OBC just for shore excursions?

[cruiseintoheaven]

Hello all, getting back to cruising after almost 3 years and can’t wait!  My question is this:  right before final payment I did a price check and was pleasantly surprised that my TA was able to lower the fare substantially - yay!  He also said the new fare came with $100 pp OBC for shore excursions.  But then he said he thought you could use it for anything, or maybe not.   So it sounds like I may have to call Princess but thought I would ask if anyone knows about this?  Our personalizer doesn’t specify what it is for.  On our documents from TA it just says Love Boat PPlus for our booking.  Thanks for any light you can shed!  😀

[Jadn13]

It seems you booked during The Love Boat Sale.

Here is the wording, this may help

• Guests who book during The Love Boat Sale with Princess Plus – a cruise fare that adds highly desired amenities including drinks, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation, or Princess Premier – which includes everything offered in Princess Plus, plus multi-device Wi-Fi, specialty dining, a photo package and Princess Prizes – will receive a $100 shore excursions credit per person. 

[EconDoc]

So far, it seems these can be used for anything that OBC applies to. Whether that changes in the future, we don’t know. 

[cruiseintoheaven]

57 minutes ago, EconDoc said:

So far, it seems these can be used for anything that OBC applies to. Whether that changes in the future, we don’t know. 

That would be great if it stays that way.

[MustangGT]

It can be used for anything onboard.  The amount is added to your portfolio as a credit.

[cruiseintoheaven]

58 minutes ago, MustangGT said:

It can be used for anything onboard.  The amount is added to your portfolio as a credit.

Great!! 

[teecee60]

5 hours ago, EconDoc said:

So far, it seems these can be used for anything that OBC applies to. 

 

2 hours ago, MustangGT said:

It can be used for anything onboard.  The amount is added to your portfolio as a credit.

 

There are many sources of OBC that CAN be used for ANYTHING. (except for FCDs)

 

THIS "speshul sale" $100pp OBC is different, it can be used ONLY for shore excursions.

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by teecee60

[caribill]

4 hours ago, teecee60 said:

 

THIS "speshul sale" $100pp OBC is different, it can be used ONLY for shore excursions.

 

 

Nope. Can be used for anything OBC can be used for.

[cruiseintoheaven]

3 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Nope. Can be used for anything OBC can be used for.

Hoping you and majority of replies are correct.  I can’t find anything on my documents or inside personalizer that says “shore excursions” in relationship to the OBC in question.  The ONLY time it was mentioned was when my TA told me about it verbally and he was unclear on what it could be used for.  

[kywildcatfanone]

We have it for an upcoming cruise.  Can be used for anything.

[teecee60]

11 hours ago, teecee60 said:

THIS "speshul sale" $100pp OBC is different, it can be used ONLY for shore excursions.

 

7 hours ago, caribill said:

Nope. Can be used for anything OBC can be used for.

 

3 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

We have it for an upcoming cruise.  Can be used for anything.

 

I have never been so HAPPY... to be so shamefully and embarrassingly WRONG. 😵

 

Recently returned from 16 nights to Hawaii on Diamond Princess. Was bummed about not doing a shore excursion so losing the $200. 😞

 

Just checked my end of cruise charges... and saw that BOTH of us got the $100 OBC... and it IS INDEED good for martinis! 😉

 

Added to shareholder OBC... military OBC...travel agency OBC... makes for a fantastic deal!

 

Have it again on the Enchanted Princess transatlantic in just a few weeks. 😎

[nmstevens]

I used my 100 obc already for an upcoming cruise. I reserved and excursion and part of the obc was taken. I then booked dining and used my cc. I was told that once on board, my cc will be credited back and the obc will be used. Theres a good chance I will have to go to customer service for this to happen, but I'm prepared for that.

Edited February 14, 2023 by nmstevens

[MustangGT]

14 hours ago, teecee60 said:

 

 

There are many sources of OBC that CAN be used for ANYTHING. (except for FCDs)

 

THIS "speshul sale" $100pp OBC is different, it can be used ONLY for shore excursions.

 

Not our experience. On a B2B and had shore excursion OBC on both. Took no excursions. The shore excursion was a credit on our portfolio and we used it up for Gratuities, Sanctuary and occasional drinks. 
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

[Bobbiegentry]

11 hours ago, teecee60 said:

 

 

There are many sources of OBC that CAN be used for ANYTHING. (except for FCDs)

 

THIS "speshul sale" $100pp OBC is different, it can be used ONLY for shore excursions.

 

Like @caribillsaid.  Just used ours for something other than excursions. 
 

 

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by Bobbiegentry

[voljeep]

6 minutes ago, Bobbiegentry said:

Like @caribillsaid.  Just used ours for something other than excursions. 
 

 

 

until you can't when Princess enforces it... along with certain credits not being allowed to be used in the casino ... until Princess enforces not being able to use OBC in the casino for a couple of plays then cash out like an ATM ... until Princess enforces boarding times ... until Princess enforces ... 

 

the more it's posted on CC ...

 

coffee cards holding a punch...

[Bobbiegentry]

Just now, voljeep said:

until you can't when Princess enforces it... along with certain credits not being allowed to be used in the casino ... until Princess enforces not being able to use OBC in the casino for a couple of plays then cash out like an ATM ... until Princess enforces boarding times ... until Princess enforces ... 

 

the more it's posted on CC ...

 

coffee cards holding a punch...

Of course, much like the “work around” you mention. The less spoken about said work around the better. 

[caribill]

10 hours ago, voljeep said:

until you can't when Princess enforces it...

 

Princess does not really care what it is used for. It is just a marketing gimmick.

 

One promotion might be for just $100 OBC. It can be used for anything OBC can be used for.

 

The next promotion to be different might be for $100 for shore excursions. But in reality is just like the previous example and can be used for anything OBC can be used for.

[caribill]

11 hours ago, nmstevens said:

I used my 100 obc already for an upcoming cruise. I reserved and excursion and part of the obc was taken. I then booked dining and used my cc. I was told that once on board, my cc will be credited back and the obc will be used.

 

That would be the way shore excursions work. Purchase in advance using OBC or a credit card. But on board the system just processes the purchases again using non-refundable OBC first and if any pre-cruise credit card payments do not get used, they become refundable OBC..

 

The onboard account statement may look confusing, but that is how it has worked (so far).

 

I am, sure that psychologically people who have paid for something in advance feel they had better use it whereas if reserved in advance and paid for during the cruise many would feel it is OK to simply cancel and they will not have lost anything.

 

This means people who book and pay for shore excursions in advance are more serious about actually taking them whereas in the past when excursions could be reserved in advance without prepayment a number of people would book them and then decide on board whether to actually take them.

 

Similar to the promotions with $1 deposits. A number of people put down $1 deposits for cruises that they end up deciding not to take, often booking cruises that embark at the same time and later deciding which one, if any, they will actually take.