Pre-purchasing Onboard Credits - Princess

How do you find out what exchange rate they are using if you pre-purchase onboard credits?

I know it charges me in Australian Dollars in lots of $110. But it doesn't tell me how many US$ this gets me once onboard.

I've booked a ship shore excursion & not sure if I should pre-pay before we leave or use purchased onboard credits.

What ship are you cruising on? When?

On Sapphire Princess this January

AU $110 will give you US $100, which is a fantastic exchange rate. It you have any doubts phone Princess. Do it immediately as I heard a rumour that they set the exchange rates at the beginning of each year. I phoned them a couple of months ago, "bought" my OBC at that rate, but don't actually have to pay for it until final payment date in January. Win-win! :D

On the Emerald next year $125Aus for $100US. It's been that for months. I'd buy before it changes.

I just pre purchased US $1000 OBC today for an upcoming Pacific Princess cruise and Princess only charged me $1100. Amazing rate. Same as I got last February 2015 when I went to Sth America.

I just pre purchased US $1000 OBC today for an upcoming Pacific Princess cruise and Princess only charged me $1100. Amazing rate. Same as I got last February 2015 when I went to Sth America.

Did you book your cruise a long time ago? I think the exchange rate they give depends on the exchange rate they were using when you made your booking?

It was 90c two months ago. Best tip is to take it as casino credit,.you withdraw it on board as cash,

I only booked and paid in full for the Sydney Hong Kong sector on the PP on Sunday, via an online agent, which is leaving on the 12th Feb. Was a great last minute rate. Then I rang Princess Monday arvo, they had already received payment and bought the Obc US dollars at that fab rate.

Did you book your cruise a long time ago? I think the exchange rate they give depends on the exchange rate they were using when you made your booking?

Totally agree. Then you have the US cash to spend at your leisure in the casino, but keep the rest of the cash and bring it home for your next trip. Needless to say I always purchase more than I would ever spend in the casino and have the cash money purchased at a great rate.

B][/b]

It was 90c two months ago. Best tip is to take it as casino credit,.you withdraw it on board as cash,

Totally agree. Then you have the US cash to spend at your leisure in the casino, but keep the rest of the cash and bring it home for your next trip. Needless to say I always purchase more than I would ever spend in the casino and have the cash money purchased at a great rate.

 

B][/b]

Hi jinja, and anyone else that can help, I am totally confused with purchasing OBC, the US$ rate and casino credits. Can you please inform me a little here.

1. On two upcoming cruises with Princess, (both round trips from Australian ports, same ship 1 from west coast, 1 from east) my personalizer shows two totally different offers. The lesser amounts are for a 4 day cruise and the greater amounts for a 10 day. Given that both these cruises will have Stateroom Accounts in $AU can you explain why the offers are not in amounts like 25, 50 and 100 and why are they different for the two cruises?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ryr1vlxqj21zxx/Screenshot%202016-01-11%2011.26.14.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1j7egod51elkfq/Screenshot%202016-01-11%2011.26.58.png?dl=0

2. How do you use casino credits to your advantage. I'm thinking that you pre purchase OBC then use your ship card to load up casino credits perhaps at a slot machine then cash in unused credits at the casino cashier? If that is the case, surely the cashier will pay out in $AU?

Hope you can understand my questions...cheers

Hi jinja, and anyone else that can help, I am totally confused with purchasing OBC, the US$ rate and casino credits. Can you please inform me a little here.

 

1. On two upcoming cruises with Princess, (both round trips from Australian ports, same ship 1 from west coast, 1 from east) my personalizer shows two totally different offers. The lesser amounts are for a 4 day cruise and the greater amounts for a 10 day. Given that both these cruises will have Stateroom Accounts in $AU can you explain why the offers are not in amounts like 25, 50 and 100 and why are they different for the two cruises?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ryr1vlxqj21zxx/Screenshot%202016-01-11%2011.26.14.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1j7egod51elkfq/Screenshot%202016-01-11%2011.26.58.png?dl=0

 

 

2. How do you use casino credits to your advantage. I'm thinking that you pre purchase OBC then use your ship card to load up casino credits perhaps at a slot machine then cash in unused credits at the casino cashier? If that is the case, surely the cashier will pay out in $AU?

 

Hope you can understand my questions...cheers

You mentioned that your on-board account will be in AUD. Therefore the ship is operating in AUD. Any comments about US$ are irrelevant to your cruises.

Hi Bofman, long winded explanation, hope it helps. :)

I am cruising in March (us dollars) and November (aussie dollars) and get the same obc screen shots as yours, via the Personalizer. Simple answer is their system just does not recognise some of the cruises are departing from Australian waters and should be just displayed as Aussie dollars. Confusing to new travellers. So it is displaying what it would cost to convert from aussie to US obc now and later in the year when the rate has gone up.

Looking at the difference in the 2 rates It absolutely means Princess are going to give us less US money now for our dollars. Just surprised they havent done it sooner.

As Aussietraveller said, you wont have to worry about the falling aussie dollar though as all your obc credit, if you pay any in, will be in aussie dollars.

I always phone Princess and tell them how much obc credit I want to pay in and know exactly what it costs, only if I am going to be charged in US$. If you are worried what you are actually going to get, just speak to them direct and they will be happy to assist, explain.

In regards to paying money into the casino obc, more helpful to some, including me, for cruises that are charged in US dollars. When I get onboard, I cash the obc casino cards it in at the Casino and receive cash US dollars. Some notes I might gamble with and some I would definately keep as cash to spend ashore, where many countries take US, extra tip money, take cash home for another cruise etc. As the rate I got for my Feb cruise was .90 in the dollar, I have loaded up my OBC. Much better rate than anywhere else. Some people also like to just pay a certain amount in so they dont have to worry about large credit card bills.

As your cruises are in Ausssie you could also just go up to the Passenger services desk anytime during the cruise if you have registered your credit card and give them eg $500 cash to put on your account if you dont want to pre pay via the personaliser. There are many ways to pay in money to your account and we all have our favourite methods.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have. I hopeb u ou have a wonderful time on both your cruises.

Hi jinja, and anyone else that can help, I am totally confused with purchasing OBC, the US$ rate and casino credits. Can you please inform me a little here.

 

1. On two upcoming cruises with Princess, (both round trips from Australian ports, same ship 1 from west coast, 1 from east) my personalizer shows two totally different offers. The lesser amounts are for a 4 day cruise and the greater amounts for a 10 day. Given that both these cruises will have Stateroom Accounts in $AU can you explain why the offers are not in amounts like 25, 50 and 100 and why are they different for the two cruises?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ryr1vlxqj21zxx/Screenshot%202016-01-11%2011.26.14.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w1j7egod51elkfq/Screenshot%202016-01-11%2011.26.58.png?dl=0

 

 

2. How do you use casino credits to your advantage. I'm thinking that you pre purchase OBC then use your ship card to load up casino credits perhaps at a slot machine then cash in unused credits at the casino cashier? If that is the case, surely the cashier will pay out in $AU?

 

Hope you can understand my questions...cheers

How do you find out what exchange rate they are using if you pre-purchase onboard credits?

 

I know it charges me in Australian Dollars in lots of $110. But it doesn't tell me how many US$ this gets me once onboard.

 

I've booked a ship shore excursion & not sure if I should pre-pay before we leave or use purchased onboard credits.

$110 AUD for $100 USD. I would pre pay for whatever I can to save bill shock and buy some OBC.:D

Thanks for the reply jinja

Hi Bofman, long winded explanation, hope it helps. :)

 

I am cruising in March (us dollars) and November (aussie dollars) and get the same obc screen shots as yours, via the Personalizer. Simple answer is their system just does not recognise some of the cruises are departing from Australian waters and should be just displayed as Aussie dollars. Confusing to new travellers. So it is displaying what it would cost to convert from aussie to US obc now and later in the year when the rate has gone up.

 

Looking at the difference in the 2 rates It absolutely means Princess are going to give us less US money now for our dollars. Just surprised they havent done it sooner.

 

As Aussietraveller said, you wont have to worry about the falling aussie dollar though as all your obc credit, if you pay any in, will be in aussie dollars.

 

I always phone Princess and tell them how much obc credit I want to pay in and know exactly what it costs, only if I am going to be charged in US$. If you are worried what you are actually going to get, just speak to them direct and they will be happy to assist, explain.

 

In regards to paying money into the casino obc, more helpful to some, including me, for cruises that are charged in US dollars. When I get onboard, I cash the obc casino cards it in at the Casino and receive cash US dollars. Some notes I might gamble with and some I would definately keep as cash to spend ashore, where many countries take US, extra tip money, take cash home for another cruise etc. As the rate I got for my Feb cruise was .90 in the dollar, I have loaded up my OBC. Much better rate than anywhere else. Some people also like to just pay a certain amount in so they dont have to worry about large credit card bills.

 

As your cruises are in Ausssie you could also just go up to the Passenger services desk anytime during the cruise if you have registered your credit card and give them eg $500 cash to put on your account if you dont want to pre pay via the personaliser. There are many ways to pay in money to your account and we all have our favourite methods.

 

Happy to answer any other questions you may have. I hopeb u ou have a wonderful time on both your cruises.

Can someone clarify something about this for me.

I'm just about to buy some more OBCs for upcoming cruise (onboard costs in USD) as I seem to still be able to get the .90 rate for it.

I have two credit cards:

- One I use for local transactions as I get reward points - I'm thinking of buying the OBC using this card.

- One I use overseas as it doesn't charge fees for that and this is the card that will be attached to our onboard account for the cruise.

If I buy more OBC than I use the credit balance on the account is transferred to my credit card. Is this definitely the credit card attached to the account at that time, or do they insist on crediting it to the original card used to buy the OBC?

Does anyone know the answer to this?

When I bought OBC, I did not see anything on my cruise details where it said Casino credits. Can someone please explain how to do this, thanks. Barb.:confused:

To pay money direct into the casino obc go to:

Log into your cruise personaliser

click on Onboard reservations

scroll down to Casino credits

click view options and enter amounts and follow prompts.

You can also ring Princess and do it via the phone.

Amount purchased will be on Casino obc cards in your room when you board and you take the to the casino and cash when ready.

QUOTE=maxmia;48747108]When I bought OBC, I did not see anything on my cruise details where it said Casino credits. Can someone please explain how to do this, thanks. Barb.:confused:

I am on the diamond princess in March. I have found the sight to buy casino credit. It then says it will be automatically added to my on board account for spending in the casino. If you have been on a princess ship recently can you please tell me if at the end of the cruise the unused casino credit can be returned for USD cash at the casino. I will play slots in the casino but was planning to buy more casino credit than I intend to gamble with. I will be going into Vietnam after the cruise so was wanting some USD cash to take with me. Princess is giving a really good exchange rate to aAUD to USD for this cruise. Thank you

Can someone clarify something about this for me.

 

I'm just about to buy some more OBCs for upcoming cruise (onboard costs in USD) as I seem to still be able to get the .90 rate for it.

 

I have two credit cards:

- One I use for local transactions as I get reward points - I'm thinking of buying the OBC using this card.

- One I use overseas as it doesn't charge fees for that and this is the card that will be attached to our onboard account for the cruise.

 

If I buy more OBC than I use the credit balance on the account is transferred to my credit card. Is this definitely the credit card attached to the account at that time, or do they insist on crediting it to the original card used to buy the OBC?

 

Does anyone know the answer to this?

I bought OBC on one credit card and the unused portion went back onto the card I had registered on the ship. This was only a few months ago on RCI.

I bought OBC on one credit card and the unused portion went back onto the card I had registered on the ship. This was only a few months ago on RCI.

Thanks, Port Power, that's what I expected. I'll just have to assume Princess does the same as RCI.

Can someone clarify something about this for me.

 

I'm just about to buy some more OBCs for upcoming cruise (onboard costs in USD) as I seem to still be able to get the .90 rate for it.

 

I have two credit cards:

- One I use for local transactions as I get reward points - I'm thinking of buying the OBC using this card.

- One I use overseas as it doesn't charge fees for that and this is the card that will be attached to our onboard account for the cruise.

 

If I buy more OBC than I use the credit balance on the account is transferred to my credit card. Is this definitely the credit card attached to the account at that time, or do they insist on crediting it to the original card used to buy the OBC?

 

Does anyone know the answer to this?

It is credited back to the card attached to the sea pass account.:D

It is credited back to the card attached to the sea pass account.:D

Purrrfect! :D

And with a bit of luck and remembering to request that the account is "charged" in USD to the credit card I could actually make on the deal. :D :D

Well, hopefully I've just bought another US $1000 in OBC. The personaliser doesn't actually mention the currency I bought, it just says 10 units of OBC for AU $1100. :confused:

Well, hopefully I've just bought another US $1000 in OBC. The personaliser doesn't actually mention the currency I bought, it just says 10 units of OBC for AU $1100. :confused:

Cool, lots of spending money at a good rate.:D