Back to the "old" OBC leftover policy

[cdngrl]

I read obc as "ON BOARD credit". on board...feel like I should say it again! :p

if you don't use it on board, its null and void.

I rarely have much obc, I'm happy when it covers gratuities. if I had more, it would be spent on board for gratuities, drinks, tips, shore excursions, additional compensation, spa, extra for the steward/waiter/room service, shops, bonus for the staff, salon...

[tothemall&beyond]

I read obc as "ON BOARD credit". on board...feel like I should say it again! :p

if you don't use it on board, its null and void.

I rarely have much obc, I'm happy when it covers gratuities. if I had more, it would be spent on board for gratuities, drinks, tips, shore excursions, additional compensation, spa, extra for the steward/waiter/room service, shops, bonus for the staff, salon...

 

 

For everyone who is acting like the inability to cash out is no big deal, but is happy that it covers your gratuities, be advised that in addition to not being able to use those non-refundable OBC's for anything in the casino, it appears they also can NOT be used any longer to pay your gratuities either. That is part of the new policy. Check the fine print on your Shareholder OBC application which is now apparently going to be enforced. "This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities."

Edited September 28, 2014 by tothemall&beyond

[Astro Flyer]

I agree......Princess is still giving stuff away free no matter how you look at it and it does not enhance their bottom line whether you spend it on the ship or somewhere else......free.....is free....and when you use it to enhance people to purchase your product then they should stick to what their policy was at the time of booking....I was not notified of this change so as far as I am concerned is is classic bait and switch...unethical business practice by Princess....:eek:

To me free is not always free...things purchased onboard do not cost Princess the amount we pay; cash is cash & costs Princess the full amount. Thus if you use OBC for the UST for $150 it's not costing Princess nearly that amount; if you take home $150 in cash that's the full amount it's costing Princess for complimentary OBC.

 

To me the refunding of complimentary OBC was a big mistake & never should have been done. My guess is that when Princess made the change they anticipated refunding small dollar amounts but as always some used it to leave with several hundreds of dollars. We never received a notification about refunding complimentary OBC so don't see a need to send one when they eliminate it being refundable.

 

I respect your opinion but respectfully disagree.

I read obc as "ON BOARD credit". on board...feel like I should say it again! :p

if you don't use it on board, its null and void.

I rarely have much obc, I'm happy when it covers gratuities. if I had more, it would be spent on board for gratuities, drinks, tips, shore excursions, additional compensation, spa, extra for the steward/waiter/room service, shops, bonus for the staff, salon...

Exactly! Complimentary ONBOARD credit never should have been refundable.

[bhopal21]

To me free is not always free...things purchased onboard do not cost Princess the amount we pay; cash is cash & costs Princess the full amount. Thus if you use OBC for the UST for $150 it's not costing Princess nearly that amount; if you take home $150 in cash that's the full amount it's costing Princess for complimentary OBC.

 

To me the refunding of complimentary OBC was a big mistake & never should have been done. My guess is that when Princess made the change they anticipated refunding small dollar amounts but as always some used it to leave with several hundreds of dollars. We never received a notification about refunding complimentary OBC so don't see a need to send one when they eliminate it being refundable.

 

Well stated.

 

Mike:)

[Dudleydog73]

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!)

 

If you want to maximize your chances you should take a gamble and cruise out of the port of Houston. On our cruise with just about every excursion cancelled due to missed ports and VERY limited bar service / wine bottle offerings (not to mention shops/casino were closed) while we sat in port unable to leave after embarkation for over 24 hours there were quite a few folks who had OBC left over.

[janetz]

Mine doesn't show anything either & we sail 4 weeks from today. :confused:

 

 

Same here. :)

[janetz]

I don't know much more other than what I posted. Have never been to the casino on any ship so I haven't a clue how that works.

 

Military OBC is refundable as is Princess credit card points used for OBC. Promotion incentive OBC will be non-refundable.

 

I would have had $90 left over except I got a nasty cold and wound up going to the Medical Center where I discovered I'd been walking around with a 101 temp for probably days. Anyway, they gave me a stack of meds and I was 95% better in 2-3 days. But that ate up my OBC and then some. Yes, I'm submitting the bill to insurance so in effect, I'll get my OBC. :)

 

---> sitting in O'Hare waiting for my flight to LAX. Chicago's a mess.

 

Oh my goodness Pam. How can you not feel so bad with that temp? That would knock me off my feet.

[Orangefan]

Where are you seeing this? I see no notations at all when I look in personlizer. I see no *s and no text notes regarding OBC being refundable or non-refundable. Am I looking in the wrong place? Is there another place to look? My cruise is in October, so that should be close enough, but it was booked over a year ago. Hmmmmm, I just realized something. Maybe that is why I can't see it. I do not think Princess updates older bookings when new stuff comes up. I found this out the hard way with dining time assignment on Sapphire cruise.

 

 

I click on Cruise Planner and click on my first cruise coming up.

A menu bar appears and I click on the box "Payments and Credits".

It then shows

 

 

 

OBC sales promotion - ( this might be from my TA)

shareholder's benefits - ( my stock)

on board credit promotion * - ( this from my FCC)

 

* " Please enjoy these credits as they are not refundable."

 

And this is how I found out what was refundable. It shows me the same thing for my second Regal cruise of the b2b.

 

Sali

Edited September 28, 2014 by Orangefan

[Astro Flyer]

I click on Cruise Planner and click on my first cruise coming up.

A menu bar appears and I click on the box "Payments and Credits".

It then shows

 

OBC sales promotion - ( this might be from my TA)

shareholder's benefits - ( my stock)

on board credit promotion * - ( this from my FCC)

 

* " Please enjoy these credits as they are not refundable."

 

And this is how I found out what was refundable. It shows me the same thing for my second Regal cruise of the b2b.

 

Sali

There obviously is a delay in displaying this change which according to the letter received by a disembarking Royal passenger will begin with the Royal. As I previously posted that when following this procedure no changes have been displayed yet for either of my future cruises including the Royal in less than 4 weeks.

 

I feel confident that it's just a matter of time until it will be displayed on all of our accounts...sooner or later. ;)

[billco]

I click on Cruise Planner and click on my first cruise coming up.

A menu bar appears and I click on the box "Payments and Credits".

It then shows

 

 

 

OBC sales promotion - ( this might be from my TA)

shareholder's benefits - ( my stock)

on board credit promotion * - ( this from my FCC)

 

* " Please enjoy these credits as they are not refundable."

 

And this is how I found out what was refundable. It shows me the same thing for my second Regal cruise of the b2b.

 

Sali

On the personalizer for my upcoming cruise in April that was booked on this summer's Bucket List Sale that included OBCs and Paid Gratuities. Onboard Credit Promotion is the OBC that was part of the sale. Onboard Sales Promotion is my FCC. The credit from my TA is listed Travel Agent Promotion. Also there is Military Benefits. I will add Shareholders Benefits later. None have asterisks. My upcoming cruise next month is the same, except I don't have an Onboard Credit Promotion. Shareholder Benefit is listed. Again without asterisk or the note that was on yours.

Edited September 28, 2014 by billco

[PescadoAmarillo]

I agree......Princess is still giving stuff away free no matter how you look at it and it does not enhance their bottom line.

Of course it has a different effect on their bottom line if they give you $100 versus sell you an item for $100. When they give you cash, it actually costs them more than $100 because the $100 is after their effective tax rate. If they sell you an item for $100, it may only cost them $25. Huge difference.

 

The problem is that Princess will only get bad reviews by doing something it should have done all along. I'm sure people weren't writing letters to Jan Schwarz thanking her for Princess' generosity, but I bet they will now.

[Mindy97]

So if your Shareholder Benefit is now non-refundable, how many of you will sell?

 

I don't drink, and don't take shore excursions (I need accessible ones, and they are few and far between). We do eat in Crown Grill every cruise. But I don't have many needs or wants that the shops can fill, so I don't need the extra money, especially if I can't pay gratuities with it.

 

If they restrict the non-refundable money from gratuities, some people (not me) will cheap out on gratuities as well. Not very well thought out policy, if it hurts the employees.

 

I just thought...if you can transfers back to the airport can be paid for, perhaps some will use OBC for that. Not me, though, I park at the port.

 

JMHO, of course.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Mindy97
wasn't finished talking.

[billco]

I read obc as "ON BOARD credit". on board...feel like I should say it again! :p

if you don't use it on board, its null and void.

Then shouldn't the policy be the same across the board, including the Military Benefit?

[Astro Flyer]

So if your Shareholder Benefit is now non-refundable, how many of you will sell?

Not me because I've received enough SOBC to nearly offset my investment & being refundable wasn't a consideration for me. I don't believe refunding hard cash for "onboard" credit was ever intended to subsidize cruise fares.

 

The "not for gratuities" restriction has been there however never enforced & is a simple "credit" against any type of "debit". If they decide to enforce that restriction then to me that's a significant negative change & may consider selling my shares. :(

Edited September 28, 2014 by Astro Flyer

[Orangefan]

I click on Cruise Planner and click on my first cruise coming up.

A menu bar appears and I click on the box "Payments and Credits".

It then shows

 

 

 

OBC sales promotion - ( this might be from my TA)

shareholder's benefits - ( my stock)

on board credit promotion * - ( this from my FCC)

 

* " Please enjoy these credits as they are not refundable."

 

And this is how I found out what was refundable. It shows me the same thing for my second Regal cruise of the b2b.

 

 

 

Sali

 

I just went to my Personalizer again to check on my second Regal cruise.

By the amount of money for the first and last promotions, I think it might be the reverse. Sales/ FCC and on board credit/ Princess. It still doesn't change that the largest amount from the shareholder's benefits is still refundable. I certainly won't know until after my first cruise.

Sali

[tothemall&beyond]

I just went to my Personalizer again to check on my second Regal cruise.

By the amount of money for the first and last promotions, I think it might be the reverse. Sales/ FCC and on board credit/ Princess. It still doesn't change that the largest amount from the shareholder's benefits is still refundable. I certainly won't know until after my first cruise.

Sali

 

 

I spoke with Princess today - the SH OBC is no longer refundable as of this weekend!

[Orangefan]

To be honest I am most excited about going on the Regal b2b. In 39 days I will be on the cruise and have been getting all my clothes etc. out and ready for the trip.

Sali

[Pam in CA]

Oh my goodness Pam. How can you not feel so bad with that temp? That would knock me off my feet.

I was being stubborn and telling myself I was fine. :)

[hpeabody]

This really has me very curious. For me the issue is NOT about getting cash or OBC being Non-refundable (If were all non-refundable I will spend it, not a problem) My issue is the way the policy is not well communicated and I have doubt it will be uniformly and consistently enforced.

 

Regarding "free gratuities" promotion, I think that should never be refundable for cash or used for anything else and one should NOT have a choice to opt out of auto gratuities in that case. Why would one withhold these tips from the crew who work so hard for us?

 

My cruise is in less than 3 weeks. The credits portion on my personalizer looks like this (below, copied from my personalizer) It does not copy visually exactly, but the letters & numbers are all there and that is all there is. I see No clue about refundable or non-refundable. How are you all able to tell? I highly anticipate I will only know once I am able to ask at passenger services onboard. I do not expect Princess to do anything on my personalizer at this late date. With OBC not all being refundable or all non-refundable, who chooses what OBC is used towards what items? A computer program, the passenger, a ship employee, a headquarters employee??? With the folio system I have been used to I do not see how that can be done anyway. That part will be a real mess.

 

 

 

Travel Agent Promotion $XX.00 $XX.00 Onboard Sales Promotion $XX.00 $XX.00 Shareholders Benefits $XXX.00 $XXX.00

[dickinson]

This really has me very curious. For me the issue is NOT about getting cash or OBC being Non-refundable (If were all non-refundable I will spend it, not a problem) My issue is the way the policy is not well communicated and I have doubt it will be uniformly and consistently enforced.

 

Regarding "free gratuities" promotion, I think that should never be refundable for cash or used for anything else and one should NOT have a choice to opt out of auto gratuities in that case. Why would one withhold these tips from the crew who work so hard for us?

 

My cruise is in less than 3 weeks. The credits portion on my personalizer looks like this (below, copied from my personalizer) It does not copy visually exactly, but the letters & numbers are all there and that is all there is. I see No clue about refundable or non-refundable. How are you all able to tell? I highly anticipate I will only know once I am able to ask at passenger services onboard. I do not expect Princess to do anything on my personalizer at this late date. With OBC not all being refundable or all non-refundable, who chooses what OBC is used towards what items? A computer program, the passenger, a ship employee, a headquarters employee??? With the folio system I have been used to I do not see how that can be done anyway. That part will be a real mess.

 

 

 

Travel Agent Promotion $XX.00 $XX.00 Onboard Sales Promotion $XX.00 $XX.00 Shareholders Benefits $XXX.00 $XXX.00

 

I can only answer what you put in red about how can you tell. The only way to tell is IF there is an * next to one of the credits. THEN there is a notation at the bottom saying it is nonrefundable.

Edited September 28, 2014 by dickinson

[septrack]

Princess customer service just told a fellow cruiser that on our back to back upcoming in November, they will not allow cruise credits to roll over from the first cruise to the second. Since the first is a 5 day with only stops in Ocho Rios and Princess Cay, and they were offering $400/cabin credit, this is not good.(if this rep knew what they were talking about). I wonder if I could use credits in the first cruise to prepay gratuities in the second week.

[NavyVeteran]

I would have had $90 left over except I got a nasty cold and wound up going to the Medical Center where I discovered I'd been walking around with a 101 temp for probably days. Anyway, they gave me a stack of meds and I was 95% better in 2-3 days. But that ate up my OBC and then some. Yes, I'm submitting the bill to insurance so in effect, I'll get my OBC. :)

 

Congratulations, you've figured out how to make all of the OBC refundable. However, I wish you hadn't pointed it out, because some people will probably start doing this deliberately just to get their OBC back.:(

[grnyel05]

Congratulations, you've figured out how to make all of the OBC refundable. However, I wish you hadn't pointed it out, because some people will probably start doing this deliberately just to get their OBC back.:(

 

I would think it's unlikely that many passengers would be willing to go to the medical center on board a cruise when not sick to use up extra on board credit just so they could get the money refunded via an insurance claim. Aside from the sheer craziness of taking time out of your vacation to go to see a doctor to receive some money back, the person would also risk their insurance company canceling their policy for this sort of fraud.

[shredie]

Congratulations, you've figured out how to make all of the OBC refundable. However, I wish you hadn't pointed it out, because some people will probably start doing this deliberately just to get their OBC back.:(

 

Yes, I think a few visits to the Medical Center would be lots of fun and a great way to cheat Princess out of a few bucks! :rolleyes:

[Coral]

delete

Edited September 28, 2014 by Coral