unused onboard credit

[need2cruz]

I just repriced my cruise because the price went down $400.  I am within my final payment.  I'm pretty sure they are issuing onboard credit.  I was on the phone with a Royal Caribbean agent for a full hour and he had to get a supervisor and he said she is going to issue a refund most likely in onboard credit.  I probably will be able to spend the $400 over the course of the 7 days, but if I don't...What happens to the unused onboard credit?

[SpeedNoodles]

If you don't use it to purchase things, you can go down to the casino and apply it to a slot machine and then just cash it out (without actually gambling, if you wish).

[need2cruz]

17 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

If you don't use it to purchase things, you can go down to the casino and apply it to a slot machine and then just cash it out (without actually gambling, if you wish).

This has me thinking....My husband and myself don;t gamble so I have never earned casino credit before.  But I have read of people earning free cruises after spending money in the casino.  What if I charged $400 to the slot machine but only played $10 and cashed out?  Would this give me $400 in casino credits or just the $10 that I actually played with.  I'm assuming the slot machine is smart and knows I only used $10, but I have no knowledge of how casinos work.

[steverk]

I believe this would be a "refundable" OBC.  This means it will be refunded to you after the cruise.

I've never had any left over, so I can't really say if that happens or not.  As @SpeedNoodles says, you can cash it out in the casino to be sure.

Also, it can be applied to your tips, which should eat up a good bunch of it.

[BrianB]

3 hours ago, need2cruz said:

This has me thinking....My husband and myself don;t gamble so I have never earned casino credit before.  But I have read of people earning free cruises after spending money in the casino.  What if I charged $400 to the slot machine but only played $10 and cashed out?  Would this give me $400 in casino credits or just the $10 that I actually played with.  I'm assuming the slot machine is smart and knows I only used $10, but I have no knowledge of how casinos work.

The slot machines only count how much you actually play. Not how much you put in or cash out. Usually each $5 bet equals one point. 

[PG Cruiser]

2 hours ago, BrianB said:

The slot machines only count how much you actually play. Not how much you put in or cash out. Usually each $5 bet equals one point. 

Does it count how much money you put in and bet or just how much you bet?

I used my $6 free play and it has gotten up to $90 on a slot machine. I kept playing and playing and I saw my points go up to 17 points.  I don’t understand a thing about casinos and slot machines. I can’t even comprehend how $6 became $90.  I get bored watching all the animations on the screens. When I asked for assistance, they must have sensed I was not a gambler and they gave me the cold shoulder.

[PurdueFlyer]

if it's a nonrefundable OBC, and you haven't used it all by the end of the sailing, does anyone know if they can roll the rest of it over to another future booking?  or does it just go to waste?  I'll have about 100 bucks left over when I disembark Freedom on Monday unless I take myself to Chops or something

[FionaMG]

7 hours ago, need2cruz said:

I just repriced my cruise because the price went down $400.  I am within my final payment.  I'm pretty sure they are issuing onboard credit.  I was on the phone with a Royal Caribbean agent for a full hour and he had to get a supervisor and he said she is going to issue a refund most likely in onboard credit.  I probably will be able to spend the $400 over the course of the 7 days, but if I don't...What happens to the unused onboard credit?

This type of OBC is non-refundable. From Royal's website: "If the CWC “best price guarantee” results in a decrease in the guest’s cruise fare after the Final Payment due date,  then the difference will be provided to guests in the form of a non-refundable onboard credit for use on the guest’s cruise."

If you haven't used it all up by the end of the cruise you will lose it. I'm sure you won't let that happen. 

[FionaMG]

41 minutes ago, PurdueFlyer said:

if it's a nonrefundable OBC, and you haven't used it all by the end of the sailing, does anyone know if they can roll the rest of it over to another future booking?  or does it just go to waste?  I'll have about 100 bucks left over when I disembark Freedom on Monday unless I take myself to Chops or something

It will go to waste. Guess you should book Chops or something. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

5 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

If you haven't used it all up by the end of the cruise you will lose it. I'm sure you won't let that happen. 

Casino time !

[FionaMG]

4 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Casino time !

Definitely!

[wordell1]

$400 is not a lot to spend, especially if you haven't pre-paid your tips.

[BrianB]

3 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

Does it count how much money you put in and bet or just how much you bet?

I used my $6 free play and it has gotten up to $90 on a slot machine. I kept playing and playing and I saw my points go up to 17 points.  I don’t understand a thing about casinos and slot machines. I can’t even comprehend how $6 became $90.  I get bored watching all the animations on the screens. When I asked for assistance, they must have sensed I was not a gambler and they gave me the cold shoulder.

The slot machines only count how much you play. Doesn’t matter how much you put in or cash out. Just how much you actually play. For instance…you put $10 into a slot machine and play 5$ each push of the button (twice) without winning anything, you receive two tier points ($5 per point). If you put in $10 and are lucky enough to win and cash out for $1000 after pushing the button only twice, you still receive just two tier points. If you put $10 in and get a couple of wins, allowing you to push that button a hundred times while your total goes up and down, and decide to cash out with your original $10, you will have one hundred tier points. They award points on play knowing full well that the house always wins…eventually.

[need2cruz]

2 hours ago, wordell1 said:

$400 is not a lot to spend, especially if you haven't pre-paid your tips.

I did prepay the tips already.  I didn’t think the price of the cruise would go down so much.  But that’s a good problem to have!  Sounds like I can still cash anything left in the slot machine, if we can’t manage to spend it onboard.

[PG Cruiser]

29 minutes ago, need2cruz said:

I did prepay the tips already.  I didn’t think the price of the cruise would go down so much.  But that’s a good problem to have!  Sounds like I can still cash anything left in the slot machine, if we can’t manage to spend it onboard.

My friends bought presents for family and friends from the shops

 

OFF-TOPIC:  What do you call these presents?  We call them "pasalubong" in Filipino

[PurdueFlyer]

Well, I didn't "take myself to Chops or something"  but I did learn something else.  You can use OBC to add extra gratuity for staff on the ship, instead of using the little envelopes they give you and putting cash in them.

I asked at guest services if this was possible, and she said yes.  You have to fill out a little piece of paper with the crew member's name and work position and write in the amount that you want to tip them.  So I frittered away an extra $60 of OBC ($20 each for attendant / head waiter / assistant waiter) instead of my own cash.

Something to keep in mind if you practice additional tipping at the end of the cruise anyways and have remaining OBC that you can't figure out how to spend.  

[Dad2Cue]

On 1/15/2022 at 3:41 PM, need2cruz said:

I did prepay the tips already.  I didn’t think the price of the cruise would go down so much.  But that’s a good problem to have!  Sounds like I can still cash anything left in the slot machine, if we can’t manage to spend it onboard.

I have a $853 "problem" to solve just like your problem.  I'm sure I'll think of something.  I have already whittled the problem down to a $650 problem with cruise planner purchases!  Strawberries and champagne is a good way to begin a cruise.  Chops+1 is a good way to spend some money too.

If all else fails ... I'll visit the casino.

[CrimsonCruiser]

12 hours ago, Dad2Cue said:

I have a $853 "problem" to solve just like your problem.

And here I was thinking our over $600 in OBC (next cruise promo + TA promo) was the top of the mountain! go you!!

[Templecruiser]

I just repriced my cruise after final payment, it went down $916. I can not see me spending that much on the cruise in 4 weeks. I prepaid tips, already bought internet, and having 4 free drinks a day, can’t see buying drink package. Already bought shore excursions also. That’s a lot to spend.

[sunset1031]

I was under the impression that I can use the remaining OBC to settle the bill at the end of the cruise. Am I right?

[mathbees]

If you've got that much OBC on a future cruise that visits CocoCay, might be time to splurge on a Cabana!!

[SpeedNoodles]

1 hour ago, sunset1031 said:

I was under the impression that I can use the remaining OBC to settle the bill at the end of the cruise. Am I right?

Yes, if you  have one.  I never have one.

[Templecruiser]

1 hour ago, sunset1031 said:

I was under the impression that I can use the remaining OBC to settle the bill at the end of the cruise. Am I right?

I will only have a bill if I spend the $916 OBC first. Anything you buy when on the ship comes off your OBC first.

[JasonOasis]

6 hours ago, Templecruiser said:

I just repriced my cruise after final payment, it went down $916. I can not see me spending that much on the cruise in 4 weeks. I prepaid tips, already bought internet, and having 4 free drinks a day, can’t see buying drink package. Already bought shore excursions also. That’s a lot to spend.

If on the last night of the cruise your bill is $0 dollars and you still have an OBC remaining go to the casino and transfer the remaining OBC to a slot machine and cash it out.  Don't feel like you have to spend all $916 dollars during the cruise, you can get your money back in the form of cold hard cash by going to the casino.

On our upcoming Harmony cruise which isn't until December 2022 we already have a $700 dollar OBC. I'm going to hold off on booking any shore excursions until we are onboard but whatever remains of the OBC on the last night of the cruise I'm cashing it out in the casino.  Never disembark the ship on disembarkation day and leave unused OBC because more than likely once they close out the cruise your OBC is gone and Royal probably keeps the money.

[teddy]

On 1/15/2022 at 4:10 PM, PG Cruiser said:

OFF-TOPIC:  What do you call these presents?  We call them "pasalubong" in Filipino

Souvenirs maybe?

[KathS]

On 2/25/2022 at 2:42 PM, JasonOasis said:

If on the last night of the cruise your bill is $0 dollars and you still have an OBC remaining go to the casino and transfer the remaining OBC to a slot machine and cash it out.  Don't feel like you have to spend all $916 dollars during the cruise, you can get your money back in the form of cold hard cash by going to the casino.

On our upcoming Harmony cruise which isn't until December 2022 we already have a $700 dollar OBC. I'm going to hold off on booking any shore excursions until we are onboard but whatever remains of the OBC on the last night of the cruise I'm cashing it out in the casino.  Never disembark the ship on disembarkation day and leave unused OBC because more than likely once they close out the cruise your OBC is gone and Royal probably keeps the money.

Do you know if this applies to all OBC? I have rewards on the BOA Royal Caribbean Visa and just found that using it toward a cruise will only get an ocean view cabin. If I use the rewards for a large OBC amount will I be able to go into the casino and cash it out as you describe on an upcoming cruise? Can I do this anytime during the cruise? Thanks!

[SpeedNoodles]

3 hours ago, KathS said:

Do you know if this applies to all OBC? I have rewards on the BOA Royal Caribbean Visa and just found that using it toward a cruise will only get an ocean view cabin. If I use the rewards for a large OBC amount will I be able to go into the casino and cash it out as you describe on an upcoming cruise? Can I do this anytime during the cruise? Thanks!

Yep!

[D Alt]

I was surprised to find that my OBC at the end of my cruise was refunded back to my card.  Granted I only had .54 cents left because I thought I had to use it all up. I thought it was a non-refundable credit too. But i was credited for that remaining amount. 

But not taking chances. I try to make sure I use my credits before last night. Go shopping, casino, etc. 

[mac66]

As was stated non refundable OBC can be refunded by putting it into a slot machine and cashing out. You don't have to gamble.  Just take the cash out slip to the cashier and get your cash.