Happy2cruise Posted February 11, 2018 #51 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Why do you feel the need to book the restaurant ahead of time? . It may just be a personal preference and not a "need" to book ahead of time;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konatyme Posted February 11, 2018 #52 Share Posted February 11, 2018 So do I understand from Navy Veteran's post that if I book a shore excursion ahead of time using some of my OBC, I will lose that OBC if the excursion is later cancelled? I somehow assumed that the OBC would be credited back to my account. If this isn't true, it might determine whether or not I make a shore ex reservation. (Particularly since we have almost never used Princess excursions anyway, but were thinking we might on in a particular port in a cruise next year.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LH25 Posted February 11, 2018 #53 Share Posted February 11, 2018 So do I understand from Navy Veteran's post that if I book a shore excursion ahead of time using some of my OBC, I will lose that OBC if the excursion is later cancelled? I somehow assumed that the OBC would be credited back to my account. If this isn't true, it might determine whether or not I make a shore ex reservation. (Particularly since we have almost never used Princess excursions anyway, but were thinking we might on in a particular port in a cruise next year.) I'm sure NavyVeteran will clarify, but I took the post as the charge just went away, like the reservation hadn't been made at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AE_Collector Posted February 11, 2018 #54 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Why would you need an answer before booking your next Celebrity cruise? Code for I’m already PO’d at Princess over this trivial little thing so I may be going Celebrity next time. I think there was just once in our cruising history where we had more OBC than what was used just to cover gratuities and combined with some ships shore excursions and the occasional visit to Happy Hour this just has never been an issue worth creating all the negative vibes before even boarding the ship ... but that might be just us. AE_Collector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenSunny1 Posted February 11, 2018 #55 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Don’t forget the obc can be used in the gift shops as well. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDC1 Posted February 11, 2018 #56 Share Posted February 11, 2018 Obviously some of you don't understand the sarcasm involved I.E.: as in taking ones business elsewhere The funniest thing is he taking his business from Princess because they require prepayment of reservations, to Celebrity, which also requires prepayment of reservations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted February 12, 2018 #57 Share Posted February 12, 2018 We are off on the Regal Princess for a few weeks in a couple of months and have a few hundred dollars of OnBoard Credit to use. But on their website this OBC is not good enough to make a restaurant reservation, and you must put an immediate, prepaid charge on a credit card (or PayPal?). So the $12K+ they took of my money plus my $300 OBC isn’t enough for a restaurant reservation?I guess my question is: Is the Specialty Restaurant reservation charge on my credit card refundable once on board when I can then use Princess’ fake money? I’d like to know this before I book my next Celebrity cruise. Sent from my iPhone using Forums You can use it for grats and restaurants and shopping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyVeteran Posted February 12, 2018 #58 Share Posted February 12, 2018 So do I understand from Navy Veteran's post that if I book a shore excursion ahead of time using some of my OBC, I will lose that OBC if the excursion is later cancelled? I somehow assumed that the OBC would be credited back to my account. If this isn't true, it might determine whether or not I make a shore ex reservation. (Particularly since we have almost never used Princess excursions anyway, but were thinking we might on in a particular port in a cruise next year.) If you prepay with OBC, you do not actually prepay. The charges for all of the booked excursions show on your folio, along with all of the OBC. The OBC is not actually charged until you are onboard. If you cancel an excursion onboard before the deadline, the charge for the excursion disappears from your folio - as if you had never ordered it. The OBC is still there. Another good thing about this policy: Since the charge is not actually made until onboard, it will use nonrefundable OBC first before using any refundable OBC - even if the nonrefundable OBC were not posted in advance and were not available to use for the "prepayment". Simplified example: $250 military OBC (refundable) available in advance and $50 loyalty OBC not available until onboard. Book an excursion wor $60 and spend no other OBC onboard (prepaid gratuities before someone calls me out on not paying them:)). Cruise Personalizer shows $250 OBC less $60 spend with an available balance of $190. If they actually charged you in advance against that OBC, then you would lose the $50 nonrefundable OBC you got onboard. But they don't. Onboard folio shows $300 OBC ($250 refundable and $50 nonrefundable) and $60 charge with a balance of $240 - all refundable. Note: This is personal experience - not speculation. I cancelled an excursion booked in advance with OBC and my brother cancelled an excursion booked and paid by credit card on our January 27th cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzer1001 Posted February 12, 2018 Author #59 Share Posted February 12, 2018 If you prepay with OBC, you do not actually prepay. The charges for all of the booked excursions show on your folio, along with all of the OBC. The OBC is not actually charged until you are onboard. If you cancel an excursion onboard before the deadline, the charge for the excursion disappears from your folio - as if you had never ordered it. The OBC is still there. Another good thing about this policy: Since the charge is not actually made until onboard, it will use nonrefundable OBC first before using any refundable OBC - even if the nonrefundable OBC were not posted in advance and were not available to use for the "prepayment". Simplified example: $250 military OBC (refundable) available in advance and $50 loyalty OBC not available until onboard. Book an excursion wor $60 and spend no other OBC onboard (prepaid gratuities before someone calls me out on not paying them:)). Cruise Personalizer shows $250 OBC less $60 spend with an available balance of $190. If they actually charged you in advance against that OBC, then you would lose the $50 nonrefundable OBC you got onboard. But they don't. Onboard folio shows $300 OBC ($250 refundable and $50 nonrefundable) and $60 charge with a balance of $240 - all refundable. Note: This is personal experience - not speculation. I cancelled an excursion booked in advance with OBC and my brother cancelled an excursion booked and paid by credit card on our January 27th cruise. An excellent and patient explanation of the process. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted February 12, 2018 #60 Share Posted February 12, 2018 So do I understand from Navy Veteran's post that if I book a shore excursion ahead of time using some of my OBC, I will lose that OBC if the excursion is later cancelled? I somehow assumed that the OBC would be credited back to my account. If this isn't true, it might determine whether or not I make a shore ex reservation. (Particularly since we have almost never used Princess excursions anyway, but were thinking we might on in a particular port in a cruise next year.) No. If you cancel the excursion before the no-refund deadline then the refund will be put into your onboard account as OBC you can still use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrightreturning Posted February 12, 2018 #61 Share Posted February 12, 2018 Try paying with Haweater Dollars.....:D Or Crappy Tire money! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockdoctor Posted February 13, 2018 #62 Share Posted February 13, 2018 It’s called OBC because it’s for use on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haboob Posted February 14, 2018 #63 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Remember, too, there are three classes of OBC once you get onboard: • Refundable • Non-refundable, usable in the Casino • Non-refundable, not usable in the Casino If I recall correctly, they are used most-restrictive to least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted February 14, 2018 #64 Share Posted February 14, 2018 • Non-refundable, not usable in the Casino I don't believe that is true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haboob Posted February 14, 2018 #65 Share Posted February 14, 2018 (edited) I don't believe that [non-Casino OBC] is true. Unfortunately, Princess does believe it. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/faq_answer_legal/Military_Personnel_Benefit_US.pdf That being said, if you have a DD214 or UK equivalent it's much better than nothing, and Princess will remember having seen it from one cruise to the next. Ooops! Forgot the Canadians. Their vets get lovin', too Edited February 14, 2018 by Haboob Forgot important detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grizzle-bizzle Posted February 14, 2018 #66 Share Posted February 14, 2018 What about specialty dining vouchers? Can they be used to book online? Or is that another wait until you are on the ship thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted February 14, 2018 #67 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Unfortunately, Princess does believe it. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/faq_answer_legal/Military_Personnel_Benefit_US.pdf That being said, if you have a DD214 or UK equivalent it's much better than nothing, and Princess will remember having seen it from one cruise to the next. Ooops! Forgot the Canadians. Their vets get lovin', too I know what it says, but again it's not actually true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyVeteran Posted February 14, 2018 #68 Share Posted February 14, 2018 What about specialty dining vouchers? Can they be used to book online? Or is that another wait until you are on the ship thing? You can book online only by paying with a credit card. Any kind of voucher can only be used onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzer1001 Posted February 20, 2018 Author #69 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Just as an update, there has been no change so we can not make a reservation using the OBC Princess is holding. That is the good news. The bad news is that I can not use my credit card make a reservation for my wife’s birthday at all because we are not important enough. Good to know. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moki'smommy Posted February 20, 2018 #70 Share Posted February 20, 2018 What about specialty dining vouchers? Can they be used to book online? Or is that another wait until you are on the ship thing? If you can book it in advance, I can't figure out how. The web site says that they must be booked on board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockdoctor Posted February 25, 2018 #71 Share Posted February 25, 2018 I don't believe that is true. It is. It is a shame that Princess had to resort to this but many people (including me) tended to think of OBC as reducing the cost of a cruise. I now think of OBC as funny money. To spend frivolously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridalover5623 Posted February 26, 2018 #72 Share Posted February 26, 2018 It is. It is a shame that Princess had to resort to this but many people (including me) tended to think of OBC as reducing the cost of a cruise. I now think of OBC as funny money. To spend frivolously. It's still working for me....today anyway. Who knows what will happen in the near future. Things seem to be changing every time I board lately.... gelato, excursion credit not being honored if you can't do the trip, no ordered drinks at the repeaters party, coffee card expiration dates. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggprincess2004 Posted February 26, 2018 #73 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I am not a fan of the changes Princess made in the way we have to prepay to book excursions, but at least we can use the OBC that has been posted in advance of the cruise to book them. Princess only relatively recently allowed pre-booking of specialty dining. We have never had a problem getting reservations when we are on board, at which point it is charged against your on-board account. Even so-called non-refundable credit can be used in the casino, and cashed out that way. It is real money. We don't feel a need to "spend it" on board if we know there will be excess OBC, and it does add up. We just hit the casino and cash out. We resist the urge to actually gamble for more than a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyVeteran Posted February 26, 2018 #74 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I just deposited a check for $640.11 from Bottomline Technologies to my checking account today. This was the refundable OBC from my 10-night Panama Canal cruise (January 27 - February 6, 2018). This was definitely real money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzer1001 Posted March 10, 2018 Author #75 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I just deposited a check for $640.11 from Bottomline Technologies to my checking account today. This was the refundable OBC from my 10-night Panama Canal cruise (January 27 - February 6, 2018). This was definitely real money. No, it became real money sometime after your cruise. Princess did not consider it real money until after your cruise. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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