Royal Caribbean onboard accounts…

[The_Big_M]

Thanks.

It has been suggested by my TA that she can use her savings card. It is an Eftpos card, not a Visa Debit........ Has anyone used a card like this to settle their account?

 

That's not good advice. All shipboard charges are in USD. If it's only an EFTPOS card i.e. domestic network only then foreign currency charges would not be accepted, hence the card would not work. The EFTPOS network only receives transactions in AUD, in Australia.

 

Further as you say it's not debit, the number would not even be credit card style so would not be on any of the credit processor's networks, again it would not be accepted.

 

Third strike is that RCL apply daily pending transactions to ensure funds are available. These funds will be held until they expire with the effect double the actual spending is required. This is not desirable for debit style accounts.

[Sallyandtex]

That's not good advice. All shipboard charges are in USD. If it's only an EFTPOS card i.e. domestic network only then foreign currency charges would not be accepted, hence the card would not work. The EFTPOS network only receives transactions in AUD, in Australia.

 

Further as you say it's not debit, the number would not even be credit card style so would not be on any of the credit processor's networks, again it would not be accepted.

 

Third strike is that RCL apply daily pending transactions to ensure funds are available. These funds will be held until they expire with the effect double the actual spending is required. This is not desirable for debit style accounts.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. Looks like taking USD is the way to go, but really hard to estimate amount.

Is there a, way also to increase the OBC maybe gifting it with my debit card? And if yes, do you get the amount refunded if there is an unused portion?

[Sallyandtex]

Thanks everyone for your input. Looks like taking USD is the way to go, but really hard to estimate amount.

Is there a, way also to increase the OBC maybe gifting it with my debit card? And if yes, do you get the amount refunded if there is an unused portion?

 

Anyone?

[The_Big_M]

Thanks everyone for your input. Looks like taking USD is the way to go, but really hard to estimate amount.

Is there a, way also to increase the OBC maybe gifting it with my debit card? And if yes, do you get the amount refunded if there is an unused portion?

 

Yes, that's another way of doing it (assuming you mean a Visa or MC debit, not a bank only debit account).

 

You can call RCL direct to request to purchase OBC and prepay (multiples of USD25 I believe). The purchase is converted at a set rate by RCL at the time you call and charged to you in AUD.

 

Funds will be returned in the form of onboard account you are operating. If a cash account, USD cash will need to be collected from guest services if any is left over at the end; if a credit card is set up, any extra will be credited to the credit card account.

[Sallyandtex]

Yes, that's another way of doing it (assuming you mean a Visa or MC debit, not a bank only debit account).

 

You can call RCL direct to request to purchase OBC and prepay (multiples of USD25 I believe). The purchase is converted at a set rate by RCL at the time you call and charged to you in AUD.

 

Funds will be returned in the form of onboard account you are operating. If a cash account, USD cash will need to be collected from guest services if any is left over at the end; if a credit card is set up, any extra will be credited to the credit card account.

 

Thanks very helpful..

So I would need to phone them, not organise through checkin online.

Have you had any experience with RCL set rate? Ie is it reasonable or a big difference to the real conversion rate?

[The_Big_M]

So I would need to phone them, not organise through checkin online.

Have you had any experience with RCL set rate? Ie is it reasonable or a big difference to the real conversion rate?

 

Yes, you need to call, but it's pretty straightforward. Just say you'd like to buy some OBC; they'll usually put you through to admin, then you say how much you want, they tell you the price, give credit card and done. It can't be done online.

 

The rate changes periodically, and they're the only ones who can tell you the current rate (i.e. they set it, and it's not online). When the AUD has been fairly stable as now, it's fairly close; I'd expect it's something like 0.74-0.75 at the moment.

[woodyren]

I have never had a cash account but I seem to recall that there is a minimum amount that has to be deposited and a minimum balance maintained.

 

Is this correct?

[The_Big_M]

I have never had a cash account but I seem to recall that there is a minimum amount that has to be deposited and a minimum balance maintained.

 

Is this correct?

 

Varies by cruiseline but with RCL as I recall you get a $500 float to start with, so don't actually need to deposit up front. Only if you spend over that will your account be held for exceeding the limit in effect. You can then top it up as needed to cover remaining spending.

[MicCanberra]

Varies by cruiseline but with RCL as I recall you get a $500 float to start with, so don't actually need to deposit up front. Only if you spend over that will your account be held for exceeding the limit in effect. You can then top it up as needed to cover remaining spending.

 

I have always had OBC loaded onto the account prior to the cruise but I did have the balance dropping and they notified me with 3 days to go that with the current spending the balance was going to go into negative and a top up or credit card was required.

[mr walker]

.... I did have the balance dropping and they notified me with 3 days to go that with the current spending the balance was going to go into negative and a top up or credit card was required.

 

So you immediately cut your consumption, right? No I don't expect so mate :)

 

I have always lodged an $A cc and had the balance charged to that, using Option B ie let my bank do it. Always got an ok Fx rate and there is the 3% fee.

That said I have also deposited US$ in cash during cruises which then left a smaller balance charged to cc.

 

Next months cruise, I have lodged my CBA Travel Money card pre-loaded with US$ I bought many months ago when there was a concern A$ was going to fall. I will see how that works for me.

[GUT2407]

If I want to use cash, I still put down a card, then pay the balance down the second last day, that way no need to line up on the last day to pay or get a refund and get a small charge in my card.

[MicCanberra]

So you immediately cut your consumption, right? No I don't expect so mate :)

 

I have always lodged an $A cc and had the balance charged to that, using Option B ie let my bank do it. Always got an ok Fx rate and there is the 3% fee.

That said I have also deposited US$ in cash during cruises which then left a smaller balance charged to cc.

 

Next months cruise, I have lodged my CBA Travel Money card pre-loaded with US$ I bought many months ago when there was a concern A$ was going to fall. I will see how that works for me.

 

Not quite but it did mean using some of the Cash that I got from the large amounts of OBC via the Casino.

[joandian]

I'm not sure how long this has been in effect but with Casino withdrawal fee is now 5% at least on Mariner. I had thought it was 3% but could be wrong. Anyway, we had a substantial OBC and the Husband has the drinks package (premium which was upgraded to Ultimate) and I only drink water and the occasional Diet coke so we have been funding our gift buying on RCI this trip.

[MicCanberra]

I'm not sure how long this has been in effect but with Casino withdrawal fee is now 5% at least on Mariner. I had thought it was 3% but could be wrong. Anyway, we had a substantial OBC and the Husband has the drinks package (premium which was upgraded to Ultimate) and I only drink water and the occasional Diet coke so we have been funding our gift buying on RCI this trip.

 

It has been 5% for a few years now, but the good news is that they still allow it. X has stopped it totally and you can only cash out winnings.

[Newby58]

An American Express card has no conversion fees. Had it since 1984.

 

 

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