QUESTIONS RE OBC VS PURCHASED CRUISE CASH - RULES?

[Froufie]

Hoping someone can explain the correct rules when using obc/cruise cash onboard.

 

I booked a cruise which came with some OBC (some of which I have already used 🙂 ) - and also now have some cruise cash to spend, and I think I can't use this for some stuff?

 

1)  Can I assume when I board both the (remaining) OBC and cruise cash will be credited to my onboard account? 

 

2) Is there an 'order' in which the funds are used?

 

3) I noticed that I was unable to use my OBC to pre-pay my gratuities?  Wondering if and how I can use the cruise cash to do this?  (do I have to 'use up' my 'original' OBC first before I can 'access' the cruise cash?)

 

4)  Can I just put all/or most of this $$ (both OBC and CC) on a slot machine, play for the week and then cash out and get remaining $$ back? (is that still allowed/doable?)

 

5) If not and there is $$ left over how do I get it?  Will they send me a cheque or something?

 

6)  Can one 'cancel' the cruise cash before the cruise and get a refund?  If you cancel the entire cruise I assume you would get a refund?

 

 

Any insights on this works would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks:)

[klfrodo]

A couple of things.

 

You have no control over how OBC or Cruise Cash is used. It's just all credited to your account and then as charges hit your account, the credits get used up until you are in the Red.

 

As I understand it, non refundable OBC or Cruise Cash is used first. Then refundable OBC.

Since Cruise Cash is non refundable, I would guess that gets used up first. But, then again, maybe your OBC is non refundable. I don't know.

 

However, you can pull money from your on board account and put it into your Casino account if playing slot machines.

 

Cruise Cash is use it or lose it. No refunds

[Hoosierpop]

I’ve never had cruise cash. Does it look different than OBC on your sign and sail account? Can you do the casino trick to get cruise cash as actual cash? If so, might use allstate rewards for that. 

[klfrodo]

5 minutes ago, Hoosierpop said:

 Can you do the casino trick to get cruise cash as actual cash? 

Until they figure out how to stop it.

The more people talk about it, the sooner they will put a stop to it. Just like when people had work arounds for the Drinks package.

[sc4125]

59 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

Until they figure out how to stop it.

The more people talk about it, the sooner they will put a stop to it. Just like when people had work arounds for the Drinks package.

It sounded like she planned to play on it all week - I don't think that is trying to get around anything.  I know that some people will use the slots to get a cash advance without having to pay a fee and then cash it out right away and I have seen people download their OBC to a slot and again cash it out right away.  These cases are people trying to get around the rules, but downloading OBC or Cruise Cash and playing on it all week shouldn't be an issue.  Then again, if the OP only plans on using a dollar or two a day for 7 days - that's questionable.

[Froufie]

Definitely planning to play in the casino all week LOL - $$ spent sure depends on how I am doing?  (but would definitely put a least a couple of hundred on the machine to start with and hope for the best?  LOL)

 

I am not sure if my OBC is refundable or not?  Sounds like Cruise cash is not - and would love for that to be used first?  I may ask my PVP about the the type of OBC with my booking and/or I guess I can always ask at Guest Services on board as to how all the $$ is spent?

 

Sounds like I won't know anything but the 'balance/credit' to my account and will have no way of know which $$ is being used at any given point??  Wish there was a way to monitor this and know?

 

[SNJCruisers]

7 minutes ago, Froufie said:

 

I am not sure if my OBC is refundable or not?  Sounds like Cruise cash is not - and would love for that to be used first?  I may ask my PVP about the the type of OBC with my booking a

 

Since you mentioned a PVP I will infer that the OBC came from Carnival and thus it's nonrefundable.  If it was from a TA then it would be refundable.

[Froufie]

6 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Since you mentioned a PVP I will infer that the OBC came from Carnival and thus it's nonrefundable.  If it was from a TA then it would be refundable.

Yes it was from Carnival with the booking code used - and thanks for confirming it's non-refundable.  I have written to my PVP as well to see if she can explain how the 'credits' would work - but I also noted that I may be able to 'cancel' my order (if I think I won't spend all that money onboard?  LOL - don't want to lose it obviously).

 

Thanks

 

[ray98]

Since the OBC was Carnival they will both be non refundable.  That is why it is a better plan to just take the cash with you to add to the account instead of buying Cruise Cash.  It is always refundable.

[Froufie]

1 hour ago, ray98 said:

Since the OBC was Carnival they will both be non refundable.  That is why it is a better plan to just take the cash with you to add to the account instead of buying Cruise Cash.  It is always refundable.

Agreed - but was able to use a code to get 20% off which is the only reason I purchased the cruise cash! 🙂

 

[SNJCruisers]

7 hours ago, Froufie said:

Yes it was from Carnival with the booking code used - and thanks for confirming it's non-refundable.  I have written to my PVP as well to see if she can explain how the 'credits' would work - but I also noted that I may be able to 'cancel' my order (if I think I won't spend all that money onboard?  LOL - don't want to lose it obviously).

 

Thanks

 

I assume it's the OV8 code, which gave you 200 in OBC?  Also, if you have cruise cash to burn, just go to Cherry on Top and buy a gift card.

[Schoifmom]

1)  Yes, the remaining OBC and cruise cash will be credited to your S&S account at the time of boarding.

2) Funds are used in this order:  Non-refundable funds (non-refundable OBC and cruise cash), then gift cards, then refundable OBC, then cash/credit cards.

3) You will not be able to use cruise cash pre-cruise, since you can cancel your order for it and be refunded prior to the cruise.

4) Yes, you can use any type of funding in your S&S account to fund your player's bank.  You can then cash out your player's bank at any time during or at the end of the week.

5) If you have remaining non-refundable OBC or cruise cash, you will lose it.

6) Yes, you can cancel cruise cash just like any other Fun Shops purchase prior to the cruise and receive a refund.

[Froufie]

10 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

I assume it's the OV8 code, which gave you 200 in OBC?  Also, if you have cruise cash to burn, just go to Cherry on Top and buy a gift card.

Actually from what I understand Carnival has caught onto this and it is no longer allowed ! 😞

[Froufie]

3 hours ago, Schoifmom said:

1)  Yes, the remaining OBC and cruise cash will be credited to your S&S account at the time of boarding.

2) Funds are used in this order:  Non-refundable funds (non-refundable OBC and cruise cash), then gift cards, then refundable OBC, then cash/credit cards.

3) You will not be able to use cruise cash pre-cruise, since you can cancel your order for it and be refunded prior to the cruise.

4) Yes, you can use any type of funding in your S&S account to fund your player's bank.  You can then cash out your player's bank at any time during or at the end of the week.

5) If you have remaining non-refundable OBC or cruise cash, you will lose it.

6) Yes, you can cancel cruise cash just like any other Fun Shops purchase prior to the cruise and receive a refund.

So further to #4 - if I download all the funds to my player bank for the 'week' and play around - and there is some left (if I should be so lucky - or if I'm REALLY lucky more than what I started with) I can cash it out and take it - even though it started out as non-refundable cruise cash?  Do I have to play ALL of it?  

[Virga]

15 minutes ago, Froufie said:

So further to #4 - if I download all the funds to my player bank for the 'week' and play around - and there is some left (if I should be so lucky - or if I'm REALLY lucky more than what I started with) I can cash it out and take it - even though it started out as non-refundable cruise cash?  Do I have to play ALL of it?  

 

To keep the casino happy, you have to play THROUGH all of it, but you don't have to LOSE all of it.  If you put $500 into your casino account, and you play a penny slot at a dollar a spin, you have to press the spin button a hundred times - and as long as it's from OBC and not free play, you'll be able to track that because you'll earn 200 points.  If you have $300 left after that or $700, it's yours to cash out or give back to the casino.  

[Schoifmom]

58 minutes ago, Froufie said:

So further to #4 - if I download all the funds to my player bank for the 'week' and play around - and there is some left (if I should be so lucky - or if I'm REALLY lucky more than what I started with) I can cash it out and take it - even though it started out as non-refundable cruise cash?  Do I have to play ALL of it?  

 

There is no requirement to play all of it.  I have, on occasion, loaded much more than I played and then cashed out (almost always from OBC, cruise cash, or gift cards).  Just don't do it for too much or too often and no one will care.  The casino cannot see how you funded your account, just that it came from your S&S (until Carnival figures out how to fix that).

Edited May 9, 2022 by Schoifmom

[Froufie]

3 hours ago, Schoifmom said:

 

There is no requirement to play all of it.  I have, on occasion, loaded much more than I played and then cashed out (almost always from OBC, cruise cash, or gift cards).  Just don't do it for too much or too often and no one will care.  The casino cannot see how you funded your account, just that it came from your S&S (until Carnival figures out how to fix that).

Excellent- thanks for this information - I will put most of it into my 'casino account' and play for the week and then cash out as needed.  That way I won't have to keep adding funds and can see what I have left at any point in time (and when I have lost 'enough' LOL).

 

[Wanna_Cruize]

You can load it all to your casino bank at the beginning of the cruise, but will need to have a credit card for any charges to go to in the meantime (in case you end up losing it all in the casino) - they consider that 'spent'. However, you can withdrawal any amount at any time (just don't try it right after you load your player's bank - that's what tips them off. Don't wait until the end of the cruise and try this method because you just figured out you aren't going to spend it all - that triggers more scrutiny.  You're better off trying to purchase Gift Cards at The Sweet Spot in that case.

[PixyStix686]

Piggy back question: I bought some cruise cash but didn’t notice that it only has my husbands’ name listed. Will it only work charges to his card or work for the entire cabin? 

[Casino Comp Chick]

I may have missed the answer but can you use Carnival issued (with booking) OBC for the daily gratuities?

Thanks in advance.

[Schoifmom]

22 hours ago, PixyStix686 said:

Piggy back question: I bought some cruise cash but didn’t notice that it only has my husbands’ name listed. Will it only work charges to his card or work for the entire cabin? 

If you have combined accounts (i.e., all being charged to one credit card), then it should be a credit to the combined total.  If you look at the accounts individually, it will likely only show on his.  We've done this in the past and never had an issue with the charges for both of us being consumed by cruise cash.

 

 

39 minutes ago, Casino Comp Chick said:

I may have missed the answer but can you use Carnival issued (with booking) OBC for the daily gratuities?

Thanks in advance.

Since cruise cash is essentially purchasing credits to your S&S account, then anything charged to your S&S account will be offset by the cruise cash, including gratuities.

[nascartim]

If you do not pay your gratuities in advance, your s&s card will be charged for that amount on the last full day of your cruise. In that case you can use credit on your account to cover that, whether it be obc or cruise cash.