OBC in the casino

[Froufie]

I am thinking of upgrading to the plus package - already purchased bottled water/wifi - so assume I would have to call and cancel those if I decide to get the package as these would be included (along with gratuities etc).

 

I do have $200 in OBC already so assume I can use for any dining/excursions/purchases but can this also be used in the casino?  Any rules/limitations?

 

Have not bee on Princess in almost 19 years so would love some help from experienced Princess cruisers!  Thanks! 🙂

[So_Tweetie]

Yes, you may charge to your cabin in the casino which will eat up any OBC. I would recommend using the cruise planner on the website to cancel water/wifi orders as it will be much faster than calling in. Happy cruising! 

[kemarie13]

I'm similar to you that I have $200 in obc. I'm planning on upgrading to princess plus on board and using my obc towards that. Just another option for you. 

 

[wallyj]

4 hours ago, So_Tweetie said:

Yes, you may charge to your cabin in the casino which will eat up any OBC. I would recommend using the cruise planner on the website to cancel water/wifi orders as it will be much faster than calling in. Happy cruising! 

A passenger on an earlier Princess cruise this year mention a conversation he had with the Hotel General Manager who relayed the Casino will be migrating to another ‘system’ and shipboard OBC will ‘not’ be able to be used in the Casino. This has been the official policy, but Princess has not closed this loophole ‘yet’!

 

So, it is coming, we just do not know when.

[caribill]

8 minutes ago, wallyj said:

A passenger on an earlier Princess cruise this year mention a conversation he had with the Hotel General Manager who relayed the Casino will be migrating to another ‘system’ and shipboard OBC will ‘not’ be able to be used in the Casino. This has been the official policy, but Princess has not closed this loophole ‘yet’!

 

So, it is coming, we just do not know when.

 

The way it has been working is that if you add money to the casino account from your shipboard account, the shipboard account system is what will first apply any charges (which the casino $$$) would be to non-refundable OBC if any exists and then to refundable OBC.

 

So it seems to me the changes would need to be made to the software that processes the main on board accounts, not to software associated with a casino system.

[negn]

Just of Enchanted.   OBC was on my account.   I did charge casino play  to my room and it was subtracted from the OBC.  

[TexasBrit]

2 hours ago, negn said:

Just of Enchanted.   OBC was on my account.   I did charge casino play  to my room and it was subtracted from the OBC.  

I was told that not all types of OBC can be used for casino play. Specifically excluded was the shareholder OBC and maybe the military OBC.

Any further input would be appreciated.

[Froufie]

51 minutes ago, TexasBrit said:

I was told that not all types of OBC can be used for casino play. Specifically excluded was the shareholder OBC and maybe the military OBC.

Any further input would be appreciated.

Also interested as part of my OBC is shareholder OBC? (the other just came with the booking!)

 

[Froufie]

14 hours ago, So_Tweetie said:

Yes, you may charge to your cabin in the casino which will eat up any OBC. I would recommend using the cruise planner on the website to cancel water/wifi orders as it will be much faster than calling in. Happy cruising! 

Will see if I can figure out how to do this online - can I safely assume the charges would go back to original form of payment e.g. credit card?

 

[wallyj]

10 hours ago, caribill said:

 

The way it has been working is that if you add money to the casino account from your shipboard account, the shipboard account system is what will first apply any charges (which the casino $$$) would be to non-refundable OBC if any exists and then to refundable OBC.

 

So it seems to me the changes would need to be made to the software that processes the main on board accounts, not to software associated with a casino system.

I do not have the specifics of what ‘system’ is planned on being updated, I am just relaying info that was posted by a previous passenger who says Princess has plans to close the loophole of using shipboard OBC(refundable and non refundable) in the Casino.
 

So yes, currently when you charge in the Casino, it deducts OBC ,if any,  from your shipboard account. 
 

Princess has been known to implement changes slowly and suddenly, like eliminating the coffee card/package of 15 specialty coffees. 
 

 

[So_Tweetie]

1 hour ago, Froufie said:

Will see if I can figure out how to do this online - can I safely assume the charges would go back to original form of payment e.g. credit card?

 

If you go into the cruise personalizer and look at Orders, it should have a list of things you've pre-purchased with the option to cancel on the right. The charges will go back to your original payment method. Hope this helps! 

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, wallyj said:

I do not have the specifics of what ‘system’ is planned on being updated, I am just relaying info that was posted by a previous passenger who says Princess has plans to close the loophole of using shipboard OBC(refundable and non refundable) in the Casino.
 

So yes, currently when you charge in the Casino, it deducts OBC ,if any,  from your shipboard account. 
 

Princess has been known to implement changes slowly and suddenly, like eliminating the coffee card/package of 15 specialty coffees. 
 

 

When they finally change their program I suppose we'll be using our credit for the Specialty DR.

Defiantly not for excursions of drinks. 

[caribill]

2 hours ago, TexasBrit said:

I was told that not all types of OBC can be used for casino play. Specifically excluded was the shareholder OBC and maybe the military OBC.

Any further input would be appreciated.

 

That is what the Princess web site has said for many years.

 

But the way Princess onboard computer systems have worked for many years is not to differentiate the source of a charge when OBC is applied to pay for a charge.

[Jadn13]

Shareholder OBC has been able to be used for Casino and crew Appreciation even though the website stipulates otherwise. I’m sure this loophole will be closed eventually, so enjoy it while you can. 

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, Jadn13 said:

Shareholder OBC has been able to be used for Casino and crew Appreciation even though the website stipulates otherwise. I’m sure this loophole will be closed eventually, so enjoy it while you can. 

as will 'Excursion Credit'?

[MissP22]

18 minutes ago, Jadn13 said:

Shareholder OBC has been able to be used for Casino and crew Appreciation even though the website stipulates otherwise. I’m sure this loophole will be closed eventually, so enjoy it while you can. 

That's right, I forgot about that!!  And since I would be buying the plus package in the future, it'll eat up some of that OBC quickly. 

[caribill]

37 minutes ago, voljeep said:

as will 'Excursion Credit'?

 

No, as that was not a loophole.

 

It was OBC to use anyway you want, but under the guise of a sales promotion that said shore excursions to entice people to book a cruise.

[Froufie]

13 hours ago, kemarie13 said:

I'm similar to you that I have $200 in obc. I'm planning on upgrading to princess plus on board and using my obc towards that. Just another option for you. 

 

Wow - had no idea I could do that - sounds like a great plan!!!  Will definitely check that out! thanks!

 

Update - so was able to cancel my water/wifi that was prepurchased via the website.

 

can you/someone please confirm that I have to call to get the OBC applied to the plus upgrade?  I tried to purchase/upgrade on the website but don't see an option to use up OBC?  So can't do that on my own?

 

I am also reading that I can purchase the upgrade on the 1st day onboard - in which case I assume I could apply the $200 OBC - but can I do that beforehand - by calling?  or ?  Otherwise I guess I can wait til onboard  if that is the only way to apply the OBC?

 

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by Froufie

[voljeep]

1 hour ago, caribill said:

 

No, as that was not a loophole.

 

It was OBC to use anyway you want, but under the guise of a sales promotion that said shore excursions to entice people to book a cruise.

until it's not ... use it on Princess excursions, as stated, or lose it. 🤑 Now I'm gonna go all IT know-it-all and state how easy it is to program that credit to only offset excursions, nothing else.  Simple, huh?  Multiple posters here on CC could write that code in minutes, I'm sure when Princess decides to enforce it.

 

Princess needs more 'gift shop sales'? voila - OBC for shipboard shops ...😉

[caribill]

1 hour ago, Froufie said:

Wow - had no idea I could do that - sounds like a great plan!!!  Will definitely check that out! thanks!

 

Update - so was able to cancel my water/wifi that was prepurchased via the website.

 

can you/someone please confirm that I have to call to get the OBC applied to the plus upgrade?  I tried to purchase/upgrade on the website but don't see an option to use up OBC?  So can't do that on my own?

 

I am also reading that I can purchase the upgrade on the 1st day onboard - in which case I assume I could apply the $200 OBC - but can I do that beforehand - by calling?  or ?  Otherwise I guess I can wait til onboard  if that is the only way to apply the OBC?

 

 

 

Pre-cruise you cannot use OBC for anything other than to pay for shore excursions.

[that]

2 hours ago, Froufie said:

Wow - had no idea I could do that - sounds like a great plan!!!  Will definitely check that out! thanks!

 

Update - so was able to cancel my water/wifi that was prepurchased via the website.

 

can you/someone please confirm that I have to call to get the OBC applied to the plus upgrade?  I tried to purchase/upgrade on the website but don't see an option to use up OBC?  So can't do that on my own?

 

I am also reading that I can purchase the upgrade on the 1st day onboard - in which case I assume I could apply the $200 OBC - but can I do that beforehand - by calling?  or ?  Otherwise I guess I can wait til onboard  if that is the only way to apply the OBC?

 

 

You can not call before.