Onboard Credit

[dickinson]

Between my dh and myself we have a bit of obc for our Hawaiian cruise. Can it all be applied to gratuities? We have a little bit from the TA, some because we had used FCC and the good will credit that was given by Princess a few months ago when Princess in error had on their website that suites had unlimited internet when they didn't. We also recently purchased CCL stock so will get more. We don't usually have much of a tab after our cruise so I'm hoping it will go towards gratuities and maybe a refund check :)

 

Experts out there: how does it work?

 

Thanks.

[weedpindle]

No refund, but it applies to everything on your cruise charge including the gratuities

Edited August 7, 2014 by weedpindle

[love to cruz]

We are booked on the Caribbean Princess in October and have a military credit as well as $200 on board credit. Our paperwork says the credits cannot be used for gratuities.

[weedpindle]

It applies to gratuities. You will start out with a negetive balance on the cabin charge portfolio, then everyday charges are added to that portfolio, eating waay at the negative balance until all credits are used up. Every day the gratuties are added to that statement, just like everything else.

[hpeabody]

Yes, On Board Credit can be applied to the fixed gratuities. Basically whatever is in your running balance and then you will pay any difference once your OBC has been used up via your credit card on file. If you have a balance of OBC left over go to the passenger services desk the night before disembarkation and ask for the cash.

[OldSeaDog]

No refund, but it applies to everything on your cruise charge including the gratuities

 

I believe the no refund policy has changed recently. I read, here on CC, that all OBC, regardless the source is treated equally and any "leftover" will be refunded. In fact, that's exactly what happened following our last cruise in June--a few weeks after the cruise, we got a check for the few dollars left in our onboard account a few weeks after the cruise.

[Coveguy4]

You can also put what remainig OBC you have on your casino card in a slot machine, then when you cash out you will get cash back from the casino cashier.

[shepp]

I believe the no refund policy has changed recently. I read, here on CC, that all OBC, regardless the source is treated equally and any "leftover" will be refunded. In fact, that's exactly what happened following our last cruise in June--a few weeks after the cruise, we got a check for the few dollars left in our onboard account a few weeks after the cruise.

 

Indeed. Now cash back, collectible on the last day.

[dickinson]

Thanks all. We don't gamble so the casino thing won't work for us. Do they actually give you cash back now or mail a check? It is quite possible we won't have anything left over…. may buy some internet minutes or do a ship excursion in one of the ports but wanted to know just in case.

 

Thanks again!

[Pam in CA]

No refund, but it applies to everything on your cruise charge including the gratuities

Incorrect information. As of almost a year ago, OBC is refunded no matter what the source.

 

The Princess folio is a simple debit/credit system. Your OBC is listed at the top of your folio after boarding as credits. It's all added up to a total amount of credit. Whatever is charged to your folio is deducted from the credit whether it's the daily hotel charge, drinks, specialty coffee, t-shirts, tours, whatever. It's that simple. There's no OBC that is applied to a specific purchase or charge... it's all either a credit or debit.

[JF - retired RRT]

You are better off asking for cash back. It takes several weeks for the refund check to appear.

We have done it both ways and will never do the check route again, it takes too long.

[hpeabody]

Sorry Quote seems to be broken on the website right now, hmmmm. But here is my reply

 

They will definitely give you CASH. You will sign a document that you received it. Pretty painless. Like someone said above, a check would take a while, so go for the cash. Although if you really do prefer a check, they would do that too.

Edited August 7, 2014 by hpeabody

[beg3yrs]

Leftover OBC? DW and I have never experienced such a thing!

 

Not sure it really exists other than in the minds (and wallets) of frugal cruisers. ;)

[PoohUnderstands]

Leftover OBC? DW and I have never experienced such a thing!

 

Not sure it really exists other than in the minds (and wallets) of frugal cruisers. ;)

 

I agree! Especially since they have added gratuities to your portfolio! I usually do private tours but do at least one ship's tour. I also buy Maybe 1-2 drinks in total; do some internet time; buy 1-2 pics. Well, by that time, my OBC is way gone, but at least my CC bill is less. On our next cruise I have over $900 and it will all be gone by the end of the cruise!

 

But if you do actually have a negative balance at the end of the cruise, go get the cash, definitely!!!!

 

Pooh

[OCruisers]

Incorrect information. As of almost a year ago, OBC is refunded no matter what the source.

The Princess folio is a simple debit/credit system. Your OBC is listed at the top of your folio after boarding as credits. It's all added up to a total amount of credit. Whatever is charged to your folio is deducted from the credit whether it's the daily hotel charge, drinks, specialty coffee, t-shirts, tours, whatever. It's that simple. There's no OBC that is applied to a specific purchase or charge... it's all either a credit or debit.

-------------------------------------------------------

 

Pam's reply above is absolutely correct!

It's a simple debit/credit system.

LuLu

[bhopal21]

Leftover OBC? DW and I have never experienced such a thing!

 

Not sure it really exists other than in the minds (and wallets) of frugal cruisers. ;)

 

How can that be?

 

Even with lots of OBC we end up with a balance in the 4 (or more) digits.:eek:

 

Mike:)

[OCruisers]

How can that be?

Even with lots of OBC we end up with a balance in the 4 (or more) digits.:eek:

Mike:)

 

We never have any OBC left either! But we have FUN on cruises! :D

LuLu

[bhopal21]

We never have any OBC left either! But we have FUN on cruises! :D

LuLu

 

Absolutely! That is what vacations are for.:D

 

 

Mike:)

[Colo Cruiser]

Between my dh and myself we have a bit of obc for our Hawaiian cruise. Can it all be applied to gratuities? We have a little bit from the TA, some because we had used FCC and the good will credit that was given by Princess a few months ago when Princess in error had on their website that suites had unlimited internet when they didn't. We also recently purchased CCL stock so will get more. We don't usually have much of a tab after our cruise so I'm hoping it will go towards gratuities and maybe a refund check :)

 

Experts out there: how does it work?

 

Thanks.

 

 

Yes, its applied to anything you charge to your account.

[Pam in CA]

Leftover OBC? DW and I have never experienced such a thing!

Not sure it really exists other than in the minds (and wallets) of frugal cruisers. ;)

Yup. It exists and you don't have to be frugal. I've had leftover OBC several times. Maybe it's because I have one drink per day at most and that's usually a $5 drink, laundry and Internet are perks, and I often take independent tours. If it's a warm weather cruise I splurge on the Sanctuary. I really don't need or buy souvenirs, don't play bingo or go to the casino, and I trade in my mini-bar set-up for cans of Sprite Zero. Adding up all of my OBC from various sources for my upcoming cruise, I'll start with $650 in credit. I'll probably have leftover credit even though I have several Princess tours booked. Maybe it's easier to have leftover credit as a single. Edited August 8, 2014 by Pam in CA

[beg3yrs]

Yup. It exists and you don't have to be frugal. I've had leftover OBC several times. Maybe it's because I have one drink per day at most and that's usually a $5 drink, laundry and Internet are perks, and I often take independent tours. If it's a warm weather cruise I splurge on the Sanctuary. I really don't need or buy souvenirs, don't play bingo or go to the casino, and I trade in my mini-bar set-up for cans of Sprite Zero. Adding up all of my OBC from various sources for my upcoming cruise, I'll start with $650 in credit. I'll probably have leftover credit even though I have several Princess tours booked. Maybe it's easier to have leftover credit as a single.

 

Well, those are all good points. We usually don't get that much credit combined. Our TA gives our discount mostly in good fares and not so much in OBC (it's there, just not much) and we take lots of Princess tours, times two.

 

All that said, no matter whether we have OBC left or have a whopping balance at the end of the cruise, I think we all have a good time.

[dorisis]

Yes, On Board Credit can be applied to the fixed gratuities. Basically whatever is in your running balance and then you will pay any difference once your OBC has been used up via your credit card on file. If you have a balance of OBC left over go to the passenger services desk the night before disembarkation and ask for the cash.

 

This is the Correct information!!!

[jammen]

Between my dh and myself we have a bit of obc for our Hawaiian cruise. Can it all be applied to gratuities? We have a little bit from the TA, some because we had used FCC and the good will credit that was given by Princess a few months ago when Princess in error had on their website that suites had unlimited internet when they didn't. We also recently purchased CCL stock so will get more. We don't usually have much of a tab after our cruise so I'm hoping it will go towards gratuities and maybe a refund check :)

 

Experts out there: how does it work?

 

Thanks.

 

gratuities just fine to be used. The wife won't have a problem spending.

[janecambridge]

Adding up all of my OBC from various sources for my upcoming cruise, I'll start with $650 in credit. I'll probably have leftover credit even though I have several Princess tours booked. Maybe it's easier to have leftover credit as a single.

 

 

Not wishing to get personal with you Pam,but how does one get OBC of more then $100 per cabin with shares? I need to know the secrets.

Edited August 8, 2014 by janecambridge

[Pam in CA]

Not wishing to get personal with you Pam,but how does one get OBC of more then $100 per cabin with shares? I need to know the secrets.

TA, FCC, shareholder, special promotion, and loyalty OBC combined. Not to mention a very discounted fare and travel mugs. The cabin next to mine is currently selling for more than 2x what I paid.