$CDN Exchange Rate Question

[burm]

Is anyone aware of the maximum about of OBC one can buy? We recently purchased 20 x $100 OBC with no issues but now it will not let us purchase anymore. It stated that the item cannot be delivered on the date requested. We have tried numerous other dates also with no luck. Any thoughts? Yes, WE ARE CANADIAN....

 

 

I have purchased more than $2,000 over the phone. I, too, wonder if there is a maximum. Unfortunately. I ran out of money before I reached the limit. LOL.

[casofilia]

I purchased more OBC yesterday and was once again assured that at the end of the cruise, the balance could be placed on my $US credit card.

 

Do you have this in writing please? I am sure a lot of people would be very interested to see a hard copy with that information on it.

 

I, like a number of others, feel that the only way to get a refund greater than USD50 is by a USD cheque issued from NCL in Miami.

 

Did the person you were talking to assume that you would spend more than the OBC and the excess spending would go on your credit card?

 

Mike

Pom by Birth; Coin Collecting retired Kiwi by Choice.

[RobTheGob]

I was told by 3 different NCL reps that this is their custom. I am thinking that perhaps the people who were mailed the US cheque do not have a $US credit card in addition to the Canadian one with which they booked.

 

I was also assured that I would have no problem cashing out my OBC during the cruise by paying an extra 3% (still a bargain for those of us who booked months ago at a great exchange rate). Many have mentioned doing this in the casino, but I was told that one could do it at the main reception desk as well. All perfectly kosher and above board. No need to pretend you intend to gambol it away.

 

When we check in on board the ship, I will be sure to give them my US card.

 

Interesting - please post an update after your cruise!

 

We booked about 2 weeks ago and got a 19% rate (although the rate for the actual cruise was close to par!) My plan is to get the bulk of the OBC in cash from the casino to use in ports etc...

 

I don't really want a credit on my CC - so I'm happy enough to wait for a USD cheque after the cruise that I can deposit to my USD account.

[burm]

Interesting - please post an update after your cruise!

 

We booked about 2 weeks ago and got a 19% rate (although the rate for the actual cruise was close to par!) My plan is to get the bulk of the OBC in cash from the casino to use in ports etc...

 

I don't really want a credit on my CC - so I'm happy enough to wait for a USD cheque after the cruise that I can deposit to my USD account.

 

Unfortunately, I did not get these assurances in writing (although I don't even have much faith in that). At least it was not one, but three reps who said the same thing. One left me on hold for some time while he went off in search of a definitive answer.

 

I was very upfront with the reps, and told them that I wanted to use my OBC for port expenses and take the remainder home. Aside from any unexpected shop purchases, I have everything pre-paid.

 

Yes, I will be sure to let you know how it went. I am very grateful for the rate we got. This is a much better deal than the "10% off for Canadians on select cruises" that our favourite cruiseline is offering. Even if I had to wait for a cheque in the mail, I know that my money would never be lost.

[Ontario cruise duo]

Just got off the Getaway on Dec. 6. I purchased more than $2,000.00 OBC for this cruise, as we were spending extra time in FL after our cruise and I also wanted spending money cheaper than what I could get at a bank here in Canada. I always cashed out at the casino and paid the 3% "convenience charge". I did not even attempt to get a cash advance at the courtesy desk until the last night at which time I was told that unless I had $50.00 on my account, which I did not, I had $380.00 I could not do. So I'm not sure about getting money at the courtesy desk and I would almost bet against that. NCL may be catching on to our lousy Cdn $ rate right now and putting a damper on smart Canadians. I hope not for other people's sake.:rolleyes:

[xcell]

I wouldn't bother trying to get a cheque back. Just cash it all out and if you go over, on television last day pay the balance with your cash so you don't get dinged by your cc.

 

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

[Shawnino]

Burm writes in part: "I am thinking that perhaps the people who were mailed the US cheque do not have a $US credit card in addition to the Canadian one with which they booked."

 

As I've posted in threads, I get cheques in the mail.

 

The CC I provide at embarkation happens to be a US$ card. The card comes in handy for cross-border shopping and business travel.

 

The thing is, unless NCL wanted to frequently liaise with Canadian banks as to which credit cards are in which currency (I think the first eight digits do tell the tale) and assume responsibility for popping the OBC back on US$ credit cards --and why would they bother, and risk making errors, and so forth-- it's far simpler to just mail cheques to Canadian addresses and let us figure out what to do with the cheque once it arrives.

 

I would find a CC refund more convenient, but I get a cheque in less than two weeks so as far as I'm concerned that's sufficient. Not losing 3% on my money over two extra weeks seems like a better deal.

[burm]

I would find a CC refund more convenient, but I get a cheque in less than two weeks so as far as I'm concerned that's sufficient. Not losing 3% on my money over two extra weeks seems like a better deal.

 

I agree that waiting to get a cheque in the mail is no big deal. The US cheque would go straight into my US account where the money would sit until my next trip across the border. One way or another, any unspent OBC will not be lost.

 

However, with regard to "losing" the 3%, we take a lot of private excursions where the guides insist on being paid in US. In some countries, we even pay hotels in US (we will this February). This has always been a bit of a sore point, because it basically means that Canadian have to pay conversion costs twice.

 

By purchasing OBC at 11% and paying the 3% convenience charge, we are saving approx. 20% at this point in time. When you are talking thousands of dollars, the savings is quite significant.

 

The loonie is not expected to rise before our cruise in January, making this 11% exchange rate like a Christmas gift. In fact, this rate is what persuaded us to give NCL a try.

[nanwel]

I always travel with a US value credit card - they did not used to be available to Canadians, unless you had a business, but are now. That means I charge all my expenses to one card and pay it when it comes in - yes, at the awful rate of the day.

But, before I would use a Canadian credit card - the cruise lines charge a fee to transfer to from US to Canadian $ and it is very high. Using a Canadian card, I do not have to pay that extra fee on top of the exchange.

[RobTheGob]

But, before I would use a Canadian credit card - the cruise lines charge a fee to transfer to from US to Canadian $ and it is very high. Using a Canadian card, I do not have to pay that extra fee on top of the exchange.

 

I think you're misunderstanding who is charging the foreign currency fee. It's usually the CC company - but there are several Canadian CC's that don't charge a currency conversion fee (the ones that come to my mind first are from Chase - Marriott and Amazon).

[casofilia]

We visit Canada and the States a couple of times a year as we have family in BC. A while ago we saw the logicality of getting both a CAD credit card and a USD credit card. Whatever happens we have to buy CAD and USD here in New Zealand. This way, with both cards, we never have to worry about the CAD===USD exchange and the double costs if we only bought one currency in NZ.

 

Mike

[RobTheGob]

Just got off the Getaway on Dec. 6. I purchased more than $2,000.00 OBC for this cruise, as we were spending extra time in FL after our cruise and I also wanted spending money cheaper than what I could get at a bank here in Canada. I always cashed out at the casino and paid the 3% "convenience charge". I did not even attempt to get a cash advance at the courtesy desk until the last night at which time I was told that unless I had $50.00 on my account, which I did not, I had $380.00 I could not do. So I'm not sure about getting money at the courtesy desk and I would almost bet against that. NCL may be catching on to our lousy Cdn $ rate right now and putting a damper on smart Canadians. I hope not for other people's sake.:rolleyes:

 

It was reported in another thread that the cash from the casino later showed up as a USD charge to their CC and wasn't taken from the pre-purchased OBC!

 

So - I'm hoping others report back on their experiences!

 

They disembarked on Dec 19 - so your date of Dec 6 is interesting...

[bfamily4]

i'm curious about others' experiences as well. we are staying in orlando for another week after the cruise so we were planning to purchase $$$obc and cash them out at the casino to use at disneyworld. we were locked it at $1.11, even with the 3% fee it still beats paying the current exchange rate.

[Ontario cruise duo]

i'm curious about others' experiences as well. we are staying in orlando for another week after the cruise so we were planning to purchase $$$obc and cash them out at the casino to use at disneyworld. we were locked it at $1.11, even with the 3% fee it still beats paying the current exchange rate.

 

I would buy as much as you can before your cruise? When are you cruising? Also, if you don't already have one, I would get a U.S. Visa charge card (TD Canada Trust) has them and I think other bank's do as well. When you check in onboard and NCL wants your credit card to post onboard charges to, give them a US charge card, just in case, there is a mess up and they end up refunding you any unused onboard credit after your cruise, which refund should be mailed back to you in US dollars. That way, if you need to charge anything on the ship or at Disneyworld, it would be to a US charge card.

Edited December 23, 2015 by Ontario cruise duo

[RobTheGob]

Also, if you don't already have one, I would get a U.S. Visa charge card (TD Canada Trust) has them and I think other bank's do as well. When you check in onboard and NCL wants your credit card to post onboard charges to, give them a US charge card, just in case, there is a mess up and they end up refunding you any unused onboard credit after your cruise, which refund should be mailed back to you in US dollars. That way, if you need to charge anything on the ship or at Disneyworld, it would be to a US charge card.

 

Alternatively - open a free USD bank account and get a no foreign currency conversion fee CC (available with no annual fee). I'd rather get a small amount of interest with my USD account than pay an annual fee that most USD CC's have!

[Ontario cruise duo]

Alternatively - open a free USD bank account and get a no foreign currency conversion fee CC (available with no annual fee). I'd rather get a small amount of interest with my USD account than pay an annual fee that most USD CC's have!

 

My US charge card has no annual fee attached to it (TD). Maybe it's because I am valued and loyal customer:rolleyes: And oh by the way, the pennies in interest I do earn on my US bank account is a laugh (not to mention my Cdn bank account which actually has a nice sum in it). Might as well store my cold hard cash under my mattress these days with the interest banks pay on deposits in our accounts.:eek:

Edited December 23, 2015 by Ontario cruise duo

[RobTheGob]

My US charge card has no annual fee attached to it (TD). Maybe it's because I am valued and loyal customer:rolleyes: And oh by the way, the pennies in interest I do earn on my US bank account is a laugh (not to mention my Cdn bank account which actually has a nice sum in it). Might as well store my cold hard cash under my mattress these days with the interest banks pay on deposits in our accounts.:eek:

 

In my case - the true cost of switching to a USD CC:

 

1) Annual fee of the card (I have several premium CC's that have fees waived, but none are USD).

 

2) Loss of (as you mention - pennies) small amount of interest for having money in free USD account.

 

3) Loss of 2% cash refund for using my existing premium CC. If a person is not careful picking a CC - most have foreign currency conversion fees that can negate this. Choose wisely!

 

When I add that up - it's more than I pay now for zero benefit (to me). But if it works for you - great!

 

I just wanted to let people know there are options...

[braddillman]

1st time cruiser here. Well, not yet, 1st is coming up 3 Jan 2016 on NCL Star.

 

On my NCL web site I can purchase $100 OBC for $111.11 CDN.

 

I think I'll get some more!

[hbe]

1st time cruiser here. Well, not yet, 1st is coming up 3 Jan 2016 on NCL Star.

 

On my NCL web site I can purchase $100 OBC for $111.11 CDN.

 

I think I'll get some more!

 

You definitely should. That's a great deal for you.

[casofilia]

It is a great deal for anyone who can buy in CAD.

 

Mike

[Ontario cruise duo]

1st time cruiser here. Well, not yet, 1st is coming up 3 Jan 2016 on NCL Star.

 

On my NCL web site I can purchase $100 OBC for $111.11 CDN.

 

I think I'll get some more!

 

 

 

If I were you, and I was you as I cruised in November at a rate of $111.11 CDN for $100.00 US, I would buy a lot more. It's nice to bring some home and put in a safe place for "whenever" because the stuff never goes "bad".;)

[pisenor]

I just wish I could buy more...:( We sail on Jan 17th so it was now time to start stockpiling obc as we too are locked at $1.11 for this cruise and our Jan 2017 cruise. I discovered a couple days ago that each person in the cabin can only buy $1000 obc. So I was only able to acquire $3000 of obc. I got $1000 for each my DW, DS (13 y/o), and myself. I purchased it on-line and I thought may be a max amount you could buy through the website. So I called my PCC and he said "no problem, I can get you obc.....oh wait a minute, it looks as though you already purchased your maximum. Let me try to override this.....oh that is odd, no matter how I try to get around this the system will not allow any more. I am so sorry." So I told him thanks for trying.

 

He is originally from Toronto so he knows the value of being able to take a few green backs home with you after a vacation. I never told him what all the obc was for but he being a transplanted Canadian was able to figure it out on his own. In fact he said he would do the same thing in my position. And that is why he tried to get the override for me.

[calgaryhhr]

I just wish I could buy more...:( We sail on Jan 17th so it was now time to start stockpiling obc as we too are locked at $1.11 for this cruise and our Jan 2017 cruise. I discovered a couple days ago that each person in the cabin can only buy $1000 obc. So I was only able to acquire $3000 of obc. I got $1000 for each my DW, DS (13 y/o), and myself. I purchased it on-line and I thought may be a max amount you could buy through the website. So I called my PCC and he said "no problem, I can get you obc.....oh wait a minute, it looks as though you already purchased your maximum. Let me try to override this.....oh that is odd, no matter how I try to get around this the system will not allow any more. I am so sorry." So I told him thanks for trying.

 

He is originally from Toronto so he knows the value of being able to take a few green backs home with you after a vacation. I never told him what all the obc was for but he being a transplanted Canadian was able to figure it out on his own. In fact he said he would do the same thing in my position. And that is why he tried to get the override for me.

 

I'm not sure if things were different in our case or if it was because we had 4 people in our cabin but we purchased $3000 between 2 people. I took $1500 under my name and $1500 under my significant other's name. We didn't put any OBC under the kid's names.

[RobTheGob]

I discovered a couple days ago that each person in the cabin can only buy $1000 obc. So I was only able to acquire $3000 of obc. I got $1000 for each my DW, DS (13 y/o), and myself. I purchased it on-line and I thought may be a max amount you could buy through the website.

 

That lines up with what I was experiencing. We are a couple traveling on 2 B2B cruises - I could only buy $4000. I was hoping to get that increased before we sail - but your update makes it sound unlikely...

 

Thanks!

[pisenor]

I'm not sure if things were different in our case or if it was because we had 4 people in our cabin but we purchased $3000 between 2 people. I took $1500 under my name and $1500 under my significant other's name. We didn't put any OBC under the kid's names.

 

I think that is just a new policy as my PCC said he never saw this before as well.