A Sixth? Posted January 19, 2013 #1 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Once again Celebrity totally ignored my checked box at boarding to leave my shipboard account being charged to my VISA in US fund so my credt card could handle the exchange. Here's what's on my VISA statement: CELEBRITY ECLIPSE CAD WEYBRIDGE, SU Why is it that they NEVER get this right?:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bestbubba Posted January 19, 2013 #2 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Once again Celebrity totally ignored my checked box at boarding to leave my shipboard account being charged to my VISA in US fund so my credt card could handle the exchange. Here's what's on my VISA statement: CELEBRITY ECLIPSE CAD WEYBRIDGE, SU Why is it that they NEVER get this right?:mad: This kept happening to us too...even when we highlighted the box with fuchsia felt tip marker!! Now we go to guest relations half way through the cruise and double check.....if we are still not convinced, a day or two before the end of the cruise we pay in cash - what a palaver!:rolleyes: Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elusive_Cruiser Posted January 19, 2013 #3 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Once again Celebrity totally ignored my checked box at boarding to leave my shipboard account being charged to my VISA in US fund so my credt card could handle the exchange. Here's what's on my VISA statement: CELEBRITY ECLIPSE CAD WEYBRIDGE, SU Why is it that they NEVER get this right?:mad: They did that to me a couple years ago - Call them!! They did an adjustment and the credit I got worked out slightly more in my favour than had they done it correctly in the first place. I gauged it based on the rate my credit card charged for the cab that same day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WpgCruise Posted January 19, 2013 #4 Share Posted January 19, 2013 This happens consistently and it matters not for us if it is HAL, Princess or Celebrity, all do it. I realized this isn't my problem, it's theirs. What I have done each time is call, speak to the rep (whose name I write down) then I Fax to the rep(well O.K. now I'm into the 21st century, I email) the Visa statement and in the covering memo confirm the conversation with the rep they are to credit me the conversion costs of their error. Each and every time they correct their error. I don't know why it is such a challenge, but now I accept it as part of the cruise experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spearmint Posted January 19, 2013 #5 Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) Yep, happened to me, too. The first time, I didn't know about it until my charge card bill came in. They took care of me when I telephoned. Now, I also go down to Guest Relations around day 2-3 to see what they have done and have it corrected. And on a back-to-back, they followed my instructions for part one, and, just on a hunch, I checked also on part 2 and they had screwed up again! :eek: Ya gotta wonder, man!:rolleyes: Edited January 19, 2013 by spearmint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruthk Posted January 19, 2013 #6 Share Posted January 19, 2013 Yep - it happens all the time!!! I have even had the celebrity clerk, at check in, initial her name next to the box and also added in my own hand writing that I am using a U.S. charge card so do not do any conversions - but they still do. So I am charged conversion rates to take the amount from U.S. to Canadian and then back to U.S. - absolutely dumb. I went to the front desk last year and asked them not to convert, but it still happened. I find the easiest thing is to keep your final bill and then put in a dispute with MasterCard and refuse to pay the bill. Let Celebrity figure it out - one year Celebrity didn't even bother to re-charge me the correct amount, they just let it go, so I paid absolutely nothing! I figure one day Celebrity will get it right! Ruthk, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow bunny Posted January 19, 2013 #7 Share Posted January 19, 2013 This is why always pay cash on our cruises! I always put $500USD on our account and top up as needed. We try to have about $100 on the account for the last day so we don't have to down and get in the line up. They will provide a refund which I then just deposit into my US dollar account when we get home!:D Snow bunny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sixth? Posted January 19, 2013 Author #8 Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) This is why always pay cash on our cruises! I always put $500USD on our account and top up as needed. We try to have about $100 on the account for the last day so we don't have to down and get in the line up. They will provide a refund which I then just deposit into my US dollar account when we get home!:D Snow bunny Thanks for the tip, but there's no way I not using my credit card. Too many pluses even when Celebrity screws up. I like Ruthk's idea, and if it happens again for a large amount I may just do what he did. I have a confession, I had so many cabin credits that my VISA billing was just under nine dollars :p:D I'm serious! Still the fact that they did the conversion still disappoints me. When it's a large charge as it is usually, it cost me some real coin. Edited January 19, 2013 by A Sixth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny01 Posted January 19, 2013 #9 Share Posted January 19, 2013 This is why always pay cash on our cruises! I always put $500USD on our account and top up as needed. We try to have about $100 on the account for the last day so we don't have to down and get in the line up. They will provide a refund which I then just deposit into my US dollar account when we get home!:D Snow bunny By the way, for us South of the Border (Canadian Border - I bet we US citizens never thought of it quite that way!), what is a US Dollar account. I assume it is a US bank in Canada that handles transactions in US currency? Neat to know that so many still like the US Dollar as we in the US do everything we can to trash it! Den Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sixth? Posted January 19, 2013 Author #10 Share Posted January 19, 2013 I assume it is a US bank in Canada that handles transactions in US currency? Neat to know that so many still like the US Dollar as we in the US do everything we can to trash it! Den No, any bank can open an account in US dollars or issue a credit card that in also based in US dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Frances Posted January 19, 2013 #11 Share Posted January 19, 2013 By the way, for us South of the Border (Canadian Border - I bet we US citizens never thought of it quite that way!), what is a US Dollar account. I assume it is a US bank in Canada that handles transactions in US currency? Neat to know that so many still like the US Dollar as we in the US do everything we can to trash it! Den With our bank (Scotiabank) we have a USD account and a Euro account. When the exchange is favourable, we just convert some CND to whichever foreign currency. There is no actual "cash" involved - its just a transaction. We also have a RBC USD Visa. For our upcoming June cruises we will just purchase TC"s in each currency and cash them on the ship as needed. Any left over;) will be redeposited. Works for us:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monicajay Posted January 19, 2013 #12 Share Posted January 19, 2013 As a Canadian we have also prefer to pay our US expenses in US dollars. Our US $ credit card is issued from a US bank and we have never had a problem although on both RCL cruises we had to visit customer service once on board and have them change it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killington Posted January 19, 2013 #13 Share Posted January 19, 2013 I am so glad I read this, I have generally operated in cash when abroad because I can look for the best rate when buying, then know exactly what everything is costing me. However I now have a credit card that does not charge conversion fees, and usually gives an excellent rate. I had intended lodging this card for our on board account, but will now have to rethink. Back to cash I guess, unless Celebrity can tell me in advance what the rate will be AND it is favourable. Not really a problem as drinks/excursions/service are all prepaid so on board spend should be very low, maybe a couple of times in Speciality Dining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucyd Posted January 20, 2013 #14 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Dynamic Currency Conversion is a new area for me. Please let me know if I have the basic concept correct - I understand that there can be differences in conversion rates between vendors/merchants and the conversion rate used by the U.S. bank issuing my credit card. In addition, the bank can also charge a fee for this conversion process. Celebrity would ordinarily convert my shipboard charges from whatever currency is connected to their company's country of registration into U.S. Dollars (in my case). Would there be a fee for this conversion? If I ask that Celebrity does not convert, then the charges will be forwarded to the U.S. bank that issues my credit card and my bank will do the conversion (with perhaps a better rate) but there may be a foreign transaction fee charged for the conversion. What currency would my shipboard charges appear in, if I do notCelebrity to covert the charges to US Dollars? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sixth? Posted January 20, 2013 Author #15 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Dynamic Currency Conversion is a new area for me. Please let me know if I have the basic concept correct - I understand that there can be differences in conversion rates between vendors/merchants and the conversion rate used by the U.S. bank issuing my credit card. In addition, the bank can also charge a fee for this conversion process. Celebrity would ordinarily convert my shipboard charges from whatever currency is connected to their company's country of registration into U.S. Dollars (in my case). Would there be a fee for this conversion? If I ask that Celebrity does not convert, then the charges will be forwarded to the U.S. bank that issues my credit card and my bank will do the conversion (with perhaps a better rate) but there may be a foreign transaction fee charged for the conversion. What currency would my shipboard charges appear in, if I do notCelebrity to covert the charges to US Dollars? Thank you. Celebrity charges are always in US dollars no matter where they sail. As an American you need worry about nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spearmint Posted January 20, 2013 #16 Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) We use a U.S. account in a Canadian bank should we need cash. But for the most part we use our Canadian Master Card because we get Air Miles for each purchase. The conversion rate is not that bad these days, especially when the American dollar is at par or even lower than the Canadian dollar. The overall conversion cost and charge card cost to us isn't that much and we get a (pun intended) a boatload of airmiles. Why? Well, we have never actually paid for the airline price to Fort Lauderdale for a single cruise. So long as Celebrity fixes their screw-up each time, especially while I am on board and not home, I can put up with it. (I can remember taking cash to Puerto Rico in Canadian funds, and having it changed to American at a local bank every second day or so...and the ration was down as low as 68 cents American for a Canadian dollar. :eek: Before I left home, I thought this might be a better way to try it. Never did that again! Stupid or what?:D) Bill Edited January 20, 2013 by spearmint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruthk Posted January 20, 2013 #17 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Bill - I get air miles on my U.S.$ BMO Master Card. I hope you know that there are two charges if you use a Canadian dollar charge card in the U.S. - one is the conversion rate which is 2.5% and the other is the foreign exchange rate which today is 1.5%. I understand the foreign exchange rate being charged, but I detest paying the 2.5% when I feel the Banks are already making enough money off us. Also, most people are not aware of the conversion rate being charged. I previously forgot to mention - and this is strange - Celebrity always screws up on the final bill as I mentioned yesterday on this thread - but never ever has screwed up on my deposit when I'm book our next cruise on board the ship. Stange that one department can get it right and another cannot!!! Ruthk, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project_gal Posted January 21, 2013 #18 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Once again Celebrity totally ignored my checked box at boarding to leave my shipboard account being charged to my VISA in US fund so my credt card could handle the exchange. Here's what's on my VISA statement: CELEBRITY ECLIPSE CAD WEYBRIDGE, SU Why is it that they NEVER get this right?:mad: Happened to us on the same cruise - but it was the first time it has happened to us so we have been lucky before now. What annoyed me more [since I have discovered that our Credit Card had the same FX charge as Celebrity!] is that we received no printed final account. Is this now normal on Celebrity? Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle 123 Posted January 21, 2013 #19 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I am so glad I read this, I have generally operated in cash when abroad because I can look for the best rate when buying, then know exactly what everything is costing me. However I now have a credit card that does not charge conversion fees, and usually gives an excellent rate. I had intended lodging this card for our on board account, but will now have to rethink. Back to cash I guess, unless Celebrity can tell me in advance what the rate will be AND it is favourable. Not really a problem as drinks/excursions/service are all prepaid so on board spend should be very low, maybe a couple of times in Speciality Dining. Celebrity will use the interbank exchange rate on the day they charge your card plus 3% fee. I also use a credit card that doesn't charge conversion fees and many times have had problems with Celebrity/RCCL converting my bill against my wishes. I have always managed to get a refund for the difference from Customer relations in the UK pretty easily. Sorry to hear this is happening again, we have been fortunate this last 2 years they have charged our card in USD as requested and not converted it. One way to double check is to ask for a print out of your account from guest relations before the end of your cruise, if there are exchange rates printed on the bottom then they are planning to convert it, if not you will be billed in USD. What annoyed me more [since I have discovered that our Credit Card had the same FX charge as Celebrity!] is that we received no printed final account. Is this now normal on Celebrity? Come to think of it Sue we didn't get a final print out on our last cruise in October, so I made a note of the total from the interactive TV on the departure morning to make sure I was charged the same amount on our credit card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyriecat Posted January 21, 2013 #20 Share Posted January 21, 2013 On Silhouette in October I didn't get a statement on the last day. I had to stand in line a guest relations to get a copy. The rep told me that they are only providing them upon request now since most people check their balance on the TV menu. I checked my balance on the TV menu while on the cruise, but I want an itemized statement when I leave. I've had problems a couple times previously with "mystery" charges (usually mini-bar items that we didn't use) showing up after I leave the ship. It's easier to dispute them if you have a copy of the statement from onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldercash Posted January 21, 2013 #21 Share Posted January 21, 2013 We are Canadians with a US fund BMO account, we had a battle with the front desk once as they charged a conversion & transaction fee on the card. They did not seem to understand that a Canadian could have a US fund Master Card from a Canada Bank. Even when we showed them the card which says US funds on it they just did not seem to comprehend it. We just paid cash as it was easier for them to process. We are fortunate as our agent usually awards pre-paid gratuities and a ship board credit. My wife loves pre-paid gratuities, she thinks she won the lottery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sixth? Posted January 21, 2013 Author #22 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Happened to us on the same cruise - but it was the first time it has happened to us so we have been lucky before now. What annoyed me more [since I have discovered that our Credit Card had the same FX charge as Celebrity!] is that we received no printed final account. Is this now normal on Celebrity? Sue We haven't got a print-out for the past few Celebrity cruises, really don't care to line up to get one... but maybe I'm going to re-think that. Checking on the TV doesn't tell me that they are going to ignore my wishes and do the exchage themselves. :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sixth? Posted January 21, 2013 Author #23 Share Posted January 21, 2013 We are fortunate as our agent usually awards pre-paid gratuities and a ship board credit. My wife loves pre-paid gratuities, she thinks she won the lottery. I almost won't book unless the TA (One listed with Cruise Critic http://www.cruisecritic.com/shipshop/ ) unless I get at least free grats... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgian fry Posted January 21, 2013 #24 Share Posted January 21, 2013 I don't believe this is an error at all. I believe it is a deliberate act. They make a profit each time someone doesn't notice or doesn't make a fuss. Thanks for the warning. I'll check my next bill very carefully! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieV Posted January 21, 2013 #25 Share Posted January 21, 2013 We just secure our account with a card to avoid any hassles, but pay it off in cash the last night. We use our casino money to take care of it. Then we don't have to worry about it. Never thought about filing a dispute! I wonder if that's why they aren't giving out printouts anymore, so that we can't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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