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

[brfan]

One clarification about the reason for the 5% fee for using credits or otherwise cashing out in the casino:

 

If I understand things correctly, the reason Celebrity does this is not as if its some sort of arbitrary fee to get a little extra revenue. Remember that OBC has been paid for by credit card in the first place, directly or as part of the cruise payment. There is no casino in the world that I know of that will let you get cash with a credit card and then play dollar for dollar. The reason is that their profit, which comes from the house advantage that they must have to make money, would be greatly reduced if not eliminated by the fee they pay to the credit card company; in most cases, casinos are cash only operations for that reason. Similarly, if you buy something in a normal store with a cc and return it, they don't usually give you cash back -- they credit your cc, which allows them to recoup the cc charge they have paid. X does the same thing for any overage in your account.

 

If you go to the cage in the casino on ship and get cash from your account, this effectively comes from from funds X got off your credit card. Even if it's perk credit, you've still paid for your cruise with a credit card. So I think that's the real reason for the 5% fee when using OBC to get cash in the casino. Simply a necessary business decision similar to any casino.

 

I find it interesting that Royal Caribbean does not charge the 5% for anyone with a cash account. I had hoped that Celebrity did likewise, but they don't.

[suzyed]

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.

 

"Select is an upgrade"?? Please explain...first time X cruiser. BTW, we have pre-paid free gratuities, so won't need to use OBC for grats....have to figure out how to use my OBC since it's not refundable. I thought the casino (slots) but maybe not. What about Bingo?

[suzyed]

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 DH "mused" at the BJ table whether it could be withdrawn in the casino (I already knew the answer to that question!).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

 

I'm with you! MK would be my choice!

[pokyjones]

I cashed OBC non refundable on summit 2 weeks ago. Minus 5 percent.

[suzyed]

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.

 

I'm not the least bit interested in leaving the ship with cash from my OBC, I just want to be able to use it all up on the stuff I want to do. (casino, bingo, excursions, drinks, specialty restaurants....)

[suzyed]

I asked this question before and didn't get an answer. Does Celebrity charge the 5% fee if you have a cash account? Royal doesn't so was wondering if Celebrity also did that. If they do then if you have purchased OBC then when you do your online check in select cash account and you won't be charged the 5% at the casino. Once you get the money you want, you can add a credit card to your account, if needed, at that time.

 

Of course all the above depends on whether Celebrity has the same policy as Royal with regards to cash accounts.

 

No idea....never used a cash account on a cruise.

[DJB1116]

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

 

I've done just what you suggested and it worked; however, the cruise line claims that if they are sold out for the excursion and you cancel to rebook that you go to the back of the que and would miss out on the trip.

[DJB1116]

Seems like the non-refundable OBC rules on the Constellation are a moving target. Anyone currently on the Connie or just got off with recent experience trying to cash out non-refundable OBC?

David

[Beanb41]

We do have OBN credit from Celebrity perks and OBR from our TA so I'm expecting unused OBR to be refunded to credit card

 

If you have OBR at the end of your cruise you can collect it in cash on the last night of the cruise if you don't want it refunded to your credit card

[Cruisennerable]

I just got off Reflection and received OBC credit from guest services during the cruise no problem.

[Beanb41]

I just got off Reflection and received OBC credit from guest services during the cruise no problem.

 

Was the OBC, OBN or OBR which make a significant difference to how CElebrity approach the transaction.

[Cruisennerable]

I was given my OBN and OBR back but used mosted of the OBN up from gratuities and purchases

[dutrie]

Just off the Equinox this morning. We had non-refundable OBC from a promotion. They would not refund the unused credit to our credit card used for our account, but we could cash it out in the casino for the 5% fee. In fact, Guest Relations told us to do so.

[bEwAbG]

On Silhouette now and they have the sign at the casino cage that you only get slot credit or promotional chips if you have OBC. No cash equivalents for OBC

 

Same sign was on the Reflection this past week. I had to play with promotional slot credits on Friday, February 12. I was not charged a fee, but I was in a suite so that may have been why. I had OBN.

[wrk2cruise]

You should not be charged a fee if they put the promotional credit on your card for slot play. That was for cach advance which typically would be a charge to the credit card so they would have a fee from the cc company.

 

On another note we did play a little with promotional chips and was surprised that when you won the promo chip was NOT replaced with a real one. Didn't question it because we were only playing out match play coupons but that doesn't seem right. Happened with 2 different dealers. If this is the case you have to lose the OBCN[emoji35]

Edited February 15, 2016 by wrk2cruise

[RealDeal]

Just off Silhouette. Definitely can no longer get nonrefundable OBC at the casino even with a 5% fee.

[ghstudio]

You should not be charged a fee if they put the promotional credit on your card for slot play. That was for cach advance which typically would be a charge to the credit card so they would have a fee from the cc company.

 

On another note we did play a little with promotional chips and was surprised that when you won the promo chip was NOT replaced with a real one. Didn't question it because we were only playing out match play coupons but that doesn't seem right. Happened with 2 different dealers. If this is the case you have to lose the OBCN[emoji35]

 

You should have called over the pit boss....they are obviously supposed to change them when you win.

[1bravesfan]

Just off Silhouette. Definitely can no longer get nonrefundable OBC at the casino even with a 5% fee.

 

Can you use non refundable OBC to play at the tables and slots? If so, how does that process work?

Edited February 15, 2016 by 1bravesfan

[Ma Bell]

You should have called over the pit boss....they are obviously supposed to change them when you win.

 

That's not correct. If you put out a five dollar chip and a match play coupon and win you will then have 15 dollars rather than just ten as if you only put out the single chip. You will not have 20 dollars as if you put out 2 five dollar chips and won. Your coupon is converted to a real chip after you win but the coupon only gives you the chance to win the five dollars, not ten. If you win it then becomes five dollars, if you don't it's gone.

[RealDeal]

Can you use non refundable OBC to play at the tables and slots? If so, how does that process work?

 

Yes. My neighbor took out $100, which went against her OBC, and got promotional chips or whatever they're called. I went to the cashier & asked how it worked & she said if you ask to take out $$ against your onboard account, they first check to see if you have OBC. Honestly, I didn't even ask her to specify if they're checking for OBCR or OBCN b/c to me it's a moot point. I wouldn't even want to get cash from them for R, just N. In any case, it didn't matter to me personally b/c I used up my OBCN and got my OBCR from Guest Relations on the last night. I think it's great they're now not pre-charging for gratuities b/c that will def. help eat up OBCN.

[wrk2cruise]

To ma bell. The match play really has nothing to do with it. The question is since you win the $5 bet the 2 to 1 odds should pay $10 so the original restricted chip should be replaced with a regular chip

Edited February 16, 2016 by wrk2cruise

[az_tchr]

Everyone seems to have things mixed up between promo chips and match play coupons. Very different.

[ghstudio]

That's not correct. If you put out a five dollar chip and a match play coupon and win you will then have 15 dollars rather than just ten as if you only put out the single chip. You will not have 20 dollars as if you put out 2 five dollar chips and won. Your coupon is converted to a real chip after you win but the coupon only gives you the chance to win the five dollars, not ten. If you win it then becomes five dollars, if you don't it's gone.

 

I wasn't focused on the match coupon and didn't use coupons in my examples. The poster said they didn't replace their promotional chip when they won...which has nothing to do with the coupons. That's wrong...if you win using a promotional chip, it is replaced by a regular chip...if they aren't doing that, call over the pit boss.

[Ma Bell]

I wasn't focused on the match coupon and didn't use coupons in my examples. The poster said they didn't replace their promotional chip when they won...which has nothing to do with the coupons. That's wrong...if you win using a promotional chip, it is replaced by a regular chip...if they aren't doing that, call over the pit boss.

 

The person you responded to said they were using match play coupons.

[Ma Bell]

To ma bell. The match play really has nothing to do with it. The question is since you win the $5 bet the 2 to 1 odds should pay $10 so the original restricted chip should be replaced with a regular chip

 

I assumed that you meant you didn't receive the full value of the bet which you wouldn't if you were using a matching coupon. Did they leave the promotional chip on the table?