Update on Aussies buying OBC with Princess

[bvm49]

We've just purchased OBC for our Princess cruise later this year at the rate of USD 100 for AUD 110:D. They have had this rate for some time now and it certainly beats the present going exchange of USD 100 = AUD 128. Of course it's a gamble but most experts are predicting the present rate won't improve this year.

 

Princess will accept the payment on your CC even if you haven't booked with them - just quote your Princess booking number when you phone them on 1300 551 853. On past cruises, including as recently as last month, we've had no problem "cashing out" excess OBC.

[jennyg2610]

We have also bought OBC for our August cruise at the price you got it for. Bargain considering our current exchange rate. There has been some discussion over how to cash in excess, did you just go to front desk? We were thinking of getting more but I wonder what there limit would be to cash out? We need some USD for private excursions, can you just cash out some at any time?

[GandM-nq]

I bought OBC a while back for my June cruise, at the same rate.

 

I was told that any amount left after cruise account is settled, can either be taken as a cash refund (USD) or have it refunded to your credit card. Not sure that they will allow you 'withdrawals' during cruise. Be interesting to see if they allow that.

 

Also, remember to get a receipt from Princess regards the OBC purchase. Princess sends a confirmation of purchase email to the TA if you used one, but not to the purchaser ( no idea why not just to the purchaser). I had to ring back Princess and get them to send me the receipt as well. Good idea to take this receipt with you on the cruise, in case the Ship has no record of the OBC purchase. You can give them that receipt and let them sort it out with their office.

[Kinkacruiser]

We have also bought OBC for our August cruise at the price you got it for. Bargain considering our current exchange rate. There has been some discussion over how to cash in excess, did you just go to front desk? We were thinking of getting more but I wonder what there limit would be to cash out? We need some USD for private excursions, can you just cash out some at any time?

 

It will be interesting to know if this is possible. I bought USD at our bank for private shore excusions etc. and the purchased OBC's will be for the ship account.

At the end of the cruise we will cash out the excess OBC's...hopefully there will be some left. :)

 

Definitely take a copy of your receipt, in case you don't have the OBC's (purchased or granted ones) credited to your account.

Edited April 24, 2015 by Kinkacruiser

[sandysu]

We've just purchased OBC for our Princess cruise later this year at the rate of USD 100 for AUD 110:D. They have had this rate for some time now and it certainly beats the present going exchange of USD 100 = AUD 128. Of course it's a gamble but most experts are predicting the present rate won't improve this year.

 

 

Definitely a good exchange rate :)

Would there be a problem getting a refund if we ended up having to cancel our booking?

Thanks!

Sandy

[bvm49]

We have also bought OBC for our August cruise at the price you got it for. Bargain considering our current exchange rate. There has been some discussion over how to cash in excess, did you just go to front desk? We were thinking of getting more but I wonder what there limit would be to cash out? We need some USD for private excursions, can you just cash out some at any time?

 

Reading past posts, success at getting cash at reception varies with each cruise. We have never asked; preferring to use the casino which has a limit of $1500 per day (never gone anywhere near that limit:)). They do say you can get refundable OBC back on your credit card. As some OBC is non-refundable, we don't risk this method - also we find the extra USD handy for future holidays.

[bvm49]

Definitely a good exchange rate :)

Would there be a problem getting a refund if we ended up having to cancel our booking?

Thanks!

Sandy

 

Sandy, never had experience with this but you could always ask them.

[jennyg2610]

Reading past posts, success at getting cash at reception varies with each cruise. We have never asked; preferring to use the casino which has a limit of $1500 per day (never gone anywhere near that limit:)). They do say you can get refundable OBC back on your credit card. As some OBC is non-refundable, we don't risk this method - also we find the extra USD handy for future holidays.

 

 

Yes I read that too, bit hit and miss whether you can get cash at reception. Good to know that you can get cash out at Casino if necessary. Even if excess is refunded back to our cc, it's still win win for us as it will convert back to Aud.

[Fletch1]

We did this for our recent cruise on the Ocean Princess last month and got the same rate US$500 = AUD$550. We purchased 3 X US$500 bundles using our credit card prior to embarking direct with Princess. This is an excellent exchange rate.

 

There was no problem at all in withdrawing in cash via the Purser's desk and the casino. It was never questioned. We got $200 cash out of the casino on day 2 of the cruise (although, we had to take it in casino chips and then cash them in), $500 cash from the Purser's desk about a week into the cruise and we got the balance in cash from the Purser's desk the day before disembarkation.

 

I would recommend doing this if you are an Aussie and traveling on a Princess ship that operates in USD.

 

[bvm49]

I would recommend doing this if you are an Aussie and traveling on a Princess ship that operates in USD.

 

Yes, I should have mentioned this only works for overseas cruises with OBC in USD.

[Andromeda_Infusion]

Hi I want to prepurchase OBC do I do it via the My Princess website or ring Princess? anyone know what the current exchange rate is? Thanks in advance.

[wishfulone]

Hi I want to prepurchase OBC do I do it via the My Princess website or ring Princess? anyone know what the current exchange rate is? Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Andromeda

This is a very old thread. The current rate for your cruise will be shown in your cruise personaliser. Go to Onboard Reservations, Onboard Credits. Hope you see a good rate in there.:)

[MicCanberra]

Hi I want to prepurchase OBC do I do it via the My Princess website or ring Princess? anyone know what the current exchange rate is? Thanks in advance.

 

As mentioned it is an old rate and cashing out excess OBC have also had the loop holes closed. To buy OBC call Princess and get the current rate before going ahead and purchasing.

[wishfulone]

As mentioned it is an old rate and cashing out excess OBC have also had the loop holes closed. To buy OBC call Princess and get the current rate before going ahead and purchasing.

If you phone Princess do you get a different rate to the one shown in your personaliser?

[MicCanberra]

If you phone Princess do you get a different rate to the one shown in your personaliser?

 

I am not sure as I haven't tried purchasing through the personaliser, I would think it would be the same.

[mrs and mrs]

Yes it works if you are going to spend your excess OBC as USD,but if you take your USD and then sell it back for AUD,you will end up with less than 100 AUD via commissions,fees,and exchange rate.;):rolleyes::cool:

[MicCanberra]

If you phone Princess do you get a different rate to the one shown in your personaliser?

 

My personaliser says it is $125 for $100 USD ($0.80) however, as it is an aussie cruise with AUD on board, god knows what happens there.:confused:

[MicCanberra]

My personaliser says it is $125 for $100 USD ($0.80) however, as it is an aussie cruise with AUD on board, god knows what happens there.:confused:

 

My personaliser for the other cruise I have booked for next year says it is $130 for $100 USD ($0.77), again it is an aussie cruise with AUD on board. more confusion. this is why I normally call them up.

[OzKiwiJJ]

It's the same software bug that affects the drink package prices.

[MicCanberra]

It's the same software bug that affects the drink package prices.

 

Cheers, It always astounds me just how bad most cruise sites are.

[wishfulone]

Cheers, It always astounds me just how bad most cruise sites are.

With all due respect, I would differ here. Every cruise we've ever done has a different exchange rate for purchasing OBC. It seems to me it's based at the exchange rate on the day you book your cruise. If the rate goes up or down over 12 months or more time period you don't see it change in the personaliser. You're well and truly locked in at the day you book. Best advice ever, is to book and pay the deposit on your cruise on the day you get the best possible exchange rate.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Yes, the exchange rate is locked in as at the time you book. Sometimes that can work in your favour if you are booking a USD cruise - you can decide on what OBC you want at your leisure. At other times it isn't advantageous and that's where you wait until you board to pay for various things, and hope the credit card exchange rate at the end of the cruise is better.

 

However on an AUD cruise it is irrelevant. You're buying things (OBC, drinks packages) in AUD. Unfortunately the bug in the online software, which reconverts the AUD price using the USD to AUD exchange rate, means that the online prices are wrong. So with OBC theoretically you are paying AU $125 for AU $100 (or whatever the rate is on your personalizer). Where possible it's better to wait until you board to purchase drinks packages, and it may be better to phone Princess to arrange OBC (but I haven't actually done that myself).

[MicCanberra]

With all due respect, I would differ here. Every cruise we've ever done has a different exchange rate for purchasing OBC. It seems to me it's based at the exchange rate on the day you book your cruise. If the rate goes up or down over 12 months or more time period you don't see it change in the personaliser. You're well and truly locked in at the day you book. Best advice ever, is to book and pay the deposit on your cruise on the day you get the best possible exchange rate.

I agree, and that certainly applies to overseas cruises or even to RCI and Celebrity when here in Australia, however, this is an Aussie cruise in AUD.

 

Yes, the exchange rate is locked in as at the time you book. Sometimes that can work in your favour if you are booking a USD cruise - you can decide on what OBC you want at your leisure. At other times it isn't advantageous and that's where you wait until you board to pay for various things, and hope the credit card exchange rate at the end of the cruise is better.

 

However on an AUD cruise it is irrelevant. You're buying things (OBC, drinks packages) in AUD. Unfortunately the bug in the online software, which reconverts the AUD price using the USD to AUD exchange rate, means that the online prices are wrong. So with OBC theoretically you are paying AU $125 for AU $100 (or whatever the rate is on your personalizer). Where possible it's better to wait until you board to purchase drinks packages, and it may be better to phone Princess to arrange OBC (but I haven't actually done that myself).

 

I agree, it should be irrelevant, $100 AUD of OBC should cost $100 AUD on the Aussie cruises. I can assure you that I will not be paying $125 AUD to get $100 AUD of OBC, I will be calling Princess instead.

[bvm49]

Earlier this year I bought OBC for our overseas cruise next month at 80 cents in the dollar - last year they offered 90 cents. With the present exchange of approx 75 cents I won't make much on my gamble.

[MicCanberra]

Earlier this year I bought OBC for our overseas cruise next month at 80 cents in the dollar - last year they offered 90 cents. With the present exchange of approx 75 cents I won't make much on my gamble.

They have tightened the margins and now it is a case of only buying OBC for the expected expenses or just budgeting for the end of cruise bill.