Using Princess gift card onboard

[prplcat702]

Hi all! Going on our first Princess cruise in October as our honeymoon.  We were gifted several Princess gift cards as wedding presents, but we've already booked all our excursions. Can we book specialty dining & (hopefully) days in the Sanctuary, then use the gift cards on-board to pay our account? Or do we need to somehow add them to our account before boarding? Thank you!

[Thrak]

Take them to Guest Services and apply them to your account as OBC. Then you can use them for any onboard charges.

[808cruisers]

Have a printed version. They gave me hassle and requested it last time. Finally, an employee gave me his name and a specific time to meet him at the front desk in order to accept Apple Wallet/screenshot of email as I didnʻt have wifi. I think one of my cards didnʻt go thru and I had to request once I returned home. 

[Rick&Jeannie]

You will have to pre-pay your specialty dining if you book it before the cruise.  But as stated above by @Thrak, take the cards (printed versions) to GS and they will apply them to your account as OBC.  Then, these funds will be used throughout your voyage to offset any charges (or casino) that you run up.  Have a great trip! Welcome to Cruise Critic and congrats!

[cruzsnooze]

I actually bought a gift card while on my last cruise because I ran out of OBC and needed more. I used my laptop and brought it to guest services showing the gift card.

[prplcat702]

Thanks all! We have a couple physical gift cards, so I'll make sure we bring them to guest services right away!

[Rick&Jeannie]

Here's something that you might want to check. Log on to your Princess account and see if it will let you purchase OBC prior to your cruise using the gift card(s). I've never done this so I am not sure that it will let you but I don't see why it wouldn't. I may be wrong....but if it lets you do so then you wouldn't have to worry about it on board. 

[travellingnana]

If I do add a couple of gift cards for OBC, but somehow don’t spend it all on the ship, it is refundable…right?

[Rick&Jeannie]

23 minutes ago, travellingnana said:

If I do add a couple of gift cards for OBC, but somehow don’t spend it all on the ship, it is refundable…right?

It *should* be considered as "refundable OBC". That being said...if there's a casino anywhere nearby, I have never been so lucky as to need a refund! 🙄