Sending yourself a "gift" of onboard credit

[2Oregonians]

I remember reading on here how some people gifted themselves OBC ahead of time so that most of their folio would be paid for before they even went on the cruise. I thought this was a great idea, so I went to the Princess website to try and do it, but all I saw as far as sending a cash gift was Casino credit. Did I just misunderstand when I thought I had read a thread about OBC? Am I nuts? (Entirely possible!) Help!

[Toto2Kansas]

Nope, your not nuts. LOL

Just call Princess, they take care of this over the phone, you can't do it online at the Princess website. ;)

[2Oregonians]

Nope, your not nuts. LOL

Just call Princess, they take care of this over the phone, you can't do it online at the Princess website. ;)

 

Whew, what a relief! lol ;) Thanks for the info! Is there a limit? Can I send $1,000? (We're doing several tours)

[donscomp]

What we did in Aug or Sept before our cruise in Oct. Was print out the celebrations form. Put on there that we wanted to put X amount onboard credit and here is the cc #. We wrote on there "as to be on credit for the balance after cruise" It was nice because we owed nothing at the end. We had it pretty much figured out to the dollar.

It worked then and we hope we can do it again for our next cruise.

 

Hope that helps.

 

To your reply. We put on 1200.00

[Toto2Kansas]

Whew, what a relief! lol ;) Thanks for the info! Is there a limit? Can I send $1,000? (We're doing several tours)

 

They will gladly accept any amount you would like to send yourself. :)

 

Our last cruise, I sent myself $2000 in casino credits (a little different than SBC), no problems whatsoever! I don't usually send shipboard credit to myself, I just pick it up at the casino (or sometimes I just pick it up and drop it right back off at the casino :()

[2Oregonians]

Ok, one final question. How far in advance is advised? We're 6 1/2 weeks out. I don't want to do it too early, but I also don't want to wait so long that the message doesn't get through to the ship. What do you think about 10 days to 2 weeks prior to sailing?

 

$2,000 for the casino? Really?

[2Oregonians]

I apparently sent that before you edited your post. I getcha now.

[Toto2Kansas]

Now's fine, it will give you a chance to pay it off on the credit card you charge it to before you leave. I sometimes send myself credit numerous times from several months prior to sailing, just so I can pay off the bill before we leave.

If it makes you a little nervous sending it this early, just give Princess a call right before you leave to double check on your credit, and then get a print out of your bill the first day onboard to show it has been applied.

[2Oregonians]

Now's fine, it will give you a chance to pay it off on the credit card you charge it to before you leave. I sometimes send myself credit numerous times from several months prior to sailing, just so I can pay off the bill before we leave.

If it makes you a little nervous sending it this early, just give Princess a call right before you leave to double check on your credit, and then get a print out of your bill the first day onboard to show it has been applied.

 

Excellent advice and solution, Toto. Thank you so much. Btw, it'll be on a debit card, as the money is in our savings, which is tied to our checking which uses a Visa debit.

[donscomp]

Just to add. The main reason we did it also is that we had the extra money. Well, the way I am. I'll spend it. LOL So we put it on the check debit, out it went to the on board. Now, it did NOT show up online as on board credit. But our TA called and said it was there per Princess.

[Nana G]

We credited $1000 to our last cruise about 5 weeks out. When we got to our room, we had 10 gift cards waiting for us in $100 denominations. It was great to have our excursions and tips covered from the start.

[Hazmat Guy]

I'm sorry, but as a first time cruiser, I don't get it. What is the difference between gifting yourself OBC using a credit card 2, 3 or 5 weeks before a cruise and using that credit card when you board the ship to charge everything to? If I understand this properly, i would still end up with a charge to my credit card, either right before I left on the cruise or right after I return-no difference in net effect. I DO understand that if I have some extra cash around, putting, say $1000 into my account would result in less charges to my credit card, but I could also prepay my credit card bill with the extra $1000, and I will still have the same net affect.

Also, TOTO what do you mean "casino credits"? how does that differ from regular credits? Is one cash and the other is a credit card charge? Or is the Casino credit some kind of carry over from Casino winings on an earlier trip?

Sorry to be so dense, but the whole SBC/OBC thing is still a little fuzzy for me- I do understand that using my account to charge credit at the casino will result in a 3% surcharge but can I use (any possible) casino winnings to create credit in my SBC?

Thanks,:confused:

Donn

[Toto2Kansas]

Donn-What I do is to send myself casino credits months before we sail. Yes, they are put on my credit card when I order them. But this way, I pay off the credit card long before we sail which leaves me coming home without a huge bill when I return.

Casino credits also are a good way to gauge yourself in the casino and for other things (read on). What they do is to deliver vouchers to your stateroom in the denomination that you choose. You can then take one or all to the casino cage and cash in for chips or cash or even coin if you would like.

 

If you charge casino play or get cash at the cage charged to your shipboard account, they charge an extra 3%, which adds up if you play quite a bit. Sending casino credits is billed like a purchase, not a cash advance, and they do not add the 3%. Also, since they give you cash if you want, you have cash for the ports without having to carry a lot onboard with you.

 

We have friends that love to pay towards their shipboard account before they sail. They begin about a year in advance and have a hefty sum already paid for once they board, and also do not return home to a huge bill.

Our friends do just as you suggested. When they win big in the casino (which they do quite often),if they have an outstanding balance on the ship, they just go to the purser's desk and apply their winnings to their account. Again, this is much nicer to do on longer sailings. Not something I would do for say a 7-10 day cruise.

 

We found this perfect for exotic cruises, especially longer ones, as you don't have to carry a lot of cash or even travelers checks and everything is waiting for us onboard.

[2Oregonians]

I'm sorry, but as a first time cruiser, I don't get it. What is the difference between gifting yourself OBC using a credit card 2, 3 or 5 weeks before a cruise and using that credit card when you board the ship to charge everything to? If I understand this properly, i would still end up with a charge to my credit card, either right before I left on the cruise or right after I return-no difference in net effect. I DO understand that if I have some extra cash around, putting, say $1000 into my account would result in less charges to my credit card, but I could also prepay my credit card bill with the extra $1000, and I will still have the same net affect.

Also, TOTO what do you mean "casino credits"? how does that differ from regular credits? Is one cash and the other is a credit card charge? Or is the Casino credit some kind of carry over from Casino winings on an earlier trip?

Sorry to be so dense, but the whole SBC/OBC thing is still a little fuzzy for me- I do understand that using my account to charge credit at the casino will result in a 3% surcharge but can I use (any possible) casino winnings to create credit in my SBC?

Thanks,:confused:

Donn

 

Donn, it's a fair question. I do it because I save up my spending money ahead of time, so it's in cash. I just feel better if it's paid up front so that I don't have it hanging over my head. It's just an anal thing, I guess you could say! You're right that there's no difference in the long run. It all comes out in the wash, as they say.

[star gazer]

 

Sending casino credits is billed like a purchase, not a cash advance, and they do not add the 3%. Also, since they give you cash if you want, you have cash for the ports without having to carry a lot onboard with you.

 

Toto,

Did Yogi Berra quote that to the AFLAC duck?

[jojamidwood]

I am following the thread here: re: advance payments with your card or casino credits early but I would like to know if you can pay the purser's office cash when you board that can be applied to your onboard account. I have a credit card but but my psychology is to squirrel away extra money in cash and then pay up front. I hate bills at the end of vacations. Thanks for the info

[Shelly97060]

Jojamidwood - yes you can go to the purser's desk and pay on your account anytime.

 

:)

[Hazmat Guy]

Hey all:

Great explanations- I think I finally understand your points. One more quick question on topic: We have booked and paid for the trip with a TA, how do I get Casino credits into my account? Directly thru Princess? How? Thru the TA? and do I specify I want Casino Credits versus Other types (OBC)? I guess I am also asking what is the difference between Casino credits and other OBC's? Based on comments above there is apparently a difference.

 

I can see why this would mean not having to carry a lot of extra cash with me (Other than my stack of 2 dollar bills for tipping-LOL);)

Thanks for the input,

Donn

[Toto2Kansas]

Donn, Here is the link to the gifts that can be pre-ordered on Princess, see the casino section for these credits that are available. Just do one of two things, print off the PDF order form and fax it to Princess with the amount of casino credits you would like to send to yourself, or if a fax is not available, you can call them directly.

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/services/gifts/index.jsp

[willysgrandma]

I am following the thread here: re: advance payments with your card or casino credits early but I would like to know if you can pay the purser's office cash when you board that can be applied to your onboard account. I have a credit card but but my psychology is to squirrel away extra money in cash and then pay up front. I hate bills at the end of vacations. Thanks for the info

 

Yes you can. We do this all the time and make payments several times during the cruise as well.

[2Oregonians]

I am following the thread here: re: advance payments with your card or casino credits early but I would like to know if you can pay the purser's office cash when you board that can be applied to your onboard account. I have a credit card but but my psychology is to squirrel away extra money in cash and then pay up front. I hate bills at the end of vacations. Thanks for the info

 

That sums me up exactly!

[GottoCruise]

For all those using either OBC or Casino Credit ahead of their cruise - If you charge to your Princess VISA you will get 2 points for each $ charged to Princess.......I was able to get $$ off (Cash Back on my credit card) Rewards with my Princess VISA card. ;)

[Stuartm]

I understand that if I purchase casino credits then I can cash them all in before the end of the cruise and take the unused portion home, but if I credit my onboard acct. with more money that I use do I get it back in cash, wait for a cheque, or my next cruise?!

[donscomp]

For all those using either OBC or Casino Credit ahead of their cruise - If you charge to your Princess VISA you will get 2 points for each $ charged to Princess.......I was able to get $$ off (Cash Back on my credit card) Rewards with my Princess VISA card. ;)

 

We tried to get two robes with our points. They wanted to know the date of our next cruise so as they could be delivered to the room. At that time we didnt have one planned. Canceled it. Dont cruise a whole lot and got better perks on another card that we could USE when wanting to redeem points and stuff.

 

But like I said before. It was great to check off the ship and nothing was owed by doing what the topic is about.

[mascara]

Somewhat off topic, but the suggestion to call and inquire about OBCs reminded me of something I learned.

 

I've never sent myself an OBC, but I have gifted my in-laws with all kinds of little gifts (they cruise WAYYYY too much ;)). One thing I've learned is that if you don't see what you want on the little gifty-sendy-list, just call and inquire. If it's on the ship they'll be happy to take your money to provide it to a guest!

 

This is true of not just Princess, but of just about any cruise line. Also, I've done gifts up to the day before sailing. For an OBC I wouldn't be surprised if you could send one to someone ON a ship (or a bottle of wine or anything that would already be on the ship).

 

Sorry for the somewhat hijack - just wanted to let people know of my experience with this.