Canadian cruisers!!

[c-ditty]

Got off the Oasis a couple weeks back and had $3000 USD OBC unused by the end of the week.

 

Went down to guest services the last night and had my cash in hand within 15 minutes. I had to wait for one of the other customer service reps because the girl I was dealing with didn't have enough cash in her register. No issues and no fuss at all.

 

The only negative was the guy decided to count out $3000 USD in $100's on the counter for everyone in line to see. Stuffed that money in my pocket and promptly ran back to my room, locking the door behind me :)

[LemonNeko]

I called today and bought $500 for $550 CAN. Noticed my receipt shows $550 CAN. so fingers crossed I actually get my $500 US. They were really encouraging me to buy a drink package.

[Ourusualbeach]

I called today and bought $500 for $550 CAN. Noticed my receipt shows $550 CAN. so fingers crossed I actually get my $500 US. They were really encouraging me to buy a drink package.

 

Everyone's receipt shows up that way and none of us have had any issues. Did you ask about cost of prepaying your gratuities. It has been cheaper for many of us to pay for those in advance as well.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[son3cruisers]

So happy to hear that the savings are still in place for Canadians and that so many of you have been able to take advantage of it!

Thinking I might buy some more for our cruise next year... Even though it's not paid in full yet!

[LemonNeko]

Everyone's receipt shows up that way and none of us have had any issues. Did you ask about cost of prepaying your gratuities. It has been cheaper for many of us to pay for those in advance as well.

 

 

Yes, that's a good tip, I prepaid my gratuities when I booked as I got My Time Dining. When I saw the exchange rate on my pre-cruise hotel stay and trying to get anything I can with a cheaper rate.

Edited May 2, 2015 by LemonNeko

[tinkertwo]

okay, so heres my question.

how are the Canadians paying for the obc's that you are purchasing ahead? I got thinking about this last night and I don't get it.

if you buy $500 u.s. and charge your credit card does it not go through the credit card as a u.s. purchase? that being the case your c.c. company is giving the rate, not rcl and its not going to be an extra 10 cents on the dollar, it will be twenty five cents.

how is this being done?? if there is a loop hole I need to know.....lol.

Edited May 10, 2015 by tinkertwo

[Lizzzys]

okay, so heres my question.

how are the Canadians paying for the obc's that you are purchasing ahead? I got thinking about this last night and I don't get it.

if you buy $500 u.s. and charge your credit card does it not go through the credit card as a u.s. purchase? that being the case your c.c. company is giving the rate, not rcl.

how is this being done?? if there is a loop hole I need to know.....lol.

 

No, it goes through as $550 Canadian so there are no exchange fees whatsoever. Just like when you book with RCCL in CDN funds and make payments on your booking in CDN.

[Ourusualbeach]

okay, so heres my question.

how are the Canadians paying for the obc's that you are purchasing ahead? I got thinking about this last night and I don't get it.

if you buy $500 u.s. and charge your credit card does it not go through the credit card as a u.s. purchase? that being the case your c.c. company is giving the rate, not rcl and its not going to be an extra 10 cents on the dollar, it will be twenty five cents.

how is this being done?? if there is a loop hole I need to know.....lol.

 

It is no different than purchasing a dinner at Chops ahead of time in CDN $ except that instead of purchasing a dinner you are buying OBC that is already applied to your account which just happens to be in US$.

 

We bought $1000 OBC for our cruise last March and our CDN credit card was charged $1100 CDN. Had a little bit left over at the end of the cruise that we received back in US$ cash from guest services the last night of the cruise.

[tinkertwo]

so you phone them and tell them what you want, lets say $100.00 u.s., and they then post it to your Canadian c.c. as a Canadian purchase of $110 canadain? the only person who knows its a u.s. purchase is the agent on the phone?

 

sorry I sound so dense but I am trying to wrap my head around this amazing deal.

[Ourusualbeach]

so you phone them and tell them what you want, lets say $100.00 u.s., and they then post it to your Canadian c.c. as a Canadian purchase of $110 canadain? the only person who knows its a u.s. purchase is the agent on the phone?

 

sorry I sound so dense but I am trying to wrap my head around this amazing deal.

 

That's exactly how it happens.

[tinkertwo]

No, it goes through as $550 Canadian so there are no exchange fees whatsoever. Just like when you book with RCCL in CDN funds and make payments on your booking in CDN.

 

It is no different than purchasing a dinner at Chops ahead of time in CDN $ except that instead of purchasing a dinner you are buying OBC that is already applied to your account which just happens to be in US$.

 

We bought $1000 OBC for our cruise last March and our CDN credit card was charged $1100 CDN. Had a little bit left over at the end of the cruise that we received back in US$ cash from guest services the last night of the cruise.

 

thank you both for the responses, at todays rate its very hard to believe. how soon can you start to apply funds to your ob account? we don't sail for 17 months.

[Ourusualbeach]

Also, if you have not prepaid your gratuities ask them how much it is to prepay your gratuities.

 

On my last 2 cruises it cost me less in CDN$ to prepay ahead of time than it would have in US$ on board the ship. For example last Christmas on the ship it would have been $84 pp US$. I paid $82.65 CDN ahead of time.

[Ourusualbeach]

thank you both for the responses, at todays rate its very hard to believe. how soon can you start to apply funds to your ob account? we don't sail for 17 months.

 

You can start adding money today. The max per transaction is $500 or $499 US$ depending on which agent that you get on the phone.

[lyban]

Tinkertwo:

 

I hope that you booked your cruise in Canadian dollars also. That makes a big difference.

 

I cruise next Feb. and I ordered 400 OBC to pay in canadian, they charged my AmerX 440 cdn. It came thru last week on my statement.

 

Now they tell me if I cancel my cruise before final payment they will also refund all OBC.

[Ourusualbeach]

Tinkertwo:

 

I hope that you booked your cruise in Canadian dollars also. That makes a big difference.

 

I cruise next Feb. and I ordered 400 OBC to pay in canadian, they charged my AmerX 440 cdn. It came thru last week on my statement.

 

Now they tell me if I cancel my cruise before final payment they will also refund all OBC.

 

Even cancelling after final payment should still result in a full refund of the OBC just as dinner reservations, shore excursions etc. are fully refundable even of you cancel the cruise a day prior to sailing.

[Folk Singer]

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

Good to know.

[Folk Singer]

Yes, that's a good tip, I prepaid my gratuities when I booked as I got My Time Dining. When I saw the exchange rate on my pre-cruise hotel stay and trying to get anything I can with a cheaper rate.

 

 

Good Idea.

[hancogran]

I am onboard Brilliance right now and had pre purchased $2000 U.S. prior to sailing. I have my onboard account set up as a cash account. I can conirm that you can draw money out from the casino cashier with no service charge. I withdrew $500 last night and no additional charges. :) We will be traveling around Europe after the cruise so our U.S. dollars will go further buying Euros . It really is a great deal for anybody that can take advantage of it.

 

There were cards in our stateroom for each purchase i made except for one $500 that was missing. I went to Guest Services who asked me to check our statement the next day assuring me that the missing $500 would show up and it did. :)

[squadron]

Even cancelling after final payment should still result in a full refund of the OBC just as dinner reservations, shore excursions etc. are fully refundable even of you cancel the cruise a day prior to sailing.

 

This is what I was wondering about - In case I cancel my 2016 cruise so just bought for Fall 2015.

[greeneyedbandit]

My cruise is booked in CAD.

 

Question: Can I bring cash in CAD to the port, deposit it onto my seapass account (Cash account) at embarkation and still get the 10% rate, without calling beforehand?

 

I'd like to take some out in USD at the casino on the first day to spend in ports, if I can get the 10% rate this would make sense rather than exchanging at the bank this week. If it makes any difference I'm planning on depositing $1500 CAD, not sure if this $500 limit applies to cc purchases over the phone. I'm on Oasis this Saturday so I really hope I can pull this situation off!

Edited May 12, 2015 by greeneyedbandit

[Ourusualbeach]

My cruise is booked in CAD.

 

Question: Can I bring cash in CAD to the port, deposit it onto my seapass account (Cash account) at embarkation and still get the 10% rate, without calling beforehand?

 

I'd like to take some out in USD at the casino on the first day to spend in ports, if I can get the 10% rate this would make sense rather than exchanging at the bank this week. If it makes any difference I'm planning on depositing $1500 CAD, not sure if this $500 limit applies to cc purchases over the phone. I'm on Oasis this Saturday so I really hope I can pull this situation off!

 

No. The OBC must be purchased before your cruise either through gifts and gear or C&A.

 

Do not take CDN$ on the ship and change it to US onboard. Royals exchange rate is worse than the bank for on board exchanges. I am assuming that you don't have a credit card to do the purchase ahead of time.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[molly2kit]

I just called today and got the 10% rate for some addl on board credit. So many thanks to anyone who has posted on this board.

[tinkertwo]

Tinkertwo:

 

I hope that you booked your cruise in Canadian dollars also. That makes a big difference.

 

I cruise next Feb. and I ordered 400 OBC to pay in canadian, they charged my AmerX 440 cdn. It came thru last week on my statement.

 

Now they tell me if I cancel my cruise before final payment they will also refund all OBC.

 

yes, my t.a. booked us with a Canadian dollar rate. we have only ever cruised dcl and they only book in u.s. so this was a pleasant surprise for us. talk about saving $$.

thanks for the information. :)

[Folk Singer]

yes, my t.a. booked us with a Canadian dollar rate. we have only ever cruised dcl and they only book in u.s. so this was a pleasant surprise for us. talk about saving $$.

thanks for the information. :)

 

 

Looking into this as well.

[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?