On board prices for an Australian cruise

[ravenjls]

When I booked an Australian cruise I prepaid the plus package, some excursions and a few specialty dinners.  I paid the USD prices ($60 pp per day for plus, $35/$39 for specialty restaurants but AUD for my excursions.  All my OBC is in AUD (so its much less than USD).  If I had waited to book the plus package and the specialty restaurants once on board would they have charged me in AUD thus spending a lot less for these.  I feel like I am losing out with my obc since 100 AUD is worth 64 USD.  

[woodscruise]

The ships operate solely in  AUD, so I am sure the upgrade prices will be AUD.

[partybarbie]

Yes, they would charge you in AUD, but that $60 drink package in US dollars might cost $90 in Australian dollars. Also,  there’s a service charge for paying your shipboard account with a credit card. I found it cheaper to prepay before the cruise.

[Shaver John]

26 minutes ago, partybarbie said:

Yes, they would charge you in AUD, but that $60 drink package in US dollars might cost $90 in Australian dollars. Also,  there’s a service charge for paying your shipboard account with a credit card. I found it cheaper to prepay before the cruise.

You need to check with Princess and see why you are paying for tips. In the paperwork it states that in Australia they do not collect gratuities as it is Australia. We had our TA call and were told yes, no gratuities are collected for the room stewards or anyone. With that said we changed to standard. Several folks have checked and been told the same thing. If you find something different please let us know. I think we have been on several cruises with you. I remember you from a meet and greet. Very friendly.

[partybarbie]

1 hour ago, Shaver John said:

You need to check with Princess and see why you are paying for tips. In the paperwork it states that in Australia they do not collect gratuities as it is Australia. We had our TA call and were told yes, no gratuities are collected for the room stewards or anyone. With that said we changed to standard. Several folks have checked and been told the same thing. If you find something different please let us know. I think we have been on several cruises with you. I remember you from a meet and greet. Very friendly.

Thank you for the kind words. I’m sure we have met before.

 

What we were told in regards to the tips is if you book through an Australian travel agency or website, then the gratuities are included in the price. However, if you’re in the United States, the gratuities aren’t included and separate payment would need to be made.

Edited October 17, 2023 by partybarbie

[Shaver John]

I'm not sure, but we called Princess, well, our Travel agent did and the agent for Princess assured him that we would not be charged, worst case we will be and we will pay them.

 

Princess needs to change the contract if this is the case, but as we all know they seem to be a bit untidy with some of the changes. 

 

We go in March so I guess we will find out. Who knows, it will be OK if the contact is wrong, but we will still have a nice trip.

[Steelers36]

50 minutes ago, partybarbie said:

Thank you for the kind words. I’m sure we have met before.

 

What we were told in regards to the tips is if you book through an Australian travel agency or website, then the gratuities are included in the price. However, if you’re in the United States, the gratuities aren’t included and separate payment would need to be made.

Agree.  When Princess sells a cabin to Aussies and Kiwis for a cruise out of Sydney (for example), the CA is baked into the fare.  When we book an Australia-based cruise here in North America, we are paying a cabin fare not including CA and we need to pay it either via the Plus Package or a la carte.  In Australia, a Plus package costs less (when converted to USD) because it doesn't include CA (because it is covered by the base cabin fare).

[ravenjls]

So is the casino played with AUD?  Im so confused.  If I put 1000 on my obc then do they charge AUD.  I usually use my obc in the casino but what should be 500 in USD is now 500 AUD on my booking.  

[Astro Flyer]

25 minutes ago, Shaver John said:

We go in March so I guess we will find out.

We circumnavigate Australia in March 2025 and hopefully by then will have answers from those who booked in the US & are sailing exclusively within Oz instead of the conflicting info Princess provides.
 

Whatever way it’s done would just like to know what we’ll experience to help with making our plans.

 

[Astro Flyer]

24 minutes ago, ravenjls said:

So is the casino played with AUD?  Im so confused.  If I put 1000 on my obc then do they charge AUD.  I usually use my obc in the casino but what should be 500 in USD is now 500 AUD on my booking.  

I don’t know the answer but here’s the currency used based on my Cruise Personalizer & Medallion app. At the current exchange rate, the AUD amount is about 1/3 less than in USD….$500 AUD is only $318 USD.

 

• AUD: OBC, tours, specialty dinner-$47/$53

 

• USD: Tips (prepaying)

 

Currently there is no Onboard Services pricing…it’s frustrating that Princess provides conflicting info about how the Oz cruises finances are managed.

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Astro Flyer

[partybarbie]

Hopefully this information from my upcoming Australia/New Zealand cruise will be helpful. I’m going in February, so I can report back. My last cruise down under was five years ago, but the information appears to be same now as it was then.

Edited October 18, 2023 by partybarbie

[Steelers36]

3 hours ago, ravenjls said:

So is the casino played with AUD?  Im so confused.  If I put 1000 on my obc then do they charge AUD.  I usually use my obc in the casino but what should be 500 in USD is now 500 AUD on my booking.  

Princess converts all OBC at 1:1.  It is unfortunate but been that way before Covid even.

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

I don’t know the answer but here’s the currency used based on my Cruise Personalizer & Medallion app. At the current exchange rate, the AUD amount is about 1/3 less than in USD….$500 AUD is only $318 USD.

 

• AUD: OBC, tours, specialty dinner-$47/$53

 

• USD: Tips (prepaying)

 

Currently there is no Onboard Services pricing…it’s frustrating that Princess provides conflicting info about how the Oz cruises finances are managed.

 

They convert the cruise fares and port taxes at a fixed rate that Princess resets from time to time.  They do the same for Canada.  The Canada premium rate now is 1.35.  a $1,000 US voyage costs $1,350 CAD.  Once a guest has a booking, anything they purchase via Cruise Personalizer or App is also converted at the 1.35 (even if Princess adjusts the rate for new bookings).  OBC is in USD for Canada.

 

I am sure in Australia, purchases pre-cruise from CP or the App will be at the rate used when cruise was booked.  Their OBC is in AUD and remains as such for their cruises where ship currency is AUD.  I am guessing an Aussie who gets SOBC and books a US voyage, ends up with $100 US from their $100 AUD.

 

For Australia, they take whatever OBC you get in USD and convert it 1:1 into AUD.  Nasty for us, but works well for the Aussies coming the other way.  This is things like MOBC, SOBC.

[robncruise]

While promotion onboard credit converts to the onboard currency at 1:1  , any pre purchased OBC is in units of $25, 50 and 100 USD and is  transferred  to AUD$ on board.

 I pre purchased OBC  for my Majestic Princess cruise in Feb this year - my $100 USD   (which I paid 155 NZ$)   translated to  $145.10 AUD on my onboard account

[Yehootu]

Any idea how it works for a transpacific? We have a 10 day Queensland followed by a 30day transpacific that ends in Vancouver. I know I had to pay with a card for 2 excursions, in AUD, we wanted on the Queensland cruise. I have a lot of gift cards I'll use on the transpacific if I wait till the end of cruise, will my folio be settled in USD? Confused.

[wallyj]

17 minutes ago, Yehootu said:

Any idea how it works for a transpacific? We have a 10 day Queensland followed by a 30day transpacific that ends in Vancouver. I know I had to pay with a card for 2 excursions, in AUD, we wanted on the Queensland cruise. I have a lot of gift cards I'll use on the transpacific if I wait till the end of cruise, will my folio be settled in USD? Confused.

Pretty sure your Australia to North America sailing, the currency on board will convert back to USD.

 

I did the April 2023 Sydney to LA sailing on the Majestic and the currency on board was USD. Sounds like your 10 day prior to Transpacific the on board currency will be AUS$.

[ravenjls]

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Princess converts all OBC at 1:1.  It is unfortunate but been that way before Covid even.

if you know, So if I want to get $100 worth of chips in the casino and put it on my account will they charge my credit card AUD $100  if its 1 - 1?  Do I get ten $10 chips or is it something different? 

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, ravenjls said:

if you know, So if I want to get $100 worth of chips in the casino and put it on my account will they charge my credit card AUD $100  if its 1 - 1?  Do I get ten $10 chips or is it something different? 

You charge cabin account 100 AUD.  When you settle up, make sure Princess charges your CC in AUD.  Do not let them convert to USD for you.  It is not 1:1 and they use worse rate than CC.