Booking On Board Credit In Advance

I appreciate this may only benifit those in the UK. I spoke to Princess yesterday (25/3) with reference to some OBC that we were given by Princess ($500) just to make sure they had it on their system - this was because they cancelled our original cruise - All good (we go 9th Apr 09 on the Emerald). As I got talking to the Princess represenative, she told me that I could book on board credit in advance and as the $ to our £ is not good at the moment ($1.40 to the £), they were still offering $2 to the £. This can be spent in exactley the same way ie...drinks, shopping, trips etc....I jumped at the chance - there is a massive saving to be had. Only thing to remember is that if you don't spend it you loose it....so plan it as best as you can before you order.

No to call..0845 3555 800 - option 5 - followed by option 2.

Hope this is of some help during this 'credit cruch'....

First time cruisers.....2 weeks today.....can't wait:):):)

I appreciate this may only benifit those in the UK. I spoke to Princess yesterday (25/3) with reference to some OBC that we were given by Princess ($500) just to make sure they had it on their system - this was because they cancelled our original cruise - All good (we go 9th Apr 09 on the Emerald). As I got talking to the Princess represenative, she told me that I could book on board credit in advance and as the $ to our £ is not good at the moment ($1.40 to the £), they were still offering $2 to the £. This can be spent in exactley the same way ie...drinks, shopping, trips etc....I jumped at the chance - there is a massive saving to be had. Only thing to remember is that if you don't spend it you loose it....so plan it as best as you can before you order.

 

No to call..0845 3555 800 - option 5 - followed by option 2.

 

Hope this is of some help during this 'credit cruch'....

 

First time cruisers.....2 weeks today.....can't wait:):):)

Good info.

Excellent info, thanks - this could make a HUUUGE difference to UK cruisers.

I rang them up and got the same story:

- you can buy OBC at $2 for £1. The lady rattled off 3 different types: casino, general and trip albeit Im not sure if you can swap between them once purchased.

- there is no limit to how much you can buy

- it is "use it or lose it", credits cannot be refunded or carried forward to another cruise.

In my view its absolutely worth calculating your OBC requirement as you can use this to fund anything including soda cards and coffee cards.

In addition, I guess you would only be charged one commission fee (if not nationwide or PO) for the single transaction

obviously if you exchange £1000 into $$s OBC you would have to ensure you spent at least $1400 of the $2000 to be better off..

excellent deal, cant thank you enough!!

I appreciate this may only benifit those in the UK. I spoke to Princess yesterday (25/3) with reference to some OBC that we were given by Princess ($500) just to make sure they had it on their system - this was because they cancelled our original cruise - All good (we go 9th Apr 09 on the Emerald). As I got talking to the Princess represenative, she told me that I could book on board credit in advance and as the $ to our £ is not good at the moment ($1.40 to the £), they were still offering $2 to the £. This can be spent in exactley the same way ie...drinks, shopping, trips etc....I jumped at the chance - there is a massive saving to be had. Only thing to remember is that if you don't spend it you loose it....so plan it as best as you can before you order.

 

No to call..0845 3555 800 - option 5 - followed by option 2.

 

Hope this is of some help during this 'credit cruch'....

 

First time cruisers.....2 weeks today.....can't wait:):):)

If your credit can be used in the casino, keep one thing in mind. You can always open a slot bank, take the remaining credit off your shipboard account and place it in your slot bank, and then cash in your slot bank at the casino cage. This is IF you don't spend it all. Takes a few minutes to do this, but you don't get charged an added 3% like if you went to the casino cage, and you wouldn't be leaving your money behind. ;)

I have just also made this phone call and have bought enough OBC that will cover the cost of my excursions for my up coming cruise to the baltic.

Thanks Karjoe for the information

I'm not sure if I've confused myself!!!!! When ordering my on board credit - they said I could use it for drinks, food, excursions, shopping onboard - so I ordered some OBC. Seb530 says the lady rattled off 3 types - does this mean we there would be 3 different OBC accounts for the 3 differnet activities. I beleive I only have 1.....

The information that I was given is that the money goes into your on board account and that you can use it for anything.

I'm not sure if I've confused myself!!!!! When ordering my on board credit - they said I could use it for drinks, food, excursions, shopping onboard - so I ordered some OBC. Seb530 says the lady rattled off 3 types - does this mean we there would be 3 different OBC accounts for the 3 differnet activities. I beleive I only have 1.....

I would guess that the general would be to your actual shipboard account.

The casino credit mentioned is a credit you can send yourself before your cruise and there will be vouchers in your stateroom when you arrive in the denomination you ordered. These in turn can be taken to the casino cage and cashed in whenever the casino is open,. one at a time, or all at the same time. You are given cash in return for them to either spend in the casino, or where ever. These casino credits are not linked to your shipboard account.

So, one is a credit to your shipboard account and as you charge, the charges are removed from the credit.

And two, are casino credits you can only cash out at the casino cage.

Not sure about a third one?

Just tried to book this rate and the person at princess didnt know what we were talking about - who did you speak to?

Contacted the number above and asked to purchase On Board Credit no problem. Can purchase as small amount as $25 up to whatever you want. I confirmed that you are getting $2 to the £1

Funny - we were offered $25 for £17.50 $140 for £100 and other amounts in between.

Low Tide is my father.

So, one is a credit to your shipboard account and as you charge, the charges are removed from the credit.

And two, are casino credits you can only cash out at the casino cage.

 

Thus, you take the casino credit notice that will be in your cabin and bring it to the casino when it is open where they will give you cash. You can then choose to spend or not spend all or part of it.

It will not be "use it or lose it" because it will be in your hands to do what you want with it.

I have just re-confirmed that I purchased $2000 at a cost of £1000 and have had it confirmed also by e-mail

on hold just now - they are offering it on sailings to June but we sail in july

Now she has come back and said it depends on rate when you booked your cruise - we only booked last month :-(

on hold just now - they are offering it on sailings to June but we sail in july

 

Now she has come back and said it depends on rate when you booked your cruise - we only booked last month :-(

Hi we cruise in July and have been offered $2 to £1, but booked last year when exchange rate was high.:)

if you have an OBC - are/can the auto-tips deducted from this?

if you have an OBC - are/can the auto-tips deducted from this?

I was told that they can be used for anything. They go into your onboard account and anything charged to your account goes from the same account.

Thanks, Karjoe!

Like Highland Dancer, I have just purchased enough on-board credit to cover the excursions and auto-tips on our Baltics cruise at the end of August. There was absolutely no problem in doing this. Our original booking was in Oct 2008, so perhaps that helped.

Margaret :)

Hi All,

thankyou for that. we are on the four week cruise from Sydney to LA in October and have jusr ordered $4000 OBC for £2000 with no problem whatever. It is held on your booking account as OBC and you are given it as and when you book in on board.

Michael Pilkington

Dont see why it should make a difference when you booked it, but hey ho.

Thanks a very useful tip.

Coolgran

Having received some excellent information from cruise critics (we are first time cruisers - Emerald 9th Apr 09) - it's feels really good to offer something back - hope everyone enjoys their 'windfall' - as much as we will....:):):)

:) We have booked our on board credit this pm and it's a realy good deal for us in the UK.....Thanks for the info....will raise a glass to you on our Ruby Cruise (3 weeks today!!)

One of the best pieces of info. I have ever seen on these boards! I have booked some this morning. They have told me that it is available to any uk customer, even if you book a cruise now for next year. So those who have been told no,should go back to princess.

Thank you for this very important info. I phoned this morning and got my obc at $2 to the £1