For Canadian cruisers on Princess - OBC question

[Josie2]

It's been several years since we cruised Princess - usually X these days. However we have two booked on Princess this year. How does pre purchased (by me) OBC work on Princess? Can I cash any out (without having to use the casino and pay a fee) or can it simply be refunded to my credit card if not used? With the Canadian dollar sinking lower by the hour, an exchange rate of 30% is looking like a great deal now. I assume if I buy $500 US and have $100 US left I can take that as cash or have my credit card refunded $100 US.

 

TIA

 

 

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[ceilidh1]

Last time this happened to me, the front desk would not cash me out. I had to create an account at the casino and cash out that way. I think it depends on whether you have someone willing to do it on the desk! The time before this, I got a cheque in the mail about 6 weeks after the cruise - in US currency.

[RMMariner]

My last two cruises they would not cash us out. Had to wait for the cheque.

[CruisinFinsUp]

They send a cheque in $US. It took a long time and a bunch of phone calls for us. But we got it!

[AE_Collector]

Back in 2014 or 2015 they changed it to being able to cash out on the last evening at Passenger Services if you were receiving no more than $25 back. More than that and they will refund you after the cruise.

 

I have had both the US$ amount arrive by cheque (just proving I am Canadian) about a month later AND I have had a refund to my Canadian credit card where the remaining US$ were converted back to Canadian $ at the rate I purchased it at (the Princess Exchange rate when the cruise was booked). My guess is that if the OBC was purchased quite soon before boarding they are able to process a refund to the credit card and don't get burned for the credit card fees on that portion. There is probably a time limit where the credit card company won't allow Princess to refund a portion without billing them an additional handling charge/service fee.

 

A bit more about Princess Exchange rates here in this recent topic:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2466080

 

AE_Collector

Edited March 10, 2017 by AE_Collector
Added link to recent topic

[Josie2]

Good info thx.

 

 

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