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Booking On Board Credit In Advance

karjoe

By karjoe,
in Princess Cruises

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Emily Kate

Emily Kate

Posted
Posted

Thank you so much Karjoe - I have purchased OBC's this morning for both our upcoming cruise onboard Ruby next month and Crown Princess in October. No problem at all - the lady advised that if we didn't use all the credit it would be refunded. Hope she's right!

 

What a great saving - it really helps to make up for the lousy exchange rate just now.

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Stuartm

Stuartm

Posted
Posted

I bought onboard credit last year for my Diamond Princess cruise from NZ to Australia.

 

The exchange rate in Oz was 65c to the US$ but Princess were offering 75c to the US$ so it was a no-brainer.

 

I was assured by the Princess Rep when I bought the credit that any unused credit would be returned to me via a credit card reversal.

 

Needless to say I spent every cent so never discovered whether this was the case. It does beg the question that how can Princess argue that because you fail to spend all your credit you lose it. I'm sure there would be a strong legal argument against this.

 

What Toto says is good advice. Open your casino account with your cruise card and even if you don't like to gamble you can just use it to withdraw money from your onboard account on the last full day onboard and cash in in the Casino. That's if you have any money left!!!!

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N&PJ

N&PJ

Posted
Posted
If your credit can be used in the casino, keep one thing in mind. You can always open a slot bank, take the remaining credit off your shipboard account and place it in your slot bank, and then cash in your slot bank at the casino cage. This is IF you don't spend it all. Takes a few minutes to do this, but you don't get charged an added 3% like if you went to the casino cage, and you wouldn't be leaving your money behind. ;)

 

:rolleyes: Many thanks for this very useful info and please excuse my lack of knowledge about the casino procedures, but when you are actually on the ship can you buy casino credits using your shipboard account, and then cash-in unused casino credits?

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Miss Jolly

Miss Jolly

Posted
Posted
I bought onboard credit last year for my Diamond Princess cruise from NZ to Australia.

 

The exchange rate in Oz was 65c to the US$ but Princess were offering 75c to the US$ so it was a no-brainer.

 

I was assured by the Princess Rep when I bought the credit that any unused credit would be returned to me via a credit card reversal.

 

Needless to say I spent every cent so never discovered whether this was the case. It does beg the question that how can Princess argue that because you fail to spend all your credit you lose it. I'm sure there would be a strong legal argument against this.

 

What Toto says is good advice. Open your casino account with your cruise card and even if you don't like to gamble you can just use it to withdraw money from your onboard account on the last full day onboard and cash in in the Casino. That's if you have any money left!!!!

 

Stuart - did you purchase that cruise in Australia or US? I am curious as to where and how you paid for the cruise and where and how you arranged this credit at the higher rate please. If you wish to keep it private, could you please email this info to me at jennie1@exemail.com.au Thank you:)

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Toto2Kansas

Toto2Kansas

Posted
Posted
:rolleyes: Many thanks for this very useful info and please excuse my lack of knowledge about the casino procedures, but when you are actually on the ship can you buy casino credits using your shipboard account, and then cash-in unused casino credits?

 

Casino credits must be purchased before you leave like any other pre-ordered gift. They are charged when purchased to your credit card immediately and are not charged to your shipboard account. They are not charged as a cash advance, but as a purchase, so no added fees.

 

If you would like, you can charge casino play to your shipboard account though while onboard. If it is done through a slot machine, no 3% service fee is added. But if you take cash out (charged to your shipboard account) from the casino cage, then a 3% fee is added to the charge.

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seb530

seb530

Posted
Posted

can you purchase this with a Credit Card? do they add a fee?

Just a thought but if you an take cash out.... would it be cheaper to take cash out and convert to Euros on the ship than buying Euros in advance at 1.03 EURO per pound?

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Toto2Kansas

Toto2Kansas

Posted
Posted
can you purchase this with a Credit Card? do they add a fee?

Just a thought but if you an take cash out.... would it be cheaper to take cash out and convert to Euros on the ship than buying Euros in advance at 1.03 EURO per pound?

 

The one thing to keep in mind is that when converting onboard, you use a currecny converter machine. It charges a fee, plus usually has a very poor exchange rate. ;)

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newport dave

newport dave

Posted
Posted

Am on hold now with Princess, girl quoted me $2 - £1, but when she put it through it was coming up as $1.42 when she checked it's only for selected sainlings in Caribbean. I'm doing Panama Canal!!!!!!

 

She's now checking with supervisor, will report back soon

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newport dave

newport dave

Posted
Posted

Have been informed it all depends on when you booked your cruise, as to what exchange rate you get. They only change their rate a couple of times a year, and have only recently changed their rate to the lower $1.42.

 

If there's anybody who's gto $2-£1 and only booked their cruise since this January please let us know, so I can go back and query it with them again....:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

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andante

andante

Posted
Posted

We are on ruby, 4th may. We were given 2 to 1, no problem. We did book last year, but when I asked she said it was unconditional...and if you book a cruise today for next year, you could then buy the onboard credit. Good luck

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andante

andante

Posted
Posted

ive just rung again, and it seems it changes with every person you speak to. Now saying it depends on which cruise you are on, and you have to check each individual cruise to find out the rate...it is not a general concession. ours is to the med by the way.

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hintanjul

hintanjul

Posted
Posted

been reading these posts and was very interested in the varied experiences with Princess. it does appear to be dependent on the exchange rate at time of booking-aaaaaarrrrggghhh!!!!!:mad::mad: booked the Ruby for November 4th in January this year and our idiot Prime Minister:o:o has ruined the exchange rate so we are quoted $1.40. never mind, still looking forward to the cruise.:cool:

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