On Board Credit

[eddieg07410]

We just booked a Princess Cruise on the Regal with the special sale they are running. We will end up with about 600 dollars in OBC. Typucally we've used the OBC towards gratuities and Casino gambling. The agent we spoke to indicated that the OBC can cnot be used for those purposes. As we don't generally go on ship excursions nor do we eat at specialty dining restaurants that leaves us with no where to use the OBC. Were we given accurate information. We were on a Princess cruise last year and were able to use the OBC for gratutities and gambling. Is this a change in policy? If so it make our on board credit worthless.

[fishywood]

OBC definitely can be used to pay the daily service charge.

 

In theory there is a prohibition (across all Carnival Corp lines) that OBC may not be used for, among other things:

 

Gambling, including bingo as well as the casino;

Additional tips you write on to the chit at bars, specialty restaurants, the spa et al. This is to prevent a passenger from "gifting" unspent non-refundable OBC to a crew member (as usually such arrangement involves a kickback).

 

But in practice, no one has ever reported this enforced on Princess; all OBC nets against all charges to you shipboard account. Simple and easy.

(and yes, I have seen this in practice on one of Princess' corporate siblings, but again never on Princess)

 

ETA further note on the casino: you may charge slot credits to your shipboard account, but gaming chips are process as a cash advance to the credit card you registered, thus removing OBC from the equation. At least that is the written rule; someone will probably come on to report they were successful requesting chips be charged to their account.

Edited October 7, 2015 by fishywood

[mncruizr]

Specialty coffee or coffee card, soda beverage card, alcohol at bars or in your room are options as well. There is shopping on board. We have $150 in credit to use as well but that will be gone quickly with our family. If you don't drink alcohol, coffee or soda and don't do excursions there are not many options to spend the OBC. I was also told that it can't be used for Gambling.

[skynight]

We just booked a Princess Cruise on the Regal with the special sale they are running. We will end up with about 600 dollars in OBC.

If you booked the Sun Drenched Promo the "up to $150/pp" OBC can be used for any on board expense. The same is true for OBC regarding the 3 for free promo, except that the value of the free meal is in the form of a voucher and not in a form of OBC. T.A. OBC's can be used for anything, but again if the T.A. is giving you wine, meal or something else they may quote a value, but you actually receive vouchers, not OBC.

The only stated restricted OBC is the Carnival Shareholder Benefit which states: "This benefit is not transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and, cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account." HOWEVER, Princess DOES NOT restrict the spending of this OBC. It is just posted to your on board account as a credit and anything that is charged to the account is netted against the credit amounts.

Edited October 7, 2015 by sknight

[lor74]

Unless something has changed, you can basically withdrawn money via the slot machines without a service fee and it will be charged to your account. Any obc on your account can be used to offset it

[WISH84]

We have $400 OBC on our upcoming Regal trip.

 

I've pre-paid for the AIBP, Gratuities and Shore Excursions.

 

Yet, I will have no problem spending the $400. Heck, one bottle of Johnny Walker Blue will eat up half of it! :eek::cool:

[JF - retired RRT]

We get OBC from Princess (whatever is on offer), our TA, veterans, shareholder, etc. Frequently have OBC of $800-900 for a cruise of 15 days or so.

Gratuities are deducted daily. All other spending (anywhere on the ship) is deducted when it happens.

Non-refundable OBC is used first. If you have any refundable OBC (usually that is just the veteran OBC) it is used last.

 

When we have extra non-refundable OBC, we go to the casino, put our card in a slot machine, choose an amount to gamble, play a little and cash out.

[OCruisers]

On Princess our OBC helps cover everything charged to our account!

[riclop]

We just booked a Princess Cruise on the Regal with the special sale they are running. We will end up with about 600 dollars in OBC. Typucally we've used the OBC towards gratuities and Casino gambling. The agent we spoke to indicated that the OBC can cnot be used for those purposes. As we don't generally go on ship excursions nor do we eat at specialty dining restaurants that leaves us with no where to use the OBC. Were we given accurate information. We were on a Princess cruise last year and were able to use the OBC for gratutities and gambling. Is this a change in policy? If so it make our on board credit worthless.

 

You got bad info you can use it for grats.

[Retiring cajun]

so can it be used in specialty restaurant?

[caribill]

so can it be used in specialty restaurant?

 

Yes.

 

As with any other charge on the ship, the specialty restaurant charge is put onto your onboard account.

 

And if there is any OBC remaining on your account, it will be applied to that charge.

[crochetcruise]

I am planning to bring my budgeted Casino Spending Money in Pre-Paid Casino Vouchers. I will also put the Taxi money needed in Melbourne and on return to my home town into Casino Vouchers as I understand these can be turned into Cash.

 

Thanks to Princess Cruises providing the information in my Cruise Personalizer, I already know how much to allow-with an additional sum to allow for variations in fare-for the taxi from Station Pier to my CBD hotel on disembarkation, and from the hotel out to the Airport the next morning.

 

The Australian $1 is a metal coin. I will be in my State Capital pre-cruise, and had intended to get coins to use for taxi fares supplemented by notes to give exact change-the taxi drivers REALLY appreciate my thoughtfulness. I intended to get the coins from the bank, and leave them in the bank supplied bags until I needed to transfer money to my purse. Does anyone know if carrying say $100 in coin is likely to be questioned? I will have the bank documentation with me, also my Taxi Voucher book, so can explain why I am carrying such a large amount of coinage.

 

I've learnt such LOTS from Cruise Critic, but this is something that I haven't yet read about. Due to disability, I frequently have to travel by taxi, and have been asked by the driver if I minded while he went to get change-he suspended the meter so it cost me nothing for helping him. After that I developed the habit of carrying a purse full of $1 coins to pay my taxi fares, EVERY DRIVER is amazed and delighted to take the full fare in coins! Even when I travelled down to see my aunt, the fare was over $50, and the taxi driver happily accepted a bag of coins in payment, he was VERY pleased as he was almost out of that denomination in change so win-win!

[caribill]

 

The Australian $1 is a metal coin. I will be in my State Capital pre-cruise, and had intended to get coins to use for taxi fares supplemented by notes to give exact change-the taxi drivers REALLY appreciate my thoughtfulness. I intended to get the coins from the bank, and leave them in the bank supplied bags until I needed to transfer money to my purse. Does anyone know if carrying say $100 in coin is likely to be questioned? I will have the bank documentation with me, also my Taxi Voucher book, so can explain why I am carrying such a large amount of coinage.

 

 

No problem at all.

 

No one will question the number of coins.

 

Always possible they will wonder what it is on the x-ray at security, but will not question the number of coins you have.

[crochetcruise]

No problem at all.

 

No one will question the number of coins.

 

Always possible they will wonder what it is on the x-ray at security, but will not question the number of coins you have.

 

Great, thank you Caribill.

 

I've previously had no trouble at my State Capital airport, but need to fly interstate so not sure. It only takes 1 Security person having a bad shift to make things difficult for people-saw it last time I had to fly up for a Specialist appointment. I'd been pulled out of the queue waiting to go through the security scanner, the staff knew I couldn't manage safely without my walking frame or 2 metal walking sticks for stability which DON'T like the scanner, it goes off at the metal! I was moved up 10 places, and some in front of me got nasty. Well the Senior Security Guard glared at the loudmouth and demanded to know, "How would YOU cope with the assorted Disabilities and Medical Problems she does every single day? We called her aside because the needed Staff Member, a lady, was available to process her immediately. YOU can run for your boarding if needed, she can't safely do so, and has to be very early for all meetings just to be safe!" The culprit was CRIMSON with embarrassment, and his mother also had a go at him for his "bad manners." Poor guy learnt the hard way, sniping at someone who tries to co-operate with the Security people can backfire on you. I did want my asthma puffer in my hand, stress is a known trigger. I explained that, and the lady suggested holding it in the opposite hand to the side she was checking so it didn't set off the detector. Her Supervisor was watching, and told me honestly, "You're the most co-operative we've ever dealt with, asking questions and providing as much information as you can. The only metal I was carrying was my asthma puffer and was told, "That's prescribed medication so must be allowed without question.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Many of the new sales offering OBC stipulate it can NOT be used in the casino, so I think the Princess rep is correct. What's funny is that allowing their OBC to be used in the casino would usually profit them more as the majority would quickly lose it!

[caribill]

Many of the new sales offering OBC stipulate it can NOT be used in the casino, so I think the Princess rep is correct. What's funny is that allowing their OBC to be used in the casino would usually profit them more as the majority would quickly lose it!

 

Although it may state that in the sales conditions, as mentioned in other posts the onboard accounting system cannot differentiate the types of OBC when applying onboard charges to the OBC.

 

So, if a casino charge is made to your onboard account, it will be offset by any available OBC you have at that time.

[Retiring cajun]

JF-retired RRT, will Princess automatically deduct daily gratuities with our OBC?

[Moondogy]

We get OBC from Princess (whatever is on offer), our TA, veterans, shareholder, etc. Frequently have OBC of $800-900 for a cruise of 15 days or so.

Gratuities are deducted daily. All other spending (anywhere on the ship) is deducted when it happens.

Non-refundable OBC is used first. If you have any refundable OBC (usually that is just the veteran OBC) it is used last.

 

When we have extra non-refundable OBC, we go to the casino, put our card in a slot machine, choose an amount to gamble, play a little and cash out.

 

First, thank you for your service. And if I don't use all my vet obc I get left over back?.....(I'm sure DW will see we have no left over though).....lol

[skynight]

Many of the new sales offering OBC stipulate it can NOT be used in the casino, so I think the Princess rep is correct. What's funny is that allowing their OBC to be used in the casino would usually profit them more as the majority would quickly lose it!

The two current sales promos, Sun Drenched and 3 for free do not have this stated restriction so the information provided by the T.A. to the OP was incorrect.

[lukesgrammie]

Also, do you think they will let you pre-pay gratuities with OBC?

[2BeOnaBoat]

JF-retired RRT, will Princess automatically deduct daily gratuities with our OBC?

 

Also, do you think they will let you pre-pay gratuities with OBC?

 

OBC is onboard credit, so if it shows up as a room charge then your credit will apply. It's like a passenger P/E statement. You have credits and debits with a column for the running balance or amount due.

 

I'm not sure about Pre-Paid but I assume it shows up as a credit along with any OBC. If you have enough OBC then you should skip the pre-pay.

[2BeOnaBoat]

It's like a passenger P/E statement.

 

Sorry Balance Sheet - I think. Account classes were a LONG time ago. ;)

[Nezmo]

OBC is onboard credit, so if it shows up as a room charge then your credit will apply. It's like a passenger P/E statement. You have credits and debits with a column for the running balance or amount due.

 

I'm not sure about Pre-Paid but I assume it shows up as a credit along with any OBC. If you have enough OBC then you should skip the pre-pay.

Unless you are wanting to lock in today's rate before the increase coming for sailings after 1/1/16. In which case, pre-pay by Oct 15.

[JF - retired RRT]

]

JF-retired RRT, will Princess automatically deduct daily gratuities with our OBC?

 

Yes. Grats are deducted daily.

[JF - retired RRT]

First, thank you for your service. And if I don't use all my vet obc I get left over back?.....(I'm sure DW will see we have no left over though).....lol

 

Yes. If you get $100 vet OBC and have $105 in your account on the last day, the $5 is forfeited and you can cash out $100.

If you don't cash out at pax services, Princess will send you a check in 2-6 weeks.