Canadian Princess Cruisers

[VISLAND]

Not for this Canadian.

 

Also, NOT for this Canadian... everything was in U.S. funds, for our upcoming Mexican cruise ( February)... so, we just will not be purchasing any drink packages , pictures, etc; as we usually do, also less trips to the casino!!!:mad:

however, I'm sure we'll still have a great time. cheers!:)

[goofy559]

Also, NOT for this Canadian... everything was in U.S. funds, for our upcoming Mexican cruise ( February)... so, we just will not be purchasing any drink packages , pictures, etc; as we usually do, also less trips to the casino!!!:mad:

however, I'm sure we'll still have a great time. cheers!:)

Yes the prices in board are in US. that is why you buy onboard credit BEFORE you sail. The rate is better. the obc covers all your costs. I urge you to go back to your personalizer. Obc and tips can be prepurchased at a preferential rate. If you are still unsure come back ND ask and we'll walk you through it. 😀

 

Unless if course you purchased your cruise in US funds

Edited January 17, 2016 by goofy559

[mmwc]

We are sailing in March on the Royal. We have bought some OBC but thinking of buying some more. We are relative newbies to buying OBC so I am hoping the experts here can answer a few questions. The good thing is we booked in CDN$. My main question is can we withdraw some of our OBC as USD$ and if so how do we do that?

 

With thanks - Midge

[Steelers36]

We are sailing in March on the Royal. We have bought some OBC but thinking of buying some more. We are relative newbies to buying OBC so I am hoping the experts here can answer a few questions. The good thing is we booked in CDN$. My main question is can we withdraw some of our OBC as USD$ and if so how do we do that?

 

With thanks - Midge

 

When you pre-pay for services or goods on board, such as OBC, you are paying for and buying USD. For example, you might be buying $100 USD OBC at 1.20, 1.30, etc. On board it will be USD for you to spend. You are never buying CAD for on board usage.

 

If you want just pure cash, you should go to casino and put some on your card and gamble a bit and then cash out.

 

I do think this is somehow going to be stopped by Princess if it's abused and costing them too much.

Edited January 17, 2016 by steelers36

[Steelers36]

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?

 

IN THEORY, and from past practice. However, Princess' policies are always subject to change and those old 1.1 and 1.2 rates are costing them plenty.

 

Princess has already had several rate changes last year and I would not be surprised to see them move to 1.40 anytime now.

[mmwc]

When you pre-pay for services or goods on board, such as OBC, you are paying for and buying USD. For example, you might be buying $100 USD OBC at 1.20, 1.30, etc. On board it will be USD for you to spend. You are never buying CAD for on board usage.

 

If you want just pure cash, you should go to casino and put some on your card and gamble a bit and then cash out.

 

I do think this is somehow going to be stopped by Princess if it's abused and costing them too much.

 

Thank you. I was not very clear, sorry about that. I know that Princess uses USD, and I understand that I'm buying USD as OBC.

 

What I'm asking is this: If I buy $100 USD as OBC and spend only $75 of it, can I withdraw the unspent $25 as cash in USD?

 

Or can I only do that through the casino?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Midge

[Mp:)]

The rate is at 1,35. We paid at this rate our all inclusive beverage this morning.

 

We also bought OBC at the same rate. The rate is a lot better than the actual FX rate. Once the transaction completed, we checked our Cruise account on the Personnalizer and noticed our OBC are in CAD currency. Does that mean, the exchange rate to be applied will the one in effect at the time of the actual usage of our OBC (ex; pay for our ground excursions) or and we hope this is the case, the rate is blocked at the current rate in effect at the time we purchased the OBC.

 

Thank you...

[goofy559]

On board it's through the casino. If you have some left at the end of the cruise (more than $25) they mail a cheque in US funds - takes 3-4 weeks.

[Carla3]

Thank you. I was not very clear, sorry about that. I know that Princess uses USD, and I understand that I'm buying USD as OBC.

 

 

 

What I'm asking is this: If I buy $100 USD as OBC and spend only $75 of it, can I withdraw the unspent $25 as cash in USD?

 

 

 

Or can I only do that through the casino?

 

 

 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

 

Midge

 

 

Hey midge,

You can purchase on board credits that go towards purchases on board (spa, excursions, specialty dining etc) If you want U.S cash, then also purchase casino credits. Just go to the casino once on board and ask for your funds.

[Carla3]

The rate is at 1,35. We paid at this rate our all inclusive beverage this morning.

 

 

 

We also bought OBC at the same rate. The rate is a lot better than the actual FX rate. Once the transaction completed, we checked our Cruise account on the Personnalizer and noticed our OBC are in CAD currency. Does that mean, the exchange rate to be applied will the one in effect at the time of the actual usage of our OBC (ex; pay for our ground excursions) or and we hope this is the case, the rate is blocked at the current rate in effect at the time we purchased the OBC.

 

 

 

Thank you...

 

 

Your rate stays fixed. If your rate is 1.35 then it cost you $135 cdn to buy $100 U.S. You now have a $100 U.S OBC.

 

everyone's rate can be different. Your personal rate is based on when you booked your cruise. I booked a cruise last July (2015) that doesn't sail until November 2016. My exchange rate is still 1.20. I'm going to buy OBC and casino credits now just in case Princess changes there policy and increases my rate

[mmwc]

Your rate stays fixed. If your rate is 1.35 then it cost you $135 cdn to buy $100 U.S. You now have a $100 U.S OBC.

 

everyone's rate can be different. Your personal rate is based on when you booked your cruise. I booked a cruise last July (2015) that doesn't sail until November 2016. My exchange rate is still 1.20. I'm going to buy OBC and casino credits now just in case Princess changes there policy and increases my rate

 

Thanks to everyone. We are learning things with each post. Like you Carla, we booked awhile ago for several cruises so I will see if I can find out which rate we have for each cruise. One last question, I know where I purchase OBC, where do I buy Casino credits?

 

Thank you in advance - Midge

[Carla3]

Thanks to everyone. We are learning things with each post. Like you Carla, we booked awhile ago for several cruises so I will see if I can find out which rate we have for each cruise. One last question, I know where I purchase OBC, where do I buy Casino credits?

 

 

 

Thank you in advance - Midge

 

 

You can purchase casino credits through your cruise personalized, then on board reservations. You have to use the desk top version of princess cruises website and not the mobile version (iPad/tablet) for some reason casino credits are not listed as a purchase option on the mobile site.

[jenng1976]

IN THEORY, and from past practice. However, Princess' policies are always subject to change and those old 1.1 and 1.2 rates are costing them plenty.

 

 

 

Princess has already had several rate changes last year and I would not be surprised to see them move to 1.40 anytime now.

 

 

Do you (or anyone) remember if there is advance warning when Princess changes the exchange rate? I'm watching a May British Isles cruise and ideally I would like to wait until after final payment to book for a possible Drop & Go sale, but I'm also concerned about the exchange rate changing if I wait!

 

Decisions decisions!

 

Thanks for any input!

Jenn :)

[mmwc]

You can purchase casino credits through your cruise personalized, then on board reservations. You have to use the desk top version of princess cruises website and not the mobile version (iPad/tablet) for some reason casino credits are not listed as a purchase option on the mobile site.

 

 

Another BIG thank you. You were correct I was searching on my iPad, when I logged in on my computer, no problem. Good news, we booked early enough that our first 2 cruises have an exchange rate of $1.20 our last cruise the rate went up to $1.35.

As a novice can I assume withdrawing money from my casino credits poses no problem?

 

With thanks - Midge

[rocker57]

When you purchase casino credits, you will have vouchers in your room waiting for you. You can then take these down to the casino when they open and cash them in. You can do it one at a time, or all at once. At least that is what we did last February, and will be doing it again in 4 weeks :D

[Carla3]

Here's another tip for Canadians. If your cruise was booked with a U.S price and there is still time to cancel your cruise and receive a full refund, call princess and see if you can cancel your cruise and rebook immediately using Canadian pricing. You'll have to do some math calculations to see if it's worth your while. check out princess website today and see what the current cdn price is. I did this last year and saved $1500 on my mini-suite. Plus I was then able to purchase OBC using a preferred fx rate

[lawyervan]

Do you (or anyone) remember if there is advance warning when Princess changes the exchange rate? I'm watching a May British Isles cruise and ideally I would like to wait until after final payment to book for a possible Drop & Go sale, but I'm also concerned about the exchange rate changing if I wait!

 

Decisions decisions!

 

Thanks for any input!

Jenn :)

 

Just to clarify - if it shows that $100 OBC costs $135 CDN, then that means that our rate is $135, correct? and this rate will remain the same until the end of our cruise for other shipboard expenses unless Princess decides to make a change? thank you in advance.

[goofy559]

Just to clarify - if it shows that $100 OBC costs $135 CDN, then that means that our rate is $135, correct? and this rate will remain the same until the end of our cruise for other shipboard expenses unless Princess decides to make a change? thank you in advance.

Incorrect. That rate is in effect for items you PREPURCHASE before you sail - specifically obc, casino credit and tips) once you are on the ship, items that are not covered by obc will be subject to the prevailing exchange rate

[sueandkent]

When you purchase casino credits, you will have vouchers in your room waiting for you. You can then take these down to the casino when they open and cash them in. You can do it one at a time, or all at once. At least that is what we did last February, and will be doing it again in 4 weeks :D

 

For our upcoming cruise it now states prepurchased casino credit will be added to your stateroom account prior to boarding for casino use. I'm concerned they've tightened up this great little loophole. It would be great if anyone who has RECENTLY purchased casino credit with that disclaimer on the top of the booking page could report back as to whether they got the usual certificates or it was indeed put on your stateroom card like OBC. On our last cruise in the fall it was still the certificates however that disclaimer was not on the booking page either.

[rocker57]

For our upcoming cruise it now states prepurchased casino credit will be added to your stateroom account prior to boarding for casino use. I'm concerned they've tightened up this great little loophole. It would be great if anyone who has RECENTLY purchased casino credit with that disclaimer on the top of the booking page could report back as to whether they got the usual certificates or it was indeed put on your stateroom card like OBC. On our last cruise in the fall it was still the certificates however that disclaimer was not on the booking page either.

 

I hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out. Oh well, I will just put the money on my card and cash out

[sueandkent]

I hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out. Oh well, I will just put the money on my card and cash out

 

Yes that will work and I can't see a way that they can keep you from getting your money. That would be like winning in the casino and then them telling you too bad, you can't actually have it we'll send you a check.

As you sail on the Caribbean Princess next month can you report back after you sail as to how the casino credit was handled. This is the same ship we are on in March so I would be interested to know. Thanks in advance.

[rocker57]

Yes that will work and I can't see a way that they can keep you from getting your money. That would be like winning in the casino and then them telling you too bad, you can't actually have it we'll send you a check.

As you sail on the Caribbean Princess next month can you report back after you sail as to how the casino credit was handled. This is the same ship we are on in March so I would be interested to know. Thanks in advance.

 

No problem, am sure there won't be a problem. Thy probably trying this as they have cottoned on that we are drawing out money, but because of this site, I know I can draw money from our OBC

[lastrooney]

We're just off the Coral, purchased OBC prior, cashed it out at the casino with no problems.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Croptop]

So what's the general consensus on shipboard account charges? Do you choose to let Princess make the conversion from US to CDN dollars before charging your credit card or do you choose to have Princess charge in US dollars and rely on the bank's coversion rate?

 

I see on the Personaliser that Princess claims that if their rate results in higher charges than what the bank's rate would have been that they will refund it but I suspect that getting that refund would likely be quite an ordeal.

 

Thoughts or recommendations?

[goofy559]

So what's the general consensus on shipboard account charges? Do you choose to let Princess make the conversion from US to CDN dollars before charging your credit card or do you choose to have Princess charge in US dollars and rely on the bank's coversion rate?

 

I see on the Personaliser that Princess claims that if their rate results in higher charges than what the bank's rate would have been that they will refund it but I suspect that getting that refund would likely be quite an ordeal.

 

Thoughts or recommendations?

While this question is moot if you prepurchase obc at the better rate, never let the cruiseline convert - this convenience will always be to their benefit.[emoji6]