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How to pre-pay for spa, shore excursions and liquor


clandt

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We are on a budget, and don't want to overspend on our cruise.

We had thought we could pre-pay for our spa service and such, but were told it just goes to our shipboard account.

In our documents we received today I noticed you can purchase as a gift shipboard credit. Can we get ourselves a gift of shipboard credit and pay for these items in advance?

 

Christy

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I do not know the answer to the question.

 

Here is what I do. I pre-book what I can then go buy Traveller's Checks to cover that amount plus the tips (140) for the cruise. Then when I get there I go to the Purser's desk and make a deposit of that full amount plus an extra bit for tip at salon/spa or Alternative restarunt amount plus tip. At the end of the cruise unless I purchased sometihing on board my account will be 0.

 

I take a little money for the Casino in cash when it runs out that's it. I do not use my credit card for the Casino.

 

I always take and extra $200.00 in Traveller's Checks for the return journey. For tips and meals in airports, taxi's ect.

 

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

 

countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2006;12;5;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500 Until we sail away on the ocean blue

 

 

 

Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03

Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03

Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

 

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I have found in the past that ordering gifts through Princess instead of waiting to purchase these things on the ship will cost you a slight bit more. It is best, especially if you are on a budget to wait until you get on the ship.

 

As for pre-paying things, there really is no way to pre-pay for shore excursions on Princess. You can do one of three things. Contact your Travel Agent and see if you can add additional funds to provide you extra shipboard credit on your ship board account, which is a bit of a hassle for you TA I would think. OR you can just add up what you want to purchase before boarding, then put that money away and pay off the charges on your CC as soon as you get home. And lastly, you can pay off your shipboard account in cash the last evening (or even go down and pay on it as you go at the end of each day).

Best answer is to add up the things you want, then put that money aside before you leave for your cruise.

 

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

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<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Best answer is to add up the things you want, then put that money aside before you leave for your cruise.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

But to answer your question, yes you can buy yourself gift certificates as a way of pre-paying a given amount of what you anticipate your shipboard account to be.

 

You know there will be tips for sure. From there I'd just try to get an idea of what you'll spend on other items. While you can not pre-pay shore excursions per se, you can plan the ones you want to take, reserve them and find out how much they will cost ahead of time for budget purposes.

 

It is true that ordering stuff to be waiting in your cabin can cost more and a good example of that is liquor. While convenient, you'll pay a premium price.

 

You're wise to be thinking about these expenses though as they can add up really fast

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

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When you 'pre-reserve' your shore excursions on-line at Princess, can you change them when you get to the ship? Or are you stuck with what you chose?

 

Golden Princess 6/13/04

Carnival Paradise 2002

Carnival Inspiration 2001

American Hawaii 1996

American Family 1990

Holland America Monarch Sun 1977

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The Princess Patters will alert you to the cancellation days/times of shore excursions. Even though you book them ahead of time on the internet, there is still time to cancel or change them when you get to the ship at no extra charge.

 

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

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Book your shore excursions in advance at shoretripsObviously they can't help you with anything at Princess Cays but I have used them several times for myself as well as for many of my passengers. In most cases they are more unique and the service is ALWAYS better (they don't have to pay the cruise lines a portion a of their profit). I highly reccommend them.

 

Smooth Sailings!!

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Dear Clandt,

Prepaying is an excellent way to budget and have that money in place. You need not bother your T.A. Call 1-800-Princes, give your Booking Number and name. The res agent will repeat the Product Line (Ship, cruise date, ports). This is to make sure they have the correct booking to put the credit card on. Whenever you want a certain amount (and you can do this weekly or monthly, in increments), just call up, give your cc number, expiry date, address, and phone number. Voila, it will be a credit on your on-board folio before you even board. You also can dictate a little message to yourself and a card for each transaction will be in your cabin with the message to yourself. You could also drop that Booking Number to your friends and relatives if they want to give you a Bon Voyage gift. I give all my friends on-board credit long before their sailing and they are always pleasantly surprised. I may even give myself one.

 

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

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What a clever system, and how nice to know the details. Thanks, Princess Di. Also, can you make deposits by check via the postal service? The reason I ask is that it would then be like a gift to my husband, whereas if I put it on a joint cc, it is no gift.

 

Gloria

 

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001

Grand Princess, Western,April 2002

Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

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You're welcome, Gloria,

Yes, you can pay by any means (do not suggest cash, however). Put Princess Cruises on the check as well as the Booking Number. If you don't know the booking number, call Princess and they can find it by the name only. Address your envelope:

Princess Cruises

ATTN: Special Services, Customer Assistance

Valencia, California 91354

Be sure to do it plenty early because it Does take processing time.

 

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

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Princess Di,

 

I can not thank you enough!!! I am so glad we can do this and pay the credit card BEFORE the trip, a little at a time.

 

Thanks for all the information, esp the address I think I will take 50 dollars from each paycheck between now and then and mail it!!!

 

Christy

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Good info to know. I was under the impression that Princess did not want to deal with you IF you booked through a Travel Agent. I know in the past if I called about anything, the first thing they would tell me is to contact my TA.

Nice to know that somethings they will deal with one on one with you.

 

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

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Dear Christy,

You are soooo welcome. That is great disipline and the shock of the o-b folio won't be so great. BTW, another thing I do is go to The Purser with the Purse and get a printout of my folio Every Day. That way, you know exactly where you are all the time and if you can squeeze in the Black Pearl or not. I go right before you on 4 Sept. I will buy my cpf this month before they get worse, and also some NZD for Rarotonga, at least $500 USD of each (not cost-effective for less). Have a great cruise in Paradise.

 

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

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Hi ToTo,

I always enjoy your Posts. Princess is always so Glad to take your money. Anybody can call and give them money. You just say, "I would like to purchase a Special Service." It is such an easy thing to do that the res agents love those kinds of calls.

 

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

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It's great to know it's so easy to do. I sure do appreciate having somebody "in the know" here on the board.

 

DON'T GO ANYWHERE!

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

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Princess Di, that is some wonderful info to know, I am going to pass it along to some friends that like to pay before they go also. Thanks for informing all of us of this service! icon_wink.gif

 

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04

RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.

One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

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You're quite welcome, Toto.

I always gift my friends who are sailing but I forget about myself. We Should be kind to Ourselves also. Thanks for the Reminder.

 

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

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