Back to the "old" OBC leftover policy

[DanaPointBob]

Not MY policy. What part of Non Refundable do you not understand? BTW you missed my original point and that is I am sure Princess will eventually figure out by reading your screed what needs to be done. I did not say your creative methodology for thwarting their non refundable policy was an issue. I simply said that informing them was.

[CaribbeanIsland]

I am amazed at how big of an issue this is.

 

Enjoy the money onboard. Princess is being very generous with their OBC. In the future - they may not be.

[Princess Patches]

Not MY policy. What part of Non Refundable do you not understand? BTW you missed my original point and that is I am sure Princess will eventually figure out by reading your screed what needs to be done. I did not say your creative methodology for thwarting their non refundable policy was an issue. I simply said that informing them was.

 

Princess created the policy. It is not a secret. It has been in effect for many years. They have no requirement that when you charge your casino account and it is deducted from OBCs that you must lose all your OBCs when playing and walk away with nothing. That is absurd. Call Princess and ask if casino charges are deductible from your OBCs. I am positive they will tell you that is top secret info only.

[DanaPointBob]

Sigh!

[DanaPointBob]

I am amazed at how big of an issue this is.

 

Enjoy the money onboard. Princess is being very generous with their OBC. In the future - they may not be.

 

 

 

Yes...Exactly.

[Princess Patches]

Sigh!

 

What about keeping the information that gratuities are deductible from OBCs top secret? If we let the others know, Princess may change that policy! What about that shore excursions are deductible from OBCs? Again, if the others find out, the policy could change. This website is about passing on available information to other posters. The fact that casino charges are deductible from OBCs is readily available information and a long time Princess policy. I am happy when others pass on information to me and it is why I come to these boards.

 

If Princess stops deducting gratuities, shore excursions, soda cards or anything else from OBCs, we will all learn to use it on something else and move on. There is nothing wrong, illegal, loopholed, etc. with having a casino account to use your OBCs. Any suggestion to the contrary defies logic.

 

You seem to be backtracking now and stated that it is okay by you to use your OBCs to set up your casino account, but only if you lose it all prior to leaving the ship and only if we don't tell anyone on these boards about it. If Princess had a must lose policy like that, it would be illegal.

Edited October 12, 2014 by Princess Patches

[DanaPointBob]

What about keeping the information that gratuities are deductible from OBCs top secret? If we let the others know, Princess may change that policy! What about that shore excursions are deductible from OBCs? Again, if the others find out, the policy could change. This website is about passing on available information to other posters. The fact that casino charges are deductible from OBCs is readily available information and a long time Princess policy. I am happy when others pass on information to me and it is why I come to these boards.

 

If Princess stops deducting gratuities, shore excursions, soda cards or anything else from OBCs, we will all learn to use it on something else and move on. There is nothing wrong, illegal, loopholed, etc. with having a casino account to use your OBCs. Any suggestion to the contrary defies logic.

 

 

 

I am quite sure everyone following this thread got my original point. Well clearly not everyone. Nonetheless I am not going to continue to allow you to spar with me any furthur. It is an exersize in futility. Even my Kindle gets the point.

[pablo222]

The first part of our B2B is a 17 day transatlantic with $875 OBC. All of our excursions are private tours, so we don't expect to spend all of the OBC. The second part of the B2B is a 5 day Western Caribbean with $150 OBC with two Princess excursions booked, so carrying over some of the OBC should be helpful. My TA says OBC has always been listed as refundable, so she is looking into it.

 

I have a 5-day cruise alone, with 7-day b2b, with Mrs. Pablo.

 

For the first cruise, I have about $600 on OBC.

If nothing else, I hope I can carry it over to the second cruise,

for Mrs. Pablo to enjoy.

 

And, I don't really understand the posts --

"I always use up all my OBC, so I don't care if the policy changes."

 

How does telling us this help?

[hansi]

As I have said before, OBC is exactly that. Credit to spend on board. It is not designed to be refunded, and I don't really understand this discussion. Surely, it's not that difficult to spend free money on a cruise?:rolleyes:

[hawkeyetlse]

You seem to be backtracking now and stated that it is okay by you to use your OBCs to set up your casino account, but only if you lose it all prior to leaving the ship and only if we don't tell anyone on these boards about it. If Princess had a must lose policy like that, it would be illegal.

Not must lose, but must play. In other words, if you buy casino credits with NR OBC, those credits should also be non-refundable. As someone else explained above, it is normal for casinos to distinguish two types of gambling credit. I would be happy for Princess to adopt the same system. We agree that NR OBC now must be spent on board. Transferring money to a casino account is not spending the money. Spending money in the casino means playing it. And playing it probably means losing it, but if you get lucky, then the winnings are yours to cash out.

[pablo222]

I would be happy for Princess to adopt the same system.

 

Why? Why would one care?

 

It is a negative for some people, and would not affect most people at all.

Edited October 12, 2014 by pablo222

[bhopal21]

Oh dear some people really don't know when its a good time when to zip it up........ and of course the slots in the Casino take cash, bills up to $100 I believe in most cases.

 

They certainly do as I have had them devour many Benjamin Franklins.

 

Mike:)

[bhopal21]

As I have said before, OBC is exactly that. Credit to spend on board. It is not designed to be refunded, and I don't really understand this discussion. Surely, it's not that difficult to spend free money on a cruise?:rolleyes:

 

It's just that the decorations are coming down and the party is finally over. The bar has been closed.;)

 

Mike:)

[hawkeyetlse]

Why? Why would one care?

Because I agree with the principle that OBC is to be spent on board, and with the practical reality that promotional OBC costs Princess less than its face value if it is spent on board. I want Princess to make profits, and I want Princess's customers to get good deals, but you can't have it both ways all the time, and in this case I decide to side with Princess making profits.

 

As you may have guessed, I am one of those who enjoys spending all my OBC on board, who you don't seem to think should even be participating in this discussion. But when I hear about other people cashing out their OBC and costing Princess money, I selfishly fear that this will lead Princess to reduce OBC offers and/or raise cruise fares. For all of us. Or, they can enforce the idea the OBC is OBC, and target the source of the profit loss more specifically, in a way that does not affect me negatively.

 

I understand the point of view of people who are affected negatively, but that doesn't mean I have to side with you.

[pablo222]

Because I agree with the principle that OBC is to be spent on board, and with the practical reality that promotional OBC costs Princess less than its face value if it is spent on board

 

I understand your position, and feel the same way about people

who smuggle alcohol.

 

If I and most other people have to pay for drinks, it's not fair

to us when someone else is allowed to cheat.

 

Now, for the OBC -- I just have to find a friend, or colleague at

work who is interested in $700 of duty free scotch, and all problems

will be solved!

[Ethel5]

it's just that the decorations are coming down and the party is finally over. The bar has been closed.;)

 

mike:)

 

Like:)

Edited October 12, 2014 by Ethel5

[Griller]

Like:)

 

You like the party being over and the bar being closed?

[Ethel5]

You like the party being over and the bar being closed?

 

What I like is that Princess is plugging the money drain and keeping the cost of my cruise low. Being a shareholder, I appreciate that they are looking out for the bottom line.

[Coral]

It's just that the decorations are coming down and the party is finally over. The bar has been closed.;)

 

Mike:)

 

With all of the OBC that was being cashed out, so called free cruises and the really cheap rates on some routes; I actually wonder how the cruise line could actually be profitable. Since Carnival Corp doesn't break it down per cruise line, it is impossible to know. Though, I am guessing that if Princess was it's own corporation, they would be bleeding right now due to this and in financial trouble.

 

I am guessing the change is a way to make the line more profitable.

 

It would be awful if Carnival Corp finds the line no longer profitable and decides to dissolve it.

Edited October 12, 2014 by Coral

[Griller]

With all of the OBC that was being cashed out, so called free cruises and the really cheap rates on some routes; I actually wonder how the cruise line could actually be profitable. Since Carnival Corp doesn't break it down per cruise line, it is impossible to know. Though, I am guessing that if Princess was it's own corporation, they would be bleeding right now due to this and in financial trouble.

 

I am guessing the change is a way to make the line more profitable.

 

It would be awful if Carnival Corp finds the line no longer profitable and decides to dissolve it.

 

Casinos. Photos. Drinks. Excursions. That's what makes it profitable. They could afford to give the cabins away just to fill the ship up and get plenty of onboard revenue from the majority of passengers who are not the 5% who go on cruisecritic.

 

I do not see any likelihood of Princess closing down. None at all.

[Coral]

Casinos. Photos. Drinks. Excursions. That's what makes it profitable. They could afford to give the cabins away just to fill the ship up and get plenty of onboard revenue from the majority of passengers who are not the 5% who go on cruisecritic.

 

I do not see any likelihood of Princess closing down. None at all.

 

I don't expect Princess to be eliminated either but I am guessing their profits were down with all of those "cashing out" and thus the change to making the money non-refundable.

 

If you look at some of the actions recently, I wonder if it is due to profits being down. Think about the alcohol policy changes, etc... Princess didn't care if people brought a few bottles of wine onboard but when people starting bringing cases. Also, the elimination of bringing hard alcohol.

 

I think onboard spending was down and this is a way to bring it back up.

Edited October 12, 2014 by Coral

[larry1515]

I have a question about the OBC for share holders. How do I find out any information on this? I can't find anything on the Princess web site. Does anyone know which stock and how much of it you have to purchase? How much is the credit? Can I purchase the stock after I have already booked and still the the OBC? Thanks:)

[Griller]

I have a question about the OBC for share holders. How do I find out any information on this? I can't find anything on the Princess web site. Does anyone know which stock and how much of it you have to purchase? How much is the credit? Can I purchase the stock after I have already booked and still the the OBC? Thanks:)

 

You need 100 shares in Carnival. Either British or US. Less than $4,000 usually total

 

$100 for 7 days, $250 for 14 days. Its combinable with all other OBC.

 

You can apply for the OBC as long as you own the shares when you apply for the OBC regardless of when you booked, you can apply for the OBC as long as the cruise is fully paid for and the brokerage statement you have to submit is dated not more than 90 days before sailing date.

[Griller]

I don't expect Princess to be eliminated either but I am guessing their profits were down with all of those "cashing out" and thus the change to making the money non-refundable.

 

If you look at some of the actions recently, I wonder if it is due to profits being down. Think about the alcohol policy changes, etc... Princess didn't care if people brought a few bottles of wine onboard but when people starting bringing cases. Also, the elimination of bringing hard alcohol.

 

I think onboard spending was down and this is a way to bring it back up.

 

Looking on the "making more profit" side the fuel cost is cheaper per ton now, way cheaper, and fuel per cruise is also reduced with creative port timings, shorter distances and slower speed between ports, and lower energy use on board by replacement of inefficient hot light bulbs with cool running energy efficient led ones and adjustment of AC down when its not needed to be high.

Last 2 comments were made to me by Chief Electrician at a party last week. He said it was a significant fuel saving that his department has made with those two simple measures.

Overall its a matter of public record that Carnival PLC/Corp is making profits, just not as big as they were. Still satisfactory though.

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

I don't expect Princess to be eliminated either but I am guessing their profits were down with all of those "cashing out" and thus the change to making the money non-refundable.

 

If you look at some of the actions recently, I wonder if it is due to profits being down. Think about the alcohol policy changes, etc... Princess didn't care if people brought a few bottles of wine onboard but when people starting bringing cases. Also, the elimination of bringing hard alcohol.

I think onboard spending was down and this is a way to bring it back up.

 

You talk as though it was actually tolerated at one point. :D:rolleyes: