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Dollars vs Pounds


Q-step

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I was looking over the list of gift items to purchase for the room. Champagne, flowers, fruit, etc.. I noticed the price list had both US dollars and British pounds. A bottle of champagne was $171 or 90 pounds. But L90 is $135 right now.

 

So that leads me to two questions:

First - do they correct this to reflect the current currency rates in effect at the time of the crossing?

 

and/or

 

Second - can you pick which currency you want to use for onboard purchases?

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Q-step

I have in the last few days purchased onboard credit from Cunard in the Uk at the very favourable exchange rate of $1.89 to £1 sterling. Although this is for "onboard" credit, my card will be charged immediately. I picked this tip up from other Princess/Cunard cruisers from the UK. Converting $171 to £ sterling using this rate gives £90 approx.

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I have never heard of purchasing on board credit. How does this work and how do I apply for it.

 

Just call Cunard reservations and follow the prompts until you get to something like a cruise booked option and when you then get through, ask if you can pre purchase OBC and they will tell you that you can buy in amounts of $ 25, 50 and 100 and will tell you how much the amount you say will cost. I then asked what that rate was and was told 1.80- if you read the Princess boards it seems to vary as to when you booked for some reason. People who have booked more recently are being told 1.43.

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I then asked what that rate was and was told 1.80- if you read the Princess boards it seems to vary as to when you booked for some reason. People who have booked more recently are being told 1.43.

 

Perhaps all the out of work AIG/RBS financial engineers are now working in Carnival's accounting department?

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Q-step

I have in the last few days purchased onboard credit from Cunard in the Uk at the very favourable exchange rate of $1.89 to £1 sterling. Although this is for "onboard" credit, my card will be charged immediately. I picked this tip up from other Princess/Cunard cruisers from the UK. Converting $171 to £ sterling using this rate gives £90 approx.

 

Good grief, the Dollar is today (4/8/09) at 1.47 to the Pound. I don't call $1.89 a favorable rate at all!

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Seachase20

Good grief indeed. Here in the UK it currently costs us £1 sterling to purchase $1.40 approx so to be able to get $1.89 is a great deal.

 

niguy-south

I got this rate Monday 6 April 9 am UK time by phone from the UK Cunard office. We only booked in March 09 about 3 weeks ago.

 

cruzadict

If you're phoning Cunard UK, select option 5 then option 2. Just a warning if the OBC is not spent onboard it will be lost - no refunds.

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I, too, also purchased some US dollars in OBC for our trip on the Queen Ma4y 2 in August 2009 which we booked a few weeks ago. The rate was very favourable at US$1.88 to the £. This will be great for spending in the bars and shops on board!

 

Kind regards.

 

KathyW

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I, too, also purchased some US dollars in OBC for our trip on the Queen Ma4y 2 in August 2009 which we booked a few weeks ago. The rate was very favourable at US$1.88 to the £. This will be great for spending in the bars and shops on board!

 

Kind regards.

 

KathyW

 

And you can use it for any ship tours even prebooked ones. I asked!!

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I'm in the US.

I wonder if I can purchase pounds at the current rate ($1.43 at my bank)and trade them in to Cunard at $1.88. That would be 30% return. Do you think I could mail them a money order in pounds to purchase an OBC?

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I'm in the US.

I wonder if I can purchase pounds at the current rate ($1.43 at my bank)and trade them in to Cunard at $1.88. That would be 30% return. Do you think I could mail them a money order in pounds to purchase an OBC?

 

I used a credit card to buy as it shows up as a purchase not cash advance- why not have a go but maybe when they check your details they will realise you are in the US? Worth a try though.

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many thanks to lauraam & 2irisheyese for this great info for us Brits! I am going to order some obc for my QM2 crossing in the 3 weeks & was quoted $1.89 rate on the phone earlier today which is great.

 

When they take payment do they send a receipt or does this show on your voyage personaliser & I guess as with most obc there is a note in the cabin on arrival showing how much onboard credit you have?

 

How long have Cunard / Princess offered this facility and I was interested to read the rate you are quoted depends on when you booked so with this in mind the $1.89 rate I was quoted will remain the same when I order my obc this saturday? If you have booked a cruise say in 2009 then am I too understand you would get nearer the current very low dollar rate i.e. $1.41?

 

I am assuming that you could not buy dollars on board at this great rate with pounds sterling & it is purely for obc that is going to be spent on board?

 

Kind Regards & many thanks once again,

 

 

Richard

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Richard- I only picked up what others have said on the Princess board about it being different according to your booking date- I posted the link above. I haven't checked my personaliser but it has appeared on my credit card statement so at the very least I will print that out!!

I did read on the Princess board something about getting the money out at the casino- by creating a slot account or something-don't know if that applies on Cunard- I know there is a % to pay taking money from the casino. Someone told me that he was told you can transfer any OBC left over to your next cruise.

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rjms74

We booked our QM2 May 2009 cruise only 5 weeks before sailing (March 09). I paid by debit card (Visa) and it was taken from bank account two days later. If you intend to order some, do it asap in case it changes. I wouldn't want you to lose out. I almost did a little jig here when the rate was confirmed.

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What an exchange rate! People could make money off of Cunard, in a way. They must be run by the same guys who got the US Banks in so much trouble. Who knows, maybe they will get great bonus pay, too.

 

Anyone in their right mind should take advantage of this offer from Cunard. Thy offer a better rate that anyone can get at the bank!

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Richard- I only picked up what others have said on the Princess board about it being different according to your booking date- I posted the link above. I haven't checked my personaliser but it has appeared on my credit card statement so at the very least I will print that out!!

I did read on the Princess board something about getting the money out at the casino- by creating a slot account or something-don't know if that applies on Cunard- I know there is a % to pay taking money from the casino. Someone told me that he was told you can transfer any OBC left over to your next cruise.

 

I don't think that you can transfer it but you can withdraw it at the cashier's in the casino.

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thanks irisheyes, I am going to order my obc tomorrow when Cunard UK office re-opens. as you say if I don't do it soon the rate may change. I will ask when I call how the rate would be on an October cruise i am on on QV.

 

Niguy-south - I am sure Cunard don't lose out with this obc offer after all they deal in dollars & pounds and most likely gain a lot from the UK Pounds Sterling bookings which are a lot more expensive than US dollar bookings & rates & it is my understanding you can only gain this rate for on board credit not actual dollars / cash in hand!

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

Richard

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