Purchased OBC can't be used to purchase pre cruise excursions.

[phabric]

I have OBC from agent, and promos. I do not have enough to purchase all my excursions with these OBC, so I purchased OBC under Onboard Reservations, thinking I could use these OBC to pay for my excursions pre cruise.

 

 

I tried purchasing my excursions, I could only use the OBC from agent/promo to pay for the excursions.

 

 

I called Princess, one agent said yes, you will be able to use OBC purchased and OBC from agent/promo for excursions. Tried again to purchase excursions, again only OBC from agent/promo shows up to use.

 

 

Called Princess again different agent, she said OBC purchased under Onboard Reservations can ONLY be used onboard and OBC from agent/promo can be used for excursions.

 

Going on Norwegian Fjords cruise which only has a few excursions in each port so want to have excursions already booked and not wait until on the ship.

 

Anybody heard of this before?

[JF - retired RRT]

You could try calling back...again. And ask if the rep will try to use the purchased OBC. It might take a manager's over-ride. Doesn't hurt to ask.

[Pam in CA]

I don’t know or understand how using OBC works for pre-paying for anything. I’ve got a ton (over $700) listed in my Personalizer and printed on my travel summary and while I was able to pre-book excursions using about $250, there’s supposedly not enough to pre-purchase a soda package. When I try, it gives me only the option of actually paying for it. Not a big deal as I can get it on the ship but it still has me scratching my head.

[easyboy]

It does happen sometimes. Some phone reps have different answers. Once asked about my refund, had conflicting answers. Just needed some patience to call again.

 

 

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[JF - retired RRT]

I don’t know or understand how using OBC works for pre-paying for anything. I’ve got a ton (over $700) listed in my Personalizer and printed on my travel summary and while I was able to pre-book excursions using about $250, there’s supposedly not enough to pre-purchase a soda package. When I try, it gives me only the option of actually paying for it. Not a big deal as I can get it on the ship but it still has me scratching my head.

That is strange. I couldn't book an excursion on one of our cruises. Got an error message and then all my OBC disappeared.:eek:

I called Princess and the rep fixed it in seconds. Try calling?

[phabric]

On Friday, I tried to purchase OBC online, I kept getting a code that something was wrong with my card and to check it out, address, limit. I tried a few times so I called Visa. Visa said nothing wrong with the card had to be Princess. Princess said must be Visa. I was on the phone for 2 hours between Visa and Princess and did not get any OBC.

 

On Saturday, tried again online with Princess, the same code popped up message, something wrong with the card. Called Visa, they said the Princess code I am seeing is something is wrong with my security code and Visa said nothing is wrong with my card. Purchasing online you need a security code.

 

I called Princess, told my story about going back and forth with Visa and Princess for 2 hours the day before. Princess agent tried purchasing the OBC, and was able to get put the purchase through. Calling in they don't need the security code.

 

I tried Monday online with Princess, and the code is still showing not able to purchase.

 

Only took 3 hours to to make a simple purchase.

[Jamileau]

Yes - I tried to do this to take advantage of the Princess exchange rate (better than the bank rate at the time). You can not use purchased OBC to pay for excursions as it does not show up on your personalizer - it only shows up on your account after you board the ship. The OBC you get as a promotion shows up on your personalizer immediately and therefore can be used to purchase excursions.

[Pam in CA]

That is strange. I couldn't book an excursion on one of our cruises. Got an error message and then all my OBC disappeared.:eek:

 

I called Princess and the rep fixed it in seconds. Try calling?

Thanks. I’m not going to bother. It’s not a big deal. Just very odd since so much OBC is listed in my Personalizer and Travel Summary. My Loyalty OBC isn’t listed as I don’t get that until I board but I’ve got both promotional, FCC and shareholder OBC listed that I should be able to use.

[Steelers36]

Tes, as a previous poster stated, purchased OBC is only available on board and therefore unavailable for pre-purchasing excursions, or other packages.

[Nomsayin]

Does Princess now require payment for excursions at time of booking? When we last cruised in March of this year, they were still charged to your account upon boarding.

[Jamileau]

I had to pay upon booking for excursions.

 

 

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[Nomsayin]

I had to pay upon booking for excursions.

 

I was afraid of that:(

[cflutist]

Thanks. I’m not going to bother. It’s not a big deal. Just very odd since so much OBC is listed in my Personalizer and Travel Summary. My Loyalty OBC isn’t listed as I don’t get that until I board but I’ve got both promotional, FCC and shareholder OBC listed that I should be able to use.

Pam, that's odd. I just booked 4 shorex for Alaska a few days ago and was able to use obc from our TA, Sip and Sale obc, and FCC obc to pay for it. I have to wait for CCL shareholders and Loyalty obc on the ship to book some more of those that take more passengers.

[kjg46]

Pam, that's odd. I just booked 4 shorex for Alaska a few days ago and was able to use obc from our TA, Sip and Sale obc, and FCC obc to pay for it. I have to wait for CCL shareholders and Loyalty obc on the ship to book some more of those that take more passengers.

 

 

Yes, I also was advised that I could use OBC to purchase shore excursions. And I say, And the Princess Rep. I talked to, said that She could ADD the cost of the shore excursion to my bill to be paid with the final payment. So, his way I would not out big bucks many months prior to the actual Cruise.

[cdngrl]

i also bought obc because princess' exchange rate is better than my bank's at the moment.

i also couldn't purchase excursions with it. and yes, i called.

it shows up on my travel summary, so why can't princess figure this out?!

so i paid for my excursions and now i have obc that i don't really want to spend. at least the prepurchased obc is refundable, even if i have to wait weeks for it.

[Jamileau]

Cdngrl I was able to get the obc refunded right away.

 

 

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[cdngrl]

Cdngrl I was able to get the obc refunded right away.

 

 

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thanks, i could have cancelled the obc purchase in the personalizer but they change it to CAD and i end up losing money. i had booked and paid for another excursion, changed my mind and the exchange robbed me. darn banks.

i'll wait for my USD refund and go to the bank and take USD cash for the next trip!

[phabric]

thanks, i could have cancelled the obc purchase in the personalizer but they change it to CAD and i end up losing money. i had booked and paid for another excursion, changed my mind and the exchange robbed me. darn banks.

i'll wait for my USD refund and go to the bank and take USD cash for the next trip!

 

What I do, go to the casino, at the slot machine, set up a casino account, transfer $ (OBC) from your sail account to your casino account, play (I always play so they can not say you are using as a cash machine), cash out to your casino account, take your sail card to the cashier and cash out your casino account, cashier will give you cash.

[OCruisers]

Some OBC don't show up on your account until your are actually on the ship. ;)

[BJS]

What I do, go to the casino, at the slot machine, set up a casino account, transfer $ (OBC) from your sail account to your casino account, play (I always play so they can not say you are using as a cash machine), cash out to your casino account, take your sail card to the cashier and cash out your casino account, cashier will give you cash.

 

We have also done that plus first go to purser's desk and take any gift cards received from TA and turn them in for OBC. We play once on a machine with all the OBC transferred to the casino account, cash in the account, and take the cash which we then have to apply to any charges made on our on-board account or use off the ship. That way you do not loose OBC nor have gifts you do not want.