Canadian cruisers!!

[A&L_Ont]

Arrived home and was shovelling the snow out from the driveway still wearing shorts. Wanted to turn around and head back south.

 

It could be worse, but I wish it was better. I bet you could see the colour fade from your legs the second you crossed the border. See you over at our roll call.

[bluemeansgo]

If your SeaPass is set us as a cash account, you certainly CAN get the unused OBC (which YOU purchased) back in cash at the end of the cruise. Any OBC that you may have received from the cruiseline when you originally booked your cruise is non-refundable. You use it or you lose it!

 

 

 

Don't worry about the email stating only CAD .. we all questioned this way back when this deal first started and all of us have found we received the exact U.S. funds we purchased so no worries. :)

 

 

So if we have $2000 of purchased OBC and $200 bonus can one choose which part of the OBC to use first?

[Clarea]

So if we have $2000 of purchased OBC and $200 bonus can one choose which part of the OBC to use first?

Royal is supposed to use the non-refundable OBC first.

[RobinCruiser]

We used OBC to purchase our drink packages as we boarded on a recent 11 night cruise....the transactions as completed within 10 minutes of boarding!

There was no card swipe involved just a paper receipt given and a sticker placed on our sea pass card to identify the package we had purchased

Charges didn't show up until a few days into the cruise.

 

 

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Thanks! That's good to know because ours are going to cost approx. $1000 for four of us. Would be nice to use out OBC to cover them. We have $1200 at the moment.

[Jeeperz3]

Does anyone know when Royal Caribbean reviews theirs exchange rates? Wondering if we would be wise to buy the OBC sooner than later if they are going to change the rate.

[Ourusualbeach]

Royal updates their exchange rates quarterly and that rate is in their quarterly statements that they release. That rate is used for any cruise costs that are direct conversions from US prices, like the cruise fares themselves, drink packages, shore excursions etc.

 

They are treating the OBC as a separate entity and setting a different rate for it that does not tie to the normal exchange rates that they use. This rate has been in effect for about a year now.

 

Does anyone know when Royal Caribbean reviews theirs exchange rates? Wondering if we would be wise to buy the OBC sooner than later if they are going to change the rate.

 

See my post above.

[A&L_Ont]

Does anyone know when Royal Caribbean reviews theirs exchange rates? Wondering if we would be wise to buy the OBC sooner than later if they are going to change the rate.

 

At 10% VS the current actual 30% bank rate I'd say do it now. When it changes you will wish you did buy some. :) I have no idea when it will change but I doubt our dollar we be at 10% anytime soon.

Edited December 31, 2015 by A&L_Ont

[Canadian Tyler]

I bought a bit for our upcoming cruise. Had a funny feeling that it would change Jan 1, but then again I've thought that every month. I would have kicked myself if I missed it.

[hancogran]

I bought a bit for our upcoming cruise. Had a funny feeling that it would change Jan 1, but then again I've thought that every month. I would have kicked myself if I missed it.

 

I did the same thing.. thinking it might change January 1. Think I'll call today and add a few hundred more --just in case. ;)

 

Here's hoping this great incentive continues for many more months or until our Canadian dollar is at par.(snicker, snicker) :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Don't see that happening anytime soon though.

Edited December 31, 2015 by hancogran

[A&L_Ont]

It still appears that there is a $499 cap that you can buy per transaction. Yesterday I purchased $499 x2. One for each week of our upcoming B2B in March. I am starting to wonder about getting some now for our Harmony cruise in November of next year.

 

The agent never said anything regarding cashing out at the casino, non-refund ability, payment back to credit card etc and nor did I ask.;). They also didn't say anything about a cap to the amount you can have. For the first week we now have $1,499 and $499 for the second week. I also discovered in the emailed receipt that our TA got us a bottle of wine, as it showed up on the graphics fits and gear email.

Edited December 31, 2015 by A&L_Ont

[jtdlmc]

It still appears that there is a $499 cap that you can buy per transaction. Yesterday I purchased $499 x2. One for each week of our upcoming B2B in March. I am starting to wonder about getting some now for our Harmony cruise in November of next year.

 

.

 

 

I was able to get over $500 yesterday in one transaction with no mention of a $499 limit.

 

My friend did have an issue with getting an email confirmation though - they said he had to have his TA request that! After two additional calls he was able to get a confirmation emailed but then noticed the OBC was in his cabin mates name and when he called back about that they told him it would have to be cancelled and repurchased in 2 weeks. He just left it in her name and will switch it at Guest Services. Absolutely unbelievable - RCI really needs to train their agents properly!!!!

[hancogran]

It still appears that there is a $499 cap that you can buy per transaction. Yesterday I purchased $499 x2. One for each week of our upcoming B2B in March. I am starting to wonder about getting some now for our Harmony cruise in November of next year.

 

The agent never said anything regarding cashing out at the casino, non-refund ability, payment back to credit card etc and nor did I ask.;). They also didn't say anything about a cap to the amount you can have. For the first week we now have $1,499 and $499 for the second week. I also discovered in the emailed receipt that our TA got us a bottle of wine, as it showed up on the graphics fits and gear email.

 

I was able to purchase $500 earlier this week. Yeh..the inconsistencies again! :rolleyes: Like you, I don't even ask about anything else because if you ask five different people, you'll get five different answers. ;) Off to call again.. Happy New Year all!!

[A&L_Ont]

I was able to get over $500 yesterday in one transaction with no mention of a $499 limit.

 

My friend did have an issue with getting an email confirmation though - they said he had to have his TA request that! After two additional calls he was able to get a confirmation emailed but then noticed the OBC was in his cabin mates name and when he called back about that they told him it would have to be cancelled and repurchased in 2 weeks. He just left it in her name and will switch it at Guest Services. Absolutely unbelievable - RCI really needs to train their agents properly!!!!

 

You have the training part right in regards to dollar amounts etc but I certainly wasn't worried about the missing dollar from $499 to $500. At the end of the call the agent and I shot the breeze while he was preparing and sending the email confirmations to me. Once I received them the call was over. It is unfortunate your friend had such as pain to get theirs.

 

I will say every agent that I have had while buying OBC has been friendly, even though they each had "their own" different protocol.

[hancogran]

I have a question and wonder if anybody can answer it. We are thinking of booking a transatlantic when we are on Oasis in a few weeks. My only concern is if we book our next cruise while onboard, it will be in USD and therefore, we won't qualify for this great deal (assuming it's still in effect). Anybody experienced this?

 

It might be better just booking in CAD online. :confused:

[Ourusualbeach]

I have a question and wonder if anybody can answer it. We are thinking of booking a transatlantic when we are on Oasis in a few weeks. My only concern is if we book our next cruise while onboard, it will be in USD and therefore, we won't qualify for this great deal (assuming it's still in effect). Anybody experienced this?

 

It might be better just booking in CAD online. :confused:

 

If your Oasis cruise is booked in CDN then any booking made on board can also be made in CDN.

 

If your booking was in US$ then I would ask if it can be made in CDN$.

 

Also whrpen booking in CDN$ on board they will charge you $125 for a deposit in CDN and provide you with $100 US Instant OBC. This is for a 7 day cruise, do it appears as though they are using a 25% exchange rate on deposits.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Ourusualbeach

[hancogran]

If your Oasis cruise is booked in CDN then any booking made on board can also be made in CDN.

 

If your booking was in US$ then I would ask if it can be made in CDN$.

 

Also whrpen booking in CDN$ on board they will charge you $125 for a deposit in CDN and provide you with $100 US Instant OBC. This is for a 7 day cruise, do it appears as though they are using a 25% exchange rate on deposits.

 

:) That's great news, Ken! Thanks. Yes, our Oasis cruise is booked in CAD. I know they always charge more for deposit when booked in CAD and that's no problem! With all the inconsistencies at Royal, I'll just make darn sure my onboard booking is in Canadian funds. Happy New Year! :)

[Ourusualbeach]

:) That's great news, Ken! Thanks. Yes, our Oasis cruise is booked in CAD. I know they always charge more for deposit when booked in CAD and that's no problem! With all the inconsistencies at Royal, I'll just make darn sure my onboard booking is in Canadian funds. Happy New Year! :)

 

I have found that most of the LA's or whoever is now selling the cruises catch the fact that it is in CDN but it's best to make sure that you mention it.

 

I found that since they remodelled the next cruise space on Oasis it was easy to get an appointment. At one point they had 6 people selling cruises.

 

Be sure to book it in the first 2 or 3 days as they enter your name in a draw to win an additional $300 in OBC. Didn't win it this year even with 4 cabins booked but I won it last year on the Freedom.

 

A Happy New Year to you and everyone else as well.:)

[hancogran]

I have found that most of the LA's or whoever is now selling the cruises catch the fact that it is in CDN but it's best to make sure that you mention it.

 

I found that since they remodelled the next cruise space on Oasis it was easy to get an appointment. At one point they had 6 people selling cruises.

 

Be sure to book it in the first 2 or 3 days as they enter your name in a draw to win an additional $300 in OBC. Didn't win it this year even with 4 cabins booked but I won it last year on the Freedom.

 

A Happy New Year to you and everyone else as well.:)

 

You're just a walking book of knowledge, Ken! I didn't realize it was better to book the first two or three days of the cruise so I'll keep that in mind. That's great that you were the lucky recipient on your cruise last year ... you deserve it for all the help you provide on these boards. Thanks again. :)

Edited December 31, 2015 by hancogran

[d10k6]

Just called Gift & Gear to add $500 OBC. Call took less than 5 minutes. No talk of maximums or anything. Too easy. Total cost, $550 CDN

 

 

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[hancogran]

Just called Gift & Gear to add $500 OBC. Call took less than 5 minutes. No talk of maximums or anything. Too easy. Total cost, $550 CDN

 

 

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I did too for the same amount but I didn't get my email confirmation like I usually get so I'll have to call back. Normally, the confirmation is here immediately after calling. :confused:

[Newbcruiser1]

I did too for the same amount but I didn't get my email confirmation like I usually get so I'll have to call back. Normally, the confirmation is here immediately after calling. :confused:

 

 

They didn't send me an email the first time either! I asked the second time and they sent one showing both transactions!

[JillK]

I just got off the phone with the gifts & gear department, and although he was going to let me buy any amount at $1.10 exchange for our upcoming cruise, he said that if there was any left at the end of the cruise, it would be refunded back to the credit card it was purchased on and that cashing out wasn't a possibility. I was hoping to end up with a touch more than needed for the cruise to use for expenses on debarkation day since we have an evening flight, but at least according to the rep I just dealt with, this isn't possible.

 

Something tells me if I call again and get a different rep, I'll get a different answer.

 

Jill

[Ourusualbeach]

I just got off the phone with the gifts & gear department, and although he was going to let me buy any amount at $1.10 exchange for our upcoming cruise, he said that if there was any left at the end of the cruise, it would be refunded back to the credit card it was purchased on and that cashing out wasn't a possibility. I was hoping to end up with a touch more than needed for the cruise to use for expenses on debarkation day since we have an evening flight, but at least according to the rep I just dealt with, this isn't possible.

 

Something tells me if I call again and get a different rep, I'll get a different answer.

 

Jill

 

Better yet read of the actual on board experiences on this thread. Unfortunately the reps are not always in tune with what happens on the ship.

 

Set up a cash account to get the cash that you need from the casino and then 2 days before the end of your cruise add a credit card at guest services to make checkout easier.

[d10k6]

I did too for the same amount but I didn't get my email confirmation like I usually get so I'll have to call back. Normally, the confirmation is here immediately after calling. :confused:

 

 

I got a confirmation almost immediately.

 

 

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[JillK]

Better yet read of the actual on board experiences on this thread. Unfortunately the reps are not always in tune with what happens on the ship.

 

Set up a cash account to get the cash that you need from the casino and then 2 days before the end of your cruise add a credit card at guest services to make checkout easier.

 

Yes! I have been reading through this board, and this thread, since I booked last week. Lots to catch up on in the many years since I last sailed RCI! The experiences of others posting here is exactly what led me to believe that a different rep would have a different answer. And certainly, if I'm going to be buying sufficient money in advance to cover the incidentals, then a cash account makes a lot of sense.

 

The dollar sucks for us right now, but the last time I cruised RCI, it was around 0.64 cents. That hurt even more!

 

Many thanks!

 

Jill