Topic: Onboard spend

Princess is giving us a $400 free onboard spend. Does anyone know how it works? For instance my partner wants to use the internet, can it be used to pay for that? Also can we use it to book the Restaurants that charge to book or the Spa? Is it worth taking a laptop onboard?
Sorry for all the questions

Onboard credit cover most things onboard with the exception of Tobacco products and maybe some items in the onboard shops.

Their is no point in taking a Laptop onboard and they have nuisance value when travelling.In spite of any deal with Computer or Moble phone providers all communications go through the Ships system and is chargeable at high rates.

Generally, no money changes hands on board. You will get a ships pass card that is scanned when you leave or embark and it is used when you order drinks or other sundries. You will get a receipt to sign for each transaction, then at the end of your holiday your bill will show your credit deducted, which you pay by your opted choice of cash or credit card etc. Any trips you take are done on forms with your room number so are automatically added to bill.

Hi, Brummie, we have to take a laptop as we run a small business and sometimes need to contact clients with info that we have stored on it, but I would cheerfully leave it at home if I could. We have used the internet on board and that cost has been taken from our onboard credit. If you do have to use the internet most ships have packages that you could look at..carol

QUOTE:

Hi, Brummie, we have to take a laptop as we run a small business and sometimes need to contact clients with info that we have stored on it, but I would cheerfully leave it at home if I could. We have used the internet on board and that cost has been taken from our onboard credit. If you do have to use the internet most ships have packages that you could look at..carol

Hello Carol, as you take a laptop with you is it more economical? For example do you work off line to compose emails then just go online to send? I imagine that you still have to use the ship's computer room to print off your airline boarding cards. It must be much more convenient than using the ship's computers for emails.

I'm not convinced that all mobile calls automatically go through the ship's system. When cruising last year on IOTS I selected the network and made and received many calls throughout the 14 night cruise. All calls were part of my inclusive minutes package with O2.
Taking a laptop is worthwhile if you do a little bit of work whilst you travel. Also useful to upload pictures to free memory sticks etc.

QUOTE:

Hello Carol, as you take a laptop with you is it more economical? For example do you work off line to compose emails then just go online to send? I imagine that you still have to use the ship's computer room to print off your airline boarding cards. It must be much more convenient than using the ship's computers for emails.

Hi, YES! that is exactly what we do. My OH can compose emails or quotes or whatever and then just connect to send them. The only problem we had recently was on Balmoral which is the only ship we have been on so far that did not have WiFi so it meant lugging the laptop ashore and finding cafes that we could utilise. Never fly so haven't had to print anything like that off but as Vinny says we upload pictures as we go and we get to see them on the screen as well. It is a shame we have to do a certain amount of work when we are away, but no work= no money=no cruises so I will put up with it..Carol

QUOTE:

Princess is giving us a $400 free onboard spend. Does anyone know how it works? For instance my partner wants to use the internet, can it be used to pay for that? Also can we use it to book the Restaurants that charge to book or the Spa? Is it worth taking a laptop onboard?
Sorry for all the questions

Brummie, I'm sorry I missed your 'new to cruising' post about Grand Princess. Hopefully when I answered your personal message I've made up for it.

As the others have said, everything you spend onboard gets charged to your ship account and your $400 will be deducted from your final bill. I'm pretty sure tobacco products are the only thing that do not qualify.

$400 is great, is that just for the 2 of you? Ours is $100 each, $200 in total.

I notice now that this is your first cruise so you may be anxious about all these questions but you'll soon get the hang of it and you'll have a wonderful holiday.

we have an onboard spend of 500dollars on cunard I was hoping to use it for excurtions .
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