No longer able to get cash in the casino for non-refundable OBC?

[RealDeal]

Hi,

We are on Constellation right now and are also Blue Chip members. I had drinks last night with a Celebrity shoreside Blue Chip manager about the changes. Constellation casino is the first to institute the changes and it will be the same fleetwide.

If you have nonrefundable onboard credit, you can always use it for tips, shore excursions, spa, shops, bars, photos, etc. If you want to use your nonrefundable obc in the casino, you are given chips that say promo on them, and you can play them on any table game, any winnings are paid out in regular chips you can redeem at the cage. If you play slots, it is loaded onto your card which you then download to the machine by entering your month and date of birth.

 

So if you have 200 nonrefundable obc to play in the slot machine, you enter your code and download the amount you want to play in the machine- say 100.

Any winnings, print the cash out ticket. The remaining credits stay on the machine until played off or on your card.

 

I also confirmed this with the casino host on Constellation, and that is what happened when we used some of our nonrefundable credit in the casino.

 

So for others who were able to take the nonrefundable obc recently, good for you, but unfortunately, it appears it is coming to a close on the fleet.

 

But couldn't you download the amount to the machine, say $200, and then print the cash out ticket??

[cle-guy]

But couldn't you download the amount to the machine, say $200, and then print the cash out ticket??

 

What they are saying is the machine knows if you've spent all the OBC already or not, and will only pay out "winnings", not unplayed value on the card.

 

So if you have $200 OBC, and play $50, and win $100, you will get a chit for $100, and have $150 left on the card to continue to play.,

Edited November 25, 2015 by cle-guy

[RealDeal]

What they are saying is the machine knows if you've spent all the OBC already or not, and will only pay out "winnings", not unplayed value on the card.

 

So if you have $200 OBC, and play $50, and win $100, you will get a chit for $100, and have $150 left on the card to continue to play.,

 

I guess, but I can't see them re-rigging all the slots to accommodate this. I guess we'll see.

[cle-guy]

I guess, but I can't see them re-rigging all the slots to accommodate this. I guess we'll see.

 

Casinos track very carefully both PLAY and WINNINGS. This is already built in I'm sure, they now just changed the payout button to only pay out the amount of WINNINGS and not total in play, can't really be that tough I wouldn't think.

 

Would also explain why it's so far only Connie as another poster says, they haven't got to reprograming all the machines yet.

 

With all the OBC perks being offered, I'm frankly surprised it took them this long to get to it.

[RealDeal]

Casinos track very carefully both PLAY and WINNINGS. This is already built in I'm sure, they now just changed the payout button to only pay out the amount of WINNINGS and not total in play, can't really be that tough I wouldn't think.

 

Would also explain why it's so far only Connie as another poster says, they haven't got to reprograming all the machines yet.

 

With all the OBC perks being offered, I'm frankly surprised it took them this long to get to it.

 

So, what you're saying is if you have $200 OBC, play $10 on one spin and win $15, the $15 goes into the "winning" column & your OBC "bank" goes to $190 & theoretically you could "cash out" the $15? Just want to make sure I "get it."

[cle-guy]

So, what you're saying is if you have $200 OBC, play $10 on one spin and win $15, the $15 goes into the "winning" column & your OBC "bank" goes to $190 & theoretically you could "cash out" the $15? Just want to make sure I "get it."

 

yes, you get it :D

[RealDeal]

yes, you get it :D

 

Thank you, Curt.

 

So, you could conceivably actually come out ahead...it's not that they're saying you can never get back the initial investment b/c it was NR OBC, right?

[cle-guy]

Thank you, Curt.

 

So, you could conceivably actually come out ahead...it's not that they're saying you can never get back the initial investment b/c it was NR OBC, right?

 

Right - just keep gambling to PLAY the left OBC, or spend it on the ship someplace else.

[odysee]

see my comments highlighted

 

1. I guess, but I can't see them re-rigging all the slots to accommodate this. I guess we'll see. - It is already built in. Same thing happens when someone gets or wins vouchers to play in casino. You can then only cash out winnings, none of the remaining credit to play.

 

2. So, what you're saying is if you have $200 OBC, play $10 on one spin and win $15, the $15 goes into the "winning" column & your OBC "bank" goes to $190 & theoretically you could "cash out" the $15? Just want to make sure I "get it. exactly " Yesterday 07:58 PM

[canuckinindia]

In this circumstance since any credit is in the form of chips that must be bet (and on which the casino has the opportunity to make the houses betting edge) do they give the full face value of still reduce 5% first.

 

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[Jade13]

We were able to cash out our non - refundable OBC two weeks ago on Millennium. We expected to get chips and planned on playing some rounds, and were surprised when they said they would just give us the cash. They only pay out in $5.00 denominations. We thought we had forfeited .75, so were surprised when the leftover change ended up back on our credit card.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Jade13

[Hflors]

I just booked a cruise and picked the "best" package. With this I think I am getting a 300 obc. So when will I find out if it is refundable or non-refundable?

 

This all seems too complicated. If its a obc celebrity needs to stop worrying about how you spend it. It was your money to begin with. The prices are inflated to begin with and now we will need to find out how and when we can use it???

 

my 2 cents!

[Grandmaanne7]

Any OBC given by Celebrity (such as with the BBB promotion or on board booking ) is always non refundable.

 

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[cle-guy]

I just booked a cruise and picked the "best" package. With this I think I am getting a 300 obc. So when will I find out if it is refundable or non-refundable?

 

This all seems too complicated. If its a obc celebrity needs to stop worrying about how you spend it. It was your money to begin with. The prices are inflated to begin with and now we will need to find out how and when we can use it???

 

my 2 cents!

 

Not at all complicated. A single line in its own paragraph in the T&C's:

Onboard Credit option: Guests' stateroom folios will be credited with an OBC. OBC has no cash value, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, redeemable for cash,[/b] and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final not night of the cruise.

 

So it's quite clear you can not get cash with it. The big surprise is that they have in the past allowed you to cash it out, so now they are simply enforcing the rules already in place. It's actually kind of nice of them to have developed a method to use the OBC in the casino, instead of just simply saying can't be used in casino. Some cruise lines even stipulate further it can't be used to pay gratuities.

Edited November 25, 2015 by cle-guy

[crusinpeg]

I just think its very unfair that people with Select Dining don't have the option to use OBC to pay their tips like Traditional diners do since their tips have to be paid upfront.

Feel this should be addressed but from what I've been reading Celebrity isn't known for always being "fair."

[cle-guy]

I just think its very unfair that people with Select Dining don't have the option to use OBC to pay their tips like Traditional diners do since their tips have to be paid upfront.

Feel this should be addressed but from what I've been reading Celebrity isn't known for always being "fair."

 

The work around is get on board, change to fixed dining then have gratuities changed. Or book early to get fixed dining options before they are sold out, or accept that booking Select is an upgrade, and worth the cost.

[Karynanne]

I just think its very unfair that people with Select Dining don't have the option to use OBC to pay their tips like Traditional diners do since their tips have to be paid upfront.

 

Feel this should be addressed but from what I've been reading Celebrity isn't known for always being "fair."

 

 

This policy has been in place since Celebrity introduced Select Dining. The pre-paid gratuities assure the waitstaff that they will be compensated for their work.

 

IMHO I find it very fair...or maybe I'm use to the policy.[emoji6]

[crusinpeg]

This policy has been in place since Celebrity introduced Select Dining. The pre-paid gratuities assure the waitstaff that they will be compensated for their work.

 

IMHO I find it very fair...or maybe I'm use to the policy.[emoji6]

 

You miss my point..I think the policy is extremely fair the part that is unfair is that OBC can't somehow be used for tips.

[cle-guy]

I'd just like X to get to the point where they just require prepayment of gratuities from everyone at final payment, and not do the daily thing on board.

 

Would simplify a lot of things for a lot of people. Especially the onboard accounting staff, and would drive more revenue and profits to the bottom line. "Pay me now or Pay me later", it still needs paid, so zero effect on the bottom line.

 

It has to be coming soon. The intent of OBC is to get people to spend on board, not provide a discount to some. Since they have closed the Casino Loophole, it's time to close the gratuity loophole too.

[crusinpeg]

I'd just like X to get to the point where they just require prepayment of gratuities from everyone at final payment, and not do the daily thing on board.

 

Would simplify a lot of things for a lot of people. Especially the onboard accounting staff, and would drive more revenue and profits to the bottom line. "Pay me now or Pay me later", it still needs paid, so zero effect on the bottom line.

 

It has to be coming soon. The intent of OBC is to get people to spend on board, not provide a discount to some. Since they have closed the Casino Loophole, it's time to close the gratuity loophole too.

 

WELL PUT!! thats exactly where I was coming from! Makes it more fair for everyone paying tips.And does not give an advantage to Traditional diners.

Edited November 25, 2015 by crusinpeg

[Karynanne]

I see your point.

[manmtnmike]

I'd just like X to get to the point where they just require prepayment of gratuities from everyone at final payment, and not do the daily thing on board.

 

hmmm...So, how would it work if you're suggesting "prepayment" to be applied at "final payment"???:confused:

 

Also, a required gratuity is then a required fee, and no longer under the classification of "gratuity"?

Edited November 25, 2015 by manmtnmike

[cle-guy]

hmmm...So, how would it work if you're suggesting "prepayment" to be applied at "final payment"???:confused:

 

Also, a required gratuity is then a required fee, and no longer under the classification of "gratuity"?

 

Semantics.

 

We all know what it is. Tip, Gratuity, service fee, staff fee, staff wage, call it what you will, it's all the same.

 

How would it work, your invoice would look like this (as it already does for anyone who elects prepayment or anyone in Select Dining)

 

$2000 Cruise Fare

$130 Taxes and Fees

$150 Tip, Gratuity, service fee, staff fee, staff wage or whatever term we call it

------

$2270 total

($450) Deposit paid at booking

------

$1820 Balance Due

Edited November 25, 2015 by cle-guy

[crusinpeg]

Semantics.

 

We all know what it is. Tip, Gratuity, service fee, staff fee, staff wage, call it what you will, it's all the same.

 

How would it work, your invoice would look like this (as it already does for anyone who elects prepayment or anyone in Select Dining)

 

$2000 Cruise Fare

$130 Taxes and Fees

$150 Tip, Gratuity, service fee, staff fee, staff wage or whatever term we call it

------

$2270 total

($450) Deposit paid at booking

------

$1820 Balance Due

 

Spot on again!! No matter what you call it the majority of the people consider it a "fee" and one of the costs of cruising ...the term "gratuity" is so yesterday in the cruising industry IMO

[goldfish1111]

Hi. Celebrity gave us OBC and also prepaid our gratuities and drink package during their wave promotion. We were planning on cashing out the unused OBC at the casino as there is no way we will use it all. Now I feel like I'm going to be hosed! I was wondering if you buy something at one of the shops with the onboard credit and then return it and have the credit on your account if that will be able to go back on your credit card at the end of the cruise? Any ideas?