Cruise Cards, Casino, Overcharges

[NLRetired]

Going on our first-ever cruise in 1 month! After following this board (thanks for all the invaluable info!) I had some questions about the above topics. Some people mentioned overcharges on their account onboard, or phantom charges they didn't incur. So, here are my questions:

 

1. I can play the slots by inserting money, right, so that no casino charges appear on my cruise card??

 

2. Can I check my onboard account via my TV instead of going to the Purser's Desk?

 

3. If I can and do use cash only in the slots and don't make any onboard charges (e.g., specialty restaurants) but only the excursions I signed up for through Princess, is it likely to reduce the chances of overcharges/phantom charges? I know anything is possible, but anyone with experience doing as I'm suggesting that HAS gotten an overcharge/phantom charge?

 

TIA!!

[yyzatcqq]

1. Yes

2. No

3. Sorry I don't know

[Toto2Kansas]

3. Charges placed on your card that you have read about that you didn't actually make (although we have never had a phantom charge placed on our account in 22 Princess cruises) are errors. Even if you don't charge to your shipboard account, errors can happen and it's best to just check your account once or twice during your cruise to make sure all is correct. But I would not worry about this at all, it doesn't happen very often.

[caribill]

3. If I can and do use cash only in the slots and don't make any onboard charges (e.g., specialty restaurants) but only the excursions I signed up for through Princess, is it likely to reduce the chances of overcharges/phantom charges?

 

 

The daily hotel service charge (the "Autotip") will also be on your account, posted daily.

 

Not charging many items will not reduce the problem of possible erroneous charges happening, but not charging much will make it easier to be sure all the charges are legitimate when you check the statement.

 

Most errors happen when someone keys in a wrong cabin number when posting a charge.

[Mary Ann 2]

Just got off the Emerald. I had them print off our account every few days after reading some posts here, but never found any errors of any type. I don't think this is something that happens often. The only time that I actually thought there was a mistake (on 11 Princess cruises), they found the receipt and I had actually signed it, but didn't realize that when you buy something in the hall, it can charge through to a store where you can swear that you never bought anything!

 

Have a great cruise!

[dcrow72]

we had several errors using the ultimate card. The kids were asked to sign the first few days (and I didn't know about it). We were charged for their virgin drinks even though they should have been "free". Unfortunately, we learned our lesson on checking the charges carefully before we disembark. Make sure the kids using soda cards or ultimate cards are not asked to sign for it. I found many staff on board were not aware of what the coffee card and ultimate card included.

[Toto2Kansas]

Just got off the Emerald. I had them print off our account every few days after reading some posts here, but never found any errors of any type. I don't think this is something that happens often. The only time that I actually thought there was a mistake (on 11 Princess cruises), they found the receipt and I had actually signed it, but didn't realize that when you buy something in the hall, it can charge through to a store where you can swear that you never bought anything!

 

Have a great cruise!

 

The same thing can happen with bar charges. If you are in the show lounge and order a drink, it is billed through the bar the server ordered your drink from. Many complain at the purser's desk that they never visited that bar, so they have the purser spend quite a bit of time pulling up the receipt that THEY had signed for their drink.

 

Just as you found out with making a purchase in the Atrium, the receipt reflects the store that was selling the merchandise. ;)

[bazarr2]

We were on a 10 day cruise on the Emerald and we were waiting for onboard credit from out TA so we checked every other day. We did not find anything on there that was not suppose to be there. Don't be concerned when you see the 10.50 added everyday. It is your tipping added during the week instead of at the end.

You can use cash for the casino. We set up an account with our sail and sign card and it only takes out the amount you want, it doesn't just take out any amount you have to punch in your pin and set up amounts, so if you only set up 20. a day that will be easy to track.

[bubbadog]

Yes the waiter may order the drink from different bars,i fell for this once too,We dont order alot of drinks,or buy things onboard, so it is alot easier for us to keep tabs on our account:));)

[2pbears]

We usually check our onboard account once during the cruise and then again a day or so before disembarking. We have questioned charges only twice and on each occasion they (the purser's desk) were more than happy to thumb through piles of receipts until they found the receipt that we had actually signed for. As mentioned earlier, a charge may be "camouflaged" so that you do not recognize it or perhaps you just don't remember those drinks that you ordered on the first day of the cruise. At any rate, I wouldn't stress out over it. Mistakes are few and as long as you check periodically and take care of the situation before you leave the ship you should have no problems.

[Cruise Raider]

We seem to get the phantom charges added to our bill more often than not on Princess, but never with any other cruiseline ... in 30 cruises total. I don't like that I have to spend my vacation checking my bill so very carefully on this line, although some of the other perks on Princess are well worth overlooking these charges. See my answers below in regards to charging -- especially in the casino.

 

Going on our first-ever cruise in 1 month! After following this board (thanks for all the invaluable info!) I had some questions about the above topics. Some people mentioned overcharges on their account onboard, or phantom charges they didn't incur. So, here are my questions:

 

1. I can play the slots by inserting money, right, so that no casino charges appear on my cruise card?? You can put money in the machine but would suggest small bills as you have to put the money onto your card if you decide to move. That is a transaction that may lead to an eroneous charge.

 

2. Can I check my onboard account via my TV instead of going to the Purser's Desk? No such capabilities on Princess.

 

3. If I can and do use cash only in the slots and don't make any onboard charges (e.g., specialty restaurants) but only the excursions I signed up for through Princess, is it likely to reduce the chances of overcharges/phantom charges? I know anything is possible, but anyone with experience doing as I'm suggesting that HAS gotten an overcharge/phantom charge? Maybe...but might not matter. We have had overcharges on our bill at times when we were not on the ship, simple overcharges for services rendered at the spa (signed up for a $50 massage and was charged $75 -- on top of the tip), double charged for an item purchased and charged for casino credits when we were clearly at dinner.

 

TIA!!

 

So, I always check my bill carefully on Princess (never had to do so on other lines) and these usually occur at the very end of a cruise (of note).

[Embracedbylife]

1. yes, you can play the slots by inserting money, that's what we always do.

 

2. We were not able to check the account on the tv but going to the Purser's Desk is pretty simple and they give you a nice print out. We usually go down halfway through the cruise to get one. I have NEVER been overcharged. I don't think this happens that often.

 

3. I wouldn't worry about avoiding enjoying the drinks and things just to avoid overcharges, as they are not that frequent. If you want just write down each night what you bought and get a print out and compare the two. If you see anything funny mention it right away and they'll take it off. We bought only a drink or two a day and kept track and it was never an issue! We even used our card at the gift shops and things, and it was all perfect! You will see your daily charge for tips on your print out so that is a normal charge to see on your bill also i believe itemized per day.

[blindrid]

I've never thought erroneous charges were an issue.

 

You can go to the front desk and check your charges anytime you want - if it's not available for viewing in your room. I don't bother but obviously some people are more concerned than I am.