New Canadian Exchange Rate Effective March 17th

I am also booked at the $1.30 rate. I went online to CIBC today and it would cost me $130.32 for $100 usd. So Princess is still the better option for buying OBC (which I did before the Cdn dollar rose).

 

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My exchange place was 127.5 on Friday so why bother with OBC when you can buy cash cheaper.

My exchange place was 127.5 on Friday so why bother with OBC when you can buy cash cheaper.

Where did you find that rate?

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Where did you find that rate?

 

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I use Vancouver Bullion.

https://www.vbce.ca/rates

They ship

I use Vancouver Bullion.

https://www.vbce.ca/rates

 

They ship

Thanks!

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My understanding is that the exchange rate at the time of booking remains, whether our Canadian currency rises or falls. When we booked at $1.30 it was a great exchange rate but I fear no matter how far our dollar might rise, the currency is fixed for our winter cruise.

 

I'm not sure if one could negotiate a new price if a lower one is posted when they adjust the exchange rate.

 

We had planned to give ourselves OBC but certainly won't now.

 

Ruth

I understand the rate is fixed. Last year on a 14 day TA we were paying 1.20 Yipee. We had booked a year in advance.. Just wondering how often Princess calculates their exchange rate.

Ciao

Ollie

The official exchange rate on the Bank of Canada's web site as of Friday was 1.2672. Princess is still charging us 1.30. They should at least give us the current rate.

Joe d. Except sometimes their slow pace in reacting to rate changes works to your advantage. We once booked at $1.10. By the time we sailed it was $1.30". We weren't complaining, but bought extra OBC and casino cash at the much lower rate.

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Following since I have a couple of cruises coming up. Perhaps some of you will be on them. Yay Canadian Cruisers Eh !!!.

Looking to book a cruise but Princess is still charging 1.30 on the exchange. The exchange rate earlier this morning was 1.248.

Looking to book a cruise but Princess is still charging 1.30 on the exchange. The exchange rate earlier this morning was 1.248.

Changes in rate never change immediately. It does take months often before a drop is reflected, just as there's often a very favourable rate for a few months.

While we've never done it, some Canadians book in either US or Cdn dollars reflecting current rates.

Ruth

Changes in rate never change immediately. It does take months often before a drop is reflected........While we've never done it, some Canadians book in either US or Cdn dollars reflecting current rates.

 

Ruth

It took them so long to drop it from 1.35 to 1.30 that I ended up booking on another cruise line. The other cruise line was offering a discount on the exchange while Princess was still charging a 1.35. I like Princess but when you take several cruises a year it can make a big difference.

you always have the option of booking in US

you always have the option of booking in US

That option would only work well for us if we booked either at or close to final payment. I personally couldn't relax and watch all the currency fluctuations even though we maintain a US dollar account.

We now book longer cruises by destination and so book a year or two in advance.

Ruth

Princess has finally adjusted Canadian pricing to reflect recent appreciation of C$ vs US$. The exchange is set at 1.2, port fees has also been reduced according.

I was able to re-fare on one booked cruise but another cruise would have meant loss of pre-paid gratuities which is more than the savings. Let us know how you fare.

Princess has finally adjusted Canadian pricing to reflect recent appreciation of C$ vs US$. The exchange is set at 1.2, port fees has also been reduced according.

 

I was able to re-fare on one booked cruise but another cruise would have meant loss of pre-paid gratuities which is more than the savings. Let us know how you fare.

I was able to re- fare on one cruise. On another (on which I had made final payment) they would not do anything so we cancelled the cruise and rebooked immediately for a significant saving. Now all I have to do is wait for the Insurance claim (I had cancel for any reason). I have a third cruise which is fully refundable but the price has gone up a lot. I will probably leave it as it is.

In an ideal world, Princess would simply access either the current rate or the previous day closing to show customers approximately what they would pay. This is no different than when you shop online websites for hotels or airfares and set the currency display to CAD. All of these businesses are dealing in USD and it's what we pay in, so the CAD rates shown are approximations. Princess markets in CAD - allows customers to book in CAD - which is different than the mentioned hotels or other travel products outside Canada.

If Princess didn't mask their USD prices and force people on computers in Canada to calculate the true fares, it might make life a little easier. They could offer Canadians to book in USD or CAD at the current exchange rate. That seems fairer to both sides. But they would have to spend dollars to upgrade their pricing and website displays. Other travel businesses manage to do it.

That said .. I don't understand why someone would book another cruise line (that is also selling in USD, but perhaps has a better exchange rate in effect). Anytime you book with Princess, and no matter how you pay, you are "gambling" on the CAD. If you book in CAD, it might be a good rate (like now) or it might not. A good rate is only relative looking back or making some historical assumptions. Now there are a lot of cruisers who wish they could re-book at 1.20 instead of 1.30, but they lose "goodies", so not worth it for some.

Now imagine this. You book all your cruises with a US TA. Many of them offer great discounts that don't exist in Canada. I think up here they are all in cahoots to sell at list price. I am not a TA BTW. It is reported that some US TA's will sell to Canadians in CAD if they want. From what I can tell, most are still booking in USD and then using an exchange rate that may not be very favorable. Princess is now requiring agencies to have a separate account to be able to book in both USD and CAD and it's an extra expense.

Anyway, you book your cruise in USD with discount and usually some OBC. Then if you like the current exchange rate, go ahead and buy the USD you need to make final payment. If you think the rate is temporarily bad, wait and buy the USD to pay for final payment whenever you see a rate you like or want to live with. This way you don't get caught in the currency trap with Princess and you have control over the situation. Okay, so maybe you guess wrong sometimes. But you are still ahead of the game because you got a discount fare in USD.

All canadian TA's have the option to book in either Cad or US. The uncertainty is if you deposit a cruise in US now because the $ is up you are taking a chance that the $ will either be lower or higher at time of final payment. If your final payment is relatively close it might not be a issue. If you booking a yr out who knows what it will be.

You also can phone Princess and purchase items for your cabin and book them in US.

I just ordered a case of water for my cabin and paid in US with my credit card, even though my cruise is in Canadian. I also have a credit card that doesn't charge me a foreign currency surcharge:D

All canadian TA's have the option to book in either Cad or US. The uncertainty is if you deposit a cruise in US now because the $ is up you are taking a chance that the $ will either be lower or higher at time of final payment. If your final payment is relatively close it might not be a issue. If you booking a yr out who knows what it will be.

You also can phone Princess and purchase items for your cabin and book them in US.

I just ordered a case of water for my cabin and paid in US with my credit card, even though my cruise is in Canadian. I also have a credit card that doesn't charge me a foreign currency surcharge:D

Smart point to post about phoning in to pay in USD rather than the automatic CAD in the Personalizer (I might have done that myself a long time ago).

It doesn't matter to me if a Canadian TA can book in USD - they still won't be discounting. IDK if anything has changed, but GL finding a Canadian TA that discounts (unless they work for a US agency). I know specific TA's cannot be posted here, but my past experience is they just sell at Princess posted rates, so I don't bother wasting time anymore to see if they have changed.

You also can phone Princess and purchase items for your cabin and book them in US.

Thank you for this! That wouldn't have occurred to me.

How can you see what the price of an item in US $ is ?

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How can you see what the price of an item in US $ is ?

 

 

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You don't need to - just divide by the current exchange rate to the prices in Cruise Personalizer area that is applicable to your booking.

It is completely annoying that Princess will not allow users to select their own country and currency choice for displaying pricing (many other travel sites allow this).

If you have a US VPN, you can see US pricing without needing a calculator.

How can you see what the price of an item in US $ is ?

 

 

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Some big box retailers have prices listed in $US. Make sure the site ends in *. com and not *. ca. I multiplied the US fare with the 1.2 exchange and the fare is identical to the CAN price.

Some big box retailers have prices listed in $US. Make sure the site ends in *. com and not *. ca. I multiplied the US fare with the 1.2 exchange and the fare is identical to the CAN price.

Yes, any US travel agency with a website is going to display Princess prices on their public pages. You need to contact them to find out what, if any, discounts are applicable. Saves a calculator as well.

I always get a quote in Canadian and US.......... then do the comparison.

Most big on-line US agents will book in both.

I have friends that only book with a on-line agency in Florida and pay in US. Just let their credit card to the conversion.

Sometimes they win and sometimes they lose:D

I was able to re- fare on one cruise. On another (on which I had made final payment) they would not do anything so we cancelled the cruise and rebooked immediately for a significant saving. Now all I have to do is wait for the Insurance claim (“I had cancel for any reason).” I have a third cruise which is fully refundable but the price has gone up a lot. I will probably leave it as it is.

So then you have to factor in the cost of insurance as a loss too? Then also pay for insurance again on the new, rebooked cruise?