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

[Wine-O]

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?

 

Just about all on board purchases are non-refundable. We once bought something defective, and it took a threat of going to the Hotel Director to get it returned.

[Jade13]

Just about all on board purchases are non-refundable. We once bought something defective, and it took a threat of going to the Hotel Director to get it returned.

 

I never knew that.

[jagoffee]

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?

Ideas:

1. Upgrade to premium drink package.

2. Enjoy a some wines/beers/cocktails above your drink package limit. Pay the difference if you have the premium package or the total price if Classic.

3. Give extra gratuity to anyone that provided excellent service.

4. Upgrade to unlimited internet.

5. Buy a few logo items

6. Go on a ship's excursion booked on board

7. Go to a few specialty restaurants and leave an extra tip or see number 2.

8. Make a new friend and buy them a drink.

9. Buy some stamps.

 

Hosed? Hardly. Many ways to spend the gift that Celebrity gave you that as always said cannot be exchanged for cash.

Enjoy picking one.

[kenevenpar]

I've never had any left over OBC, even with all three perks. DW makes sure of it. :eek:

[Queen of Oakville]

I copied the below comment from another thread (kk99 - live aboard the Constellation)

 

"Casino cash changes. If someone has obc and was not a Blue Chip member or had some other waiver, if you go to the cage you will no longer get cash back minus the 5 percent charge, but you will get promo credits up to the amount of your obc you want to use to play off in a machine or on the tables. If you have leftover refundable obc, it can be credited back to your credit card. Your non refundable credit must be used by the end of the voyage. "

 

Has anyone else experienced this? Has Celebrity instituted a new policy?

 

Thanks

 

Just got off the Silhouette on Sunday. We had 300 refundable credit from the TA and 300 non-refundable from X. We used it up with two speciality restaurants and then had $410 remaining. DH "mused" at the BJ table whether it could be withdrawn in the casino (I already knew the answer to that question!). The dealer quickly responded that he could give us chips right there at the table within seconds for a 5% fee. DH thought that was great deal. I thought a new Michael Kors purse was a better deal :D

Edited November 25, 2015 by Queen of Oakville

[wrk2cruise]

"Many ways to spend the gift that Celebrity gave you that as always said cannot be exchanged for cash."

 

Always understood it was not redeemable for cash, but it's not a gift. It is part of your fare you are able to spend on upsell items at your discretion.

 

It's one of the many ways they are forcing fares and profits up.

[C-Dragons]

"Many ways to spend the gift that Celebrity gave you that as always said cannot be exchanged for cash."

 

Always understood it was not redeemable for cash, but it's not a gift. It is part of your fare you are able to spend on upsell items at your discretion.

 

It's one of the many ways they are forcing fares and profits up.

 

Thank you!

[RealDeal]

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]

 

Not trying to be argumentative here, but I've never understood this. Why wouldn't the waitstaff be ensured they'd be compensated for their work if the gratuities were taken out of our onboard account, as they are with fixed dining. So, the fixed dining waitstaff is not guaranteed they will be compensated for their work??

[Cruise Raider]

Ideas:

1. Upgrade to premium drink package.

2. Enjoy a some wines/beers/cocktails above your drink package limit. Pay the difference if you have the premium package or the total price if Classic.

3. Give extra gratuity to anyone that provided excellent service.

4. Upgrade to unlimited internet.

5. Buy a few logo items

6. Go on a ship's excursion booked on board

7. Go to a few specialty restaurants and leave an extra tip or see number 2.

8. Make a new friend and buy them a drink.

9. Buy some stamps.

 

Hosed? Hardly. Many ways to spend the gift that Celebrity gave you that as always said cannot be exchanged for cash.

Enjoy picking one.

 

I think you forgot the Persian Gardens or a nice facial and massage in the spa. That'll take care of it pronto!!

[snow bunny]

Well, I guess the next time, I will book my excursions beforehand and then cancel on the ship and rebook! What a pain for them and us!! Only way to spend the funds and get the excursions we ant.

 

snow bunny

[Beanb41]

Just about all on board purchases are non-refundable. We once bought something defective, and it took a threat of going to the Hotel Director to get it returned.

 

I have never experienced any issues about returning goods purchased on board whether it was defective, there was a price reduction or whatever. They took the goods back and gave me a credit.

[jagoffee]

"Many ways to spend the gift that Celebrity gave you that as always said cannot be exchanged for cash."

 

Always understood it was not redeemable for cash, but it's not a gift. It is part of your fare you are able to spend on upsell items at your discretion.

 

It's one of the many ways they are forcing fares and profits up.

 

Sure sometimes it is part of the fare and other times it is not. OBC for booking on board, OBC for stock ownership, new deployment (or whatever they called it), and any OBC that is provided by Celebrity.

Certainly when it is purchased as an additional perk then it is in the fare. Sometimes the fare is increased to cover the cost and sometimes it is not.

 

The bottom line is that you are not "hosed" because you might not be able to turn it into cash for 5%. It is not suppose to be turned into cash, but spent on board.

[Karynanne]

Not trying to be argumentative here, but I've never understood this. Why wouldn't the waitstaff be ensured they'd be compensated for their work if the gratuities were taken out of our onboard account, as they are with fixed dining. So, the fixed dining waitstaff is not guaranteed they will be compensated for their work??

 

 

Unfortunately there are passengers that do not believe in the tipping system, so they have have the daily tipping often removed from their account. Pre-paid gratuities does guarantee their compensation.

[Beanb41]

Unfortunately there are passengers that do not believe in the tipping system, so they have have the daily tipping often removed from their account. Pre-paid gratuities does guarantee their compensation.

 

Tipping for nearly everything is an American phenomenon that is creeping around the world. US based ships still have gratuities as an extra because that's what Americans are used to. Cruise ships based downunder in NZ and Australia have tips included in the price because tipping in our part of the world is not necessary and is discouraged in the main. That said US based ships cruising down under still add gratuities to the fare to appease their American customers who if it was included in the fare would tip extra anyway. We pay the gratuities up front and consider it part of the overall cruise costs. It isn't worth the hassle of taking off and then supposedly being looked sideways by staff. I have read comments here that staff are advised of passengers who have removed the gratuities. I would like to see some evidence of this because I don't believe it. If it were true and service was below acceptable levels then it would over time be reflected in the end of cruise report which a favourable report is more important than a few extra dollars. Bad end of cruise reports can affect future employment

[Queen of Oakville]

Not trying to be argumentative here, but I've never understood this. Why wouldn't the waitstaff be ensured they'd be compensated for their work if the gratuities were taken out of our onboard account, as they are with fixed dining. So, the fixed dining waitstaff is not guaranteed they will be compensated for their work??

 

 

The difference is that if I have traditional dining, I show up every night at the same time and am seated with the same wait team. I feel "obligated" to ensure they are tipped.

 

If I have select dining, I might dine each night at a different time, in a different section, and with a different wait team. I haven't "bonded" with my wait team and may not feel obligated to tip. The excellent service received one or two nights be offset by the so-so service I've received other nights. I might me more inclined to skip tipping.

 

 

This is not my perspective, but is my best guess as to why Celebrity makes pre-paid gratuities a condition of select dining.

 

I agree with the other person who said, stop calling it a gratuity can call it what it really is.

 

 

I can't recall which one, but one line we've sailed recently, gave us vouchers and envelopes to hand over to the staff. We usually (but not always) supplement in those envelopes. We missed having these vouchers/envelopes to use on Silhouette.

[crusinpeg]

Well it looks like an OBC thread has turned into that ongoing tipping thread. Will people ever realize that the tip doesn't just cover the staff that puts a plate in front of you but also the buffet staff, etc!!?

Just because you don't "bond" with your waiter you're going to stiff him out of a tip?

[C-Dragons]

The difference is that if I have traditional dining, I show up every night at the same time and am seated with the same wait team. I feel "obligated" to ensure they are tipped.

 

If I have select dining, I might dine each night at a different time, in a different section, and with a different wait team. I haven't "bonded" with my wait team and may not feel obligated to tip. The excellent service received one or two nights be offset by the so-so service I've received other nights. I might me more inclined to skip tipping.

 

 

This is not my perspective, but is my best guess as to why Celebrity makes pre-paid gratuities a condition of select dining.

 

I agree with the other person who said, stop calling it a gratuity can call it what it really is.

 

 

I can't recall which one, but one line we've sailed recently, gave us vouchers and envelopes to hand over to the staff. We usually (but not always) supplement in those envelopes. We missed having these vouchers/envelopes to use on Silhouette.

You can request envelopes at the Guest Relations desk.

[EatonDoolittle]

OK, I'll steer it back to OBC.

 

I leave soon on the Constellation, where I received significant OBC as part of a move over offer - they needed my original cabin. Several on the roll call also took advantage of this move over offer.

 

It would be a challenge to spend it all on board.

 

I'll find out when I board if they coded it OBR or OBN, and will report back accordingly on my efforts to pocket some cash for any or all of it.

 

If nothing else, this thread has increased awareness of the types of OBC, and the necessity of reading the small print on offers in order to manage expectations.

[chamima]

OK, I'll steer it back to OBC.

 

I leave soon on the Constellation, where I received significant OBC as part of a move over offer - they needed my original cabin. Several on the roll call also took advantage of this move over offer.

 

It would be a challenge to spend it all on board.

 

I'll find out when I board if they coded it OBR or OBN, and will report back accordingly on my efforts to pocket some cash for any or all of it.

 

If nothing else, this thread has increased awareness of the types of OBC, and the necessity of reading the small print on offers in order to manage expectations.

 

 

 

THANK YOU!!!

We, too, have a large amount of OBC (which, unfortunately is mostly OBN i'm afraid) so this change is of great interest to us.

[goldfish1111]

Thank you EatonDollitle. I didn't know I would anger people by saying that I feel hosed that I might not be able to go to the casino and turn my OBC into cash! I too have an amount that I will never use up. I like to pre book my shore excursions and also do a lot on our own. Why should I feel obligated to purchase some unneeded items at the shops or go to a specialty restaurant, just because. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks again!

[Queen of Oakville]

Well it looks like an OBC thread has turned into that ongoing tipping thread. Will people ever realize that the tip doesn't just cover the staff that puts a plate in front of you but also the buffet staff, etc!!?

Just because you don't "bond" with your waiter you're going to stiff him out of a tip?

 

The question was asked as to why there is a difference between traditional seating and select.

 

Since you quoted my use of "bond" ... I wasn't suggesting that this is a valid reason, but for someone who has select dining without prepaid tips, it is more than likely that the group of waiters who service that passenger will likely get stiffed for a tip. Someone who sees the same waiter each day, is more than likely to follow through on tipping which is why traditional diners don't have to prepay tips.

 

 

Doesn't everything eventually turn to a tipping or dress code discussion :D

Edited November 26, 2015 by Queen of Oakville

[Katie H]

Not trying to be argumentative here, but I've never understood this. Why wouldn't the waitstaff be ensured they'd be compensated for their work if the gratuities were taken out of our onboard account, as they are with fixed dining. So, the fixed dining waitstaff is not guaranteed they will be compensated for their work??

 

Unfortunately there are passengers that do not believe in the tipping system, so they have have the daily tipping often removed from their account. Pre-paid gratuities does guarantee their compensation.

 

We have frequently booked fixed dining and then switched to Select once on board so that we could use our OBC for gratuities. When we switch, we are required to sign a form that states that the gratuities will be immediately added to our on board account and that they cannot be removed. We are happy to sign that form. If they would allow us to book Select dining during the booking process, we would be happy to sign an agreement at that time that we would not attempt to remove gratuities. I think RCCL has now removed the requirement that gratuities be paid at final for anytime dining. I hope Celebrity will soon do the same.

[bEwAbG]

Someone who sees the same waiter each day, is more than likely to follow through on tipping which is why traditional diners don't have to prepay tips.

 

When in traditional dining, those tips are added to your shipboard account every day. You don't make the decision to add a tip at every meal. In fact, you have to talk to someone to have the auto tips removed from your account. The only decision you may have to make is to include an additional tip at the end of the cruise. There is no good reason I've ever heard as to why the exact same system couldn't work in Select dining.

[RealDeal]

When in traditional dining, those tips are added to your shipboard account every day. You don't make the decision to add a tip at every meal. In fact, you have to talk to someone to have the auto tips removed from your account. The only decision you may have to make is to include an additional tip at the end of the cruise. There is no good reason I've ever heard as to why the exact same system couldn't work in Select dining.

 

Exactly. So, they're saying they're only concerned w/guaranteeing Select Dining waitstaff get compensated? Dzn't make sense. The only problem w/booking Fixed Dining & switching to Select is that you can't make reservations ahead of time...and there is always a possibility that Select is full & they won't let you switch.

[crusinpeg]

When in traditional dining, those tips are added to your shipboard account every day. You don't make the decision to add a tip at every meal. In fact, you have to talk to someone to have the auto tips removed from your account. The only decision you may have to make is to include an additional tip at the end of the cruise. There is no good reason I've ever heard as to why the exact same system couldn't work in Select dining.

 

I agree...I believe thats the way Princess does it!