Canadian cruisers!!

[Clarea]

Hi - a couple of questions. We have booked our trip through a US TA but my mother has booked directly with RC Canada. I gather she can buy OBC through the C&A at an exchange rate of 1.10c? If she buys USD 1,000 OBC, it will cost her CDN 1,100?

Also can she buy our Premium Drink Package with her OBC?

Yes to all questions.

[Ourusualbeach]

Hi - a couple of questions. We have booked our trip through a US TA but my mother has booked directly with RC Canada. I gather she can buy OBC through the C&A at an exchange rate of 1.10c? If she buys USD 1,000 OBC, it will cost her CDN 1,100?

Also can she buy our Premium Drink Package with her OBC?

 

As long as her cruise is priced in CDN $ then she can purchase the OBC at the favourable exchange rate.

[Funbobby68]

Just off radiance worked like a charm , got all my OBC in US dollars with a statement waiting in our cabin when we boarded

[oshoguno]

Just off Oasis and every time I wanted to take cash out of my OBC account they wanted to charge me 5%. Casino, money for port shopping, money for tips. I complained and got a one time fee free withdrawal ($500). I can understand the fee if I was using a credit card but the cash was already in the account.

[JessyCruises]

Just off Oasis and every time I wanted to take cash out of my OBC account they wanted to charge me 5%. Casino, money for port shopping, money for tips. I complained and got a one time fee free withdrawal ($500). I can understand the fee if I was using a credit card but the cash was already in the account.

 

Did you have your account set up as cash (i.e. did you provide a credit card at checkin)? If you did not provide a credit card, they will not charge you the 5%.

[Sarvowinner]

Hi - a couple of questions. We have booked our trip through a US TA but my mother has booked directly with RC Canada. I gather she can buy OBC through the C&A at an exchange rate of 1.10c? If she buys USD 1,000 OBC, it will cost her CDN 1,100?

Also can she buy our Premium Drink Package with her OBC?

 

Thanks for the advice, Mum was only able to add CDN 548.90 to her OBC at one time. I guess this means she is limited to USD 499 per transaction. They weren't clear on how long she has to wait to add further funds. Does anyone know?

[JessyCruises]

Thanks for the advice, Mum was only able to add CDN 548.90 to her OBC at one time. I guess this means she is limited to USD 499 per transaction. They weren't clear on how long she has to wait to add further funds. Does anyone know?

 

I think they can call back right away and add more.

[oshoguno]

My account was cash, no credit card registered. When I went to customer services they said it didn't matter.

 

Did you have your account set up as cash (i.e. did you provide a credit card at checkin)? If you did not provide a credit card, they will not charge you the 5%.

[trev71]

when I was on the Adventure I never got a card in my room saying I bought obc before my cruise. I looked the first night and it wasn't there and called and they said they were having issues and assured me first thing in the morning it would be there and of course I checked on the tv in the morning and all my OBC was there . even the other $100 from booking last cruise. :D

[JessyCruises]

My account was cash, no credit card registered. When I went to customer services they said it didn't matter.

 

 

That is weird, I had no issue withdrawing from the casino or member services.

[marmstro]

I'm going to buy some onboard credit to take advantage of the better exchange rate (hopefully it's still being sold at 1.10). Can any of you tell me if I can do this online, or do I have to call in? Also, I'm presuming it is purchased toward a particular sailing (for example, our Brilliance cruise next January). Is this correct? If so, if we decide to cancel the Brilliance cruise and do Navigator instead, would the onboard credit be transferred or simply refunded?

[Ourusualbeach]

I'm going to buy some onboard credit to take advantage of the better exchange rate (hopefully it's still being sold at 1.10). Can any of you tell me if I can do this online, or do I have to call in? Also, I'm presuming it is purchased toward a particular sailing (for example, our Brilliance cruise next January). Is this correct? If so, if we decide to cancel the Brilliance cruise and do Navigator instead, would the onboard credit be transferred or simply refunded?

 

You have to call either gifts and gear or C&A.

 

It has to be purchased for a particular sailing.

 

Yes it is refundable if you cancel.

[Sarvowinner]

Mum has finished buying her (my) OBC ;) When she tried to buy the second tranche, the customer rep told her she couldn't buy the same amount so she had buy Cdn $495 but she had no problem purchasing the 3rd tranche of Cdn 548.90 and that CR was very knowledgeable.

[Ourusualbeach]

Mum has finished buying her (my) OBC ;) When she tried to buy the second tranche, the customer rep told her she couldn't buy the same amount so she had buy Cdn $495 but she had no problem purchasing the 3rd tranche of Cdn 548.90 and that CR was very knowledgeable.

 

It seems like each rep is playing by their eon set of rules.:rolleyes: I had no issues at all buying $500 twice for the same cruise.

 

First time I have heard about not being able to buy the same amount.

[Sue Dawson]

If you don't use all the OBC on the cruise (that you have bought this way), can you take it out as cash at the end of the cruise? I've read both things - that you can take it without being charged a fee and also that they will charge you a fee. Thanks,

[Clarea]

If you don't use all the OBC on the cruise (that you have bought this way), can you take it out as cash at the end of the cruise? I've read both things - that you can take it without being charged a fee and also that they will charge you a fee. Thanks,

Depends on the type of OBC. If the OBC is refundable, Royal will allow you to get a cash refund on the last evening of the cruise. Else they will credit any excess refundable OBC to your credit card if you used one to secure your SeaPass account.

 

If the OBC is non-refundable, then you can get cash in the casino against your SeaPass account for a 5% charge.

[Ourusualbeach]

If you don't use all the OBC on the cruise (that you have bought this way), can you take it out as cash at the end of the cruise? I've read both things - that you can take it without being charged a fee and also that they will charge you a fee. Thanks,

 

I had no problem getting over $400 refunded to me the last night at guest services.

 

I think the charge you are referring to is the 5% fee for taking it out in the casino. Many have reported that there is no fee for taking money out of the casino if you have a cash account. There have also been reports that people have been charged so it varies by ship and probably who is working......typical Royal.

[son3cruisers]

I had no problem getting over $400 refunded to me the last night at guest services.

 

I think the charge you are referring to is the 5% fee for taking it out in the casino. Many have reported that there is no fee for taking money out of the casino if you have a cash account. There have also been reports that people have been charged so it varies by ship and probably who is working......typical Royal.

 

In March, we withdrew money from the casino from our onboard account a few times.

First time i did it I saw a fee ($5.00 for a $100 withdrawal) on my stateroom TV.

Didn't think too much about it as it was $5.00 and I expected the charge as people posted on here...

The next day, the fee was removed. Weird. I withdrew $300 that day, checked and was not charged any fee.

So, I guess it depends who is working at the casino that day!

Oh, and yes my account was set up as cash!

Edited June 2, 2015 by son3cruisers

[Paddy41]

Thanks for the advice, Mum was only able to add CDN 548.90 to her OBC at one time. I guess this means she is limited to USD 499 per transaction. They weren't clear on how long she has to wait to add further funds. Does anyone know?

 

 

You can call right back. I added 3 OBCs to my cruise. $499 is the limit because over that they want to actually see your credit card. You can go to the trouble of faxing them a copy of front and back but why? Just keep phoning to add on.

[Paddy41]

Mum has finished buying her (my) OBC ;) When she tried to buy the second tranche, the customer rep told her she couldn't buy the same amount so she had buy Cdn $495 but she had no problem purchasing the 3rd tranche of Cdn 548.90 and that CR was very knowledgeable.

 

 

Suggestion......if you and your mother are thinking of going to a specialty restaurant or same shore excursion or want the beverage pkg, etc. why not have your mother add it to her booking since she has everything in Canadian dollars and then you can just pay your mother. I reserved the Mystery Dinner and paid for it using a Canadian credit card even though I have my check-in info showing 'cash' no credit card. Some of the things you can reserve are a 20% mark up over the US price but that is still better than 28% the bank is charging right now. When I was reserving it did ask me if I wanted to include anyone with a different booking number. Hope I'm making sense here.

[Ourusualbeach]

Suggestion......if you and your mother are thinking of going to a specialty restaurant or same shore excursion or want the beverage pkg, etc. why not have your mother add it to her booking since she has everything in Canadian dollars and then you can just pay your mother. I reserved the Mystery Dinner and paid for it using a Canadian credit card even though I have my check-in info showing 'cash' no credit card. Some of the things you can reserve are a 20% mark up over the US price but that is still better than 28% the bank is charging right now. When I was reserving it did ask me if I wanted to include anyone with a different booking number. Hope I'm making sense here.

 

Still better to purchase additional OBC and buy as much as you can on board. The restaurants and drink packages on my cruises are closer to a 25% to 30% mark up.

[Paddy41]

I just finished off my online check-in. I'm on a B2B. I put extra OBC on the first week so I could get it back in cash to use for whatever on the second week. (set that week for cash)

I put in a credit card for use the second week. Probably should have just left it as cash too. On the sea pass papers it asks me to decide if I want any amount owing to be put on my card in CAD or do I want it in US$ and let my bank convert. I checked off to put it in CAD.

Please tell me I did it right. It says it can't be changed.

[Clarea]

I just finished off my online check-in. I'm on a B2B. I put extra OBC on the first week so I could get it back in cash to use for whatever on the second week. (set that week for cash)

I put in a credit card for use the second week. Probably should have just left it as cash too. On the sea pass papers it asks me to decide if I want any amount owing to be put on my card in CAD or do I want it in US$ and let my bank convert. I checked off to put it in CAD.

Please tell me I did it right. It says it can't be changed.

You want to be charged in USD and have your credit card company do the conversion. I believe you can go to Guest Services and make the change.

[Paddy41]

You want to be charged in USD and have your credit card company do the conversion. I believe you can go to Guest Services and make the change.

 

 

Wondering if I made the right choice exchange wise. I think RCCL will convert it to CAD using an exchange rate that is better than the credit card company converting it. When purchasing the cruise RCCL only charged 10% to pay in CAD instead of around 28% I would have had to pay my credit card company if RCCL billed me in US$.

[Clarea]

Wondering if I made the right choice exchange wise. I think RCCL will convert it to CAD using an exchange rate that is better than the credit card company converting it. When purchasing the cruise RCCL only charged 10% to pay in CAD instead of around 28% I would have had to pay my credit card company if RCCL billed me in US$.

Maybe Ken can come by and confirm, but I have never read that Royal's exchange rate is better than the credit card company's. I think the OBC thing that's been available lately is an anomoly.