Princess Gift Cards, $500 will get you $550 total

[compozer]

Thanks pms  - I was afraid of that.    I always seem to wait too long.

[cr8tiv1]

Just applied my bonus cards to my cruise.  Unable to do a combination of deposit + bonus cards + FCC's (Future Cruise Credits).  So I asked my TA to use my (substantial) deposit, bonus cards (all of them), AND my credit card to pay off the balance.  

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Just applied my bonus cards to my cruise.  Unable to do a combination of deposit + bonus cards + FCC's (Future Cruise Credits).  So I asked my TA to use my (substantial) deposit, bonus cards (all of them), AND my credit card to pay off the balance.  

Maybe do them 1-at-a-time?  I have already applied our bonus gift card amounts to future bookings.  Princess auto-applied our FCC's.  I expect to use the "base" gift cards to pay off balance closer to the FP Date.

[cr8tiv1]

Steelers36....not to worry.  I have enough cruises in the future to use the rest of the "base" gift cards AND FCC's.  Unfortunately, never enough....I will have to use my credit card for whatever balance is left.

 

Even with all the Princess issues, I will continue to sail with her.  They have my loyalty.  Too bad it is not reciprocated nor appreciated.

[suzyed]

19 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Maybe do them 1-at-a-time?  I have already applied our bonus gift card amounts to future bookings.  Princess auto-applied our FCC's.  I expect to use the "base" gift cards to pay off balance closer to the FP Date.

You do realize that you don't have to apply those FCCs until YOU want to?  Our TA "froze" them for us so we can apply them where and when we want.  Will do it closer to final payment.  I'm afraid if we do it too early and the cruise is cancelled we will have to wait months to get them back again!

[Steelers36]

55 minutes ago, suzyed said:

You do realize that you don't have to apply those FCCs until YOU want to?  Our TA "froze" them for us so we can apply them where and when we want.  Will do it closer to final payment.  I'm afraid if we do it too early and the cruise is cancelled we will have to wait months to get them back again!

Yes, I do, and that is a good tip for everyone.  I am fine with the amounts applied now.  I figure in the unlikely chance of a cancellation for next OCT, I will get the FCC back and it will have a new expiry date.  If I cancel, still get it back, but original expiry date.

[Ombud]

21 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

22 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Just applied my bonus cards to my cruise.  Unable to do a combination of deposit + bonus cards + FCC's (Future Cruise Credits).  So I asked my TA to use my (substantial) deposit, bonus cards (all of them), AND my credit card to pay off the balance.  

Expand  

Maybe do them 1-at-a-time?  I have already applied our bonus gift card amounts to future bookings.  Princess auto-applied our FCC's.  I expect to use the "base" gift cards to pay off balance closer to the FP Date

@Steelers36is correct & that's how I do it. But I wanted all of mine gone by December so I had to have my PVP buy the internet & 50 refundable OBC for me. Apparently I can't buy internet, obc, or shore excursions by myself with gift cards. Still owe $3.56 on the package (EZAIR,  pre-cruise hotel, cruise with transfers) but that's set to autopay on Sept 9th

[jwattle]

2 hours ago, Ombud said:

@Steelers36is correct & that's how I do it. But I wanted all of mine gone by December so I had to have my PVP buy the internet & 50 refundable OBC for me. Apparently I can't buy internet, obc, or shore excursions by myself with gift cards. Still owe $3.56 on the package (EZAIR,  pre-cruise hotel, cruise with transfers) but that's set to autopay on Sept 9th

You can; you just call Princess to do it.

[Ombud]

7 minutes ago, jwattle said:

2 hours ago, Ombud said:

@Steelers36is correct & that's how I do it. But I wanted all of mine gone by December so I had to have my PVP buy the internet & 50 refundable OBC for me. Apparently I can't buy internet, obc, or shore excursions by myself with gift cards. Still owe $3.56 on the package (EZAIR,  pre-cruise hotel, cruise with transfers) but that's set to autopay on Sept 9th

Expand  

You can; you just call Princess to do it

Yes. That's what happened. Sorry if I wasn't clear

[RSS from SF]

 

UPDATE --
Regarding request to earn Princess Visa DOUBLE points from these Princess Gift Card purchases:

(Background Note: 
Now when you use a Barclays Princess Rewards Visa credit card to purchase Princess Gift Cards through Princess.com, the fulfillment is through new third-party vendor Buyatab and the purchase earns SINGLE points; previous purchases through Princess.com earned DOUBLE points.)

 

---

Reference -- Prior relevant conversation from this thread:

On 7/9/2021 at 12:33 PM, RSS from SF said:

. . . .

This was my second order of 500 x 4 E-Gift Cards. 

. . . .

-- Both times I ordered using my Princess Barclays Card Visa. 

. . . .

 

On 7/9/2021 at 2:04 PM, RSS from SF said:

---

My July statement just posted this morning.  The first transaction is listed; I only received 2000 points for the $2000 order.

 

The transaction description is "Buyatab - Pr 8339073079  604-678-3275 DE".

 

Guess we need to call someone!

---

 

On 7/9/2021 at 2:58 PM, RSS from SF said:

---

It appears the description may have been changed so that Barclays cannot identify the transaction as a Princess transaction.

• I called Princess BarclayCard at 1-302-255-888 and opened a ticket with "Jake"; their Research Team should get back to me within 10 to 15 days.
   
• I then called Princess Gift Card Support at 1-833-907-3079 (this is at Buyatab) and opened a ticket with "Sharon"; their support staff (princess@buyatab.com) should get back to me in 24 to 48 hours.  Sharon agreed with me that the transaction description probably was changed since the promo in May; she is documenting that the transaction description now begins with "Buyatab - Pr " when it should begin with "Buyatab - Princess " [in hopes that BarclayCard will identify these transactions as Princess-related].

---

 

On 7/9/2021 at 3:27 PM, RSS from SF said:

---

Reply from Princess Gift Card Support:

---

 

Re: [Ticket#{999999999}]

From:  Giftcard Support <info@buyatab.com>

 

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out!

Buyatab is a hired gift card provider, making it possible for merchants to sell gift cards directly off their own webpages. You can see us here: https://web.buyatab.com/

We have only been partnered with Princess Cruises since June 9th 2021, and cannot assist with non gift card inquiries.

Please contact the merchant directly for assistance:

https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/customerCare.page
Phone number: 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237)
Email Address: giftcardsupport@princesscruises.com

Kind regards,
 

Jillian,
Customer Service Specialist

-----

 

On 7/9/2021 at 9:41 PM, suzyed said:

I have tried.  I call Barclay and I even called the Buyatab.   Buyatab said they are not Princess and only sell their cards as well as others.   We'll see what Barclay arrives at.

 

On 7/10/2021 at 1:54 AM, RSS from SF said:

-----

I later emailed Princess at giftcardsupport@princesscruises.com, with the following below, also including the response from Princess@buyatab.com. 
--  Hopefully we'll get a response next week. . . .

-----

 

=================================

Subject:  Issue: Princess Gift Card purchase no longer getting double points on Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa

 

Hello Princess Gift Card Support,

 

I purchased Princess Gift Cards two times this week using the link

https://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-gifts-celebrations/overview/gift-cards/  .

 

My first transaction for $2000 posted on this month's Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa statement and only earned single points (2000 points) instead of double points (4000 points):

 

Purchase Activity for {my name} card ending {9999}

Transaction Date:   Jul 07

Posting Date:          Jul 08

Description:            Buyatab - Pr 8339073079  604-678-3275 DE

Princess Points:      2,000

Amount:                  $2,000.00

 

Today I called customer support at both Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa and Princess@Buyatab.com with this issue, requesting double points on Princess Gift Card purchases: 

1.  The Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa Research Team will get back to me within 10 to 15 days.
    
2.  Princess@Buyatab.com has replied below to contact you at giftcardsupport@princesscruises.com.

NOTES:

• An acquaintance who purchased gift cards 2 months ago in May 2021, using her Princess Rewards Barclay Card Visa, earned double points  -- with the merchant listed as Princess Cruises.
   
• I understand new vendor Buyatab has handled Princess gift card purchases as of June 9, 2021.

 

REQUEST:

Can Princess update new Princess Gift Card purchases charged to the Princess Rewards Barclay Card Visa to earn double points?

 

Thank you in advance for your assistance in addressing this issue.

=================================

-----

 

 

On 7/15/2021 at 11:42 AM, RSS from SF said:

---

Reply from Princess at giftcardsupport@princesscruises.com:

 

=================================

From: Gift Card Support (PCL) <giftcardsupport@princesscruises.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Issue: Princess Gift Card purchase no longer getting double points on Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa //Fw: From: Giftcard Support <info@buyatab.com> [Ticket#1071757814]

 

Good Day Mr. ____________,

 

Thank you for contacting Gift Card Support.

 

We are happy to learn you have already contacted Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa Research Team as this is your contact for Reward Points resolution.

 

Regards,

 

Shelley

Gift Card Support

Princess Cruises

=================================

 

. . . .  So now we await the response from the Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa Research Team.

---

---

 

Response received today via U.S. Mail from Barclays (Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa Research Team):

=================================

Barclays

P.O. Box 8801

Wilmington, DE 19899-8801

July 25, 2021

Account ending in _ _ _ _

Regarding Your Princess Rewards Visa Card

 

Dear ______________,

This is about your recent inquiry related to your Princess Rewards Visa Card account.

We're currently unable to assist you with your Rewards issue.

Please contact us at the number on the back of your card for additional details.  We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  We appreciate your business and look forward to servicing your financial needs.

Sincerely,

Barclays

=================================

.

.

.

 

😶

    .     .     .     .      What the  hell  kind of response is that?!

 

---

Edited July 31, 2021 by RSS from SF

[muffin]

Amazing isn’t it?  Wishing you good luck on this issue. 

[Astro Flyer]

49 minutes ago, RSS from SF said:

UPDATE --
Regarding request to earn Princess Visa DOUBLE points from these Princess Gift Card purchases:

(Background Note: 
Now when you use a Barclays Princess Rewards Visa credit card to purchase Princess Gift Cards through Princess.com, the fulfillment is through new third-party vendor Buyatab and the purchase earns SINGLE points; previous purchases through Princess.com earned DOUBLE points.)

It’s the same thing with my 3% rebate for travel purchases credit card…being purchased from Buyatab and not from Princess we only earn a 1% rebate.

[suzyed]

3 hours ago, RSS from SF said:

 

UPDATE --
Regarding request to earn Princess Visa DOUBLE points from these Princess Gift Card purchases:

(Background Note: 
Now when you use a Barclays Princess Rewards Visa credit card to purchase Princess Gift Cards through Princess.com, the fulfillment is through new third-party vendor Buyatab and the purchase earns SINGLE points; previous purchases through Princess.com earned DOUBLE points.)

 

---

Reference -- Prior relevant conversation from this thread:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

Response received today via U.S. Mail from Barclays (Princess Rewards Barclays Card Visa Research Team):

=================================

Barclays

P.O. Box 8801

Wilmington, DE 19899-8801

July 25, 2021

Account ending in _ _ _ _

Regarding Your Princess Rewards Visa Card

 

Dear ______________,

This is about your recent inquiry related to your Princess Rewards Visa Card account.

We're currently unable to assist you with your Rewards issue.

Please contact us at the number on the back of your card for additional details.  We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  We appreciate your business and look forward to servicing your financial needs.

Sincerely,

Barclays

=================================

.

.

.

 

😶

    .     .     .     .      What the  hell  kind of response is that?!

 

---

I got all the same responses.  I can't even....