unused OBC - refunded?

[queensny]

I will have an on board credit for my 8-19 cruise on the Crown. Can anyone tell me if I don't use all of it, will my credit card be refunded the balance? My TA said that we would receive a refund. Can I trust that?

Thanks

[Aussie Gal]

Make sure you use it as I don't think you ever receive a refund. Use it for tips if you cannot spend the money. Go to the Casino and buy some chips with it and then cash it in. I would be having wonderful massages etc if I had an abundance of OBC.

 

Jennie

[Toto2Kansas]

Never had the problem of unused OBC, no matter what the amount we have received. Remember, everything charged to your shipboard account will come out of this from that very first drink or soda onboard to the $10 pp per day gratuities. Unless you have an ennormous credit coming, even a 7 day cruise will eat up $140 for the week in tips for two passengers by itself.

[queensny]

It is a very large OBC. We'll never use all of it.

[queensny]

Make sure you use it as I don't think you ever receive a refund. Use it for tips if you cannot spend the money. Go to the Casino and buy some chips with it and then cash it in. I would be having wonderful massages etc if I had an abundance of OBC.

 

Jennie

 

Aussie Gal,

Now that's a great idea, I didn't realize that i could buy chips and then cash them in.

[Toto2Kansas]

You actually don't even need to buy chips, but just get cash in the casino and charge it to your shipboard account. They will tack on a 3% service charge to it, but hey, it's only 3%.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Another who has never had this problem, but I thought they didn't refund OBC

Between Grats and soda cards, art and other things we buy it adds up quick.

[Aussie Gal]

We did receive a huge OBC on HAL back in 2003 when the prices went right down after our final payment and we were given a partial refund in OBC plus an upgrade to the best cabin. I think the Iraq war had started and no-one wanted to travel to Europe. It was a Copenhagen to Rome cruise.

 

In those days there wasn't any deduction from your account for tipping so we used a lot of the OBC for tips. I learnt about going to the Casino and cashing in the chips from the C.C. Board way back then. Of course at that time there was no percentage charge in the Casino.

 

I think we still left the ship with money in our pocket after paying our account, tipping and spending up whilst on board and this was a 14 day cruise.

 

Jennie

[sunsetbeachgal]

We had a very large (over $2,500) credit on our Med/Greek Isles cruise last fall, as we accepted a Princess offer to move off an oversold July sailing (and also got a much nicer cabin :) ). Even with gratuities, tours (some via Princess, some we did on our own), trips to the spa, alcohol, gift shop, etc. we could not spend it all (we are not gamblers!). We received a check from Princess about 45-60 days after completion of our sailing, but were told that this is only because we had over $800 coming to us, and for lower amounts they credit your credit card on file. Not to worry-but do save all of your documentation and final shipboard statement.

[queensny]

Thank you, all, for your input. :)

Tomorrow we go to the TA and we'll hear what she has to say.

I'll post what she tells me just in case anyone else has the same question.

Cate

[Fuzzzy]

Can you transfer the unused portion to me?

[ljtinney]

received a check from Princess about 45-60 days after completion of our sailing,

 

Princess policy is to mail you a cheque 4-6 weeks after your cruise for the unused portion of your obc. It wouldn't hurt to go to the pursers desk on the last day and inquire. Friends were on the CB in March and received cash ($1200) on the last day and any purchases they made that evening were charged to their credit card.

[Fuzzzy]

It amazes me that OBCs are refunded. Not, that they are refunded. But, that there is still $$ left over after a cruise. Fruggle is one thing but, wow to have any leftover OBC is almost devine,

[azdmelani]

I will have an on board credit for my 8-19 cruise on the Crown. Can anyone tell me if I don't use all of it, will my credit card be refunded the balance? My TA said that we would receive a refund. Can I trust that?

Thanks

 

I will be on that cruise, you can spend it on me :) Come join our roll call!

[kaseyoz]

I had unused obc on my carnival (can i say that here) fantasy cruise .They gave me a cheque for the balance on the last day. Problem for me as it was in USD(obviously)and it cost me to convert it and pay it into my australian account.

never mind i did get some back

[Coral]

If you had an offer from Princess to switch from one ship to another and they gave you a large OBC as an incentive (often half the cost of a person's cruise or the entire amount), then any unused amount can be cashed out at the end of the cruise.

 

If this is due to group incentives and future cruise credit, you often do not receive a refund.

[kendon]

We had a very large OBC and received the difference in cash the last day.

[peterv]

You actually don't even need to buy chips, but just get cash in the casino and charge it to your shipboard account. They will tack on a 3% service charge to it, but hey, it's only 3%.

 

I believe that if you have a cash balance on your account then they do not charge the 3% as you are just taking some of your money back. I think the 3% comes into play because of the credit card position on getting cash.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[PreciousPetal]

On the next to the last day we just went to the purser and got a cash refund. Later I also heard that they just credit your credit card. However, I was happy getting the cash--in case the credit didn't come through once I was off the ship.

[queensny]

Well, we just got back from the TA and she assured us that Princess would be refunding any unused portion of the OBC to our credit card.

Thanks to all of you for your input. Hope you all enjoy your cruise!!!

Cate

[hubble]

I had a LARGE OBC on my account in June when sailing on the Sapphire. Princess called the day before the sailing, said they oversold the ship and asked if we would downgrade our cabin for a full refund of one of the fares. We gladly accepted, and only ended up moving 2 doors down from what we paid for. Same outside cabin, which actually had a better view. What a deal! Anyway... as for the OBC, they told us to go to the pursers desk at the end of the cruise to see if they had enough cash to refund us the balance after all of our charges where applied. We were told if they would not cash it out, Princess would cut a check and mail it to us within 7 days. As it ended up, many passengers payed cash for their bills the last day on board, and the pursers desk was more than happy to give us over $500 in cash on the spot. It was a great cruise, and I left with money in my pocket.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

I had a LARGE OBC on my account in June when sailing on the Sapphire. Princess called the day before the sailing, said they oversold the ship and asked if we would downgrade our cabin for a full refund of one of the fares. We gladly accepted, and only ended up moving 2 doors down from what we paid for. Same outside cabin, which actually had a better view. What a deal! Anyway... as for the OBC, they told us to go to the pursers desk at the end of the cruise to see if they had enough cash to refund us the balance after all of our charges where applied. We were told if they would not cash it out, Princess would cut a check and mail it to us within 7 days. As it ended up, many passengers payed cash for their bills the last day on board, and the pursers desk was more than happy to give us over $500 in cash on the spot. It was a great cruise, and I left with money in my pocket.

 

Wow, now we never have this happen to us:D :D