manlie Posted May 20, 2023 #1 Share Posted May 20, 2023 I know most people suggest leaving your account on board in USD but has anyone done the comparison of purchasing the cruise (and add on packages) in USD vs letting them convert it to Canadian? (Sailing Royal Caribbean if it matters) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-Airbalancer Posted May 20, 2023 #2 Share Posted May 20, 2023 5 minutes ago, manlie said: I know most people suggest leaving your account on board in USD but has anyone done the comparison of purchasing the cruise (and add on packages) in USD vs letting them convert it to Canadian? (Sailing Royal Caribbean if it matters) We pay the trip in CAD And use a Brim CC for onboard him expenses, it has no transaction fees But lately , we have been going to the casino to put out our OBC 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 20, 2023 #3 Share Posted May 20, 2023 I think if you compare the exchange rate the cruise line uses & if your CC charges a FTF or not then you can make an informed decision that works best for you I pay the cruise in CAD but the cruise line rate has been close to the bank rate if I would to buy USD it would be close We do have a USD account at TD alont with a USD VISA card I usually just use the USD VISA on the ship to secure any overspending but lately we have lots of OBC from the cruise loyalty program that I have not had any charges at the end of the cruise YMMV 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted May 20, 2023 #4 Share Posted May 20, 2023 We typically book cruises well in advance, often when they are first released, and we pay in CAD. By doing so, we know exactly what our final payment will be two or more years down the road. If we were to book in USD, we would have no idea what the final payment might be due to fluctuating exchange rates. If you have a source of USD (other than currency exchange), then paying in USD would not pose the same potential risk. Similarly, if you are making a last minute booking and are paying in full right away, you can go with whichever currency will cost you less and not worry about future changes in the exchange rate. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango99 Posted May 20, 2023 #5 Share Posted May 20, 2023 We use 3 cruise lines. All offered a competitive rate in Canadian compared to current exchange. Our last 2 cruises were at 1.35 and 1.37. We booked them in November 2022. The rates are reviewed periodically. When you’re contemplating setting your account to Canadian or US ask how easy it is to flip to the other. It can affect how you feel about a future booking you may make while you have one still active. Cruise lines closed quite a few loopholes during the pandemic as many switched to ‘new accounting system’. If you have free time try booking in CDN and in USD using a different ip address. You’ll be able to compare rates. Even with GBP if you’re there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 20, 2023 #6 Share Posted May 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Fouremco said: We typically book cruises well in advance, often when they are first released, and we pay in CAD. By doing so, we know exactly what our final payment will be two or more years down the road. If we were to book in USD, we would have no idea what the final payment might be due to fluctuating exchange rates. When we have booked in USD the final prices was locked in never had the cruise line change it due to fluctuating exchange rates We have booked up to 18 mths in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Djb4CC Posted May 20, 2023 #7 Share Posted May 20, 2023 9 minutes ago, LHT28 said: When we have booked in USD the final prices was locked in never had the cruise line change it due to fluctuating exchange rates We have booked up to 18 mths in advance The issue is not that cruise line changes the final price… the issue is that you will have to purchase US dollars in the future to make the payment and you have no idea what that exchange rate will be in 18 months time. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manlie Posted May 20, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted May 20, 2023 My issue is that when booking excursions/drink packages/etc the exchange rate is about 1.50 (a direct example is my pop package is 9.99usd but 14.99cdn) so I am wondering if the cruise price is at that rate also. I can’t do a dummy booking to see as the ship is sold out. I will try to call and see what the price would be in USD. Our final payment is next week and unfortunately I don’t think our dollar is suddenly going to get much better 🙁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 20, 2023 #9 Share Posted May 20, 2023 20 minutes ago, Djb4CC said: The issue is not that cruise line changes the final price… the issue is that you will have to purchase US dollars in the future to make the payment and you have no idea what that exchange rate will be in 18 months time. got it I usually watch the exchange rate & stockpile USD when the rates are good A few years back we got a bunch when the USD/CAD were at par or very close I am down to my last $3000 USD so just use the CAD rate from the cruise line now 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 20, 2023 #10 Share Posted May 20, 2023 7 minutes ago, manlie said: My issue is that when booking excursions/drink packages/etc the exchange rate is about 1.50 (a direct example is my pop package is 9.99usd but 14.99cdn) so I am wondering if the cruise price is at that rate also. I can’t do a dummy booking to see as the ship is sold out. I will try to call and see what the price would be in USD. Our final payment is next week and unfortunately I don’t think our dollar is suddenly going to get much better 🙁 I usually ask my TA to check the cruise line rate before I decide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-Airbalancer Posted May 20, 2023 #11 Share Posted May 20, 2023 12 minutes ago, LHT28 said: got it I usually watch the exchange rate & stockpile USD when the rates are good A few years back we got a bunch when the USD/CAD were at par or very close I am down to my last $3000 USD so just use the CAD rate from the cruise line now 😉 That was 10 years ago! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnvip Posted May 21, 2023 #12 Share Posted May 21, 2023 As far as I know, On-board accounts (bar, shore excursions, spa, gratuities, etc) are charged in US $. The exchange rates from the cruise lines is quite competative, so if you have them do the exchange at end of your cruise, or if you use a no-foreign-exchange credit card to pay the US$ balance it should be very close. As Fouremco states, pay the cruise fare in CAD unless you want to gamble on a strong dollar when your final payment is due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodndonna Posted May 21, 2023 #13 Share Posted May 21, 2023 I always book with whichever seems to be giving me the better rate (based on the exchange rate at time of booking). I just made a booking right now with HAL a couple of weeks ago in Canadian and they are now quoting almost 77 cents to the US dollar (1.30) which is much better than I could do so a no brainer for that one. Oddly, someone commented on the HAL board that they could not get their TA to match HAL's currency rate fr Canadian when booking direct which surprises me (we have only booked direct). Unfortunately with HAL everything onboard is always USD, so not option for some savings there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magicat Posted May 21, 2023 #14 Share Posted May 21, 2023 We book in US as it is impossible for our TA to transfer us into a group rate if we booked in CND. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squadron Posted May 22, 2023 #15 Share Posted May 22, 2023 11 hours ago, Magicat said: We book in US as it is impossible for our TA to transfer us into a group rate if we booked in CND. I book a group rate if possible. Do so in CDN dollars/.Travel agent doesn't seem to have a problem doing so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dismomx5 Posted May 22, 2023 #16 Share Posted May 22, 2023 (edited) 17 minutes ago, squadron said: I book a group rate if possible. Do so in CDN dollars/.Travel agent doesn't seem to have a problem doing so. Same here. I've always booked in Canadian, and often get the group rates through my TA. Edited May 22, 2023 by Dismomx5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 22, 2023 #17 Share Posted May 22, 2023 I guess it depends on the TA I get the group rate with our US TA as well Booked last few cruises in CAD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1982CruzStart Posted May 22, 2023 #18 Share Posted May 22, 2023 When we booked cruises in the past we sometimes did it in USD, sometimes in CAD, and would put aside USD when the exchange was favorable. At 1 point in time our US TA that we used for a specific cruise line could not book in CAD so we were forced to book in USD. That is no longer the case so now we always book in CAD. We book far in advance and just don't care to play the foreign exchange game. We have a US visa card and use it for any onboard charges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustCruzin77 Posted May 23, 2023 #19 Share Posted May 23, 2023 Has anyone done a Princess CAD at par cruise? Is it just at par for booking, or is on board spending also at par? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1982CruzStart Posted May 23, 2023 #20 Share Posted May 23, 2023 1 hour ago, JustCruzin77 said: Has anyone done a Princess CAD at par cruise? Is it just at par for booking, or is on board spending also at par? I have not done Princess at par but have done others and the booking was at par but the onboard spending was at regular prices. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mingus Posted May 23, 2023 #21 Share Posted May 23, 2023 6 hours ago, JustCruzin77 said: Has anyone done a Princess CAD at par cruise? Is it just at par for booking, or is on board spending also at par? Just completed an "at par" cruise. Only the cruise fare was at par, but not the taxes & fees, nor the on-board charges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShopperfiendTO Posted May 27, 2023 #22 Share Posted May 27, 2023 How does one know that one has booked a "group rate"? Where does one find a "group rate" for a given cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-Airbalancer Posted May 27, 2023 #23 Share Posted May 27, 2023 28 minutes ago, ShopperfiendTO said: How does one know that one has booked a "group rate"? Where does one find a "group rate" for a given cruise? Ask some travel agents if they have group rate 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted May 27, 2023 #24 Share Posted May 27, 2023 1 hour ago, ShopperfiendTO said: How does one know that one has booked a "group rate"? Where does one find a "group rate" for a given cruise? my TA usually mentions they have a group rate for that sailing 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pink845 Posted June 6, 2023 #25 Share Posted June 6, 2023 We always book cruises in CDN Dollars. On the ship, our onboard account is charged to the USD Visa card we provide. OBC that we receive is always in USD which is great even though our original booking was made with two $100 CDN future cruise deposits. So we are ahead of the game from the very get go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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