On-Board Credit vs Cruise Cash

[ladysail2]

My travel agent/agency very nicely gave me an OBC for my last Carnival cruise.  When I went to Guest Services to confirm that I had it, they told me that it was cruise cash, and therefore not refundable.  Is this something new with Carnival, or did the agency do this on purpose? Cruise Cash is more of a benefit for the cruise line than for the cruiser, IMHO.  Just wondering if this is usual on Carnival? Thank you.

[shof515]

this is a question for your travel agent

 

If your travel agent purchased it as a gift to you, this is cruise cash. If it was a travel agent booking perk, it should of credited as some kind of onboard credit. some travel agent onboard credit can be non refundable

[n6uqqq]

Likely your agent bought you the cruise cash. I have some bookings with my big box agent that give me 100 per person which is an actual obc but it is use it or lose just like cruise cash so there is no difference really.

[pinklucky61]

Just go to casino, transfer it to a slot machine, cash out of machine, go to casino cashier to cash it all out.

[ladysail2]

On 5/19/2024 at 12:39 PM, shof515 said:

this is a question for your travel agent

 

If your travel agent purchased it as a gift to you, this is cruise cash. If it was a travel agent booking perk, it should of credited as some kind of onboard credit. some travel agent onboard credit can be non refundable

I did ask my travel agent and she knew nothing about it. She didn’t set up the ‘OBC’.  The notice in the cabin said it was a ‘gift’ from a man’s name. Had no idea who he was. The travel agent said it was the owner of the agency. So who knows what happened?  I know that they didn’t give me the amount stated on the invoice, and when they agreed, they added the missing amount to my Royal Caribbean cruise and it was ‘refundable’. 
It just seems unusual that on Carnival the OBC was non-refundable and on Royal it was refundable.

[ladysail2]

On 5/19/2024 at 5:13 PM, pinklucky61 said:

Just go to casino, transfer it to a slot machine, cash out of machine, go to casino cashier to cash it all out.

I didn’t know that that worked anymore.  I thought one had to use the full amount and only cash out any winnings.  
 

On Royal, I was able to cash out the refundable OBC, but not until the very last sailing day….I guess they hope one uses it up on the ship.

[Retired-N-Happy]

Another way to use the money is to go to Cherry on Top and buy a Carnival gift card in any dollar amount with a minimum of 100.00.  You can then use it on a future cruise.

[Purvis1231]

I am not sure if the casino thing still works but most people don't have any trouble spending some cruise cash. 

[Retired-N-Happy]

3 minutes ago, Purvis1231 said:

I am not sure if the casino thing still works but most people don't have any trouble spending some cruise cash. 

That's why I mentioned buying the gift card.  I use my stockholder OBC that way every cruise.

[kdr69]

OBC can be non refundable too, the name its called doesnt determine that.

[ladysail2]

9 hours ago, kdr69 said:

OBC can be non refundable too, the name its called doesnt determine that.

An OBC from the cruise line offered at booking is always non-refundable as far as I know. I thought an OBC from the cruiser’s travel agency was always refundable since it is usually a ‘gift’.  Cruise cash is more of a ‘gift’ to the cruise line..in this case, Carnival.  Buying a gift card would at least benefit me at some point in time!  

[Retired-N-Happy]

11 minutes ago, ladysail2 said:

An OBC from the cruise line offered at booking is always non-refundable as far as I know. I thought an OBC from the cruiser’s travel agency was always refundable since it is usually a ‘gift’.  Cruise cash is more of a ‘gift’ to the cruise line..in this case, Carnival.  Buying a gift card would at least benefit me at some point in time!  

Yes, if OBC comes from the cruise line such as stock holder OBC, it's always non-refundable and you need to use it or lose it.  OBC from your TA is usually refundable but if the TA purchased cruise cash or bar cash for you, it needs to be used up and once again, use it or lose it.  But if your TA bestowed just regular OBC, it is indeed refundable and if not spent can be refunded to you.  Depending upon the cruise line, it could be given as cash on board or cut as a check to eventually be mailed to you.

[ladysail2]

51 minutes ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

Yes, if OBC comes from the cruise line such as stock holder OBC, it's always non-refundable and you need to use it or lose it.  OBC from your TA is usually refundable but if the TA purchased cruise cash or bar cash for you, it needs to be used up and once again, use it or lose it.  But if your TA bestowed just regular OBC, it is indeed refundable and if not spent can be refunded to you.  Depending upon the cruise line, it could be given as cash on board or cut as a check to eventually be mailed to you.

That’s what happened, the agency purchased cruise cash. A benefit to Carnival.  My agent didn’t purchase it for some reason. Before my next Carnival cruise in 2025, I will start dropping a few hints that I hope the OBC is refundable. Fingers crossed.  😊. Yet, same agency and two days after the Carnival cruise I took a Royal Caribbean cruise and that OBC was totally refundable. That’s why I thought that perhaps Carnival had changed its policy and converted OBC purchases into Cruise Cash.

[Retired-N-Happy]

59 minutes ago, ladysail2 said:

That’s what happened, the agency purchased cruise cash. A benefit to Carnival.  My agent didn’t purchase it for some reason. Before my next Carnival cruise in 2025, I will start dropping a few hints that I hope the OBC is refundable. Fingers crossed.  😊. Yet, same agency and two days after the Carnival cruise I took a Royal Caribbean cruise and that OBC was totally refundable. That’s why I thought that perhaps Carnival had changed its policy and converted OBC purchases into Cruise Cash.

There's a possibility that Carnival could have given the agency a 5% or whatever discount on the cruise cash, so the agency makes out and so does Carnival.  If you ever need to spend it onboard, just buy a gift card at Cherry on Top.  They are 100 minimum and it can be any dollar amount.

[ladysail2]

2 hours ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

There's a possibility that Carnival could have given the agency a 5% or whatever discount on the cruise cash, so the agency makes out and so does Carnival.  If you ever need to spend it onboard, just buy a gift card at Cherry on Top.  They are 100 minimum and it can be any dollar amount.

That’s an excellent idea, I truly believe it. I won’t even call it a theory..it’s too plausible. 
With the Carnival OBC given when booking, can one add funds to it and buy a gift card for the $100?   Can a gift card be used for a deposit?  Thanks in advance for any information!  😊

[ladysail2]

I found my answer. I can use the gift card for the deposit. Thanks!

[Retired-N-Happy]

9 hours ago, ladysail2 said:

That’s an excellent idea, I truly believe it. I won’t even call it a theory..it’s too plausible. 
With the Carnival OBC given when booking, can one add funds to it and buy a gift card for the $100?   Can a gift card be used for a deposit?  Thanks in advance for any information!  😊

Yes, if you have been given 50 in non refundable OBC you can just buy the card at Cherry on Top for 100 and then it will go on your sail n sign account.  50 of the 100 is covered by the OBC and the other 50 is covered by your credit card on file.  You can also use the OBC towards your gratuities if you did not prepay them. 

On my last cruise I had 150 in OBC to spend.  Had prepaid the grats, spent a little on the beignets at Emeril's and had bought a gift card with the 140+ that was on my account.

[ladysail2]

I’ve already made a note in my documents re: OBC -> gift card , on my next Carnival cruise..😊.  Thanks for all the info and tips!