Pre purchased on board credit

[Kate45]

Thinking about pre purchasing some onboard credit. Will this show up on my acct when I board or will I have to go to customer service and show my Princess receipt? What if I don't use it all? Do I get it refunded to my credit card? What happens if, God forbid, I have to cancel the whole cruise. Will I get a refund? I'm also thinking about pre purchasing the soda pkg for myself. Does this work the same way? We leave in 3 weeks and I'd like to do this soon. Your help is appreciated 

[goofy559]

It should show up on your account.  It usually takes an hour or two - you will also receive cards with the amount on it in your cabin.  If you have any left over, it will be sent via cheque in 4-6 weeks, or, you can visit the casino and get US cash on the last night.  If you cancel, you get it back.  We do this all the time to take advantage of the preferential exchange rate.

 

[Host CJSKIDS]

If you pre-purchase OBC through Princess you will see it on your booking information.  I would suggest that you print out the information.  

They will also send you an email with the purchase that I would also print out, just in case.

 

If you don't use it, it is refundable and will come via check.  You can also "cash it out" at the casino and get cash. 

 

If you pre-purchase the soda pkg for yourself, it will already be loaded onto your card.  That will also show up in your personalizer. I believe as special on board services.

[Kate45]

Thanks for the info. Can I call Princess and do this direct with them (we booked thru a travel agent). Our internet is not very good; we live in the country. I just don't want to get it half completed and have the Internet go wonky and either not have it completed or go thru twice.

[goofy559]

13 minutes ago, Kate45 said:

Thanks for the info. Can I call Princess and do this direct with them (we booked thru a travel agent). Our internet is not very good; we live in the country. I just don't want to get it half completed and have the Internet go wonky and either not have it completed or go thru twice.

 

Yes you can.  Just call the main princess number and they will direct you - i've had to call a few times as even with a good connection their site sometimes can't process my canadian CC.

 

[Id rather be diving]

Beware things have recently changed.  If you pre-purchase OBC and you don’t use it all, it is NOT refunded by check.  It is refunded via original credit card.  Or as suggested you can cash it out through the casino.  

 

We we just got off the Sapphire last month and had a credit due to pre-purchased OBC and it was returned via credit on the credit card.  I spoke with revenue dept and was told this is how they must do it now.  If it’s revundable OBC from military benefits, for example, that is refunded via check.  She also said they are starting to do this refund on pre-purchased excursions if they are cancelled.

 

just wanted you to be aware as I had been told it would be by check.  Additionally, that is what was stated on our final statement but not what happened.

[Wolf1314]

22 minutes ago, Id rather be diving said:

Beware things have recently changed.  If you pre-purchase OBC and you don’t use it all, it is NOT refunded by check.  It is refunded via original credit card.  Or as suggested you can cash it out through the casino.  

 

We we just got off the Sapphire last month and had a credit due to pre-purchased OBC and it was returned via credit on the credit card.  I spoke with revenue dept and was told this is how they must do it now.  If it’s revundable OBC from military benefits, for example, that is refunded via check.  She also said they are starting to do this refund on pre-purchased excursions if they are cancelled.

 

just wanted you to be aware as I had been told it would be by check.  Additionally, that is what was stated on our final statement but not what happened.

So how do we do to cash out the unused OBC in Casino?

[99Cruiser]

I just got back Sunday from the Island Princess and had a gift sent to me but also bought casino credits.  For the OBC, if you have anything left,  I would go to the casino and ask for that amount in chips and then you can cash them in and get the cash back.  There are no fees and it's much easier than waiting for the refund

[Kate45]

So when I buy the obc, do I have to put some in my name and some in hubbies or will the total just be put on our "stateroom" acct to be used by either and/or both of us?

[99Cruiser]

It would probably be best to put some on each but if the total bill is going to the same credit card it really doesn't matter

[Thrak]

I have purchased OBC to augment our upcoming cruise. It shows on the Travel Summary (I need to print out a new one that shows the OBC!) and it shows under my name. I purchased $100 twice and both show. I'll likely do it one more time before we sail so will need to print another Travel Summary so it shows all three purchases. When I have purchased in the past I received a card in my cabin with the info on it. My wife and I share the folio - every thing goes on one credit card - so it really doesn't matter who's name the credit is listed under.

[mrandmrsdd]

Hi, if I buy 125can $ as I have the option on my booking, would that give me 100us $ obc to buy whatever including excursions or gratuity

thank you diane

[goofy559]

46 minutes ago, mrandmrsdd said:

Hi, if I buy 125can $ as I have the option on my booking, would that give me 100us $ obc to buy whatever including excursions or gratuity

thank you diane

Yes it would.  Given the low value of the canadian dollar we always buy extra OBC .  You can pre-pay your gratuities before you sail at the same rate, but NOT excursions.  You can use the OBC you buy to book excursions on board.

 

[canadarocks]

1 hour ago, goofy559 said:

You can pre-pay your gratuities before you sail at the same rate, but NOT excursions.  You can use the OBC you buy to book excursions on board.

 

Actually that's not accurate. If you pre-purchase enough OBC in each person's name, you can use that to pre-purchase shore excursions. I've done it for both of our 2019 Princess cruses. 

[goofy559]

4 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

Actually that's not accurate. If you pre-purchase enough OBC in each person's name, you can use that to pre-purchase shore excursions. I've done it for both of our 2019 Princess cruses. 

Good to know - I had been told the opposite but had never tried it as we very rarely book Princess excursions.

[voljeep]

what is the advantage to pre-purchasing OBC and then using that to book excursions versus

just using that money/ credit card to book the excursions directly ?????

[canadarocks]

20 minutes ago, voljeep said:

what is the advantage to pre-purchasing OBC and then using that to book excursions versus

just using that money/ credit card to book the excursions directly ?????

To save money on the exchange rate. It's a Canadian thing. 🙂

 

I see goofy559 beat me to it!  

 

Edited October 24, 2018 by canadarocks

[goofy559]

18 minutes ago, voljeep said:

what is the advantage to pre-purchasing OBC and then using that to book excursions versus

just using that money/ credit card to book the excursions directly ?????

 

If you are Canadian, the exchange rate provided by Princess to buy OBC, prepay gratuities, etc is the rate they were charging at the time you booked.  Right now, 1USD costs $1.35 CDN   The OP booked when the rate was $1.25.  

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

To save money on the exchange rate. It's a Canadian thing. 🙂

gotcha, I guess

[crochetcruise]

On ‎10‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 4:13 AM, Host CJSKIDS said:

If you pre-purchase OBC through Princess you will see it on your booking information.  I would suggest that you print out the information.  

They will also send you an email with the purchase that I would also print out, just in case.

 

If you don't use it, it is refundable and will come via check.  You can also "cash it out" at the casino and get cash. 

 

If you pre-purchase the soda pkg for yourself, it will already be loaded onto your card.  That will also show up in your personalizer. I believe as special on board services.

 

THANK YOU! I am cruising on the Ruby Princess February 2020,and only knew to go to the Calypso Bar and buy the Soda and More Package. Purchasing through the TA when I go in to make a payment will be much easier for me!

 

On the previous cruise I was in a Window Suite on the Golden Princess, and had my cruise card in a provided wallet. I shocked the crew member scanning cards at the Muster Drill, I approached him and held up the opened wallet for him to scan my Blue card, the startled look on his face was priceless! He hadn't expected a newbie to know what to do! Thanks to Cruise Critic I knew enough to advise the 3 friends I was travelling with-different Muster stations-what to do. The 2 males got into trouble-1 was seasick BEFORE we got out of the Heads leaving Sydney Harbour and the other fell into a pool fully clothed!

[Kate45]

Just finished pre booking obc because of the preferable dollar - Cdn vs US. Printed out copy for my records and noticed it says "you may cancel within 72 hrs of your cruise". This is exactly  what I was afraid of. We are driving from Canada. What if something happens the day before we get there? Everyone here says it is refundable. No one said within 72 hrs. Am I worried for nothing or do I have to cancel it? I'm a worrier. Don't really need another thing to lose sleep over.

[caribill]

12 hours ago, Kate45 said:

Just finished pre booking obc because of the preferable dollar - Cdn vs US. Printed out copy for my records and noticed it says "you may cancel within 72 hrs of your cruise". This is exactly  what I was afraid of. We are driving from Canada. What if something happens the day before we get there? Everyone here says it is refundable. No one said within 72 hrs. Am I worried for nothing or do I have to cancel it? I'm a worrier. Don't really need another thing to lose sleep over.

 

You would still get it back if you did not make the cruise. The "72 hours" is there because starting three days before the cruise you cannot make any changes whatsoever on the web site as that is when they start processing the information for the ship to have.