Canadian Princess Cruisers

[Steelers36]

If placing a credit in the casino ...

Can it be withdrawn at any time throughout the cruise?

Or

If left as OBC can it be withdrawn from guest services at any time?

 

Or is it only at the end of the sailing?

 

If you pre-purchase casino credit, there is a card (or cards) in your room. You take card(s) to the casino cage and present along with your cruise card. The casino cage has a duplicate of your casino credits. They issue you the cash.

 

It is up to you to walk away with the cash, or you can had some or all back and they will put it on your cruise card for gambling purposes. You can return to the casino cage at anytime (up to the final night of the cruise) and either take out cash or add more.

 

 

If you pre-puchase OBC, I think it just shows up on your on-board account. You could go to the PSD and get some cash I think if you have a positive balance. There is probably a limit whereas not so much at the casino. I have not pre-purchased OBC - just used the casino credit/gift card route.

 

If you have a small credit at the end of the trip, the PSD might give you the cash, but the general process is to send out refund cheques sometime after the end of the voyage.

Edited October 28, 2015 by steelers36

[bigenna]

Just home from Emerald TA a short time ago.

For the first time we prepurchased Casino Credits. Since we had booked a year ago at 10%, for each $100 USD our credit card was charged $110 CAD. As posted here, we just took the card(s) to the casino and were given cash, no questions asked. We did end up spending more time in the casino than usual, but there was absolutely no pressure to do so.

Edited October 28, 2015 by bigenna

[Karen Lynn]

I wonder ..can you withdraw the whole amount at the start of the cruise from the casino? I'm sure it won't be long before limits are put into place :eek:

[rocker57]

I wonder ..can you withdraw the whole amount at the start of the cruise from the casino? I'm sure it won't be long before limits are put into place :eek:

 

Our last cruise, we had purchased $300 casino cash, once the ship set sail, I cashed them in no problem - and ended up getting a casino rate for our upcoming cruise. We spent some money in the casino, but not much, so not sure if this is what did it.

Will be purchasing a few before setting sail again in February. We booked at a 20% exchange rate, so its great. Been putting money on OBC as well so hopefully I won't have any charges on my credit card at the end.

[bigenna]

Our last cruise, we had purchased $300 casino cash, once the ship set sail, I cashed them in no problem - and ended up getting a casino rate for our upcoming cruise. We spent some money in the casino, but not much, so not sure if this is what did it.

Will be purchasing a few before setting sail again in February. We booked at a 20% exchange rate, so its great. Been putting money on OBC as well so hopefully I won't have any charges on my credit card at the end.

 

Rocker, interested to know exactly how you were informed about qualifying for the casino rate since we had the same scenario.

[avcruz]

Pre-paid the gratuities today for our January cruise at the current rate in CAD at the 10% exchange rate we booked at at in June 2014. Now we have figure out how we will spend all our OBCs....such a dilemma.:D

 

Now that's a dilemma I wouldn't mind! :D

By the way, love the new avatar!

[rocker57]

Rocker, interested to know exactly how you were informed about qualifying for the casino rate since we had the same scenario.

 

I didn't know I had qualified for the casino rate. When I checked the cruise, it was a good price, so I booked and told my BIL, there rate was higher. When I called, I found out it was the casino rate. I may have received something in the mail, and could of chucked it. Good for me, I wasn't going to argue :D

[bigenna]

Hmmmm, interesting. So sounds like the casino rate is already applied to your particular pricing and you might never be aware that you are getting a special rate.

[alcalc]

Google search land me to this quick site and been reading (or I should say learning) from many posts here. But before I tell (report to) my wife on all the great information here, I thought I should get a confirmation from all the experts here.

 

Background:

• Canadian (off course if I am posting on this thread :))
  
• Trip is this coming X'mas
  
• Booked in CAD at 10% exchange rate
  
• Already load up my OBC with my AMEX
  

 

Questions:

1. OBC that I purchased can be use to pay my Princess Shore Excursions, correct? This was really the main purpose why I Google about OBC when I discovered I am only paying with a 10% exchange rate in CAD.
   
2. We now looking for some USD cash to be use as tips for our shore excursions, hence I start reading the Cash Out at Casino posts. Should I purchased the CC or convert them from OBC when I aboard? I guess I am asking which way is easier?
   
3. Once I got my money in these Casino card(s), to cash out, I can (1) go to the "CAGE" (Cashier) to get cash OR (2) go to a Slot and play a few round (lose a few dollars) and the Cash Out at the machine. Am I correct?
   
4. Leftover OBC at the end of the trip, assuming over $25, can I get them refund to the No FX VISA that I have provided on file? Or will it going back to my AMEX I used. Or only option now is go to Casino and Cash out or let them send me a cheque in USD.
   

 

Thanks.

[Mud_Shark]

We took a September cruise also at the 10% rate.

 

I had loaded enough OBC by pre-paying at the 10% rate to cover our gratuities, excursions, and some miscellaneous onboard expenses. When one of our port stops was cancelled (tender port) (cancelling our excursion), we ended up with almost $200 in unused OBC remaining. They told me at the desk that it would be refunded to my credit card, but about 3 weeks later we received a check in the mail in US funds. When I took it to our bank - of course their rate of exchange is not very favourable, but I still got 1.31 on the dollar - much better than the 1.10 on the dollar I paid - so I thought it was better than just getting my 1.10 on the dollar refunded to me on my credit card.

 

Don

[alcalc]

...so I thought it was better than just getting my 1.10 on the dollar refunded to me on my credit card.

 

Don

 

Thanks Don for your quick respond.

 

So, if they did refund to the credit card, they refund in CAD at the 10% Exchange Rate and not in the USD with whatever show as leftover on your account at check-out on the ship?

[alcalc]

My trip will be leaving in a couple of weeks, hence thought to bump up this thread again and see if someone help answer other questions that I have listed in my original post.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Croptop]

Questions:

1. OBC that I purchased can be use to pay my Princess Shore Excursions, correct? This was really the main purpose why I Google about OBC when I discovered I am only paying with a 10% exchange rate in CAD.
   

 

I can't help with any of your cashing out or casino questions as I have never done any of that myself. However, I *can* answer question #1.

 

Your onboard credit can definitely be used to pay for excursions. When you board the ship, you'll see that your shipboard account has a large credit (the amount of OBC that you have purchased). Each day, any and all purchases, your auto tip, etc, will be added to your account and your OBC balance will slowly -- or not so slowly -- diminish.

[Mingus]

 

Questions:

1. OBC that I purchased can be use to pay my Princess Shore Excursions, correct? This was really the main purpose why I Google about OBC when I discovered I am only paying with a 10% exchange rate in CAD.
   Yes, anything you charge to your shipboard account will reduce your OBC.
   
2. We now looking for some USD cash to be use as tips for our shore excursions, hence I start reading the Cash Out at Casino posts. Should I purchased the CC or convert them from OBC when I aboard? I guess I am asking which way is easier?
   Casino credits are the easiest. You'll receive the casino credit vouchers in your cabin, which you then take to the casino cashier. They'll give you cash, which you can use as you wish (no gambling even required).
   
3. Once I got my money in these Casino card(s), to cash out, I can (1) go to the "CAGE" (Cashier) to get cash OR (2) go to a Slot and play a few round (lose a few dollars) and the Cash Out at the machine. Am I correct?
   No slot play required with casino credits.
   If you purchase OBC, then you would need to transfer OBC to your casino account (which you set up on your cruise card), play some slots, then cash out at the cashier.
   
4. Leftover OBC at the end of the trip, assuming over $25, can I get them refund to the No FX VISA that I have provided on file? Or will it going back to my AMEX I used. Or only option now is go to Casino and Cash out or let them send me a cheque in USD.
   They do not refund to your credit card on file (even though it states that on your final folio).
   It's best to cash out any remaining OBC, otherwise you'll receive a cheque (US$) in the mail, in about a month.
   

 

Thanks.

 

See above.

[alcalc]

Thanks so much for the quick respond. Now I can report to my wife :)

 

We have a US road trip in March and again in May, maybe I should just cash out more USD at this wonderful 1.1 Exchange Rate :D

 

Anyway, thanks again.

Edited December 4, 2015 by alcalc

[Mingus]

We have a US road trip in March and again in May, maybe I should just cash out more USD at this wonderful 1.1 Exchange Rate :D

Yes, definitely ;)

[h-sar]

casino credits? I have OBC I purchased using my old 1.10 exchange rate. If I have any left at end of cruise can I get cash back on board or do I have to wait for them to mail the Cheque? Thank you

[Steelers36]

Thanks Don for your quick respond.

 

So, if they did refund to the credit card, they refund in CAD at the 10% Exchange Rate and not in the USD with whatever show as leftover on your account at check-out on the ship?

 

You probably realize this was answered by answering other questions, but they do not process a refund to the credit card. If they did, it would be in USD - the amount on your final folio at end of cruise. So, then what you would hypothetically get would depend on whether your credit card on account was USD or CAD. If CAD, it will be your bank and or VISA/MC/AMEX applying their exchange rate for selling USD.

 

If you have a small credit, the nice folks at PSD will probably just give you the cash. Otherwise, a check in USD will be sent to you (I used US spelling since the check comes from Princess in USA in USD - LOL).

[Steelers36]

casino credits? I have OBC I purchased using my old 1.10 exchange rate. If I have any left at end of cruise can I get cash back on board or do I have to wait for them to mail the Cheque? Thank you

 

See my response in Post #843, just above this one.

[Steelers36]

Yes, definitely ;)

 

Except don't over milk the golden cow or Princess might just turn us all into frogs and no more currency advantage.

[h-sar]

Except don't over milk the golden cow or Princess might just turn us all into frogs and no more currency advantage.

 

Absolutely! I'm just glad to be able to pay for all my onboard expenses with the great exchange rate :)

[Steelers36]

Absolutely! I'm just glad to be able to pay for all my onboard expenses with the great exchange rate :)

 

And that should never be an issue nor raise eyebrows at Princess. But if enough folks attempt to fund future road trips and shopping junkets to the USA, it might raise a flag or two (overly large amounts).

[alcalc]

We are now all set for our upcoming cruise.

 

and don't worry, I will not withdraw like $10K of money, maybe only a couple hundreds, only if we didn't purchase anything additional on-board.

 

Thanks again for all the responds.

[Laurentian]

I booked my cruise last spring at the exchange rate of 1.20. When I go to my cruise personalizer, it is still showing the rate at 1.20 if I want to buy OBC or CC. Will the rate (1.20) remain the same on the personalizer until I take the cruise in September or is it subject to change until then?

[Kamloops50]

It will stay that way until online purchases aren't available about 4 days before the cruise.