credit card conversion program

[caribill]

So does princess accept US cash as a way to pay our shipcard balance??? thanks.:)

 

Yes

[robtulipe]

I was just completing the check-in info and looked at the so-called deal offered for currency conversion. I have a Canadian $ Visa card. Princess offers to convert the on board account in US$ to C$ at the Bloomfield wholesale rate +3%, which they say is less than the rate charged by "most" CC companies. Can anyone confirm or refute their claim based on hard numbers?

 

Look at the disclosures on the back of your paper statement, if that's what you receive or go online to your VISA account and either way you should find the conversion rate under Currency Conversion Service or some similar heading. My Dejardins CU VISA charges 1.8% and gives me back 1% more bonus dollars (2% vs 1%) on foreign currency purchases than Cdn dollar ones so the net difference is 0.8% or a lot less than the 3% Princess charges. I always record the interbank currency conversion rate when I make major foreign currency charges, like paying for cruises or airline flights in USD which I do often, and that 1.8% difference has been spot on.

Since my credit card is an Odyssey travel one that the bonus dollars can be used to pay for travel and vacation expenses, typically I apply them to the travel or vacation charges just after they have been billed to my account thus lowering my net cost immediately. I can do this quickly and simply online when logged into my account.

[westerngardener]

I also have a RBC Visa credit card and did ask for Princess to do the conversion. However, based on the above, I'd like to change it back to being charged in U.S.$ So, I went back to my cruise personalizer to see where to do this. Unfortunately, can't find where this is? Anybody know which part of the check-in section I can make this change?

[robtulipe]

I also have a RBC Visa credit card and did ask for Princess to do the conversion. However, based on the above, I'd like to change it back to being charged in U.S.$ So, I went back to my cruise personalizer to see where to do this. Unfortunately, can't find where this is? Anybody know which part of the check-in section I can make this change?

You do this when setting up your ship board account. Ther boarding pass of any person who accepts or provides his credit card for billing should have both options, as shown below, on them so you need to check and even highlight the NO or second option. Also when checking in for the cruise ensure the check in agent is aware of your preference. You should also confirm onboard at the service desk on the day before disembarking that the No option for credit card conversion by Princess has been recorded on your account. Princess has been known to do the conversion anyway even if you have requested them not to so I have asked the purser's desk to process my billing manually on that last full day to avoid the automatic billing.

 

***YOU MUST MAKE A SELECTION BELOW IF YOU ARE REGISTERING A NON-US DOLLAR MASTERCARD OR VISA CARD***

 

Important Currency Conversion Details – Your shipboard folio for onboard purchases is charged in US dollars. When your non-US dollar credit card is processed, the charges are converted by your credit card-issuing bank into your card's currency. This procedure is standard but practices vary regarding the selection of conversion rates and a fee may be charged by your card-issuing bank. Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. offers a conversion service through our conversion agent, Global Card Services, Inc. (“GCS”) using wholesale exchange rates collected from Bloomberg plus a 3 percent international currency conversion fee. The wholesale conversion rate will be a rate selected by GCS from the range of rates published by Bloomberg and may or may not reflect the actual rates made available to GCS by their bank for the applicable processing. Exchange rates change throughout the day and the rate used to convert your transaction may not be the rate published on Bloomberg at the time we submit your transaction to GCS. The cost may be more or less than the exchange rates and conversion fees charged by your credit card-issuing bank. You should check with your credit card-issuing bank to compare currency exchange rates and currency conversion fees. If you choose to use our currency conversion service, you will be able to see on your folio at the end of your cruise what your total charges are in your home currency. If you use a MasterCard or Visa Card which is billed in the following currencies: ARS, AUD, BRL, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, INR, JPY, KRW, MXP, NOK, NZD, PHP, RUB, SEK, TRY, TWD you may choose to sign up for this service.

Yes, I choose to take advantage of this service. By checking this box, I authorize Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. to have GCS convert my folio using the rate selected by GCS as described above plus a 3 percent international currency conversion fee. I accept that the exchange rate used will not be determined until arrival and without additional consultation with me. I understand that my decision is final.

OR

No, I choose not to take advantage of this service. By checking this box, I understand that my credit card-issuing bank will convert my USD folio and charge my card using their exchange rate plus their applicable fees, and that Princess has no control over these rates and fees. I understand that my decision is final.

[caribill]

I also have a RBC Visa credit card and did ask for Princess to do the conversion. However, based on the above, I'd like to change it back to being charged in U.S.$ So, I went back to my cruise personalizer to see where to do this. Unfortunately, can't find where this is? Anybody know which part of the check-in section I can make this change?

 

Where you input your credit card number.

[Floflegs]

Just heard that Nationwide's Platinum Visa Card will not charge any conversion fees worldwide. Good for UK cruisers. Their gold card is only had no fees in Europe.

[hansi]

Just heard that Nationwide's Platinum Visa Card will not charge any conversion fees worldwide. Good for UK cruisers. Their gold card is only had no fees in Europe.

 

 

This also applies with the Halifax Clarity card. No loading fees anywhere in the world.