RCCL VISA Points Strategy

[Clarea]

I just called the redemption people yesterday. My situation is that I won't have enough points for my reward until *after* I pay in full for the cruise. I was told I could pay, then when my credit card statement closed and the points were posted, I could call to redeem. At that point, they would issue a credit to my credit card.

 

They said that at the time I made my reservation/payment, the TA would need to call RCCL to say that they would agree to the future credit I'd be receiving. They would also get a quote for the OV cabin at that point (not at the time I redeem the points), and that fare amount would be noted in my reservation.

 

They did say that if there are no OV cabins available at the time of booking, then I wouldn't be able to use the award.

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks for reporting back. I never knew that if an OV was not available, the award could not be used.

[suzw]

If you choose to get shipboard credit it can be used for a anything correct? (Jewelry store on onboard etc)

[harry0]

FYI-Capital One also has NO foreign conversion fee.-Royal is 3%

[Clarea]

If you choose to get shipboard credit it can be used for a anything correct? (Jewelry store on onboard etc)

Yes, anything you would use your SeaPass for, even gratuties if they are not pre-paid.

[CampStar]

Good morning, all!

 

My wife and I are about 50 days away from our cruise. We have been married 2 years (and will be celebrating our anniversary on our cruise -- Oasis, July 27 sailing). We paid for almost everything for our wedding on our RCI Visa and our planning on cashing in all those points now; all 70K of them.

 

Here's where we are at: We've paid for the cruise, the premium alcohol package, one excursion and dinner at Chops in full already. We have 2 ports of call where we have nothing booked yet and plenty of specialty restaurants left to explore.

 

I am leaning towards the onboard credit versus the $$ off, (we don't use the RC Visa as our primary card anymore). I was told (by a RC Rep last night!) we can also use the onboard credits in the casino. I also know my wife will get nervous about spending money on the ship even though she may want to do something, she'd say no because she's concerned with spending too much. For example, she's the type that would want to eat at a restaurant but wouldn't because it wasn't included. I want her to enjoy this trip to the fullest. I think OBC is the way to go.

 

What would you people recommend? What is your experience with OBC vs. $$ back to your card?

 

Any information that you fine people can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!!!!

[slickmouse]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. We just applied for the Capital 1 Card and will be 'retiring' our RCL card from everyday use once next month (once we hit 75k pts). Now that I have plenty of points over two cards for the cruise - I'll be working on points for the flights and hotels. I had no idea how much better the Capital 1 card was. We'll still use our RCL card for RCL purchases though. Thanks! Learned something new today.

[LisaT91403]

I think on board credit vs. other rewards really depends on the particular sailing and how many points you have.

 

For us, we will have 75,000 points, which we could use as either:

 

$750 on board credit

 

or

 

Free companion fare, up to $1500 (which, for our sailing, will amount to $1449)

 

It's a no-brainer. Why would I want $750 on board when I can get double that credited back to my Visa card?

[LisaT91403]

Thanks for reporting back. I never knew that if an OV was not available, the award could not be used.

 

Yes, she said the reason for this is that they cannot determine the dollar value of the reward if there aren't any cabins available for sale. Makes sense to me.

[Folk Singer]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. We just applied for the Capital 1 Card and will be 'retiring' our RCL card from everyday use once next month (once we hit 75k pts). Now that I have plenty of points over two cards for the cruise - I'll be working on points for the flights and hotels. I had no idea how much better the Capital 1 card was. We'll still use our RCL card for RCL purchases though. Thanks! Learned something new today.

 

We do the same use two cards to get the max.

[createcolorfun]

i have tried to get one of these cc but i keep getting turned down. my credit isn't the best but it isn't the worse.... any ideas? or can i call someone?

thanks!:eek:

[molly361]

You may want to call RCL to vertify but I believe that if there are no oceanview cabins available then you cannot use it for that cruise. You would have to wait until some become available.

 

I just called the redemption people yesterday. My situation is that I won't have enough points for my reward until *after* I pay in full for the cruise. I was told I could pay, then when my credit card statement closed and the points were posted, I could call to redeem. At that point, they would issue a credit to my credit card.

 

.

 

They did say that if there are no OV cabins available at the time of booking, then I wouldn't be able to use the award.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for verifying about not able able to use it if there are no OV cabins available.

[StarSong]

I also have the Royal visa, but i don't use it. I just signed up for the sign up OBC. If travel is your goal the Capital one card is the way to go. I did all the research over and over again.

 

FYI-Capital One also has NO foreign conversion fee.-Royal is 3%

 

Thanks for investigating and then sharing this information with us. There are so many reward credit cards available these days that it's hard to sort out which is the best. We use our RCL card a lot (have over 225K points right now), so a card that offers double would result in serious points for us.

[LisaT91403]

The RCCL visa is too much thinking. Try the Capital One card. It is very simple, you get 2% of what you spend. You can pick what cabin you want just like you are paying with your credit card. When the bill comes you pay with your points. If you use your points for any kind of travel it always comes out to 2%. I have a business which has large purchases, I get a free cruise every year. I use the card for every purchase.

 

I'm not sure how the Capital One card is better. You get 2% back, right? So if you wanted to use it for a cruise, and the cruise cost $1500, then you'd need 150,000 points. And you earned 2 points/dollar spent, so you'd need to charge $75,000 to get the points you need.

 

On the RCCL Visa, you want the same $1500 cruise (say an OV companion fare)...so you'd need 75,000 points. You'd need to charge $75,000 to get there *unless* you make some charges on RCCL where you get double. So, in theory, you might only need to charge $37,500 to get to the 75k points.

 

So it seems even to me, unless you make charges on RCCL in which case you'd come out ahead. And the RCCL card has no annual fees.

 

What am I missing here?

[tomahawk246]

If the cruise is only 1000.00 you would only need 100.000 points. I don't think you have choices like that with the Royal card. If you spend money on line with Royal capital one also gives you 4 extra points for every dollar spent. Capital one has hundreds of companies that they give you additional points. If you want an inside cabin you get an inside cabin. You can shop for the best price and also try a different cruise company with the points you earn with the Capital one card. I had 225,000 points I payed for two people in a balcony cabin on the 4th of July week.

Edited June 9, 2013 by tomahawk246

[LisaT91403]

If the cruise is only 1000.00 you would only need 100.000 points. I don't think you have choices like that with the Royal card.

 

Actually, you do have a choice. You could redeem 50,000 Royal points for $500 towards any cruise, any cabin. If you do two of those rewards, it's the same as what you mentioned above. However, if you were getting 2 (or more) Capital points for every dollar...and only 1 for Royal, then you definitely come out ahead with Capital in this scenario.

 

If you spend money on line with Royal capital one also gives you 4 extra points for every dollar spent. Capital one has hundreds of companies that they give you additional points. If you want an inside cabin you get an inside cabin. You can shop for the best price and also try a different cruise company with the points you earn with the Capital one card. I had 225,000 points I payed for two people in a balcony cabin on the 4th of July week.

 

Wow, 4 points for every dollar is great! I didn't know about that. Being able to pick different cruise lines (maybe someday I'll try another!), or different vacations altogether is definitely a plus. I'm going to check it out now that I've redeemed my 75k for a free companion cruise ($1449 value, so that worked out well for me).

[molly361]

If the cruise is only 1000.00 you would only need 100.000 points. I don't think you have choices like that with the Royal card. If you spend money on line with Royal capital one also gives you 4 extra points for every dollar spent. Capital one has hundreds of companies that they give you additional points. If you want an inside cabin you get an inside cabin. You can shop for the best price and also try a different cruise company with the points you earn with the Capital one card. I had 225,000 points I payed for two people in a balcony cabin on the 4th of July week.

 

 

I checked the Capitol One site and I do not see where Capitol One gives your 4 points for every $1 spent with RCL. Can you post that link? Thanks

[molly361]

If the cruise is only 1000.00 you would only need 100.000 points. I don't think you have choices like that with the Royal card. If you spend money on line with Royal capital one also gives you 4 extra points for every dollar spent. Capital one has hundreds of companies that they give you additional points. If you want an inside cabin you get an inside cabin. You can shop for the best price and also try a different cruise company with the points you earn with the Capital one card. I had 225,000 points I payed for two people in a balcony cabin on the 4th of July week.

 

 

Are you taling about the Venture One card? What is the annual fee? It says first year free but I am having trouble finding the annual fee for this card

 

Do you have to book thru Venture One?

Edited June 9, 2013 by molly361

[tomahawk246]

Wow, 4 points for every dollar is great! I didn't know about that. Being able to pick different cruise lines (maybe someday I'll try another!), or different vacations altogether is definitely a plus. I'm going to check it out now that I've redeemed my 75k for a free companion cruise ($1449 value, so that worked out well for me).

 

The card works great for me, give it a try. Even with your example above I would have an extra 50.00 dollars to spend on something else. I am not sure how to use the quote feature.

Edited June 9, 2013 by tomahawk246

[tomahawk246]

Molly, I am sorry I can't find a link for Royal without being signed on to my account. The way it works is that you sign on to your account and you go to a section that is called extra rewards. There are hundreds of links to companies that give extra points. So you go to the Royal link, you would use your card to purchase a cruise on line. You would get 2 points for every dollar spent and in the case of Royal you would get an additional 4 points for every dollar spent. I could not do this on my last cruise because I had a on board next cruise OBC. I could not book on line.

[curcurt]

Molly, I am sorry I can't find a link for Royal without being signed on to my account. The way it works is that you sign on to your account and you go to a section that is called extra rewards. There are hundreds of links to companies that give extra points. So you go to the Royal link, you would use your card to purchase a cruise on line. You would get 2 points for every dollar spent and in the case of Royal you would get an additional 4 points for every dollar spent. I could not do this on my last cruise because I had a on board next cruise OBC. I could not book on line.

 

Thanks for the great info, didn't know about the 4% RCCL points for Capital One cards. I have a cash back Capital One card and sure enough there is a 4% cash back in the Explore Rewards section of my online account.

 

We have been using RCCL's Visa card for all of our purchases to get the points for RCCL cruising and we have a Capital One Masters Card (cash back) for use out of the country (no foreign transaction fees) and backup credit card. RCCL Visa only gives 1% for everyday purchases.

 

I am going with the Venture Card for everyday use and get 2% for everyday purchases and 4% for RCCL and Carnival cruise purchases. :D

 

In the process of building a new home and the next few months will require a lot of large purchases.

[Lewisleagueleader]

We are going on our 3rd cruise on points. Booked on line and points all done via phone. No problems except they do the credits bades on sail date and workload. The one card that has always paid off well. We get the bump because of the level and have always had balcony. Very pleased with the card and RCL.

[Lewisleagueleader]

We are going on our 3rd cruise on points. Booked on line and points all done via phone. No problems except they do the credits based on sail date and workload. The one card that has always paid off well. We get the bump because of the level and have always had balcony. Very pleased with the card and RCL.

[kccrzr]

DH and I have each received Capital One Venture card solicitations in the last week. However, the card offered provides 1.25 miles per $1 spent not 2x. If it were 2x I would jump all over it but I don't see how it is better than my cash back Costco AmEx which does provide elevated rewards for higher expenditures.

 

The offer we received has no annual fee however - perhaps that alters the rewards percentages.

Edited June 10, 2013 by kccrzr

[molly361]

Molly, I am sorry I can't find a link for Royal without being signed on to my account. The way it works is that you sign on to your account and you go to a section that is called extra rewards. There are hundreds of links to companies that give extra points. So you go to the Royal link, you would use your card to purchase a cruise on line. You would get 2 points for every dollar spent and in the case of Royal you would get an additional 4 points for every dollar spent. I could not do this on my last cruise because I had a on board next cruise OBC. I could not book on line.

 

Thanks I found it. It looks like you have to book thru their travel company to use it. We always book direct thru RCL. Also it looks like I can't use it for payments on my existing reservations. Darn!!! I appreciate the info

[Folk Singer]

Our travel visa through the TD is good for all travel and hotels, car rental etc. 9 times the points if book through expedia td or 3 times if not and on everything else.. last year we had a 1000.00 taken off our cruise.:):)

 

Since May of this year we are up to almost 150 to come off and still 10 months to go.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Folk Singer