UK Cruisers-OBC purchase

[Ramekin40]

For those of you in the UK who are concerned about the poor $/£ rate post Brexit- I have purchased OBC today for my upcoming Independence cruise and got a great rate of $1.42 to the £. $300 cost me £210, so a lot better than the rate on the high street or the rate that your bank will possibly use if they convert your spend.

 

 

Excuse my ignorance as I'm a first time cruiser on VOS in September but can someone explain what the OBC is and what you buy it for?

[Mim Lloyd]

The guy I spoke to confirmed that $150 had been applied to each of my B2B cruises. He said the invoice would just show what I'd paid in £ but the dollar amount was in my OBC account. He'd better be right!

[Ms Jo UK]

For those of you in the UK who are concerned about the poor $/£ rate post Brexit- I have purchased OBC today for my upcoming Independence cruise and got a great rate of $1.42 to the £. $300 cost me £210, so a lot better than the rate on the high street or the rate that your bank will possibly use if they convert your spend.

 

 

Excuse my ignorance as I'm a first time cruiser on VOS in September but can someone explain what the OBC is and what you buy it for?

 

OBC is onboard credit.

 

All transactions are charged to your on board via your sea pass card (seapass is yiur room key/ ship id/charge card. There are no cash transactions during your cruise. You can set up a cah account at the start (I have never done this so dont know details).

 

On the last night of the cruise you are given your bill of all things you have spent on board. If you have set up an account with a credit card this will auromatically be charged to your credit card. If you have already applied onboard credit to your account, this will reduce the amount charged to your credit card or if your lucky make a 0 owing balance.

 

UK cruisers especially are buying on board credit now (OBC) to offset their spending. Royal was giving an exchange rate of $1.43 to £1 today. Checking the post office rates today they were at $1.26. I know I gained $45 today by using prepurchase with Royal and maybe more if the £ falls further. Of course currency may go the other way too but I am betting that due to Brexit it will be a while before that happens.

 

Hope my muddled explanation helps.

[Mim Lloyd]

I recognise that smiley face! Explorer last July? :)

 

Yes, great cruise with great people!! We're off to the Baltics on the Serenade in two weeks time and also booked a B2B in the Caribbean on the Adventure next year. Very happy to have got my $ at such a good rate.

[gooners1968]

Yes, great cruise with great people!! We're off to the Baltics on the Serenade in two weeks time and also booked a B2B in the Caribbean on the Adventure next year. Very happy to have got my $ at such a good rate.

 

Like the sound of the Caribbean! Definitely on our bucket list............enjoy your Baltics cruise!

[Balloon Man]

... suggest you use the 01932 834 243 number. Tried 0800, was transferred three times by pleasant people with US accents ... to nothing. So called 01932 .... Closed! But it was Sunday. Will try again tomorrow.

[JollyMia]

Sorry if this is a daft question,(UK cruiser) if I phone 01932 834 243 Royal

Caribbean?? .I can purchase OBC for my upcoming cruise at favourable exchange rates

[fragilek]

Sorry if this is a daft question,(UK cruiser) if I phone 01932 834 243 Royal

Caribbean?? .I can purchase OBC for my upcoming cruise at favourable exchange rates

 

yip that's what we have done call and just check what the exchange is before buying, in case they change it tomorrow

[Clarea]

Sorry if this is a daft question,(UK cruiser) if I phone 01932 834 243 Royal

Caribbean?? .I can purchase OBC for my upcoming cruise at favourable exchange rates

Not a daft question, and according to recent reports, you can still get USD at around 1.4.

[Ramekin40]

... suggest you use the 01932 834 243 number. Tried 0800, was transferred three times by pleasant people with US accents ... to nothing. So called 01932 .... Closed! But it was Sunday. Will try again tomorrow.

 

I was going to do this tomorrow but as I have paid my gratuities and drinks packages already I'm not sure if this is the right thing for us, realistically what would I spend my money on? We were thinking of booking a speciality restaurant one night but I could do this online and pay with gbp before we go. What are your thoughts?

[fragilek]

I was going to do this tomorrow but as I have paid my gratuities and drinks packages already I'm not sure if this is the right thing for us, realistically what would I spend my money on? We were thinking of booking a speciality restaurant one night but I could do this online and pay with gbp before we go. What are your thoughts?

 

check what you paid for your package versus what you would pay on board at 1.43 rate - as you can cancel and rebook. R u going to book any excursions or go on another cruise or USA in the near future as you can cash out at the end

[Ms Jo UK]

check what you paid for your package versus what you would pay on board at 1.43 rate - as you can cancel and rebook. R u going to book any excursions or go on another cruise or USA in the near future as you can cash out at the end

 

 

 

Dilemma - our Explorer cruise October 2017 is Australia/South Pacific do I gamble and buy some OBC for that, I believe $s are the on board currency - £ could recover somewhat in the next 15 months and it could also do the opposite and really bottom out, so glad I booked on the Uk site so locked the cruise price in - now if only I had a crystal ball.

[densol]

Same - we are also on a cruise next May. Im not sure whether to grab some OBC for next year as well - I think I will :)

[Mim Lloyd]

My Cruise is September 2017 and I thought it worth buying now. $1.43 is a good rate and although we've got free tips and drinks packages it doesn't matter. If we don't spend it all we'll just cash it in at the end of the cruise.

[Ms Jo UK]

My Cruise is September 2017 and I thought it worth buying now. $1.43 is a good rate and although we've got free tips and drinks packages it doesn't matter. If we don't spend it all we'll just cash it in at the end of the cruise.

 

I didnt know you could cash in unused - is it put back on the credit card or is it refunded in some other form.

[fragilek]

I didnt know you could cash in unused - is it put back on the credit card or is it refunded in some other form.

 

To get it back in cash you must set up a cash account. If you have a card on your account you will need to pay?% to cash out at the casino.

 

 

I got $1000 back last cruise. We had stocked up as rate was $1.67/£ and we didn't know how much we would spend on board as it was our 1st RCL cruise. However, eldest took her knee out so we couldn't do the planed trips, she was also on pain killers so couldn't even have the odd cocktail so we spent a lot less than we planned.

[Clarea]

I didnt know you could cash in unused - is it put back on the credit card or is it refunded in some other form.

If your onboard account is secured by a credit card, and you don't request the OBC in cash, then any excess refundable OBC will automatically go back onto the credit card. You can also request a cash refund on the last evening of the cruise.

[Ms Jo UK]

Thank you Bob and Fragile K - I will certainly consider buying OBC for my 2017 cruise.

 

Just 1 more question - if we decide to cancel (anything can happen in 15 months) what happens to the purchased OBC.

[Redrobo]

Call. In the UK: 01932 834 243 or freephone: 0800 018202

Just called the 01932 number, easy process £280 for $400 good rate, better than the M&S rate for cash.

Rate of £70 to $100.

Edited July 11, 2016 by Redrobo

[Annabellecruiser]

yes, still working, I got $300 for £210 which works out at 1.43 or £70 for $100. Nice to make a bit of a saving

[Ramekin40]

check what you paid for your package versus what you would pay on board at 1.43 rate - as you can cancel and rebook. R u going to book any excursions or go on another cruise or USA in the near future as you can cash out at the end

 

How can I check out the price onboard in $'s of the alcohol packages? I've bought 2 premium packages with the 20% off discount making a total of £444 on line already but I'm curious as to whether if I cancel those could I save some money by using OBC and just book the packages onboard. Does this make sense?

[Clarea]

How can I check out the price onboard in $'s of the alcohol packages? I've bought 2 premium packages with the 20% off discount making a total of £444 on line already but I'm curious as to whether if I cancel those could I save some money by using OBC and just book the packages onboard. Does this make sense?

The only way is to find a report from a recent cruiser on the same ship and itinerary.

[booyaka]

can you have a credit card and a cash account on the same booking

Edited July 11, 2016 by booyaka

[Clarea]

can you have a credit card and a cash account on the same booking

Yes, each guest can have their own onboard account method.

[grahamlivingstone]

For those of you in the UK who are concerned about the poor $/£ rate post Brexit- I have purchased OBC today for my upcoming Independence cruise and got a great rate of $1.42 to the £. $300 cost me £210, so a lot better than the rate on the high street or the rate that your bank will possibly use if they convert your spend.

 

I thought that RC may have reduced their rate by now...who knows if or when they will? I feel happier knowing I got a decent rate today :)

Thanks I got 1.43 today