CruseKrazy Posted October 11, 2022 #1 Share Posted October 11, 2022 Just curious if you have your onboard account in US or Canadian dollars? I recall a thread years ago where the person recommended staying in US dollars and paying with a credit card that does not charge a currency exchange fee rather than have the cruise line do all the purchase exchanges to Canadian dollars. Anybody have experience in this and a recommendation? Thanks. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted October 11, 2022 #2 Share Posted October 11, 2022 USD We have a TD USD VISA card along with a TD USD Account so just pay the CC when we get home If I have USD cash I just go to reception a few days prior to disembarkation & pay the onboard account You could also get a CC that does not charge a Foreign transaction fee like the Home Trust Visa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted October 11, 2022 #3 Share Posted October 11, 2022 It's USD on Celebrity. We pay with US Amex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted October 11, 2022 #4 Share Posted October 11, 2022 Yes, definitely USD, as most lines' conversion rate these days is not as good as you will get from your Canadian financial institution. As suggested above, use a card that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruseKrazy Posted October 11, 2022 Author #5 Share Posted October 11, 2022 Great, thanks or the info. Will do. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOPPERTESTER Posted October 11, 2022 #6 Share Posted October 11, 2022 (edited) Assuming a mainstream cruise line like Carnival/RCCL/Princess etc (not Europe based Aida, Mein Schiff, etc) your onboard account is in USD only. How you pay at the end to clear your account is where you get into the decision to let the cruise line charge your CC used for your onboard account in USD or to let the cruise line convert your balance (at their exchange rate and fee) into a currency other than USD and then charge your credit card in its native currency. Edited October 11, 2022 by CHOPPERTESTER 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare broberts Posted October 11, 2022 #7 Share Posted October 11, 2022 2 hours ago, CHOPPERTESTER said: Assuming a mainstream cruise line like Carnival/RCCL/Princess etc (not Europe based Aida, Mein Schiff, etc) your onboard account is in USD only. How you pay at the end to clear your account is where you get into the decision to let the cruise line charge your CC used for your onboard account in USD or to let the cruise line convert your balance (at their exchange rate and fee) into a currency other than USD and then charge your credit card in its native currency. I have had mixed results asking the cruise line not to convert the account balance when charging my CA$ CC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeroTravel Posted October 12, 2022 #8 Share Posted October 12, 2022 20 hours ago, broberts said: I have had mixed results asking the cruise line not to convert the account balance when charging my CA$ CC. We've heard a few people say similar. Which is why for our upcoming cruise we've been buying RCCL Gift Cards (on days when we like the exchange rate - which is rare) and we will load them to our account as onboard credit 10 business days before sailing (as their website mentions). We don't have a USD CC or account, so this way we already know how much we've spent and will have no surprises. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyofnorth Posted October 13, 2022 #9 Share Posted October 13, 2022 I have had a US$ Visa card for years and use it for cruising. I don't let the cruise line use their exchange rate. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sunviking90 Posted October 14, 2022 #10 Share Posted October 14, 2022 We always leave our onboard account in USD and let our Cc do the conversion. I’ve never had a problem with the cruise line not following our wishes. As another point, we have an upcoming Princess cruise coming up and I have prepaid our tips and purchased onboard credit for what I roughly think our expenses will be. Ahead of time like this, I’m charged in CAD and the conversion is only 1.25. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunner22a Posted November 25, 2022 #11 Share Posted November 25, 2022 Always pay in US dollars. The exchange rate cruise companies charge is way higher than your bank or CC company will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted November 27, 2022 #12 Share Posted November 27, 2022 HAL is charging CND $1.30 for the exchange right now, up from $1.24 A good deal for Canadians to prepay some items like gratuities, specialty dining, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted November 27, 2022 #13 Share Posted November 27, 2022 30 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said: HAL is charging CND $1.30 for the exchange right now, up from $1.24 A good deal for Canadians to prepay some items like gratuities, specialty dining, etc. I wouldn't say that paying $1.30 CAD for $1.00 USD is a good deal, especially as the price has increased from $1.24 CAD. The only way that paying $1.30 CAD is a good deal is if you assume that the Canadian dollar is going to continue to decline in value and the cost of buying USD is going to rise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilvertoGold Posted November 28, 2022 #14 Share Posted November 28, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, Fouremco said: I wouldn't say that paying $1.30 CAD for $1.00 USD is a good deal, especially as the price has increased from $1.24 CAD. The only way that paying $1.30 CAD is a good deal is if you assume that the Canadian dollar is going to continue to decline in value and the cost of buying USD is going to rise. I would have to pay $1.365 right now, at the bank for USD. Did not mean to compare the rates, just that HAL has had a very low rate lately. Edited November 28, 2022 by SilvertoGold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senga Posted November 28, 2022 #15 Share Posted November 28, 2022 I remember the "good old days" when Canadian was worth MORE than U.S. This is going back about 16 years. I bought a few thousand for deposit to our U.S. dollar account and we are now down to our last $600. It was great while it lasted! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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