee" at the poker tables. I took $100 out on two occasions a couple weeks ago on the Conquest, and that's all that was on my S&S - a pair of $100 "Entertainment" charges, just as if I'd bought anything else. No extra fees or charges.

[hooforce]

My question is this: How do you know if your OBC is refundable or not? Is there an indication of that somewhere on your cruise documents? I have $100 OBC for my next cruise that I got from a Future Cruise Certificate (I paid $100, got certificate, booked a cruise, that $100 went toward the cruise, and I got $100 OBC), is this a refundable OBC if I don't use it all?

[rjhollan]

It says either "Refundable" or "Non-Refundable" on your folio. Our future cruise one was listed, as was a mysterious $9.71 credit per person. One was refundable, the other wasn't. I don't recall which was which, but it was clearly shown.

[hooforce]

It says either "Refundable" or "Non-Refundable" on your folio. Our future cruise one was listed, as was a mysterious $9.71 credit per person. One was refundable, the other wasn't. I don't recall which was which, but it was clearly shown.

 

Great! Thanks. I'll check my cruise documents.

[Letmelivehereplease]

And they use non-refundable first

[CoconutJD]

It says either "Refundable" or "Non-Refundable" on your folio. Our future cruise one was listed, as was a mysterious $9.71 credit per person. One was refundable, the other wasn't. I don't recall which was which, but it was clearly shown.

I imagine that amount was a partial refund of taxes or port fees, they probably decreased by a bit between the time you booked and the time you actually sailed.

[hooforce]

I checked my booking summary and I didn't see anything where it indicated that my OBC was refundable or not. Will I just have to wait until I check my folio on the ship or am I just missing it somewhere?

[KroozFoolz]

OBC from future cruise certificate and from shareholders benefit are non-refundable.

OBC from Early Saver price drop after final payment, from reduction of taxes, port fees (and from missing a port) are refundable. OBC from the cruise line for lunch, dinner missed due to late boarding (we had this on Legend in November due to fog causing the ship to be late getting into Tampa) is also refundable.

[rjhollan]

The first time I saw it was on my folio once we were on board. You can get a printout at the kiosk in front of Customer Service if you don't want to wait in the line, or they can print one out for you there at the counter as well.

[hooforce]

OBC from future cruise certificate and from shareholders benefit are non-refundable.

OBC from Early Saver price drop after final payment, from reduction of taxes, port fees (and from missing a port) are refundable. OBC from the cruise line for lunch, dinner missed due to late boarding (we had this on Legend in November due to fog causing the ship to be late getting into Tampa) is also refundable.

 

Awesome! That answers my question then. Since this is the case, I need to start planning on spending my $100 OBC...perhaps an excursion? If I don't do that, then I'll try the cash-out method in the casino. Could always use some extra cash! :D Thanks again!