Buying a Digital Camera Onboard

[woody73]

I'll be on the Mariner of the Seas next month, and will have some extra onboard credits. I'm thinking of buying a digital camera at the onboard Photo Shop as a way of using some OBCs.

 

What camera models are currently available on RCCL? What are the prices? Any recommendations?

 

Thanks.

 

Woody

[Into the Sun]

many different brands on the Oasis last week. None of them were what my husband was looking for and he bought on in St. Thomas...only to come home and find the exact same camera that he paid $$$$$ for on line at Amazon for $70 less (with free shipping). So although it is OBC and you are looking to spend it do some homework first and compare the prices of what you might actually want and need. I think there was Cannon, Olympic, and a Fugi. different styles and types.

[setsail]

Costco and Sams club generally have better prices.

[cruise pup]

I'd cash in the obc's in the casino and pocket the money to buy the camera back home. I figured that out too late when I bought a watch with my obc's. Actually, I love the watch and probably wouldn't have treated myself to one at home so I'm not too sorry.

[truffles2]

The prices may or may not be better in St. Thomas, but they usually throw in extras like a case, extra battery, etc. and sometimes they have the newest models. However, the bottom line is that you should pre-shop for what you are interested in and know the prices ahead.

[vowsatsea]

I bought a Fuji waterproof camera onboard the Oasis of the Seas a few weeks ago. I had an Olympus one that was also supposed to be waterproof, but filled up with water the second day of the cruise.

 

Like someone else said, it is about $20 cheaper in Best Buy in my hometown, but I did not pay tax, which would've tacked on $16 right there. Plus, it came with a case, a floating strap (that I paid $20 for in Best Buy for my Olympus camera), and a 4GB SD card. So, even though the price may seem high at first, if you're getting a lot of extras and you figure out what tax would add on back home, a lot of the times it is a good deal. Although it was $20 higher onboard, with all the extras and not having to pay tax, I figure I saved about $50 overall.

[cruise pup]

Here's an idea. Check out their stock and then use the on board internet and printing out the best price(s). Perhaps the camera shop will match it or better it or make sure to throw in extras to make their price competitive.

[Limmer]

I work in a camera store so I was nosy and went in. The prices on cameras was pretty standard to at home but I found the cases and cards to be, on average, 20% higher than I can get here. Btu no tax so it came close. No warranty for Canadians though.

[cruiseguy1016]

I work in a camera store so I was nosy and went in. The prices on cameras was pretty standard to at home but I found the cases and cards to be, on average, 20% higher than I can get here. Btu no tax so it came close. No warranty for Canadians though.

 

I have friend that is a salesman in a camera store. I was talking to him about looking to buy a camera while on a Caribbean cruise. He told me that most manufacturers will not honor the warranty in the U.S. if the camera is bought out of country.

[megr1125]

there was an assortment....Nikon, Olympus, Fuji and Canon iirc

 

I bought a lens for my DSLR in St Thomas...BUT before i did, i went to the internet place near the pier there and looked at the price at best buy and my local camera store...even on sale at HOME, i saved $85 bucks buying it in STT PLUS no tax.....

 

so you really want to make sure you're getting a good deal......IMO the camera deals on the ship didn't seem that good...

 

so maybe you could do the same thing...see what they have, and check them out on line (another way to burn a little OBC!)

[sherilyn70]

I think most are missing the point that there is an OBC to burn. Other than the idea of cashing out from the casino (which means a loss of funds) then I see no reason not to buy it on the ship if they have something that suits your needs for a price you're willing to pay. If you aren't a drinker or want to buy a lot of other things this sounds like a good way to use it up.

[truffles2]

I have friend that is a salesman in a camera store. I was talking to him about looking to buy a camera while on a Caribbean cruise. He told me that most manufacturers will not honor the warranty in the U.S. if the camera is bought out of country.

 

St. Thomas is not really "out of the country" since it is a U. S. territory. is it?

[cruisinfanatic]

I think most are missing the point that there is an OBC to burn. Other than the idea of cashing out from the casino (which means a loss of funds) then I see no reason not to buy it on the ship if they have something that suits your needs for a price you're willing to pay. If you aren't a drinker or want to buy a lot of other things this sounds like a good way to use it up.

you only lose funds if you cash out in the casino rather than guest relations. I'd shop for the camera at home, buy it and LEARN TO USE IT before you cruise. Pay the CC bill for the camera with your cashed out OBC.

[mjldvlks]

I think most are missing the point that there is an OBC to burn. Other than the idea of cashing out from the casino (which means a loss of funds) then I see no reason not to buy it on the ship if they have something that suits your needs for a price you're willing to pay. If you aren't a drinker or want to buy a lot of other things this sounds like a good way to use it up.

I caught that. If indeed OP has no other use for the OBC then buy a camera. BUT, there have been several times when I was on a ship at a time when I was very well aware of current prices and the prices on board were never competitive. Before our cruise last fall, I had just purchased a new camera from Amazon and they had the same camera available on board. If I recall correctly, it was about $100 more on board. I agree with others who have said make sure you know the prices of what you are looking for so you can tell if you are getting a reasonable deal or not.

 

Personally, I would find another use for the OBC. There are plenty of ways to spend money on board. Treat yourselves to a nice dinner at a specialty restaurant for example.

[MaskedTurtle]

Last year I was on the Explorer and went to check out the cameras because the one I had was a bit older, and I was loooking into getting a new one. I hadn't done my research ahead of time, so when I saw the prices, I didn't know if they were good or not. I wound up using my old one and noting the prices. It turns out the prices on the particular cameras they had onboard were pretty competitive with my local stores. Anyway, I waited for Black Friday and got a decent deal on a simple camera that included a carrying case and a 4GB memory card.

[Nukesailor]

Cameras purchased in St. Thomas, as well as the other Caribbean islands, do not come with a US warranty. They will come with an "international" warranty; however, you will not be able to get any warranty service in the US. You will have to send the camera to a service center outside the US. It does not matter that St. Thomas is part of the US, that area is considered part of Central/South America as far as sales territories go for the camera companies.

 

I do not know about the cameras in the ship's stores, but I would suspect they also wouldn't come with US warranties.

 

Art

[woody73]

Hi, it's the OP here.

 

 

I think most are missing the point that there is an OBC to burn.

Correct, they are non-refundable OBCs from RCCL.

 

 

. . . do some homework first and compare the prices of what you might actually want and need.

Good advice. I will do that.

 

 

I'd cash in the obc's in the casino and pocket the money to buy the camera back home.

This is a good option. I will have OBCs from RCCL (non-refundable), as well as from my TA (refundable) and RCCL Visa (refundable). If I cash in some OBCs in the casino (and pay the 3% service charge), will they apply the non-refundable OBCs first?

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Thank you everyone for the input so far. Any other thoughts?

 

Woody

[rosebud1g]

I just purchased the Nikon Cool pix on Allure last month- and LOVE it!

 

I had to-since I was desperite when my Cannon broke on day

2 of the voyage. I turned on my Cannon, and the lens came out

and froze. That was it. So with formal night being that night,

I had to have a camera. I had looked at the Nikon at Walmart

before I left, because I wanted to have that "continuous" photo

feature for action. I figured it would be great for the parades

and Rita's. The employee actually talked me out of it at Walmart.

He said he liked Cannon better since he was a professional photographer.

I was actually glad I got it on the ship- I saved a lot of money

in taxes, and Michelle, who is one of the ships photographers set it up and explained all of the features. The Nikon is great and takes fantastic photos. It has 21x zoom lens and 14 megapixels.

 

Goodbye Cannon forever for me. This was the 2nd camera that

broke within 2 years time. I am very disappointed with Cannon.