Canadian cruisers!!

[LuCruise]

but if you wait till you leave port then wouldn't you have to pay for any drinks, in that time period, out of pocket? that could cost more than the $20 savings couldn't it?

maybe i'm confused.

 

If you are borderline of breaking even on the drink package, one option would be to wait until day 2 to purchase the package.

 

But I have read from other's posts that they will refund this money (unless they no longer do this, but this post is only from one month ago). Look at this post...first post under section "Once on the boat" http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2284000

Edited December 27, 2015 by LuCruise

[JillK]

I'm a cruiser newbie (only cruised once with NCL) and after going through the last ten pages of this thread (thanks for the amazing tip btw!), I have a few questions and I would really appreciate if you could help me out.

1) After buying OBC at the rate of 1.1:1, can I use OBC to pay gratuities?

 

2) I have read on the forum somewhere that prepaying gratuities in CAD is cheaper than paying on board. Apparently someone paid $76.87 CND for a 7 day cruise, whereas in US$ they were $84 ($12 x 7 days). I booked my cruise for Jan 2 2016 sailing in July 2015, am I allowed to do that or am I better off paying my gratuities using OBC?

 

3) What is the difference between having my seapass account set up as cash vs credit card? How do I do the set up initially - is it when I board my cruise? From reading this thread, it seems like if I have my account set up as cash, I can withdraw money from the casino or Guest Services at any time without service charges. At the end of the cruise, do I have to go to Guest Services to pick up any remaining cash including coins? However, if my account is set up as CC, I would be charged a service fee whenever I withdraw cash but any remaining OBCs at the end of cruise will be refunded onto my cruise in $USD.

 

I apologize for the lengthy post!

 

My husband and I just booked Oasis last week for the Jan 30/16 sailing. We paid $111 CDN each for pre-paid gratuities, which is roughly the current exchange rate. Only reason we did it this way was to pay for it ahead of time, rather than after we get home. Also avoids conversion fees with credit cards (usually 2.5% depending on your card).

 

Happy cruising!

[cantellu]

If you are borderline of breaking even on the drink package, one option would be to wait until day 2 to purchase the package.

 

But I have read from other's posts that they will refund this money (unless they no longer do this, but this post is only from one month ago). Look at this post...first post under section "Once on the boat" http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2284000

 

Found a good answer on this post...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2281964&highlight=drink+package+taxes

[jaye23]

1. Yes you can use your OBC to pay gratuities but only if you pay gratuities onboard. Do not do prepaid gratuities as they will be charged at final payment.

 

2. The deal with the cheaper gratuities was for those of us that booked cruises back when the CDN$ was stronger than the US$ a couple of years ago, as you booked in July 2015 this would not apply.

 

3. You can choose whether to set up your account as a cash a cash or credit card account when you complete your set sail pass online prior to your cruise. You can also change this at the pier check in if you wish.

 

Cash accounts can get cash up to $500 per day from the casino. Cash from guest services is only on your last full day aboard the ship.

 

With a cash account you must stand in line to close your account and pay any remaining balance or get your cash back the last evening. To avoid this many will go to guest services the last day and give them a credit card to settle their account with to avoid standing in line.

 

By waiting until the last day to give the credit card you can get cash from the casino with no fee and then have the convenience of an easy check out with any remaining money refunded in US$ to your credit card.

 

Thank you so so much for the response! In order to use OBC for gratuities, I just need to make sure I have enough OBCs for gratuities on the last day and RC will automatically apply the OBCs against gratuities?

[yoyogu]

I wonder if anyone can give input into this,

 

I plan on purchasing $5,000 OBC for my 7 day cruise, but I heard there's a $500 withdraw limit at the casino.

 

1. Is this "limit" per person or per cabin?

 

2. If there is a $500 limit, does that mean I can only withdraw $3,500 for the 7 days and the rest from guest services at the last day of sailing?

 

3. Has anyone experienced any difficulty in withdrawing money from guest services in amounts greater than $1,000 on the last day of sailing?

 

Any help is appreciated!! :):)

[Lizzzys]

I wonder if anyone can give input into this,

 

I plan on purchasing $5,000 OBC for my 7 day cruise, but I heard there's a $500 withdraw limit at the casino.

 

1. Is this "limit" per person or per cabin?

 

2. If there is a $500 limit, does that mean I can only withdraw $3,500 for the 7 days and the rest from guest services at the last day of sailing?

 

3. Has anyone experienced any difficulty in withdrawing money from guest services in amounts greater than $1,000 on the last day of sailing?

 

Any help is appreciated!! :):)

 

If you abuse it, it will likely be lost for everyone.

[Ourusualbeach]

Thank you so so much for the response! In order to use OBC for gratuities, I just need to make sure I have enough OBCs for gratuities on the last day and RC will automatically apply the OBCs against gratuities?

 

Your gratuities at $12.95 per person per day are charged to your room each day. Whatever OBC you have is posted on day 2. At the end of the cruise you to all gets totalled up and you either owe money or get money back.

[Ourusualbeach]

I wonder if anyone can give input into this,

 

I plan on purchasing $5,000 OBC for my 7 day cruise, but I heard there's a $500 withdraw limit at the casino.

 

1. Is this "limit" per person or per cabin?

 

2. If there is a $500 limit, does that mean I can only withdraw $3,500 for the 7 days and the rest from guest services at the last day of sailing?

 

3. Has anyone experienced any difficulty in withdrawing money from guest services in amounts greater than $1,000 on the last day of sailing?

 

Any help is appreciated!! :):)

 

The withdraw limit is per cabin.

[milkman32]

No problem to withdraw at guest services on last day, brother in law just got back from oasis last week

[Russ Lomas]

I'm a cruiser newbie (only cruised once with NCL)

I apologize for the lengthy post!

First of all, welcome new cruiser (we first sailed NCL and now love RCCL so I think you will be happy with your first RCCL cruise).

Secondly, don' apologize for the "long" post, you have not seen the length of some people's posts here that go on for pages and pages.

 

1) After buying OBC at the rate of 1.1:1, can I use OBC to pay gratuities?

Already answered above...definitely do it this way to save a few bucks if you booked your cruise in Canadian dollars.

 

2) I have read on the forum somewhere that prepaying gratuities in CAD is cheaper than paying on board. Apparently someone paid $76.87 CND for a 7 day cruise, whereas in US$ they were $84 ($12 x 7 days). I booked my cruise for Jan 2 2016 sailing in July 2015, am I allowed to do that or am I better off paying my gratuities using OBC?

I know this has been responded to already above, but it may have been me who quoted the $76.87 CND pre-paid gratuities rate, so I thought I would chime in. As Ken mentioned above, the pre-pay rate for gratuities fluctuates with the exchange rate. Due to booking almost 2 years ago, our pre-pay rate on the 7 day upcoming Freedom trip this coming March is $76.87 CDN (under $11 per day CDN). A year later we booked a 6 day Freedom trip for March 2017 and the rate is $80.30 CDN ($13.38 CDN per day). Another poster just posted that they just booked and were quoted $111 CDN for 7 day ($15.86 per day). Obviously, the cost per day is climbing.

 

Recommendation, purchase the OBC at $1.10 through Gifts and Gear with RCCL and then use it to cover the gratuities on your shipboard account on the final day. At the 10% exchange rate, you will end up paying $14.24 per day CDN.

 

I know this may sound like small change to some, but when people are paying for families of 6, 8 or 10 people, the small amounts add up.

 

Have a great first RCCL cruise.

[CanuckCruizer]

The withdraw limit is per cabin.

 

Not on the Oasis - we were able to take out $500 EACH per day, from the Casino (with no fee) for a total of $1000.

[LuCruise]

Found a good answer on this post...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2281964&highlight=drink+package+taxes

 

Thank you. So this post is another one showing that we should not be paying tax on drink packages. If we get one, DH would just get the soda package so adding $20 ontop of $56.64 (USD) doesn't make sense (if I'm doing the math right)

[JROMom]

I have a question about this! If we don't use all of the OBC do they credit it back to the credit card?

[Clarea]

I have a question about this! If we don't use all of the OBC do they credit it back to the credit card?

They will credit it back to the card used to secure your onboard account.

[poutanen]

I wonder if anyone can give input into this,

 

I plan on purchasing $5,000 OBC for my 7 day cruise, but I heard there's a $500 withdraw limit at the casino.

 

1. Is this "limit" per person or per cabin?

 

2. If there is a $500 limit, does that mean I can only withdraw $3,500 for the 7 days and the rest from guest services at the last day of sailing?

 

3. Has anyone experienced any difficulty in withdrawing money from guest services in amounts greater than $1,000 on the last day of sailing?

 

Any help is appreciated!! :):)

 

Edited December 28, 2015 by poutanen

[Lenliner]

Unfortunately I am in a position where I booked my cruise using an online US agency.

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know the onboard exchange rate? If I take Canadian dollars will I be able to purchase USD at a better rate than the bank here?

 

 

 

I'm in the same position, except with CCL. Anyone have any experience pre-purchasing OBC on Carnival? ⚓

[Ourusualbeach]

Not on the Oasis - we were able to take out $500 EACH per day, from the Casino (with no fee) for a total of $1000.

 

One more case of inconsistancies. We were on Oasis last week and it was per cabin for us.

[hancogran]

One more case of inconsistancies. We were on Oasis last week and it was per cabin for us.

 

Ken, Was all your OBC purchased in one person's name? I was thinking that might be the reason for the maximum $500 per cabin withdrawal. :confused:

 

We're sailing Oasis at the end of the month so now I'm curious. Yes, inconsistencies is right! :rolleyes: It likely wouldn't matter too much to me though, since I wouldn't likely be taking out $500 every day anyways.

[traceytd]

Well in my case I plan to buy OBC and bring some home to be able to cruise again.... If not, this might be our last cruise. At close to 40% it makes it almost impossible to afford... Just saying...

[traceytd]

Found a good answer on this post...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2281964&highlight=drink+package+taxes

 

If you abuse it, it will likely be lost for everyone.

 

Well in my case I plan to buy OBC and bring some home to be able to cruise again.... If not, this might be our last cruise. At close to 40% it makes it almost impossible to afford... Just saying...

[disneykins]

Haven't seen this question on here yet. I have 2 cruises booked for October 2016but will be cancelling one of them at some point. Both booked in CAD so I plan on buying obc in advance to take advantage of the rate. If I put $1000 on each cruise(A & B) , can I transfer the obc from cruise A to cruise B when I cancel cruise A? Or would the cancelled cruise obc just go back to my cc?

 

Thanks,

Tony

[A&L_Ont]

Haven't seen this question on here yet. I have 2 cruises booked for October 2016but will be cancelling one of them at some point. Both booked in CAD so I plan on buying obc in advance to take advantage of the rate. If I put $1000 on each cruise(A & B) , can I transfer the obc from cruise A to cruise B when I cancel cruise A? Or would the cancelled cruise obc just go back to my cc?

 

Thanks,

Tony

 

Hi Tony.

 

I think they will refund the cancelled cruises purchased OBC and not transfer it. Also remember this RC, do you trust them transferring it, even if they could.;)

 

Hope you guys are doing well.

Andrew

[CanuckCruizer]

One more case of inconsistancies. We were on Oasis last week and it was per cabin for us.

 

We did a B2B in late October and early November on the Oasis and we were able to get the cash on both of the cruises. We did have the OBC in BOTH of our names, if that makes a difference. Certain Casino cashiers said that we were allowed $500 - they did not elaborate and then I would say that we wanted $500 each and they would give it to us. So, sometimes you have to ask or tell them that you are allowed $500 "each" and then they will agree. We were never refused. We dealt with 4 different cashiers during the 2 week cruise and never had a problem.

 

Canuck

[poutanen]

Well in my case I plan to buy OBC and bring some home to be able to cruise again.... If not, this might be our last cruise. At close to 40% it makes it almost impossible to afford... Just saying...

 

I wouldn't have a problem with Royal making it impossible to refund your OBC for reasons just like this... They're doing us a favour by offering essentially a 29% (as of today) discount on USD to be spent on the ship. By taking some out to use on land, take home with you, or anything else, you're essentially ripping them off for $.30 on every dollar you take out.

 

I know they're a "big bad corporation" in some peoples eyes, but I don't think my conscience would allow me to do it.

 

Again, if Royal catches wind that people are ripping them off (and remember, this is a public forum, and a very prominent one at that) they may stop the deal for all of us. I'm thrilled that we'll be able to drink for a semi-reasonable premium on board, and I don't want to ruin that for the next Canadian Cruiser. I thought we were better than this?

 

Nevertheless, rant over... :mad:

[Lenliner]

Does this topic only apply to RCCI & NCL? Anyone buy OBC in advance on Carnival? Should I start a new thread to try to get an answer? Fairly new at this.

 

Happy New Year to all! 🎉