Canadians booking online ?

[Loulounic]

Ready to book online either thru US travel agency or directly with Celebrity. From my research I notice that online US travel agencies seem to offer much better deals than Canadian ones (many offer OBC, or other credits which reduce pricing a lot). Also noticed Celebrity is using a very high currency rate presently which translates in much higher price when charged in CAD funds (compared to US funds).

 

Before going ahead with my reservation, am wondering if Canadians could comment as to their experience when using US travel agencies to book online and pay in US funds ?

[thedog01]

We've booked on Celebrity's website, but in Canadian dollars to take advantage of their generous exchange rate. Considering where the dollar is these days, you need to decide if you want to take the risk that it'll drop before your final payment is due. If you are paying in USD, then your effective price will go up.

 

We've never booked on-line with a US agency.

 

Good Luck!

[C 2 C]

I have booked many cruises directly through Celebrity both in CAD and US$ using an US$ credit card. You can book in US funds and pay your CAD credit card company for the exchange normally about 2% or get a US$ card.

 

The exchange rate in US to CAD varies from 1% to 20% without rhyme or reason. I transfer our bookings to on line agencies to get the bonus offered, normally about 10% of the cruise fare.

[sunshine 229]

We have booked a number of cruises through US on-line agencies and have never had a problem. As far as exchange goes we pay with a Canadian credit card and let the credit card company do the exchange... might not be the absolute best rate but it works for us.

 

Of course, we have to pay the deposit right when we book but as far as final payment goes, we watch the exchnage rates and call up the TA and have them do final payment whenever we think the rates are looking good. Of course, if we reach final payment date without having gone through a favourable exchange rate point, we have to pay then whether the rates are where we want or not.

 

Overall, we have been fairly satisfied with how things have gone. As I have heard, the one downside to making a Canadian booking through a US TA is that if the TA or the cruise company were to go belly up before your cruise, you would not be eligable for the protection offered by those industry sponsored bodies like TICO in Ontario, which will step in and help reinburse travellers in situations like that.

 

For us, the convienience and good deals offered by some of the on line agencies make up for that protection factor - but then we've never yet been in a situation where we needed that protection, one experience where we lose out cruise investment and we might feel different, it is a bit of a gamble but hey, we don't spend much time in the casino so maybe this is our form of gambling. ;)

[Loulounic]

Never considered applying for a US credit card ? Is it worthwhile ? Can you apply online ?

[Loulounic]

Thanks for the info and your warning - will take into consideration.

[Bodger]

Never considered applying for a US credit card ? Is it worthwhile ? Can you apply online ?

 

You may find this information of value from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada:

http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/publications/creditcardsyou/pdfs/usdollar-eng.pdf

 

The charts show who issues cards and the costs.

 

Bodger

[disneyfolks]

We have tried booking with US travel agents, but got a very stern warning regarding travel insurance. Seems that you cannot get coverage that is enforceable from a US travel agent, nor can you get complete comprehensive coverage from any insurance company in Canada unless you book with a Canadian travel agent.

 

We found the best of two worlds with our current travel agent, it is a major North American agency with offices across Canada. They will provide cruises in Canadian or US funds, whichever is the better rate at the time you book. Also, should you need assistance with things like lost luggage, changes in flights, that sort of thing they are extremely responsive and helpful.

[Bodger]

 

Overall, we have been fairly satisfied with how things have gone. As I have heard, the one downside to making a Canadian booking through a US TA is that if the TA or the cruise company were to go belly up before your cruise, you would not be eligable for the protection offered by those industry sponsored bodies like TICO in Ontario, which will step in and help reinburse travellers in situations like that.

 

Wander over to the HAL board and read about the poor lady who is having grief with a TA that has not submitted her $8000 payment to HAL. That may alter your thinking.

 

I am glad to know that TICO is protecting my funds.

 

Bodger

[Cruise Junky]

We always book through a US TA. Never had an issue and if my credit card payment is not showing as a hold on my card payable to the cruise line within 20 minutes, someone's getting a call.

[iancal]

We never buy cruise insurance from a TA, especially on on line TA. We always buy primary insurance directly from the Canadian insurance company- on line. Much chearper and MUCH better coverage. Just booked on the Equinox. We booked in Canada (every other cruise in the past has been booked thru US on line TA's). The USD price and the CAD price were with thirty dollars of each other because of the current rate set by Celebrity which meant, when adjusted for currency, the CAD price was about 12 percent less. Our Canadian TA also gave us an extra USD on board credit. In the end using a Canadian TA, much to our surprise and pleasure, gave us by far the best price.

[Loulounic]

We never buy cruise insurance from a TA, especially on on line TA. We always buy primary insurance directly from the Canadian insurance company- on line. Much chearper and MUCH better coverage. Just booked on the Equinox. We booked in Canada (every other cruise in the past has been booked thru US on line TA's). The USD price and the CAD price were with thirty dollars of each other because of the current rate set by Celebrity which meant, when adjusted for currency, the CAD price was about 12 percent less. Our Canadian TA also gave us an extra USD on board credit. In the end using a Canadian TA, much to our surprise and pleasure, gave us by far the best price.

 

 

Appreciate your suggestion. Would certainly appreciate more info in an email at nicloupau@hotmail.com

[Loulounic]

Wander over to the HAL board and read about the poor lady who is having grief with a TA that has not submitted her $8000 payment to HAL. That may alter your thinking.

 

I am glad to know that TICO is protecting my funds.

 

Bodger

 

Thanks. Wow, this story cools me off a bit.

[Loulounic]

You may find this information of value from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada:

http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/publications/creditcardsyou/pdfs/usdollar-eng.pdf

 

The charts show who issues cards and the costs.

 

Bodger

 

This information is great - thanks.

[Loulounic]

We have tried booking with US travel agents, but got a very stern warning regarding travel insurance. Seems that you cannot get coverage that is enforceable from a US travel agent, nor can you get complete comprehensive coverage from any insurance company in Canada unless you book with a Canadian travel agent.

 

We found the best of two worlds with our current travel agent, it is a major North American agency with offices across Canada. They will provide cruises in Canadian or US funds, whichever is the better rate at the time you book. Also, should you need assistance with things like lost luggage, changes in flights, that sort of thing they are extremely responsive and helpful.

 

Appreciate your comments. Could you send me more details in an email: nicloupau@hotmail.com

[yvrdave]

Never considered applying for a US credit card ? Is it worthwhile ? Can you apply online ?

 

You can get a USD Mosaik Credit Card from the BMO with no service fees.

 

www3.bmo.com/mosaik/usd?FW=BOC

[Breezey]

We booked through an American TA relative when the Canadian dollar was so much better then the US. But two issues. By the time we had to pay our balance Canadian dollar was down again. Having said that, when we checked the Celebrity site in Canadian funds we really didnt end up with a great savings by booking through the US.

 

Also when I tried to book a specialty dining room reservation for 4, we couldnt do it on line since we paid in US funds and our friends paid in Canadian funds. Pretty dumb. I even called their customer service and was advised they couldnt link our two reservations because of the difference funds.

 

I wouldnt do it again unless there was a significant difference in price.

[grammagrace]

I always book with US companies, and have never had a problem... Why don't you try the site *************.com. It is an interesting site and you get several quotes for several agencies. I just booked a cruise with them and got an on board credit for $225 US. I always book with them and have had excellent service.

cruise compete . com

[sunlovermtl]

Ready to book online either thru US travel agency or directly with Celebrity. From my research I notice that online US travel agencies seem to offer much better deals than Canadian ones (many offer OBC, or other credits which reduce pricing a lot). Also noticed Celebrity is using a very high currency rate presently which translates in much higher price when charged in CAD funds (compared to US funds).

 

Before going ahead with my reservation, am wondering if Canadians could comment as to their experience when using US travel agencies to book online and pay in US funds ?

 

We always look at both US and Canadian sites. Especially Celebrity directly. Then we take the best price and go to our TA. They always match the price and I get airmiles our of it. We always pay in Canadian funds because they seem to have good rates. Our onboard account however we pay in us funds (but make sure they know this upfront) usually the rate is not advantageous in Canadian. But if it is then Canadian funds it is. Celebrity does have resident rates which are very advantageous (however not for all provinces). For our upcoming cruise the resident rate gave us an advantage of $ 1600.00 vs the standard pricing. We were also able to get a Celebrity suite (which is huge and has the quietest bedroom we have ever had) for only $ 200.00 more than the standard balcony room. So do your research and you are bound to fine a great deal.

 

Happy sailing

Claudette

[dmk]

I have booked in both USD and CAD. We were unlucky in the last cruise that we booked in USD. At the time of final payment, the CAD dropped to 78cents against the USD. We ended up paying a few thousand dollars than we had anticipated. So now, eventhough the OBC from US TA's are tempting, we will book in CAD.

On some cruises the CAD is about the same as the USD. For example, we booked a cruise on the Solstice, 7 day, March 14, 1A cat. It is 1339USD and 1349CAD.

As far as insurance, I use Access America. It is less expensive than Canadian insurance companies. They seem fine but then again I've never had to make a claim. And come to think of it, I've never had to make a claim from a Canadian insurance either. So who knows?

[Loulounic]

I have booked in both USD and CAD. We were unlucky in the last cruise that we booked in USD. At the time of final payment, the CAD dropped to 78cents against the USD. We ended up paying a few thousand dollars than we had anticipated. So now, eventhough the OBC from US TA's are tempting, we will book in CAD.

 

On some cruises the CAD is about the same as the USD. For example, we booked a cruise on the Solstice, 7 day, March 14, 1A cat. It is 1339USD and 1349CAD.

 

As far as insurance, I use Access America. It is less expensive than Canadian insurance companies. They seem fine but then again I've never had to make a claim. And come to think of it, I've never had to make a claim from a Canadian insurance either. So who knows?

 

You are right - just checked Celebrity online and they are still offering this cruise with a CAD rate almost at par. Never thought Celebrity could use a different conversion rate depending on ship and/or departure ? Guess Canadians need to check on prices every day to make sure we get at least a competitive rate, cause for the May/June cruise we are considering, the present rate is way over what it should be.

[scottbee]

You can get a USD Mosaik Credit Card from the BMO with no service fees.

 

www3.bmo.com/mosaik/usd?FW=BOC

 

Bank of America Alaska Air VISA card... Every year you get a $50 companion cert (one ticket any fare, 2nd ticket 50$). makes getting to your cruise port a nearly 1/2 price proposition

[YYC F/A]

Ultimately everyone has to decide what is important to them.

 

Most good cruise specialist agencies in Canada like the one I work for offer various benefits, some offer OBC, some offer reduced rate air, some offer special pricing via groups they have etc. Most will also offer the opportunity to book in either USD or in CAD at your preference - something the US online agencies cannot offer you. Certain Canadian Resident targetted promos can only be booked in Canada and not via US agencies.

 

Ultimately though, you have to decide whether it is worth it to get say $100 more OBC by booking online in the US than you would get through a local agency in Canada. Some things to consider are:

 

 

• CAD vs USD. There are many cruises where the CAD rates are only a few dollars more than in USD so with 15% exchange right now plus credit card conversion fees - it can be quite significantly cheaper to book in CAD when you do the total math. the 2 or 3% your card issuer charges over regular Forex rates and for their conversion - on a cruise purchase that could easily eat away at that extra $100 or so credit
  
• Consumer protection. As others have mentioned, whether it is TICO in Ontario, or the BC registrar, or even just Canadian consumer protection laws (remember the fuel surcharge and how it was not enforceable retroactively in Canada?)... do you know the laws of the state where the US online agency is registered?
  
• Agency practices/financial standing. Does your US online agency charge your card and then at a later date send money to the cruiseline. If so, what happens if they run into finanical difficulties? There was a large US online agency that folded just a few months ago - yet people so quickly forget it seems!!! Most consumers were lucky in that instance as many of the cruiselines absorbed the monies paid by the customer but not remitted by the agency. The cruiselines won't do this forever though, and some consumers did still lose out significant sums of money.
  
• Supporting local Canadian jobs and businesses. Again, some people don't give a rats tail and would happily take even a $50 extra credit via booking in the US - but don't forget that when you support a Canadian owned and operated business, you are helping your home town economy, jobs, and money that goes back into YOUR local economy from that agency, through taxes, through spending etc.
  

Just some thoughts to consider when adding it all up.

 

I have not got into the greater debate about the change fees, cancel fees or service fees that many online agencies charge that are buried in the fine print.

[Cruise Junky]

Consumer protection. As others have mentioned, whether it is TICO in Ontario, or the BC registrar, or even just Canadian consumer protection laws (remember the fuel surcharge and how it was not enforceable retroactively in Canada?)... do you know the laws of the state where the US online agency is registered?

 

The fuel surcharge was based on where the client lived, not the TA. We had our fuel surcharge dropped immediately and didn't have to wait until the cruiselines changed their mind.

[grammagrace]

Quoted above:

Supporting local Canadian jobs and businesses. Again, some people don't give a rats tail and would happily take even a $50 extra credit via booking in the US - but don't forget that when you support a Canadian owned and operated business, you are helping your home town economy, jobs, and money that goes back into YOUR local economy from that agency, through taxes, through spending etc.

 

 

In today's economy you have to go with the best price whether it be American Dollars or Canadian Dollars

Well I saved $300.00 on my booking with a US internet based cruise company and on top of that received a $225.00 US on board credit.

I did take that to a travel agency in Canada and they said book with them. They couldn't even come close to matching or even offering something half way decent incentives.

I am an ex travel agent to so I do know how to book. However I always purchase my own air, and I also purchase my travel insurance in Canada.

 

It is fine to say help the Canadian Economy, but travel agents in Canada do not offer zilch. I was once one and the agency has strict rules to follow.

 

My advice is for people to book for the best price. Deals are out there.