RCCL Pre buying OBC.

A thread on the buying OBC on the Celebrity website at a great conversion rate got me thinking about if it were possible to do on Royal Caribbean.

I made a call to customer support today and asked a few questions (after waiting a long time on hold to get through) .

The call centre person said that I could and could buy any amount I wanted at a dollar for dollar basis (Aussie $ to US $). I asked were they sure it was not purchased at a conversion rate and they said no. "It is dollar for dollar" as it is a current offer.

I then asked what happens if I don't spend it all and after talking to a supervisor they said it would be returned to my credit card I purchased it with. I did not ask them how this is reconverted back.

I was then about to purchase some but when giving my booking number I was then told as I had booked in the USA (through a USA agent) I needed to call Miami to purchase the OBC. I will give them a call when I am home in their business hours.

A few questions for those with experience here.

Has anyone pre purchased OBC with RCL?

Did they do the $=$ conversion?

If so could you not cash it out in the casino, take the 5% hit and get the money in US$$ cash?

Seems too good to be true (and you know what they say about that)

Even so if this is the case it would be a great way the reduce your on board expenses given the sorry state of the Aus$.

A thread on the buying OBC on the Celebrity website at a great conversion rate got me thinking about if it were possible to do on Royal Caribbean.

 

I made a call to customer support today and asked a few questions (after waiting a long time on hold to get through) .

 

The call centre person said that I could and could buy any amount I wanted at a dollar for dollar basis (Aussie $ to US $). I asked were they sure it was not purchased at a conversion rate and they said no. "It is dollar for dollar" as it is a current offer.

 

I then asked what happens if I don't spend it all and after talking to a supervisor they said it would be returned to my credit card I purchased it with. I did not ask them how this is reconverted back.

 

I was then about to purchase some but when giving my booking number I was then told as I had booked in the USA (through a USA agent) I needed to call Miami to purchase the OBC. I will give them a call when I am home in their business hours.

 

A few questions for those with experience here.

 

Has anyone pre purchased OBC with RCL?

 

Did they do the $=$ conversion?

 

If so could you not cash it out in the casino, take the 5% hit and get the money in US$$ cash?

 

Seems too good to be true (and you know what they say about that)

 

Even so if this is the case it would be a great way the reduce your on board expenses given the sorry state of the Aus$.

Very interested in how you get on, as we have a few cruises this year on RCI

Cheers

Tanya

A thread on the buying OBC on the Celebrity website at a great conversion rate got me thinking about if it were possible to do on Royal Caribbean.

 

I made a call to customer support today and asked a few questions (after waiting a long time on hold to get through) .

 

The call centre person said that I could and could buy any amount I wanted at a dollar for dollar basis (Aussie $ to US $). I asked were they sure it was not purchased at a conversion rate and they said no. "It is dollar for dollar" as it is a current offer.

 

I then asked what happens if I don't spend it all and after talking to a supervisor they said it would be returned to my credit card I purchased it with. I did not ask them how this is reconverted back.

 

I was then about to purchase some but when giving my booking number I was then told as I had booked in the USA (through a USA agent) I needed to call Miami to purchase the OBC. I will give them a call when I am home in their business hours.

 

A few questions for those with experience here.

 

Has anyone pre purchased OBC with RCL?

 

Did they do the $=$ conversion?

 

If so could you not cash it out in the casino, take the 5% hit and get the money in US$$ cash?

 

Seems too good to be true (and you know what they say about that)

 

Even so if this is the case it would be a great way the reduce your on board expenses given the sorry state of the Aus$.

Don't know about RCCl but for our Sapphire Princess cruise last December I rang Princess Australia to buy $1000 on board credit. The on board currency was US$ so I asked the rep how much in AU$ I would need to equal $1000 US. (the Aussie $ was buying about 83c at the time.) She said that it was dollar for dollar. I was doubtful that Princess would be so generous but when I checked my credit card statement only AU$1000 was debited. So I rang again the next day to buy another $1000 and this time I got a US agent. Same deal, dollar for dollar.

When we boarded I checked our account expecting to see a couple of credits for around US$800 each but no, 2xUS$1000 was showing. So thank you Princess for the extra on board credit!

cheers

Stu

I have bought OBC for both Cunard (and X) and while not quite $ for $ the rates are far better than the current exchange, Cunard gave me a rate of $0.93.

With X they said it was $ for $ but I am yet to see what is charged to my card.

To put onboard credit on with Celebrity do you need to call them or can you add it through the cruise personaliser?

As you bought in the US, it would need to be purchased in the US at 1USD for 1USD i.e. the same basis as you paid for the cruise.

I suspect this window will close before long, but good luck to those who can take advantage while it's open

I suspect over the phone is the way to go as the website has all sorts of conniptions and crashes half way through.:D

I suspect over the phone is the way to go as the website has all sorts of conniptions and crashes half way through.:D

You can only do this over the phone. There is no option to do it via the Royal Caribbean website.

I will call in the morning to the USA and see how I can add some for our Quantum cruises but suspect I will be charged in US $$$. I have our next cruise booked through Australia but already have $250 OBC with that.

You can only do this over the phone. There is no option to do it via the Royal Caribbean website.

 

I will call in the morning to the USA and see how I can add some for our Quantum cruises but suspect I will be charged in US $$$. I have our next cruise booked through Australia but already have $250 OBC with that.

Please let us know how it goes, I've never thought of doing it before this came up

Please let us know how it goes, I've never thought of doing it before this came up

Agree, that I've not heard of this before.

Looking into it.:D

I just read this and rang up and did it! So happy as we usually get cash for the casino to take with us plus all our purchases on board and this worked out much better! Saved heaps and all legit. Even with paying the 5% fee for drawing on your seapass card in the casino it works out much better than the current exchange rate. :)

I just read this and rang up and did it! So happy as we usually get cash for the casino to take with us plus all our purchases on board and this worked out much better! Saved heaps and all legit. Even with paying the 5% fee for drawing on your seapass card in the casino it works out much better than the current exchange rate. :)

These offers don't stay long, glad you could avail yourself of the offer as well.:D

Agree, that I've not heard of this before.

Looking into it.:D

I knew you could gift OBC [have done it for others] and knew you could gift it to yourself, but always just assumed I'd get the same poor exchange rate and charges as when I pay with Aussie Credit Card at the end of the cruise

I knew you could gift OBC [have done it for others] and knew you could gift it to yourself, but always just assumed I'd get the same poor exchange rate and charges as when I pay with Aussie Credit Card at the end of the cruise

It depends on the timing, currently they are offering great exchange rates. We have previously done it and the rates while better than the normal exchange were not like these prices.:D

I just read this and rang up and did it! So happy as we usually get cash for the casino to take with us plus all our purchases on board and this worked out much better! Saved heaps and all legit. Even with paying the 5% fee for drawing on your seapass card in the casino it works out much better than the current exchange rate. :)

Just thought about it and could draw the cash out at the service desk anyway and take it to the casino to avoid the 5% charge. It's even better!

I've just done it too, but apparently it may not be for all sailings, and she did say that although it's one for one at their end, my bank may have a charge....

I will wait for it to hit the Visa account and will report back:)

Can you buy the OBC for celebrity via their website? If so, where?

I couldn't see any option to do that in my reservation.

Thanks.

Can you buy the OBC for celebrity via their website? If so, where?

 

I couldn't see any option to do that in my reservation.

 

Thanks.

Yes you can (under gifts for on board) but it is better organised by phone.:D

I've just done it too, but apparently it may not be for all sailings, and she did say that although it's one for one at their end, my bank may have a charge....

 

I will wait for it to hit the Visa account and will report back:)

I have received $ for $ for a X cruise, proof is in on my CC. RCI has proved a bit trickier, still waiting for that to go through, but should be the same.:D

Just rang RCI and purchased OBC for our cruise later this month. They debited Australian Dollars to my CBA travelmoney card and I was assured that the funds would be credited at 1:1 to my onboard account.

The 'Amenity Confirmation' only states "Currency AUD, Cost x.xx, Received x.xx", so I guess I will only find out once we get on the ship, whether we have received the same amount in US$.

I enquired about the ability to do the same for our Nov sailing and was told that yes.

If you don't use all the OBC during the cruise do they deposit it back on your card?

Just rang RCI and purchased OBC for our cruise later this month. They debited Australian Dollars to my CBA travelmoney card and I was assured that the funds would be credited at 1:1 to my onboard account.

The 'Amenity Confirmation' only states "Currency AUD, Cost x.xx, Received x.xx", so I guess I will only find out once we get on the ship, whether we have received the same amount in US$.

 

I enquired about the ability to do the same for our Nov sailing and was told that yes.

This sounds to good to be true, what was the phone no that you phoned. Was it the local no or USA.

Thanks for any help, I think I will try it.

This sounds to good to be true, what was the phone no that you phoned. Was it the local no or USA.

Thanks for any help, I think I will try it.

RCI and X use 1800 754 500 and follow the prompts.:D

RCI and X use 1800 754 500 and follow the prompts.:D

Just rang and purchased the credit. Also received the confirmation email.Thanks Mic

Sent from my iPad using Forums