I just got accepted for my RCL Visa Card

[lrn2cruise]

I am planning a June 2011 trip on the FOS for my 50th Bday. I went ahead and applied to the RCL Visa CC. I am thinking it can pay off at least for our soda cards, etc. This is our first cruise with RCL. (we have not schedules the cruise as of yet) DH and I went on NCL(1998) like on the Norwegian Star when cruising was a test market in Houston Tx. Let me just say that that cruise did not turn us on to cruising AT ALL! So, I have picked FOS because we have a son who will be 11 and we were so bored(one too many bingos) with our NCL cruise and FOS has so much to do. We are an active family.

 

I use a Discover Card daily for expenses and pay it off every month and I have a lot of travel points saved up. DH and I are talking about using The Discover points for our excursions.

 

Any thoughts on the RCL Visa?

[hollon]

When you say Discover points, do you mean when you get money back? I use the discover card, BUT I do have a rccl visa and i think unless you are planning to keep sailing w/ rccl to get double pts. while using on board or booking rccl then it's worth it. BUT, I've noticed that Discover, you'll get money back which you can put money on your cruise and sometimes as you know you can get 5% back, which in a way is more than rccl. Does that make sense. After I go on a cruise that I have booked for 2012, I probably won't use my rccl visa, because 1% is the same on both cards.

[hollon]

But, at least you'll have 100.00 obc for the first 10,000 pts.

[Never2Late2Cruise]

If you have a standard Discover card

1. They have a graduated benefit. It starts at .25% and based upon total

charges go up to 1% , and in addition

2. They have quarterly promos - any travel charges(inc cruises) made in

Jan-Feb-Mar you get a 5% cashback for up to $800 of travel charges.

 

to know if you qualify for the 5% cashback, check out the cashback calendar

AFTER you log into your Discover account on the web.

 

The RCCL visa gives you

1. 5000 bonus points for signing up

2. an additional 5000 points if you charge something within the first statements .

make sure you charge something immidiately

3. ONE point for every NON RCCL $1 charged

4. TWO points for every RCCL $1 charged

 

What we do is

 

1. When booking the cruise use the RCCL for the Down Payment

2. Use the Discover card in March to pay $800 for the cruise (assuming I did

not charge any other travel expense on Discover in Jan-Feb-Mar).

3. charge other items on the RCCL card so I reach the next 5000 point

plateau less the balance x 2 still owed for the cruise.

4. Pay off the balance of the cruise by the final date.

5. Upon receipt of the next statement order (cash in) my RCCL VISA certificates

 

Example (adjust amounts based on you cruise)

Cruise costs $3000

Deposit to RCCL $1000 (you get 2000 RCCL VISA POINTS)

March Discover charge for $800 to RCCL (you will get $40 cashback for this)

Other charges on RCCL VISA card $600 (you get 600 RCCL VISA POINTS)

Final payment on RCCL VISA card of $1200 (3000-1000-800)(you get 2400

RCCL VISA POINTS)

 

What you wind up with is

Discover Cashback $40

RCCL VISA that could be used for an on board credit of $150

($100 signup and 1st purchase bonus and $50 for additional charges)

 

If you like RCCL and do this on future cruises, what you wont get is the initial

$100 signup and 1st purchase.

 

I also use the RCCL VISA card for my onboard seapass account. this way I earn

2 points for every $1 and start the ball rolling to build up points for our next cruise.

 

I hope I did not confuse you too much.

 

Book and enjoy your cruise

[eal]

I love my RCCL Visa card. I make my final payment a little early to be sure the double points show on my statement. Then I use my points for OBC.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

RCCL Visa card is the best! We use it for EVERYTHING and we have already cashed in one one companion-fare cruise (of course we had to upgrade the cabin and paid the difference). Plus it gave us $1200 OBC along with the free cruise fare. Yes, DH and I spend a lot of money a year [unfortunately sometimes!! lmao], but life is expensive - so all our dialy purchases go on our RC Visa PLUS SOME! Yeah! :D

[hancogran]

Sure wish they'd make it available to Canadians ! :(

[roscoegirl]

If you have a standard Discover card

1. They have a graduated benefit. It starts at .25% and based upon total

charges go up to 1% , and in addition

2. They have quarterly promos - any travel charges(inc cruises) made in

Jan-Feb-Mar you get a 5% cashback for up to $800 of travel charges.

 

to know if you qualify for the 5% cashback, check out the cashback calendar

AFTER you log into your Discover account on the web.

 

The RCCL visa gives you

1. 5000 bonus points for signing up

2. an additional 5000 points if you charge something within the first statements .

make sure you charge something immidiately

3. ONE point for every NON RCCL $1 charged

4. TWO points for every RCCL $1 charged

 

What we do is

 

1. When booking the cruise use the RCCL for the Down Payment

2. Use the Discover card in March to pay $800 for the cruise (assuming I did

not charge any other travel expense on Discover in Jan-Feb-Mar).

3. charge other items on the RCCL card so I reach the next 5000 point

plateau less the balance x 2 still owed for the cruise.

4. Pay off the balance of the cruise by the final date.

5. Upon receipt of the next statement order (cash in) my RCCL VISA certificates

 

Example (adjust amounts based on you cruise)

Cruise costs $3000

Deposit to RCCL $1000 (you get 2000 RCCL VISA POINTS)

March Discover charge for $800 to RCCL (you will get $40 cashback for this)

Other charges on RCCL VISA card $600 (you get 600 RCCL VISA POINTS)

Final payment on RCCL VISA card of $1200 (3000-1000-800)(you get 2400

RCCL VISA POINTS)

 

What you wind up with is

Discover Cashback $40

RCCL VISA that could be used for an on board credit of $150

($100 signup and 1st purchase bonus and $50 for additional charges)

 

If you like RCCL and do this on future cruises, what you wont get is the initial

$100 signup and 1st purchase.

 

I also use the RCCL VISA card for my onboard seapass account. this way I earn

2 points for every $1 and start the ball rolling to build up points for our next cruise.

 

I hope I did not confuse you too much.

 

Book and enjoy your cruise

 

 

OK> so do I understand this correctly?

 

1. I've already booked my cruise for 8/2011

2. I've already paid the deposit with another credit card

3. If I accept the RCCL Visa card, I can charge my monthly payments for this cruise on the visa card

4. I should pay IN FULL, those charges each month (in order to get the 0% interest)

5. I'll rec'v 5,000 points once I accept the card

6. I'll rec'v ANOTHER 5,000 points once I charge my next month's payment

7. I keep charging each month (and paying off balance) until my cruise is paid for and at that point

I redeem the points for OBC

8. Is there a conversion table some place to let you know how many points= x - amount of OBC?

 

Is that all there is to it?? Have I missed something?

 

Thanks.

[Never2Late2Cruise]

OK> so do I understand this correctly?

 

1. I've already booked my cruise for 8/2011

2. I've already paid the deposit with another credit card

3. If I accept the RCCL Visa card, I can charge my monthly payments for this cruise on the visa card

4. I should pay IN FULL, those charges each month (in order to get the 0% interest)

5. I'll rec'v 5,000 points once I accept the card

6. I'll rec'v ANOTHER 5,000 points once I charge my next month's payment

7. I keep charging each month (and paying off balance) until my cruise is paid for and at that point

I redeem the points for OBC

8. Is there a conversion table some place to let you know how many points= x - amount of OBC?

Is that all there is to it?? Have I missed something?

 

Thanks.

 

Correction

5. you get 5000 points for signing up and getting accepted by RCCL VISA

 

6.you get an additional 5000 points for the first use of the card within the first month or so

 

§§ To receive Bonus Royal Points (in addition to basic points, if any), make

any purchase, balance transfer, or cash advance transaction with your new

Royal Caribbean credit card account. Transaction must occur no later than

the Closing Date of the second complete billing cycle ending after the

account is opened. Bonus Points from this one-time offer will be credited to

your account 6-8 weeks after you qualify. Bonus Points count toward yearly

earnings limit.

 

 

8. to get to the link giving the list of available rewards

On the RCCL main page

a. click on "Deals & Gifts"

b. Click on "Royal Carribean Visa Card"

 

Also check out the terms and conditions for specific details on the card and rewards

 

FYI - you can use multiple certificates for OBC credits ( example- you have

10000 points and there is no OBC lever at 10000, but you can order 2 5000

point certificates and submit them to RCCL for a $100 OBC.

 

Hope this information clears up some of your questions.

 

PS I personally cash in all my available points with each cruise, because

 

1. I do not know what may change personally that I wont want to cruise again.

2. RCCL may no longer be the cruise line I wish to use.

3. Reward programs can change or be eliminated.

[roscoegirl]

Thanks so much Never2Late2Cruise! I wasn't very clear about how this RCCL/Visa card would work but I don't want to pass up an opportunity to make my cruise payments work for me once on board...sounds like they will!! I don't like using credit cards as a rule but if this plays out like you've indicated, I'll have my cruise paid off and OBC in the end. Almost sounds to good to be true! Ha! What's the catch????:)

[roscoegirl]

Thanks so much Never2Late2Cruise! I wasn't very clear about how this RCCL/Visa card would work but I don't want to pass up an opportunity to make my cruise payments work for me once on board...sounds like they will!! I don't like using credit cards as a rule but if this plays out like you've indicated, I'll have my cruise paid off and OBC in the end. Almost sounds to good to be true! Ha!

[Never2Late2Cruise]

Thanks so much Never2Late2Cruise! I wasn't very clear about how this RCCL/Visa card would work but I don't want to pass up an opportunity to make my cruise payments work for me once on board...sounds like they will!! I don't like using credit cards as a rule but if this plays out like you've indicated, I'll have my cruise paid off and OBC in the end. Almost sounds to good to be true! Ha!

 

Remember payments direct to RCCL earn 2 points for every dollar charged.

All other charges earn 1 point for every dollar charged.

 

If you figure out what you have left owing to RCCL and will be charging on

your RCCL VISA card, times that number by 2 and subtact that from 5000

(or 10000 if your balnce is more than $2500) you will know what else you

need to charge to bring yourself to the next 5000 level.

 

Example

 

Balance owed for cruise is $2200

points received on payments to RCCL is 4400

the other charges (NON RCCL) to earn another OBC certificate is $600

 

This will earn you a $50 OBC certificate.

PLUS if your just gettin the card another $100 OBC.

 

I have done the above and when its added to other OBC credits

(WOW sale /Nextcruise/C&A Savings certificates) Its VERY GOOD:D

 

Make sure you order your certificates by the statement after your final payment.

This should give you enough time to get the certificates and send it in to RCCL

 

The reason that I do not order the certificates before the final date is

1. Even though I can back out of the cruise before the final date and the

deposit and/or monies paid are refundable, once RCCL VISA certificates are

applied they are lost if you cancel the cruise(that is my belief).

2. By the final date I am 95% sure I am going unless there is a last minuite problem.

3. the RCCL VISA certificates must be used within 180 of issue.

 

Is your head spinning yet

[SeaWatch]

Two thoughts....I just got the card as well for a future trip, it looks like a good deal with at least OBC. Secondly, RCCL is so much better than NCL. Do no judge cruising by that line...the food is horrible in my opinion.

[MochaZen]

If you have a standard Discover card

1. They have a graduated benefit. It starts at .25% and based upon total

charges go up to 1% , and in addition

2. They have quarterly promos - any travel charges(inc cruises) made in

Jan-Feb-Mar you get a 5% cashback for up to $800 of travel charges.

 

to know if you qualify for the 5% cashback, check out the cashback calendar

AFTER you log into your Discover account on the web.

 

The RCCL visa gives you

1. 5000 bonus points for signing up

2. an additional 5000 points if you charge something within the first statements .

make sure you charge something immidiately

3. ONE point for every NON RCCL $1 charged

4. TWO points for every RCCL $1 charged

 

What we do is

 

1. When booking the cruise use the RCCL for the Down Payment

2. Use the Discover card in March to pay $800 for the cruise (assuming I did

not charge any other travel expense on Discover in Jan-Feb-Mar).

3. charge other items on the RCCL card so I reach the next 5000 point

plateau less the balance x 2 still owed for the cruise.

4. Pay off the balance of the cruise by the final date.

5. Upon receipt of the next statement order (cash in) my RCCL VISA certificates

 

Example (adjust amounts based on you cruise)

Cruise costs $3000

Deposit to RCCL $1000 (you get 2000 RCCL VISA POINTS)

March Discover charge for $800 to RCCL (you will get $40 cashback for this)

Other charges on RCCL VISA card $600 (you get 600 RCCL VISA POINTS)

Final payment on RCCL VISA card of $1200 (3000-1000-800)(you get 2400

RCCL VISA POINTS)

 

What you wind up with is

Discover Cashback $40

RCCL VISA that could be used for an on board credit of $150

($100 signup and 1st purchase bonus and $50 for additional charges)

 

If you like RCCL and do this on future cruises, what you wont get is the initial

$100 signup and 1st purchase.

 

I also use the RCCL VISA card for my onboard seapass account. this way I earn

2 points for every $1 and start the ball rolling to build up points for our next cruise.

 

I hope I did not confuse you too much.

 

Book and enjoy your cruise

 

Thank you for this post! It's a great explanation of how to effectively use your Cruise card to make it work for you.