Canadian cruisers!!

[baldercash]

If i set up a cash account on board and have a OBC is there any way around having to prepay my gratuities because of my time dining at final payment?I was hoping to use my OBC to pay them

 

I just did a booking change today, I changed the date of a cruise pushing it back.

The cruise was $600.00 cheaper without the Diamond Balcony perk, I already had a $150.00 deposit made while on board which gave $100.00 OBC.

I was told if I passed on using my Diamond balcony credit on the 7 day cruise I could get an additional $300.00 in OBC. I took it as it was worth more then the balcony perk.

I then requested that I no longer wanted to prepay for gratuities as I would apply the OBC but as I had My Time Dinning I assumed I would lose it.

I was told the policy has been changed and MY TIME no longer requires prepayment of gratuities. The booking info I received by email shows My Time without prepaid gratuities.

 

Long and short you no longer need to pre pay gratuities to attend My Time Dinning.

[cruisingwithtwins]

My final payment is being charged on Christmas Eve by my agent, but the can dollar is so weak. Any tricks on how to minimize the exchange hit?

[A&L_Ont]

My final payment is being charged on Christmas Eve by my agent, but the can dollar is so weak. Any tricks on how to minimize the exchange hit?

 

I'm guessing you are paying in US for the cruise? What about checking a few banks over the phone, some money exchange places (eg at the mall or large travel agency) and if you have a special finical firm for RRSP and investments (eg BMO) to see if any of them have better rates for US cash exchanges. One location might charge less in fees.

 

If your TA has charged your cruise in US I don't see why they wouldn't let you pay in US cash. If you can buy it cheaper in cash VS the credit card rate why not. By doing that you might save a few dollars but miss out on points that you might earn on your card. Just a suggestion and a few things to think about.

 

It would be much better if the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future visit some banking executives that night and scare the crap out of them and they have a change of heart on bank fees. Another-words get ready for the hit.;)

Edited December 12, 2015 by A&L_Ont

[barnoner]

I am checking if the Sears card actually gives transaction at the doing daily rate if it does it would be the best way to charge as there would be no exchange fee as posters have stated.

 

. Sears Financial MasterCard

This retail rewards product provides 2 Sears Club points for every dollar spent at Sears, one of Canada's largest retail chains, and 1 point per dollar charged elsewhere. The card has no annual fee and charges no foreign transaction fees.

 

Just got the Scotia Momentum MasterCard which is replacing the Sears MasterCard. Gives cash back and still no foreign transaction fees.

[Clarea]

If i set up a cash account on board and have a OBC is there any way around having to prepay my gratuities because of my time dining at final payment?I was hoping to use my OBC to pay them

If your booking has prepaid gratuities because of My Time dining, contact whoever booked your cruise and request the gratuities be removed.

[tinkertwo]

Just got the Scotia Momentum MasterCard which is replacing the Sears MasterCard. Gives cash back and still no foreign transaction fees.

 

be careful of the cards that say no foreign transaction fees. i have seen these and when you look close you may not pay the fee but the exchange rate is higher. this comes from working in the banking industry for 32 years. they are going to get you one way or another. :(

 

i have still found the best way is to have a u.s. credit card and pay it with u.s. cash. then your sure of no transaction fees.

[TOCruisers]

Just got the Scotia Momentum MasterCard which is replacing the Sears MasterCard. Gives cash back and still no foreign transaction fees.

 

Before my trip in Oct, I found out that Sears CC will be discontinued. Apparently Scotia bought Sears CC portfolio recently as I just got a call from them soliciting the new cards. I looked into it last night but could not find the no foreign TX fee benefit. Is it the free card or with the annual fee?

 

to T.O.cruisers

 

Hi Copy cat LOL. When I picked this name, I was living in Thornhill as well but used TOcruisers thinking nobody outside of Thornhill will know where Thornhill is. I am now living in TO so I am leg now.

[jtdlmc]

Before my trip in Oct, I found out that Sears CC will be discontinued. Apparently Scotia bought Sears CC portfolio recently as I just got a call from them soliciting the new cards. I looked into it last night but could not find the no foreign TX fee benefit. Is it the free card or with the annual fee?

 

.

 

I got the new card in the mail last week to replace my Sears Mastercard. It states on the sheet that came with the card that there are no changes to any rates or free and "Foreign Currency Transaction Charges: We will not charge you any additional foreign currency conversion charge".

Edited December 12, 2015 by jtdlmc

[T.O.cruisers]

Before my trip in Oct, I found out that Sears CC will be discontinued. Apparently Scotia bought Sears CC portfolio recently as I just got a call from them soliciting the new cards. I looked into it last night but could not find the no foreign TX fee benefit. Is it the free card or with the annual fee?

 

to T.O.cruisers

 

Hi Copy cat LOL. When I picked this name, I was living in Thornhill as well but used TOcruisers thinking nobody outside of Thornhill will know where Thornhill is. I am now living in TO so I am leg now.

 

Who's the Copy cat? I think I have a few more posts than you so I've had the name a bit longer. But who's counting. Welcome neighbour!

[goodml]

Currently on board Majesty and happy to report that we've once again had great success with buying and using obc. This is just a quick 3 night getaway and had purchased $700 obc. Account is set up as cash only. Cards verifying the obc were not in the cabin when we arrived but were there after turndown service. I had no issues going to the casino and withdrawing $400 cash last night contrary to what was said on the thread about no more casino cash withdrawals so perhaps that is something ship specific that is being tried. Will withdraw what is left at the casino today. Can't believe we've been making use of this for nearly a year now.

[Emdee]

Is there a minimum amount required for a cash account?

[Ourusualbeach]

Is there a minimum amount required for a cash account?

 

You do not have to put any money (deposit) down for a cash account. Royal will allow you to charge up to $500 before asking that you then pay down your balance.

[Ourusualbeach]

Currently on board Majesty and happy to report that we've once again had great success with buying and using obc. This is just a quick 3 night getaway and had purchased $700 obc. Account is set up as cash only. Cards verifying the obc were not in the cabin when we arrived but were there after turndown service. I had no issues going to the casino and withdrawing $400 cash last night contrary to what was said on the thread about no more casino cash withdrawals so perhaps that is something ship specific that is being tried. Will withdraw what is left at the casino today. Can't believe we've been making use of this for nearly a year now.

 

Thanks for the update. In keeping with their consistency it appears that the polices are not the same amongst all ships.

[Emdee]

You do not have to put any money (deposit) down for a cash account. Royal will allow you to charge up to $500 before asking that you then pay down your balance.

 

Thanks so much.

 

We have OBC already just wanted to know if they require a higher amount.

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks so much.

 

We have OBC already just wanted to know if they require a higher amount.

 

You are good to go.

 

If you had $300 OBC then you would be able to charge up to $800 before being asked to pay your account down.

[LuCruise]

Another question about cash set up vs credit card.

 

I can see for us it's a big advantage of setting up your account as cash for port days. Since we can then take out the USD money at the great exchange rate.

 

But is there any advantage of having your account set up as cash when on board?

 

Reason I'm asking is I'm thinking of setting up our account as cash for the purpose of getting USD for ports. But once we are done our ports, I'm thinking it's good to change it back to credit card. (Our last two days of our cruise are sea days). That way, if we go over, then charges will just be charged to our credit card. And if any remaining amount in our OBC, then we'll just get refunded back on our credit card automatically. This (hopefully) also avoids any long line ups at Guest Services the last night.

Edited December 13, 2015 by LuCruise

[Ourusualbeach]

Another question about cash set up vs credit card.

 

I can see for us it's a big advantage of setting up your account as cash for port days. Since we can then take out the USD money at the great exchange rate.

 

But is there any advantage of having your account set up as cash when on board?

 

Reason I'm asking is I'm thinking of setting up our account as cash for the purpose of getting USD for ports. But once we are done our ports, I'm thinking it's good to change it back to credit card. (Our last two days of our cruise are sea days). That way, if we go over, then charges will just be charged to our credit card. And if any remaining amount in our OBC, then we'll just get refunded back on our credit card automatically. This (hopefully) also avoids any long line ups at Guest Services the last night.

 

That is the perfect plan. We plan on doing this next week.

[Clarea]

Another question about cash set up vs credit card.

 

I can see for us it's a big advantage of setting up your account as cash for port days. Since we can then take out the USD money at the great exchange rate.

 

But is there any advantage of having your account set up as cash when on board?

 

Reason I'm asking is I'm thinking of setting up our account as cash for the purpose of getting USD for ports. But once we are done our ports, I'm thinking it's good to change it back to credit card. (Our last two days of our cruise are sea days). That way, if we go over, then charges will just be charged to our credit card. And if any remaining amount in our OBC, then we'll just get refunded back on our credit card automatically. This (hopefully) also avoids any long line ups at Guest Services the last night.

I think what you have in mind is a good plan. Once you have no further need to withdraw cash, then changing the account back to a credit card makes for more convenince.

[LuCruise]

Ken and Bob, thanks for the quick response. I guess that way, we can go to Guest Services when the line isn't too long. And we don't have to money watch to worry if we're going over the amount left (at least from the point of view of not being allowed off the ship).

[CRUSINGFAMILY]

What i found in October on our Adventure cruise was that i set it up as a cash account and only had 75 dollars OBC but I withdrew 500 dollars from the casino and didn't change back to a credit account until the end of the week and I didn't get charged the 5% for the cash with drawl which I thought they might have. We used to always set as a credit account and I would have got charged the 25 dollars for taking the cash. Just another angle I thought was good.

 

Happy sailing

 

Brian J

[goodml]

Another question about cash set up vs credit card.

 

I can see for us it's a big advantage of setting up your account as cash for port days. Since we can then take out the USD money at the great exchange rate.

 

But is there any advantage of having your account set up as cash when on board?

 

Reason I'm asking is I'm thinking of setting up our account as cash for the purpose of getting USD for ports. But once we are done our ports, I'm thinking it's good to change it back to credit card. (Our last two days of our cruise are sea days). That way, if we go over, then charges will just be charged to our credit card. And if any remaining amount in our OBC, then we'll just get refunded back on our credit card automatically. This (hopefully) also avoids any long line ups at Guest Services the last night.

 

Today is our last day. Went to guest services around 9 this morning and was able to walk right up to counter. Withdrew the rest of our cash and put my visa down just in case we buy something else. Your plan will work great.

[fonthillhdtv]

If your booking has prepaid gratuities because of My Time dining, contact whoever booked your cruise and request the gratuities be removed.

Thanks for clearing up the pre paying grats. We didnt have them included in our fare , i was told we had to prepay them but i guess that changed.

I have another question if I call in to RCI and purchase a OBC using my Canadian credit card,and get the 1.10 rate . Then when we are on our trip use my American credit card for all my expenses pre cruise and during . At the end of the cruise can I cash the OBC out to my American Credit card so I have a Credit on the US Card to cover all the charges I occurred on the card. Effectively giving me a 1.10 exhange rate for the whole trip.

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks for clearing up the pre paying grats. We didnt have them included in our fare , i was told we had to prepay them but i guess that changed.

I have another question if I call in to RCI and purchase a OBC using my Canadian credit card,and get the 1.10 rate . Then when we are on our trip use my American credit card for all my expenses pre cruise and during . At the end of the cruise can I cash the OBC out to my American Credit card so I have a Credit on the US Card to cover all the charges I occurred on the card. Effectively giving me a 1.10 exhange rate for the whole trip.

 

Yes that will work and is what we are doing next week.

[LuCruise]

Today is our last day. Went to guest services around 9 this morning and was able to walk right up to counter. Withdrew the rest of our cash and put my visa down just in case we buy something else. Your plan will work great.

 

Great. Thanks for letting me know from personal experience. Sounds like you changed your account over at a perfect time. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

[goodml]

Great. Thanks for letting me know from personal experience. Sounds like you changed your account over at a perfect time. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

 

Thank you, it's been fun. Majesty is holding up quite well actually. We've been pleasantly surprised.