Refund of Unspent Prepaid OBC

[possum52]

We sailed on the Diamond last month and had left over prepaid OBC. My husband was given conflicting advice re how the refund would be paid back to us. He asked at reception/customer services desk and was told we could have it paid back in cash before disembarking, so on the evening before went to the desk and was told by another customer service officer that the leftover OBC would be put back on the card it was originally paid with. We also are due a refund for a prepaid tour which didn't go ahead. Does anyone have any idea when we should receive our refunds?

 

Thanks,

 

Leigh

[Pam in CA]

The OBC that you pre-paid is your money and will be refunded either to your credit card or you'll receive a check. Note that if it's a check, the envelope won't say Princess on the outside and looks like a solicitation envelope so be careful to open and check your mail. I almost tossed my refund check 'cause I didn't recognize the sender and it looked "weird."

 

Keep your final statement as documentation of the amount due. Don't toss it away in case you need to verify that you're owed a refund.

[Colo Cruiser]

Did you get anything in writing that they were going to refund your card?

Better call Princess asap to follow up. Think I would have insisted they refund it one way or the other before I left the desk or give me something in writing explaining what they would do and how much I had coming back.

[Roses2]

We never have had a problem drawing cash for our unspent (and refundable) OBC on board on the last day of the voyage at Passenger Services. With generally over $1000 in OBC we often have an amount not spent.

 

We always have asked for the amount in cash and it always has been accomplished courteously and without question. The only paperwork is signing a receipt for the amount. Our last experience was on the Island Princess TA ending on April 7th,

 

[TracieABD]

They sent me a check 4 weeks after the cruise.

[crochetcruise]

Nervous newbie cruiser here.

 

I've been told to gift myself On Board Credit to cover known spending. If I don't use it all, is it totally refundable in cash please? Have been told to get Casino vouchers rather than On Board Credit, as the cash can go straight in my purse-would this be the better option please?

 

I'm well aware it's most likely the questions have previously been answered, and I either haven't read the correct thread, or have completely forgotten the answer!

 

Under 352 days to sailing. Still waiting to price and book flights, hotel in Melbourne chosen from a friend's recommendation-the best Disabled Accessible bathroom I've ever seen!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[klenklen]

Two weeks off the CB (Caribbean Princess) if I've learned my lesson. I was up about $225 on our accounts and was told by the front desk lady after she went in to speak with her boss that we'd each get $25 cash that I signed the receipt as they requested and our statement which I've kept stated the $175 balance would be credited to my card. Hasn't happened yet, time to follow up.

[azgrandmax3]

We sailed on the Diamond last month and had left over prepaid OBC. My husband was given conflicting advice re how the refund would be paid back to us. He asked at reception/customer services desk and was told we could have it paid back in cash before disembarking, so on the evening before went to the desk and was told by another customer service officer that the leftover OBC would be put back on the card it was originally paid with. We also are due a refund for a prepaid tour which didn't go ahead. Does anyone have any idea when we should receive our refunds?

 

Thanks,

 

Leigh

What we have found easy way to get refund is open account in casino and then cash total out evening before arriving to depart ship. We are not gamblers, yet found this method very easy. No money owing us weeks later.

[newbrunswicker]

We were on the Diamond at the end of February. Had about $600 of OBC left over and had it refunded at pursers desk on last night of cruise. Very easy and friendly service.

[Sea Day Cruiser]

I was on the Royal middle of February and had about $200.00 OBC to be refunded. When I went to the PSD I was told they could no longer give it in cash and it would be refunded on my credit card. Instead about 3 or 4 weeks later I received a check in the mail. As Pam said the envelope looked like junk mail so if you are due a refund, even if they tell you it will be on your card, be careful about throwing away mail.

[possum52]

Thanks for all your replies. I appreciate the advice. I phoned Princess Australia and was told we should have received the refund on board before we disembarked. The person I spoke to apologised and said she would email the appropriate department to fast track our refund which would be sent by cheque.

 

Leigh

Edited May 1, 2015 by possum52
Spelling mistake

[thistledoo]

Possum, we were also on the same cruise. I rang today to enquire about our refund and was given the same advice as you. The lovely lady from Princess also said she had spoken to someone earlier today about the same thing - maybe you.

 

I asked on the ship and was told the refund would be put back onto our nominated credit card - I don't want a cheque in US dollars. The queues at the desk on the last day were insane with everyone finalising their accounts, there's got to be a better way! Cashing OBC out at the casino sounds a good option in future.

[pablo222]

Nervous newbie cruiser here.

 

I've been told to gift myself On Board Credit to cover known spending.

 

Don't believe everything you read here.

 

Why complicate things? Go on your cruise. Buy what ever you wish

while on board. Pay with a credit card at the end of the cruise.

Just like a hotel or resort.

 

The one reason I can think of to buy casino credits is if you are taking

a long cruise, and you don't want to bring a lot of cash to the ship

at embarcation. Casino credit lets you retrieve cash along the way.

[possum52]

Don't believe everything you read here.

 

Why complicate things? Go on your cruise. Buy what ever you wish

while on board. Pay with a credit card at the end of the cruise.

Just like a hotel or resort.

 

The one reason I can think of to buy casino credits is if you are taking

a long cruise, and you don't want to bring a lot of cash to the ship

at embarcation. Casino credit lets you retrieve cash along the way.

Surely it is up to the individual to choose how they pay for their on board spending. Not everyone thinks that credit cards are as wonderful as you do. We all have different opinions and those opinions should be respected. Also these days many people prepay for their hotels as well.

 

Leigh

[Miss Pat]

The only thing I can add is that retrieving my unused on board credit from the casino is the best thing you can do BEFORE leaving the ship. I really like having my account zeroed out before the end of the trip.

I'd hate to have to wait at home depending for them to credit my account and maybe fine that there was a glitch along the way and then have to deal with them by phone to get my money back.

[pablo222]

Also these days many people prepay for their hotels as well.

 

I have heard of people pre-paying hotel room charges.

 

I have never heard of anyone sending money to a hotel in advance,

to cover on-property spending.

 

The poster I was reply to said: "I have been told to buy OBC"

 

I was pointing out that that is not necessary, nor done by most people.

 

Most people go on a cruise; charge some stuff; and pay their account

at the end.

 

You can pay your account with a credit card, debit card, or even cash.

 

However, if you want to send yourself OBC, or a casino credit in advance,

I believe that can only be done with a credit card (at least in the US)

[possum52]

I am in Australia and I used a Visa debit card instead of a credit card to prepay our on board charges. I use this card for my online purchases and to pay online subscriptions. The only company that won't accept it is Ancestry. Even Amazon accepts it.

 

I would think that enough people prepay their OBC for Princess to offer it. We certainly found it convenient and if it wasn't for the conflicting information given by passenger services on board I wouldn't have started this thread.

[madgemonica]

We have had leftover pre purchased obc refunded twice .We pre purchase with our debit card as you sometimes can get a better exchange rate.

For USA passengers it is refunded back to their card but here in UK we get it as a cheque.It takes a while but it does come. If you ring Princess they will advise you. Here in UK I was given an email address to use to request refund .You could have had cash back from Passenger services desk onboard but only in US dollars.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Edited May 1, 2015 by madgemonica

[possum52]

We sailed on the Diamond last month and had left over prepaid OBC. My husband was given conflicting advice re how the refund would be paid back to us. He asked at reception/customer services desk and was told we could have it paid back in cash before disembarking, so on the evening before went to the desk and was told by another customer service officer that the leftover OBC would be put back on the card it was originally paid with. We also are due a refund for a prepaid tour which didn't go ahead. Does anyone have any idea when we should receive our refunds?

 

We received our refund cheque today from Carnival Australia, nearly six weeks after our cruise finished. Pam, you will be pleased to know that the envelope had two windows and you could clearly see who it was from! The cheque was also in A$ as it was issued on an Australian bank a/c.

 

Thanks again for all your replies,

 

Leigh

Edited May 25, 2015 by possum52

[jpj39]

What we have found easy way to get refund is open account in casino and then cash total out evening before arriving to depart ship. We are not gamblers, yet found this method very easy. No money owing us weeks later.

 

how do you open a casino acct ?

do you put money form the prepaid obc ????

or does the prepaid obc show up on the casino acct??

[Colo Cruiser]

how do you open a casino acct ?

do you put money form the prepaid obc ????

or does the prepaid obc show up on the casino acct??

 

 

It takes a few seconds on one of the slot machines.

You charge an amount to your onboard casino account which is charged to your onboard account to offset any obc. Then when you are done with your casino account just cash it out. :)

[maryrose]

I don't know if anyone could give me any advice on this but we are sailing Ocean Princess from the UK this September and rang Princess in Southampton to ask if we bought OBC for the Casinoin advance , that if it here was any left would we get the money back .

 

I was told that you lose it ,I thought that only applied to OBC given to you by Princess or your TA ,is it different because I am in the UK ?

 

Any advice gratefully received

 

Julie (UK)🚢⚓️🚢⚓️🚢⚓️🚢⚓️

[Colo Cruiser]

I don't know if anyone could give me any advice on this but we are sailing Ocean Princess from the UK this September and rang Princess in Southampton to ask if we bought OBC for the Casinoin advance , that if it here was any left would we get the money back .

 

I was told that you lose it ,I thought that only applied to OBC given to you by Princess or your TA ,is it different because I am in the UK ?

 

Any advice gratefully received

 

Julie (UK)⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️

 

It really does not matter, if you have leftover obc then use the procedure described above.

I would think if you pay for any obc then you have a right to get a refund.

[caribill]

I don't know if anyone could give me any advice on this but we are sailing Ocean Princess from the UK this September and rang Princess in Southampton to ask if we bought OBC for the Casinoin advance , that if it here was any left would we get the money back .

 

I was told that you lose it ,I thought that only applied to OBC given to you by Princess or your TA ,is it different because I am in the UK ?

 

Any advice gratefully received

 

Julie (UK)🚢⚓️🚢⚓️🚢⚓️🚢⚓️

 

Are you buying casino OBC or regular OBC?

 

If casino OBC you get a card in your cabin to bring to the casino cashier. They will give you cash.

 

It is then up to you how much of it you wish to donate to the casino.

[maryrose]

It really does not matter, if you have leftover obc then use the procedure described above.

I would think if you pay for any obc then you have a right to get a refund.

 

Thank you both so much for taking the time to reply, I will pre-pay some casino OBC now I know what REALLY happens to it in the real cruise world and not the one according to a Princess Rep who's often never traveled further than their desk .

 

Julie 🚢⚓️🚢⚓️🚢⚓️