Canadians - Current Exchange Rate?

[rapata]

I rebooked our Oct 2016 Panama Canal cruise in order to get UBP, but the exchange rate went from 1.19 when I booked in September to 1.33. Something odd on their site right now. I will be calling again to check on this and if necessary will cancel and rebook, possibly via AC vacations.

[xcell]

Booked over the phone with a PCC on the weekend for the double promotion. Sailing February.

Cruise fare clicked out at 1.19

OBC is 1.33 (no thank you).

 

We have another cruise booked for Dec 2016. I can get all-I-can-eat OBC at 1.11.

 

Weird that your OBC is a different rate than the cruise. I checked online and both have stayed the same...

[nangirl79]

Not 1 person at Norwegian can explain this. They agree the exchange rate of $1.25 should be used on all pre cruise things being purchased but can't explain why $1.33 is being used for taxes, pre paid gratuities, beverage package or any pre bought OBC. I keep pushing for an answer as I am not paying more then I have to. I am going into my travel agents office today so she can call and try to get it figured it. I will let you know if I can get an answer.

[Ontario cruise duo]

Has anyone encountered any problems recently in cashing in their OBC that they purchased themselves before cruising?

[rapata]

Not 1 person at Norwegian can explain this. They agree the exchange rate of $1.25 should be used on all pre cruise things being purchased but can't explain why $1.33 is being used for taxes, pre paid gratuities, beverage package or any pre bought OBC. I keep pushing for an answer as I am not paying more then I have to. I am going into my travel agents office today so she can call and try to get it figured it. I will let you know if I can get an answer.

They also recalculated my deposit of 800 at the rate of 1.33 so i had to pay an extra 146.00 when we rebooked to get UBP. Still a good deal but not as good as it should be.

 

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

[greenstuff]

Has anyone encountered any problems recently in cashing in their OBC that they purchased themselves before cruising?

 

The only thing I have heard is staff are required to have a manager sign off on anything $1000

or over so it is simpler to cash in your OBC in increments under $1000.

 

On board OBC just shows in USD. They don't know what you paid for it.

[Carlaclaw]

Has anyone encountered any problems recently in cashing in their OBC that they purchased themselves before cruising?

 

We sailed about a month ago. Went to cash out our remaining money the last night of cruise at the casino and they called the manager while "their computers were slow". He refused to let us cash out (about 600 dollars) saying we would deplete their cash reserves and that we had to deal with guest services. So we had the remaining money refunded as a USD cheque after the cruise. It took about 3-4 weeks to arrive after the cruise but we didn't lose the 3% casino fee. My suggestion is if you want to cash out money do it earlier in the cruise.

[Sneakie]

Has anyone encountered any problems recently in cashing in their OBC that they purchased themselves before cruising?

 

We cruise next week....will let you know how it goes.

[Sneakie]

We sailed about a month ago. Went to cash out our remaining money the last night of cruise at the casino and they called the manager while "their computers were slow". He refused to let us cash out (about 600 dollars) saying we would deplete their cash reserves and that we had to deal with guest services. So we had the remaining money refunded as a USD cheque after the cruise. It took about 3-4 weeks to arrive after the cruise but we didn't lose the 3% casino fee. My suggestion is if you want to cash out money do it earlier in the cruise.

 

Did you have to take it as a cheque? Was your account set up with a credit card or as a cash account? I've read on here that if your account is a cash account they will give you cash back at the service desk on last night. Hoping that's true as we plan on using some of that cash for the rest of our vacation in Florida. If not, we'll get money from the casino and pay the 3% fee.

[Carlaclaw]

Did you have to take it as a cheque? Was your account set up with a credit card or as a cash account? I've read on here that if your account is a cash account they will give you cash back at the service desk on last night. Hoping that's true as we plan on using some of that cash for the rest of our vacation in Florida. If not, we'll get money from the casino and pay the 3% fee.

 

We didn't try to go to the service desk on the last day as we were feeling lazy and didn't want to wait in line. I'm sure you could probably get cash but it may depend on how much it is for. We were ok with a cheque as we were in Europe and only needed a small amount of USD on hand for private excursions in Turkey.

 

Also I just wanted to say make sure to bring proof of your OBC purchase with you. We had to start an inquiry for them to find our money as it wasn't linked to our account when we boarded (despite showing up online). This took about three days.

[Davey-D-99]

Going on our first NCL cruise for Feb. 2016 - Getaway. We booked in Feb. 2015 and got an exchange rate of $1.11. Was planning on buying extra OBC at $1.11 and cashing at casino for 3% like I've read here on this forum.

Recently called NCL about and was told that you can't turn OBC into cash while on board. It can only stay as credit and the any unused will be credited back 30 days after the cruise.

Just wanted to confirm that it's still possible to actually get $US cash out at the casino? I'm hoping the agent at NCL is just confused?

[xcell]

I always cashed about 200 to 300 at a time. It was easier at the tables but I guess the pit boss would be similar to the manager at the cashier.

 

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[lamchops]

I'm on the POA next week and was wondering if there was a way to get cash out. There are no casinos on the POA. My exchange rate for OBC was also 1.11% and was hoping to buy more if it was somehoe allowed.

[Ontario cruise duo]

Going on our first NCL cruise for Feb. 2016 - Getaway. We booked in Feb. 2015 and got an exchange rate of $1.11. Was planning on buying extra OBC at $1.11 and cashing at casino for 3% like I've read here on this forum.

Recently called NCL about and was told that you can't turn OBC into cash while on board. It can only stay as credit and the any unused will be credited back 30 days after the cruise.

Just wanted to confirm that it's still possible to actually get $US cash out at the casino? I'm hoping the agent at NCL is just confused?

 

Did you mention to the agent that this would be OBC that you purchased before the cruise yourself and that it was not OBC credit obtained as a promotion through the cruise line or your travel agent. Others have posted no problems with cashing out their OBC that they purchased themselves. Hope the info you obtained is wrong as I am cruising in two weeks and have purchased my own OBC for the purpose of avoiding having to pay .35 cents on the dollar currently at the bank before I cruise. Others who have recently cruised please give us your experiences please and thanks!:rolleyes:

[hamrag]

I'm on the POA next week and was wondering if there was a way to get cash out. There are no casinos on the POA. My exchange rate for OBC was also 1.11% and was hoping to buy more if it was somehoe allowed.

 

No experience with that, but wonder if you can set up a cash account rather than credit card when you board. So if, for example, you have $2000 purchased OBC you may be able to cash what you wanted each day from Guest Relations or you might need to wait until final evening once your account is closed for the cruise.....interesting, so hope someone with experience can advise!

[Ontario cruise duo]

Moving this forward a bit. Anyone had any recent transactions with their OBC purchased before their recent cruise??

[Tibby-Twoshoes]

:o:confused::mad::eek:

 

OK I went to the NCL site called signed up. Though I was getting to talk directly to NCL ...am I ....how can I pay in Canadian dollars instead ?

 

Yes you got it, I am new at this and this is my first cruise. I have booked and place a deposit.....going to call today tomorrow so get the UDP included as well from that wave15 promo going on for the next few day....but looks like I need to verify is it a US TA or directly with NCL and getting the better exchange rate.

 

Any help thoughts would e great.

[Canagirl]

:o:confused::mad::eek:

 

OK I went to the NCL site called signed up. Though I was getting to talk directly to NCL ...am I ....how can I pay in Canadian dollars instead ?

 

Yes you got it, I am new at this and this is my first cruise. I have booked and place a deposit.....going to call today tomorrow so get the UDP included as well from that wave15 promo going on for the next few day....but looks like I need to verify is it a US TA or directly with NCL and getting the better exchange rate.

 

Any help thoughts would e great.

 

You need to call NCL directly OR book with one of the few sites/agents who will charge in Canadian funds. Note that the deal on exchange now isn't as great as it used to be. There will be 10% off the base fare but everything else (taxes, gratuities if paid in advance as well as those on the UDP will be charged at 1.33 and you will also be charged 1.33 for anything you buy in advance such as onboard credit).

 

Price out everything online in US$ so when they give you the breakdown in CDN, you can see what you are actually being charged.

[RobTheGob]

You need to call NCL directly OR book with one of the few sites/agents who will charge in Canadian funds. Note that the deal on exchange now isn't as great as it used to be. There will be 10% off the base fare but everything else (taxes, gratuities if paid in advance as well as those on the UDP will be charged at 1.33 and you will also be charged 1.33 for anything you buy in advance such as onboard credit).

 

Price out everything online in US$ so when they give you the breakdown in CDN, you can see what you are actually being charged.

 

The rate I paid on the cruise booking is hard for me to calculate (since I was only quoted in CAD). I paid in CAD about the same as the best online price in USD that I could find (that is - essentially "at par"). I don't know what kind of group deals some TA's get - most TA's had pricing similar to the NCL.com price.

 

But my exchange rate for "everything else" is 19% - as shown on my account. I have no idea how those rates are determined/set - my booking was done yesterday.

[xcell]

Not sure why everyone's rates are different. My cdn booking rate is the same as prepaying obc, tips, etc.... the best way to check the rate is do either a dummy booking on air canada vacations or once booked buy some obc to see your rate

 

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[Canagirl]

The rate I paid on the cruise booking is hard for me to calculate (since I was only quoted in CAD). I paid in CAD about the same as the best online price in USD that I could find (that is - essentially "at par"). I don't know what kind of group deals some TA's get - most TA's had pricing similar to the NCL.com price.

 

But my exchange rate for "everything else" is 19% - as shown on my account. I have no idea how those rates are determined/set - my booking was done yesterday.

 

Good! You are lucky. There is another thread that has the memo from NCL showing the new exchange rates for Canadian bookings as of Oct 3. It applies to all new Canadian bookings but a few have reported there are a few sailings with 'errors' that are programmed at a lower rate. If you booked one of those, good! You get to save (my cruise was unfortunately programmed correctly and everything extra would be billed at 1.33)

[rapata]

Good! You are lucky. There is another thread that has the memo from NCL showing the new exchange rates for Canadian bookings as of Oct 3. It applies to all new Canadian bookings but a few have reported there are a few sailings with 'errors' that are programmed at a lower rate. If you booked one of those, good! You get to save (my cruise was unfortunately programmed correctly and everything extra would be billed at 1.33)

Do you have a link to the other thread you mention

 

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

[RobTheGob]

Good! You are lucky. There is another thread that has the memo from NCL showing the new exchange rates for Canadian bookings as of Oct 3. It applies to all new Canadian bookings but a few have reported there are a few sailings with 'errors' that are programmed at a lower rate. If you booked one of those, good! You get to save (my cruise was unfortunately programmed correctly and everything extra would be billed at 1.33)

 

I assumed the rates I got (booking and everything else) was related to the group rate that was mentioned by the TA. But maybe it was a programming error...

 

I've checked how the deposits were charged - and they are on my CC in CAD. I don't see a place to verify the balance owing - all I have is the invoice from the TA.

[Canagirl]

Do you have a link to the other thread you mention

 

Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

 

Here is the other thread. Initially we thought we were being charged incorrectly because the NCL reps stated to us that the exchange rate was now 25%. However, it was finally figured out (as detailed in the thread) how it is actually calculated at 33 cents on the dollar. The memo is in the first post. (The issue with 25% versus 33% was figured out in that thread since no one at NCL could explain it and just told us it was an error that couldn't be fixed):

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=48237255

 

I assumed the rates I got (booking and everything else) was related to the group rate that was mentioned by the TA. But maybe it was a programming error...

 

I've checked how the deposits were charged - and they are on my CC in CAD. I don't see a place to verify the balance owing - all I have is the invoice from the TA.

 

For me, I did a dummy booking on NCL and then a dummy booking on the site mentioned above. Then I was able to calculate that my cruise fare was converted at a lower rate (we later found out they now give Canadians a 10% discount on cruise fare) but everything else was converted at 1.33.

 

If you're really interested perhaps your TA can give you a breakdown of cruise fare, taxes and gratuity charges.

 

But if your account on NCL.com shows you can buy everything at 1.19 you definitely got either a deal or an error. Either way, you get to save over their new posted rate! Have a good cruise.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Canagirl

[RobTheGob]

For me, I did a dummy booking on NCL and then a dummy booking on the site mentioned above. Then I was able to calculate that my cruise fare was converted at a lower rate (we later found out they now give Canadians a 10% discount on cruise fare) but everything else was converted at 1.33.

 

If you're really interested perhaps your TA can give you a breakdown of cruise fare, taxes and gratuity charges.

 

But if your account on NCL.com shows you can buy everything at 1.19 you definitely got either a deal or an error. Either way, you get to save over their new posted rate! Have a good cruise.

 

I have a complete breakdown - but it's all in CAD. And it is not even close to what I see on NCL or any other site. Hence my concern that I might ultimately be charged in USD (despite having all quotes clearly in CAD). My NCL account is all in CAD and the CC charges so far appear to be in CAD (but I'm going to watch as they finalize).

 

My invoice doesn't mention currency - I'm going to mark it as "CAD" before I send my signed copy back...

 

Thanks for the other thread link - I'll read it now...