RCI and OBC

[patatie]

Hi all,

 

We're cruising with RCI over summer on the Explorer of the Seas. I noticed there have been a few threads started about the falling AUD and pre-purchasing onboard credit.

 

I've never pre-purchased OBC - our onboard accounts have always been linked to our credit cards. Given that the dollar is not doing so well, I am thinking that it might be best to pre-purchase some credits.

 

I've had a look around the Royal Carribbean website, though, and can't seem to find a link as to where to purchase the onboard credit? Am I going blind? Would greatly appreciate if someone could please point me in the right direction.

 

I was also thinking of getting some money changed to USD at Australia Post (seeing as they don't charge comission) - can anyone tell me if I can board the ship and load US bills/coins onto my account? Or can I only put Australian cash onto my account? ALSO if there is money left on my account does it get refunded in USD or AUD?

 

Apologies if these are really obvious questions - I've never paid for my account in cash before and I couldn't find answers on the RCI website!

[woodyren]

If you want to pre purchase OBC call their customer service number as you cant do it over the phone.

 

They will charge you at their current forex rate which has for a while now been better (sometimes much better but not of late) than the actual forex rate of the day.

 

You can also load up your on board account with USD once on board.

[MicCanberra]

Call RCI on 1800 754 500 and follow the prompts. Currency exchange is currently $1.30 AUD for $1 USD.:D

[Willow45]

If you want to pre purchase OBC call their customer service number as you cant do it over the phone.

 

They will charge you at their current forex rate which has for a while now been better (sometimes much better but not of late) than the actual forex rate of the day.

 

You can also load up your on board account with USD once on board.

 

I was thinking of get a travel visa card and putting USD onto it so I have the USD but it's not tied up to the cruise line. So just confirming it is fine to pay your bill or OBC in USD and not AU dollars? And will they change the drink menu's to show it in Australia dollars or would it stay in American? And the price shown does that include the gratuity of is that added on as well? Thanks. First time cruising and I'm trying to get the handle of things.

[OzKiwiJJ]

All onboard costs will be in USD. On our Rhapsody cruise in March all prices included the gratuities.

 

The main reason people have been buying OBC in advance is that the RCI rate is currently better than the actual exchange rate which, today, is 1.36.

 

It really is very easy to buy and, currently, is cheaper to do it that way than to load your travel card with USD.

 

BTW I just checked the Australia Post travel card current rates and they are charging around $1.42 for US $1. :eek:

Edited August 7, 2015 by OzKiwiJJ

[888sydney]

One word of caution about prepaid credit card.. I have Ozforex travel MC but RCI would not accept it to settle the bill on a previous cruise. ..

As someone else mentioned, you might have to withdraw USD via the onboard ATM ($5 charge)

[patatie]

Thank you all very much for the responses. Guess I'll be buying with RCI given that their exchange rate is better! Didn't realise the line is only open during business hours, so I'll try next week!

[MicCanberra]

Thank you all very much for the responses. Guess I'll be buying with RCI given that their exchange rate is better! Didn't realise the line is only open during business hours, so I'll try next week!

 

Yes, business hours, 1800 754 500, prompts should be 1,1,2, and 3.:D

[summerholidays]

First time cruiser - couple of questions: What can you use your OBC for? Can you purchase drink packages and tours on board using OBC and are they charged in USD or AUD? Any tips/ideas welcomed. Thanks

[OzKiwiJJ]

First time cruiser - couple of questions: What can you use your OBC for? Can you purchase drink packages and tours on board using OBC and are they charged in USD or AUD? Any tips/ideas welcomed. Thanks

 

Anything you buy onboard - drinks packages or upgrades, tours, speciality restaurants, daily gratutities, and shopping - is charged to your onboard account. OBC is a credit to your onboard account. Any remaining balance is debited (or credited) to the credit card you have linked to your account.

 

However some OBC, like that provided by the cruise line as part of a promo, is non-refundable and is consumed first by whatever you spend. Any OBC that you purchase ahead of time is refundable.

 

On RCI & Celebrity all onboard costs are is USD.

[patatie]

Yes, business hours, 1800 754 500, prompts should be 1,1,2, and 3.:D

 

 

Wow very specific!! Thanks so much :-)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[summerholidays]

OzKiwiJJ, we have $100 OBC as part of promo. If we purchase more OBC and we do not use it all, is this credited back to you? Have you cruised on the Voyager of the Seas? I

[woodyren]

OzKiwiJJ, we have $100 OBC as part of promo. If we purchase more OBC and we do not use it all, is this credited back to you? Have you cruised on the Voyager of the Seas? I

 

There are two types of on board credit. Non refundable which is typically that given by the cruise line as part of a promotion or for booking on board and refundable which would be either purchased or given by a travel agent. When you spend money on board it it first taken from the non refundable OBC in your account and then the refundable. Unused refundable OBC will be re-credited back to the card linked to your account and you can also normally cash it out at guest services by t not always. If you ever have excess non refundable you can also cash it out at the casino under the pretence that you are going to gamble for a 5% fee.

Gratuities can also be paid from the OBC in your account

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Forums mobile app

Edited August 8, 2015 by woodyren

[OzKiwiJJ]

OzKiwiJJ, we have $100 OBC as part of promo. If we purchase more OBC and we do not use it all, is this credited back to you? Have you cruised on the Voyager of the Seas? I

 

Woodyren beat me to replying about the OBC ;).

 

No, I haven't cruised on Voyager, only Rhapsody.

 

We're cruising on Celebrity Solstice over Christmas and I've purchased extra OBC for that cruise.

[cruise love]

How do you purchase obc for Celebrity as I am on ths Solstice for New Year

Cruise love

[OzKiwiJJ]

How do you purchase obc for Celebrity as I am on ths Solstice for New Year

Cruise love

 

As Mic said:

 

Yes, business hours, 1800 754 500, prompts should be 1,1,2, and 3.:D

 

 

Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are the same parent company and that number reaches both of them.

[The_Big_M]

How do you purchase obc for Celebrity as I am on ths Solstice for New Year

Cruise love

 

With Celebrity you can purchase online, through their gift shop, as well as over the telephone.

[MicCanberra]

How do you purchase obc for Celebrity as I am on ths Solstice for New Year

Cruise love

 

With Celebrity you can purchase online, through their gift shop, as well as over the telephone.

 

Online is easy but it may take them a while to process it. On the phone is pretty much instant.:D

[The_Big_M]

Online is easy but it may take them a while to process it. On the phone is pretty much instant.:D

 

Easy vs instant (except not necessarily convenient).

 

It's good to have choices. :D

[MicCanberra]

I just wish the websites (all cruise lines) could be improved ands that RCI specifically would incorporate the OBC purchase online.

[gogo65]

Just a quick question in regards to buying OBC, currently celebrity are selling for around 5% better than the current rate! however I remember briefly reading somewhere that if you booked the cruise in USD (which I have through a US based TA) that the OBC needs to be bought in USD.

It doesn't really make sense to me, if someone inOz wanted to buy me OBC, for a cruise that wasn't going to Oz(Vancouver-Honolulu) then surely they could buy it online at the current rate of $32.40/$25(usd)??

I've not bought it before, but if my husband was to gift me obc, how does he link it to my reservation? ( he isn't cruising with me)

[The_Big_M]

Any gifts including OBC are linked to a reservation i.e. you supply the reservation to purchase them so they know who it goes to.

 

The purchase of them is in the same currency as the reservation.

[gogo65]

Any gifts including OBC are linked to a reservation i.e. you supply the reservation to purchase them so they know who it goes to.

 

The purchase of them is in the same currency as the reservation.

Thank you and Buggar :(

[summerholidays]

Can anyone tell me when you pay off cruise balance using Visa credit what are the fees are charged, eg foreign transaction.

Also if I purchase OBC at the current offer of $100 USD for $130 AUD using my credit card, RCI told me that my credit card would be debited for $130 but I would also be charged by the bank a foreign transaction fee. Does anyone know what this is likely to be (very confused - first time cruiser).

Thanks

[OzKiwiJJ]

Can anyone tell me when you pay off cruise balance using Visa credit what are the fees are charged, eg foreign transaction.

Also if I purchase OBC at the current offer of $100 USD for $130 AUD using my credit card, RCI told me that my credit card would be debited for $130 but I would also be charged by the bank a foreign transaction fee. Does anyone know what this is likely to be (very confused - first time cruiser).

Thanks

 

The fees charged are set by your credit card company, you will need to check with them as to exactly what they are as they can differ.

 

Although you are charged an AUD amount the transaction is lodged from an overseas bank so you get charged the foreign transaction fee by your credit card company.

 

Note: there are some credit cards, like 28Degrees Mastercard, that do not charge foreign transaction fees. If cruising frequently on lines like RCI then it may be worth applying for one of those.