Purchasing OBC as a gift?

[jb008]

There was a past thread that indicated that the only way to purchase an OBC for someone is as a casino credit?

 

I would like to confirm that

A- OBC's are not available for the general (non TA) person to purchase

B- the casino credits can be redeemed for the full cash amount (not minus a 3 or 5% cashout fee or something like that)?

 

Thanks in advanced!

[Coral]

This is not correct. I purchased OBC as OBC for friends as a wedding gift. It can be purchased in $25 increments.

 

I just called Princess and told them the date in which my friends were sailing and it took 2 minutes over the phone.

[Pia1913]

What you can't purchase is OBC in the form of a gift certificate for future use. It must be applied to an existing reservation. I wanted to do that as a gift for my sister's upcoming anniversary and told I couldn't do it this way. RCI however has gift certificates in many different amounts, so I think Princess and CCL Corp. should really think about implementing this on their lines.

 

Pia

[KKB]

and simply paid $100 for OBC for my parents for Xmas. Very simple!

[Pia1913]

and simply paid $100 for OBC for my parents for Xmas. Very simple!

 

Yes, for an existing reservation it would be simple. But you can't buy for future use w/o a res. already in place.

 

Pia

[jb008]

Thanks for the replies!

 

SO I have a reservation, and my parents want to give my DW and I an OBC credit for our birthday. I need to have them call Princess then with my booking number and pertinent cruise details then?

[Pia1913]

Thanks for the replies!

 

SO I have a reservation, and my parents want to give my DW and I an OBC credit for our birthday. I need to have them call Princess then with my booking number and pertinent cruise details then?

 

It's just that easy. :D

[CRUISNDIVA]

Just a thought....this may sound dumb but could you purchase OBC for yourself before sailing? If you had some spare cash in the months leading up to your cruise you could put it in your OBC account and maybe by the time your cruise rolls around you would have enough credit to pay for all your on board purchases.;)

 

Is this even allowed :confused:

[jb008]

I would think it's generally more cost effective to put the money in a CD, or even a high yield savings account - at least you'll earn a little interest on it. If you need to keep it untouchable put it in a 3 month CD.

[Putterdude]

Our sons purchased 3 $100 OBCs as a Christmas gift for us. We wern't told about it on the ship but when we called our sons at Christmas from the ship they told us what they had done for us. So a check with the pursers desk confirmed that they were there then the gift cards arrived in our cabin about 3 days after Christmas.

[2Oregonians]

Just a thought....this may sound dumb but could you purchase OBC for yourself before sailing? If you had some spare cash in the months leading up to your cruise you could put it in your OBC account and maybe by the time your cruise rolls around you would have enough credit to pay for all your on board purchases.;)

 

Is this even allowed :confused:

 

I am SOoooo glad you asked this!! I have thought about doing the same thing and was going to ask about it here, but I thought people would think it was silly. LOL. I'm the same way... if I have money saved up, I want to "put it down" on my onboard credit "account" so that my final tally after the cruise won't be as bad. I don't see why you couldn't buy yourself some OBC before you go. Let's try it!! :)

[Shelly97060]

Yes, you can send yourself OBC as a gift if you have a cruise booked. Just contact Princess.

[2Oregonians]

Yes, you can send yourself OBC as a gift if you have a cruise booked. Just contact Princess.

 

 

Hi fellow Oregonian. Thanks for the reply. :)

[isyer1]

Just a thought....this may sound dumb but could you purchase OBC for yourself before sailing? If you had some spare cash in the months leading up to your cruise you could put it in your OBC account and maybe by the time your cruise rolls around you would have enough credit to pay for all your on board purchases.;)

 

Is this even allowed :confused:

 

I did this on my Cruise in FEB... it was actually great becasue I could budget for the Cruise. I had applied enough credits to cover half of the shipboard charges. We will do this again now that we know how much we spend on a cruise.

[2Oregonians]

I did this on my Cruise in FEB... it was actually great becasue I could budget for the Cruise. I had applied enough credits to cover half of the shipboard charges. We will do this again now that we know how much we spend on a cruise.

 

 

That's great to know. I think I will definitely be doing this. Less headache worrying about paying for it at the end. Now to decide how much I should put down. I know how much our excursions total up to, but I have no idea how much we'll spend in the shops and on drinks. :cool:

[West Coast]

We've done it both ways. But personally, I prefer to purchase casino credits. They work just like cash and I get the FF miles without the usual 3% casino surcharge. plus, if there are any leftover, I can cash them in and then put teh cash down ony my account at the pursers desk.

[CruiseQueen13]

How was it? Worth it? I would like to do this for my husband on our anniversary. What do they serve and how does it work? We'll be sailing on CB.

[West Coast]

How was it? Worth it? I would like to do this for my husband on our anniversary. What do they serve and how does it work? We'll be sailing on CB.

 

I think if I were deciding between UBD and the Chef's Table, I would go wih the later.

[Stuartm]

I would like to pay money into my account before the cruise for reasons mentioned above but if I get carried away and have more money than I need in the acct. do I get it back in cash, cheque, or do I have to cruise again to use it?

[West Coast]

Hi Stuart,

Just go to the Purser's desk on the last night to find out the balance on your account. If there is money due, they will collect it and if by chance you have a credit balance, they will refund it.

[zaxxon12]

If you are purchasing OBC for your own account, does it come in card form in your cabin that you have to take to the purser or does it just appear on the account?

[West Coast]

If you are purchasing OBC for your own account, does it come in card form in your cabin that you have to take to the purser or does it just appear on the account?

 

We have 'gifted' OBC to others in the past and they have received a card in the stateroom at embarkation.

[tvaud]

If you "gift" yourself, say, $1000. in OBC, would they still need a credit card at embarkation? If so, would they still put a hold on it?