Canadian cruisers!!

[Magicat]

So I just purchased my fourth OBC of $500, bringing us to $2,000 altogether. I was told if I wanted to buy anymore I would have to email the request because it looked like duplications??? She didnt really seem too confident in her answer but you never know. I am sure the OBC is there but wonder what would happen if I tried to purchase more? I also tried doing this thru crown and anchor and thet said no and just transferred me. :rolleyes:

 

I call the C&A desk and they take my order with no issues. They even ask if there is a note I wish to attach to the OBC when it is delivered to my stateroom the second day of the cruise. I put "Have a great cruise!" LOL

[son3cruisers]

I call the C&A desk and they take my order with no issues. They even ask if there is a note I wish to attach to the OBC when it is delivered to my stateroom the second day of the cruise. I put "Have a great cruise!" LOL

 

I've called C&A 4 times for our upcoming cruise.

Twice, allowed more then $500. The other two times I was told only $499.

All depends who you get!

[koolforkatz]

Thanks all for input and contact #'s. I will try again and see what happens! I think it's just the luck of the draw and who picks up the phone....

[shanley]

Thanks all for input and contact #'s. I will try again and see what happens! I think it's just the luck of the draw and who picks up the phone....

 

 

I just called 1-800-722-5443 which is the number for gifts and purchased my OBC.

[Cruisin'Kim]

Just got off of the phone with RCL. I called them because it was starting to bother me that my amenities confirmation was showing that I had purchased $1,100.00 Canadian for my OBC, but nothing about how much I was getting American. Elliott from Gifts & Gear reassured me 5 times that it showed on the computer (which would be what they see when I am on the ship), that I had purchased $1,000.00 USD at 1.10 or $1,100.00 Canadian. He did tell me something that I hadn't thought about though - he said that when I was doing my online check in to make sure I chose "US" and not "CAD" when they ask what currency I want my shipboard expenses billed in. Otherwise they will take the $1,100.00 Canadian at face value and then convert at the current rate on the ship.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Cruisin'Kim

[Ourusualbeach]

Just got off of the phone with RCL. I called them because it was starting to bother me that my amenities confirmation was showing that I had purchased $1' date='100.00 Canadian for my OBC, but nothing about how much I was getting American. Elliott from Gifts & Gear reassured me 5 times that it showed on the computer (which would be what they see when I am on the ship), that I had purchased $1,000.00 USD at 1.10 or $1,100.00 Canadian. He did tell me something that I hadn't thought about though - he said that when I was doing my online check in to make sure I chose "US" and not "CAD" when they ask what currency I want my shipboard expenses billed in. Otherwise they will take the $1,100.00 Canadian at face value and then convert at the current rate on the ship.

 

More wrong information being given out by Royal reps.

 

There is no option for what currency you want your on board expenses charged in during the cruise. They are all charged in US$. The OBC will be on your account in US$.

 

The Canadian / US currency selection comes into play for how you want Royal to charge your credit card at the end of the cruise and does not affect any OBC that you have.

 

Do not worry about the amenity confirmation not showing the US$ amount. It has been like this since this thread started back in January and no one has ever had an issue with not receiving the correct amount of US$ OBC.

[Virtopia]

Is there a deadline in which you can buy onboard credit? My cruise is in 8 days (finally!) and thinking of buying some more but probably won't decide until Tuesday.

[Ourusualbeach]

Like other cruise planner purchases I would assume 4 days prior to the cruise is the cut off point.

[muffin]

Ourusualbeach......is there any advantage to choosing either usd or Cdn currency to use for the charging of any amount owing over and above the amount covered by OBC? I can get myself do confused with all this!! Thx

[phabric]

Just got off of the phone with RCL. I called them because it was starting to bother me that my amenities confirmation was showing that I had purchased $1' date='100.00 Canadian for my OBC, but nothing about how much I was getting American. Elliott from Gifts & Gear reassured me 5 times that it showed on the computer (which would be what they see when I am on the ship), that I had purchased $1,000.00 USD at 1.10 or $1,100.00 Canadian. He did tell me something that I hadn't thought about though - he said that when I was doing my online check in to make sure I chose "US" and not "CAD" when they ask what currency I want my shipboard expenses billed in. Otherwise they will take the $1,100.00 Canadian at face value and then convert at the current rate on the ship.[/quote']

 

Are you using all your OBC for excursions booked on board? Or are you taking some out as cash? If cash, how are you planning that?

 

I usually book excursions online so don't use OBC for excursions. I was planning on purchasing OBC for the rate. Some cruiselines issue US cheques for cash account and refund credit cards for any left over money in the sail accounts. I don't want them to issue a US cheque to me as I don't have a US account.

[Ourusualbeach]

Are you using all your OBC for excursions booked on board? Or are you taking some out as cash? If cash, how are you planning that?

 

I usually book excursions online so don't use OBC for excursions. I was planning on purchasing OBC for the rate. Some cruiselines issue US cheques for cash account and refund credit cards for any left over money in the sail accounts. I don't want them to issue a US cheque to me as I don't have a US account.

 

There are only 2 ways to take out cash on the ship.

 

One is to wait until the last evening and take out any remaining OBC at guest services.

 

The other is to withdraw cash at the casino. If your Seapass account is secured by a credit card you will pay a 5% fee to withdraw cash. If you set up your Seapass account as a cash account then many ships will not charge this 5% service charge.

 

Royal does not issue cheques.

 

If you have a cash account set up then you have to line up at guest services the last evening or morning of departure to settle your account where they will give you any remaining OBC in cash. (US$)

 

If you have a credit card associated with your account then any remaining OBC will be put back on your account. This is where you have the option when you do your on line check in of specifying whether you want Royal to put any remaining funds bra back on your card in either US$ and then your credit card company does the currency conversion or if you want Royal to do the conversion and put the money back on your card in CDN$.

 

Even if you have Royal do the exchange to CDN$ it will be at the exchange rate of the day (less their hefty service fee) but still a lot better than the 110% rate that they charged you when you bought it. The ship does not see that 110% rate that you bought the OBC at.

[Ourusualbeach]

Ourusualbeach......is there any advantage to choosing either usd or Cdn currency to use for the charging of any amount owing over and above the amount covered by OBC? I can get myself do confused with all this!! Thx

 

All charging is done in US$.

 

The selection of currency is how you want Royal to handle the final bill and whether you want Royal to do the exchange or your credit card company to do the exchange.

 

Most prefer having their credit card company do the exchange as they get a better exchange rate than Royal.

 

By having Royal post any remaining OBC or charges to your credit card in US$ you are ensuring that you are only paying the exchange rates once. Also certain credit cards have better terms than others with regards to exchange rates.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[phabric]

There are only 2 ways to take out cash on the ship.

 

One is to wait until the last evening and take out any remaining OBC at guest

 

Can I do this early in the cruise instead of waiting until the last day? Take the money out and then put a credit card down?

[Ourusualbeach]

Can I do this early in the cruise instead of waiting until the last day? Take the money out and then put a credit card down?

 

Yes you can take the money out early. This can only be done at the casino. Some have reported a limit of $500 per day for withdrawals.

 

You cannot take money out at guest services prior to the last day. It does not matter of you put a credit card down or not.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[Bob7]

Hey Ken, I vote for you to be the official Canadian Financial Officer for Canucks cruising on RCL.

So would the following be the most foolproof way to score the US$ at 110 % ... pre-purchase the US$ OBC at 110 % CAN, at online check-in (and dockside) give a credit card for the shipboard account, then on the last cruise day withdraw the US$ OBC in cash from guest services?

 

I know you mentioned before that the 110% rate would not be given to Canadians who booked the cruise in US$, but I have to ask Tracey, Magic, Son3, and others who scored the 110% OBC, did any of you book the cruise in US$ through a TA either in the US or Can?

-Bob

[monctonguy]

I can vouch personally for your last question. I had my Nov cruise booked in USD and I had asked about buying OBC, but it would have been charged in USD to me.

 

I then re-booked my cruise for a better price last Sunday in CAD...I immediately asked to purchase OBC.....they confirmed it would be $330 CAD charged to my CC for $300 USD on my OBC. I checked my CC and it was $330 charged to me.

[phabric]

Never done cash account before.

 

On the online check in, you mark cash. Do you go to guest services to put money down? If I have OBC on my sail card, do I still need to put cash down?

[The Sunset Glow]

Never done cash account before.

 

On the online check in, you mark cash. Do you go to guest services to put money down? If I have OBC on my sail card, do I still need to put cash down?

 

RCI will allow you to charge up to $500 on your set sail pass before they will require you to go to guest services and pay it down. And that is with no OBC on your account to start with.

[muffin]

I booked short cruise in Cdn $ with RCL . Pd deposit in Cdn $ of course,, and bought 500usd as OBC for 550$cdn.

Life happens,and I had to cancel. I wondered how they would treat the refund of the 550$ Cdn. To my credit card after 5 days as I was told, they refunded full deposit in Cdn and the 550$cdn used for the OBC . This made good sense to me...you will only get the benefit of the larger exchange rate AFTER you sail. No surprises there. FYI

[Ourusualbeach]

Hey Ken, I vote for you to be the official Canadian Financial Officer for Canucks cruising on RCL.

So would the following be the most foolproof way to score the US$ at 110 % ... pre-purchase the US$ OBC at 110 % CAN, at online check-in (and dockside) give a credit card for the shipboard account, then on the last cruise day withdraw the US$ OBC in cash from guest services?

 

I know you mentioned before that the 110% rate would not be given to Canadians who booked the cruise in US$, but I have to ask Tracey, Magic, Son3, and others who scored the 110% OBC, did any of you book the cruise in US$ through a TA either in the US or Can?

-Bob

 

Thanks.:)

 

IMO the best way would be to initially set up a cash account and try to withdraw money at the casino without paying the 5% fee. Towards the end of the cruise go to guest services and add a credit card so they automatically settle your account the last day without you having to stand in line.

 

This is what we will be doing in December. I need some cash for shore excursions and we have a US$ credit card that I will give them so I don't have any issues with exchange rates on checkout.

 

No one who has purchased their cruise in US$ has been able to purchase the OBC. Royals system will not allow the processing if 2 different currencies.

[Ourusualbeach]

I booked short cruise in Cdn $ with RCL . Pd deposit in Cdn $ of course,, and bought 500usd as OBC for 550$cdn.

Life happens,and I had to cancel. I wondered how they would treat the refund of the 550$ Cdn. To my credit card after 5 days as I was told, they refunded full deposit in Cdn and the 550$cdn used for the OBC . This made good sense to me...you will only get the benefit of the larger exchange rate AFTER you sail. No surprises there. FYI

 

Makes perfect sense and this is what many thought would happen but nice to hear the confirmation. Hope you get to book another cruise soon.

[son3cruisers]

Hey Ken, I vote for you to be the official Canadian Financial Officer for Canucks cruising on RCL.

So would the following be the most foolproof way to score the US$ at 110 % ... pre-purchase the US$ OBC at 110 % CAN, at online check-in (and dockside) give a credit card for the shipboard account, then on the last cruise day withdraw the US$ OBC in cash from guest services?

 

I know you mentioned before that the 110% rate would not be given to Canadians who booked the cruise in US$, but I have to ask Tracey, Magic, Son3, and others who scored the 110% OBC, did any of you book the cruise in US$ through a TA either in the US or Can?

-Bob

 

The cruise must be booked in Canadian funds. My brother in law has the same sailing as us and booked the " NO TAX" super sale way back when that had to be booked in U.S. Funds ( my cruise is in Canadian funds) . I can get the deal on stateroom credit, he can not. Same sailing.

I am so happy that everyone is saving so much money!!! Back when I posted this thread I really thought it was going to be gone quickly once our dollar dropped. Here we are 8-9 months later and we are still able to save! :D

[phabric]

Someone mentioned on the Princess thread, that Princess sets their rate in Feb each year for cruises after a certain date, it was $1.10, now $1.20 and it has been mentioned $1.30 for next . RC might set their rates at a certain time period.

Edited September 12, 2015 by phabric

[Magicat]

Someone mentioned on the Princess thread, that Princess sets their rate in Feb each year for cruises after a certain date, it was $1.10, now $1.20 and it has been mentioned $1.30 for next . RC might set their rates at a certain time period.

 

If this is the case, then immediately following our Oct cruise we will start to purchase OBC for next year's cruises.

[Ourusualbeach]

Someone mentioned on the Princess thread, that Princess sets their rate in Feb each year for cruises after a certain date, it was $1.10, now $1.20 and it has been mentioned $1.30 for next . RC might set their rates at a certain time period.

 

Royal uses 2 different currency conversion.

 

One for the OBC that we are buying at $1.10 that has not changed since January.

 

The other is for the pricing of the cruises themselves as well as shore excursions, dining beverage packages etc. These are set quarterly and the conversion rate being used is actually found in the quarterly financial reports.