LM63

8 hours ago, pilot said:

I went to the Princess website. 

 

Go towards the bottom of the page to "Need Assistance".

 

Then click on "Contact Us".

 

Then go to "Email Support".

 

Then fill out the form.

 

You will then get a call in about 1-2 weeks.

 

Good luck!!

Thank you Pilot.

Hi Pilot, 

Would you mind telling me where you emailed. I have been waiting 11 weeks for a refund from a cancelled shore excursion.

Thanks

LM63 

I was going to mention canceling it and recharging but for the reason you stated above it could be an even bigger can of worms X 2. :o

I did ask about cancelling it don't worry & I wouldn't be recharging if I did. If I cancel I would get back, AU$891 with today's exchange rate, which is a loss of AU$41. I've thought about just saying PRINCESS YOU WIN, take my AU$41 just so I don't have this hanging over my head when we leave but I'm worried that they'll stuff that up too & only give me back AU$650 instead of the US$650 I paid. Then I'd still be out of pocket AU$282

Who knows maybe I'm worrying over nothing.

Monday morning they might contact me & it'll all be sorted out.

Fingers crossed.

Then I would go back to Mastercard and point out their error. This is a problem you can do without just days before your trip. :)

Thanks for your suggestion but it's not Mastercards error. Princess has charged US $650 to my card instead of charging in AU$.

I wish Princess just had US$ on my personaliser instead of AU$. I have booked tours with them & paid for gratuities all saying AU$ & have been charged in AU$ then converted to US$ by Mastercard but on this occasion Princess failed to charge me in AU$.

I think there's something weird in the conversion systemwide. I booked 3 for free promotion as a single, category BD. Although I'm fine with how it worked out, I only got $200AUD OBC instead of $200USD:

I wouldn't care so much if it was free onboard credit but since I've paid for it I don't want to just let it go, it's a significant enough amount. Now the Aussie dollar is going up I wish I had just exchanged my $$$, bet you they don't offer me any compensation for the time I've wasted chasing this up or the stress it's cause. I reckon a free massage would suffice ;)

I had troubles with buying OBC for my cruise on the Diamond, an Aussie cruise in Aussie dollars purchased on the Aussie website. Once on the ship they insisted I'd purchased US$ despite all my paperwork saying otherwise. The amount of OBC was less than I'd purchased.

This is what I was worried about. My husband said why don't we just sort it out on the ship, I said they will probably have less of a clue what is going on & insist we have less than what I paid for.

Couldn't get it fixed onboard but did get the difference credited to my next cruise once I got home. I learnt never to pre purchase on the Princess website, they just can't work out Aussie dollars. I hope yours is sorted but please don't let it put a dampener on your cruise. It will be fabulous and you will (at some stage) get your money sorted.

I don't really want the $$$ credited to my next cruise, not sure there is going to be another one with Princess.....Royal Caribbean is looking good atm :p

It looks like they have made an error by converting the currency twice - once by converting US$100 to AUD$130 (times 5 = AUD$650), then by converting the $650 as if it is US$, into AUD, making AUD$932. This is a clear error. When you can point out to Princess what the error is, you will have more chance of getting it fixed promptly. I have always found it is difficult to get an error fixed if you simply say they made a mistake, but if you can point out what it is, things can be often be fixed quickly.

 

All the best. Please let us know how you go. Have a wonderful cruise. :)

 

If you have time in Barcelona before you board the ship, I recommend you go to the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi's church) if you haven't been there already. You have to book ahead for a time slot. It is well worth it. :)

Yep I think that is exactly what they've done.

Except it is mastercard that has done the conversion from US$650.00 to AU$932.00 .

Princess just charged me in US$ not AU$ so essentially it has been converted twice, it just should never have been

charged in US$.

Thanks for the tip about Sagrada Familia it's on our list.

Cheers

LM

Thanks very much for your replies.

Wonder why the rep kissed it off to a generic email instead of just taking care of it for you??

 

The first person I spoke to said that he could cancel the whole transaction but couldn't guarantee I'd get the same amount back as it was dependent on the days exchange rate.

A quick conversion on google showed the amount I would get back was less than what I paid. I didn't think this was satisfactory as it wasn't my fault so why should I be out of pocket.

I then rang & spoke with another person to request a statement of what I had paid & they told me I had only US $500 onboard credit & to email Princess as it was a big discrepancy.

I am guessing that you may have made a similar error to what I made last year

No mistake, clearly says AU $130 & I bought 5 lots, simple math is AU $650 not AU $932.

$282 is quite a big fee for exchange fee :o

One could also send email to customerrelations@princesscruises.com. That address is normally pretty responsive. :)

OP is in Australia. Hence the email that the OP posted.

Princess Australia is a different animal.

That's true is a different animal but I'll give it a go if I have no joy with Princess Australia....got nothing to lose.

Be nice in the email.

Always am :)

Can you let us know how this goes. I often do this from Aust as well and will be having a better look at my credit card from now on.

You are going to Barcelona and then a cruise so I wouldn't stress too much at all. It will get sorted I'm sure.

I surely will.

I think what made it more stressful was that I had just been on the phone for over an hour to our internet provider cause our internet was down. It was my day off & I had lots of last minute things to organise for our trip, then I check my credit card balance, which I never do, just wait for the statement & bam I see I've been overcharged then when I rang Princess I felt more frustrated.

You are right though, we are going to Barcelona & then on a cruise, although this still does need to be sorted one way or another, I can't really complain too much, only 6 sleeps until we fly out.

Cheers

LM

Hi all,

I bought some on board credit through the cruise personaliser for our cruise departing in 10 days leaving from Barcelona.

As I am in Australia the credit shows up in AU$.

It shows you can buy lots of AU$130 which apparently equates US$100 so I bought 5 lots = AU$650

On the statement I received from Princess it shows that I bought

US$100 x 5 at $130 each which is correct.

Today I checked my credit card statement & it says Princess has charged me AU$932 (US$650) an over charge of AU$282

Long story short I rang Princess... twice & was told by the second operator to email feedback@princess.com.au

That was yesterday I haven't received any reply or even an automated email to say they received my email.

We are flying out next Friday & I should be feeling excited, now I'm feeling stressed, just another thing I to do before we leave which I could of done without.

Feeling annoyed. Has anyone else had this issue & was it rectified in a timely fashion.

Cheers

LM

When I pre purchase OBC, My Personalizer shows if I want $100 US it shows $130 CDN. My credit card is charged $130 CDN per $100, once onboard my account shows $100 US.

 

You have to set up a casino account.

Put your card in the slot

create a casino account with your birthday and a PIN number

Repeat

From your account (OBC) select the $ amount to be transferred to your casino account

I always play a small amount

Cash out

You go to the cashier, they will swipe your card and you put in your PIN number

they give you cash and a receipt

Great thanks for the info. I'm thinking I will buy some on board credit even at todays rate as don't think I'll get a better rate & it'll saves me the hassle of exchanging money.

Looks like the CDN exchange rate is slightly higher than the Aussie $.

Cheers

LM

On your Personalizer under Online Reservations, under Onboard Credits you should see the rate in CDN example $130 CND = $100 US

Just looking at buying some onboard credit through the cruise personaliser & as I have booked from Australia the credits are in AU$. There doesn't appear to be any exchange rate under Onboard Credits.

What it says is I can purchase in lots of

AU $32.50

AU $65.00

AU $130.00

If these amounts translate to US$25, 50 & 100 then the exchange rate would be quite favourable for us.

So I rang Princess to "double check" before purchasing & was told that the exchange rate used would be whatever the rate was on the day of purchasing the credit. Don't know if they have changed their policy on buying onboard credit & the exchange rates recently but now I'm wondering if it's worthwhile as our $ is not performing well.

Only plus I can see with buying the credit is that I won't have the hassle of exchanging AU$ for $US as I prefer our account to be paid in cash rather than use my credit card.

Also IF we gave any left at the end we just pop to casino last night, put cruise card into a slot and transfer the amount and then remove card and pop over to cashiers and cash out. Job done. No waiting for refund cheque.

Thanks,

LM

Thank you all for your replies.

That's interesting sammybonny, seems to be different to what others have posted.

Maybe Princess has changed to just the one time no matter what day it is (except for disembarkation day).

Good to know you can have an early breakfast if you want to disembark early.

Cheers

LM

Thank you IECalCruiser.

I do prefer the dining room but good to know Horizon Court is open early if we need to eat early.

Cheers

LM

Thank you sknight, good to know.

I enjoyed reading through the patters too.

Cheers

LM

Hi all,

As I'm a gluten free girl (coeliac) & only eat in the dining rooms to be on the safe side,

I'm wondering if the dining rooms are open earlier on port days?

We have a few early excursions & I like to have a good breakfast to see me through the day just in case I

can't find anything substantial to eat in port, which has happened on occasion.

Cheers

LM

Thank you dss22, Hula Lullaby & JimmyTheSaint,

Hmm decisions, decisions.

Going early or later in the day seems to be the consensus.

Our entry time was 11am, it was the earliest available when we booked[/quote

I'm sure it's crowded no matter what time you go but how did you find the crowds at this time?

Manageable?

 

Cheers,

LM

The information here is very helpful.

We will be visiting Barcelona last weekend in September, arriving Saturday afternoon from Australia.

Not sure how jet lagged we will be, have a nights stopover in Dubai but it's still a long trip across quite different time zones.

So trying to decide on best time to go to La Sagrada Familia on Sunday, not sure whether to just ease into the day & wander around then head there later in the day or just get up & get going There's 10.30, 1.30 & 4.30 time slots available.

Any input is appreciated :)

I just got back from several days in Barcelona and a Mediterranean cruise and I would add that the interior is a must do. It was my most favorite architectural feature I saw the whole trip! We were there in the afternoon and the light coming in the stained glass windows was magnificent! I was able to get the most amazing photo. If you are also able I would also recommend doing one of the towers. We had tickets for the Nativity tower. We took an elevator up and then walked down 400 steps. The views were amazing!!

Hi anjuan, how was your visit in the afternoon, did you find it very crowded? Would you go again in the afternoon?

You must see the inside of Sagrada Familia. We went last October on a Sunday and there was a mass but it was separate from where all the tourists are. We booked on line and arrived about 15 minutes early but were refused entry until the allocated time.

Hi JimmyTheSaint,

What time was your visit on the Sunday? Was entry a bit later because of the mass?

Thank you.

LM

Is the DSC the same as Gratuities?

 

Different terms used by different cruise lines.

Only in cruises that start and/or finish in Australia have the Gratuities built into the cruise costs, possibly only for those who book and pay through Australia or New Zealand.

Thank you.

Remember that those who pay for Australian cruises who live in Australia or New Zealand do NOT have to pay a DSC as it is built into our cruise fare.

Peculiar but we were on the Dover to New York sector of the Round the World Cruise and that applied even there!!!

Is the DSC the same as Gratuities?

My husband & I have been charged AU$193.05 each for gratuities for an 11day Med cruise.

Have never had to pay gratuities before as always cruised in Australia/NZ so is a bit of a shock lol.

LM

Hi

I think you should just do what you really want to do. I'd also suggest joining the roll call on here for your cruise.

You may find other people wanting to share tours which will cost you less.

I was considering doing Pompeii & Amalfi coast but felt I would be experiencing less of each by doing both so decided on the 3 Amalfi towns, Positano, Amalfi & Ravello. I then posted it on the Roll Call to see if anyone else was interested.

Good luck

LM

Hey Pompeii,

How did you go with your tour?

Which one did you decide on?

I am looking at similar tours for our upcoming trip to Italy.

Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers

LM

hkto,

Sounds like you got a good deal. Pity they have reduced it to 2gb.

Thanks for the tip about the shop in Plaza Catalunya. I will keep Vodaphone in mind also.

Thank you all. Just the information I need.

I couldn't find the Orange Holiday sim on the Orange site so

I'm looking at the Go Fly sim for our 4 week Med cruise/land holiday leaving from Barcelona.

https://tiendaonline2.orange.es/tarifas/movil-prepago

Anyone used it throughout the EU? How well did it work?

twobucketbear which translation app did you end up using?

Cheers

LM

Thank you all for your replies.

Lots of great recommendations for tours.

Tony your videos are fabulous.

What magnificent views & despite the rain it looks like it was a spectacular day.

We are due to dock in Naples on October 12, so around the same time you were there.

Think I'll take a poncho or a rain coat just in case ;)

Cheers LM

Thanks for posting those videos Tony, I'll have a look as soon as I finish replying.

Sorry there was time wasted trying to dock but at least you still had a good day.

What time of year was it? Rainy season by the look of it :)

Ski Mom 2

I'm with you, shopping, eating & leisurely pace sound good.

Hank

Thanks for those options.

Number 1 looks like the go as there will be no driving of cars by me or my hubby along the Amalfi Coast Road (too stressful for us) & don't want to waste a minute so public transport is most probably a no.

"The Amalfi coast road is probably the worse road in Italy to drive if you have never driven there before. Although Palermo comes close..."

I imagine it is marazul.

4cats4me I don't know what's going on but I'm pretty sure I replied to you earlier but now it's disappeared, oh well ;p

Thanks for your reply.

Sounds like a wonderful day.

That's exactly what I'd like to do.

Hopefully we can get off the ship early. I think we are in port from 7am to 7pm.

Titangas thanks for your reply too.

Sorrento is least important to me also.

I would still enjoy visiting there given more time but I don't want the tour to be too rushed, trying to fit too much in.

Just out of curiosity do you remember the name of the company you used?