Canadian cruisers!!

I think you might have misunderstood what I meant. If you buy OBCs, and you have your account set up as cash (i.e. don't give a credit card at check in), you should be able to withdraw the money from the casino without being charged 5%. You can use it at ports, casino, bring it home, etc etc.

 

In the previous post, I just meant you did not have to set your account up as cash. For instance if you knew you were spending all the OBC on board or you don't mind paying 5% to get your own money back from the casino.

 

We have $300 OBC from myvegas and bought another $1500. We might buy more as well. We are both getting a drink package and will be using it in casino and for spending money at the ports. If there is any balance left, we will bring it home & deposit it in our US account at CIBC.

So you mean it would be set up as 'credit card' or 'cash' (but not both)? And if cash, then you can withdraw USD for costs outside of the ship while in port?

Is there any limit to how much you can cash out at Guest Services on the final day?

I am thinking this is an easy way to make money. Buy a lot of USD at a 10% exchange, and just cash it all out at the end of the cruise.

Is there any limit to how much you can cash out at Guest Services on the final day?

I am thinking this is an easy way to make money. Buy a lot of USD at a 10% exchange, and just cash it all out at the end of the cruise.

I think that people who are purchasing it to "make money" and not spending it on the ship are going to cause limits to be placed or rates to skyrocket very soon.

quickie - if the OBC is in my name/Folio and I have money left, but there are charges in a linked Folio (ie: my wife's) [both Folios' backed by same credit card], then will her charges come out of OBC before it hits the credit card?

quickie - if the OBC is in my name/Folio and I have money left, but there are charges in a linked Folio (ie: my wife's) [both Folios' backed by same credit card], then will her charges come out of OBC before it hits the credit card?

Yes, if both folios are linked, the the OBC will apply to charges in both folios.

What really happens is that if you are the primary guest and your wife's folio is linked to yours, then every charge your wife makes gets swept into your folio automatically. So all you will see in your wife's onboard account is a series of debits followed by immediate credits. Her folio will always have a zero balance.

Yes, if both folios are linked, the the OBC will apply to charges in both folios.

 

What really happens is that if you are the primary guest and your wife's folio is linked to yours, then every charge your wife makes gets swept into your folio automatically. So all you will see in your wife's onboard account is a series of debits followed by immediate credits. Her folio will always have a zero balance.

Thanks! I remember seeing it, just couldn't remember if it was Royal :)

What people have said about the agents being inconsistent is totally true. I called one agent just then and they let me buy 500USD.

I called again and the second agent only let me by $500USD

I called the 3rd time and the agent let me buy $1000 (because I wanted $2000 for the cruise) and then she let me buy another $2000 for another cruise I have booked.

Error. Sorry

So you mean it would be set up as 'credit card' or 'cash' (but not both)? And if cash, then you can withdraw USD for costs outside of the ship while in port?

Correct. Also, what many people do is after you have withdrawn the OBC, stop at guest services to leave a credit card # on file in case you end up charging anything on the last night.

First, thank you Son3cruisers for posting this up! Also thanks to everyone else for providing the additional info and your personal experiences.

I've currently only purchased $499 USD for $548.90 CDN (told it was the max) but plan to purchase more.

Does anyone have a link to some official documentation regarding the fees being charged at the casino? It would be nice to have something to show the cashier if I have a problem withdrawing cash at the casino.

Thanks!

First, thank you Son3cruisers for posting this up! Also thanks to everyone else for providing the additional info and your personal experiences.

 

I've currently only purchased $499 USD for $548.90 CDN (told it was the max) but plan to purchase more.

 

Does anyone have a link to some official documentation regarding the fees being charged at the casino? It would be nice to have something to show the cashier if I have a problem withdrawing cash at the casino.

 

Thanks!

There is nothing official on this. It has been reported that there were a couple ships not allowing this. On some ships you may have to reminded them that there should be no fee if you have a cash account set up.

Again Royal is doing exceedingly well at its inconsistencies in policies between ships.

The CAS employee I dealt with today asked how much I'd like to buy and I in turn asked her how much she'd let me buy, at which she laughed. She explained that they are in the process of implementing new policy that will allow a maximum $499 initial purchase but any higher amount or subsequent purchase would require a fax. I just purchased the $499 for now, but will buy more over the next couple of days.

There is nothing official on this. It has been reported that there were a couple ships not allowing this. On some ships you may have to reminded them that there should be no fee if you have a cash account set up.

 

Again Royal is doing exceedingly well at its inconsistencies in policies between ships.

Ok thanks. I did search the RCI site with Google, but didn't find much information about money exchange at the casino. Definitely nothing about any 3%/5% fees.

Doesn't really surprise me. Hopefully we won't have any issues.

Thank you cruising friends for this tip! It will end up saving us around $200!

We are back off the Jewel, just two weeks now :( wahhhh....

We bought a fair bit of OBC beforehand and set up our account as a cash account. We had absolutely no problems at all. I was a bit nervous too since we just had the confirmations that said the Canadian amount, not U.S. And when we get to our cabin there wasn't any documentation lying around about our OBC at all (some people have said they received that).

We waited until I think the 3rd night to go to casino and get some cash. At first they said to me, "oh and a 5 % charge for that." But when I said I had a cash account, that was the end of it. Never came up again after that - we went a couple more times to take cash out. We went to customer service before dinner on the last night and settled up, receiving cash that was owed.

Easy peasy..... thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my questions about the process :)

We are back off the Jewel, just two weeks now :( wahhhh....

 

We bought a fair bit of OBC beforehand and set up our account as a cash account. We had absolutely no problems at all. I was a bit nervous too since we just had the confirmations that said the Canadian amount, not U.S. And when we get to our cabin there wasn't any documentation lying around about our OBC at all (some people have said they received that).

 

We waited until I think the 3rd night to go to casino and get some cash. At first they said to me, "oh and a 5 % charge for that." But when I said I had a cash account, that was the end of it. Never came up again after that - we went a couple more times to take cash out. We went to customer service before dinner on the last night and settled up, receiving cash that was owed.

 

Easy peasy..... thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my questions about the process :)

Thanks for the report. Good to know that I should keep buying! :)

We are back off the Jewel, just two weeks now :( wahhhh....

 

 

 

We bought a fair bit of OBC beforehand and set up our account as a cash account. We had absolutely no problems at all. I was a bit nervous too since we just had the confirmations that said the Canadian amount, not U.S. And when we get to our cabin there wasn't any documentation lying around about our OBC at all (some people have said they received that).

 

 

 

We waited until I think the 3rd night to go to casino and get some cash. At first they said to me, "oh and a 5 % charge for that." But when I said I had a cash account, that was the end of it. Never came up again after that - we went a couple more times to take cash out. We went to customer service before dinner on the last night and settled up, receiving cash that was owed.

 

 

 

Easy peasy..... thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my questions about the process :)

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How much were you able to take out at a time? Was there a limit

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How much were you able to take out at a time? Was there a limit

Several others have posted of a $500 withdrawal limit at the casino per day.

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How much were you able to take out at a time? Was there a limit

We just asked for $500 because I had heard that was the limit. We will definitely buy some more OBC for our upcoming cruise. Also, when we settled the account, she asked if I wanted the remainder to go back on a credit card or cash.

I bought three times already and hope I can take it all out for our second cruise on the Carnival Liberty on the 17th and to bring some home to NB afterwards...

I called the regular RCL Customer Service number twice this afternoon to ask about pre-purchasing OBC and got 2 different answers. I then called the C & A number and spoke to a very knowledgeable Rep that confirmed all the info I've read on this thread.

I purchased $250 USD OBC. There's a pending charge on my MasterCard for $275 CAD. Thanks to the OP!

We just asked for $500 because I had heard that was the limit. We will definitely buy some more OBC for our upcoming cruise. Also, when we settled the account, she asked if I wanted the remainder to go back on a credit card or cash.

I wish I had that option 2 weeks ago. I was told twice that I could only get it in cash. I asked her to verify with a manager and she said the same thing.

Ok thanks. I did search the RCI site with Google, but didn't find much information about money exchange at the casino. Definitely nothing about any 3%/5% fees.

 

Doesn't really surprise me. Hopefully we won't have any issues.

You shouldn't have any issue. When my friend went alone, they told her their was the fee so she didn't withdraw it. When I went back with her and to withdraw my own as well, I said there's no fee as I'm on a cash account correct, and she's like yes that's right. I withdrew a total of $600 over 3 visits.

Is there a Nexus line for embarking, or disembarking the ship? Thanks!

Is there a Nexus line for embarking, or disembarking the ship? Thanks!

I've not sailed with RCI yet, but I've never seen a US or Canadian port with a Nexus line when travelling on other cruise lines.