Back to the "old" OBC leftover policy

[hpeabody]

Does anyone know the status of Travel Agent GIFT under the current back to "enforcement of Princess policy" Is it refundable or non-refundable?

 

It is currently not shown on the Princess website in my personlizer. This is typical for this type OBC, I understand that and I expect to see a card in my cabin with the GIFT amount. Princess is not paying this out of their pocket, will they still make in non-refundable?

[Pam in CA]

It appears that Princess has found a new marketing ploy to keep fares high and offset with large OBC's. I would prefer that Princess just give me the lowest fare possible, and forget about all these OBC games they have started.

I completely disagree with you for a couple of reasons. First, Princess allows TAs to discount cruises so if you're smart, you'll find one and save 10-20%. Second, Princess allows OBCs to be combined. Princess is one of the few lines that allow either/ both of these.

 

And finally, I don't see this so much as a policy change but a re-iteration that it's onboard credit, i.e., to be used onboard. When you think about it, "onboard credit" is pretty self-explanatory. No one's taking away any credit from you and you can still combine them. I'd consider it a policy change if Princess made you choose which credit to use on your cruise rather than be able to combine them.

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...Perhaps if they lowered their prices instead of playing all these discount games the problem of onboard credit wouldn't be so much of a problem.

 

I agree, but, from a marketing standpoint, keeping fares higher and offering varying OBC promotions keeps the perceived price of a cruise higher. Once you discount a fare, that price then becomes a reference point for what passengers expect to pay on future cruises.

[whatcruiseisnext]

I don't know how many cruises you take each year but spending large amounts of onboard credit isn't that easy when you're repeatedly on many cruises going to the ports you've seen many times before. There's only so many times that I can visit a rain forest, botanical garden, monkey jungle, or souvenir shop or buy an overpriced sweatshirt I don't need in a Princess store. Perhaps if they lowered their prices instead of playing all these discount games the problem of onboard credit wouldn't be so much of a problem.

 

If you don't want to or can't use your OBC....then don't. But to expect that it is DUE you in the form of cash is ludicrous.

[pablo222]

If you don't want to or can't use your OBC....then don't. But to expect that it is DUE you in the form of cash is ludicrous.

 

Perhaps. But that is exactly how it has worked for the past few years.

[boxztrs]

I completely disagree with you for a couple of reasons. First, Princess allows TAs to discount cruises so if you're smart, you'll find one and save 10-20%. Second, Princess allows OBCs to be combined. Princess is one of the few lines that allow either/ both of these.

 

And finally, I don't see this so much as a policy change but a re-iteration that it's onboard credit, i.e., to be used onboard. When you think about it, "onboard credit" is pretty self-explanatory. No one's taking away any credit from you and you can still combine them. I'd consider it a policy change if Princess made you choose which credit to use on your cruise rather than be able to combine them.

 

First off, I always use a T/A to get the best pricing so you are not the only "smart" one out there.

 

As for people "cashing" out at the casino, many of you have made broad stroke remarks. I actually play at the tables for many hours and choose to do that over riding in a Princess bus with a lot of the "naïve" folks. Now I'm supposed to get a large OBC and spend it on things I am not interested in. So yes for me, Princess has changed my experience for the sake of marketing to "new" cruisers that don't know how they have been sucked in.

 

My ideal cruise trip normally doesn't include shopping in the Princess boutiques, drinking large amounts of over priced drinks, going on overpriced Princess land tours, donating to Bingo, or spending money at overpriced art "auctions". And even if I were to consider spending money on these, I prefer not to pay for them upfront (in the form of OBC).

 

Mark yourself as one of the "naïve" if you think you are getting OBC as a gift from Princess.

[coo359a2]

Does anyone know the status of Travel Agent GIFT under the current back to "enforcement of Princess policy" Is it refundable or non-refundable?

 

It is currently not shown on the Princess website in my personlizer. This is typical for this type OBC, I understand that and I expect to see a card in my cabin with the GIFT amount. Princess is not paying this out of their pocket, will they still make in non-refundable?

 

When I checked my Nov 9 booking under "Payments and Credits", it shows "Travel Agent Promotion *" (OBC that she gave us) as-- use these credits on board as they are not refundable. Last week, only the Onboard Sales Promotion for this booking had the * next to it

[hpeabody]

When I checked my Nov 9 booking under "Payments and Credits", it shows "Travel Agent Promotion *" (OBC that she gave us) as-- use these credits on board as they are not refundable. Last week, only the Onboard Sales Promotion for this booking had the * next to it

 

Just to clarify, my question is regarding a travel agent GIFT that is NOT visible on the cruise personalizer. I do understand the above comment.

 

It is just a curiosity thing about Princess and what they do with a gift in the form of OBC from outside, as I have no issues about spending what OBC I have on board and then some :)

Edited October 8, 2014 by hpeabody

[pablo222]

When I checked my Nov 9 booking under "Payments and Credits", it shows "Travel Agent Promotion *" (OBC that she gave us) as-- use these credits on board as they are not refundable. Last week, only the Onboard Sales Promotion for this booking had the * next to it

 

I think it's pretty cheesy that this is being applied retroactively

to existing bookings.

 

On one booking I have, one credit had the asterisk. Now, four credits do.

I guess I would like to know the terms before I make final payment,

and not have them change afterwards.

[bhopal21]

If you don't want to or can't use your OBC....then don't. But to expect that it is DUE you in the form of cash is ludicrous.

 

I certainly can't disagree with that statement.

 

Mike:)

[Times Prince]

My personalizer shows what is not refundable. See photo.

Just checked and all three sources of OBC are now asterisked as non-refundable.

[PescadoAmarillo]

I think it's pretty cheesy that this is being applied retroactively

to existing bookings.

 

On one booking I have, one credit had the asterisk. Now, four credits do.

I guess I would like to know the terms before I make final payment,

and not have them change afterwards.

 

I agree with this. People were up in arms about not being notified about a $10 charge for Alfredo's. One day, we had well over $5000 in OBCs on our future Princess bookings all marked (right or wrong, but Princess determined this) as refundable. The next day they were non-refundable. That's a huge change, and kind of makes a $10 Alfredo's charge pale in comparison.

 

There just seems like there is something...not right about that.

[Thrak]

Just to clarify, my question is regarding a travel agent GIFT that is NOT visible on the cruise personalizer. I do understand the above comment.

 

It is just a curiosity thing about Princess and what they do with a gift in the form of OBC from outside, as I have no issues about spending what OBC I have on board and then some :)

 

 

I believe that any gift OBC that is purchased is still refundable. I have purchased OBC for my next cruise and it doesn't show in the personalizer. I'm almost positive I saw a post with info directly from Princess stating this type of OBC would still be refundable. I will never need to find out though as the amount of OBC I get from Princess is generally used up just with the gratuities.

 

If there was some strange reason I ended up with a ton of OBC that I didn't have a use for (hah!) I could always purchase stupidly expensive liquor such as Johnny Walker Blue. I don't normally spend that much on booze but, if I had "use it or lose it" OBC I don't see any reason at all to balk at the price tag. I could also purchase jewelry or some other items as gifts.

[Ethel5]

I believe that any gift OBC that is purchased is still refundable. I have purchased OBC for my next cruise and it doesn't show in the personalizer. I'm almost positive I saw a post with info directly from Princess stating this type of OBC would still be refundable. I will never need to find out though as the amount of OBC I get from Princess is generally used up just with the gratuities.

 

If there was some strange reason I ended up with a ton of OBC that I didn't have a use for (hah!) I could always purchase stupidly expensive liquor such as Johnny Walker Blue. I don't normally spend that much on booze but, if I had "use it or lose it" OBC I don't see any reason at all to balk at the price tag. I could also purchase jewelry or some other items as gifts.

 

You are correct-gift OBC purchased by friends, self or given by TA is refundable and it does not show on the personalizer.

[hpeabody]

I think it's pretty cheesy that this is being applied retroactively

to existing bookings.

 

On one booking I have, one credit had the asterisk. Now, four credits do.

I guess I would like to know the terms before I make final payment,

and not have them change afterwards.

 

Agree with you totally! I cruise in 10 days, This was booked 15 months ago. The *asterics* showed up TODAY. 3 credits, All non-refundable. Yes, pretty cheesy.

 

Although, I will have no problem spending it :)

Edited October 8, 2014 by hpeabody

[hpeabody]

Thanks for your responses. I can not imagine Princess would be able to pocket money from outside. I shall find out how all this works very soon. I cruise in 10 days :D

[NavyVeteran]

I just looked at my Travel Summary for a 1-night cruise from Seattle to Vancouver on the Star Princess in September 2013. I printed this document on August 12, 2013. It says the following:

 

ONBOARD CREDITS FOR THIS BOOKING

Military Benefits* $50.00

Shareholders Benefits* $50.00

*Please enjoy using these credits onboard as they are not refundable.

 

I had printed out the Onboard Credits section from the Cruise Personalizer on August 7, 2013. The Cruise Personalizer in August 2013 also had the same information - asterisks by both Military Benefits and Shareholders Benefits with the same note that they were not refundable.

 

So this does not appear to be a policy change by Princess. This was their policy. However, they now appear to be enforcing it.

 

BTW, I did not use the $100 OBC on that 1-night cruise, and I was able to get a refund of the unused portion from the Passenger Services Desk. At that time, they were not enforcing the policy - but it was the policy. If they had not given me the refund, I wouldn't have complained - in fact, my wife had already volunteered to solve the problem in Facets.

 

I believe this is similar to the liquor policy. Princess has had a policy for a while that you could not carry hard liquor onboard. In the past, they had not consistently enforced that policy, and many people had carried it onboard with no problems. Then they started enforcing the policy more consistently.

[tothemall&beyond]

It seems odd that no on addresses the casino usage. If you have OBC left over, go to a slot machine withdraw against your account, then cash out your players bank.

 

Though I have never had left over credit. At most I have only received $200 which is easily covered by the gratuity.

 

 

You can't do that anymore! OBC's can no longer be used for casino credits or charges. If you transfer, you'll have an add'l charge to your account, not a reduction of the OBC.

[Times Prince]

You are correct-gift OBC purchased by friends, self or given by TA is refundable and it does not show on the personalizer.

Unfortunately my TA's OBC was just reclassified as use-it-or-lose-it.

 

This sounds like some bean counter's attempt to plug the leak for unspent OBC refunds. Apparently they have not heard of "Grandfathering" existing bookings, and instead took the cheap accounting way out and applied the new rules to everything, and to heck with customer service :mad:.

 

I guess my Joanne will get some new jewelry this trip, after all. ;)

[Thrak]

Unfortunately my TA's OBC was just reclassified as use-it-or-lose-it.

 

This sounds like some bean counter's attempt to plug the leak for unspent OBC refunds. Apparently they have not heard of "Grandfathering" existing bookings, and instead took the cheap accounting way out and applied the new rules to everything, and to heck with customer service :mad:.

 

I guess my Joanne will get some new jewelry this trip, after all. ;)

 

Somehow I doubt this will result in wailing and gnashing of teeth... :cool:

[Disconnections]

You can't do that anymore! OBC's can no longer be used for casino credits or charges. If you transfer, you'll have an add'l charge to your account, not a reduction of the OBC.

 

It worked just fine towards the end of a cruise that began two days after this thread started. Even though our onboard credit was marked as refundable before we got onboard without the asterisk, the pursers desk could not cash out the previously refundable onboard credit, as it became non-refundable. However, the casino was still charged against the onboard credit and we cashed out remaining onboard credit that way.

Edited October 9, 2014 by Disconnections

[MustangGT]

I agree with this. People were up in arms about not being notified about a $10 charge for Alfredo's. One day, we had well over $5000 in OBCs on our future Princess bookings all marked (right or wrong, but Princess determined this) as refundable. The next day they were non-refundable. That's a huge change, and kind of makes a $10 Alfredo's charge pale in comparison.

 

There just seems like there is something...not right about that.

 

Is your Military OBC showing non-refundable too? Just checked our statement for our next cruise and the Military OBC has no asterisk but our others do.

Not that it matters much, I'm sure we won't have anything left over even though we took advantage of the Pre-Paid Gratuities with the latest 'sale' :-)

[caribill]

It is really a very simple matter to set up two types of OBC and two types of charges. That is what accounting software is for.

 

Not that simple.

 

o Every type of charge will now need an additional component to indicate the ability of having that charge apply to OBC. This might require a major design change to the data base.

 

o The printout that passengers get on request mid-cruise as well as the disembarkation day printout will need to be redesigned to depict in an understandable way how much money is owed to Princess and why while some OBC is still showing as unused.

[caribill]

Very strange.

 

It also seems strange it can't be rolled from one cruise to one directly following (B2B). We've had our onboard account roll forward from one cruise to the next for years, long before refundable or non-refundable OBC issues. If Princess implements what they're talking about, they're going to need to close every shipboard account at the end of every cruise and then start a new one fresh.

 

The accounting part of that already exists, so closing out accounts and opening new ones for the next segment is no problem. However, with programming changes (not necessarily easy ones), account balances could still be rolled over with unused OBC not included in the rollover amount.

 

Rolling over balances on consecutive segments is important to many passengers so that credit card charges do not have to be paid before they return home at the end of a multiple segment cruise.

 

Other cruise lines (example RCCL) never rollover balances from one segment to the next.

 

Not allowing remaining OBC to be rolled over to the next segment is a way of forcing OBC on a segment to actually be used on that segment. However, I agree with the others who have posted rolling this over should continue to be allowed.

 

I was on one Princess cruise where $250/person ($500/couple) OBC were given to all passengers two days before the end of the cruise with the stipulation it had to be spent in those next two days.

Edited October 9, 2014 by caribill

[caribill]

I think it's pretty cheesy that this is being applied retroactively to existing bookings.

 

 

Princess (to my knowledge) never announced a policy of having all OBC refundable.

 

It only became "common knowledge" when some passengers posted it on Cruise Critic.

 

As there never was an announced policy of refunding all unused OBC, it is hard to complain that what never was announced as policy is being changed.