"Shore Excursion" credit - can it be used for non-shore excursions?

[Steelers36]

On 9/12/2022 at 4:45 PM, Cruise Raider said:

Every time I went by her office, if she was open, there was a two hour line to get in to see her, so I didn’t get a chance to ask her but I did ask at the guest services desk and then asked my Cruise Vacation Planner down at Princess … they both said the same thing:  it could be used for anything else that OBC can be used for while onboard.  

IDK why people would waste 2hrs of their vacation lining up when there are no particular deals to be had.

[tpfelt]

Was there ever a clear answer……Does the shore excursion credit have to only be used for excursions or for any onboard expenses (not casino). Maybe I missed the answer. Thanks!

[MissP22]

5 hours ago, tpfelt said:

Was there ever a clear answer……Does the shore excursion credit have to only be used for excursions or for any onboard expenses (not casino). Maybe I missed the answer. Thanks!

I believe most of what has been posted comes from opinions and not actual experiences. We also have some shore excursion credit on our next cruise and I would be disappointed to have to use it only for an excursion. 

I still believe it can be used for other on board things other than excursions. 

[ericosmith]

I'm bumping this back up in hopes that someone has had actual experience.

[DeeTO]

On 11/29/2022 at 11:51 PM, ericosmith said:

I'm bumping this back up in hopes that someone has had actual experience.

I would also like answers from those on board now whether they have used the love boat sale $100 shore excursion credit for other purposes eg gratuities, drinks, gifts etc. Thanks

[cruiselife88]

It is unfortunate that of everyone who has undoubtedly sailed on Princess since this question was posted, absolutely no one has been able to provide a definitive answer on this topic. I will say I called them and a hair twirler on the phone said it could only be used as listed - for shore excursions. However, I think that was just someone working from home who had no idea what she was talking about. I have a $200 "shore excursion credit" to use from the Love Boat promo and want to use it in place of buying a drink package. The Ruby departs this coming Sunday and I don't know whether to buy the package or not because it wouldn't make sense if I can use the $200 as bar credit instead of excursion. Here's hoping someone will answer. If not I will definitely post an answer after the cruise.

[Ombud]

1st hand experience has been responded to in at least 3 other threads but perhaps you missed it? 

FWIW I'm doing what you're doing @cruiselife88. Covering my coffee, tea, wifi, maybe Sabatinis, and gratuities.  Last time (12/9/22) it covered gratuities, wifi, and specialty dining but I can't trade minibar for coffees anymore so adding those. 

 

 

Added: solo cruiser so I get dbl / pay dbl. 

 

 

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Ombud

[voljeep]

18 hours ago, Ombud said:

1st hand experience has been responded to in at least 3 other threads but perhaps you missed it? 

FWIW I'm doing what you're doing @cruiselife88. Covering my coffee, tea, wifi, maybe Sabatinis, and gratuities.  Last time (12/9/22) it covered gratuities, wifi, and specialty dining but I can't trade minibar for coffees anymore so adding those. 

 

 

Added: solo cruiser so I get dbl / pay dbl. 

 

 

 

I'd like to hear from some current cruisers who had the promo and just got off the ship and had their folio closed out.  Waiting for the time someone gets their final folio and discover they owe $100 pp more than they thought because they didn't take a Princess excursion.  At 'some point' will it become use it or lose it?

[Ombud]

10 minutes ago, voljeep said:

I'd like to hear from some current cruisers who had the promo and just got off the ship and had their folio closed out.  Waiting for the time someone gets their final folio and discover they owe $100 pp more than they thought because they didn't take a Princess excursion.  At 'some point' will it become use it or lose it?

Fair enough. Will follow & post in a month unless @cruiselife88 posts back next week

[voljeep]

4 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Fair enough. Will follow & post in a month unless @cruiselife88 posts back next week

we've got $200 excursion credit for a cruise in October ... we've got an excursion picked out, but would rather use it as general OBC.

[cruiselife88]

21 hours ago, Ombud said:

1st hand experience has been responded to in at least 3 other threads but perhaps you missed it? 

FWIW I'm doing what you're doing @cruiselife88. Covering my coffee, tea, wifi, maybe Sabatinis, and gratuities.  Last time (12/9/22) it covered gratuities, wifi, and specialty dining but I can't trade minibar for coffees anymore so adding those. 

 

 

Added: solo cruiser so I get dbl / pay dbl. 

 

 

 

This is very helpful - thank you. So far everyone who has responded after they have returned from their cruise, including very recent sailings, has been able to use the excursion credit for general onboard credit, despite Princess or their TA telling them otherwise. I will definitely reply back with my experience after next week's cruise.

[Cruise Raider]

On 3/23/2023 at 4:22 AM, voljeep said:

we've got $200 excursion credit for a cruise in October ... we've got an excursion picked out, but would rather use it as general OBC.

We’ve been able to use ours as general OBC.  

[MissP22]

We found that is was treated just like any other non refundable OBC so we used it in the casino. 

[spingal]

I am onboard the Crown.  I asked guest services and the shore excursion desk about the shore excursion credit.  It can be used for anything and does not need to be used exclusively for shore excursions.

[cruiselife88]

Thank you. Doesn't get any more current with actual practice than this! Appreciate the response. Princess needs to train their phone reps to give better info because they try to tell you it is for excursions only.

[cruiselife88]

Just disembarked the Ruby and, as promised, am reporting the results. As others have posted, once onboard the “Shore Excursion Credit” reflects as “Shoreside Credit” which can be used as General Onboard Credit. It would be nice if Princess didn’t play games with the wording and confuse people, but at least now we know.

[voljeep]

3 minutes ago, cruiselife88 said:

Just disembarked the Ruby and, as promised, am reporting the results. As others have posted, once onboard the “Shore Excursion Credit” reflects as “Shoreside Credit” which can be used as General Onboard Credit. It would be nice if Princess didn’t play games with the wording and confuse people, but at least now we know.

Thanks - but that wording is there in case Princess decides to enforce it for excursions only.  Hoping they don't ...  Not the same, but there have been postings about some OBC can no longer be used in the casino ... waiting on that also