Canadian cruisers!!

[Ourusualbeach]

I wonder if the $499 rule that seems to be quoted and enforced by many of the reps is an old rule from before they had the ability to instantly authorize purchase amounts for credit cards. Seems like a policy from back in the day that you had the credit card machines with the 3 copies and the lists that the credit card companies sent out every week with the stolen or over limit cards.

[retird]

Well I purchased 998.00 a few days ago and it has already been withdrawn from my bank by RCI so I can' see them cancelling an OBC if they already received the money.

[jtdlmc]

I told him that I was explained that the limit over the phone is $500 and that anything above that needed to be faxed in. He said that was incorrect and the limit to purchase over the phone is $500 in total, not per call.

 

Has anyone else been told this?

 

My daughter called to add more OBC and was told that they had reached the maximum for the cabin (between two of them they had a total of $800). Didn't make sense as my husband and I have twice that amount and she told the guy that but he didn't have an answer. Called back, got another agent and had more added no problem.

[Magicat]

We need to start purchasing some OBC for our upcoming cruise in March so we'll see how much we can buy.

[davidsmum]

Can anyone advise how close to our sail date we can purchase OBC? Is there a cut off time?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ourusualbeach]

Can anyone advise how close to our sail date we can purchase OBC? Is there a cut off time?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Most likely about 2-3 days in advance as is the case with other purchases.

 

 

ORDERING YOUR ROYAL GIFTS

Orders are accepted up to 48 business hours before debarkation (with the exception of flowers and packages containing flowers).

 

Orders that are placed while the voyage is active will be delivered within 1 business day.

 

Orders without a reservation number may take up to 2 business days to be processed.

 

Orders submitted after business hours will be processed on the next business day. Business hours are Monday to Thursday from 9AM to 9PM EST and Friday and Saturday from 9AM to 4PM. Our offices are closed on Sunday and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Weekend, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[Clovis8]

Can I ask a few questions,

 

1) what is the benefit of getting OBC vs just attaching your credit card to your pass and being charged at end of cruise? Is it a better exchange rate?

 

2) are they currently offering a better rate than standard exchange?

 

3) how does OBS work for gambling? I'm sailing on the poker cruise on Oasis in December and would like access to a couple thousand dollars for poker. If I get OBC would I be able to withdrawal it for poker?

 

4) what is a cash account and how does it differ?

 

Thanks

Edited November 8, 2015 by Clovis8

[Toddcan]

I am curious as to how this occurs. Is it because you used a US travel agent?

 

I booked directly with Royal Caribbean. I asked for a quote in both $US and $CAD. The $US was just over $900 each for a Junior Suite - where the CAD price was over $2,000 each. Sometimes they have special pricing - but only for $US.

 

I'm pretty excited that I was able to grab a JS for under $1,000 pp. (6 day cruise on Navigator)

[Ourusualbeach]

Can I ask a few questions,

 

1) what is the benefit of getting OBC vs just attaching your credit card to your pass and being charged at end of cruise? Is it a better exchange rate?

 

2) are they currently offering a better rate than standard exchange?

 

3) how does OBS work for gambling? I'm sailing on the poker cruise on Oasis in December and would like access to a couple thousand dollars for poker. If I get OBC would I be able to withdrawal it for poker?

 

Thanks

 

To summarize this thread,

 

Your cruise must be booked in CDN$ to take advantage of this offer.

 

You can purchase US$ OBC at the exchange rate of $1.10 to $1.00 so buying $500 US will only cost $550 CDN as opposed to the bank charging almost $700 CDN

 

It is all refundable at the end of the cruise.

 

If you set up your account as a cash account you can withdraw up to $500 per day at the casino without paying the 5% fee that Royal charges.

[Ourusualbeach]

I booked directly with Royal Caribbean. I asked for a quote in both $US and $CAD. The $US was just over $900 each for a Junior Suite - where the CAD price was over $2,000 each. Sometimes they have special pricing - but only for $US.

 

I'm pretty excited that I was able to grab a JS for under $1,000 pp. (6 day cruise on Navigator)

 

Great deal Todd, enjoy your suite.:)

 

Sometimes (rarer these days) it is better to book in US$ even with the exchange rate. Just one more thing for us to check when looking to book a cruise.

[Clovis8]

To summarize this thread,

 

Your cruise must be booked in CDN$ to take advantage of this offer.

 

You can purchase US$ OBC at the exchange rate of $1.10 to $1.00 so buying $500 US will only cost $550 CDN as opposed to the bank charging almost $700 CDN

 

It is all refundable at the end of the cruise.

 

If you set up your account as a cash account you can withdraw up to $500 per day at the casino without paying the 5% fee that Royal charges.

 

Awesome thanks

 

Just out of curiosity, how would a Canadian not book in Cdn$? If they had a US$ account I guess.

[Ourusualbeach]

Awesome thanks

 

Just out of curiosity, how would a Canadian not book in Cdn$? If they had a US$ account I guess.

 

Royal will accept bookings from Canadians in either CDN or US$. You don't even need a US account. Just book in US$ and they will charge your CDN credit card in US$ and the CC company will do the exchange.

[Clovis8]

Royal will accept bookings from Canadians in either CDN or US$. You don't even need a US account. Just book in US$ and they will charge your CDN credit card in US$ and the CC company will do the exchange.

 

Thanks again.

 

Is my best bet to call crown and anchor, RCCL or the agent we booked with to get the OBC setup?

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks again.

 

Is my best bet to call crown and anchor, RCCL or the agent we booked with to get the OBC setup?

 

If you are a C&A member call them direct or you can call Gifts and Gear. No need to go through a travel agent for this purchase.

[Clovis8]

Well that sucks. Called C&A and apparently my reservation is under US$ I don't think I was even asked when it was made. Wish I'd known this weird loophole and I would have had if setup as CAN$.

 

:(

Edited November 8, 2015 by Clovis8

[Ourusualbeach]

Well that sucks. Called C&A and apparently my reservation is under US$ I don't think I was even asked when it was made. Wish I'd known this weird loophole and I would have had if setup as CAN$.

 

:(

 

Check the price that your current reservation is in US$ and factor in the current exchange rate. Go on Royals website and price the same cabin category in CDN$. As long as you are before final payment you can cancel without penalty and then re book in CDN$.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com

 

Just make sure you do the currency conversion properly.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[Magicat]

Use this converter and select the cash rate as that will give you the exchange of most credit cards I believe.

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/exchange/daily-converter/

[Clovis8]

Check the price that your current reservation is in US$ and factor in the current exchange rate. Go on Royals website and price the same cabin category in CDN$. As long as you are before final payment you can cancel without penalty and then re book in CDN$.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com

 

Just make sure you do the currency conversion properly.

 

I guess I need to decide if the hassle of cancelling rebooking everything is worth it. We have all food, entertainment, excursions etc books and already checked in.

[Pharmtech1984]

Just purchased OBC for my husband and myself for $500 each.. $1097.00 CAD

Now if I want to purchase drink packages, do I have to wait until we board the ship?

Thanks

[LuCruise]

Just purchased OBC for my husband and myself for $500 each.. $1097.00 CAD

Now if I want to purchase drink packages, do I have to wait until we board the ship?

Thanks

 

Either. You can purchase now under My Cruises. If you booked your cruise in Cad, then you'll pay in Cad. But if you wait until you are onboard, you'll use your OBC, which was bought at the 1.1% exchange.

We're waiting for the latter to use the better rate.

[NJ&Ozzie]

Hi,

Following this thread with some interest.

 

If you're set up as a cash account, how are your tips paid? Are they deducted from OBC daily? Or can you direct RC (when on cruise) to charge to a credit card? Are tips deducted in Cdn. funds or converted to U.S.?

 

How about if you have a U.S. bank account & credit card (eg. TD Bank) associated with your Cdn. bank? If you use this U.S. credit card to book cruise - is it still considered coming from a Cdn. bank? so would funds be in Cdn. & converted to U.S.

 

Thanks for clarification.

Cheers,

NJ

[Ourusualbeach]

Hi,

Following this thread with some interest.

 

If you're set up as a cash account, how are your tips paid? Are they deducted from OBC daily? Or can you direct RC (when on cruise) to charge to a credit card? Are tips deducted in Cdn. funds or converted to U.S.?

 

How about if you have a U.S. bank account & credit card (eg. TD Bank) associated with your Cdn. bank? If you use this U.S. credit card to book cruise - is it still considered coming from a Cdn. bank? so would funds be in Cdn. & converted to U.S.

 

Thanks for clarification.

Cheers,

NJ

 

 

If you have a cash account then yes your daily gratuities are charged against that. Tips are in US funds unless you prepay them in advance of your cruise in which case they are in CDN.

 

If you used a TD US $ card then you paid in US$ and unfortunately cannot get this deal.

 

Your cruise must be booked in CDN$ to get this rate.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[NJ&Ozzie]

If you have a cash account then yes your daily gratuities are charged against that. Tips are in US funds unless you prepay them in advance of your cruise in which case they are in CDN.

 

If you used a TD US $ card then you paid in US$ and unfortunately cannot get this deal.

 

Your cruise must be booked in CDN$ to get this rate.

 

Thanks! OK so the trick is to pay your tips in advance then in Cdn. funds. And if you don't do this, the tips are converted to U.S. so you would actually be paying more?

 

And once on board, can you set up a credit card account or does it have to be kept as a cash account? All purchases would be deducted from OBC?

NJ

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks! OK so the trick is to pay your tips in advance then in Cdn. funds. And if you don't do this, the tips are converted to U.S. so you would actually be paying more?

 

And once on board, can you set up a credit card account or does it have to be kept as a cash account? All purchases would be deducted from OBC?

NJ

 

Did you book your cruise in US$ or CDN$?

 

If you booked it using your TD US$ visa then you cannot prepay your tips in CDN.

 

If you booked in CDN then it is still best to buy the US$ OBC and pay your tips in US$ on board. If you pay ahead of time Royal is currently using about a 30% exchange rate.

Edited November 11, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[davidsmum]

Just purchased another $499 of OBC...the deal is still on!

 

no question over the amount I already have, a quick and easy transaction!