Princess Gift Cards, $500 will get you $550 total

[muffin]

Thanks for the recognition!   Missed that in my typing.

 

[Nadia83]

I'm Canadian and I had put a hold on a cruise leaving in 2022 (had until tonight to leave a deposit and haven't yet, now has been extended for a few more days). I called Princess tonight to set my fare to American, the first person I spoke to didn't know how to do it and send me to another department. 

This person told me I would have to cancel my current fare and quoted me the price in American for the new fare. When I entered the American price at www.xe.com to convert to Canadian, it's actually 200 dollars more then my original fare.  

 

so no gift cards for me 😞

 

[suzyed]

5 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

I used our bonus cards as payments on our Dec 2022 cruise yesterday - no problem.

I have no doubt that you didn't have a problem doing so but are they going to tell you in December that those points are expired???  
That was my concern.

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by suzyed

[suzyed]

On 7/4/2021 at 1:47 PM, Astro Flyer said:

I don’t know why people are having different experiences but in their FAQs it states that orders placed on weekends will be processed on the following business day (maybe Tuesday on this holiday weekend?) so I’m surprised that any are being processed this weekend.

 

Q: I placed my Princess Cruises Gift Card order on a weekend.  When will it be processed?
A: All Gift Card orders placed over the weekend will be processed the following business day.  Please allow 5-7 business days to receive the Gift Card using standard shipping.

 

Ours went through right away after the "verifying text", just this morning.

 

[suzyed]

On 7/4/2021 at 5:45 PM, chubbypiggy said:

Can I use the gift cards to pay part of my balance due on a cruise that I booked through non-Princess travel consultant?  If so, do I need to send my physical gift cards to the outside TA?

I called my TA before I purchased and she just said to call her with the card numbers and pin and she will apply them.

[suzyed]

On 7/4/2021 at 7:48 PM, CruiseSter1ing said:

I see one posting indicating that they got $1000 of bonus cards by buying $10,000 of regular gift cards.

Here's what the asterisk says on the Princess page for buying.

*Order a $500 Princess Cruises Gift Card in a single transaction and receive a $50 Promotional gift card. Promotional Gift Card Offer is applicable to orders placed from 7/2/2021 6:00AM PDT to 7/12/2021 11:59PM PDT, while supplies last. Princess Cruises® reserves the right to terminate this promotion at any time. The Promotional gift card is limited to one (1) per customer during this promotion and will be delivered to the recipient as a digital gift card only. Promotional gift card expires on 5/1/2022.

 

.... one per customer.....    So I can see if you have two people in a cabin, I would think that's 2 customers.

It's not one per customer.  Right on the order form they give you the option of buying more than one.

[suzyed]

20 hours ago, vjmatty said:

Does anyone with a Princess Visa card know if this would qualify for the usual double points on Princess purchases?

Wondering the same.  I will know once my transaction goes from pending to posted.

[suzyed]

15 hours ago, rodndonna said:

 

All I can say is you have vastly underestimated my intelligence, financial situation and financial savvy.

As you did ours!  Don't worry about us!

[kiwimum]

38 minutes ago, suzyed said:

Wondering the same.  I will know once my transaction goes from pending to posted.

I just looked at my Big Box store credit card where travel purchases earn additional 3%.   My purchases for the gift cards make no reference to Princess.   Listed as egiftcard.  Not holding out hope for the extra %, would have been nice.

[Redwing55]

5 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

"Spend" the bonus cards by making additional deposit payment.  Sit on the "base" gift cards until FP Date.

One might also using them to hold an excursion or two.... if one is booking any w/ Princess.  If you change your mind, no issue.  It's like a way to hold them for free since you have the gift card in hand.

[Astro Flyer]

13 minutes ago, Redwing55 said:

One might also using them to hold an excursion or two.... if one is booking any w/ Princess.  If you change your mind, no issue.  It's like a way to hold them for free since you have the gift card in hand.

Based on their FAQs excursion payments are not allowed:

 

“The Princess Cruises Gift Card can be used for most Princess products and services, with the exception of payment towards Land Excursions and eZAir”.

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by Astro Flyer

[suzyed]

43 minutes ago, kiwimum said:

I just looked at my Big Box store credit card where travel purchases earn additional 3%.   My purchases for the gift cards make no reference to Princess.   Listed as egiftcard.  Not holding out hope for the extra %, would have been nice.

I see that too on my Princess visa account...we'll see how it goes.

[Iamcruzin]

Until cruising starts sailing at full capacity I think that all of these FCCs and extra money on gift cards are just fools gold and it doesn't matter what cruise line you sail on.

[MarinerBoy]

7 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

Until cruising starts sailing at full capacity I think that all of these FCCs and extra money on gift cards are just fools gold and it doesn't matter what cruise line you sail on.

 

Absolutely, I been telling people its a huge mistake to pay for a gift card as they cant be used for Casino cash, so its not like cash its just a gift card.

 

To commit to such a huge value as $500 in cruise spending is nonsense how many people actually spend $500 during their cruise? How bad are people with money managment to allow them selves to not only spend that much but actually buy gift cards.. my God horrific.

[Iamcruzin]

6 minutes ago, MarinerBoy said:

 

Absolutely, I been telling people its a huge mistake to pay for a gift card as they cant be used for Casino cash, so its not like cash its just a gift card.

 

To commit to such a huge value as $500 in cruise spending is nonsense how many people actually spend $500 during their cruise? How bad are people with money managment to allow them selves to not only spend that much but actually buy gift cards.. my God horrific.

I usually book under one of the all inclusive deals or if they aren't offering that I will pre purchase drink packages and wifi packages on lines the offer that option. The only thing on my bill is the auto gratuity if that' not included in the all inclusive deal. I stopped sailing on Princess when Celebrity started offering the perk deals. Now Princess seems to be on board with that idea. Although it doesn't seem to be popular with those who are Elite It will bring me back to Princess after the smoke settles from Covid.

[Ombud]

59 minutes ago, MarinerBoy said:

Absolutely, I been telling people its a huge mistake to pay for a gift card as they cant be used for Casino cash, so its not like cash its just a gift card.

You are mislead. I buy OBC with the extra gift card amounts. Then I add funds to my casino account onboard. Apparently I'm not the only one who uses just 1 account for the bar, gratuities, and casino. However I could buy casino credits with it if desired. No need to, but I could have my PVP apply them there. Check these threads:

Have you actually been to a casino onboard any cruise ship? 

 

Oops. I messed up again. Paid for Alaska ziplining with gift cards. In fact, I've only spent FCC, Gift cards, and $22 on my visa since 2019.

 

I have an email into my PVP to pay for internet + 30 obc tomorrow. That internet will result in 35 non-refundable obc that I'll probably play with. 

 

I can post tomorrow if it goes thru as expected 

 

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by Ombud

[muffin]

1 hour ago, Astro Flyer said:

Based on their FAQs excursion payments are not allowed:

 

“The Princess Cruises Gift Card can be used for most Princess products and services, with the exception of payment towards Land Excursions and eZAir”.

 

Astro Flyer, I believe a LAND excursion is one usually found in Alaska or South America often involving an overnight stay or perhaps a flight. I know you can use gift cards placed on your folio for SHORE excursions to whale watch  or  dolphin swim etc etc.  May be worth a phone call by  the writer.

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

Based on their FAQs excursion payments are not allowed:

 

“The Princess Cruises Gift Card can be used for most Princess products and services, with the exception of payment towards Land Excursions and eZAir”.

 

 

3 minutes ago, muffin said:

Astro Flyer, I believe a LAND excursion is one usually found in Alaska or South America often involving an overnight stay or perhaps a flight. I know you can use gift cards placed on your folio for SHORE excursions to whale watch  or  dolphin swim etc etc.  May be worth a phone call by  the writer.

 

Yes, a LAND excursion is an add-on to the cruise voyage and Alaska is perfect example.  SHORE excursions while cruising are a different thing and not excluded.  Besides, you can buy OBC with Gift Cards and use the OBC for anything to settle account.

 

[Bgwest]

1 hour ago, MarinerBoy said:

 

Absolutely, I been telling people its a huge mistake to pay for a gift card as they cant be used for Casino cash, so its not like cash its just a gift card.

 

To commit to such a huge value as $500 in cruise spending is nonsense how many people actually spend $500 during their cruise? How bad are people with money managment to allow them selves to not only spend that much but actually buy gift cards.. my God horrific.

That's     Really     Outlandish and     Laughable     Language     you've chosen to use.

 

 

[suzyed]

2 hours ago, MarinerBoy said:

 

Absolutely, I been telling people its a huge mistake to pay for a gift card as they cant be used for Casino cash, so its not like cash its just a gift card.

 

To commit to such a huge value as $500 in cruise spending is nonsense how many people actually spend $500 during their cruise? How bad are people with money managment to allow them selves to not only spend that much but actually buy gift cards.. my God horrific.

You can also make payments to your cruise fare.

[Jadn13]

9 hours ago, suzyed said:

Wondering the same.  I will know once my transaction goes from pending to posted.

You get double in points. 

[Jadn13]

8 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

Based on their FAQs excursion payments are not allowed:

 

“The Princess Cruises Gift Card can be used for most Princess products and services, with the exception of payment towards Land Excursions and eZAir”.

 

Already paid for Shore Excursions with gift cards which aren’t the same as Land excursions. Those would be pre or post cruise as in Alaska tours following a cruise.

[rodndonna]

10 hours ago, suzyed said:

I have no doubt that you didn't have a problem doing so but are they going to tell you in December that those points are expired???  
That was my concern.

 

 

I think the chance of that is extremely low as I truly believe the intent as other have stated of the 'expiry' is "we want that bonus cash back before the expiry date" which seems logical.

 

If somehow they decide to redefine or clarify expiry to be 'must be used for a cruise departing before date X' I can't imagine they will invalidate those payments that they had accepted. Legally since they were accepted as payment, if they decide in Dec 2022 they weren't valid, it is their error to have accepted them and be obliged to re-issue new cards.

 

[Jadn13]

****Just a note- You need to keep your Gift Cards even after they are applied in case you cancel or change plans those funds will be re applied to the original gift cards.

 

Label them and put them with your other cruise docs 🙂

 

 

 

[rodndonna]

13 hours ago, MarinerBoy said:

 

Absolutely, I been telling people its a huge mistake to pay for a gift card as they cant be used for Casino cash, so its not like cash its just a gift card.

 

To commit to such a huge value as $500 in cruise spending is nonsense how many people actually spend $500 during their cruise? How bad are people with money managment to allow them selves to not only spend that much but actually buy gift cards.. my God horrific.

 

You do realize the gift cards can be used for cruise deposits and payments - not just OBC and why most folks are buying them?  We bought 3 totalling $1500 (and $150 bonus) to cover our remaining cruise balance.