OBC Questions

[dorakk]

On our next sailing, we will have $700 OBC; which is a lot for us given that:

- We have to prepay for our gratuities (select dining)

- We have beverage packages included

- We are planning to do excursion on our own (not a fans of cruise ship excursion)

- We aren't heavy shoppers

 

So we are wondering:

1) What happen to any unused OBC at the end of the sailing? Can we cash out the unused OBC?

 

2) If the answer is a NO to the above, then the only alternative we can think of is to switch to traditional dining; then switch back to select dining once on board? I wonder if this doable?

 

Thanks in advanced.

Karen

[az_tchr]

It all depends on who the OBC came from. OBC from Celebrity is OBCN and is not refundable. OBC from a TA is OBCR and refundable at the ned of your cruise.

 

I would definitely switch to traditional dining and use some of your OBC for gratuities. Switching should be doable. Then when you get on board you can request a change. It often takes a day to sort everything out. Probably about 90% likely to happen.

 

It is possible you can get a cash advance on your SeaPass, but there are conflicting reports as to if you can still play a couple hands of blackjack (for example) and pocket the rest of the cash for a 5% fee.

[Solution]

Based on your cruise lifestyle, I would strongly suggest that you switch to traditional dining before it is full.

[jelayne]

The OBC from Celwbrity is non-refundable but charges are applied to the Celebrity OBC first. So if you have $300 from X and $400 from a TA the $400 will be credited back on your credit card about a week after the cruise if it is unused.

 

If the switch to traditional dining isn't possible you could use the Celebrity OBC

to upgrade to the Premium drink package, use it for dinner in a speciality restaurant, spa treatments, shuttles into town from the ports, wine tastings, I would find a way to spend it😊

[mcrcruiser]

On our next sailing, we will have $700 OBC; which is a lot for us given that:

- We have to prepay for our gratuities (select dining)

- We have beverage packages included

- We are planning to do excursion on our own (not a fans of cruise ship excursion)

- We aren't heavy shoppers

 

So we are wondering:

1) What happen to any unused OBC at the end of the sailing? Can we cash out the unused OBC?

 

2) If the answer is a NO to the above, then the only alternative we can think of is to switch to traditional dining; then switch back to select dining once on board? I wonder if this doable?

 

Thanks in advanced.

Karen

 

Just some ideas to use your excess OBC :

 

You do not say that your beverage package is classic or premium .If not a premium drink package ,then use some of your OBC to upgrade once you are on the ship at Guest Relations .;)

 

I would not rule out all ship tours especially if you have mostly money from Celebrity as a OBC ;which you must use or loose it ,at the end of the cruise .Some ships tours are really good ;but ,you must discern .:)

 

You can use some of your OBC for specialty dining & spa services like massages ,haircuts ,pedicures ie ;)

 

PS you can use it for washing ,pressing & dry cleaning garments

Edited December 30, 2015 by mcrcruiser

[CallyCruzer]

I have the same issue - question - at the end of the cruise if you have money left can you transfer it to a future cruise you already have booked the same year?

[jerseygirl3]

I have the same issue - question - at the end of the cruise if you have money left can you transfer it to a future cruise you already have booked the same year?

 

No. Any refundable OBC will be refunded to your CC on file.

[tangerinebunny]

Karen, it's a fun problem to have, isn't it? We had $600 OBC/NR in early December on Summit. We used it for the extra tips we usually give. (You request a form for this.)

 

And we were able to cash some out at the casino. (It's my understanding that this is being phased out ship by ship.)

 

Frankly, the shops are over-priced and not very interesting. I hope you find a few fun things to do with your 'free' money. Happy sailing....

 

Diana

[Mr. Click]

and don't forget you can use some of it the overpriced internet service......We had $450 on our last trip and used for internet, manicures for DW and some Cafe Al Bacio purchases since we did not have a beverage package on that trip. In the end we had about $40 left and it was back on on credit card within a week of us leaving the ship...

[riclop]

If you dont use you lose it.

[az_tchr]

I have the same issue - question - at the end of the cruise if you have money left can you transfer it to a future cruise you already have booked the same year?

 

Not sure if it was clear the answer is no. If fact you cannot transfer OBC from the first leg of a B2B to the second leg! Books completely cleared each cruise.

[alcpa1]

Another part of the OBC quandry is your itinerary. If you are doing a Summit cruise in the Caribbean this season then reconsider a few ships tours. We used a hefty OBC for several and they were jitney tours just like those you might book yourselves. We are not inclined to do this either but some itineraries provide an opportunity for smaller transportation options.

Another example might be the train in Skagway, Alaska. You can book directly for a few dollars less but it is the same tour.

If you are in the market for some premium spirits to bring home that is another option. A couple bottles of single malt scotch can eliminate a good portion of your OBC.

Internet minutes, or hours can make a BIG hole in your balance.

Spa and beauty treatments, a bingo card, Tylenol at $12 a bottle will all help lower your balance.

The list is endless.

[dorakk]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

 

For our $700 OBC, $400 is from Celebrity and $300 is from TA. Thanks to everyone's input, now we know that the first $400 has to be spent while the $300 is refundable.

 

We are not alcohol drinking so we will probably stay with the classic beverage package. However, we do want to try specialty dining.

 

Anyway, we switched to traditional dining just to be on the safe side, to guarantee the $400 will for sure be spent on gratuity.

 

Thanks everyone & happy new year!