A$ to US$

[kezza]

Been wondering...with our Aussie $$ going down and the US$ on the ships, what happens to the likes of the drinks package and internet or any other package. If I wait until I embark on the ship to organise any of these will they cost me more than preordering before we leave?:confused::confused:

[GUT2407]

Been wondering...with our Aussie $$ going down and the US$ on the ships, what happens to the likes of the drinks package and internet or any other package. If I wait until I embark on the ship to organise any of these will they cost me more than preordering before we leave?:confused::confused:

 

 

It will depend what line.

 

But if on a ship that charges in US$ and Aus$ drops further you may well pay more

[OzKiwiJJ]

You could always buy OBC for yourself. Sometimes you get a better rate than the current exchange rate. We did for our recent Celebrity cruise, and for our upcoming Princess cruise.

 

Do the maths. For our Princess cruise, which will be in USD as it's a repositioning cruise, it worked out fractionally cheaper to buy the package ahead of time than to buy the OBC to buy it onboard.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Just realized your RCI cruise is very close. I suggest ringing RCI immediately to see what rate they will sell you OBC at.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

If the rate keeps dropping I think you will see a mass exodus of Australians from the American ships. All is not lost however as it will be cheaper for the Americans to fly down here and cruise so the ships will still be full , but full of Americans ......:D

 

One year I can remember the Aussie dollar was down to .50c and the Kiwi to .39c. There were not many locals cruising on the ships at that time.

 

 

 

 

[OzKiwiJJ]

If the rate keeps dropping I think you will see a mass exodus of Australians from the American ships. All is not lost however as it will be cheaper for the Americans to fly down here and cruise so the ships will still be full , but full of Americans ......:D

 

One year I can remember the Aussie dollar was down to .50c and the Kiwi to .39c. There were not many locals cruising on the ships at that time.

 

 

 

 

 

Either that or the US ships will start including more extras like drinks packages and OBC to entice locals to cruise with them.

[kezza]

Didn't know you could buy OBC...and you just won't cruise RCI as they're the only ones in Australian waters doing US$ that I've cruised on....would do more Carnival then I guess or Princess... :)

[OzKiwiJJ]

Didn't know you could buy OBC

 

Yes, you can. Essentially it's just prepaying some of your onboard costs but sometimes teh cruise line sells it to you at very advantageous rates.

 

I got our Princess OBC at AU$550 for US$500, an exchange rate of 0.90 - current exchange rate is around 0.705.

[hawkers]

I got our Princess OBC at AU$550 for US$500, an exchange rate of 0.90 - current exchange rate is around 0.705.

 

 

Do you buy this recently? By phoning or online? On Emerald Singapore to Sydney the rate is 0.80 through cruise personalizer!

[OzKiwiJJ]

I got our Princess OBC at AU$550 for US$500, an exchange rate of 0.90 - current exchange rate is around 0.705.

 

 

Do you buy this recently? By phoning or online? On Emerald Singapore to Sydney the rate is 0.80 through cruise personalizer!

 

I bought it by phoning Princess a couple of months ago. My cruise personaliser is still showing 0.90 though, or rather AU $110 for what I think is US $100. It may depend on when you booked your cruise. I heard that Princess update their rate annually at the start of the year and that it would be going up to 0.80 but that doesn't seem to have affected my cruise.

 

0.80 is still better than 0.705 ;)

[kezza]

well in all the cruises I've done, never knew you could buy OBC....you learn something everyday....how do you do that and are all the cruise lines the same? thanks :)

[OzKiwiJJ]

well in all the cruises I've done, never knew you could buy OBC....you learn something everyday....how do you do that and are all the cruise lines the same? thanks :)

 

Usually it's available under Gifts but if not, just phone them. Here you go https://www.royalcaribbeancertificates.com/

[kezza]

thanks Oz...I think I like the OBC you can get when you book a cruise rather than buying some. But at least the options there if you want.

[kezza]

Also just read the bottom of the 'purchase gift certificate' and it states to US residents only....

[OzKiwiJJ]

Also just read the bottom of the 'purchase gift certificate' and it states to US residents only....

 

That's odd.

 

Anyway just phone them, Kezza. It's the same phone line for RCI and Celebrity and when I phoned a few months before our Celebrity Christmas cruise they were very helpful and I got a decent rate for the OBC,

[mr walker]

?...and you just won't cruise RCI as they're the only ones in Australian waters doing US$ that I've cruised on....would do more Carnival then I guess or Princess... :)

 

Some people take into account factors other than the exchange rate applicable to their onboard spend when choosing their cruise. That's the beauty these days - lots of choice :)

[MicCanberra]

Celebrity are currently offering $0.77 USD ($25USD costs $32.40 AUD), this can be purchased online, through your My celebrity (personliser) or by phone. RCI needs to be done by phone. The gift certificates link provided earlier is actually for buying cruises not for OBC.

Princess and Cunard also offer OBC at much better rates than the current rate as mentioned over $0.90 these can be purchased online or by phone.

 

NOTE - Some cruise lines will not refund any of the OBC or allow you to cash out so only buy what you think you will require for the cruise. Some (X) will allow you to cash out refundable OBC at the casino for a 5% fee.

[springaussie]

Celebrity are currently offering $0.77 USD ($25USD costs $32.40 AUD), this can be purchased online, through your My celebrity (personliser) or by phone..

 

 

Anyway of confirming this is still the case

Unconfirmed report claims RCCL Australia is now $0.712 today. (Operators have been known to give the wrong price.)

Royal Caribbean Canadian cruisers are reporting the rate has gone from $1.10 CAD buys $1 USD to $1.40 USD buys $1 USD over the last 2 days.

[MicCanberra]

Anyway of confirming this is still the case

Unconfirmed report claims RCCL Australia is now $0.712 today. (Operators have been known to give the wrong price.)

Royal Caribbean Canadian cruisers are reporting the rate has gone from $1.10 CAD buys $1 USD to $1.40 USD buys $1 USD over the last 2 days.

 

Yes, it is on the celebrity website, as for RCI, you would need to call then and check.

[springaussie]

Yes, it is on the celebrity website, as for RCI, you would need to call then and check.

 

 

Thanks

[GCHAN]

I was just checking on the Celebrity site and it says 1 OBC unit costs $32.40aud.

 

Does anybody know what value in USD the OBC unit has.

[GUT2407]

Didn't know you could buy OBC...and you just won't cruise RCI as they're the only ones in Australian waters doing US$ that I've cruised on....would do more Carnival then I guess or Princess... :)

 

Celebrity US$ too.

[GUT2407]

I was just checking on the Celebrity site and it says 1 OBC unit costs $32.40aud.

 

Does anybody know what value in USD the OBC unit has.

 

Pretty sure it's US$25

[MicCanberra]

Celebrity are currently offering $0.77 USD ($25USD costs $32.40 AUD), this can be purchased online, through your My celebrity (personliser) or by phone. RCI needs to be done by phone. The gift certificates link provided earlier is actually for buying cruises not for OBC.

Princess and Cunard also offer OBC at much better rates than the current rate as mentioned over $0.90 these can be purchased online or by phone.

 

NOTE - Some cruise lines will not refund any of the OBC or allow you to cash out so only buy what you think you will require for the cruise. Some (X) will allow you to cash out refundable OBC at the casino for a 5% fee.

 

I was just checking on the Celebrity site and it says 1 OBC unit costs $32.40aud.

 

Does anybody know what value in USD the OBC unit has.

 

Yes $25USD as posted yesterday.

[hawkers]

So more like 0.77 on Celebrity!