Buying on board credits

[windsurferfirst]

Am I right in thinking that if I buy on board credits for our booked cruise they can be used against anything on the cruise? I was wanting to get a little in the bank each month rather than be stuck with a big bill on the last day.

[GUT2407]

Am I right in thinking that if I buy on board credits for our booked cruise they can be used against anything on the cruise? I was wanting to get a little in the bank each month rather than be stuck with a big bill on the last day.

The only thing I’ve ever found you can’t use OBC for is to buy a Future Cruise Credit, or book another cruise.

[windsurferfirst]

The only thing I’ve ever found you can’t use OBC for is to buy a Future Cruise Credit, or book another cruise.

 

Thanks for your reply I appreciate it. I was not trusting my own knowledge for some reason, I thought I was right in my thinking but just needed confirmation. Thanks again.

[geoherb]

It can also be advantageous at times for Canadians to buy onboard credits ahead of time when Princess is offering a favorable exchange rate.

[leck57]

Like you I always pre purchase a lot of OBC to avoid having a bill to pay at the end of the cruise.

[moki'smommy]

You need to be aware that if you have a balance of more than $25 at the end of the cruise, it will be sent to you in a check 3-6 weeks after cruising.

 

We prefer to save on our own and have it available to pay on the last day. Yes, that takes discipline, but since our folio and our bank accounts are in US dollars, there is no advantage to paying Princess in advance. True, I get a bill at the end of the cruise, but the money is there to pay it....and I don't have to wait for a refund of any excess.

 

But yes, any OBC you place on your account can be used for anything other than a future cruise certificate or booking.

[Micahs Grandad]

You need to be aware that if you have a balance of more than $25 at the end of the cruise' date=' it will be sent to you in a check 3-6 weeks after cruising.

 

We prefer to save on our own and have it available to pay on the last day. Yes, that takes discipline, but since our folio and our bank accounts are in US dollars, there is no advantage to paying Princess in advance. True, I get a bill at the end of the cruise, but the money is there to pay it....and I don't have to wait for a refund of any excess.

 

But yes, any OBC you place on your account can be used for anything other than a future cruise certificate or booking.[/quote']

 

Wonder why you cannot use your obc for an FCC? Presumably they have a reason why we cannot do it.

[crows nest club]

Wonder why you cannot use your obc for an FCC? Presumably they have a reason why we cannot do it.

Here in UK we ALWAYS put obc on to our account if the dollar rate is advantageous. The rate is set on the day you book and at the rate then. At the moment we can purchase dollars at $1.33 for £1. Far better than the than local high street rate. Also IF we gave any left at the end we just pop to casino last night' date=' put cruise card into a slot and transfer the amount and then remove card and pop over to cashiers and cash out. Job done. No waiting for refund cheque.

 

Sent from my SM-A520F using Forums mobile app

[ontheweb]

On our last cruise (HAL not Princess), we bought $500 OBC using the Amex spend $500 with world's leading cruise line and get $100 credit offer. In effect we got $500 for $400.

[tanyaewa]

It can also be advantageous at times for Canadians to buy onboard credits ahead of time when Princess is offering a favorable exchange rate.

Yup. Currently offering 1.20 on my med cruise in September. So I bought 200 for 240 rather than 270 (ish)

Bought some beer pkgs too at that rate.

[windsurferfirst]

OK here I go with another dumb question. Where do you see on your personaliser the exchange rate you were initially given?

[pisamoorings]

OK here I go with another dumb question. Where do you see on your personaliser the exchange rate you were initially given?

 

 

 

I don't believe you can see it but you can work out if the exchange rate is advantageous to you. I believe when buying onboard credits they in blocks of US$25, US$50 and US$100. Your cruise personaliser will show how much it is to buy each block in your local currency. If wanting to buy US$25, divide 25 by what you need to pay in your currency and that will give you the exchange rate. Just brought some onboard credit today using NZ Dollars and it worked out favourably for me.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Bubbs33]

I don't believe you can see it but you can work out if the exchange rate is advantageous to you. I believe when buying onboard credits they in blocks of US$25, US$50 and US$100. Your cruise personaliser will show how much it is to buy each block in your local currency. If wanting to buy US$25, divide 25 by what you need to pay in your currency and that will give you the exchange rate. Just brought some onboard credit today using NZ Dollars and it worked out favourably for me.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

How is to your sail date can you purchase obc through the cruise personalizer?

[pisamoorings]

How is to your sail date can you purchase obc through the cruise personalizer?

Sorry not sure but you can get a full refund 72 hours prior to sailing date if you wish to cancel the purchased onboard credits so guess you can purchase up to 72 hours prior. Someone else may know.

 

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Forums mobile app

[windsurferfirst]

Thanks for your help everyone I really appreciate it. Time to get the calculator out.

[caribill]

Wonder why you cannot use your obc for an FCC? Presumably they have a reason why we cannot do it.

 

The FCC is really part of a (future) booking and is treated as a cruise sale which is an entirely different accounting system than the onboard system.

[phabric]

OK here I go with another dumb question. Where do you see on your personaliser the exchange rate you were initially given?

 

On your Personalizer under Online Reservations, under Onboard Credits you should see the rate in CDN example $130 CND = $100 US

[amypete]

On our last cruise (HAL not Princess), we bought $500 OBC using the Amex spend $500 with world's leading cruise line and get $100 credit offer. In effect we got $500 for $400.

 

I'm just hoping they do that again SOON! I keep checking on CC because that seems the best way to find out!

[ontheweb]

I'm just hoping they do that again SOON! I keep checking on CC because that seems the best way to find out!

 

It really is a great offer. On our last cruise we used 3 times and got $300 credit. In addition to the OBC that I mentioned earlier, we used it on both my credit card and my wife's card when we made our final payment.

[LM63]

On your Personalizer under Online Reservations, under Onboard Credits you should see the rate in CDN example $130 CND = $100 US

 

Just looking at buying some onboard credit through the cruise personaliser & as I have booked from Australia the credits are in AU$. There doesn't appear to be any exchange rate under Onboard Credits.

What it says is I can purchase in lots of

AU $32.50

AU $65.00

AU $130.00

If these amounts translate to US$25, 50 & 100 then the exchange rate would be quite favourable for us.

So I rang Princess to "double check" before purchasing & was told that the exchange rate used would be whatever the rate was on the day of purchasing the credit. Don't know if they have changed their policy on buying onboard credit & the exchange rates recently but now I'm wondering if it's worthwhile as our $ is not performing well.

Only plus I can see with buying the credit is that I won't have the hassle of exchanging AU$ for $US as I prefer our account to be paid in cash rather than use my credit card.

 

Also IF we gave any left at the end we just pop to casino last night, put cruise card into a slot and transfer the amount and then remove card and pop over to cashiers and cash out. Job done. No waiting for refund cheque.

Is it easy to transfer the money to the slot? I don't usually go to the casino so have no idea :D

 

Thanks,

LM

[phabric]

Just looking at buying some onboard credit through the cruise personaliser & as I have booked from Australia the credits are in AU$. There doesn't appear to be any exchange rate under Onboard Credits.

What it says is I can purchase in lots of

AU $32.50

AU $65.00

AU $130.00

If these amounts translate to US$25, 50 & 100 then the exchange rate would be quite favourable for us.

So I rang Princess to "double check" before purchasing & was told that the exchange rate used would be whatever the rate was on the day of purchasing the credit. Don't know if they have changed their policy on buying onboard credit & the exchange rates recently but now I'm wondering if it's worthwhile as our $ is not performing well.

Only plus I can see with buying the credit is that I won't have the hassle of exchanging AU$ for $US as I prefer our account to be paid in cash rather than use my credit card.

 

Is it easy to transfer the money to the slot? I don't usually go to the casino so have no idea :D

 

Thanks,

LM

 

When I pre purchase OBC, My Personalizer shows if I want $100 US it shows $130 CDN. My credit card is charged $130 CDN per $100, once onboard my account shows $100 US.

 

You have to set up a casino account.

Put your card in the slot

create a casino account with your birthday and a PIN number

Repeat

From your account (OBC) select the $ amount to be transferred to your casino account

I always play a small amount

Cash out

You go to the cashier, they will swipe your card and you put in your PIN number

they give you cash and a receipt

[LM63]

When I pre purchase OBC, My Personalizer shows if I want $100 US it shows $130 CDN. My credit card is charged $130 CDN per $100, once onboard my account shows $100 US.

 

You have to set up a casino account.

Put your card in the slot

create a casino account with your birthday and a PIN number

Repeat

From your account (OBC) select the $ amount to be transferred to your casino account

I always play a small amount

Cash out

You go to the cashier, they will swipe your card and you put in your PIN number

they give you cash and a receipt

 

 

Great thanks for the info. I'm thinking I will buy some on board credit even at todays rate as don't think I'll get a better rate & it'll saves me the hassle of exchanging money.

Looks like the CDN exchange rate is slightly higher than the Aussie $.

 

Cheers

LM

[julie3fan]

On our last cruise (HAL not Princess), we bought $500 OBC using the Amex spend $500 with world's leading cruise line and get $100 credit offer. In effect we got $500 for $400.

I'm just hoping they do that again SOON! I keep checking on CC because that seems the best way to find out!

This is being offered right now! This time around it's spend $750, get $150 back. Same % discount, just a bigger amount. It expires Oct. 15th, I believe.

[phabric]

Great thanks for the info. I'm thinking I will buy some on board credit even at todays rate as don't think I'll get a better rate & it'll saves me the hassle of exchanging money.

Looks like the CDN exchange rate is slightly higher than the Aussie $.

 

Cheers

LM

 

To purchase US$ at the bank as of Sept 14

 

$1.3344 CDN = $1.00 US

 

I always purchase some US$ through OBC. I have one cruise at $1.30 and another at $1.25 per $100.

[tvlgoddess]

When I pre purchase OBC, My Personalizer shows if I want $100 US it shows $130 CDN. My credit card is charged $130 CDN per $100, once onboard my account shows $100 US.

 

You have to set up a casino account.

Put your card in the slot

create a casino account with your birthday and a PIN number

Repeat

From your account (OBC) select the $ amount to be transferred to your casino account

I always play a small amount

Cash out

You go to the cashier, they will swipe your card and you put in your PIN number

they give you cash and a receipt

 

Thanks for this info. A few questions, when you cash out at the casino do they charge you a % for cashing it out? I know that Celebrity charges a 5% fee (don’t know if that is still the case or if the fees are higher now). And what is the maximum $ amount you can cash out or can you do that a few times during the cruise.