Depositing monetary ‘gift’ in passenger’s onboard account!

[ourlol]

I have just booked a Mediterranean cruise for my parents-in-law in July (their first cruise ever). I’ve covered the cost of this and their flights and the plan is they will settle their onboard account with their own credit card. Their card details (not mine) will be entered into the cruise personalizer.

However, I wanted to deposit some money in their onboard account as a surprise gift. I was thinking a sum enough to cover their tips and tours. Any suggestions on how I might go about this? Would my TA be able to do it do you think? Alternatively, can anyone tell me if you can settle your onboard account with a mix of payments i.e. credit card and cash. My thought was that perhaps I could give them an envelope with some US$ traveller’s cheques in and they could use them in part settlement.

Last and by no means least! During the cruise they will celebrate on the 24th July, ‘both’ their birthdays AND their 53rd Wedding Anniversary. Assuming this info is picked up from the personalizer, will Princess automatically decorate the door of their cabin?

Thanks everyone.
Laura

[jturner901]

1-800-PRINCESS

All the best!

Jay & Karen Turner
Mount Hope, Ontario

Westerdam – 12/93
Statendam – 10/95
Zenith – 05/96
Westerdam – 05/97
Norway – 10/97
Westerdam – 10/98
Sun Princess – 10/99
Volendam – 10/00
Volendam – 10/01
Century – 10/02
Zuiderdam – 05/03
Caribbean Princess - 05/04

[ourlol]

Thanks Jay for responding. One problem is that I live in the UK (but have booked via a US TA) so would like to avoid having to 'phone' the USA if possible. I can't ring Princess here in Britain about it either.

[suzw]

WARNING...
our friends sailed the Caribbean Princess two weeks ago and as a birthday gift we purchased shipboard credit for them on to be charged on our credit card. They never received it when they checked in as we had requested. I called Princess countless times during the first three days of their cruise, each time to be told "they are doing the best they can and can not promise she will get it"
It was a huge hassle and finally they received it on day 4. However, had our friend not emailed us to say his wife did not get the credit, we would have never known until the cruise was over. My card was charged as soon as the call was placed to Princess days before the cruise but the credit was never issued. No one at Princess seemed to even think it was a big deal each time I called.

[rnjoel]

Hi ourlol!

In the past, I've always used the Princess gift program and sent myself "casino credits". They're always in my cabin when I check in. Then, I take them to the casino cage, exchange them for cash, then take the cash to the purser's office and pay toward my shipboard account. It always works! OK, so maybe I use a little in the casino! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Happy Sailings!

Joel & Ron

2004 Alaskan Adventure on the Island Princess departs
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2004;6;12;7;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
[img]http://www.camelotdesign.com/vcsun.gif[/img]

[CaptData]

Princess does not automatically decorate the room. They will provide a small cake if requested. I think you can order the decorations on line, so their room is ready when they arrive. Contact your TA as I did with mine and put some money on shipboard account that way (you must have the booking number for this. I put $200.00 on this way.

Another method I used was Traveller's Checks. They can cash them at the Purser's Desk or put them on their account as soon as they arrive. It will show as a credit for them. This is the method I use now as the other method sometimes goes astray. Plus if they need more money before the cruise (taxi morethen expected,buy food at airport etc) they can cash one at the airport without the hasle of money exchange.

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2006;12;5;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] Until we sail away on the ocean blue



Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03
Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03
Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

[Toto2Kansas]

When sailing on Princess and entering a special day in the Princess Personalizer, birthday, anniversary etc. They have always decorated the outside door of our stateroom early the morning of the day to be celebrated. Never had to alert anyone to this when we got onboard, it was listed on the room stewards sheet for us.

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04
RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.
One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.