Getaway2010 Posted February 1, 2015 #151 Share Posted February 1, 2015 I just telephoned Royal Caribbean and was told that in order to buy more than $500 in onboard credit, I had to fax them a copy of both sides of my credit card along with my picture ID. They also tried to tell me that I could only buy onboard credit in Canadian dollars but then seemed to agree I could buy U.S. Dollars. Has anyone else experienced this request? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leyla Posted February 1, 2015 #152 Share Posted February 1, 2015 I purchased yesterday by calling the Crown & Anchor # 800-526-9723. Waited about one minute on the phone and purchased 550 US for 605 Cnd. Asked if there was a limit and they so NO; any amount. Try calling this number & if okay ask them to send you via email a copy of the Amenity confirmation. Good luck.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted February 1, 2015 #153 Share Posted February 1, 2015 I just telephoned Royal Caribbean and was told that in order to buy more than $500 in onboard credit, I had to fax them a copy of both sides of my credit card along with my picture ID. They also tried to tell me that I could only buy onboard credit in Canadian dollars but then seemed to agree I could buy U.S. Dollars. Has anyone else experienced this request? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app A few people have been told about the $500 but many of us have been able to do more than the $500 without jumping through hoops. I think that there are a couple of mis informed agents worrying the desk. Call back and hope for a different agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick28 Posted February 1, 2015 #154 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Yippee more dollars saved: gratuities cdn$ 11.83!!! These boards are superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodml Posted February 1, 2015 #155 Share Posted February 1, 2015 On Saturday I locked in gratuities and did $500 obc for each of four cabins. Great deal folks. Thanks. I have a feeling this will blow up on Monday lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Mom Cruiser Posted February 1, 2015 #156 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Thanks so much for this tip. I just called and "purchased" $600 USD in OBC for $660 Canadian. Based on our previous cruises - this will cover our gratuities and spending. What a pleasant surprise when everything is costing so much more due to exchange rate. Suzanne Canadian Mom Cruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckcruiselover Posted February 2, 2015 #157 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Buy your stateroom credit now at a much better exchange rate then our banks are offering! Hoping to use ours for drinks and tips.. Drink packages and excursions have increased in price over the last few days.. I think the exchange rate on onboard credit is still a little better. $450 onboard credit cost us $495 Canadian as approsed to the current bank exchange rate ( 1.26 ) which would be $568.00 I leave in 2 weeks so should I have RCI do the US conversion rate on my credit card instead of my bank doing it? Or is that totally different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted February 2, 2015 #158 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I leave in 2 weeks so should I have RCI do the US conversion rate on my credit card instead of my bank doing it? Or is that totally different? First figure out how much money you think you will spend on board. That would be charged to your Seapass. At the end of the cruise this would be charged to your Credit card and you would pay the high exchange rates. What everyone here is doing is estimating how much they will spend on board and buying OBC ahead of time. PBC is added to your account at the start of the cruise and will offset any purchases that you make on board. Purchasing OBC is no different than purchasing a shore excursion or a drink package. You just tell them how much US$ OBC you want to purchase and they will sell you that amount but in CDN$ at a great rate 10% premium. So to purchase $400 US OBC it will cost you $440 CDN. You would see the $440 charged to your credit card as a purchase at RCI for $440. On board the ship $400 US will be applied to your account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckcruiselover Posted February 2, 2015 #159 Share Posted February 2, 2015 First figure out how much money you think you will spend on board. That would be charged to your Seapass. At the end of the cruise this would be charged to your Credit card and you would pay the high exchange rates. What everyone here is doing is estimating how much they will spend on board and buying OBC ahead of time. PBC is added to your account at the start of the cruise and will offset any purchases that you make on board. Purchasing OBC is no different than purchasing a shore excursion or a drink package. You just tell them how much US$ OBC you want to purchase and they will sell you that amount but in CDN$ at a great rate 10% premium. So to purchase $400 US OBC it will cost you $440 CDN. You would see the $440 charged to your credit card as a purchase at RCI for $440. On board the ship $400 US will be applied to your account. Can OBC's be used in the casino? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willing292 Posted February 2, 2015 #160 Share Posted February 2, 2015 sigh,.... I have so much to learn...because I thought our reservations had to always be in US... ? oh well, we are fine for now.. our cruises coming up are paid for... hopefully by the time we book another one, there won't be so much confusion :D Happy cruising all You select the currency you wish to buy your cruise with. We compare RCI's US price with their Canadian price. Sometimes, the prices are so far apart, that we book in US dollars, and exchange our money at the bank. Sometimes, RCI offers a fair rate of exchange, and we book in Canadian. Shirley, Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcoigna Posted February 2, 2015 #161 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I just telephoned Royal Caribbean and was told that in order to buy more than $500 in onboard credit, I had to fax them a copy of both sides of my credit card along with my picture ID. They also tried to tell me that I could only buy onboard credit in Canadian dollars but then seemed to agree I could buy U.S. Dollars. Has anyone else experienced this request? Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Didn't have this issue at all. Bought 800.00. No problem. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
son3cruisers Posted February 2, 2015 Author #162 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Give a tip, get a tip.... Thanks to whoever posted about gratuities... It was actually a few dollars cheaper Canadian. So strange. Royal has some very strange math going on.. I too think Monday / Tueday this rate might increase with all the phone calls! Good luck everyone! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodml Posted February 2, 2015 #163 Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) So being the total skeptic that I am :D plus the fact that I've never purchased obc before because prior to this I've never seen the point, has anyone here done this before? RCCL's accounting system is wonky so the obc doesn't show up anywhere on the reservation and we only have this amenities receipt which shows the amount in CDN funds. I really don't want to be standing at guest services arguing with some poor soul because no obc showed up as that is just not what I do on vacation. So who has purchased obc before and can tell me if it's just on there as soon as you board? Or does it show up later? Any issues with the amount not being correct? Has anyone ever run into a problem with this? Murphy's Law and all that. TIA. Edited February 2, 2015 by goodml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodml Posted February 2, 2015 #164 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I did go back and read the whole thread again and see that some of you were given emails to confirm the amount in USD. C & A has also assured me that they can see the prepurchased amenity in USD. I guess I'm just looking for someone to report back if all was as expected at check in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoannefromNS Posted February 2, 2015 #165 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Thanks to the OP and to everyone who contributed to this thread! I put $500 US each on two rooms over the weekend at the $1.1 exchange rate (the agent told me that there are no restrictions as to amount). I called back this morning on behalf of my sister & the exchange rate is still $1.1. Paid $550 CDN for each $500 US Joanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trev71 Posted February 2, 2015 #166 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Thanks to the OP and to everyone who contributed to this thread! I put $500 US each on two rooms over the weekend at the $1.1 exchange rate (the agent told me that there are no restrictions as to amount). I called back this morning on behalf of my sister & the exchange rate is still $1.1. Paid $550 CDN for each $500 US Joanne Good i am glad that all our Canadiens are taking advantage of this. Makes me wonder how long they will do this for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleafvoyage Posted February 2, 2015 #167 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Is this available only by calling the 1-800 number? I didn't book directly with Royal,I used an online agent- can I still call Royal and put it on? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted February 2, 2015 #168 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Is this available only by calling the 1-800 number? I didn't book directly with Royal,I used an online agent- can I still call Royal and put it on? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Forums There were some that had booked using a TA and were able to purchase this by calling. Worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick28 Posted February 2, 2015 #169 Share Posted February 2, 2015 The one caveat is that you have paid your cruise fare in CDN$. My friend paid in American and has not been able to get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leyla Posted February 2, 2015 #170 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Is this available only by calling the 1-800 number? I didn't book directly with Royal,I used an online agent- can I still call Royal and put it on? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Yes, anyone can call the Gift & Gear department, even someone close to you that wishes to give you a gift of OBC can do it. Gift & Gear number: 1-800 722-5443 or if you are a Crown & Anchor member call 1-800-526-9723. I found there was less of a wait with the C & A number. I did purchase OBC in July for our last Oasis trip as well. The amount was posted to our on board account on day 2, same day as Royal's OBC given us for booking on board another ship back in March, 2014. As a matter of fact, back in July, was given OBC at par with American $. :D Happy cruising everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leyla Posted February 2, 2015 #171 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Got ours yesterday and I requested that an e-mail be sent and it was. Purchased two $300 OBC for each week of our B2B. So is it a good idea to pay the daily gratuities when we board using part of the OBC? You can have the automatic gratuities applied on board or better yet, prepay the gratuities now and save. For some unknown reason (to me anyway) Royal seems to charge the daily grats at slightly less than the US amount. Using purchased OBC in USD and paying an extra 10% defeats the purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleafvoyage Posted February 2, 2015 #172 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I just got off the phone .... And, we are not eligible because we booked in US dollars. I knew it was too good to be true... LOL.. I was hoping to do my future cruises... alas, no go :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mapleleafvoyage Posted February 2, 2015 #173 Share Posted February 2, 2015 The one caveat is that you have paid your cruise fare in CDN$. My friend paid in American and has not been able to get it. Same thing with me... she did say I could do it... in US.. lol for $200 US- It was going to be $251 CAN, plus whatever your credit card charges... yikes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodml Posted February 2, 2015 #174 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Yes that is true. You have to have booked your original reservation in CDN funds to be able to buy the obc in CDN funds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodml Posted February 2, 2015 #175 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Yes, anyone can call the Gift & Gear department, even someone close to you that wishes to give you a gift of OBC can do it. Gift & Gear number: 1-800 722-5443 or if you are a Crown & Anchor member call 1-800-526-9723. I found there was less of a wait with the C & A number. I did purchase OBC in July for our last Oasis trip as well. The amount was posted to our on board account on day 2, same day as Royal's OBC given us for booking on board another ship back in March, 2014. As a matter of fact, back in July, was given OBC at par with American $. :D Happy cruising everyone! Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks so much:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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