Canadians - Current Exchange Rate?

[Freckles_51]

Yes, I understand that. What I meant is that the dollar will rise above 1.19 and I will be locked in at a less favourable rate. Its always a gamble!

 

Today's rate is 1.30 and it has been hovering at that (and a bit higher) for quite some time. Add 2.5% that a credit card company might typically add for exchanging foreign funds if you were to pay in USD. Anything you pre-purchase prior to your cruise will be at 1.19 such as excursions, prepaid DSC etc. My guess is that you will still be good with that rate. Yes it's a gamble but I would take that chance :)

[lor74]

When I had booked my cruise last month, the rate was 1.19. My rate for pre purchases and obc however was 1.11. I ended up buying $1100, and was more than happy to pay the 3% charge to cash it out!!!!

[ilovetotravel1977]

When I had booked my cruise last month, the rate was 1.19. My rate for pre purchases and obc however was 1.11. I ended up buying $1100, and was more than happy to pay the 3% charge to cash it out!!!!

 

How did you have two different rates?

[lor74]

Don't know, but it made me quite happy

[SMSACE6]

Once you have a confirmed booking, final payment will be the rate you booked minus the deposit made. Any onboard credit purchased for your cruise will also be at the exchange rate you got at time of booking. So if your rate wa $1.19 at booking that is the rate you will pay going on forward.

 

Thank you, I was wondering about that:)

[sartoken]

"You haven't been unfairly treated. You didn't ask for a perk and apparently your PCC didn't know to mention it. Not an error, just an unfortunate circumstance".

 

Kingmaker_Inc.- Unfortunately, I'm not as smart, wise and experienced as you are. I'm just a retired, senior from Western Canada who would like to be treated fairly and honestly when making a purchase. I don't think that I should, or have to know all of the tricks, or exactly what to ask. An honest representative should have explained all of the options to me when she knew that I was a Canadian. Buyer beware, or pay the consequences. Is that the right way?

[soccersharon]

"You haven't been unfairly treated. You didn't ask for a perk and apparently your PCC didn't know to mention it. Not an error, just an unfortunate circumstance".

 

Kingmaker_Inc.- Unfortunately, I'm not as smart, wise and experienced as you are. I'm just a retired, senior from Western Canada who would like to be treated fairly and honestly when making a purchase. I don't think that I should, or have to know all of the tricks, or exactly what to ask. An honest representative should have explained all of the options to me when she knew that I was a Canadian. Buyer beware, or pay the consequences. Is that the right way?

 

 

It really is shameful that the PCC didn't offer to book your cruise in Canadian funds. Had I not read it here, I would not have know that NCL offers this, so I'm sure many people are not aware.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise all the same :)

[SMSACE6]

I must also add to my previous post, that two or three months ago, I booked the Getaway for next year, and called the same 1 800 number. At that time I was not offered any incentive on the dollar exchange rate, and did not know that it was a possibility either. I ended up cancelling it a few days later, because I thought I might not be able to go at that time.

 

Fast forward to last week, I decided to book again, and noticed an excellent rate on the Escape for the same time frame. I still did not know that NCL gave this preferable exchange rate, but when I called, the gentleman who I booked with picked up right away that I was calling from Canada and quoted me everything in CAD dollars, and told me the rate of exchange was 1.14. That sounded pretty good to me:D

 

Cruise Critic is a good place to learn this little bits and pieces of info:)

[burm]

If you use a PCC, you are speaking to an American in the US. They deal with US currency as the basis of all transactions - for anyone from any country. You have to ask for the Canadian rate.

 

You haven't been unfairly treated. You didn't ask for a perk and apparently your PCC didn't know to mention it. Not an error, just an unfortunate circumstance.

 

 

 

A very large percentage of NCL's customers are Canadian, and a new rep could not make it through one single day at work without dealing with one.

 

Not all cruiselines give their customers the option of paying in Canadian, but NCL does, so the choice of currencies should be offered as soon as they learn our nationality. Usually they do. A rep who does not is negligent. The conversion rate is not up to the discretion of the rep, so they must either book or make a false booking to see what rate comes up.

 

While their conversion rate at the moment is a huge perk for us, we cannot assume that this will always be the case. If they only change the rate every 3 months,you could get a poor rate. Before booking, check with your credit card company to see what they would charge you to convert from US.

Then you can make an informed decision.

[#55worktoplay]

I am new to Norwegian so not sure how this all works. I have received a free cruise certificate from a casino (of course it's not really free)...I do have to pay taxes and fees. Can I book this free cruise using Canadian rates?

[mexico8]

I am new to Norwegian so not sure how this all works. I have received a free cruise certificate from a casino (of course it's not really free)...I do have to pay taxes and fees. Can I book this free cruise using Canadian rates?

 

I don't know how it works for free cruises from a casino. To get the Canadian rate you do have to book with a Canadian TA or with NCL directly. If I were you I would call NCL and ask them.

 

Wendy

[jmae2002]

So I booked 3 cruises back in May at the same time. Based on this thread - I went and checked the exchange rate (compared costs for $100 OBC for each cruise. This is what I have:

 

1st = November 2015 (exchange rate 1.11)

2nd = April 2016 (exchange rate 1.19)

3rd = October 2016 (exchange rate 1.07).

 

Very confusing - I can't make sense of this at all!

[jmae2002]

Can anyone confirm with absolutely certainty that on the Gem you can exchange OBC for cash at the casion (with 3% fee). The agent I spoke to on the phone said no, but that is not what I am hearing here.

 

We are considering not bring USD with us (maybe just a nominal amount) and then getting the cash that we required out at the casino using our OBC. I just want to be absolutely sure before showing up without cash ;) its such a huge savings with the exchange rate right now (we would save 20%).

[sinclaj]

Jmae2002,

 

I can state with absolute certainty that I did that two weeks ago on the Jewel. They really don't care whether you buy OBC or just charge it to your onboard account. The fact is, that generally, you play in the casino with cash, and they are happy to provide you with cash.

 

I had pre-purchased obc (be sure to print out your confirmations for each purchase just in case - although I had no problems and by day two, all my purchases showed).

 

When I wanted cash, I went to the casino cashier with my sign and sale card and asked for $XXX.XX to be charged to my account. She told me that there was a 3% charge and I said I was aware. They have you sign in a couple of places and give you a slip for your records and then ask how you want the cash. Then they say "good luck". That's it. One time I did stay and play a little. The other time I just took my cash and left. It shows up on your account as $XXX.XX - casino and then $XX.XX transaction fee as a separate charge.

 

It helped out a lot with the Can- US exchange rate for us.

 

Hope this helps.

Judy

[burm]

So I booked 3 cruises back in May at the same time. Based on this thread - I went and checked the exchange rate (compared costs for $100 OBC for each cruise. This is what I have:

 

1st = November 2015 (exchange rate 1.11)

2nd = April 2016 (exchange rate 1.19)

3rd = October 2016 (exchange rate 1.07).

 

Very confusing - I can't make sense of this at all!

 

It is very interesting to know that you got 3 different rates while booking at the same time.

 

Obviously, the rates are based on various factors. Do they need to offer extra incentives for certain cruises? Where are the financial analysts expecting the dollar to be in April or October of next year?

 

Oceania, now owned by NCL is doing things differently. You cannot pay in Canadian funds so they offer discounts to Canadians on some cruises.

 

Does anyone actually know what percentage of cruisers are Canadian? The number has to very high, especially for winter months. The only statistics I could find referred to numbers of "North American" passengers.

[ilovetotravel1977]

So I booked 3 cruises back in May at the same time. Based on this thread - I went and checked the exchange rate (compared costs for $100 OBC for each cruise. This is what I have:

 

1st = November 2015 (exchange rate 1.11)

2nd = April 2016 (exchange rate 1.19)

3rd = October 2016 (exchange rate 1.07).

 

Very confusing - I can't make sense of this at all!

 

I also booked our April 2016 cruise in May and received the 1.19 rate.

[prairiedawn1946]

I am new to Norwegian so not sure how this all works. I have received a free cruise certificate from a casino (of course it's not really free)...I do have to pay taxes and fees. Can I book this free cruise using Canadian rates?

 

We won a 7 day cruise ($1000 cruise certificate ) on our last cruise an booked a 14 day cruise. Because it was a free cruise certificate I had to book thru the NCL finance department and was told I could not pay the balance in Canadian funds. I will be interested in knowing what they tell you.

[#55worktoplay]

We won a 7 day cruise ($1000 cruise certificate ) on our last cruise an booked a 14 day cruise. Because it was a free cruise certificate I had to book thru the NCL finance department and was told I could not pay the balance in Canadian funds. I will be interested in knowing what they tell you.

 

I will let you know what happens when I call to book. I hope I can but not likely, I know I couldn't pay in Canadian with royal when they were chomping me. I can hope because it would sure help..

[willise]

Does anyone know what the current exchange rate is? I'd like to book again, but the real exchange rate from the bank is just too prohibitive.

 

Thanks!

[heatheranderson13]

It saved us a lot last week. About 175$ booking with them in Canadian. Goodluck

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[stsbj]

Take a look at the exchange rate for buying Gift Cards or OBC through the gift section in my ncl. Do a mock purchase of $100 OBC and that will show you what the exchange rate is at the moment.

[ilovetotravel1977]

Take a look at the exchange rate for buying Gift Cards or OBC through the gift section in my ncl. Do a mock purchase of $100 OBC and that will show you what the exchange rate is at the moment.

 

It doesn't show you a rate if you are not logged in to myNCL.

 

Do a mock booking online, then call NCL and get a quote in Canadian dollars. Figure out the exchange rate with the two prices (Cdn vs. US)

 

The rate will be better than the banks.

[Love.NCL]

Does anyone know what the current exchange rate is? I'd like to book again, but the real exchange rate from the bank is just too prohibitive.

 

Thanks!

 

I called a couple weeks ago and was told they have updated the system and it is now 1.25%

[canadianeh934]

I have booked a back to back cruise through NCL and called them when I booked. They have my address and I was not offered to book the cruises in CAD at the time of booking. So after reading this thread I called and spoke to some one and basically I was told to bad so sad.

 

I still have a couple of days before final payment and I'm pissed. If I had not already paid for my flights I would cancel.

 

I would like to be also be able to buy on board credit to spend while on board and at ports if I can save on the exchange. ..the lady I talked to was clueless. I'm wondering why are not all Canadians not offered the bookings in Canadian funds and not be only giving the rate if you are informed on a forum.

[soccersharon]

I have booked a back to back cruise through NCL and called them when I booked. They have my address and I was not offered to book the cruises in CAD at the time of booking. So after reading this thread I called and spoke to some one and basically I was told to bad so sad.

 

 

 

I still have a couple of days before final payment and I'm pissed. If I had not already paid for my flights I would cancel.

 

 

 

I would like to be also be able to buy on board credit to spend while on board and at ports if I can save on the exchange. ..the lady I talked to was clueless. I'm wondering why are not all Canadians not offered the bookings in Canadian funds and not be only giving the rate if you are informed on a forum.

 

 

If you're before final payment, you should be able to cancel and rebook. Call and speak to a different rep. Good luck!