Another Perk Question

[buckeyefrank]

My wife and I just booked a cruise and we are normally NCL and Carnvial cruisers so we are unfamiliar with the perks and rules that may apply. We selected the beverage package and $300 obc. My question is about the obc specifically. Is there any restrictions on what the OBC can be used for? I.E. can we use the obc to pay for our tips / services charges once on the ship? Just want to make sure there are no restrictions. It seems to make little sense to select the prepaid tips since the obc is more (at least in most cases).

 

Thansk

[TFLG]

My wife and I just booked a cruise and we are normally NCL and Carnvial cruisers so we are unfamiliar with the perks and rules that may apply. We selected the beverage package and $300 obc. My question is about the obc specifically. Is there any restrictions on what the OBC can be used for? I.E. can we use the obc to pay for our tips / services charges once on the ship? Just want to make sure there are no restrictions. It seems to make little sense to select the prepaid tips since the obc is more (at least in most cases).

 

Thansk

 

 

I think the only thing you cant use it for is to book another cruise in the future cruise office.

[davekathy]

My wife and I just booked a cruise and we are normally NCL and Carnvial cruisers so we are unfamiliar with the perks and rules that may apply. We selected the beverage package and $300 obc. My question is about the obc specifically. Is there any restrictions on what the OBC can be used for? I.E. can we use the obc to pay for our tips / services charges once on the ship? Just want to make sure there are no restrictions. It seems to make little sense to select the prepaid tips since the obc is more (at least in most cases).

 

Thansk

Any purchases made on board (excluding a cruise you may book on the ship you're sailing) including all tips/service charges. Also your OBC can be used to purchase shore excursions, specialty dining in your cruise planner before you cruise. Your gratuities are already included in your BP perk you selected.

[gerelmx]

My wife and I just booked a cruise and we are normally NCL and Carnvial cruisers so we are unfamiliar with the perks and rules that may apply. We selected the beverage package and $300 obc. My question is about the obc specifically. Is there any restrictions on what the OBC can be used for? I.E. can we use the obc to pay for our tips / services charges once on the ship? Just want to make sure there are no restrictions. It seems to make little sense to select the prepaid tips since the obc is more (at least in most cases).

 

Thansk

 

Just to add to the mentioned, The OBC not used at the end of the cruise it's not refundable.

 

In 11 night and longer cruises is better to choose the gratuities.

[poffles]

As mentioned, you can use your OBC to cover your Gratuities (and you will have some left over),. You can use for other stuff mentioned above as well as use ahead of time if you want to purchase excursions or gifts so you don't even have to wait until on board to use it. I used mine to upgrade my drink package and an excursion :) Gratuities would have to wait to be covered by daily charge and it would just come off that OBC if you still have any when you board.

[NantahalaCruiser]

Just to add to the mentioned, The OBC not used at the end of the cruise it's not refundable.

 

In 11 night and longer cruises is better to choose the gratuities.

OBC can also be used in the casino; however, they give you special promotional chips that cannot be cashed in - have to be bet until you lose them - of course you also get to keep any winnings! Same thing with the slots - you cannot cash in the OBC but can deposit it in the machine to use until you lose.

[az_tchr]

Your BP covers gratuities on the drinks - not the service gratuities. You can use your OBC from Celebrity for gratuities or anything else you pay AFTER you board. Any OBC from a travel agent will be OBC-R and is refundable to you if not used.

[phoenix_dream]

Your BP covers gratuities on the drinks - not the service gratuities. You can use your OBC from Celebrity for gratuities or anything else you pay AFTER you board. Any OBC from a travel agent will be OBC-R and is refundable to you if not used.

I need to correct that to say most OBC from a travel agent is refundable. It is rare, but we have had a couple of instances in the past few years where some of our OBC from our TA was not refundable (and this was one of the large not-to-be-named TA's). They told me it was some kind of special promotion agreement with Celebrity. I agree that is not usually how it works, but just wanted to give people a heads up.

[jotjot]

NantahalaCruiser, what a great tip about the casino and obc. I will use it on the Summit next month.

[jkgourmet]

How does one determine if the OVC is refundable?

 

We have the enviable position of having an 8 night cruise with perks of the Classic Alcohol package, prepaid gratuities, and a total of $450 OBC ($300 from X, $150 from big box TA.) We have no need to upgrade to the Premium alcohol package. With only 8 nights, we'll only do one speciality at most (we enjoy the MDR). None of the excursions interested us (and there are few offered in the Norwegian Fjords). Yes, I know we can use it in the shops, but it's rare that we want anything (especially with what we think is overpriced). A little could be spent in the casino by DH.

 

Cashing out as much of that OBC would be our preference. How?

Edited April 24, 2018 by jkgourmet

[davekathy]

How does one determine if the OVC is refundable?

 

We have the enviable position of having an 8 night cruise with perks of the Classic Alcohol package, prepaid gratuities, and a total of $450 OBC ($300 from X, $150 from big box TA.) We have no need to upgrade to the Premium alcohol package. With only 8 nights, we'll only do one speciality at most (we enjoy the MDR). None of the excursions interested us (and there are few offered in the Norwegian Fjords). Yes, I know we can use it in the shops, but it's rare that we want anything (especially with what we think is overpriced). A little could be spent in the casino by DH.

 

Cashing out as much of that OBC would be our preference. How?

When you are on the ship you can review you account from your cabin TV. If there is an "R" at the end of the code for your OBC it is refundable. If there is a "N" at the end of the code for your OBC it's nonrefundable. Typically OBCs from your TA are refundable. But some have posted on CC not all TAs OBCs are refundable. Ours always has been. Double check this with your TA or the documents they have provided you to be sure. OBCs from Celebrity are nonrefundable. In your opinion the iems in the shops are over priced but the OBCs are like found money. Use it or lose it!

[jkgourmet]

When you are on the ship you can review you account from your cabin TV. If there is an "R" at the end of the code for your OBC it is refundable. If there is a "N" at the end of the code for your OBC it's nonrefundable. Typically OBCs from your TA are refundable. But some have posted on CC not all TAs OBCs are refundable. Ours always has been. Double check this with your TA or the documents they have provided you to be sure. OBCs from Celebrity are nonrefundable. In your opinion the iems in the shops are over priced but the OBCs are like found money. Use it or lose it!

 

Thank you for the explanation.

 

Maybe a Michael Kors handbag...

[buckeyefrank]

Thank you all for your responses. You have been most helpful.

[davekathy]

Thank you for the explanation.

 

Maybe a Michael Kors handbag...

You're welcome.

[ghstudio]

How does one determine if the OVC is refundable?

 

We have the enviable position of having an 8 night cruise with perks of the Classic Alcohol package, prepaid gratuities, and a total of $450 OBC ($300 from X, $150 from big box TA.) We have no need to upgrade to the Premium alcohol package. With only 8 nights, we'll only do one speciality at most (we enjoy the MDR). None of the excursions interested us (and there are few offered in the Norwegian Fjords). Yes, I know we can use it in the shops, but it's rare that we want anything (especially with what we think is overpriced). A little could be spent in the casino by DH.

 

Cashing out as much of that OBC would be our preference. How?

 

When we have traveled with friends, I have offered to give him $100 cash for $100 in promotional casino chips since I'm going to gamble anyway. It's possible that you might be able to find someone who would offer you the same deal. $150 of the OBC should be refundable (check it on your bill), so you have $300 to spend. After your specialty restaurant, you'll probably have a little over $200 to spend before you leave ship. Since it's "free" money....you could buy a couple of bottles of liquor on the ship and take it home (even if it's cheaper at home). How about a ship tour (around $95 a person)..check with guest services. Wine tastings/liquor tastings? internet package? I know money would be better, but sometimes you just have to spend it rather than leave it on the table when you leave.

 

good luck....

[NantahalaCruiser]

When we have traveled with friends, I have offered to give him $100 cash for $100 in promotional casino chips since I'm going to gamble anyway. It's possible that you might be able to find someone who would offer you the same deal. $150 of the OBC should be refundable (check it on your bill), so you have $300 to spend. After your specialty restaurant, you'll probably have a little over $200 to spend before you leave ship. Since it's "free" money....you could buy a couple of bottles of liquor on the ship and take it home (even if it's cheaper at home). How about a ship tour (around $95 a person)..check with guest services. Wine tastings/liquor tastings? internet package? I know money would be better, but sometimes you just have to spend it rather than leave it on the table when you leave.

 

good luck....

And if you are a gambler and thinking about giving someone money for their promo chips, you should know that promo chips are not worth as much as real chips since you have to bet them until you lose them. Mathematically it works out that when you use them on roulette they are only worth 90%; at the craps table they are worth around 95% (the worth is affected by the house percentage which is less at the craps table.)

[ghstudio]

And if you are a gambler and thinking about giving someone money for their promo chips, you should know that promo chips are not worth as much as real chips since you have to bet them until you lose them. Mathematically it works out that when you use them on roulette they are only worth 90%; at the craps table they are worth around 95% (the worth is affected by the house percentage which is less at the craps table.)

 

I play blackjack and/or craps. Over the course of an evening, I'll lose at least 20 $5 chips, even if I am winning (which occasionally happens). To me, they are worth exactly their face value. I was not suggesting that the OP actually use the promotional chips themselves unless they enjoy playing the casino table games.

[NantahalaCruiser]

I play blackjack and/or craps. Over the course of an evening, I'll lose at least 20 $5 chips, even if I am winning (which occasionally happens). To me, they are worth exactly their face value. I was not suggesting that the OP actually use the promotional chips themselves unless they enjoy playing the casino table games.

I would agree that if you are playing for the entertainment value until your stake is gone, then it really doesn't make much difference. However, if you are using promo chips to convert OBC to cash, then if you bet your promo chips until you lose them and pocket the regular chips you win, on average at the roulette table you will end up with 90% of the face value of the promo chips. At games with a lower house advantage, the percentage is higher but still somewhat less than 100%.

 

If anyone is interested, here's the associated mathematics:

 

At the roulette table, the chances of winning your first promo chip even money bet is 18/38 due to the losing 0 and 00 numbers. Your chances of winning a second time is 18/38 squared; and your chances of winning a third time is 18/38 cubed. This is an infinite series of bets with declining chances of winning and the sum of this series equals:

 

(18/38) / (1 - 18/38) = 18 / (38 - 18) = 18 / 20 or 90%

[jkgourmet]

When we have traveled with friends, I have offered to give him $100 cash for $100 in promotional casino chips since I'm going to gamble anyway. It's possible that you might be able to find someone who would offer you the same deal. $150 of the OBC should be refundable (check it on your bill), so you have $300 to spend. After your specialty restaurant, you'll probably have a little over $200 to spend before you leave ship. Since it's "free" money....you could buy a couple of bottles of liquor on the ship and take it home (even if it's cheaper at home). How about a ship tour (around $95 a person)..check with guest services. Wine tastings/liquor tastings? internet package? I know money would be better, but sometimes you just have to spend it rather than leave it on the table when you leave.

 

good luck....

 

I think I'd rather have the Michael Kors bag... :)

[buckeyefrank]

When we have traveled with friends, I have offered to give him $100 cash for $100 in promotional casino chips since I'm going to gamble anyway. It's possible that you might be able to find someone who would offer you the same deal. $150 of the OBC should be refundable (check it on your bill), so you have $300 to spend. After your specialty restaurant, you'll probably have a little over $200 to spend before you leave ship. Since it's "free" money....you could buy a couple of bottles of liquor on the ship and take it home (even if it's cheaper at home). How about a ship tour (around $95 a person)..check with guest services. Wine tastings/liquor tastings? internet package? I know money would be better, but sometimes you just have to spend it rather than leave it on the table when you leave.

 

good luck....

 

Thanks. We're not much of gamblers, don't do the spa and the shore excursions aren't that important where we're going. We'll end up having around $300 in NR OBC and $60 in R OBC from the travel agent. We will use about $120 of that on tips leaving us $240 or so. I will probably upgrade my drink package for $40 (it's a 4 day cruise), leaving me $200. Looks like a nice bottle of whisky for me and purfume or purse for the wife might be in order.

[davekathy]

Thanks. We're not much of gamblers, don't do the spa and the shore excursions aren't that important where we're going. We'll end up having around $300 in NR OBC and $60 in R OBC from the travel agent. We will use about $120 of that on tips leaving us $240 or so. I will probably upgrade my drink package for $40 (it's a 4 day cruise), leaving me $200. Looks like a nice bottle of whisky for me and purfume or purse for the wife might be in order.

Your upgrade charge for the PBP from the CPB will be $47.20. 10.00 a day plus 18% gratuity.