RCCL Pre buying OBC.

[Aussie FF]

I have purchased OBC for my next 4 RCI cruises.:D

First one is 17th Feb.:D

I will report back on how it works out. I don't believe there will be any fees to cash out. I have always cashed out in USD, to use next time. LOL, I have money left?:D

If this works out, I will be doing it on all my other cruises, and even buying more than I need, for many more cruises.

Won't need to pre-purchase USD in the future. :)

 

 

Many thanks to the OP.:D

Edited February 4, 2015 by Aussie FF

[woodyren]

I called RCI's Miami number as my Quantum cruises were book in the USA and paid for in US$$.

 

They said I could buy OBC for them but it would have to be paid for in US $$ ( i.e $100 US to buy $100 US) and then converted by them or by my credit card. Bummer

 

 

BUT

 

I have an upcoming Rhapsody 8 day cruise booked on board in Aussie $$$ so I will load up plenty of OBC onto that one at I hope the 1-1 rate and just withdraw the unspent amount at the end then take the US$$ cash and load up my Quantum cruise account once on board.

 

Can some one please clarify.

 

When I withdraw the unspent US$$$ OBC at the end of the Rhapsody cruise will they give it to me in cash?

 

Surely once it shows US$$ they can't reconvert the unspent amount back to my Aussie $$ CC at 1-1.

Edited February 4, 2015 by woodyren

[MicCanberra]

Strangely, I have had no luck buying OBC for my RCI cruise but have managed to buy OBC on Cunard, X and Princess.:D

[boeckli]

Strangely, I have had no luck buying OBC for my RCI cruise but have managed to buy OBC on Cunard, X and Princess.:D

 

Why not on RCI?

[MicCanberra]

Why not on RCI?

 

I had used an US TA for that booking and there is an issue with my reservation number, the TA says it is my number but RCI says it is a group number. Either way, I cannot buy any unless I ring Miami rather than the toll free number. :(

[BronteBlue]

Pays to persevere. I phoned a couple of days ago and was told "You can't buy OBC until 90 days out from sailing" (we're cruising next year). Phoned again this morning and bought AUD$1,200 on cc and the agent confirmed twice it will be US$1,200 onboard - dollar for dollar rate. THANK YOU OP :D

[MicCanberra]

Pays to persevere. I phoned a couple of days ago and was told "You can't buy OBC until 90 days out from sailing" (we're cruising next year). Phoned again this morning and bought AUD$1,200 on cc and the agent confirmed twice it will be US$1,200 onboard - dollar for dollar rate. THANK YOU OP :D

 

Good to hear.:D

[Tomo72]

Can anyone confirm that they purchased the OBC and saw on their credit card statement that the purchase was in Aussie dollars and the same amount is in the confirmation email in US Dollars?

[boeckli]

Can anyone confirm that they purchased the OBC and saw on their credit card statement that the purchase was in Aussie dollars and the same amount is in the confirmation email in US Dollars?

 

See my earlier post (repeated below)

 

Just rang RCI and purchased OBC for our cruise later this month. They debited Australian Dollars to my CBA travelmoney card and I was assured that the funds would be credited at 1:1 to my onboard account.

The 'Amenity Confirmation' only states "Currency AUD, Cost x.xx, Received x.xx", so I guess I will only find out once we get on the ship, whether we have received the same amount in US$.

 

I enquired about the ability to do the same for our Nov sailing and was told that yes.

[MicCanberra]

It certainly appears to be the case however, I also think that people should only buy the OBC because they need it for the cruise and want to avoid bill shock at the end. That way if they end up being charged more they are no worse off then if they spent on board with their account and they are more likely to have got a much better exchange rate. If people are doing it for a money making exercise, then they may end up being burnt.

Edited February 5, 2015 by MicCanberra

[boeckli]

It certainly appears to be the case however, I also think that people should only buy the OBC because they need it for the cruise and want to avoid bill shock at the end. That way if they end up being charged more they are no worse off then if they spent on board with their account and they are more likely to have got a much better exchange rate. If people are doing it for a money making exercise, then they may end up being burnt.

My reasoning exactly!

[MicCanberra]

my reasoning exactly!

 

:d:d:d

[woodyren]

I purchased a large amount today for my upcoming Rhapsody cruise. I actually purchased far more than I need as it is the only one of 4 cruises I have booked that was booked in Australia. Seeing as I can't load up for the others I plan to cash out in USA $$ and then buy OBC once on board the others in those USA $$ effectively achieving the same result as if the offer was available to cruises purchased in the USA.

 

My receipt is exactly the same as boeckli posted and my CC has the exact amount in Aussie $$ pending. I asked the consultant if the money was 1-1 on repeated occasions and the answer was yes "it's a good deal isn't it' She also told me that the 1-1 deal has been around for a long time but in recent weeks it was being requested far, far more frequently. Also said that the same deal wasn't even available to NZ customers. I also asked if any unused portion could be cashed out at the end. She said yes, no problem.

 

The only thing I haven't seen anyone post is that they have cashed out in the end.

 

Has anyone had the excess paid in US $$ cash? Potentially they could have a record and reconvert it back 1-1.

 

Has anyone had the excess money returned to their CC?. I have had excess refundable OBC returned as recently as last month and the excess was converted to Aussie $$ from US$$ at the current forex rate (or close enough to that I didn't notice).

 

At worst I could cash the OBC out in the casino for a 5% fee.

 

I am really surprised that this offer is available and cannot see any down side. If once on board the $$$ in my OBC are xxx US$$ which is less than = to the Aussie $$$ I paid because it was converted current exchange rate then I just tell them to put it back on my card.

 

I actually plan to buy some more tomorrow.

Edited February 5, 2015 by woodyren

[MicCanberra]

I have had excess OBC refunded to my card that was linked for the on board account, it was converted from USD back to AUD by my CC company at the normal rate of the day.:D

[fairywren]

I've just done it too, but apparently it may not be for all sailings, and she did say that although it's one for one at their end, my bank may have a charge....

 

I will wait for it to hit the Visa account and will report back:)

 

Update:

 

The transaction was on my CC account today and Westpac has charged me 3% fee. Not real happy, but still a lot better than current exchange rates.

 

We will need to wait and see what happens when we board, but fairly confident.....:D

[woodyren]

Has anyone ever withdrawn excess OBC in cash?

Edited February 5, 2015 by woodyren

[cruisine21]

Update:

 

 

 

The transaction was on my CC account today and Westpac has charged me 3% fee. Not real happy, but still a lot better than current exchange rates.

 

 

 

We will need to wait and see what happens when we board, but fairly confident.....:D

 

 

It's the single currency transaction fee because the transaction is processed offshore. I used my 28 Degrees card which has no forex fees.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[rkmw]

Has anyone ever withdrawn excess OBC in cash?

 

you should be able to transfer your obc from your card to the casino and cash out from there, we have done that with princess

[aronde]

My $1000 OBC purchase just hit my credit card at $1019.70 so a 1.9% fee (Westpac Amex). I just assumed an Australian currency transaction would be fee free so I did not use my 28 Degrees card. Live and learn I guess but assuming it does appear on the ship as $US1000 I am way in front! 😃

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[MicCanberra]

It's the single currency transaction fee because the transaction is processed offshore. I used my 28 Degrees card which has no forex fees.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Likewise, no fees as it is not seen as cash but a product.:D

[MicCanberra]

My $1000 OBC purchase just hit my credit card at $1019.70 so a 1.9% fee (Westpac Amex). I just assumed an Australian currency transaction would be fee free so I did not use my 28 Degrees card. Live and learn I guess but assuming it does appear on the ship as $US1000 I am way in front!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Definitely in front by around 22%.:D

[boeckli]

Update:

 

The transaction was on my CC account today and Westpac has charged me 3% fee. Not real happy, but still a lot better than current exchange rates.

 

That's why I used my CBA travel money card, as I knew that with the RCI transactions processed offshore (even though it's in AUD), Westpac CC would have a fee.

Edited February 5, 2015 by boeckli

[SeaDays4Us]

That's why I used my CBA travel money card, as I knew that with the RCI transactions processed offshore (even though it's in AUD), Westpac CC would have a fee.

 

I have never been charged by CBA when buying excursions and drink packages by credit card with RCL. However when my daughter and her friend booked their excursions on separate cards, her friends bank did not charge and her bank did charge. She rang her bank (ANZ) to query it and they reimbursed her "as good will" so it's worth a call to your bank. I always thought if you are paying in AUD on an Australian website, there would be no fees....

[woodyren]

I asked some more questions of the RCCL rep today.

 

What happens to any unused OBC?

 

Answer: It is returned to your card with which you purchased it on the same 1-1 basis in the currency it was purchased in.

 

Can I get cash out from this OBC to use in the casino (eg take the 5% hit)

 

Answer(after speaking to a supervisor): No the casino is cash only and you are unable to withdraw this OBC as cash.

 

Make of that what you will. We all know that things we are told by cruise line reps may or may not be the practice but my conclusion is that this is a great offer to get the best value for your on board spend but is not a way to play the currency divide for profit.

 

We will see once on board. It did seem too good to be true but is a great offer nonetheless.

Edited February 6, 2015 by woodyren

[rkmw]

I asked some more questions of the RCCL rep today.

 

What happens to any unused OBC?

 

Answer: It is returned to your card with which you purchased it on the same 1-1 basis in the currency it was issued in.

 

Can I get cash out from this OBC to use in the casino (eg take the 5% hit)

 

Answer(after speaking to a supervisor): No the casino is cash only and you are unable to withdraw this OBC as cash.

 

Make of that what you will. We all know that things we are told by cruise line reps may or may not be the practice but my conclusion is that this is a great offer to get the best value for your on board spend but is not a way to play the currency divide for profit.

 

We will see once on board. It did seem to good to be true but is a great offer nonetheless.

 

with princess or p&o once you set up your cruise card in the casino you can transfer your obc to your card and once your finished playing just hit collect and cash out your winnings plus your obc, i suppose RCI would have the same system.....it does work because we have done it but dont tell the casino staff because they wont let you as they say they are not an ATM