Currency from obc for on shore

[mean jean]

We are on the caribbean voyage departing NY 30th Nov 2009. I have taken advantage of the info regarding pre buying your obc which I have read recently on this forum. I am delighted to have received $1.89 to the pound so a huge thank you as the rate at present on the high street is around $1.53.

When we visit any of the islands I am assuming that the locals will accept US dollars for excursions we organise ourselves. Can we go to the pursers desk and withdraw US dollars from our pre paid obc to take off shore to pay in cash to the locals? Thank you in advance.

[Host Sharon]

Not sure about the purser's desk, but you can certainly withdraw your credit from the casino. There is a 3% charge but it is still a good deal.

[macmoo]

This is a great question one I was going to ask myself. The other thing I was wondering is that we have bought OBC and plan to buy some more for our Nov 11th sailing and when we get to New York we want to do some shopping.....can we buy currency on QM2 and charge it to our cresit card as the exchange rate is so good.

 

Much shopping to be had in such a great city!

[macmoo]

This is a great question one I was going to ask myself. The other thing I was wondering is that we have bought OBC and plan to buy some more for our Nov 11th sailing and when we get to New York we want to do some shopping.....can we buy currency on QM2 and charge it to our cresit card as the exchange rate is so good.

 

Much shopping to be had in such a great city!

[SueOverend]

I believe that if you purchase credit whilst on board, it will go through on your credit card at the current exchange rate. Just like your final bill on departure from the ship. Best pre to pre purchase from Cunard in the UK I think. Sue

[mean jean]

Thank you for your repsonses, I assume that you are given cash in the casino from your obc but you can then keep it to use on shore instead of in the casino. I have never been one to gamble my hard earned money away but won the lottery when I met my husband!

[balf]

Interesting question. What if you just needed dollars for tips to waiters etc. There seems no reason why you could not get this from the purser desk. It is after all your money.

 

David.

[SueOverend]

I agree, and people seem to have differing experiences. I was told this week, when my I bought some more OBC, that I would not be able to get any back if I did not spend it. However, some guests have posted that they have been successful in getting the surplus back in dollars from the Purser's desk, others have had to go to the Casino. The Casino will be a hardship of course, but if needs must ..............! Sue

[Splice the mainbrace]

When I was on a Tandem Trans Atlantic Crossing on QM2 in August I withdrew US dollars from my OBC at the Casino for our day in New York. You just need to take your on board payment/cabin key card and passport.

 

My experience was that the pursers desk doesn't do money exchange for OBC, maybe they do exchange cash. There are cash machines that can be used to withdraw currency by using your bank (debit) card.

[laurensparkles]

Hey all,

 

Could anyone tell us what OBC stands for? We've just bought some dollars for our transatlantic crossing leaving Southampton on 11 November at a rate of $1.56 to the pound, so $1.89 sounds fantastic!

 

Thanks in advance.

[north east girl]

Hey all,

 

Could anyone tell us what OBC stands for? We've just bought some dollars for our transatlantic crossing leaving Southampton on 11 November at a rate of $1.56 to the pound, so $1.89 sounds fantastic!

 

Thanks in advance.

You can arrange some on board credit if you ring cunard, I did this before my TA and got a rate of 1.88 which was fantastic. Was told if any left I would get this back. I managed to spend it all, had a few spa treatments and bought some photos and of course any drinks.

 

Have a great time on your trip.

 

Catherine

[Dorchester]

Hey all,

 

Could anyone tell us what OBC stands for? We've just bought some dollars for our transatlantic crossing leaving Southampton on 11 November at a rate of $1.56 to the pound, so $1.89 sounds fantastic!

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi Lauren,

 

OBC is short for On Board Credit. As you can see (or rather read) in the above posts, Cunard UK is offering an exchange rate of $1.89 per £ for those UK passengers who wish to purchase OBC prior to embarkation. This is indeed a good exchange rate - much better than is available in any High Street Bank - or anywhere else for that matter.

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Regards,

David

[Dorchester]

Thank you for your repsonses, I assume that you are given cash in the casino from your obc but you can then keep it to use on shore instead of in the casino. I have never been one to gamble my hard earned money away but won the lottery when I met my husband!

 

Hello Jean,

 

The Cashier at the Casino will give you gambling chips. As mentioned, there is a 3% surcharge, so $100.00 of chips will be debited to your OB account to the sum of $103.00.

 

All you do is to get these earlier in the day, and then go back to the Casino and cash them in - for real money!!

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Regards,

David

[cruisegal101]

Hello Jean,

 

The Cashier at the Casino will give you gambling chips. As mentioned, there is a 3% surcharge, so $100.00 of chips will be debited to your OB account to the sum of $103.00.

 

All you do is to get these earlier in the day, and then go back to the Casino and cash them in - for real money!!

 

Hope that this helps.

 

Regards,

David

 

The cashier will give you dollars not gambling chips. Been there and done that fairly recently.

[QE2 fan]

So all I need to do is go the casino & ask for whatever amount of dollars I want to withdraw from my OBC, right?

[QE2 fan]

Also, I have been given $250 OBC from Cunard. Is it likely that they will use up my own pre-purchased credit first & then if $250 remains unused say that I can't withdraw it, as it is the $250 that I was given by the company?

[MerrylandCruiser]

Will be doing a TA from NY to Southhampton on QM2 next summer. Is the OBA charged in US dollars or £? Will it be a foreign transaction for US residents? The trip deposit was charged by Cunard in California, so it did't show up (or result in fees) as a foreign transaction on my credit card. Hopefully, the OBA will be handled the same way. Thanks!:)

[Magna]

Will be doing a TA from NY to Southhampton on QM2 next summer. Is the OBA charged in US dollars or £? Will it be a foreign transaction for US residents? The trip deposit was charged by Cunard in California, so it did't show up (or result in fees) as a foreign transaction on my credit card. Hopefully, the OBA will be handled the same way. Thanks!:)

 

**************************************

Cunard has a "Strange" way of giving OBC

OBCs are given in "Canadian Dollars" on my Cruise Fare Invoice booked by TA in Canada

Then will be converted to US Dollars on the QM2 that show on the Ship Account !!

On all the Cruise Lines we have sailed the OBC was always given in USD on the Cruise Fare Invoice

 

Magna

[balf]

Is the OBA charged in US dollars or £? quote]

 

If you buy in the US (though why would anyone do this) you will pay in US dollars. The advantage for UK passengers is the very favourable exchange rate on offer, whice can be boosted a bit more if you use a cash back credit card.

 

David.