Princess Casino OBC Question

[diane.in.ny]

We just booked a cruise with Princess' Twice as Nice promo. The promo specifically says the OBC cannot be used in the casino.

 

I can understand not being able to walk up to the cashier and withdrawing the money. But does this mean the OBC will not be applied to the charge if I use my onboard account in the casino, such as getting chips at the blackjack table or putting money on my card at the slots?

 

Thanks for any insight anyone can give me on this.

[likeadisguise]

They don't actually have any way to apply this rule, so you can pretty much ignore it.

[Kamloops50]

Actually anything done in the Casino comes as "Casino" on your bill.

[ronrick1943]

Yes it will be billed that way---no credit that way.

[rdcruisin]

I was on a 7 day cruise in November and had a chunk of OBC. I opened a slot machine account and put half of it in there. Played on the money until the last day and then cashed out what was left. So I essentially got some of the OBC back on cash.

[diane.in.ny]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Yes, I am aware the casino charges are listed on the onboard account as Casino but the onboard account is simply a running total so I was wondering how they could keep the OBC from applying. I can't see anyone sitting down at the computer and going through everyone's onboard account who has OBC to make sure the Casino charge is applied to the OBC.

 

We have OBC from future cruise credit which I know is not an issue. But this Twice as Nice promo specifically says ‡ Onboard Spending Money may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash, is non-refundable, cannot be used in the casino and expires at the end of that voyage.

 

rdcruisin: Did you have the kind of OBC that had T & C that it couldn't be used in the casino?

[diane.in.ny]

Of course I can always wait and see what happens but I was just curious.

[rdcruisin]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Yes, I am aware the casino charges are listed on the onboard account as Casino but the onboard account is simply a running total so I was wondering how they could keep the OBC from applying. I can't see anyone sitting down at the computer and going through everyone's onboard account who has OBC to make sure the Casino charge is applied to the OBC.

 

We have OBC from future cruise credit which I know is not an issue. But this Twice as Nice promo specifically says ‡ Onboard Spending Money may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash, is non-refundable, cannot be used in the casino and expires at the end of that voyage.

 

rdcruisin: Did you have the kind of OBC that had T & C that it couldn't be used in the casino?

 

Yes. I got OBC from a promo for booking (like the twice as nice promo) and I had shareholder OBC and future cruise OBC. It's all lumped as one credit amount on your account, so I don't think they know what you're using for what. Turned out I didn't spend anything other than the OBC on my account and did get back some in cash from the casino (which was more than the total for the shareholder and FCC).

 

Hope this helps.

[diane.in.ny]

Yes. I got OBC from a promo for booking (like the twice as nice promo) and I had shareholder OBC and future cruise OBC. It's all lumped as one credit amount on your account, so I don't think they know what you're using for what. Turned out I didn't spend anything other than the OBC on my account and did get back some in cash from the casino (which was more than the total for the shareholder and FCC).

 

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, helpful. Thanks. Just didn't want to spend it on drinks and wine :D if I think there is a possibility of getting some of it back in cash.

[rdcruisin]

Yes, helpful. Thanks. Just didn't want to spend it on drinks and wine :D if I think there is a possibility of getting some of it back in cash.

 

Well, to be honest, what I didn't gamble, I did drink!!

[diane.in.ny]

Well, to be honest, what I didn't gamble, I did drink!!

 

Sounds like we should cruise together :D

[Griller]

Of course I can always wait and see what happens but I was just curious.

 

Aaah - then you thought you would put it on an open forum that Princess read - to take them one step closer to stopping it for everybody. Very smart! Thank-you.

Edited December 29, 2015 by Griller

[Mindy97]

Don't know if it makes a difference now or not, but it isn't "all lumped as one credit on your account" nowadays. If you use the Princess Messeenger App on board to check your stateroom balance, there is a pulldown menu you can use now to see where each chunk of money comes from. It now shows what is refundable and what is not. It was helpful for me, because I found that the credit my TA gives is considered "a gift credit" and therefore refundable. I never knew that.

 

M.

 

Yes. I got OBC from a promo for booking (like the twice as nice promo) and I had shareholder OBC and future cruise OBC. It's all lumped as one credit amount on your account, so I don't think they know what you're using for what. Turned out I didn't spend anything other than the OBC on my account and did get back some in cash from the casino (which was more than the total for the shareholder and FCC).

 

Hope this helps.

[diane.in.ny]

Aaah - then you thought you would put it on an open forum that Princess read - to take them one step closer to stopping it for everybody. Very smart! Thank-you.

 

uh oh :(

[rbt001]

uh oh :(

 

Diane, if you truly gamble in the casino, I doubt you'll have an issue. If you're a slot player, use your card/room key in the machine. When you sit at a table, have your card out as they will ask for it. All of your play is tracked for a potential future cruise offer which you'll receive at the end of the day, the last full day of your cruise, IF your play qualifies you for an offer. It's that same player rating information that can earn you an exception to the OBC credit rule.

 

Sadly there's too many passengers that have used the ability to obtain casino credit with a room account charge, thus using the casino as a free ATM, that Princess has instituted measures to block and prevent this. People doing that don't realize or simply don't care that it costs the line money to process their credit card transaction; so the $100 cash taken through the casino and processed as $100 purchase on the room account nets Princess an amount less than $100 from the credit card payment of the room account. While the credit card merchant discount paid for processing is "a cost of doing business," and the line absorbs it for true sales (of merchandise, food & beverage, gift shop, etc.) and even true gambling in the casino, they are not in the business of operating as a free ATM. There actually IS a real ATM in the casino for those that need cash, and it charges an appropriate ATM fee.

 

About 14 - 15 months ago there was an uproar on the boards here when Princess blocked the use of some forms of OBC in the casino and made that OBC non-refundable/use it or lose it. Some felt they were entitled to get cash that way, by running it through the casino, and were upset that they were blocked. At the time, as a valued casino patron, I just called my contact at the corporate office and was assured it would have no impact upon me; that's why I say, if you truly gamble, I doubt you'll have a problem.

[diane.in.ny]

that's why I say, if you truly gamble, I doubt you'll have a problem.

 

Thanks so much for this. Yes, I truly gamble. I play black jack and the slots, sometimes roulette and sometimes craps. Casino staff is usually calling me by my first name second night in the casino and I've even gotten a couple of complimentary drinks by the end of the cruise. :D

 

But no free cruise yet ... haven't been able to rack up enough points yet. :(

[rbt001]

Thanks so much for this. Yes, I truly gamble. I play black jack and the slots, sometimes roulette and sometimes craps. Casino staff is usually calling me by my first name second night in the casino and I've even gotten a couple of complimentary drinks by the end of the cruise. :D

 

But no free cruise yet ... haven't been able to rack up enough points yet. :(

 

Great! If I were in your shoes, once they know you for the cruise, I'd say something to the casino manager like: "Say.... I'm not going to have a problem having my OBC's applied towards my casino charges, am I?" That should do the trick.

[diane.in.ny]

Great! If I were in your shoes, once they know you for the cruise, I'd say something to the casino manager like: "Say.... I'm not going to have a problem having my OBC's applied towards my casino charges, am I?" That should do the trick.

 

Thanks for the advice! Will follow through :)

[Wehwalt]

I think they've pretty much closed that loophole, so it would be wise to follow the advice and ask for an exception from the manager.