Any reason to NOT prepay for some On Board Credit?

[pink845]

What can I say, $150 will not go very far for beverages even on a five day cruise. Also, if you prepay, those daily gratuities are going to eat into your $150 and you will be no further ahead. What I would do is put some money in an envelope and the last night of your cruise, go down and pay off your wife's bar bill and when you show her the bill the next morning, it will be very low.

[Shadow9612]

Lots of benefit for me to pre purchase on board credit. I get a better exchange rate than I can get at the bank right now.

 

I'm not sure I understand this - how does purchasing OBC in advance have a better exchange rate?

[Lucky TGO]

Why bother? I see absolutely no reason to pay them in advance.

 

I totally agree.

Tony

[wishfulone]

It depends where you live. We're Australian and the Princess exchange rate for pre purchasing OBC is always quite reasonable when compared to the open market exchange rate. I calculate approx how much we'll spend on board and prepurchase in lots of $100. As foreigners we also have the option to prepay our gratuities at the same exchange rate. It's actually an excellent economic decision for non USA citizens.

[leck57]

I'm pretty sure this is only partially true. As long as your reservations are linked and using the same credit/debit card for on board charges, which I assume will be true since it's your spouse and you're in the same cabin ;), your accounts will be combined and netted at the conclusion of your cruise. That has always been the case when we cruise.

 

No you are completely correct. Srpilo is wrong.

[Shadow9612]

It depends where you live. We're Australian and the Princess exchange rate for pre purchasing OBC is always quite reasonable when compared to the open market exchange rate. I calculate approx how much we'll spend on board and prepurchase in lots of $100. As foreigners we also have the option to prepay our gratuities at the same exchange rate. It's actually an excellent economic decision for non USA citizens.

Could you break it down a little bit more for me (sorry :confused:)?

 

When you go to the cruise personalizer to pre-purchase OBC, isn't it being purchased in USD funds? As a Canadian, whatever I purchase now will be converted to CAD currency by my credit card company, so I'll be paying the exchange rate my credit card company uses.

 

So I'm not 'catching' where/how I get a better exchange rate from Princess....

 

So sorry the light bulb isn't going on for me on this one...

[Strange Lady]

I'm Canadian and just purchased OBC through the personalizer. This is the first time I've done this but I assume I'm getting it at the $1.20 Princess exchange rate.

 

The prices for the coffee card, water etc. which I also purchased are all shown in my personalizer in Cdn pricing and it all computes to the $1.20 exchange rate. This has all been charged to my Cdn credit card - not in US $ and converted, but at the actual prices shown in the personalizer. It appears their 20% exchange rate is calculated into the price they are charging me - just like the price of the cruise itself. So I'm hoping that each $120 OBC I've purchased will give me $100 US ?????

[ceedeem]

Don't post very often but had to reply to this...because it's a BIG DEAL. I too am in Canada and have been on a zillion cruises and have done this many times (purchased obcs ahead of time). Have to say this is a great deal as long as Princess's going exchange rate is lower than what you can purchase at your financial institution, etc. If your cruise if far off in the distance it's a gamble (if you really believe the Cdn dollar will get much better, doubt it) but if your cruise is coming up soon the 20% exchange rate is very appealing. I am always amazed when I cruise and talk to other Canadians that they were not aware of the better exchange rate Princess was using, and offering them, for their cruise.

Have a great cruise!

[Strange Lady]

Thank you. That's the exact information I was looking for.

[Shadow9612]

I'm Canadian and just purchased OBC through the personalizer. This is the first time I've done this but I assume I'm getting it at the $1.20 Princess exchange rate.

 

The prices for the coffee card, water etc. which I also purchased are all shown in my personalizer in Cdn pricing and it all computes to the $1.20 exchange rate. This has all been charged to my Cdn credit card - not in US $ and converted, but at the actual prices shown in the personalizer. It appears their 20% exchange rate is calculated into the price they are charging me - just like the price of the cruise itself. So I'm hoping that each $120 OBC I've purchased will give me $100 US ?????

Ahh, ok, i just realized something. In recent years, I have booked my cruises in US currency - so when I look at the personalizer, it's giving me things in USD prices....

[Jimorel]

Don't use your debit card to guarantee your onboard account!!!

Unless you have a lot of money in your checking account.;)

Anything you spend on board is debited from your folio. When/if you run out of OBC, the computer will start dinging your credit or debit card. They get very upset, if your bank balance doesn't exceed your onboard charges.

Those pesky charges can add up. Since it's your first cruise, you'll be tempted to try everything. Photos when you board, in the MDR, at each port? Check.

Specialty dining? Check.

A drink here, a drink there, a bottle of wine with dinner? Uh Huh.

That really great t-shirt at the $10 sale? Can't live without it.

An excursion that you just have to take? There's still room for us, let's go!

Bingo? Casino? Gotta try it at least once.

Art auction? Did I just win that bid for that stupid painting?

Some get off the ship after spending more on the ship than the cruise cost. OUCH!!

If you're careful, you can leave without spending a dime, but almost no on manages to do that.

I have been on only one cruise before and we spent less than $20 over the modest OBC. This next cruise we will have another $100 OBC and I will try to again spend less then the $20, unless I visit the casino!

[wishfulone]

I have been on only one cruise before and we spent less than $20 over the modest OBC. This next cruise we will have another $100 OBC and I will try to again spend less then the $20, unless I visit the casino!

You must have the sip and sail beverage package or you're a teatotaler in which case you'd come out even unless you booked a shore ex or spent a bit in the boutiques and casino. Sounds like a real cheap life onboard.

[TSM AND JP]

I'm not sure I understand this - how does purchasing OBC in advance have a better exchange rate?

It depends on what the Princess Rate is at your time of booking. In my case, the Princess rate for Canadian Dollars is 1.20. At the bank it is currently 1.25. I will wait until we get closer to our cruise date before deciding, just in case the dollar gets stronger.

[Shadow9612]

It depends on what the Princess Rate is at your time of booking. In my case, the Princess rate for Canadian Dollars is 1.20. At the bank it is currently 1.25. I will wait until we get closer to our cruise date before deciding, just in case the dollar gets stronger.

Do you always book your cruise fare in CAD? I booked my original cruise in USD (which I think means I'm at the mercy of the bank exchange rate.

 

I always battle with the thought of which way is the better way to go.....trying to play the exchange rate game..... I think the bottom line is, sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I'm happy to be able to cruise :)

[TSM AND JP]

Do you always book your cruise fare in CAD? I booked my original cruise in USD (which I think means I'm at the mercy of the bank exchange rate.

 

I always battle with the thought of which way is the better way to go.....trying to play the exchange rate game..... I think the bottom line is, sometimes I win, sometimes I lose, but I'm happy to be able to cruise :)

 

I always book my fare in Canadian Dollars. Any on board expenses are charged to my account in US $. If the Princess rate is favourable, I will purchase OBC to pay my on board expenses. If the Canadian dollar is a better rate at the time of cruising, then I will buy US dollars at the bank and pay my on board expenses with cash the night before disembarkation. :)

[CTGirl]

I have never pre-purchased on board credit but this thread has got me thinking, especially in relation to using pre-purchased obc for pre-purchasing excursions. I don't know if it's doable so I have some questions if you don't mind: 1. If you pre-purchase obc does it show up on your cruise personalizer? And 2. Is it refundable if you don't use it all?

[jc719]

How does Princess handle the refund of unused refundable OBC? Credit back to card? Check? Can the credit be cashed on-board, maybe via casino? Is there a fee for that?

[leck57]

I have never pre-purchased on board credit but this thread has got me thinking, especially in relation to using pre-purchased obc for pre-purchasing excursions. I don't know if it's doable so I have some questions if you don't mind: 1. If you pre-purchase obc does it show up on your cruise personalizer? And 2. Is it refundable if you don't use it all?

 

Yes to both questions. Any unused amount is sent to you by cheque about two weeks after the cruise.

[Shadow9612]

I always book my fare in Canadian Dollars. Any on board expenses are charged to my account in US $. If the Princess rate is favourable, I will purchase OBC to pay my on board expenses. If the Canadian dollar is a better rate at the time of cruising, then I will buy US dollars at the bank and pay my on board expenses with cash the night before disembarkation. :)

Thank you - I think I will consider this in the future. My original thinking was, at times when the CAD dollar is weak, it makeS more sense to book the cruise in USD (hoping it will get better).... But I suppose this is always a gamble.

 

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[Kelownacruiser]

Canadian also and on my last cruise I charged casino credits to my on board account and then cashed out, thus getting actual US dollars at the lower Princess exchange rate.

[c-boy]

I totally agree.

Tony

I had 5k in a envelope sittin' here in my office, now it's 5k of OBC.