Canadian cruisers!!

[Ourusualbeach]

I've noticed the shore excursions go up and down slightly (I think more than every quarter) and have assumed this was due to the exchange rate. We did book one excursion before our cruise in CAD, but we are leaving our drink package to onboard. And although it seems like more of a hassle, I am thinking of setting up our account in cash due to being able to use the cash when in port for our other two stops.

 

PS - We also pre-paid gratuity but that's because I locked in at the old price before they increased it (think around the June timeframe)

 

They handled the exchange rate on the gratuities totally different than they did the cruise planner items. The exchange rate for gratuities was locked in on the day that you booked the cruise. For some (myself being one of the lucky ones) who booked cruises back when the CDN$ was stronger than the US$ the rate was locked in at that point. We had a few cruises (last Christmas and March break) where our gratuities were less than they were in US$ even though our $ was only worth .75 at the time.

 

For those that buy the next cruise certificates the rates are locked in at the date of the origional purchase.

 

Port taxes and fees work the same way.

 

I'm also setting our account as a cash account this Christmas.

Edited December 5, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[tinkertwo]

I just went into my reservation and was looking at the drink packages. is it correct that with the packages in u.s. funds you need to add gratuities (18%)?

 

if that is so then it would be (67 +12.06 + 27.67) $106.73 cnd per day (the 27.67 would be the exchange using a $1.35 rate.

booking in Canadian before we leave is $89.11 however when I booked it this is what showed.....

Gratuity has already been included in the price of each package.

Please note: Orders cannot be modified once they're added to your shopping cart. To change an order, you'll need to first cancel the order, and then make your purchase(s) again.

 

so then it would be $17.62 cheaper to purchase before leaving home. am I doing something wrong or maybe missing something? i'm into saving anyway I can. tia.

 

wait, I know what I did wrong. the exchange rate I should be using is $1.10 per $ because we pre purchase the cash so...

67.00+12.06+7.90 =86.96 which would make it $2.15 a day less expensive if bought on board.

 

if we are onboard for 8 nights is it considered 9 days of beverage package or just 8. since you would hardly use it on the last day it seems a waste.

[Ourusualbeach]

wait, I know what I did wrong. the exchange rate I should be using is $1.10 per $ because we pre purchase the cash so...

67.00+12.06+7.90 =86.96 which would make it $2.15 a day less expensive if bought on board.

 

if we are onboard for 8 nights is it considered 9 days of beverage package or just 8. since you would hardly use it on the last day it seems a waste.

 

8. It goes by nights.

[Ourusualbeach]

wait, I know what I did wrong. the exchange rate I should be using is $1.10 per $ because we pre purchase the cash so...

67.00+12.06+7.90 =86.96 which would make it $2.15 a day less expensive if bought on board.

 

if we are onboard for 8 nights is it considered 9 days of beverage package or just 8. since you would hardly use it on the last day it seems a waste.

 

The drink packages listed on line include gratuities both in CDN$ and in US$.

[tinkertwo]

The drink packages listed on line include gratuities both in CDN$ and in US$.

 

are you sure about that? I have been reading that you need to add the 18% gratuity to the drink package price when purchased. that's why I was surprised that it was included in the Canadian price.

now I have never cruised with rcl before so I really don't know but its not what I have been reading so it would be good to know for sure.

thanks for the response about the 8 nights question.

[Clarea]

are you sure about that? I have been reading that you need to add the 18% gratuity to the drink package price when purchased. that's why I was surprised that it was included in the Canadian price.

now I have never cruised with rcl before so I really don't know but its not what I have been reading so it would be good to know for sure.

thanks for the response about the 8 nights question.

Royal goes back and forth between adding the gratuity to the price of the packages and including the gratuity in the price of the packages. This month, the package prices already include gratuity.

[tinkertwo]

Royal goes back and forth between adding the gratuity to the price of the packages and including the gratuity in the price of the packages. This month, the package prices already include gratuity.

 

well if there is one thing I have learned about rcl its that they are not consistent with anything. and we haven't even been on our first cruise with them yet. :eek:

[Clarea]

well if there is one thing I have learned about rcl its that they are not consistent with anything. and we haven't even been on our first cruise with them yet. :eek:

RCI = Really Consistently Inconsistent.

[LuCruise]

They handled the exchange rate on the gratuities totally different than they did the cruise planner items. The exchange rate for gratuities was locked in on the day that you booked the cruise. For some (myself being one of the lucky ones) who booked cruises back when the CDN$ was stronger than the US$ the rate was locked in at that point. We had a few cruises (last Christmas and March break) where our gratuities were less than they were in US$ even though our $ was only worth .75 at the time.

 

For those that buy the next cruise certificates the rates are locked in at the date of the origional purchase.

 

Port taxes and fees work the same way.

 

I'm also setting our account as a cash account this Christmas.

 

Wow...you must have booked a long time ago :rolleyes:

This is for one of your upcoming cruises??? (I see you have cruises ranging from soon to Mar 2017). Don't thing that the rate has even been at par for years. I didn't do any calculation on the gratuities as I'm not sure what exchange rate Royal uses when they already convert the amount to CAD (but it's certainly not the 1.1%)...but I figured it was better than paying the higher amount at 1.1% (i.e. if we waited and used our OBC to pay it off). I have looked at the amount since the raise and it's worked out to a savings of $137.88 CAD for the four of us.

Edited December 5, 2015 by LuCruise

[Clipper123]

Wow...you must have booked a long time ago :rolleyes:

This is for one of your upcoming cruises??? (I see you have cruises ranging from soon to Mar 2017). Don't thing that the rate has even been at par for years. I didn't do any calculation on the gratuities as I'm not sure what exchange rate Royal uses when they already convert the amount to CAD (but it's certainly not the 1.1%)...but I figured it was better than paying the higher amount at 1.1% (i.e. if we waited and used our OBC to pay it off). I have looked at the amount since the raise and it's worked out to a savings of $137.88 CAD for the four of us.

 

The CND $ was at par and higher than US$ for a month or so back in Fall 2014. I booked my upcoming 2016 cruise in CND$ in October 2014. My grats are $76.87 CND for a 7 day cruise, whereas in US$ they were $84 I believe at the time I booked ($12 x 7 days).

Edited December 5, 2015 by Clipper123

[pilotboy1985]

Hi everyone,

This will put a wrench into our plans. :(

I bought $500 onboard credit for my jewel cruise that I'm currently on

 

I went to the casino to take out some cash and was told that as of last week the casino is not allowed to give cash only vouchers. They said this was a company policy.

 

The only way around it is to take the voucher, put it in the machine and then cash it out right away, you can then go to the cashier and get the cash. However the cashiers get really snotty with you because you're circumnavigating the system.

 

I did speak to guest relations and complained but they said this is the new policy and the casino is no longer allowed to give you cash.

 

This deal isn't dead, but it has been limited.

[LuCruise]

The CND $ was at par and higher than US$ for a month or so back in Fall 2014. I booked my upcoming 2016 cruise in CND$ in October 2014. My grats are $76.87 CND for a 7 day cruise, whereas in US$ they were $84 I believe at the time I booked ($12 x 7 days).

 

Yes, I just checked my invoice and we paid $76.87 CAD per person as well for our April 2016 cruise. I had called in June I think and had it added to our invoice before they raised the cost.

Wow...great that the CAD dollar was better than USD when you booked. Your cruise must have been at a great cost. Enjoy your cruise.

[jonath]

Worked fine on Liberty. Casino Cashiers knew that a Cash account == no fees. FYI - I also tried at Guest Services once and had no luck (they claimed it was a OBC Refund).

 

One question - what is preventing anyone (even normal USD paid accounts) from setting up a Cash Account, withdrawing say $3500 from Cashiers ($500 x 7 days) and then paying it off with Credit Card that gives Points/Miles? :p;)

[molly2kit]

Worked fine on Liberty. Casino Cashiers knew that a Cash account == no fees. FYI - I also tried at Guest Services once and had no luck (they claimed it was a OBC Refund).

 

One question - what is preventing anyone (even normal USD paid accounts) from setting up a Cash Account, withdrawing say $3500 from Cashiers ($500 x 7 days) and then paying it off with Credit Card that gives Points/Miles? :p;)

 

 

After your cash account reaches $500 owing,they block your sea pass card so you can't make any more purchases until you make a payment on your account.

[jonath]

After your cash account reaches $500 owing,they block your sea pass card so you can't make any more purchases until you make a payment on your account.

 

Can you make a 1-time payment with Credit Card while keeping it a Cash Account?

 

It just means many, many trips to Guest services.

[Lenliner]

As a Canadian cruiser, I've found a way to eradicate all of the angst that goes with having a low Dollar. Our next cruise is in Feb, which we booked a year in advance, when our dollar wasn't so weak. After we return home, we're only going on vacations that DON'T involve the greenback. It's just too expensive for this Canadian. 😐

[Clarea]

Can you make a 1-time payment with Credit Card while keeping it a Cash Account?....

Yes.

[molly2kit]

Can you make a 1-time payment with Credit Card while keeping it a Cash Account?

 

It just means many, many trips to Guest services.

 

 

In the two weeks we were on board we made quite a few trips to guest service. I know they can change you from credit card to cash but not sure if they would do it on a daily basis

[Lenliner]

In the two weeks we were on board we made quite a few trips to guest service. I know they can change you from credit card to cash but not sure if they would do it on a daily basis

 

 

Sounds like a lot of work to me, when one should be enjoying the precious time on board.

[Virtopia]

Just a quick question and I thought it best to ask here since everyone is Canadian ... for those who have done a European cruise, how did you do your money exchange? From CDN into Euros? Or did you convert your CDN into USD first and then into Euros? I have my first European cruise next fall and just looking for the best way to do it. Thanks!!

[molly2kit]

Just a quick question and I thought it best to ask here since everyone is Canadian ... for those who have done a European cruise, how did you do your money exchange? From CDN into Euros? Or did you convert your CDN into USD first and then into Euros? I have my first European cruise next fall and just looking for the best way to do it. Thanks!!

 

 

Last year we took a few Euros and then some US$ for private excursions we had booked in advance. Used ATMs on shore to get Euros and Pounds in England. We have a US$ credit card so used that onboard. Our CDN $ was worth more against US then. We go again next year and will pre purchase US OBC for use on the ship and will use the credit card for whatever we can. I tried to add to my US account monthly when I saw our dollar dropping against world currencies.

 

 

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[phabric]

Just a quick question and I thought it best to ask here since everyone is Canadian ... for those who have done a European cruise, how did you do your money exchange? From CDN into Euros? Or did you convert your CDN into USD first and then into Euros? I have my first European cruise next fall and just looking for the best way to do it. Thanks!!

 

Do CDN to Euros as it is only one exchange rate if you do CDN to US to Euros it is 2 exchange rates. I bought my Euros at the TD Bank, ordered online and was able to pick up 3 days later.

 

If on a Princess cruise, check in Gifts - Onboard Credits, if you have purchased your cruise it CDN, it will show you what you would pay in CDN for US$ OBC.

Edited December 8, 2015 by phabric

[Virtopia]

Thank you both! I'm with TD as well so will make a note to do that.

[robtulipe]

Just a quick question and I thought it best to ask here since everyone is Canadian ... for those who have done a European cruise, how did you do your money exchange? From CDN into Euros? Or did you convert your CDN into USD first and then into Euros? I have my first European cruise next fall and just looking for the best way to do it. Thanks!!

 

We use ATMs in the country we're in to get what ever local currency we need and use our credit card for most foreign currency purchases.

Also, we travel often enough, that we always keep a small amount of GBPs, Euros and $AUS cash for use for small expense at the beginning of our next trip.

[phabric]

Thank you both! I'm with TD as well so will make a note to do that.

 

I order all my money online. I check and make a chart of the exchange rates often and order when it looks good.