Buying OBC and Exchange Rates

[jenZ]

Interesting concept: Celebrity as bank to avoid carrying cash or having to find ATMs at ports. My question : is it a good system to get cash from Guest Relations in Euros? I paid for my cruise in USD and would buy refundable OBC using USD credit card.

 

Has anyone worked out the math on the exchange rates vs conversion charges on USD to Euros for Celebrity Euro purchases vs port bank purchases?

 

Thanks in advance for any insights. (Prefer not to worry about directions when I am on vacation! Plus looking for a way to manage port cash flow as many tour operators request cash!)

[Elusive_Cruiser]

Be aware that refundable OBC, such as the gift OBC, can only be cashed out on the last day of the cruise. At least that was the rule on Reflection in August.

 

Others have posted that they were able to get cash for their OBC, so I hope that is my experience! If not, I will now have my required cash for the cruise after!

[ighten]

Sry for raising an old thread but Can anyone whose now cruised and is back from the UK confirm that we buy 25$ blocks at the time of purchase and not a sterling amount that gets converted on board.

 

Im assuming it must be 25dollar blocks as there seems to be no reason for them to keep changing the sterling price on the UK website if they were then going to convert it again onboard.

[upwarduk]

Sry for raising an old thread but Can anyone whose now cruised and is back from the UK confirm that we buy 25$ blocks at the time of purchase and not a sterling amount that gets converted on board.

 

Im assuming it must be 25dollar blocks as there seems to be no reason for them to keep changing the sterling price on the UK website if they were then going to convert it again onboard.

 

You buy at the rate shown on the day you purchase.

Today you will pay £18.80 for 25$

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/bonvoyage/gifts-by-celebrity?wuc=GBR

 

The currency converter on my phone says £18.80 buys £23.34 so it looks a better rate than if you went to a bank.

Celebrity were well known for not changing the rate frequently, I'm not sure how often now since the £ has slipped dramatically. (I paid £14.90 for $25 in April 2015)

Edited October 10, 2016 by upwarduk

[ighten]

Thanks .. glad I bought last year ;) but you seem to get a different answer from everyone you ask

[Project_gal]

Thanks .. glad I bought last year ;) but you seem to get a different answer from everyone you ask

 

What upwarduk says is perfectly true. Do not let what anyone else may say worry you. You will get US$25 at the rate when you purchased it.

[kevinyork]

Sry for raising an old thread but Can anyone whose now cruised and is back from the UK confirm that we buy 25$ blocks at the time of purchase and not a sterling amount that gets converted on board.

 

Im assuming it must be 25dollar blocks as there seems to be no reason for them to keep changing the sterling price on the UK website if they were then going to convert it again onboard.

 

 

 

And to reconfirmed what has been said, the rate is the rate when you buy the OBC. We got a good rate by buying our OBC just after Brexit and before Celebrity changed their rates. We didn't use it so it got converted back to our credit card after departure and we actually made money.

 

 

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[Project_gal]

And to reconfirmed what has been said, the rate is the rate when you buy the OBC. We got a good rate by buying our OBC just after Brexit and before Celebrity changed their rates. We didn't use it so it got converted back to our credit card after departure and we actually made money.

 

 

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At least there is a tiny silver lining to the current sterling disaster :(:eek:

[madgemonica]

We are doing a b2b cruise. If I purchase OBC for the first leg and don't use it,how can I transfer it to the second.Can I get cash back at guest relations and then pay it back in for second cruise? Don't want to put more money in the pot than I have to as we have drinks package.Its just for laundry and extras.

Thanks

 

 

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[canberra123]

I purchased some gift certificates online today for £18.80 each. Having read this thread I assume they are for $25 each but there is nothing on Celebrity's site which actually shows the value of the certificates in dollars!

 

Am I missing something? Looking in the wrong place? Hope someone can help, thank you.

[kevinyork]

I purchased some gift certificates online today for £18.80 each. Having read this thread I assume they are for $25 each but there is nothing on Celebrity's site which actually shows the value of the certificates in dollars!

 

 

 

Am I missing something? Looking in the wrong place? Hope someone can help, thank you.

 

 

 

Yes the OBC is bought in chunks of $25.

 

 

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[canberra123]

Yes the OBC is bought in chunks of $25.

 

 

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Many thanks for the information, and for replying so quickly.

Gail

[SusieV]

There's a good CDN rate right now except I need US cash :( I don't want to buy OBC and then pay 5% to use it in the casino.

[Project_gal]

We are doing a b2b cruise. If I purchase OBC for the first leg and don't use it,how can I transfer it to the second.Can I get cash back at guest relations and then pay it back in for second cruise? Don't want to put more money in the pot than I have to as we have drinks package.Its just for laundry and extras.

Thanks

 

 

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You can withdraw the cash at the end of the cruise. If you register a credit card at check-in, you need to go to Guest Relations on the final evening (after you have made you final purchase) and request repayment in cash. If hey say that you cannot have it in cash (happened to me once), tell them to check with the on board Accounts Department who will confirm that you can.

 

However, if you are sure that you will not spend more than your OBC, set up a cash account and there can be no argument. Now that you cannot withdraw cash from the Casino, there is no reason to set up a credit card account in this circumstance. If you find that you are spending more than your OBC, you can register a credit card at any time later in the cruise.

Edited October 12, 2016 by Project_gal

[Ex-Airbalancer]

It $32.20 CAD for $25 USD obc today , XC exchange is showing $33.30 CAD will give you $25 USD , cruise is not until April , do you wait until the US election and see what happens :confused:

 

This is almost as bad , as waiting to see if there a price drop after final payment date :D