Maximum Credit given by Cruise Line

[Hang Tuah]

Can anyone give me an idea of how much credit is extended to each cabin by Princess Cruises. Years ago, I cruised with RCCL and if I remember correctly, I had a USD 1000 credit for my cabin. When it almost reached the limit, I cleared up the amount and started again. Would this be the case with Princess. I have registered my credit card when doing the online check in.

[Pam in CA]

You can have as much onboard credit as you want, either earned, bought or promotion. There's no limit to the amount of onboard credit that I'm aware of. If you want to send yourself a "gift" of $2,000, go for it.

 

On Princess, OBC from whatever source is combinable. It's all added up to a total amount of credit: shareholder, military, TA, sales promotion, loyalty, future cruise credit, etc.

[Hang Tuah]

Thanks Pam. So, what you are saying is that I have to credit my OBC before I can start "spending"? That being the case, I much rather deposit cash with the purser when I am on board, to avoid paying hefty FX and card fees - correct?

[crochetcruise]

You can have as much onboard credit as you want, either earned, bought or promotion. There's no limit to the amount of onboard credit that I'm aware of. If you want to send yourself a "gift" of $2,000, go for it.

 

On Princess, OBC from whatever source is combinable. It's all added up to a total amount of credit: shareholder, military, TA, sales promotion, loyalty, future cruise credit, etc.

 

Pam in CA, you may be able to clarify this for me-I intend to gift myself OBC when I cruise, I already have AUD$68.75. Casino, Photography package, Culinary Delights, Internet, and Gift Services will be pre-paid, with additional funds taken as On Board Credit. What I am puzzled about, is finalising the Folio on the Sunday afternoon-how are charges incurred at the Happy Hour and PES function dealt with. I should know by midnight Saturday, what expenses I'd be likely to incur Sunday afternoon and evening, and would like to pay the estimated amount in addition to settling my folio. Is this allowed. My credit card(debit card with credit drawn against my own funds) has been lodged with Princess, I plan to buy at least 1 Future Cruise Credit, so will have funds put onto the card before I leave home.

 

As I'm on a Government Benefit, I pre-pay as much as possible to control nasty surprises.

 

Thanks for any help, I've learnt a tremendous amount already just by reading the posts here on Cruise Critic, but I haven't yet found this bit of information.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Can anyone give me an idea of how much credit is extended to each cabin by Princess Cruises. Years ago, I cruised with RCCL and if I remember correctly, I had a USD 1000 credit for my cabin. When it almost reached the limit, I cleared up the amount and started again. Would this be the case with Princess. I have registered my credit card when doing the online check in.

 

Since you've put a credit card against your acoount you shouldn't have to do anything else. Princess will probably put holds on your credit card. They may not have a limit per se but if you don't have sufficient credit on your credit card they may contact you. In actual fact you need to have double the amount of available credit as the holds aren't usually released until up to a month later - by the credit card company not Princess.

 

We had no problems on a 17 night cruise last year, with drinks packages and the Sanctuary our account was at least $3000.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Thanks Pam. So, what you are saying is that I have to credit my OBC before I can start "spending"? That being the case, I much rather deposit cash with the purser when I am on board, to avoid paying hefty FX and card fees - correct?

 

No, you don't have to have credit on your onboard account before you start spending, as long as you have a credit card attached to that account.

 

You might like to look at getting a 28 Degrees Mastercard as they don't charge foreign transaction fees and their exchange rates are very close to the current FX rate.

 

However if you're doing a cruise where the onboard costs are in USD you might want to by some OBC before you go. Princess offers very good exchange rates for OBC. I believe they are currently offering .80 (current is around .76) and if you booked your cruise last year you may be lucky to get the .90 rate that was on offer then - the rate stays at what it was when you booked.

 

If you're doing a cruise on the Australian-based ships with onboard costs in AUD there is no major benefit in buying OBC except if you wish to pay for some things upfront.

Edited March 23, 2016 by OzKiwiJJ

[skynight]

Can anyone give me an idea of how much credit is extended to each cabin by Princess Cruises. Years ago, I cruised with RCCL and if I remember correctly, I had a USD 1000 credit for my cabin. When it almost reached the limit, I cleared up the amount and started again. Would this be the case with Princess. I have registered my credit card when doing the online check in.

The max. credit is the limit amount on the credit or debit card provided to Princess to pay for your on board expenses. Each overnight your account is netted and Princess will place a hold against your credit/debit card for any new positive amount. It is just a simple debit/credit system. Credits are any OBC's provided by Princess, your T.A. or by gifting yourself OBC's. Debits are your on board purchases.

In your RCCL example you probably had a limit, either because you were settling your account with cash, or that was the limit of your credit card at that time.

[JF - retired RRT]

What I am puzzled about, is finalising the Folio on the Sunday afternoon-how are charges incurred at the Happy Hour and PES function dealt with. ANY expenses incurred on board will be charged to your folio...up to the moment you walk off the ship.

I plan to buy at least 1 Future Cruise Credit, so will have funds put onto the card before I leave home.

If you buy a Future Cruise Deposit, it will be charged to your credit card that is on record.

[crochetcruise]

If you buy a Future Cruise Deposit, it will be charged to your credit card that is on record.

 

THANK YOU! I know there's a deposit for the Adelaide mini-bar-can take cash and get it refunded the morning of departure, have done that when the card had a glitch; the Future Cruise Deposit where I intended to pay that amount ONTO the card before I embarked; and the Melbourne hotel, when the mini-bar deposit amount is unknown, it's a recommended hotel and my first stay there. I'll "guesstimate" AUD$100 a night to be on the safe side.

 

I'm going down to an Outlet Shopping Mall, where a branch of my preferred supermarket is, so any drinks or snacks will be bought there, it's MUCH cheaper than the mini-bar-and any "savings" will be promptly "earmarked" for International Travel Insurance, which I'll get in January when I book the next cruise.

 

Thanks everyone for being patient with this ignorant newbie asking the most basic of questions! 2 former work colleagues will also be sailing with me, 1 I knew about, the other shocked us both with his announcement, "I'm sailing with you!" We're all sailing solo, the other 2 have Inside Staterooms, 1 on Plaza Deck, and I think the other is Inside on Aloha Deck. The other guy commented, "Oooh, up so high, it might get rough!" Might even be Lido Deck, I haven't looked at the deck plans yet.

 

17 weeks to Final Cruise Fare Payment for me, and then 12 weeks to finalise any On Board Credit; Gift services; Beverage Package; Internet Package; Culinary Delights; Photography Package; Spa Services; Speciality Restaurants-Crown Grill and budgeting for the Crab Shack-not sure if it's available on the cruise, but taking money to try it out and Casino Credits. Most costing has been done, I'm in the "accumulation" stage. I get my Cruise Documents by 11/10/2016, a calendar month before I sail.

 

1 of my friends reckoned I watched too many episodes of the Love Boat, I'm so "up-to-date" with all the details. I pointed out Cruise Critic is a primary source of information for me, go and join up yourself!

[Hang Tuah]

Thanks everyone for your invaluable input. Your answers have cleared up any doubts/questions that I had regarding OBC. Have a great cruise, the next time you are on one. Cheers!!

[Pam in CA]

A hold is placed on your credit or debit card nightly ONLY if you have a balance due. Your folio is a simple credit/debit system. You start out with a credit and anything charged to your folio is deducted from the credit until there's a balance due. As long as there's credit, you're good. The final folio charge is made during the night before disembarkation.

 

If you purchase an FCC (Future Cruise Deposit), it's charged directly to the credit or debit card on record, separate from your folio. That's because it's charged through the Princess booking system, not the onboard folio. Technically, you've booked a cruise even though it's on account towards a future, undetermined cruise.

 

Unlike some lines, Princess does not put a hold pre-cruise or even during your cruise on account. As I said above, as long as you have credit (OBC) on your folio, no hold will be placed.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Good point about the holds being only for accounts in debit, Pam.

 

Also any unused purchased OBC will be credited back to the credit card on file, or possibly mailed to you as a cheque, but apparently can take up to six weeks to come through. Note there are some types of OBC that are non-refundable, like any given to you by Princess, but non-refundable OBC is "consumed" first.

[caribill]

Also any unused purchased OBC will be credited back to the credit card on file, or possibly mailed to you as a cheque, but apparently can take up to six weeks to come through.

 

It might not go back to the credit card on file. It could go back to the credit card used to purchase it.

[OzKiwiJJ]

It might not go back to the credit card on file. It could go back to the credit card used to purchase it.

 

Yes, that's a possibility too. I'll find out soon. I bought more than enough OBC for our upcoming Golden cruise so will most likely still be in credit at the end of the cruise.

[SadieN]

...........; and the Melbourne hotel, when the mini-bar deposit amount is unknown, it's a recommended hotel and my first stay there. I'll "guesstimate" AUD$100 a night to be on the safe side.

 

..................!

 

 

Contact the hotel. They will tell you the amount of the deposit.

Edited March 24, 2016 by SadieN

[miagirl]

... there's a deposit for the Adelaide mini-bar!

 

We've not yet been able to travel to Australia and needing to put a deposit down re possible use of things from a mini-bar is something I would have never thought about and probably might have argued about. Information like this can help keep one from looking like an idiot in a different country! These boards are full of great information.

 

thanks!