Canadian cruisers!!

[Fouremco]

It has to be on a cash account and although you can add a credit card on the reservation later in the sailing, that's only for anything above and beyond your credit. They will not refund any leftover credit to that credit card. I tried twice with no luck.

 

I set up a cash account when I did online checkin. I didn't try to take any cash out at the casino. After I cashed out at guest services I gave them my credit card in case I wanted to buy anything else before disembarking.

Thanks. That's what I had understood, but just wanted to verify. :)

[ckrobyn]

I have a lot of OBC on my cruise on the Indy in a few weeks - I have already chosen the cash account option on the online check in. I plan to take out all the $$ from the casino (with no service charge) and then add my credit card for any charges. Hope it all goes smoothly - never had a cash account before...

[retird]

I have a lot of OBC on my cruise on the Indy in a few weeks - I have already chosen the cash account option on the online check in. I plan to take out all the $$ from the casino (with no service charge) and then add my credit card for any charges. Hope it all goes smoothly - never had a cash account before...

 

On my last cruise, I had a credit card account and I had placed a substantial OBC on the account at the great exchange rate. On last full day of the cruise, I had no problem withdrawing what U.S. cash was left and I just left the credit card on the account for any last minute charges.

 

You do not need a cash account to take advantage of this perk.

[Ourusualbeach]

On my last cruise, I had a credit card account and I had placed a substantial OBC on the account at the great exchange rate. On last full day of the cruise, I had no problem withdrawing what U.S. cash was left and I just left the credit card on the account for any last minute charges.

 

You do not need a cash account to take advantage of this perk.

 

If you want to withdraw the cash before the end of the cruise (to use for purchases in ports) you do need to set up a cash account to avoid the 5% withdraw fee at the casino.

[ccotting]

Just returned this morning. You can cash out anytime on your last full day at Guest Services. Got $845. back in cash.

 

We returned in early October. No charge to cash out at guest services and no trouble. Can't speak to the Casino Great exchange rate and most appreciated.

Edited October 28, 2015 by ccotting

[goodml]

I had to go back and look to see when I originally got on the thread. It was page 8 and Feb 1st. It was a Sunday and I had just prepaid gratuities and bought $500 obc for each of four cabins. My prediction that day was that this great deal would be gone by Monday. Can't believe that 9 months later we still have it. We used it on Adventure in April, son and his group of 7 friends on Freedom in March and other friends on Serenade in September. It's amazing the amount of obc just our group has purchased. Imagine if we added up all from this thread.

 

So I just took advantage of it again. We got a ridiculous deal in Canadian funds with a great resident discount for a short getaway in December. Called down to buy obc and was so happy to be told that the rate is still holding. Got $500 for $550. Cheers and many thanks again to the OP who clued us all in to begin with.

[Virtopia]

I had to go back and look to see when I originally got on the thread. It was page 8 and Feb 1st. It was a Sunday and I had just prepaid gratuities and bought $500 obc for each of four cabins. My prediction that day was that this great deal would be gone by Monday. Can't believe that 9 months later we still have it. We used it on Adventure in April, son and his group of 7 friends on Freedom in March and other friends on Serenade in September. It's amazing the amount of obc just our group has purchased. Imagine if we added up all from this thread.

 

 

 

So I just took advantage of it again. We got a ridiculous deal in Canadian funds with a great resident discount for a short getaway in December. Called down to buy obc and was so happy to be told that the rate is still holding. Got $500 for $550. Cheers and many thanks again to the OP who clued us all in to begin with.

 

 

I'm hoping it will still be around next year. As of January, I'll be buying $100 increments each month for my September cruise.

[ccotting]

It has to be on a cash account and although you can add a credit card on the reservation later in the sailing, that's only for anything above and beyond your credit. They will not refund any leftover credit to that credit card. I tried twice with no luck.

 

Just back from a trip in September. We were able to have the credit returned to our credit card. They did say it could take a couple of weeks to show on the card account and their preference was to cash out. We took some in cash as we needed more exchange for the next phase of our trip and the rest was returned to our card.

 

I would say some of this is probably the preference of the accounts manager within each ship. It was clear that they preferred we cash out rather than having the funds returned to our card even though that card was used to place the credit on the account through RCI. It may be an additional layer of complexity for staff in the way they journal their accounts if returned to the credit card.

[h-sar]

I had to go back and look to see when I originally got on the thread. It was page 8 and Feb 1st. It was a Sunday and I had just prepaid gratuities and bought $500 obc for each of four cabins. My prediction that day was that this great deal would be gone by Monday. Can't believe that 9 months later we still have it. We used it on Adventure in April, son and his group of 7 friends on Freedom in March and other friends on Serenade in September. It's amazing the amount of obc just our group has purchased. Imagine if we added up all from this thread.

 

So I just took advantage of it again. We got a ridiculous deal in Canadian funds with a great resident discount for a short getaway in December. Called down to buy obc and was so happy to be told that the rate is still holding. Got $500 for $550. Cheers and many thanks again to the OP who clued us all in to begin with.

 

Sorry if this has already been answered. Are you getting the 1.10 rate on obc for new bookings or for ones you had previously booked when the RCL exchange rate was 1.10 ? Thanks

[Ourusualbeach]

Sorry if this has already been answered. Are you getting the 1.10 rate on obc for new bookings or for ones you had previously booked when the RCL exchange rate was 1.10 ? Thanks

 

This is on any booking regardless of the date booked.

[nu_cruzer1]

Since you bought in Canadian what currency was returned to your card? Did Royal refund your card in American or Canadian?

[Ourusualbeach]

Since you bought in Canadian what currency was returned to your card? Did Royal refund your card in American or Canadian?

It will depend on how you set your account up at check in.

 

You can elect to have Royal remind any money in US$ thereby letting your credit card company handle the exchange rate or..

 

You can elect to have Royal do the conversion from US$ to CDN$ and post CDN$ back to your card.

 

It is better to let your credit card do the conversion. If you let Royal do it they won't use the 1.10 rate but more like 1.25 when the credit card will be 1.30

[DawnC28]

This is on any booking regardless of the date booked.

 

Can you do this with bookings made through a TA?

 

Thanks!

[Ourusualbeach]

Can you do this with bookings made through a TA?

 

Thanks!

 

As long as the cruise is booked in CDN$.

 

You can purchase the OBC directly from Royal, you don't need to use the TA for this.

[DawnC28]

As long as the cruise is booked in CDN$.

 

You can purchase the OBC directly from Royal, you don't need to use the TA for this.

 

I thought so, but I just wanted to be sure before letting everyone know - one of the travellers called the TA about this and was told they couldn't do it - and I told her to bypass the TA and deal directly with Royal.

 

I will be making sure the TA is aware of this, as there are upwards of 40 Canadians cruising for a wedding in 2017, and I don't see the bank exchange rate getting much better anytime soon!

[nu_cruzer1]

It will depend on how you set your account up at check in.

 

You can elect to have Royal remind any money in US$ thereby letting your credit card company handle the exchange rate or..

 

You can elect to have Royal do the conversion from US$ to CDN$ and post CDN$ back to your card.

 

It is better to let your credit card do the conversion. If you let Royal do it they won't use the 1.10 rate but more like 1.25 when the credit card will be 1.30

 

Thank you for this information.

[Ourusualbeach]

I thought so, but I just wanted to be sure before letting everyone know - one of the travellers called the TA about this and was told they couldn't do it - and I told her to bypass the TA and deal directly with Royal.

 

I will be making sure the TA is aware of this, as there are upwards of 40 Canadians cruising for a wedding in 2017, and I don't see the bank exchange rate getting much better anytime soon!

 

You can call Gifts & Gear at 1-800-722-5443

 

Or

 

If you are C&A members you can call 1-800-526-9723

 

I've had very good service at C&A and have not had any of the $500 limit per transactions imposed.

[h-sar]

This is on any booking regardless of the date booked.

 

Thank you for assisting and advising us all. As a result, I've just purchased $1000 OBC for a Jan, 2017 Allure cruise which I booked last week. I was under the impression that the 1.10 was long over and only good for bookings made months ago. Can't believe I was able to still get that rate. When I emailed my TA this morning, she said they're all hoping that this continues to fly under the radar. Thanks again!

[goodml]

Sorry if this has already been answered. Are you getting the 1.10 rate on obc for new bookings or for ones you had previously booked when the RCL exchange rate was 1.10 ? Thanks

 

This is on any booking regardless of the date booked.

 

That's true. We've been making use of this throughout the year. My most recent post was for a sailing next month that we just booked last week

 

We have another cruise booked next year but booked that one in US due to price difference. I keep watching hoping to rebook in Cdn but the price is much higher. Can't win all the time I guess :D

[The Sunset Glow]

Currently on Serenade. When we got to our room the first day all three cards for our OBC were waiting for us. We were able to take out $500 the first evening (that's the daily limit). At first they were going to charge us the 5% fee but I told them it's a cash account and there's no fee - he made a quick call and confirmed this and we weren't charged. Last night we took out more cash and the fee wasn't mentioned at all. All is working well.

[goodml]

Currently on Serenade. When we got to our room the first day all three cards for our OBC were waiting for us. We were able to take out $500 the first evening (that's the daily limit). At first they were going to charge us the 5% fee but I told them it's a cash account and there's no fee - he made a quick call and confirmed this and we weren't charged. Last night we took out more cash and the fee wasn't mentioned at all. All is working well.

 

Thanks for checking I with the update. Have a wonderful voyage.:)

[CRUSINGFAMILY]

We sailed last week on the Navigator and we used the program putting on board credit before we left and setting up a cash account. It worked wonderful didn't experience any trouble and paid no fee's.

 

Thanks for this thread

 

Brian J

[fonthillhdtv]

I have a question for my fellow Canadian cruisers . We are booking on the Jewel for a back to back in Sept 2016. RC is offering a 30% discount and an additional 15% Canadian resident discount which is a real bonus with the dollar

Now here's the question- they also offer a 500 per couple discount off stateroom by booking air with them . our traveling companions got it thru a travel agent .I tried booking with RC direct and was told they could not combine the 3 discounts but could give us a crown and anchor discount of $40 has any of you been able to get the air combined with the 15%

[tinkertwo]

I have a question for my fellow Canadian cruisers . We are booking on the Jewel for a back to back in Sept 2016. RC is offering a 30% discount and an additional 15% Canadian resident discount which is a real bonus with the dollar

Now here's the question- they also offer a 500 per couple discount off stateroom by booking air with them . our traveling companions got it thru a travel agent .I tried booking with RC direct and was told they could not combine the 3 discounts but could give us a crown and anchor discount of $40 has any of you been able to get the air combined with the 15%

is the canadian discount only for the jewel? i just called rcl for the oasis and they tell me there is no such discount. it would be amazing if there was.

tia

[monctonguy]

I have never seen anything called a Canadian discount like that or even the provincial one even though each time I enter my province when I get a quote..

 

I know that a lot of the travel site DO give resident discounts on some RCI cruises...

 

Would be nice if RCI would implement something..as a almost 35% exchange rate is a killer for us Canadians right now and doesn't look like its going to get much better anytime soon:(