Reassure My Wife

[Thrak]

We're booked for 6 cruises B2B, etc. The first 3 are at Standard Fare so I want to purchase a gift card to use at Passenger Services for OBC. I've told my wife (several times) that, according to all posts I've seen on CC, unused OBC from the first segment will "roll over" to the next segment and the next segment, etc. but she still keeps asking me, "Are you sure?". I told her I would ask here to "be sure" even though I've seen it posted numerous times by folks who have cruised a lot.

 

Soooo... Can you please reply to help reassure my wife? (This is in no way a "dig" at my wife but, after 51 years of marriage, I've figured out it's best to just do what I can to make life flow along easily.)

[Astro Flyer]

All of my OBC has rolled over to the next cruises.
 

On the MC app it shows multiple consecutive cruises as one cruise & thus had one folio.

[Steelers36]

9 minutes ago, Thrak said:

We're booked for 6 cruises B2B, etc. The first 3 are at Standard Fare so I want to purchase a gift card to use at Passenger Services for OBC. I've told my wife (several times) that, according to all posts I've seen on CC, unused OBC from the first segment will "roll over" to the next segment and the next segment, etc. but she still keeps asking me, "Are you sure?". I told her I would ask here to "be sure" even though I've seen it posted numerous times by folks who have cruised a lot.

 

Soooo... Can you please reply to help reassure my wife? (This is in no way a "dig" at my wife but, after 51 years of marriage, I've figured out it's best to just do what I can to make life flow along easily.)

If it is the GC OBC you are concerned about, that is Refundable so it won't ever be lost completely.  We have had rollover balances on each of our B2B experiences.  That covers pre- and post-pandemic.

[HaveDogWillTravel]

I’ve even had my husbands unused OBC rolled over to me when he left the ship and I stayed on. Now as you know even though this has been absolutely pervasive things change on a dime. You could do a couple of things though like ask at GS if it will be the case for your sailings (I’d use Crew Chat and screen shot it as my record) or apply the GC closer to the end of each leg and put what you need on your account. 

[Ombud]

5/27/23: 250 obc loaded for 1st voyage

6/1/23: 1st voyage ended & I owed $9.75, amt owed rolled over & 635 obc applied 

6/17/23: 2nd voyage ended. I have (according to saved screenshot) 1 combined bill for both legs. Final bill $6.15 

 

So yeah, OBC & Balance due rolls to last voyage

[PacnGoNow]

Our OBC has rolled over and we do a lot

of b2b’s. I assume you’re referring to all that GC OBC that you acquired?  🤣

[Thrak]

4 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Our OBC has rolled over and we do a lot

of b2b’s. I assume you’re referring to all that GC OBC that you acquired?  🤣

 

Nope. I don't have any GC OBC. All of the Gift Cards I purchased went to pay for the cruises. I just want to buy another $500 card (even at the reduced benefit) to put down as OBC as our first three segments are Standard Fare.

[PacnGoNow]

1 minute ago, Thrak said:

 

Nope. I don't have any GC OBC. All of the Gift Cards I purchased went to pay for the cruises. I just want to buy another $500 card (even at the reduced benefit) to put down as OBC as our first three segments are Standard Fare.

Yep, that’s what I’m doing also.

[leck57]

47 minutes ago, Thrak said:

We're booked for 6 cruises B2B, etc. The first 3 are at Standard Fare so I want to purchase a gift card to use at Passenger Services for OBC. I've told my wife (several times) that, according to all posts I've seen on CC, unused OBC from the first segment will "roll over" to the next segment and the next segment, etc. but she still keeps asking me, "Are you sure?". I told her I would ask here to "be sure" even though I've seen it posted numerous times by folks who have cruised a lot.

 

Soooo... Can you please reply to help reassure my wife? (This is in no way a "dig" at my wife but, after 51 years of marriage, I've figured out it's best to just do what I can to make life flow along easily.)

 

Sorry for dumb question, but when I want extra OBC I just go in to the Personaliser and get it that way and it's charged to my card. You mention Gift Cards. Why do you use gift cards? Is there some benefit using these as against just doing it via the Personaliser? Thanks in advance for your respo5.

In answer to your question, I have been on a few cruises that are segments and my OBC has always carried over.

[startedwithamouse]

55 minutes ago, Thrak said:

We're booked for 6 cruises B2B, etc. The first 3 are at Standard Fare so I want to purchase a gift card to use at Passenger Services for OBC. I've told my wife (several times) that, according to all posts I've seen on CC, unused OBC from the first segment will "roll over" to the next segment and the next segment, etc. but she still keeps asking me, "Are you sure?". I told her I would ask here to "be sure" even though I've seen it posted numerous times by folks who have cruised a lot.

 

Soooo... Can you please reply to help reassure my wife? (This is in no way a "dig" at my wife but, after 51 years of marriage, I've figured out it's best to just do what I can to make life flow along easily.)

Absolutely positively 100 percent it OBC rolls over from one cruise to the next on a b2b.

[memoak]

3 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Absolutely positively 100 percent it OBC rolls over from one cruise to the next on a b2b.

On our last b2b there was no close out after the first leg everything rolled over. Can’t guarantee the same will happen with you but I would bet on it. Of course since we are casino players we benetally don’t have a lot to roll over. We did hit some big jackpots but those were paid by hand

[wallyj]

13 minutes ago, leck57 said:

 

Sorry for dumb question, but when I want extra OBC I just go in to the Personaliser and get it that way and it's charged to my card. You mention Gift Cards. Why do you use gift cards? Is there some benefit using these as against just doing it via the Personaliser? Thanks in advance for your respo5.

In answer to your question, I have been on a few cruises that are segments and my OBC has always carried over.

Using gift cards saves 8% , as that is the current discount on the AARP Princess gift cards. So a $500 value gift card, will cost only $460.

[beg3yrs]

Yes, the bill rolls over from segment to segment to segment to segment to ... Well you get the idea.

My strategy is to simply let my amount owed build up until a couple of days before the last segment. Then I visit GS and apply my gift cards to my folio as I have a much better handle on what the final bill will be after all the impulse expenses (and Bingo and Casino and Tommy Bahama shirts if on sale and so on).

[CruisinCouple2010]

Every b2b we have ever been on, the credits did carry over if we had any left. Just as the balance will carry over if that’s the case.

[leck57]

39 minutes ago, wallyj said:

Using gift cards saves 8% , as that is the current discount on the AARP Princess gift cards. So a $500 value gift card, will cost only $460.

 

Ah, ok thanks for responding. I just looked up what AARP is and we don't have them here.

[thistledoo]

I'll throw this question into the mix.   The first leg the onboard currency in in  $AUD, the next ones are $USD.

 

The app shows as one cruise, but I am wondering whether they will close off the folios at the end of the first leg and start afresh with the second?

[trbarton]

Will my T/A be able to use these gift cards as payment?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom

[PescadoAmarillo]

Are some of the cruises in USD and others in AUD?  Because B2B cruises with OBC that move from one currency to another are tricky. Really tricky. And the Princess translation, though ultimately correct, is not easy to follow, neither for me (an accountant) or our traveling companion (a math teacher). 
 

Save copies of everything and don’t leave this ship either owing or being owed money. 

[echoshipmate]

Just home today from 3 b2b's on Royal. All rolled over, medallion app recognized cruise length from July 15 to today, August 5. Paid part of balance at front desk with AARP gift cards, easy peasy 

Doug

[trbarton]

7 minutes ago, echoshipmate said:

Just home today from 3 b2b's on Royal. All rolled over, medallion app recognized cruise length from July 15 to today, August 5. Paid part of balance at front desk with AARP gift cards, easy peasy 

Doug

I've been to the AARP site & don't see where you can purchase the gift cards.  Any help appreciated.

 

Tom

[beg3yrs]

1 minute ago, trbarton said:

I've been to the AARP site & don't see where you can purchase the gift cards.  Any help appreciated.

 

Tom

Tom, let's not hijack Thrak's thread.

 

There's another thread with lots of information on the gift cards through AARP. It's high on the list. Hint: Look for AARP Rewards on the AARP.org website.

[Thrak]

21 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Are some of the cruises in USD and others in AUD?  Because B2B cruises with OBC that move from one currency to another are tricky. Really tricky. And the Princess translation, though ultimately correct, is not easy to follow, neither for me (an accountant) or our traveling companion (a math teacher). 
 

Save copies of everything and don’t leave this ship either owing or being owed money. 

 

GAH!  Yes, the first 24 days are USD.  I had wondered about the change of currency. Given your caveat I think it would be best if I closed out everything the day before the first segment ends. (I just have to remember to do so!) Thanks for the heads up on this. I am not an accountant nor am I a math teacher so the Princess accounting method would likely make me crazy. I don't have enough hair left to be pulling any out.

 

@PescadoAmarillo Perhaps you can help me. I've asked elsewhere without getting a good answer. If I am on an Australian cruise and want to put down cash (or a gift card) that is in USD to use as OBC how does that work? Does Princess do some weird arcane deal or do they use a fairly standard exchange rate? I doubt they would use a "good" exchange rate but I have to wonder how they work it. I'm wondering if I should just get a bunch of AUD here at home before I leave. I also asked elsewhere (Australian cruisers forum) about tipping but haven't gotten any response. I know that Australia is definitely not a tipping culture but how does that work in regard to cabin stewards, MDR waiters, etc.?

 

We have 24 days SF to Sydney and then after that the remaining 39 days are all Australia and New Zealand.

Edited August 6, 2023 by Thrak

[PescadoAmarillo]

I can give you my opinion based on doing exactly what you’ll be doing in 2019-2020. 
 

If you can, without wasting OBC, I would close out your first cruise (the transpacific cruise in USD).  If you have a balance due at that time, it will be charged to your credit card in USD. Start the AUD portion of your cruises fresh. I am not a fan of gift cards though I know many who swear by them, but I can almost promise you that you’ll get a rotten rate of exchange on the ship.  
 

Once you’re in Sydney, go to any of the many ATMs around Circular Quay and the Overseas Passenger Terminal and use an ATM card or debit card (we don’t use those either) to get local currency. From that point, we give extra tips on the ship in whichever currency we have the most of or are trying to use up. It makes no difference to the crew. 
 

We also got NZD for excursions there in the same way. So, by the end of the season, we were tipping crew in USD, AUD and NZD. In Asia we were juggling at least six currencies for tips. 

[trbarton]

21 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

Tom, let's not hijack Thrak's thread.

 

There's another thread with lots of information on the gift cards through AARP. It's high on the list. Hint: Look for AARP Rewards on the AARP.org website.

Sorry…I was not aware of that. I look for it. 
 

Tom🤔

[Thrak]

58 minutes ago, trbarton said:

Will my T/A be able to use these gift cards as payment?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom

 

Tom,

I just paid of $22,000 in cruises and airfare using nothing but gift cards I bought from AARP. The previous discount was 10% (it has now dropped to 8%) so I saved $2,200 by using the cards.