Back to the "old" OBC leftover policy

[Potstech]

Thanks Pam...hope you had a good cruise and you'll have a smooth flight home. :D

 

Flights yesterday in the Chicago area were severely disrupted by an intentionally set fire at the en route air traffic control center which affected many flights. I don't know your routing but there still may be some residual effects so you may consider checking with your airline. I think that your normal routing home goes through ORD so there may still be delays there due to many passengers missing flights yesterday.

 

Flights to and from Chicago still messed up. Stuck in Portland waiting to fly into Chicago and hoping to catch something to central Virginia. One leg at a time. Just one leg at a time.

[pablo222]

I posted an image, but cc made it too small to read.

Edited September 27, 2014 by pablo222

[hpeabody]

A very confusing subject since OBC happens so many ways. My question is .. IS ALL UNUSED OBC NOT eligeable to be "cashed out" or only the OBC that is specifically marked NON-REFUNDABLE. I have a lot on my upcoming cruise that was booked over a year ago and expected to "cash out" what I do not use at the purser's desk. At the moment there is no where in my personalizer that even mentions anything about "NON_REFUNDABLE" anywhere or really any kind of notation, no *, just a list of what OBC I have on record (Not counting the true OBC from TA or Captains circle loyalty, but I know how that works)

 

Is it possible that at this late date all of a sudden I lose it if I don't use it. I am very disappointed if this is the case and feeling blindsided.

 

I can see this being a big issue due to Princess' poor communication between ship and hq.

 

I don't really understand about getting cash through the casino, but if that is an option, I may have to learn how.

[RetiredNTraveling]

The day has yet to arrive when I have any OBC left! I will find a way to spend it! (Welcome home, Pam. You were missed!)

 

Couldn't have said it better. I have yet to have any left, but what the heck.

 

This type of information is why I lurk around the CC forums. :D It's great to know the skinny before it hits you on the ship! :eek:

[Thrak]

Shareholder OBC is one type of thing and remains (as it should) refundable. The promotional OBC is quite another thing and I have been amazed that Princess allowed it to be cashed out. I'm not at all surprised or offended by the change that plugs the outgoing flood of cash from these promotions.

 

People bragged how they were getting "free" cruises because they got so much promotional OBC and then cashed it out. Not much of a surprise that Princess stopped the practice.

[shepp]

Shareholder OBC is one type of thing and remains (as it should) refundable.

 

Now wait…Pam just said that shareholder OBCs were now NR….

 

On the other hand, she also said that FCC credits were NR, but my personalizer for a 7/15 sailing is showing all my 3-For-Free OBCs as NR, but my FCC credits as refundable.

 

So which is it? Will they not honor previous OBC designations? And why does Princess do this sort of confusing stuff so often?

Edited September 27, 2014 by shepp

[Pam in CA]

On my folio, my shareholder line item says, "NR."

 

Yes, Chicago is a mess. I'm seated on the plane but it looks like we won't take off for another hour. Oh, joy!

[PescadoAmarillo]

I've looked at all our future cruises and all OBCs are refundable except for the goodwill credits we received when some booked cruises were cancelled, and promotional OBCs. Shareholders, military and future cruise credit OBCs are all denoted as refundable. Captains Circle loyalty OBCs, of course, don't show up until we get on the ship so I'm not certain where they fall.

 

If Princess has reversed course on these previously refundable OBCs, their own online tools for passengers and TAs have not caught up.

[islandatsea]

We never have any OBC left either.

 

Welcome back Pam & thanks for that info!

[shastatroy]

Exactly! I don't believe that will ever be a problem for me. :) But it was ridiculous how many people bragged about going to the casino and cashing out their OBC. Once again, those who brag will eventually change things for everyone...

 

I wouldn't blame people bragging on here, but rather Princess's bottom line.

[Thrak]

On my folio, my shareholder line item says, "NR."

 

Yes, Chicago is a mess. I'm seated on the plane but it looks like we won't take off for another hour. Oh, joy!

 

That's just not right! Shareholder OBC should be fully refundable (not that I will ever have any leftover...).

 

My November sailing shows 3 types of OBC. It is showing Travel Agent Promotion, Onboard Sales Promotion, and Shareholders Benefit. None of those have an asterisk or any type of notation to indicate they are NR status.

 

My Panama Canal sailing isn't until September 2015 and, so far, it only shows Onboard Sales Promotion but again there is no asterisk or notation to tell me this is non-refundable.

 

Princess does so love to confuse people. I guess that's why some people show the NR designation and others don't. Perhaps they want it to be a "surprise". :eek:

[Astro Flyer]

Yes, Chicago is a mess. I'm seated on the plane but it looks like we won't take off for another hour. Oh, joy!

 

That's probably the residual affects of the arson fire at the en route ATC center near Chicago yesterday. :(

Edited September 27, 2014 by Astro Flyer

[RMM34667]

Thanks Pam for the good information (as usual).

 

I was going to pay for my Princess Cays Bungalow before we sale, but instead I think I'll gift myself that amount instead. Hopefully they use the NR OBC first.

 

Who am I kidding.. I'll spend that $200 by day 3 anyway it probably will make no difference.

[NavyVeteran]

My upcoming TA on the Ocean Princess lists Military Benefits, Onboard Sales Promotion (FCD), Shore Excursion Credit, and Shareholders Benefits. Underneath the list is the following note:

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

 

Since there is no asterisk by any individual credit, it implies that this note applies to all of my OBC.

 

In the past I have received refunds of unused OBC (FCD, military, and/or shareholder) even though their printed policy said they were nonrefundable. Since this has been their printed policy for a long time, I believe they have the right to start enforcing it even on previously purchased cruises.

 

So do we. Emerald Princess TA from Southampton to Houston. As we are staying on for a five day day Mexico cruise and have signed up for two Princess excursions, I was hoping to move the leftover OBC to that cruise.

 

You may still be able to carry over the unused OBC even if it is nonrefundable. The last time I sailed on a B2B, they transferred my folio balance from the first cruise to the second one. If they do that, then a credit balance would transfer as well as a debit balance. They may still do that even if they don't refund the OBC, but I don't think you'll be able to find out until you get on the ship. I suggest you ask at the Passenger Services Desk at the beginning of your cruise whether or not your balance will transfer over to your second cruise. If the agent says it won't, then ask to speak to a supervisor. If the agent says it will, then take a business card with the name of the agent who said that so you can get it corrected at the beginning of the next cruise.

 

We need to hear from someone on a B2B after this change to see what Princess is doing now. However, even if we do hear, that doesn't mean all the ships are doing it the same way.

[lovevacadays]

I have $100 OBC on my cruise in November. However, when I log into My Princess it doesn't show my OCB listed. It does show on my Personalizer, but in my Circle Savings/My Princess account it lists that I have zero OBC. Why might that be?:confused:

[Astro Flyer]

I have $100 OBC on my cruise in November. However, when I log into My Princess it doesn't show my OCB listed. It does show on my Personalizer, but in my Circle Savings/My Princess account it lists that I have zero OBC. Why might that be?:confused:

 

Michelle with the different experiences I'm guessing that they are in the process of adding NR to most types of OBC resulting in these odd displays which seems to happen so often on weekends. ;). I plan to wait a few days & expect the changes to eventually be made to my reservations' OBC.

 

The only thing that surprises me is how long it took for Princess to eliminate this cash drain from complimentary OBCs.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Astro Flyer

[Sunviking]

That's just not right! Shareholder OBC should be fully refundable (not that I will ever have any leftover...).

 

 

Just out of curiosity, have you ever listed that Shareholder OBC as income, dividend or otherwise, on your tax return. Before I did a lot of wailing about it not being refundable I think I might think about that.

[RMM34667]

When I went to look I didn't see any asterisk beside the dollar amounts and figured OK they are refundable. But then I noticed the asterisk is beside the OBC type, not the dollar amount. Easy to miss!

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...I see some liquor to be resold to colleagues at work, or a deck of coffee cards.

 

I'm thinking the same thing. I have way more OBC on my upcoming 4-nighter than I would normally spend. I'm hoping I can find some decent items in the gift shop for holiday giving.

[geoherb]

We finally came close to getting money back from our onboard credits last month on the Caribbean Princess. After a credit back for an overcharge to our account, we had a balance of 11 cents in our favor. I told the Princess rep not to bother with it.

[rdsqrl]

A very confusing subject since OBC happens so many ways. My question is .. IS ALL UNUSED OBC NOT eligeable to be "cashed out" or only the OBC that is specifically marked NON-REFUNDABLE. I have a lot on my upcoming cruise that was booked over a year ago and expected to "cash out" what I do not use at the purser's desk. At the moment there is no where in my personalizer that even mentions anything about "NON_REFUNDABLE" anywhere or really any kind of notation, no *, just a list of what OBC I have on record (Not counting the true OBC from TA or Captains circle loyalty, but I know how that works)

 

Is it possible that at this late date all of a sudden I lose it if I don't use it. I am very disappointed if this is the case and feeling blindsided.

 

I can see this being a big issue due to Princess' poor communication between ship and hq.

 

I don't really understand about getting cash through the casino, but if that is an option, I may have to learn how.

Why are you "very disappointed" and "feeling blindsided"? There are no limitations on using that money precisely as intended: to spend on any and all onboard expenses. You seem to forget that it wasn't your money to begin with. This attitude is precisely why I support Princess 100% in this new policy. You people have essentially been using the ship as one giant ATM.

[Thrak]

The auto-tip usually takes care of most of my OBC. I realize some folks get a lot more OBC than I do but I still don't think I'll ever have a problem using it up not matter what kind of deal I get. If I should somehow receive $10,000 OBC and it was stated that it was definitely non-refundable I'd make a stab at using it all. Heck, if I had a huge amount of OBC that was "use it or lose it" I could always start buying rounds for the house... :D

[DMRick]

So, will they let us use our obc for tips? We have $400 from Princess and $250 from shareholders. Is any of this able to be put on a players card and cashed out? If not, I see specialty dinners and more excursions in our future.

Edited to add that I just looked and the star (saying it needs to be used on board) is by the $400 but not the shareholders. So, should I assume that the shareholders is refundable? Still wondering if the $400 can be used for tips. Thanks.

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Edited September 28, 2014 by DMRick

[Astro Flyer]

So, will they let us use our obc for tips? We have $400 from Princess and $250 from shareholders. Is any of this able to be put on a players card and cashed out? If not, I see specialty dinners and more excursions in our future.

Edited to add that I just looked and the star (saying it needs to be used on board) is by the $400 but not the shareholders. So, should I assume that the shareholders is refundable? Still wondering if the $400 can be used for tips. Thanks.

 

You can use the $400 or the $250 for tips but based on other posts in this discussion only military OBC or ones you actually pay for are now the only types refundable. To me this is so new & eventually Princess may put their policy in writing. Some people have reported their OBCs were gone so their IT must be in the process of making changes & currently not completely accurate.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Astro Flyer

[DMRick]

You can use the $400 or the $250 for tips but based on other posts in this discussion only military OBC or ones you actually pay for are now the only types refundable. To me this is so new & eventually Princess may put their policy in writing. Some people have reported their OBCs were gone so their IT must be in the process of making changes & currently not completely accurate.

 

 

It's strange though when I look in my personalizer, they have a star only by the $400 Princess gave us (which says those must be used on board), but not the shareholders.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums