Curr ent CAD exchange rate on new NCL bookings

[willise]

Quick question -- I booked at 1.33. What about onboard charges though, like DSC? Should I prepay them now at 1.33, or will I get the same rate I booked with onboard as well? Does anyone know? TIA

 

I believe if you pay them on the ship, they will be at whatever rate the credit card posts. My understanding is that the NCL CDN rate is only good on purchases prior to sailing, but I could be wrong.

[macandlucy]

Pisenor, Willise, thank you. I should have asked in my last post about prebuying OBC -- If I buy some can I pay the DSC with that? Also, will they give me UDS back if I don't spend all of it onboard, or do they send me a cheque in the mail sometime after the cruise? (I have read about cashing out at the casino, although I am not sure if that is still an option anymore). Another big TIA :)

[willise]

Pisenor, Willise, thank you. I should have asked in my last post about prebuying OBC -- If I buy some can I pay the DSC with that? Also, will they give me UDS back if I don't spend all of it onboard, or do they send me a cheque in the mail sometime after the cruise? (I have read about cashing out at the casino, although I am not sure if that is still an option anymore). Another big TIA :)

 

I believe using pre-purchased OBC is ok for paying the DSC. OBC that NCL gives you is not allowed to be used for the DSC.

 

While there seems to be some debate at the moment, my experience has been that any OBC you purchase can be cashed out at the casino for a 3% "convenience fee", or if you choose not to go that route, a cheque will be mailed out to you with the balance in USD. I cashed out my OBC on my last cruise at the casino.

 

The question is whether the 36% exchange is worth it, I guess? 33% is not great, but better than what you will get at any CDN bank. Since you have to pay the DSC anyway, why not just prepay it now on the NCL site, at 33%, and then you won't have to worry about using OBC to pay the DSC?

 

Have a great cruise!

[macandlucy]

I believe using pre-purchased OBC is ok for paying the DSC. OBC that NCL gives you is not allowed to be used for the DSC.

 

While there seems to be some debate at the moment, my experience has been that any OBC you purchase can be cashed out at the casino for a 3% "convenience fee", or if you choose not to go that route, a cheque will be mailed out to you with the balance in USD. I cashed out my OBC on my last cruise at the casino.

 

The question is whether the 36% exchange is worth it, I guess? 33% is not great, but better than what you will get at any CDN bank. Since you have to pay the DSC anyway, why not just prepay it now on the NCL site, at 33%, and then you won't have to worry about using OBC to pay the DSC?

 

Have a great cruise!

 

 

I might just do that. We've been in the habit of prebuying OBC because it's handy for us to get a few USDs back in cash, for tips/taxis/meals etc, whatever for the trip home, and our credit card dings us an extra 2.5% for the conversion. (Last cruise I bought $500 obc and it covered the tips for three (on Celebrity though--not sure what the NCL DSC is) and left us with some cash for the next day, so it was perfect.)

 

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated :)

[Orleanscruiser]

I might just do that. We've been in the habit of prebuying OBC because it's handy for us to get a few USDs back in cash, for tips/taxis/meals etc, whatever for the trip home, and our credit card dings us an extra 2.5% for the conversion. (Last cruise I bought $500 obc and it covered the tips for three (on Celebrity though--not sure what the NCL DSC is) and left us with some cash for the next day, so it was perfect.)

 

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated :)

 

Get yourself an Americain fund CC , I deal with BMO and I have a MC CC in Americain fund I use when I travel in the Usa . I go to the bank get americain funds and pay my CC you must have an Americain account at bmo and avoid 2.5% for the conversion

[pisenor]

Just a heads up for you macanlucy! If you choose to pre-purchase OBC before you sail and do not use it all or choose not to cash out in the casino, you can only get a refund on board for $50 or less. Anything more will come in the form of cheque from NCL. It seems as though the time frame for the refund varies. Some have reported that it has taken the full 4-6 weeks as stated by NCL and others have reported as little as 9 days to receive their refund cheque.

[macandlucy]

Just a heads up for you macanlucy! If you choose to pre-purchase OBC before you sail and do not use it all or choose not to cash out in the casino, you can only get a refund on board for $50 or less. Anything more will come in the form of cheque from NCL. It seems as though the time frame for the refund varies. Some have reported that it has taken the full 4-6 weeks as stated by NCL and others have reported as little as 9 days to receive their refund cheque.

 

Thanks for the heads up, Pisenor. That's important info that I wasn't aware of, thank you! :)

[xcell]

What happens if you want to book a cruise in Canadian dollars but your future cruise certificate is in US?

 

On board when you buy the FCC it will show you what the rate in CDN it is worth and that's locked in no matter what the currency changes too in the future.

 

If you get OBC at a reduced rate and use this to buy the FCC it works out better than using your CC to buy it...

[c-ditty]

Just a heads up for you macanlucy! If you choose to pre-purchase OBC before you sail and do not use it all or choose not to cash out in the casino, you can only get a refund on board for $50 or less. Anything more will come in the form of cheque from NCL. It seems as though the time frame for the refund varies. Some have reported that it has taken the full 4-6 weeks as stated by NCL and others have reported as little as 9 days to receive their refund cheque.

 

This is the first I have seen that leftover pre-purchased OBC will be refunded in a check from NCL. Do you know if the check will be in USD or is it in CDN, if the cruise was booked in CDN?

 

I am heading on the Getaway at the end of February and bought $1000 OBC with the intention of cashing out at the casino, but if they will send me a check for the USD OBC I will gladly take that.

 

Thanks!

[casofilia]

Cheque is in USD and can take 2-6 weeks

 

Mike

[c-ditty]

Cheque is in USD and can take 2-6 weeks

 

Mike

 

That's great info, thank you!

 

I have no issue with waiting for the check as long as I know it will show up in USD. Is anyone aware of a limit that they will allow for this (ie. if I buy $3000 OBC will they still send in check form in USD?)

 

TIA

[xcell]

I'd rather take the 3% loss versus waiting....

 

Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk

[casofilia]

I have no issue with waiting for the check as long as I know it will show up in USD. Is anyone aware of a limit that they will allow for this (ie. if I buy $3000 OBC will they still send in check form in USD?)

TIA

 

At present there doesn't SEEM to be any limit though some people have reported trouble in buying large quantities, especially at one go.

However I can see there being a change by NCL especially as people can buy at $1.11 when the bank rate is about $1.40.

 

Mike

[c-ditty]

Thanks for the info folks. I plan on buying $500 a week until I go so I shouldn't have issue with a large lump sum purchase.

 

I did the same on my Oasis of the seas cruise last year and I was able to cash out $3000 in cash at guest services, which was nice. But waiting a month for a check is no biggie for me.

[dam1979]

How were you folks able to get quotes in CAD?

 

I am in Ottawa, NCL has my address but gives me prices in USD? I called and spoke to a web support guy and he said that is the only way prices are displayed...I also talked to a reservations guy and he was able to give me a quote in Canadian that seemed to be a pretty favourable exchange rate...but I forgot to ask what the exact rate was...and he didn't know how to get NCL to display CAD prices on the site...

 

So I'm left confused...

[c-ditty]

How were you folks able to get quotes in CAD?

 

I am in Ottawa, NCL has my address but gives me prices in USD? I called and spoke to a web support guy and he said that is the only way prices are displayed...I also talked to a reservations guy and he was able to give me a quote in Canadian that seemed to be a pretty favourable exchange rate...but I forgot to ask what the exact rate was...and he didn't know how to get NCL to display CAD prices on the site...

 

So I'm left confused...

 

I called NCL directly to book and they gave me the option of USD or CAD. At the time the exchange was 11% through NCL so it was a good value. I never saw the option to book in CDN on the website.

[RobTheGob]

What do you mean by group rate?

 

I have no idea how it worked - I couldn't reproduce the pricing we received anywhere else! It seems like larger TA's can confirm group rates in advance and then sell them over time (but maybe that isn't possible). In any case - when we booked in late November, the rate we paid in CAD was just under the NCL.com rate in USD. The exchange rate on MyNCL.com is showing as 19%, which is what we paid when we prepaid DSC etc... at the time of booking. But the cabin fare ended up being just slightly better than par - when compared to the NCL.com online rate.

 

We also booked, possibly through the same TA, and our rate in CDN was actually less than the posted rate on NCL. My understanding from the TA is that is was a group rate since friends of ours could not get the same deal as all the cabins at that rate were sold out.

 

All of our purchases have so far been at par or less for OBC, prepaid DSC etc.

 

We had looked at lots of other TA's and options on other cruise lines (we have been on NCL in the past and definitely *weren't* committed to sailing with them again), but all other pricing we found was essentially at the prevailing bank rate when we booked (charged in USD and converted to CAD). We only found the deal we got at this particular Canadian TA...

[RobTheGob]

Get yourself an Americain fund CC , I deal with BMO and I have a MC CC in Americain fund I use when I travel in the Usa . I go to the bank get americain funds and pay my CC you must have an Americain account at bmo and avoid 2.5% for the conversion

 

I personally prefer Canadian CC's with premium rewards that don't charge currency conversion fees over a USD CC. But YMMV.

 

How were you folks able to get quotes in CAD?

 

Yes - my understanding is that you can either request CAD pricing from NCL (which at the very least LOCKS the conversion rate) or use a Canadian TA (which is what we did).

[xcell]

How were you folks able to get quotes in CAD?

 

I am in Ottawa, NCL has my address but gives me prices in USD? I called and spoke to a web support guy and he said that is the only way prices are displayed...I also talked to a reservations guy and he was able to give me a quote in Canadian that seemed to be a pretty favourable exchange rate...but I forgot to ask what the exact rate was...and he didn't know how to get NCL to display CAD prices on the site...

 

So I'm left confused...

 

Just use a TA site - our major airline (AC) and vacations site...

 

The only issue is that there is no place to put in promos...like when they had the double promo, so you will have to call in to get that but you can do dummy bookings on the site...

 

To figure out the conversion, then you will have to find out how much the USD (off of ncl's website) and the CDN value...volia!!!

 

Once you book, when you are on the ncl site and want to prepay shows, food, OBC, etc...it will show you the rate...

[dam1979]

Just use a TA site - our major airline (AC) and vacations site...

 

The only issue is that there is no place to put in promos...like when they had the double promo, so you will have to call in to get that but you can do dummy bookings on the site...

 

To figure out the conversion, then you will have to find out how much the USD (off of ncl's website) and the CDN value...volia!!!

 

Once you book, when you are on the ncl site and want to prepay shows, food, OBC, etc...it will show you the rate...

 

So if I book an NCL cruise through a TA site (as in AC Vacations), I can still get the UBP bonus NCL is currently advertising?

[casofilia]

How were you folks able to get quotes in CAD?

I am in Ottawa, NCL has my address but gives me prices in USD? I called and spoke to a web support guy and he said that is the only way prices are displayed...I also talked to a reservations guy and he was able to give me a quote in Canadian that seemed to be a pretty favourable exchange rate...but I forgot to ask what the exact rate was...and he didn't know how to get NCL to display CAD prices on the site...So I'm left confused...

 

NCL.com is an American site and you only get quotes in USD. To get in CAD you have to call the NCL toll free number and/or talk to your PCC OR get a quote through a Canadian Travel Agent/website.

 

If he gave you a quote in CAD compare with the website rate in USD and work out the exchange rate that way. Today probably in the 1.35 region.

 

Mike

[Frenchsnowhite]

How were you folks able to get quotes in CAD?

 

I am in Ottawa, NCL has my address but gives me prices in USD? I called and spoke to a web support guy and he said that is the only way prices are displayed...I also talked to a reservations guy and he was able to give me a quote in Canadian that seemed to be a pretty favourable exchange rate...but I forgot to ask what the exact rate was...and he didn't know how to get NCL to display CAD prices on the site...

 

So I'm left confused...

 

You have to be booked in CAN with NCL to see after your account in CAN and all that you can buy in CAN.

[nbsjcruiser]

If your OBC, etc is at 1.11, so is your cruise fare.

 

No not true.

 

There's a lot of confusion on this. Here's how it works. If you book your cruise in Canadian dollars you pay the going rate (1.42 today yuck) but your OBC is currently being charged only at a rate of 1.11. Here's a screenshot of the rate they're charging today:

This is exactly what happened with us when we booked our Getaway cruise for next month.

Edited January 11, 2016 by nbsjcruiser

[j-9]

No not true.

 

There's a lot of confusion on this. Here's how it works. If you book your cruise in Canadian dollars you pay the going rate (1.42 today yuck) but your OBC is currently being charged only at a rate of 1.11. Here's a screenshot of the rate they're charging today:

[ATTACH]373283[/ATTACH]

This is exactly what happened with us when we booked our Getaway cruise for next month.

 

 

Not sure you are correct on this. My OBC for my last cruise was at par, and for my next in Sept is at 1.0753. Both of these are the rates that I booked my cruise fare at. To be clear, when I go to MyNCL today, I can buy $100 USD for $107.53 CAD.

[Ontario cruise duo]

No not true.

 

There's a lot of confusion on this. Here's how it works. If you book your cruise in Canadian dollars you pay the going rate (1.42 today yuck) but your OBC is currently being charged only at a rate of 1.11. Here's a screenshot of the rate they're charging today:

[ATTACH]373283[/ATTACH]

This is exactly what happened with us when we booked our Getaway cruise for next month.

 

It definitely depends on the rate you got when you booked your cruise. How long ago did you book this cruise. I'm guessing at least 1 year ago. Please confirm.