Questions on OBC

[nho9504]

I am feeling embarrassing to ask these questions, being a Princess elite with 25 cruises I should know better how things work.  Alas, after having not cruised with Princess for a long time, I am no longer certain on how things work! 

 

So here are things I want to clarify.  My recollection is, if only ONE passenger responsible the whole group's shipboard accounts, all passengers balances whether they are charges or OBCs would be combined to calculate, at EACH nightly processing.  At the end of the cruise, it all nets to the responsible person's CC if there is a balance to pay.  Do I remember it correctly? 

 

Here are the background :

 

1) In our upcoming cruise, I use my account as the account responsible for both myself and DH shipboard charges. i.e. only linked one CC that is mine.

We also have a small amount of OBC, made up of CCL shareholder $250 and $30 each from our agent who gave $30 group discount to each passenger.  The CCL OBC is in my account so I have $280 total and DH has $30.

 

2) We only booked Princess Standard due to DH does not drink at all while I only drink very moderately.  Hence even the Plus does not make sense to us.  That also means we need to buy internet, in this case it is $120 on a 16 days cruise.

 

3) I want to prepay one person's crew appreciation of $256, and may also buy the $120 internet before sail because we need to put some spend on a certain CC by Feb in order to earn a bonus.  Right now we are short of $700 to meet the spend of $6000.  So I am looking for ways to fill the $700.

This brings confusion - WHICH passenger's crew appreciation should I prepay? 

If I prepay DH's, he would have $30 OBC left - would that combine with my account for the final settlement? 

If I pay my crew appreciation, my full $280 OBC would go to offset DH's remaining balance of crew appreciation of $226 after the $30 OBC, Is this correct? 

 

4) Some of you may say, book some excursions.  Well, we have done more than a doz Transatlantic cruises, all the ports except Casablanca we have been many times.  We really are using the cruise as a comfortable and cheap way to cross the pond leisurely.  The post cruise land trip is where our focus is.  (Or pre-cruise, if doing the opposite direction).  I did look at the excursion offers.  Those on Morocco look interesting but upon doing some research, the reviews are not good.  A good number of people said it did not worth the price tags.  I also am not sure how booking Excursions before sailing work - Can you use OBC to book, i.e. without charging to a CC for payment?  Someone said you get 10% rebate on the OBC after the excursion is completed.  Anyone has experiences can chime in?  If using a CC for payment then if you cancel the excursion bookings before deadline, do you get the refund back to the original form of payment?  Or it becomes a refundable OBC ? (Very annoying and is another way the cruiseline companies want you to still eventually spend that $)

 

Sorry for the seemingly very basic questions for the Princess board.  I do appreciate comments and suggestions. 

 

 

 

 

[JF - retired RRT]

IIRC...each person's account is kept separate until the end of the cruise. Then, person 1 and person 2 are added together to determine money owed or refund due (for refundable OBC).

[Thrak]

On 1/15/2024 at 11:12 AM, JF - retired RRT said:

IIRC...each person's account is kept separate until the end of the cruise. Then, person 1 and person 2 are added together to determine money owed or refund due (for refundable OBC).

 

That's how it worked for us on our recent cruises. Separate until the end and then we received a joint refund.

 

As for Morocco: Bleh. Don't take an excursion all the way to Marrakesh as you will spend almost the entire time in transit one way or the other and what you will find when you get there is not even vaguely worth the trip. We didn't take that excursion but spoke with many who did and they were not happy. We found that one time in Casablanca was way more than enough for us and have no desire to return. We were "blocked" from visiting one site that is supposed to be open to all because some folks in a big limo showed up and had escorts with guns who stationed themselves outside the entrance and didn't let anybody inside. Our guide was not at all pleased because, as I said, it was supposed to be open to anybody. Eventually we were allowed inside but it was a quite a while later before the "important people" left. We did see one amazing church where the walls were mostly huge stained glass panels. The guide explained that it's existence showed how amazingly tolerant the people were because it hadn't been destroyed like the rest of the Christian churches. I won't go into everything in regard to our time ashore but, all in all, we didn't enjoy our time in Casablanca and would skip it if we ever visit the port again.

[nho9504]

@Thrak Thanks a lot for your candid reply.  I too, have read about people's disappointment of the Casablanca / Marrakesh.

[Steelers36]

On 1/15/2024 at 1:43 PM, nho9504 said:

I am feeling embarrassing to ask these questions, being a Princess elite with 25 cruises I should know better how things work.  Alas, after having not cruised with Princess for a long time, I am no longer certain on how things work! 

 

So here are things I want to clarify.  My recollection is, if only ONE passenger responsible the whole group's shipboard accounts, all passengers balances whether they are charges or OBCs would be combined to calculate, at EACH nightly processing.  At the end of the cruise, it all nets to the responsible person's CC if there is a balance to pay.  Do I remember it correctly? 

Charges and OBC all net at end of voyage.

 

 

Here are the background :

 

1) In our upcoming cruise, I use my account as the account responsible for both myself and DH shipboard charges. i.e. only linked one CC that is mine.

We also have a small amount of OBC, made up of CCL shareholder $250 and $30 each from our agent who gave $30 group discount to each passenger.  The CCL OBC is in my account so I have $280 total and DH has $30.

Consider it shared OBC with a joint account (1 CC).

 

2) We only booked Princess Standard due to DH does not drink at all while I only drink very moderately.  Hence even the Plus does not make sense to us.  That also means we need to buy internet, in this case it is $120 on a 16 days cruise.

Fine.

 

3) I want to prepay one person's crew appreciation of $256, and may also buy the $120 internet before sail because we need to put some spend on a certain CC by Feb in order to earn a bonus.  Right now we are short of $700 to meet the spend of $6000. 

 

So I am looking for ways to fill the $700.

Purchase some more OBC using Cruise Personalizer.  It is clear you need more cash to cover your expenses (Medallion Net + Crew Appreciation minimum).

 

This brings confusion - WHICH passenger's crew appreciation should I prepay? 

It doesn't matter.

 

If I prepay DH's, he would have $30 OBC left - would that combine with my account for the final settlement? 

If I pay my crew appreciation, my full $280 OBC would go to offset DH's remaining balance of crew appreciation of $226 after the $30 OBC, Is this correct? 

 

4) Some of you may say, book some excursions.  Well, we have done more than a doz Transatlantic cruises, all the ports except Casablanca we have been many times.  We really are using the cruise as a comfortable and cheap way to cross the pond leisurely.  The post cruise land trip is where our focus is.  (Or pre-cruise, if doing the opposite direction).  I did look at the excursion offers.  Those on Morocco look interesting but upon doing some research, the reviews are not good.  A good number of people said it did not worth the price tags.  I also am not sure how booking Excursions before sailing work - Can you use OBC to book, i.e. without charging to a CC for payment?  Someone said you get 10% rebate on the OBC after the excursion is completed.  Anyone has experiences can chime in?  If using a CC for payment then if you cancel the excursion bookings before deadline, do you get the refund back to the original form of payment?  Or it becomes a refundable OBC ? (Very annoying and is another way the cruiseline companies want you to still eventually spend that $)

 

Sorry for the seemingly very basic questions for the Princess board.  I do appreciate comments and suggestions. 

 

 

 

 

SEE ABOVE UNDER EACH ITEM.

 

[nini]

@nho9504 Does DH not enjoy great coffee drinks, specialty teas, virgin beverages, bottled water to take ashore? If so, then pencil out the Plus Plan.

We don't really "drink" much but with the bare minimum of great coffee and bottled water, gratuities, and WiFi: it is worth it.

[nho9504]

1 hour ago, nini said:

@nho9504 Does DH not enjoy great coffee drinks, specialty teas, virgin beverages, bottled water to take ashore? If so, then pencil out the Plus Plan.

We don't really "drink" much but with the bare minimum of great coffee and bottled water, gratuities, and WiFi: it is worth it.

 

No.  We are elites. Several years ago we exchanged the minibar for 2 coffee cards. We could not even use up 1 card.  Both of us only drink black coffee, so none of the specialty coffee would interest us.  Specialty teas are not our tea.  Pun not intended.  His primary beverage needs is really plain water, not even bottled water.  I occasionally drink a bit of wine, and beers.  I would exchange all soda cans to Perrier, and all alcohols to beer.  Still, fairly often at the end of a Transatlantic, there often still a bottle or 2 beer left. 

 

When you subtracts the internet and the gratuities, the remaining balance is still WAY TOO HIGH to pay for most things we do not use.  That is how I do my math - because internet is $7.50 a day, gratuity is $16 a day.  So less than $25 a day are items we do need to pay.  What is the cost for a Plus package?  $60.  That means $35 pays for things we do not use.  My math does not give a conclusion that paying $35 extra a day per person for items we do not use is worth it.  Your math of course is different.

[SKCruiser007]

Is your cruise on Sky Princess or a Royal Class ship with the Enclave? If yes, there would be no question for me where to spend a few extra hundred dollars.

Edited January 17 by SKCruiser007
Hit save button too soon.

[nini]

8 hours ago, nho9504 said:

 

No.  We are elites. Several years ago we exchanged the minibar for 2 coffee cards. We could not even use up 1 card.  Both of us only drink black coffee, so none of the specialty coffee would interest us.  Specialty teas are not our tea.  Pun not intended.  His primary beverage needs is really plain water, not even bottled water.  I occasionally drink a bit of wine, and beers.  I would exchange all soda cans to Perrier, and all alcohols to beer.  Still, fairly often at the end of a Transatlantic, there often still a bottle or 2 beer left. 

 

When you subtracts the internet and the gratuities, the remaining balance is still WAY TOO HIGH to pay for most things we do not use.  That is how I do my math - because internet is $7.50 a day, gratuity is $16 a day.  So less than $25 a day are items we do need to pay.  What is the cost for a Plus package?  $60.  That means $35 pays for things we do not use.  My math does not give a conclusion that paying $35 extra a day per person for items we do not use is worth it.  Your math of course is different.

 

I appreciate that you have thought this through and know "how" you cruise. You are obviously not a newbie, being Elite. So many newbie types (especially to Princess) are unaware how to break it down, but you obviously know the drill.

This is why I often offer the thought problem to assist. Your explanation also is a good teaching tool, but Elites are much more experienced in this.

Enjoy being Elite!

[Thrak]

12 hours ago, nini said:

@nho9504 Does DH not enjoy great coffee drinks, specialty teas, virgin beverages, bottled water to take ashore? If so, then pencil out the Plus Plan.

We don't really "drink" much but with the bare minimum of great coffee and bottled water, gratuities, and WiFi: it is worth it.

 

I often like to start the day with a Vanilla Latte with 3 shots of espresso. They are, of course, fully covered by the Plus package. Recently I also started some mornings with 2 kinds of fresh squeezed juice (aft bar on Grand Princess) along with "vitamin B" - a shot of Bulleit Bourbon. Also fully covered by the Plus package. (Loved 2 kinds of the juice. Almost makes me wish I had a juicer but I know I'd be too lazy to make the concoctions myself.)

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

Almost makes me wish I had a juicer but I know I'd be too lazy to make the concoctions myself.)

Making them isn't a lot of work...cleaning the juicer is a PITA. Been there, done that, gave it to GoodWill.

[Thrak]

Just now, JF - retired RRT said:

Making them isn't a lot of work...cleaning the juicer is a PITA. Been there, done that, gave it to GoodWill.

 

Hmmm... I had that thought as well.

[nho9504]

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

 

I often like to start the day with a Vanilla Latte with 3 shots of espresso. They are, of course, fully covered by the Plus package. Recently I also started some mornings with 2 kinds of fresh squeezed juice (aft bar on Grand Princess) along with "vitamin B" - a shot of Bulleit Bourbon. Also fully covered by the Plus package. (Loved 2 kinds of the juice. Almost makes me wish I had a juicer but I know I'd be too lazy to make the concoctions myself.)

 

Just a friendly reminder -

A friend who is a Diabetic Specialist Doc.  She said "Fruits are Candies growing on the trees.  Fruit juice is much worse than eating a whole fruit, which some of them are really in very high sugar contents, such as the popular oranges."

 

Besides we do not like to add any extract into our black coffee.  I personally dont like Vanilla at all.  The best coffee from Italy is not offered on Princess, period. 

The only flavored coffee drink I sometimes would take is a White Russian or just have some Irish Cream liqueur added to very dark coffee that I occasionally take after dinner on a long haul business class flight cross the oceans.

 

Now, when you add this and that, you might as well go a step or 2 higher to cruise on Seaborne. 

 

We originally had a Seaborne from Doha to Europe crossing the Suez Canal... In light of the middle east conflicts we cancel it.  Though surprisingly to see the ship is still going, at least for now.  Sailing date pushed out a little bit.

 

Again, YMMV. 

Edited January 17 by nho9504

[nho9504]

18 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Making them isn't a lot of work...cleaning the juicer is a PITA. Been there, done that, gave it to GoodWill.

 

It depends on the equipment.  Some are not bad.  The expensive one that can beat stuff skin et al into puree, could make truly nutritional drinks that are easy to absorb by human body, especially by patients who have special needs.

[nho9504]

3 hours ago, nini said:

 

I appreciate that you have thought this through and know "how" you cruise. You are obviously not a newbie, being Elite. So many newbie types (especially to Princess) are unaware how to break it down, but you obviously know the drill.

This is why I often offer the thought problem to assist. Your explanation also is a good teaching tool, but Elites are much more experienced in this.

Enjoy being Elite!

 

Thank you.

 

A few years ago, pre Pandemic time,  Celebrity briefly tried to sell their cruises ONLY with packages.  The experiment did not go well.  At the end it quietly changed back to also offer the "standard" fares.  They were pioneer in generating revenues.  Princess is just a copycat, as it always does. 

 

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean the parent company, also pioneered the nonrefundable deposit years ago.  Not sure if Princess has this or not because we usually booked only 2 to 3 months before sailing. 

 

It is quite unusual that we booked the current Mar sailing in Dec, but because obstructed deluxe balcony cabins are tricky to book - good locations go fast.  Hence when we saw a sudden flash sale, we decided to book it (payment in full was due within 24 hours after booking), while cancel our Seaborne Middle East to Europe via Suez Canal booking. 

 

Our goal is to go to Europe by a Transatlantic cruise, whatever ports do not matter as we have been at those ports many times.  We often do not even get off the ship.  Sky while sails earlier than we prefer, it goes to Southampton, better than other ships (only the relatively new ships among all lines) we look at.  It is much easier to fly to other parts of Europe from LHR, than say, from FCO or BCN.  Flying British Airways business class to Europe is relatively cheap while gives us lounge access, so we can book a late afternoon flight, not to worry about too much on the disembarkation time at Southampton.

[Thrak]

2 hours ago, nho9504 said:

Just a friendly reminder -

A friend who is a Diabetic Specialist Doc.  She said "Fruits are Candies growing on the trees.  Fruit juice is much worse than eating a whole fruit, which some of them are really in very high sugar contents, such as the popular oranges."

 

While one of the juices I loved was Grapefruit, Orange, and Lemon,  the other one consisted of Green Apple, Pineapple, Celery, and Cucumber. It was really good.

 

The Juice Bar Menu is below. I didn't try the last two which are actually made in a blender but did try the others. While I did like The Immune Booster My wife and I agreed that one simply called The Booster was horrid. I think it was probably the ground Turmeric they used. (Note that they misspelled Turmeric. 🙄) Leave it to Princess to name two completely different concoctions with similar names.

 

Edited January 17 by Thrak

[JF - retired RRT]

15 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

While one of the juices I loved was Grapefruit, Orange, and Lemon,  the other one consisted of Green Apple, Pineapple, Celery, and Cucumber. It was really good.

 

The Juice Bar Menu is below. I didn't try the last two which are actually made in a blender but did try the others. While I did like The Immune Booster My wife and I agreed that one simply called The Booster was horrid. I think it was probably the ground Turmeric they used. (Note that they misspelled Turmeric. 🙄) Leave it to Princess to name two completely different concoctions with similar names.

 

Hmmmm...interesting that a "health booster" has grapefruit juice in it. Not a good thing for those who are taking statins (80-90% of passengers?).

[Thrak]

On 1/18/2024 at 6:36 AM, JF - retired RRT said:

Hmmmm...interesting that a "health booster" has grapefruit juice in it. Not a good thing for those who are taking statins (80-90% of passengers?).

 

I just googled this and, unless one drinks something like a liter of grapefruit juice a day, it's not a big deal. There is not really all that much grapefruit juice in the small juice portions they serve - especially as it's only one component of that small amount of juice.

[JF - retired RRT]

20 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

I just googled this and, unless one drinks something like a liter of grapefruit juice a day, it's not a big deal. There is not really all that much grapefruit juice in the small juice portions they serve - especially as it's only one component of that small amount of juice.

That's good. However, many are not aware of the problem.

[jean-lynd]

Just an FYI - Internet is going up to $25/day on Monday - so - $12.50 for you. In case you want to buy it now. I hope this helps!

[nho9504]

On 1/18/2024 at 9:36 AM, JF - retired RRT said:

Hmmmm...interesting that a "health booster" has grapefruit juice in it. Not a good thing for those who are taking statins (80-90% of passengers?).

 

Grapefruit has reaction to many prescriptions.  In particular, those who take Warfarin as a "blood thinner" to reduce stroke risk, grapefruit is an absolute NO NO.  Though I suppose many patients would know about this.  Given Princess passengers profiles, a very high % of the passengers would be AF patients.  If they take Eliquis, a different type of "blood thinner" drug with a complete different mechanism, grapefruit is not that harmful. 

 

[nho9504]

1 hour ago, jean-lynd said:

Just an FYI - Internet is going up to $25/day on Monday - so - $12.50 for you. In case you want to buy it now. I hope this helps!

 

I did not know that but was just trying to buy it today.  But I CANNOT find the area to buy.

 

I definitely saw it a few days ago, both on the web and in the App.  On the app you add all info from name to credit card anew.  In the App you either use the existing card or can add a new card.

 

THIS FUNCTION DISAPPEARS from both Web and App!

 

Can somebody tell me WHERE on the Web version of the Medallion or in the new Princess App the purchase internet package is found?

 

Because I cannot find the function, I came over here to find answer.  It is not even in the new Princess App.

 

I guess they deliberately took it out so we cannot buy it at last minute..

 

The only option might be to buy it over the phone?

Edited January 20 by nho9504

[nho9504]

The internet package WAS available under Package in the new App, also in the web version of the Medellion App, just a few days ago.  Now disappears from both places!  Terrible!

[nho9504]

35 minutes ago, nho9504 said:

 

I did not know that but was just trying to buy it today.  But I CANNOT find the area to buy.

 

I definitely saw it a few days ago, both on the web and in the App.  On the app you add all info from name to credit card anew.  In the App you either use the existing card or can add a new card.

 

THIS FUNCTION DISAPPEARS from both Web and App!

 

Can somebody tell me WHERE on the Web version of the Medallion or in the new Princess App the purchase internet package is found?

 

Because I cannot find the function, I came over here to find answer.  It is not even in the new Princess App.

 

I guess they deliberately took it out so we cannot buy it at last minute..

 

The only option might be to buy it over the phone?

 

29 minutes ago, nho9504 said:

The internet package WAS available under Package in the new App, also in the web version of the Medellion App, just a few days ago.  Now disappears from both places!  Terrible!

 

@jean-lynd  Thanks you so much for the heads up.  Also thank my luck that I decided to take care of this item from the To Do list this week end, as DH's remaining balance to spend to earn the sign up bonus is down to just over $400.  So I figure I would take care of this before the next statement date.

 

I am glad I still have the Old Medallion App on the phone.  The internet package purchase is still on the Old Medallion App as Medallion Net package.  This option is removed from both the website version of the app and the new Princess App - to prevent people buy the package BEFORE THEY RAISE THE PRICE... What a low class act!

[Rick&Jeannie]

22 minutes ago, nho9504 said:

  This option is removed from both the website version of the app and the new Princess App - to prevent people buy the package BEFORE THEY RAISE THE PRICE...

Personally,  I doubt that this is the reason. It's probably just more of the extremely poor system programming that we have seen over the past couple of years. They make changes "over here" that breaks things "over there"...

Edited January 20 by Rick&Jeannie