Aussie Dollar

[MicCanberra]

Do you think the Australian dollar will improve in the next few months or do you think the Greek crisis will continue to affect us?

 

I am not so sure it is just the Greeks affecting our dollar, the Chinese are doing a pretty good job as well along with falling commodity prices.:(

[MicCanberra]

Current 'expert' opinion is that the A$ will not be rising anytime soon & whilst I am no econimist, I think that is most likely scenario.

 

This morning, it is predicted the AUD will be in the $0.60s by next year.:eek:

[MicCanberra]

and so therefore it is a worry when the aussie dollar drops... if in twelve months the aussie dollar is only worth 50 us cents then i can be pretty sure that RCI will price their cruises accordingly to ensure they are still getting their dollars worth

Peter

 

You may find that they may need to drop their prices to maintain capacity if the AUD drops too much. They will need to stay competitive with the other cruise lines.:D

[GUT2407]

This morning, it is predicted the AUD will be in the $0.60s by next year.:eek:

 

 

62 cents within 3 months I was told.

[GUT2407]

I am not so sure it is just the Greeks affecting our dollar, the Chinese are doing a pretty good job as well along with falling commodity prices.:(

 

 

Yep China is a worry, and to a large degree they are also the big influence on the Commodity prices

[Kiwi Kruzer]

and so therefore it is a worry when the aussie dollar drops... if in twelve months the aussie dollar is only worth 50 us cents then i can be pretty sure that RCI will price their cruises accordingly to ensure they are still getting their dollars worth

Peter

 

The cruise lines wont be complaining..... the further the Au ( and NZ ) dollar drops , the more supplies (mainly alcohol) they will buy to supply their ships ....and then sell it on board for a huge profit , at US dollar prices. A double win for them.:D:D

 

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

The cruise lines wont be complaining..... the further the Au ( and NZ ) dollar drops , the more supplies (mainly alcohol) they will buy to supply their ships ....and then sell it on board for a huge profit , at US dollar prices. A double win for them.:D:D

 

 

Although their prices may need to drop to keep the ships full.:D

[MicCanberra]

62 cents within 3 months I was told.

 

That will make things a lot harder for Overseas travel.:(

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Although their prices may need to drop to keep the ships full.:D

 

..at that stage they wont worry about the local market. It will be just like before...they will fill the ships with North Americans , who will rejoice in getting 2 Aussie dollars for every one of theirs.

 

 

[MicCanberra]

..at that stage they wont worry about the local market. It will be just like before...they will fill the ships with North Americans , who will rejoice in getting 2 Aussie dollars for every one of theirs.

 

 

 

Yes, although the airfares and long flights will still keep a lot of them away.:D

[tillydog]

Just started moving my AU$ over to the US$ wallet on my Virgin Velocity Global Wallet card whilest it's still around the 70c mark.

[mr walker]

You may find that they may need to drop their prices to maintain capacity if the AUD drops too much. They will need to stay competitive with the other cruise lines.:D

 

Agreed as there are options. There will be a price point when there will be pushback. We have seen our US cousins on the RC board moaning about increased alcohol prices & threatening to jump ship. The funny thing is the newer pricing is now similar to what we Aussies are used to, as alcohol in US is very cheap & our local prices are much higher, principally because alcohol is heavily taxed here. This is now an issue as the dollar is falling making an US$8 drink(incl tip) a $A10 drink. US$32 for bingo becomes A$43 etc

 

Before the devaluation, most Aussies sailing on RC were happy with RC onboard charges & now many will reconsider their position & perhaps choose alternatives who charge directly in $A.

 

We will soon take our 1st ever 'non-RC' cruise on Carnival & will see how they compare. The A$ to US$ was not an consideration in us choosing this cruise - it was for the itinerary only (Melb Cup :))

[MicCanberra]

Agreed as there are options. There will be a price point when there will be pushback. We have seen our US cousins on the RC board moaning about increased alcohol prices & threatening to jump ship. The funny thing is the newer pricing is now similar to what we Aussies are used to, as alcohol in US is very cheap & our local prices are much higher, principally because alcohol is heavily taxed here. This is now an issue as the dollar is falling making an US$8 drink(incl tip) a $A10 drink. US$32 for bingo becomes A$43 etc

 

Before the devaluation, most Aussies sailing on RC were happy with RC onboard charges & now many will reconsider their position & perhaps choose alternatives who charge directly in $A.

 

We will soon take our 1st ever 'non-RC' cruise on Carnival & will see how they compare. The A$ to US$ was not an consideration in us choosing this cruise - it was for the itinerary only (Melb Cup :))

 

We have always gone of itinerary, timing and overall cost, nothing will change that but the options may be more limited as some cruises costs start to blow out.

[sexylegend8]

This morning, it is predicted the AUD will be in the $0.60s by next year.:eek:

 

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!

Dammit better go buy me some USD then! Far out!

WOW!

We did a cruise at 78cents in their 1$ and it was a reasonable cost and it did include the drink packages. But if it goes down that far I will definately have to restrategise!

[The_Big_M]

How many cruise lines actually take cash, we sailed Radiance of the Seas in Feb 2015 and were told the only place we could use cash was in the casino?

Peter

 

All the cruise lines ultimately take cash.

 

Everythign you buy has to be charged to your shipboard account. You can't pay for anything directly by credit or cash onboard.

 

The shipboard account needs to be paid, either by credit card or cash. So it's no problem paying it with cash.

[The_Big_M]

and so therefore it is a worry when the aussie dollar drops... if in twelve months the aussie dollar is only worth 50 us cents then i can be pretty sure that RCI will price their cruises accordingly to ensure they are still getting their dollars worth

Peter

 

Sure, cruise prices will go up as their base price is set in the US. But that's the same with anything imported; fuel, flights, tvs, cars and so on...

 

It's great when our economy doesn't produce much! (Though it will encourage more local production, in some time.)

[The_Big_M]

I am not so sure it is just the Greeks affecting our dollar, the Chinese are doing a pretty good job as well along with falling commodity prices.:(

 

Yes, expectation of future interest rates, as well as us being a proxy for commodities through Chinese sales play a large role.

[The_Big_M]

62 cents within 3 months I was told.

 

Have to be a AUD bear (= pessimist) to think that!

[The_Big_M]

Although their prices may need to drop to keep the ships full.:D

 

Nah, there's an easy option with ships. The same way they came, the same they will go...

 

And it's happened before in case you don't think so. Plus the reason we got extras is from equivalent moves from elsewhere. So an easy problem to resolve if it arose again.

[MicCanberra]

All the cruise lines ultimately take cash.

 

Everythign you buy has to be charged to your shipboard account. You can't pay for anything directly by credit or cash onboard.

 

The shipboard account needs to be paid, either by credit card or cash. So it's no problem paying it with cash.

 

Except in the Casino.:D

[MicCanberra]

Nah, there's an easy option with ships. The same way they came, the same they will go...

 

And it's happened before in case you don't think so. Plus the reason we got extras is from equivalent moves from elsewhere. So an easy problem to resolve if it arose again.

 

That is longer term but in the shorter term they would be committed for the season and if the ships are not selling, they will try to fill them with lower prices to remain competitive. Then next season, they will not return with as many ships.

[NSWP]

Now the AUD has dropped to 75 cents US, I don't see many people on here recently gloating about how they saved zillions by booking cruises with US T'A's. They drove me nuts in previous years. I support the Australian Travel Industry 100%. Give your kid a job.

 

God Bless Australia.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Now the AUD has dropped to 75 cents US, I don't see many people on here recently gloating about how they saved zillions by booking cruises with US T'A's. They drove me nuts in previous years. I support the Australian Travel Industry 100%. Give your kid a job.

 

God Bless Australia.

 

Good on you Les.

Use them or loose them.

I have only ever used local agents...and been really pleased with the deals we have got. The deals are there if you look for them and ask.:)

Re the dollar, just had friends back from 2 weeks in Honolulu. They booked a while ago and got cash when the dollar was high. They used all the cash they had converted except for $2.50 , so did not have to use the credit card once.

 

[MicCanberra]

Now the AUD has dropped to 75 cents US, I don't see many people on here recently gloating about how they saved zillions by booking cruises with US T'A's. They drove me nuts in previous years. I support the Australian Travel Industry 100%. Give your kid a job.

 

God Bless Australia.

 

Hasn't been that sort of thing since our AUD was above parity or just below. It just isn't worthwhile anymore.

[MicCanberra]

Re the dollar, just had friends back from 2 weeks in Honolulu. They booked a while ago and got cash when the dollar was high. They used all the cash they had converted except for $2.50 , so did not have to use the credit card once.

 

 

Now that is travelling to a budget.:D