Using OBC prior to cruise

[sandjforever]

First time cruising on Princess.  My boyfriend and I each have $100 OBC for being in a mini-suite and he has an extra $100 Military benefit.  Our cruise isn't until September 2020, but will we be able to use any before the cruise for an excursion or towards a coffee card?  Right now it only gives me the option of a credit card or Paypal.

[suekel]

It will let you use it for an excursion.  When you get to the check out page, it should be an option.  Everything else, buy it on board.  

[Loritd]

Just for excursions.  Pre-purchased water, sodas and internet can not be purchased with onboard credit. 

[paul929207]

Only for Princess excursions.

[sandjforever]

Awesome, thank you all!

[BIGADORF]

Anybody figured out a way to use OBC to pay for Gratuities? Either prior to the cruise or while on the ship? I noticed that most of our onboard credit is non refundable.

Thank you 😁

[DrivesLikeMario]

Yeah, I wish they did it like Celebrity and RCI do - you can use your OBC for pretty much anything.  Love that ability.

[OzKiwiJJ]

3 hours ago, BIGADORF said:

Anybody figured out a way to use OBC to pay for Gratuities? Either prior to the cruise or while on the ship? I noticed that most of our onboard credit is non refundable.

Thank you 😁

Once your onboard account is activated (when you board) the OBC is added to it although sometimes it isn't posted to the account until the first night. Thus you have a credit balance. Any charges  - gratuities, drinks, speciality restaurants, onboard shopping etc are debited to the account as they occur and eventually will either use up all the OBC which may result in a charge to your credit card at the end of the cruise, or if you have a credit balance and none of that was non-refundable OBC then you get sent a refund. Non-refundable OBC is always deemed to have been consumed before any refundable OBC. 

 

So if you have a lot of OBC that you want to use for gratuities don't prepay your gratuities, allow them to be added to your account daily.

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

3 hours ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Yeah, I wish they did it like Celebrity and RCI do - you can use your OBC for pretty much anything.  Love that ability.

You can once you're on board.

[paul929207]

Gratuities and all other expenses on the ship will draw down the OBC until it is all used.

[Haboob]

4 hours ago, paul929207 said:

Gratuities and all other expenses on the ship will draw down the OBC until it is all used.

 

"[Stockholder OBC] cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account"

-- http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9Mjc0MjIzfENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z&t=1

 

Figure that one of these centuries, the shipboard computers will catch up with the posted rules.