Canadian cruisers!!

[trev71]

Looks like I might be flying out of Canada for the first time ever for a cruise :D

 

575$ CDN per person

 

for the first time its cheaper for me to fly out of Canada instead of Maine USA.

[freeon]

I have a question regarding the drink package. I book my cruise in Canadian funds and it shows the Premium packages at $75. Looking at the USD prices it's priced at $49 USD. At today's exchange rate buying it in USD and making the conversion the package would cost $60. So unless I'm miss calculating something it would be cheaper to buy in USD. If I wait until I board to purchase it I will be charged the $49 USD and not the $75CAD. Correct?

[Clarea]

I have a question regarding the drink package. I book my cruise in Canadian funds and it shows the Premium packages at $75. Looking at the USD prices it's priced at $49 USD. At today's exchange rate buying it in USD and making the conversion the package would cost $60. So unless I'm miss calculating something it would be cheaper to buy in USD. If I wait until I board to purchase it I will be charged the $49 USD and not the $75CAD. Correct?

Correct, when you purchase on board, you pay in USD.

 

Also, the package will cost $57.82 per day, because the $49 will have 18% tips added.

Edited June 24, 2015 by clarea

[macdon9876]

Hopefully a quick question - I scanned through but I couldn't find an answer.

 

My wife and I are sailing soon on Independence. First time cruisers - very excited!

 

We each have promo credit through RCI ($100 each) and we pre-purchased $500 ($250 each) thanks to the info on this thread.

 

I did online check-in last week, and I linked us both to a single SeaPass account for our stateroom. It will be linked to a CC.

 

Will the onboard credit be combined into the one SeaPass account, or will we each need to spend the amount credited to us as individuals (i.e. $350 each)?

 

In other words, if I were to spend $400 over the week, and my wife only spent $200, would some of her OBC be applied to my spending, since it is a single SeaPass account?

 

Thanks!

Edited June 28, 2015 by macdon9876

[Clarea]

Hopefully a quick question - I scanned through but I couldn't find an answer.

 

My wife and I are sailing soon on Independence. First time cruisers - very excited!

 

We each have promo credit through RCI ($100 each) and we pre-purchased $500 ($250 each) thanks to the info on this thread.

 

I did online check-in last week, and I linked us both to a single SeaPass account for our stateroom. It will be linked to a CC.

 

Will the onboard credit be combined into the one SeaPass account, or will we each need to spend the amount credited to us as individuals (i.e. $350 each)?

 

Thanks!

Since you linked your SeaPass accounts, your OBC will also be linked. If for some reason it's not, just visit Guest Services and they can fix it.

[macdon9876]

Thank you for the quick reply!

[Virtopia]

Thanks for this tip! I'll definitely be doing this for my upcoming cruise.

 

Now, I believe I read on this forum that the OBC has to be deposited on your account before the cruise. Is this accurate? How would you get it onto your account? I'm sorry I didn't go through the other pages.

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks for this tip! I'll definitely be doing this for my upcoming cruise.

 

Now, I believe I read on this forum that the OBC has to be deposited on your account before the cruise. Is this accurate? How would you get it onto your account? I'm sorry I didn't go through the other pages.

 

You have to call either Gifts & Gear or C&A ahead of your cruise and purchase the OBC. It will show up on your account by day 2. There will be a card in your stateroom on boarding confirming your OBC. Your cruise must have been purchased in CDN$ to do this.

Edited June 28, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[Smitty815]

This may have been answered already, however, if I purchase On Board Credit, how do I go about using it on the ship? Typically when I cruise I just give them my VISA when I board. Would I just use cash in this case?

 

Also, if I have money left over from my on board credit at the end of the cruise, can I have it returned?

Edited June 28, 2015 by Smitty815

[A&L_Ont]

This may have been answered already, however, if I purchase On Board Credit, how do I go about using it on the ship? Typically when I cruise I just give them my VISA when I board. Would I just use cash in this case?

 

Also, if I have money left over from my on board credit at the end of the cruise, can I have it returned?

 

For me I still used my CC. The debited the OBC first and then would start to charge the CC.

 

I actually had OBC left over. On the last full day (the only day you can do this) I went down to guest services first thing before the line up formed and got the remaining OBC in US cash. I didn't want the CC company to charge me a fee on my discounted cash. I have a US bank account so I deposited it there when I got home.

 

You can do a cash account, but I figured why bother, as I might charge something the last day to my account. It worked for me, it should for you.

Edited June 28, 2015 by A&L_Ont

[hancogran]

For me I still used my CC. The debited the OBC first and then would start to charge the CC.

 

I actually had OBC left over. On the last full day (the only day you can do this) I went down to guest services first thing before the line up formed and got the remaining OBC in US cash. I didn't want the CC company to charge me a fee on my discounted cash. I have a US bank account so I deposited it there when I got home.

 

You can do a cash account, but I figured why bother, as I might charge something the last day to my account. It worked for me, it should for you.

 

I also had OBC left from what I purchased prior to the cruise. I had my account set as a cash account and was able to withdraw from the casino cashier with no additional charges. I did this three times during our cruise and there were never any extra charges.

 

When I saw the lineup at Guest Services on the last night and the following morning, I was glad I did this. At the time, I wasn't sure how the leftover OBC would be handled so I figured that this was the best way for me. I wasn't sure if they'd credit it back to the CC used to purchase it.:confused: I also wasn't sure if the balance would go back in CAD so this way, I had my U.S. cash in hand. ;) It's good to know that you can also still use your credit card without it affecting your leftover OBC. :)

[Virtopia]

You have to call either Gifts & Gear or C&A ahead of your cruise and purchase the OBC. It will show up on your account by day 2. There will be a card in your stateroom on boarding confirming your OBC. Your cruise must have been purchased in CDN$ to do this.

 

Great thank you! :)

[Canadian Tyler]

I bought some obc a while back with this great rate. I understand that I can get any unused portion of this refunded at the end of the cruise (right?) But I also have obc from a Next Cruise booking, and from my travel agent. Are these types of OBC refundable if unused as well? Does it matter if I do cash or credit card account?

[A&L_Ont]

I bought some obc a while back with this great rate. I understand that I can get any unused portion of this refunded at the end of the cruise (right?) But I also have obc from a Next Cruise booking, and from my travel agent. Are these types of OBC refundable if unused as well? Does it matter if I do cash or credit card account?

 

Tyler, see my post #760, it will answer many of your questions. Non-refundable OBC is used first, such as the one from RC. I am not sure if your OBC is from your TA. Some on else here should know.

 

I used credit card and it was refundable on the last day. If you use the OBC to pay for drink packages etc.. it will help use some if not all of your refunadable OBC. I could have had it refundable earlier at the casino but would have had to pay the casino fee to get the cash. I choose to wait for the last full day, and went to the purses desk at 7:30 to get my cash, well before the lines formed.

[A&L_Ont]

It might be a day early but Happy Canada Day to you all.

[Canadian Tyler]

Thanks! I must have missed that post somehow. Very helpful!

 

Happy early Canada Day!

[CVU]

Thank you for the good Country wishes!!!:)

[Virtopia]

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canucks!! :D

[The Sunset Glow]

Happy Canada Day! Proud to live in this beautiful country (but secretly wishing I lived in Florida near the cruise ship ports :) )

[Creepella]

Happy Canada Day! Proud to live in this beautiful country (but secretly wishing I lived in Florida near the cruise ship ports :) )

 

And the better weather... :)

[The Sunset Glow]

And the better weather... :)

 

 

True :)

[ronandannette]

:confused: Sorry for sounding so "dim" here, but just trying to be sure I'm clear on all the comments that have been made about the OBC's being refundable and available as cash from the casino.

 

Question 1: I've pre-purchased $1,000 US OBC - only 1/2 of this is necessary to cover our on-board spending. I'd like the other $500 in cash for spending in the ports. So I go to the casino at any time to retrieve it? Do I just tell them I want to make a cash withdrawal or what?

 

Question 2: I've also got $100 OBC on the account as a booking perk from RCCL. This amount will be exhausted first before the OBC I've purchased? At the end of the trip, presuming I withdraw $500 cash and only accrue $300 in charges, should my refund be $200 or $300?

 

Question 3: If we set up our account with a credit card upon boarding, does it make more sense to withdraw all remaining cash late in the cruise and let the last few on-board expenses get charged to the card? Will this save having to stand in line and if we in fact disembark with money still in the account will they reconcile the account and mail us the balance?

Edited July 2, 2015 by ronandannette

[LibertyCruiser]

Just called and was told the limit was US$400.

 

Credit card charged CA$440.

 

Thanks OP! :D

[Ourusualbeach]

:confused: Sorry for sounding so "dim" here, but just trying to be sure I'm clear on all the comments that have been made about the OBC's being refundable and available as cash from the casino.

 

Question 1: I've pre-purchased $1,000 US OBC - only 1/2 of this is necessary to cover our on-board spending. I'd like the other $500 in cash for spending in the ports. So I go to the casino at any time to retrieve it? Do I just tell them I want to make a cash withdrawal or what?

 

Question 2: I've also got $100 OBC on the account as a booking perk from RCCL. This amount will be exhausted first before the OBC I've purchased? At the end of the trip, presuming I withdraw $500 cash and only accrue $300 in charges, should my refund be $200 or $300?

 

Question 3: If we set up our account with a credit card upon boarding, does it make more sense to withdraw all remaining cash late in the cruise and let the last few on-board expenses get charged to the card? Will this save having to stand in line and if we in fact disembark with money still in the account will they reconcile the account and mail us the balance?

 

1. In order to withdraw cash at the casino without the 5% fee you must set up your on board account as a cash account.

 

2. OBC from Royal will be used first. You would get a $300 refund.

 

3. This scenario would save you from having to stand in line but it would then not allow you to withdraw cash from the casino without incurring the 5% fee. I don't think that they will let you disembark with either a balance owing or balance due.

[Ourusualbeach]

Just called and was told the limit was US$400.

 

Credit card charged CA$440.

 

Thanks OP! :D

 

Amazing how it varies depending on the rep. If you want more just call back and add more.