Promotional OBC in Australia/New Zealand

[DDG 41]

16 minutes ago, aussiebossyboots said:

We are Australian, cruise was booked in Australia.  So OBC quoted at US$200 converted to AUD$285.

  

But.... Gratuities not included. 

How was it booked in Australia? IF OBC was in US it must've been booked in US.

[aussiebossyboots]

I have just opened up my 'passenger copy' that was issued by our Travel Agent (our local agent who works from her own retail shop - not online). 

 

On the top it clearly shows 2 x customers (myself and my husband) with the cruise fair/taxes/total due.  Under this it states OBC A$285.

 

On the bottom of the same document (1 page) there is a section headed Cruise Bonus Offer - which states

1. Sale - Princess Perfect Moments Sale - up to US$200 OBC

2. Gratuities are not included in the Cruise Fare

 

Very confusing after reading all the above comments.

 

However, I have just noticed that this cruise is now on sale so could have saved $1,000 if we booked now for the same balcony cabin  under the Balcony Bonanza Sale - very sad, so not really ahead as such as we can't rebook here in Australia.  Would loose the deposit which is nearly $1,000 anyway.

 

Let's see what happens when we board in January 2020.

[brian1]

You guys should have kept the Aussie pound,not as confusing,lol.

[GUT2407]

1 hour ago, brian1 said:

You guys should have kept the Aussie pound,not as confusing,lol.

Or maybe should have called it the Skippy , or the aroyal like Holt wanted to name it.

[brian1]

On second thoughts, I can't imagine  trying to work out lsd to the dollar.That's not the drug by the way,pounds,shillings and pence.

[GUT2407]

Just now, brian1 said:

On second thoughts, I can't imagine  trying to work out lsd to the dollar.That's not the drug by the way,pounds,shillings and pence.

A right pain with 12p to the S and 20s to the pound.

[brian1]

How about this one,us Brits used to call 5 bob (shillings) a dollar.I think it was there were 4 USD to the pound for quite a while.Bring back those days,lol.

[Haboob]

8 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

I have just opened up my 'passenger copy' that was issued by our Travel Agent (our local agent who works from her own retail shop - not online). 

‎⋮

However, I have just noticed that this cruise is now on sale so could have saved $1,000 if we booked now for the same balcony cabin  under the Balcony Bonanza Sale - very sad, so not really ahead as such as we can't rebook here in Australia.  Would loose the deposit which is nearly $1,000 anyway.

 

Let's see what happens when we board in January 2020.

 

Here in the States, sometimes you have to "rebook" but often can "re-fare" and the latter doesn't lose

your your deposit, only the prior sales-event's goodies.

 

I mention this because once upon a time our (now ex-) TA in her storefront office was clueless about

the difference.

 

If it's an Aussie thing and not a TA thing, sympathies.

Edited May 20, 2019 by Haboob
Crazy line-wraps

[Aus Traveller]

16 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

We are Australian, cruise was booked in Australia.  So OBC quoted at US$200 converted to AUD$285.

 

But.... Gratuities not included. 

Sorry. When I typed my previous response I didn't look to see where you live. 🙂  As Aussies sailing on an Australian cruise, you will not be charged gratuities. If they make an error on board and charge your account, I suggest you go to the Passenger Services Desk and ask to have it removed. I am surprised that your OBC was converted from US$ to AUD if you booked with an Aust TA.

[Aus Traveller]

15 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

 However, I have just noticed that this cruise is now on sale so could have saved $1,000 if we booked now for the same balcony cabin  under the Balcony Bonanza Sale - very sad, so not really ahead as such as we can't rebook here in Australia.  Would loose the deposit which is nearly $1,000 anyway.

 

Let's see what happens when we board in January 2020.

I am not sure that you would lose your deposit if you rebooked or 're-fared'. I have heard that Princess allows this without penalty if it is earlier than the final payment date. I suggest you follow this up.

 

On a side note, we re-booked or re-fared way back in 2009 on a Princess cruise to Tahiti. We saw a great deal on a balcony cabin but didn't realise until later that we should have lost our deposit already paid. The TA organised it for us with no loss of deposit, although we lost our spot in the waitlist for early dinner. The TA then fixed that up also.

[aussiebossyboots]

Thanks Aus Traveller for clarifying the gratuities issue.  With the fare now $1,000 cheaper for the two of us, having gratuities included helps heal the hurt.  Wish we could book last minute, but we still work and Hubby is a school teacher so we always pay lots more for any holiday, land content or cruise.

[aussiebossyboots]

Just sent our TA an email.  Let's see what her response is.

 

Personally, I am not expecting a positive response because I have to 'work her'.  Still looking for a proactive TA anywhere in Australia.  I am really good at organizing land content holidays and save heaps of $s.  But still a novice with cruises unfortunately when it comes to deals.

[GUT2407]

16 hours ago, aussiebossyboots said:

I have just opened up my 'passenger copy' that was issued by our Travel Agent (our local agent who works from her own retail shop - not online). 

 

On the top it clearly shows 2 x customers (myself and my husband) with the cruise fair/taxes/total due.  Under this it states OBC A$285.

 

On the bottom of the same document (1 page) there is a section headed Cruise Bonus Offer - which states

1. Sale - Princess Perfect Moments Sale - up to US$200 OBC

2. Gratuities are not included in the Cruise Fare

 

Very confusing after reading all the above comments.

 

However, I have just noticed that this cruise is now on sale so could have saved $1,000 if we booked now for the same balcony cabin  under the Balcony Bonanza Sale - very sad, so not really ahead as such as we can't rebook here in Australia.  Would loose the deposit which is nearly $1,000 anyway.

 

Let's see what happens when we board in January 2020.

I’ve always been able to refare (or rebook) with Princess prior to final payment.

[Aus Traveller]

6 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

I’ve always been able to refare (or rebook) with Princess prior to final payment.

Aussiebossyboots - Please note Mr GUT2407's comment. Maybe if your TA won't re-fare your booking, another TA will 😁. I can see why a TA wouldn't rush to do this because it takes some of their time and effectively reduces their commission. However, if they want to do the best thing for their client, they would do it. All the best. Please let us know how you go.

[GUT2407]

22 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Aussiebossyboots - Please note Mr GUT2407's comment. Maybe if your TA won't re-fare your booking, another TA will 😁. I can see why a TA wouldn't rush to do this because it takes some of their time and effectively reduces their commission. However, if they want to do the best thing for their client, they would do it. All the best. Please let us know how you go.

Doesn’t seem to take much time, for years I booked direct, never had an issue.

 

then used a PCP, no problems

 

now use an agent for some (mainly when they are offering $10 deposits, so I can lock it in while looking at logistics.

 

Just the other week, saw a price drop (about $500) on my December cruise, shot off an email, about 10 mins later got an email back, saying done and dusted and reminding me I’d lost $100 OBC and that Princess wanted an increased deposit.

[triple7tahoe]

13 hours ago, brian1 said:

How about this one,us Brits used to call 5 bob (shillings) a dollar.I think it was there were 4 USD to the pound for quite a while.Bring back those days,lol.

At one point, it was $5 US equaled a Pound.   Somewhere along the way it went to $2.40 and that was great with Pound, Schilling and pence as there were 240 pence in a Pound (I think)..  Then again we used to get 360 Yen for one US dollar in Japan and now they are almost on par- And Japanese items have gotten more expensive 🙂

 

[triple7tahoe]

On our March/April cruises aboard the Majestic Princess all OBC was credited in AUD (Even a casino credit that was guaranteed to be in US$--$450 to be exact). I was able to convince Passengers Service Desk folks that some of the OBC (maybe the FCC) should be in US since I had booked using US$ and US FCC, They did do a "Goodwill" credit but asked me not to share with fellow passengers.

I thought I might be able to buy FCC in AUD and then get OBC in US$ if I booked a cruise out the US.  That messed up the book keepers as my bank account showed the purchase in AUD but Princess would not issue me the FCCs-Three weeks after the cruise I finally got it straightened out and the AUD was credited back to my account and then we got charged in US$ . I tried 🙂

[brian1]

4 hours ago, triple7tahoe said:

At one point, it was $5 US equaled a Pound.   Somewhere along the way it went to $2.40 and that was great with Pound, Schilling and pence as there were 240 pence in a Pound (I think)..  Then again we used to get 360 Yen for one US dollar in Japan and now they are almost on par- And Japanese items have gotten more expensive 🙂

 

In 1975 we went to California for our honeymoon.It was 2.50 then,even at that rate we lived like kings,lol.

[aussiebossyboots]

On ‎5‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 9:26 AM, GUT2407 said:

Doesn’t seem to take much time, for years I booked direct, never had an issue.

 

then used a PCP, no problems

 

now use an agent for some (mainly when they are offering $10 deposits, so I can lock it in while looking at logistics.

 

Just the other week, saw a price drop (about $500) on my December cruise, shot off an email, about 10 mins later got an email back, saying done and dusted and reminding me I’d lost $100 OBC and that Princess wanted an increased deposit.

 

Well I am back to report on the outcome of trying to get the current promotion applied to my existing Princess Cruise.  As previously reported there was an approximate $1,000 in price difference - taking into account our AUD$285 OBC resulted in a price difference of - $821.

 

Spoke to my TA and to give her credit, she did try to get us the reduction in price.  However, she purchases through a cruise wholesaler!!!!!  In the end, we are now:

 

1. in the came cabin

2. received a reduced price

3. taking into account our original OBC - now reduced to AUD$185

 

We have a total saving....... wait for it......  of $50

 

Apparently Princess only release a limited number of rooms in each category for this sale, when they go, the price increases.  There were no balcony rooms available in our category for the much lower price advertised.

 

Really not worth the effort but I did thank my TA for trying.

[GUT2407]

30 minutes ago, aussiebossyboots said:

 

Well I am back to report on the outcome of trying to get the current promotion applied to my existing Princess Cruise.  As previously reported there was an approximate $1,000 in price difference - taking into account our AUD$285 OBC resulted in a price difference of - $821.

 

Spoke to my TA and to give her credit, she did try to get us the reduction in price.  However, she purchases through a cruise wholesaler!!!!!  In the end, we are now:

 

1. in the came cabin

2. received a reduced price

3. taking into account our original OBC - now reduced to AUD$185

 

We have a total saving....... wait for it......  of $50

 

Apparently Princess only release a limited number of rooms in each category for this sale, when they go, the price increases.  There were no balcony rooms available in our category for the much lower price advertised.

 

Really not worth the effort but I did thank my TA for trying.

I think any saving is worth the effort