Buying OBC and Exchange Rates

[Fouremco]

As a result of numerous threads that have talked about exchange rates when buying OBC, I contacted Celebrity to determine when and how often exchange rates were set. It had been my observation that Celebrity normally offered OBC at preferential rates, at least for those passengers using the Canadian website and paying in CAD.

 

This morning I received a phone call from Celebrity and a follow up email:

 

Dear Mr. Fouremco:

 

Good morning. I hope this email finds you well.

 

I am following up on the voicemail I left for you just now. Once again, thank you very much for patiently awaiting our delayed response. As I mentioned, we update the exchange rate monthly, typically at the middle of the month. The exchange rate is based on XE.com. I hope this information is helpful for you.

 

I wish you a wonderful cruise in March!

 

Sincerely,

 

(Name)

 

Celebrity Cruises

 

Today, Celebrity is selling $25 USD OBC for $30.60 CAD. As the best exchange rate I can get locally would cost me $32.35 CAD to buy $25 USD, Celebrity continues to offer very good value. Canadians should definitely buy enough OBC to cover their anticipated expenses, as even those cards that don't charge a transaction fee for currency conversion can't match this rate currently.

[Barwick Cruiser]

As a result of numerous threads that have talked about exchange rates when buying OBC, I contacted Celebrity to determine when and how often exchange rates were set. It had been my observation that Celebrity normally offered OBC at preferential rates, at least for those passengers using the Canadian website and paying in CAD.

 

This morning I received a phone call from Celebrity and a follow up email:

 

 

 

Today, Celebrity is selling $25 USD OBC for $30.60 CAD. As the best exchange rate I can get locally would cost me $32.35 CAD to buy $25 USD, Celebrity continues to offer very good value. Canadians should definitely buy enough OBC to cover their anticipated expenses, as even those cards that don't charge a transaction fee for currency conversion can't match this rate currently.

 

I agree and have done just that for our upcoming b2b in February. Keep in mind that whatever you don't need for ship expenses you can get in cash at GR and use for spending in ports. I was also told when I called Celebrity to purchase the obc that if the rates get better I can cancel purchases already made and buy more at the better rate..win win!!

[Payd]

I agree and have done just that for our upcoming b2b in February. Keep in mind that whatever you don't need for ship expenses you can get in cash at GR and use for spending in ports. I was also told when I called Celebrity to purchase the obc that if the rates get better I can cancel purchases already made and buy more at the better rate..win win!!

 

Is there a fee attached to taking the credit and "cashing it out"?

 

We pre-purchased way more than we believe we need for the exact reason of a better exchange rate. I was told any unused portion could be transferred to our next reservation, but not sure how to set that up onboard.

[Solution]

Is there a fee attached to taking the credit and "cashing it out"?

 

We pre-purchased way more than we believe we need for the exact reason of a better exchange rate. I was told any unused portion could be transferred to our next reservation, but not sure how to set that up onboard.

 

Purchased OBC is always refundable. Non refundable OBC on the ship board account will be used first, then the refundable one. Any unused refundable OBC will go back to the credit card that you registered upon check in. It won't carry to the next cruise.

 

The only service charge is the bank conversion fee from US to Canadian if your registered credit card is in Canadian dollar as the OBC is in US.

[Cruise Junky]

I have about $750 us for our next cruise which I thought was enough but I forgot about cashing it out...hmmmmmmm

[Payd]

Purchased OBC is always refundable. Non refundable OBC on the ship board account will be used first, then the refundable one. Any unused refundable OBC will go back to the credit card that you registered upon check in. It won't carry to the next cruise.

 

The only service charge is the bank conversion fee from US to Canadian if your registered credit card is in Canadian dollar as the OBC is in US.

I know that it is refundable.

 

My point is the cash out. If done in the casino it is a 5% surcharge. The quote above referenced guest services.

 

So my question is very specific to that. What is the fee cashing out at guest services.

 

 

25 cruises and 15 years ago it was even free to do it the casino.

 

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

[Solution]

I know that it is refundable.

 

My point is the cash out. If done in the casino it is a 5% surcharge. The quote above referenced guest services.

 

So my question is very specific to that. What is the fee cashing out at guest services.

 

 

25 cruises and 15 years ago it was even free to do it the casino.

 

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

If it is refundable OBC, you should be able to take cash out from Guest Relation, just like you can settle with cash if you owe money. I would speak to a higher rank officer if the front desk refuses to do so. It is your money.

[ken_ll]

If it is refundable OBC, you should be able to take cash out from Guest Relation, just like you can settle with cash if you owe money. I would speak to a higher rank officer if the front desk refuses to do so. It is your money.

 

My experience with self funded refundable OBC's at GR has been good. Have taken it out as cash and to solidify this, when checking in, I indicate as being on a cash account as opposed to credit card settlement at end of cruise. Being on a cash account has eliminated any discussion at GR that refundable OBC will be in cash. As one GR staff pointed out to another, "he's on a cash account, he must be paid in cash".

 

I have had disappointment with Celebrity using a US dollar credit card and a Canadian address. Contrary to their own form not to convert charges at the end of a cruise, the opposite happens and I have been hit with the 2 conversions - ship US $'s to Canadian $'s and then the CC from Can. $'s back to US $'s for the US dollar credit card. For this reason, I avoid putting any shipboard on CC, I pay in cash.

[Project_gal]

The response the OP received from Celebrity may be true for Canada but, in my experience, no for the UK. The sterling rate is clearly set for more than a month as many Cruise Critic members have found to their advantage.

 

It is my theory [and only my theory] that Celebrity uses the purchase of OBC by UK customers and a mechanism for obtaining the sterling they require operationally. A cash-flow /FX mechanism. When they need the sterling, they offer an extremely good rate. When they have sufficient sterling, they offer a poor rate. IMHO, a win-win situation - just watch the rate offered closely if you live in the UK [and purchase your cruise in sterling].

 

[i assume that Celebrity needs little Canadian currency and, thus, the monthly setting of the exchange rate offered to Canadian customers.]

 

We purchased sufficient OBC for our whole cruise over 18 months ago when the rate was good and I have watched the exchange rates ever since. For the whole of that period, we would have won even if we had to pay the 5% surcharge to withdraw the cash. Of course, it is always a gamble but our cruise is in January and the exchange rate shows no sign, yet, of improving.

[upwarduk]

Today, the exchange rate is £16.80 for $25.

From January to April '15, it was £14.90, I know, as I purchased 9 units in January and a further 6 in April.

I'm not sure when the exchange rate was changed, but it was certainly at the current rate at the beginning of September.

[drakes2]

I also have a US credit card with a Canadian address but never use it for onboard purchases, I prefer to settle my account with cash. Only use the card when travelling to the states. The first 4 numbers on the card dictate what country you are in and their onboard system recognizes that it is a card from a Canadian bank so that is why it is converted. I found that out 10+ years ago on my first cruise and got burned with the exchange rate. Cash always works best for me.

My experience with self funded refundable OBC's at GR has been good. Have taken it out as cash and to solidify this, when checking in, I indicate as being on a cash account as opposed to credit card settlement at end of cruise. Being on a cash account has eliminated any discussion at GR that refundable OBC will be in cash. As one GR staff pointed out to another, "he's on a cash account, he must be paid in cash".

 

I have had disappointment with Celebrity using a US dollar credit card and a Canadian address. Contrary to their own form not to convert charges at the end of a cruise, the opposite happens and I have been hit with the 2 conversions - ship US $'s to Canadian $'s and then the CC from Can. $'s back to US $'s for the US dollar credit card. For this reason, I avoid putting any shipboard on CC, I pay in cash.

[Barwick Cruiser]

I know that it is refundable.

 

My point is the cash out. If done in the casino it is a 5% surcharge. The quote above referenced guest services.

 

So my question is very specific to that. What is the fee cashing out at guest services.

 

 

25 cruises and 15 years ago it was even free to do it the casino.

 

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

We have found that refundable obc can be obtained in US$ at Guest Relations with no extra fee...non-refundable obc needs to be cashed out at the Casino for US$ and there is a 5% fee.

[Bornbeau]

So let me see if I can get this straight, If I buy 25.00 us obc I will be charged 30.60 canadian on my Canadian charge card. I can then get the 100 cash at customer relations.

[2islandhoppers]

Being new to OBC, have I got this right?

 

1. The OBC I have received from X and my TA is nonrefundable, except that I can withdraw it in cash from the casino and pay 5%.

 

2. I can purchase additional OBC from X which is refundable. If I purchase on a CC it will be refunded on a CC. However I can withdraw it in cash from GR. Not that there will be any left at the end of the cruise, :cool:, but can I assume that I could get the balance in cash from GR?

 

3. If I purchase OBC on my Cdn CC, I will get hopefully a better exchange rate. But if refunded on my CC, there will be a double exchange hit as X converts to US, then the bank converts from US back to Cdn. This relates to my previous point - could I get the balance back in US$ from GR at the end of the cruise?

 

Whew - makes my head spin. I need a cruise.

[Barwick Cruiser]

So let me see if I can get this straight, If I buy 25.00 us obc I will be charged 30.60 canadian on my Canadian charge card. I can then get the 100 cash at customer relations.

 

Yes, if you buy $100US precruise, you'll be charged on your Canadian CC $122.40...once onboard you can go to GR and ask for $100 from your seapass account and it will zero out what you bought.

[Barwick Cruiser]

Being new to OBC, have I got this right?

 

1. The OBC I have received from X and my TA is nonrefundable, except that I can withdraw it in cash from the casino and pay 5%.

 

2. I can purchase additional OBC from X which is refundable. If I purchase on a CC it will be refunded on a CC. However I can withdraw it in cash from GR. Not that there will be any left at the end of the cruise, :cool:, but can I assume that I could get the balance in cash from GR?

 

3. If I purchase OBC on my Cdn CC, I will get hopefully a better exchange rate. But if refunded on my CC, there will be a double exchange hit as X converts to US, then the bank converts from US back to Cdn. This relates to my previous point - could I get the balance back in US$ from GR at the end of the cruise?

 

Whew - makes my head spin. I need a cruise.

 

1. yes, you will pay a 5% fee on whatever non-refundable obc you withdraw against your seapass account. Keep in mind, some TA obc is refundable.

2.Yes, you can get back whatever you haven't spent of your refundable obc in US$

3. I haven't tried to credit any leftover refundable obc back to my Canadian credit card but have taken it back in cash...have either spent in the ports or taken back home to use on future trip.

 

It is very confusing but when I checked with our bank and local currency converters and asked how much it would cost in Cdn$ for $100US it's always more than it would cost to purchase precruise from Celebrity. The rate was much better earlier in the year...almost on par then but it's still better at the moment than anything I can get here. Good luck!!

[Fouremco]

The response the OP received from Celebrity may be true for Canada but, in my experience, no for the UK. The sterling rate is clearly set for more than a month as many Cruise Critic members have found to their advantage.

OP here. My experience has been similar to yours, that the line's exchange rate remains constant for more than a month, even if the official bank rates fluctuate. In the end, it always seems better than the official rate, so we are ahead of the game buying at least as much OBC as we intend to spend, and in most cases, more.

[Beanb41]

Being new to OBC, have I got this right?

 

1. The OBC I have received from X and my TA is nonrefundable, except that I can withdraw it in cash from the casino and pay 5%.

 

2. I can purchase additional OBC from X which is refundable. If I purchase on a CC it will be refunded on a CC. However I can withdraw it in cash from GR. Not that there will be any left at the end of the cruise, :cool:, but can I assume that I could get the balance in cash from GR?

 

3. If I purchase OBC on my Cdn CC, I will get hopefully a better exchange rate. But if refunded on my CC, there will be a double exchange hit as X converts to US, then the bank converts from US back to Cdn. This relates to my previous point - could I get the balance back in US$ from GR at the end of the cruise?

 

Whew - makes my head spin. I need a cruise.

 

 

Your OBC from X is non refundable but your OBC from your TA should be as it is a gift. In the past when I have received OBC from my TA it has always be refundable. As far as getting OBC refunded in cash on the last night of the cruise I have always gone to Guest relations and taken all refundable OBC out in cash at no premium. I have always ensured that any non refundable OBC has been used up by then. International currency is a volatile commodity

which goes up and down on a daily basis and ineveitably there is currency transfer charges charged by someone in the ticket clipping exercise. After many trips overseas over many years I have a raft of different currencies but they all get used up eventually.

[2islandhoppers]

OK, I understand, but my DH has a question. Can you get cash from the refundable OBC during the cruise or only at the end? Seems to me that purchasing OBC in Cdn at a good rate would be an ideal way to get spending $$ to use in port rather than paying the ATM charge and bank conversion rates on board. We are on the Eclipse Southern Caribbean in 2 weeks and were planning on taking US$ to use in port rather than local currency. Seems safer and more convenient to let X be our "banker".

[Project_gal]

OP here. My experience has been similar to yours, that the line's exchange rate remains constant for more than a month, even if the official bank rates fluctuate. In the end, it always seems better than the official rate, so we are ahead of the game buying at least as much OBC as we intend to spend, and in most cases, more.

 

Agreed except that, in the UK unlike in Canada, the rate is not always better than you can get elsewhere. Often it is much worse and the buyer must beware.

[Barwick Cruiser]

OK, I understand, but my DH has a question. Can you get cash from the refundable OBC during the cruise or only at the end? Seems to me that purchasing OBC in Cdn at a good rate would be an ideal way to get spending $$ to use in port rather than paying the ATM charge and bank conversion rates on board. We are on the Eclipse Southern Caribbean in 2 weeks and were planning on taking US$ to use in port rather than local currency. Seems safer and more convenient to let X be our "banker".

 

Yes, you can cash out any amount or all of your refundable obc at any point during the cruise. We are using our pre-purchased obc for spending in ports as well.

[Solution]

I used USD credit card with a Canadian address in my last trip. I had left over refundable on board credit, and every single penny went back to my USD credit card.

 

It is not that confusing to understand how it works.

 

Purchase:

If you purchase the OBC using the same currency as your credit card, the charge is exactly as posted online (assume you paid the booking in that currency, you can't book the cruise in US dollar and buy OBC with Canadian dollar).

 

Redemption:

If you have a cash account or USD credit card registered, you get every single penny of the refundable OBC back from your ship board account in US dollars.

If you register with a non USD credit card, you will get ding with the exchange rate, either from Celebrity's option, or from the credit card. This is because the currency on board is in US dollars.

 

If GR tells you otherwise, ask for the supervisor.

[Project_gal]

I used USD credit card with a Canadian address in my last trip. I had left over refundable on board credit, and every single penny went back to my USD credit card.

 

It is not that confusing to understand how it works.

 

Purchase:

If you purchase the OBC using the same currency as your credit card, the charge is exactly as posted online (assume you paid the booking in that currency, you can't book the cruise in US dollar and buy OBC with Canadian dollar).

 

Redemption:

If you have a cash account or USD credit card registered, you get every single penny of the refundable OBC back from your ship board account in US dollars.

If you register with a non USD credit card, you will get ding with the exchange rate, either from Celebrity's option, or from the credit card. This is because the currency on board is in US dollars.

If GR tells you otherwise, ask for the supervisor.

 

Except that, even if you if you register a credit card, you can still ask for the refund in cash. We have done on a number of occasions.

[ERIN123]

After seeing this post I purchased $100 OBC for $122.40 CDN on the website. It clearly indicated it would cost $122.40 Cdn and showed All charges in Canadian. Yet when they processed my order they charged me in USD and it cost me $135.24 due to the current exchange rate and Visa charges. I have emailed them and they are arguing to me I purchased USD, which I agree I did (of course I purchased USD OBC as that's the currency of the ship), but only because the website clearly said I would be charged in CDN currency and gave the cost of $122.40 CDN. Very disappointed! Please be aware what they say they will charge isn't always so.

[Fouremco]

After seeing this post I purchased $100 OBC for $122.40 CDN on the website. It clearly indicated it would cost $122.40 Cdn and showed All charges in Canadian. Yet when they processed my order they charged me in USD and it cost me $135.24 due to the current exchange rate and Visa charges. I have emailed them and they are arguing to me I purchased USD, which I agree I did (of course I purchased USD OBC as that's the currency of the ship), but only because the website clearly said I would be charged in CDN currency and gave the cost of $122.40 CDN. Very disappointed! Please be aware what they say they will charge isn't always so.

Assuming that you booked your cruise in CAD, not USD, then there's clearly an error on Celebrity's part. I would contact them to straighten it out.