Refundable OBC vs Non refundable OBC

[hllwdcruiser]

This is the first time we've had refundable OBC and I plan to buy more since DH just got an AMEX with the $100 rebate for a $500 spend. When purchasing items onboard do they automatically apply the non refundable before dipping into the refundable OBC? We only have $160 non refundable for the both of us, but obviously, I'd like to use that up first.

[cherylandtk]

Yes, the NR is used up first.

[hobbyfarmer2]

It's even better than you think.  You can purchase stuff like excursions with OBC before you board.  On boarding your account is set up from scratch with all existing debits and credits posted.  The Princess debits will use your NR OBC first before resorting to your refundable OBC.

[hllwdcruiser]

1 hour ago, hobbyfarmer2 said:

It's even better than you think.  You can purchase stuff like excursions with OBC before you board.  On boarding your account is set up from scratch with all existing debits and credits posted.  

 

Thanks for this. I'm going to have to figure out how to do that on the website. Can you also use OBC to purchase drink packages, UBD or pay your gratuities before you board? When I go to pre pay the gratuities it seems like it only gives me two options to pay, either cc or PayPal. 

I usually pay for everything up front before the cruise. We use our non refundable OBC for specialty dining etc. I know it's psychological, but I like to disembark with only our new FCDs left to pay on our card. It makes the end of the cruise less painful somehow.

[hobbyfarmer2]

Not 100% sure but I think OBC can only be used for excursions.  Grats and drinks have to be paid cash.  We sometimes purchase OBC before a cruise.  We live in Canada and sometimes the Princess exchange rate which is set at cruise booking date is quite a bit better then the current rate.

[Astro Flyer]

43 minutes ago, hllwdcruiser said:

Can you also use OBC to purchase drink packages, UBD or pay your gratuities before you board? When I go to pre pay the gratuities it seems like it only gives me two options to pay, either cc or PayPal.

 

OBC can only be used in advance to pay for tours but onboard it’s a simple credit to your account from which any purchase is deducted using NR first.

 

It’s been my experience that complimentary refundable OBC over $25 will be sent to me in a check within four weeks of the end of the cruise. If $25 or less you can go to the PSD for a cash refund.  I’ve never purchased refundable OBC so I am unaware of the process for receiving a refund of any unused funds. 

Edited January 20, 2020 by Astro Flyer

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, hllwdcruiser said:

I usually pay for everything up front before the cruise. We use our non refundable OBC for specialty dining etc. I know it's psychological, but I like to disembark with only our new FCDs left to pay on our card. It makes the end of the cruise less painful somehow.

 

We had a bit of OBC left on our last cruise. It wasn't a lot but we wanted to use it all. We ended up with a total bill of $5.01. I found that quite acceptable for a final bill. That was the second of two cruises. On the first one we did slightly less good and ended up owing $29.12. Like you, we ended up with new FCD charges (2 each - we each already had one "in the bank") but that's not really a cost of the cruise we were on at the time.

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, hllwdcruiser said:

Thanks for this. I'm going to have to figure out how to do that on the website. Can you also use OBC to purchase drink packages, UBD or pay your gratuities before you board? When I go to pre pay the gratuities it seems like it only gives me two options to pay, either cc or PayPal. 

 

Pre-payment using OBC is only for excursions. Once onboard you can use OBC to purchase a beverage package if you like. Daily gratuities will be deducted  from your OBC as they occur - no need to do anything. Once on the ship anything (with the exception of FCD) will be automagically deducted from your OBC.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Never had a problem trying to figure out which is which. Always used more than we had. 

[hllwdcruiser]

4 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

It’s been my experience that complimentary refundable OBC over $25 will be sent to me in a check within four weeks of the end of the cruise. If $25 or less you can go to the PSD for a cash refund.  I’ve never purchased refundable OBC so I am unaware of the process for receiving a refund of any unused funds. 

I've never purchased OBC either - do you know if you have to do anything to get the refund or is it sent automatically? I guess I can ask at guest services before disembarking.

The only reason I am doing it is for the AMEX offer on DH's card. I already got 10,000 points on my card when I purchased the cruise but we are past final payment and I definitely want the $100 credit. We are very frugal on a cruise so I know we'll be hard pressed to spend it all.

[hllwdcruiser]

2 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

We had a bit of OBC left on our last cruise. It wasn't a lot but we wanted to use it all. We ended up with a total bill of $5.01. I found that quite acceptable for a final bill. That was the second of two cruises. On the first one we did slightly less good and ended up owing $29.12. Like you, we ended up with new FCD charges (2 each - we each already had one "in the bank") but that's not really a cost of the cruise we were on at the time.

 

I hear you - last year we had a bunch of non refundable OBC and I was hard pressed to spend it by the end of the cruise. We ended up getting two Stanley Bears for the grandkids and somehow I thought I liked Limoncello after having it in the MDR so we bought a bottle on board to take home. The bottle still sits in our bar...barely open. 

[kywildcatfanone]

It's nice that Princess does take the non refundable first, and then the refundable.

[Astro Flyer]

16 minutes ago, hllwdcruiser said:

do you know if you have to do anything to get the refund or is it sent automatically?

 

Don’t know but I always confirm at the PSD about getting a refund check because it’s usually over $25 when we get a refund.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Astro Flyer

[Cruise Raider]

5 hours ago, hllwdcruiser said:

 

Thanks for this. I'm going to have to figure out how to do that on the website. Can you also use OBC to purchase drink packages, UBD or pay your gratuities before you board? When I go to pre pay the gratuities it seems like it only gives me two options to pay, either cc or PayPal. 

I usually pay for everything up front before the cruise. We use our non refundable OBC for specialty dining etc. I know it's psychological, but I like to disembark with only our new FCDs left to pay on our card. It makes the end of the cruise less painful somehow.

 

If your OBC is applied to your account, then it would behoove you not to prepay them.  They will automatically be deducted from that OBC that was purchased or the non-refundable OBC.  Same with any dining including the UBD or anything else you purchase onboard.  

It makes it easier all the way around when paying for items and using the OBC you just purchased .... you will still end up with only the FCD's left to pay on your card.  

 

[JF - retired RRT]

OP: if you don't already know...

Other ways to get OBC

1) if anyone in your cabin is a veteran or active/retired military...up to $250 depending on the length of the cruise (it's refundable as well). Just send in the required paperwork.

2) buy Carnival stock. Up to $250 OBC (not refundable  ). OBC plus the quarterly dividends.

3) take lots of Princess cruises. Once you have 20 cruises under your belt, you'll get "loyalty" OBC starting at $25 but it goes up in increments.

4) watch the "sales", many add OBC as one of the perks.

[hllwdcruiser]

On 1/20/2020 at 5:35 PM, Cruise Raider said:

 

If your OBC is applied to your account, then it would behoove you not to prepay them.  They will automatically be deducted from that OBC that was purchased or the non-refundable OBC.  Same with any dining including the UBD or anything else you purchase onboard.  

It makes it easier all the way around when paying for items and using the OBC you just purchased .... you will still end up with only the FCD's left to pay on your card.  

 

 

Thanks, we'll be doing this. With the $500 that I am going to purchase we will then have $700 refundable and $160 non refundable. I surely won't be pre-purchasing anything as I think we will be hard pressed to spend that amount. We never usually go on Princess excursions but I have to say I am tempted by the idea of the Ultimate Ships Tour which we've never done, or experiencing the Chef's Table again. 

[Astro Flyer]

hllwdcruiser...about your question if refunds are automatically made, I checked my recent final stateroom account which states “Please visit Guest Services Desk to collect any refundable credit balance under $25.00 prior to disembarking.  Any larger refundable credit balance will be forwarded to you by mail within 4-6 weeks”.

 

I check there a couple of days before disembarking when it’s not busy to confirm that everything is properly set up to receive a refund check which we’ve always received.

[kywildcatfanone]

Yes, they use the NR before the refundable.  Was pleasantly surprised on our last cruise, I had a bunch of refundable, but the laundry charges hit and reduced my amount, and since it was the last night, I thought maybe the refund for that (elite laundry perk) would be non refundable, and I would lose it, but it came back the morning we disembarked and was refundable.  I actually came home with more OBC than I went with as we had some port charges refunded.

[hllwdcruiser]

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

hllwdcruiser...about your question if refunds are automatically made, I checked my recent final stateroom account which states “Please visit Guest Services Desk to collect any refundable credit balance under $25.00 prior to disembarking.  Any larger refundable credit balance will be forwarded to you by mail within 4-6 weeks”.

 

I check there a couple of days before disembarking when it’s not busy to confirm that everything is properly set up to receive a refund check which we’ve always received.

Perfect! Thank you so much for looking that up for me and so kind of you. I will do the same a couple of days before the end of the cruise.

[hllwdcruiser]

Thank you all for your responses in regards to the stock. I am convinced! I think I may just buy it by myself and not go through our financial advisor. 

[nho9504]

We too, have the Amex offer, in fact 3 of them - 2 of the $100/$500 and 1 of the 10,000 pts / $500.

 

We just booked the Sky from Ft. Lauderdale to St.Petersburg, using our Chase Ultimate Reward points at 1.5x value per point - essentially reduced the cruise cost by 33.33% so the Amex offers would go to waste.

 

But now this discussion opens my eyes - I never know you can buy OBC and if not used it up it can be refundable.  Does Princess still let you charge the shipboard account for Casino play money?  If so, may be we can use the Casino to extract the unused OBC ?  If that works it means $100 free money, or if we go all the way, $200 free money and 10,000 pts. lol.

Edited January 25, 2020 by nho9504
Add question

[beach_fever_4ever]

For one of our upcoming cruises I have $830 OBC, my wife has $330 OBC.  So for example, at the end of the cruise she will spend more than the $330, will that additional amount come off my OBC ? Or will I lose my non-refundable OBC and have to pay her additional purchases out of pocket ? The goal is to use up all the OBC.

 

 

 

 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

You actually do not have separate OBC. The OBC is decided and I do not know why. Actually it is a total on your rooms OBC. You see different charges on your billing and hers during the cruise. I think the reason is you use one credit card but gave her permission to also charge on it. So if you buy a drink and use your ships card it will be on your bill, same if she buys a drink and uses her ships card. It will be on her bill. But the card is your responsibility to pay. So at the end of the cruise you will receive one bill, showing the total. As for the OBC. Non refundable is used up first and then the refundable if you have any. Taken from both.

[Thrak]

I always have more OBC than my wife due to the Shareholder OBC going into my "bank". Since we use the same card it's really just one account. She can end up "owing" while I have a bunch of credit. It just comes out of the one "bank" in the end so it's no big deal. The only time it really matters is if you are trying to book excursions in advance. If she doesn't have enough OBC in her name I would have to call Princess to have it fixed to where they would charge the excursion for both of us to the combined OBC.

[capriccio]

3 hours ago, Thrak said:

The only time it really matters is if you are trying to book excursions in advance. If she doesn't have enough OBC in her name I would have to call Princess to have it fixed to where they would charge the excursion for both of us to the combined OBC.

 

Thrak - have you had recent success calling Princess to do that?  I've called 3 times since mid-December and obviously spoke to 3 different reps and all say it is impossible.