Canadian cruisers!!

[hancogran]

They didn't send me an email the first time either! I asked the second time and they sent one showing both transactions!

 

I got a confirmation almost immediately.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

After calling back twice to request the confirmation, I finally got it. Normally, it's within minutes of hanging up or I've even received it while still on the phone. Maybe it was just a busy day but when I called back the first time, he said he would send it right away. One hour later I was still waiting and called back again asking what happened to it. :eek:

[hancogran]

Yes! I have been reading through this board, and this thread, since I booked last week. Lots to catch up on in the many years since I last sailed RCI! The experiences of others posting here is exactly what led me to believe that a different rep would have a different answer. And certainly, if I'm going to be buying sufficient money in advance to cover the incidentals, then a cash account makes a lot of sense.

 

The dollar sucks for us right now, but the last time I cruised RCI, it was around 0.64 cents. That hurt even more!

 

Many thanks!

 

Jill

 

Ken is right! :) Most of us who have already sailed and used this pre purchased OBC had no problem. My last cruise was set up as a cash account and even though I was told by a rep from Gifts and Gear that I would be charged 5% to take cash from the casino, I didn't pay a thing because it was set up as a cash account. At the end of the cruise, I was able to get back the cash that was left. I did not put a credit card on file and had no problems whatsoever. It's a great deal !:)

[ckrobyn]

I bought OBC for my Indy cruise in November - I set up a cash account and withdrew $ from the casino throughout the cruise and took all remaining cash from Guest Relations on the last day of the cruise. No issues at all.

[BarbMatt]

Hi There,

Quick question...can someone walk me through step by step what I need to do to apply an on board credit and take advantage of this great exchange rate? I called the 1800 number and the fellow on the phone was not helpful. They then transferred me to Gift and Gears and the office is closed for holidays. Any idea on how I can add this to my account? Thanks

[Ourusualbeach]

Hi There,

Quick question...can someone walk me through step by step what I need to do to apply an on board credit and take advantage of this great exchange rate? I called the 1800 number and the fellow on the phone was not helpful. They then transferred me to Gift and Gears and the office is closed for holidays. Any idea on how I can add this to my account? Thanks

 

Call gifts and gear or you can call C&A. Just tell them your reservation number and say that you would like to purchase xxx amount of OBC.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[Newbcruiser1]

The main 1-800 reservations people can do it as well! Just tell them you have a cruise booked and would like to purchase onboard credit. I've done it both through Crown and Anchor, and reservations. Took 3 minutes each time and no issues with them knowing what I was talking about! :) You might have just got a dud on the phone!

[tinkertwo]

After calling back twice to request the confirmation, I finally got it. Normally, it's within minutes of hanging up or I've even received it while still on the phone. Maybe it was just a busy day but when I called back the first time, he said he would send it right away. One hour later I was still waiting and called back again asking what happened to it. :eek:

 

I don't hang up till I receive it. they have never had a problem with this, I just tell them to give me a minute to check my email to make sure I got it.

[BarbMatt]

Thanks to all of you who responded. Once I call in and put the obc on my account the amount will get charged to my credit card. So for example if I put $200 obc, then my cdn credit card will charge me the daily exchange rate? Correct? Or am I missing something? Or do I need a US credit card? Just want to be sure I understand how it works. Thanks all :)

[dodgeenterprises]

Thanks to all of you who responded. Once I call in and put the obc on my account the amount will get charged to my credit card. So for example if I put $200 obc, then my cdn credit card will charge me the daily exchange rate? Correct? Or am I missing something? Or do I need a US credit card? Just want to be sure I understand how it works. Thanks all :)

 

 

Your credit card will be charged $220.00 cdn for a $200 on board credit

[hancogran]

Thanks to all of you who responded. Once I call in and put the obc on my account the amount will get charged to my credit card. So for example if I put $200 obc, then my cdn credit card will charge me the daily exchange rate? Correct? Or am I missing something? Or do I need a US credit card? Just want to be sure I understand how it works. Thanks all :)

 

Your Canadian credit card will be charged $220 CAD if you purchase $200 U.S. OBC. You are getting a special rate of 10% from Royal so no daily exchange rate (which is closer to 40%). It's a great deal. You do not need a U.S. credit card to purchase OBC.

[Blondynka]

My husband just called to inquire about pre purchasing the on board credit. The agent on the phone told him that there is no need to do that, that when you check in online you just select that you would like your expense account to be exchanged at the RCI rate (so they do the conversion for you and charge your credit card in CDN), as opposed to charging your card in USD and letting the bank exchange the currency. The agent said that this option will also give your the 1.10 rate without having to pre purchase. Anyone have any experience with this?

[Ourusualbeach]

My husband just called to inquire about pre purchasing the on board credit. The agent on the phone told him that there is no need to do that, that when you check in online you just select that you would like your expense account to be exchanged at the RCI rate (so they do the conversion for you and charge your credit card in CDN), as opposed to charging your card in USD and letting the bank exchange the currency. The agent said that this option will also give your the 1.10 rate without having to pre purchase. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

I haven't heard that one before but if it was true it would be great.

 

Somehow I still like the idea of knowing that I have already locked in the rate for a set amount of OBC instead of leaving it to chance.

 

I will give this a try in March as I have just enough OBC to cover my expected purchases and might owe under a hundred at the end of the cruise.

[Clarea]

I haven't heard that one before but if it was true it would be great.

 

Somehow I still like the idea of knowing that I have already locked in the rate for a set amount of OBC instead of leaving it to chance.

 

I will give this a try in March as I have just enough OBC to cover my expected purchases and might owe under a hundred at the end of the cruise.

Exactly. I would not trust what a CSR said on the phone.

[retird]

My husband just called to inquire about pre purchasing the on board credit. The agent on the phone told him that there is no need to do that, that when you check in online you just select that you would like your expense account to be exchanged at the RCI rate (so they do the conversion for you and charge your credit card in CDN), as opposed to charging your card in USD and letting the bank exchange the currency. The agent said that this option will also give your the 1.10 rate without having to pre purchase. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

I tried that on a previous cruise for a small amount still owing on the last day of the cruise and RCI put it through at the daily rate which was close to 40%... I now pre purchase my OBC at the 10% offering while still registering a credit cart to my account. If I need money during the cruise, I withdraw at the casino and pay the 5 % ( Im still getting it for 15% compared to 40%.) On the last day of the cruise I withdraw the balance in my account in US funds from Guest Services and so far this has worked well for me.

[Ourusualbeach]

I tried that on a previous cruise for a small amount still owing on the last day of the cruise and RCI put it through at the daily rate which was close to 40%... I now pre purchase my OBC at the 10% offering while still registering a credit cart to my account. If I need money during the cruise, I withdraw at the casino and pay the 5 % ( Im still getting it for 15% compared to 40%.) On the last day of the cruise I withdraw the balance in my account in US funds from Guest Services and so far this has worked well for me.

 

Unfortunately that is what I expected the truth would be.

[A&L_Ont]

Unfortunately that is what I expected the truth would be.

 

Me as well. That rep didn't know what they were saying regarding the OBC at 10% VS the rate to which the ship does the folio final billing rate at.

[robtulipe]

My husband just called to inquire about pre purchasing the on board credit. The agent on the phone told him that there is no need to do that, that when you check in online you just select that you would like your expense account to be exchanged at the RCI rate (so they do the conversion for you and charge your credit card in CDN), as opposed to charging your card in USD and letting the bank exchange the currency. The agent said that this option will also give your the 1.10 rate without having to pre purchase. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

As other have said don't do this as you will charged in $CAD at the then current exchange rate plus the credit card company's or RCI conversion fee depending which option, A or B, you choose. ;)

Edited January 1, 2016 by robtulipe

[Newbcruiser1]

I tried that on a previous cruise for a small amount still owing on the last day of the cruise and RCI put it through at the daily rate which was close to 40%... I now pre purchase my OBC at the 10% offering while still registering a credit cart to my account. If I need money during the cruise, I withdraw at the casino and pay the 5 % ( Im still getting it for 15% compared to 40%.) On the last day of the cruise I withdraw the balance in my account in US funds from Guest Services and so far this has worked well for me.

 

 

So does this mean with a credit card account and pre-purchased OBC, you can still withdraw the remaining OBC at Guest Services? I sure hope that's right! Would save me from having to do a cash account and dealing with that hassle!

[Ourusualbeach]

So does this mean with a credit card account and pre-purchased OBC, you can still withdraw the remaining OBC at Guest Services? I sure hope that's right! Would save me from having to do a cash account and dealing with that hassle!

 

Yes, but it can't be done until the last full day on board. Go early in the morning before the lines at guest services get too long.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[Blondynka]

Ok thanks all for your advice. I figured if it were as good as the agent made it sound, it would be talked about more on this thread.

 

Thank you!

[hancogran]

My husband just called to inquire about pre purchasing the on board credit. The agent on the phone told him that there is no need to do that, that when you check in online you just select that you would like your expense account to be exchanged at the RCI rate (so they do the conversion for you and charge your credit card in CDN), as opposed to charging your card in USD and letting the bank exchange the currency. The agent said that this option will also give your the 1.10 rate without having to pre purchase. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

I find this hard to believe too but also wish it were true. As others have mentioned, I'll continue to purchase my OBC prior to my cruise so I know for sure what the exchange rate is. A bird in the hand is worth two in the

bush! ;)

 

Unless this is something new, a few years ago I asked RCI NOT to do the conversion to CAD when they charged my Sea Pass account to my credit card at the end of the cruise but in error, they did convert it. It ended up costing me more because RCI's rate is much worse than my credit card company's rate. Prior to being able to purchase this OBC at a special price, I always highlighted on the Set Sail Pass that I don't want RCI to do the conversion but for some reason, they missed it that cruise.

[mnjcruiser]

Hi everyone. Happy New Year! I am hoping to book a RCCL cruise in the next few days. While searching I found this thread, although I haven't had been able to read all the pages yet. Can someone tell me what exchange rate RCCL is charging on new bookings? They are closed today, so I wasn't able to speak to a representative. Thanks!

Edited January 1, 2016 by mnjcruiser

[ckrobyn]

Hi everyone. Happy New Year! I am hoping to book a RCCL cruise in the next few days. While searching I found this thread, although I haven't had been able to read all the pages yet. Can someone tell me what exchange rate RCCL is charging on new bookings? They are closed today, so I wasn't able to speak to a representative. Thanks!

 

You can book in Canadian dollars.

[Ourusualbeach]

Hi everyone. Happy New Year! I am hoping to book a RCCL cruise in the next few days. While searching I found this thread, although I haven't had been able to read all the pages yet. Can someone tell me what exchange rate RCCL is charging on new bookings? They are closed today, so I wasn't able to speak to a representative. Thanks!

 

Most cruises are running at about a 30+% premium over the US prices. As Robyn said you can book in CDN $ which will protect you from further drops in our currency and then you can purchase US$ OBC at the rate of 1.10%. Purchasing $100 US will be charged to your CDN credit card as a purchase of $110 CDN.

 

If you book in US$ you will not be able to take advantage of the OBC at this rate.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Ourusualbeach

[mnjcruiser]

Thanks for the response. I will call RCCL tomorrow to book in Canadian dollars instead of booking online in U.S. dollars. Boy do I miss when our dollar was at par!