Will the collapsing exchange rate effect your cruising this season?

[quote name='GUT2407']Never been hit for an OS transaction fee with Princess.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that. Given the lack of any complaints on these boards about such a fee that I thought it would not be charged! :)

Never been charged an overseas transaction fees with RCI. (Since they opened an office in Sydney).
Paid off my next cruise today, and bought OBC for my next 1/2 dozen RCI cruises.:D:D:D Edited August 27, 2015 by Aussie FF

[quote name='Aussie FF']Never been charged an overseas transaction fees with RCI. (Since they opened an office in Sydney).
Paid off my next cruise today, and bought OBC for my next 1/2 dozen RCI cruises.:D:D:D[/QUOTE]

It happened to me back when the $A1 = $US1 OBC deal was on (January?). I used my normal Westpac Mastercard and got hit with a fee despite it being in Aussie dollars and me calling the local 1800 number. I complained to Westpac about it and they said they had changed their terms and conditions to apply the fee regardless of the currency used if it was processed overseas (which this was apparently - Royal in the US). Lesson learned hence my query about Princess!

[quote name='aronde']It happened to me back when the $A1 = $US1 OBC deal was on (January?). I used my normal Westpac Mastercard and got hit with a fee despite it being in Aussie dollars and me calling the local 1800 number. I complained to Westpac about it and they said they had changed their terms and conditions to apply the fee regardless of the currency used if it was processed overseas (which this was apparently - Royal in the US). Lesson learned hence my query about Princess![/QUOTE]

I know some people have been charged the fee for P&O Au, as they processed the payments off shore. Princess and P&O AU have the same parent/operations, so it is possible, but perhaps they've changed locations, or processed separately. But I'd check with Princess AU first if it concerns you.

[quote name='happysnapper']Yea...like lots of Australians cancelling cruises on American based Cruise lines. And at the same time most of whom have in the last couple of months increased their beverage charges considerably.[/quote]

I took the free drinks option when I booked so that will help.

If the Au$ doesn't go up I'll cancell and rebook with Aussie dollars.

[quote name='Kiwi Kruzer'][SIZE="1"]You would have to be very selective with your choice of cruise. Good luck. A massive currency change could wipe out any gain in booking with overseas agents.[/SIZE][/QUOTE]

Been doing it a long time now David know the pitfalls ;) we aren't overly selective we pick what fits into our travel plans we know how much we want to pay and watch like hawks ... the only thing it costs us in the planning stages is time .... and $1US for a price watch on the cruise ...

Can i ask why is the size of your text sooooooo small...

[quote name='badgerbill']Been doing it a long time now David know the pitfalls ;) we aren't overly selective we pick what fits into our travel plans we know how much we want to pay and watch like hawks ... the only thing it costs us in the planning stages is time .... and $1US for a price watch on the cruise ...

Can i ask why is the size of your text sooooooo small...[/QUOTE]
Yes? why is the font so small :)

We also subscribe to the $1 alert thing, so we can fish for history as well on prices and price moves. Even though we are booking on the aussie site we find that price changes in US$ often flow through to the aussie. Even though we can't get some of the price matches that US customers are able to access, we find that we can cancel for no cost outside of the penalty time frame, and we have been able to rebook with the other person doing the main booking. Say if it was booked in my name, we cancel and book on hubby's account. If there was a hassle with that we would just tell them to give the whole thing a miss. Plenty of cruises around.

The price alert gives you notice sometimes that a sale is on, for example that the BOGOHO sale was on, as prices dropped 25% when they averaged out.

Hi,
I'm off on Nov 1 on a RC cruise to the Caribbean, leaving from New York. I'm booked & have paid up for most shore trips I wish to do, Broadway shows etc. Hadn't paid for my drinks package and was shocked to see the $AUS62 a day price had now risen to $AUS79 A DAY which I'm assuming is because of the drop in exchange rates. We've decided to monitor between now and next 2 months, hoping the package price will drop again in price.
Questions: Is it better/cheaper to get it once on board?
Will the price come down if our $ goes up?
Or, does RC just vary their prices on a whim and it has nothing to do with the exchange rate?
Thanks for your advice!
Robyn

[quote name='robynla']Hi,

I'm off on Nov 1 on a RC cruise to the Caribbean, leaving from New York. I'm booked & have paid up for most shore trips I wish to do, Broadway shows etc. Hadn't paid for my drinks package and was shocked to see the $AUS62 a day price had now risen to $AUS79 A DAY which I'm assuming is because of the drop in exchange rates. We've decided to monitor between now and next 2 months, hoping the package price will drop again in price.

Questions: Is it better/cheaper to get it once on board?

Will the price come down if our $ goes up?

Or, does RC just vary their prices on a whim and it has nothing to do with the exchange rate?

Thanks for your advice!

Robyn[/QUOTE]


Our April cruise on Royal next year first showed the Ultimate drink package at just $24AUD per day. This gradually creeped up to $28 as our $ fell but over the past couple of days it's now showing at $92AUD per person & that's without the 18% gratuity that's added to the total cost!
Sorry but I doubt very much if the price will come down but you may be offered an on-board special or you can just pay as you go!

[quote name='robynla']Hi,
Questions: Is it better/cheaper to get it once on board?
Will the price come down if our $ goes up?
Or, does RC just vary their prices on a whim and it has nothing to do with the exchange rate?
Thanks for your advice!
Robyn[/QUOTE]

Might be worth asking on your roll call what the US passengers are looking at price wise in US$. You could take some US with you and pay on board in US if it works out better? Not sure at all if that helps.

The time frame would say to me the price is not likely to change if the dollar does. I would hazard a lot of experts are predicting down not up for our currency. That is why I would be tempted to get some US cash soon to buy the package.

RCI vary many things on a whim. Also on demand. If they can push it up they will! You have at least resigned yourself to there not being any logic to their pricing :)

Gae: That is an amazing example. WOW!

[quote name='robynla']Hi,
I'm off on Nov 1 on a RC cruise to the Caribbean, leaving from New York. I'm booked & have paid up for most shore trips I wish to do, Broadway shows etc. Hadn't paid for my drinks package and was shocked to see the $AUS62 a day price had now risen to $AUS79 A DAY which I'm assuming is because of the drop in exchange rates. We've decided to monitor between now and next 2 months, hoping the package price will drop again in price.
Questions: Is it better/cheaper to get it once on board?
Will the price come down if our $ goes up?
Or, does RC just vary their prices on a whim and it has nothing to do with the exchange rate?
Thanks for your advice!
Robyn[/QUOTE]

They'' change their prices when there's been a significant change in the rate, not every day.

I'd say it's unlikely there'd be a significant enough increase in that time frame to make a positive change. But you never know.

As for getting on board, last I heard the conversion was still more generous than paying the actual US dollar price. If that's the case, and you will get the package, best to get in advance. But you're best off doing the sums yourself.

Checked in the last couple of days and Premium package plus 18% gratuities on Celebrity is now equivalent to $99AUD per day!!!!! Classic not much cheaper. Will have to think twice about cruising. Australia is looking good.

[quote name='icat2000']It might effect my decision on ships sailing in and out of Australia that I use one that deals in AUD, especially if the AUD continues to drop. Its down to 0.71 today.

I cruise mainly for the destination.

But, you would have to factor in everything.[/QUOTE]

I'm paying my cruise fare off fortnightly, and squirrelling money aside for On board and Casino Credits; Photography Package, Culinary Delights (canapés to share with a friend) and souvenirs with a budgeted "flutter" on the slots.

I'm yet to book and pay for the flights and accommodation-won't be able to do that until next January and have allowed $1,200 being 4 nights accommodation in 2 separate locations; flight from my home town to State Capital; State Capital to Sydney to stay with my cousins then cruise to Melbourne; and the return flight home from Melbourne. Taxi fares all up should be about $300 which, although I have taxi vouchers that give me a substantial discount, I intend to have the cash available as I will be Interstate and not sure if the vouchers will be recognised-they are supposed to be.

[SIZE="1"]70c today:mad::mad:[/SIZE]

[quote name='Kiwi Kruzer'][SIZE=1]70c today:mad::mad:[/SIZE][/quote]
If you ring Royal & pre purchase OBC the rate they are offering is 76.9 cents. Much better than you ll get anywhere else at the moment.

[quote name='Kiwi Kruzer'][SIZE=1]70c today:mad::mad:[/SIZE][/quote]


Lowest in 6 years.:(:mad:

Rang them today and got 76c conversion rate. Got an even slightly better rate on my Celebrity cruise for next year.

This is why I love cruise critic. I have been on 16 cruises and never previously knew about adding credit before the cruise. Thanks heaps to whoever posted this first.

I have one cruise on the books booked in USD though a US TA. A 10 day Auckland to Sydney in an inside cabin on Radiance OTS in December next year. It was and still is cheaper than the OZ price and I get free grats and $100 OBC. I will just sit on it and see what the AUD and the Aussie price does. If the AUD drops more I will probably cancel and get a few more AUD in the process.

Will just evaluate the prices and cross rates across all currency as will probably be looking to book at least one big trip between April and September 2016.

[quote name='woodyren']I have one cruise on the books booked in USD though a US TA. A 10 day Auckland to Sydney in an inside cabin on Radiance OTS in December next year. It was and still is cheaper than the OZ price and I get free grats and $100 OBC. I will just sit on it and see what the AUD and the Aussie price does. If the AUD drops more I will probably cancel and get a few more AUD in the process.

Will just evaluate the prices and cross rates across all currency as will probably be looking to book at least one big trip between April and September 2016.[/QUOTE]

My guess is that the dollar will dip to 68 then settle at about 74. Will still be cruising:)

This was posted on the news.Com.au website yesterday and they say the dollar could soon slip below 60 us cents.

[url]http://mobile.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-dollar-tipped-to-fall-below-60-cents/story-fnu2pwk8-1227508056671[/url]

[quote name='relic63']Rang them today and got 76c conversion rate. Got an even slightly better rate on my Celebrity cruise for next year.

This is why I love cruise critic. I have been on 16 cruises and never previously knew about adding credit before the cruise. Thanks heaps to whoever posted this first.[/QUOTE]

Total newbie here so a couple of questions please.
Is the 76c conversion applicable to Celebrity too? (I rang them today about my booking and got hmm Carnival or RCI).
If you buy an OBC and don't use it all do you get your money back?
If so how and at what conversion rates?

As I said very new to this so any advice is greatly appreciated.

[quote name='shrekaus']Total newbie here so a couple of questions please.
Is the 76c conversion applicable to Celebrity too? (I rang them today about my booking and got hmm Carnival or RCI).
If you buy an OBC and don't use it all do you get your money back?
If so how and at what conversion rates?

As I said very new to this so any advice is greatly appreciated.[/quote]

I don't know what the rate is for Celebrity, sorry. Yes you do get back any unused OBC. At the end of the cruise you go to guest services & they refund in either cash or return it to your credit card (your choice). Obviously if you choose the cash option you get back US dollars, so no exchange rate, but I'm unsure what rate it would be if you have it refunded to your credit card.

[quote name='bigdavefc']This was posted on the news.Com.au website yesterday and they say the dollar could soon slip below 60 us cents.

[URL]http://mobile.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-dollar-tipped-to-fall-below-60-cents/story-fnu2pwk8-1227508056671[/URL][/quote]

I agree with the conclusion, which is often unsaid.

“This fall in the currency is having an enormous effect on the competitiveness of the economy,” Mr Boyton said.
“Unfortunately, it makes us more competitive by making us poorer, as opposed to productivity, which makes us competitive without making us poorer at the same time.”'

Thanks, government.

I know one businessman (you would too if I used his name) who makes a fortune when the $ moves who is saying 50c.

[quote name='The_Big_M']I agree with the conclusion, which is often unsaid.

“This fall in the currency is having an enormous effect on the competitiveness of the economy,” Mr Boyton said.
“Unfortunately, it makes us more competitive by making us poorer, as opposed to productivity, which makes us competitive without making us poorer at the same time.”'

Thanks, government.[/QUOTE]

It really has little to do with this Government or any other. It has been to 50C US before this!!

We 23 million Aussies are little more than fleas on a dog's back -- along with another 7000 million other fleas. The total amount of AU currency in the World is miniscule compared to the total of all currencies - just flotsam and jetson on the tide!! :)