OBC and Exchange Rates

[excitedofharpenden]

A couple of extra queries; how do I find out what the celebrity current exchange rate is? Can I use OBC to purchase excursions on board? We booked in UK through a UK based agent. Thanks

 

Here's a link to the OBC purchase page which includes the price in GBP for a $25 unit which equates to an exchange rate currently of just under 1.678. Yes, you can use the OBC to purchase shore excursions when you are on the ship.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/bonvoyage/cruise-onboard-credit/onbdcr

 

Phil

[Gordoncruickshank]

A couple of extra queries; how do I find out what the celebrity current exchange rate is? Can I use OBC to purchase excursions on board? We booked in UK through a UK based agent. Thanks

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It is on the web site under gifts by Celebrity £14.90 gets you $25. You can use this for anything and unlike regular OBC (e.g. as part of the 123Go campaign) it is refundable if not used. They use the non refundable bit first before they start using the refundable part.

[shot2bits]

It is on the web site under gifts by Celebrity £14.90 gets you $25. You can use this for anything and unlike regular OBC (e.g. as part of the 123Go campaign) it is refundable if not used. They use the non refundable bit first before they start using the refundable part.

 

 

Ok, sorry about this, don't mean to hijack the thread! Do I go through my TA to order the OBC or should I log into my account on the Celeb website and apply for it there?

 

 

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[cruiserebel]

A couple of extra queries; how do I find out what the celebrity current exchange rate is? Can I use OBC to purchase excursions on board? We booked in UK through a UK based agent. Thanks

 

 

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On Celebrity's UK web site you can buy OBC for £14.90 for 1 unit. A unit is USD 25. So that makes it a rate of 1.6778, and yes, you can use OBC to buy excursions along with many other things such as specialty restaurants, booze, purchases from the ship's shops etc.

[excitedofharpenden]

Ok, sorry about this, don't mean to hijack the thread! Do I go through my TA to order the OBC or should I log into my account on the Celeb website and apply for it there?

 

 

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Do it on the website.

 

Phil

[MicCanberra]

Sorry to hijack. I purchased some OBC last week USD 25 for AUD 25. My credit card has been charged and I can see the additional money in the payments section - but no where in my booking does it show the additional OBC. It shows the $300 as part of the 123 promo but that's it. Is this normal?

 

Excellent that you got the $25 for $25. As mentioned, it doesn't show up until you are on board. keep your paper work with you just in case.:D:D

[Gordoncruickshank]

Ok, sorry about this, don't mean to hijack the thread! Do I go through my TA to order the OBC or should I log into my account on the Celeb website and apply for it there?

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You can do this via the web site, you can also ask your TA to do it for you (mine got a bit upset with me upgrading drinks packages and doing OBC without telling them - not too worried about that as they have just sent me a bundle of cruise ticket info etc for the wrong room).

 

I have found that if you call Celebrity and speak to someone in the Amenities department, they will put the charge through onto your credit card while you are on and you know that it is done. I would still take a copy credit card bill with the charges on it just to be safe though.

 

It is also cheaper due to the exchange rate to pre purchase drink packages upgrades before you go unless that is what the OBC is for. The OBC rate is better than the drink package rate.

[Project_gal]

The reason that purchased OBC does not show on your account is that it is purchased through "Gifts by Celebrity". It was originally intended that it would be purchased by friends and family for someone cruising. As such, the "surprise" would be spoilt if it showed on your account in advance.

[shot2bits]

So, I rang my TA and have $250 OBC for £149.00. Even they said it was a brilliant deal. I tried to do it on the Celeb website, but failed. My TA has sent me confirmation by email so I can take this with me when I get on board. Glad I saw this thread, thanks everyone. I'll get out of her now so you can go back to the original question!

 

 

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Edited January 28, 2015 by shot2bits

[shot2bits]

I meant get out of HERE!

 

 

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[butterbread]

Subscribing -- totally confused but as a Canuck I think I should do this!

[kampinguru]

Subscribing -- totally confused but as a Canuck I think I should do this!

 

I will try to clear up some of your confusion. If you booked your cruise in Canadian Dollars, anything that you purchase prior to boarding is paid for in Canadian Dollars. Shore excursions, drink packages, gifts, OBC etc. Once you are on board, everything is in US dollars.

If you call up to Celebrity and ask to purchase an OBC, they will charge you a much better exchange rate than you would get at a bank. For example, I called this morning and bought a $2000USD OBC. To purchase 2000.00 from the bank would cost me 2543.00. To purchase that from Celebrity it cost me 2176.00.

Edited January 28, 2015 by kampinguru

[butterbread]

I will try to clear up some of your confusion. If you booked your cruise in Canadian Dollars, anything that you purchase prior to boarding is paid for in Canadian Dollars. Shore excursions, drink packages, gifts, OBC etc. Once you are on board, everything is in US dollars.

If you call up to Celebrity and ask to purchase an OBC, they will charge you a much better exchange rate than you would get at a bank. For example, I called this morning and bought a $2000USD OBC. To purchase 2000.00 from the bank would cost me 2543.00. To purchase that from Celebrity it cost me 2176.00.

 

Thanks for the Coles Notes version :) I will call and do this! And then once onboard we can use said OBC to purchase dining, spa services etc?

[kampinguru]

Thanks for the Coles Notes version :) I will call and do this! And then once onboard we can use said OBC to purchase dining, spa services etc?

 

Correct.

[butterbread]

Correct.

 

Just called & saved myself $60. Thanks!!

[stoddaj1]

Another Canadian question. I "get" the obc/exchange rate process, but if we do not use it all how do we get the difference from remaining obc back and at what cost? Something to do with the casino? Is the process complicated?

Edited January 28, 2015 by stoddaj1

[MicCanberra]

Another Canadian question. I "get" the obc/exchange rate process, but if we do not use it all how do we get the difference from remaining obc back and at what cost? Something to do with the casino? Is the process complicated?

 

Just ask them to cash it out and they take 5% commission, it may sound a bit expensive but much less than what most people lose in a casino. Otherwise, it goes back onto your card (that is attached to your on board account) and there will be conversion fees again.:D

[stoddaj1]

Conversion fees to go back on credit card?

[MicCanberra]

Conversion fees to go back on credit card?

 

yes, USD back to Canadian or whatever currency your card would be (in my case AUD).:D

[emairs]

Conversion fees to go back on credit card?

 

The only conversion fee is what the credit card charges, which is often 2.5%.

You will receive CDN at whatever the exchange rate is at the time.

For example, $100 USD will give you approx. $120 CDN at today's rate of 20%.

When the USD is higher, You lose when purchasing in USD, but gain when receiving a USD credit on your CDN card.

[fleckle]

Another Canadian question. I "get" the obc/exchange rate process, but if we do not use it all how do we get the difference from remaining obc back and at what cost? Something to do with the casino? Is the process complicated?

As long as your obc is the refundable type, you would only need to pay the 5% to the casino if you want to withdraw cash to spend in port while you are on the cruise.

 

Even then, before doing that it would be a good idea to compare the 5% fee with the charge for withdrawing the cash from an ATM, to see which method would be the more favorable.

 

Everything that you buy on the ship gets charged to your seapass account (with the exception of buying future cruises), so you need no cash on the ship.

 

 

The best and easiest way to get remaining obc back at the end of the cruise is to set up your seapass account on a credit card that does not charge a fee for currency conversion.

Then at the end of the cruise, the remaining refundable obc automatically goes back to your credit card account.

You need to do nothing at all and there is no conversion fee.

 

 

If you would rather have the remaining money refunded to you in cash, then near the end of the cruise switch your shipboard account from a credit card account to a cash account.

At the end of the cruise, you will need to go to Guest Relations to withdraw the remaining cash, but you will not be charged any fee to do so.

 

Aside from withdrawing cash to spend during the current cruise, the only other time that it would really be to your advantage to pay the 5% to the casino would be if you have any leftover non-refundable OBC to withdraw.

 

(As previously pointed out on this board, you can look at the code on your OBC to see if it is the refundable or non-refundable kind.)

 

 

When you take back-to-back cruises, or a cruise followed by a land vacation, you can buy all your onboard credit for the first leg and have it refunded to you in $US at the end of the first leg.

That way you have all the cash to spend on your following cruise/s, or for post-cruise land expenses, without incurring any conversion fees.

 

Edited January 29, 2015 by fleckle

[jveevers]

Sorry to hijack. I purchased some OBC last week USD 25 for AUD 25. My credit card has been charged and I can see the additional money in the payments section - but no where in my booking does it show the additional OBC. It shows the $300 as part of the 123 promo but that's it. Is this normal?

This still does not seem right, getting USD25 for AUD25 , at a time when the local rate is around 79c which would make AUD25 worth USD19.90 .

From other posts, other currencies ie. CAD, dont get $ for $.

Ok, I am off to try it, in theory if I buy USD 1000 it will cost AUD 1000. So if I cash that out onboard I will get USD950 ( 1000 Minus 5% fee). Bring that home, convert to AUD and I should get around AUD 1150 for my USD 950.

Instant profit AUD 150

I am no Math genius, am I missing something ?

There seems to be no limit, I could buy enough to convert back , make enough "profit" to pay for the cruise.

[Project_gal]

This still does not seem right, getting USD25 for AUD25 , at a time when the local rate is around 79c which would make AUD25 worth USD19.90 .

From other posts, other currencies ie. CAD, dont get $ for $.

Ok, I am off to try it, in theory if I buy USD 1000 it will cost AUD 1000. So if I cash that out onboard I will get USD950 ( 1000 Minus 5% fee). Bring that home, convert to AUD and I should get around AUD 1150 for my USD 950.

Instant profit AUD 150

I am no Math genius, am I missing something ?

There seems to be no limit, I could buy enough to convert back , make enough "profit" to pay for the cruise.

 

No you are not missing anything. Celebrity, at present, is giving you [and all their customers in Australia, Canada and the UK - I have read nothing about the rate in other countries] a fabulous deal. It happens periodically. Those in the know, watch the rate and purchase at these times.

 

Why is any ones guess. They may just have been slow at changing the rate out of stupidity but, more likely, selling OBC is good for them. Most items on board are sold at a premium. Guests with OBC tend to spend more [that is why they give OBC as a booking incentive]. Buying OBC gives the money early and is good for cash flow. Celebrity may also need some other currencies for their local operations and this is a good way for them to get it. Just because Celebrity win, there is no reason to think that the customer does not win as well.

[jveevers]

No you are not missing anything. Celebrity, at present, is giving you [and all their customers in Australia, Canada and the UK - I have read nothing about the rate in other countries] a fabulous deal. It happens periodically. Those in the know, watch the rate and purchase at these times.

 

Why is any ones guess. They may just have been slow at changing the rate out of stupidity but, more likely, selling OBC is good for them. Most items on board are sold at a premium. Guests with OBC tend to spend more [that is why they give OBC as a booking incentive]. Buying OBC gives the money early and is good for cash flow. Celebrity may also need some other currencies for their local operations and this is a good way for them to get it. Just because Celebrity win, there is no reason to think that the customer does not win as well.

 

 

So I decided to buy some OBC, say $1000 worth which would be enough to upgrade Drink Package, buy some Shore Trips, do some speciality Restaurants and a few onboard purchases. If any left I can withdraw it and use after the cruise.

Went through the gift buying process, result "cannot locate cruise reference number".. Well it is right, I got the # from "My Celebrity". Doubled checked number, name, date , ship, all OK.. Same result...So wonder why I cannot do this?

[MicCanberra]

So I decided to buy some OBC, say $1000 worth which would be enough to upgrade Drink Package, buy some Shore Trips, do some speciality Restaurants and a few onboard purchases. If any left I can withdraw it and use after the cruise.

Went through the gift buying process, result "cannot locate cruise reference number".. Well it is right, I got the # from "My Celebrity". Doubled checked number, name, date , ship, all OK.. Same result...So wonder why I cannot do this?

 

Maybe the site is being swamped with people buying OBC, try again later.:D