Paying Final Account

[Kateandstevec]

Hi All,

 

We are first time cruises and have purchased a drinks package for my husband, the reason being we don't want any nasty surprises when our cruise is completed.

 

Now in saying that we have been told to get American Dollars and when our bill is due on the last day to pay cash and not use our Visa card as the charge will be higher when they converting from Australia dollars to American dollars, was told that RC make money on you when using a credit card, is there any truth to this.

 

We were under the understanding that your bill had to be paid by credit card.

 

Thanks for any information.

[BekkaW]

No, your bill does not have to be paid by credit card. You can do it in cash.

 

If you do use a card and do it in $US your bank will likely charge a foreign transaction fee, if you get Royal to convert it the rate may or may. It be a good one. But That's the risk you take any time you convert currency.

 

If you order it through the post office I have found the rates to be ok and there is no commission.

[Emortal]

Your card should be charged the USD price. RC doesn't handle the currency conversion, your card issuer would. Typically that will get you a better exchange rate than you'd find anywhere else.

 

The thing to be aware of is whether or not your card issuer charges you a foreign transaction fee, and if so what that fee is. Not sure on AUS, but in the US it is very easy to get a card with no foreign transaction fees. The fees are usually small, but avoidable!

Edited December 9, 2016 by Emortal

[lucymorgan]

A lot of vendors world wide will give you the choice of paying in AUD or the currency of the country or ship. I always choose to pay in the currency of the seller. However, if you pay by Credit Card from major Australian banks you may be charged significant additional fees (please check this for your card).

 

I have a 28 degrees credit card specifically for overseas purchases (including online purchases) and I don't get charged fees. I also have a Qantas cash card for cash withdrawals with minimum/zero fees for cash.

 

It is worth looking into so kudos to you.

[Kateandstevec]

Thank you all for your advise, will ring our bank Monday morning and confirm their fees etc.

[jeonmv]

It is also a good idea to contact each of the card issuers to advise them that you are traveling out of the country, and where you will be on specific dates- this will avoid a card being denied because the sale comes from a 'strange' location.

Also eliminates any chance of charges not made by you after you leave a place on (or off) your itinerary.

 

 

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[DISFANS3]

Cash is king...

[jeonmv]

But exchange rate not necessarily the most favorable for you.

 

 

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[cb at sea]

If you decide you want to use cash, you don't even need to give them your credit card info...RCI allows you to charge up to $500 before they ask you to pay it down...

[moopetguy]

A few extra points to note if you decide to go with cash. RCI will want you to settle your account by 23:00 on the last night of the cruise, and then your SeaPass will be inactivated for charges, so you won't be able to use it for purchases after that (e.g. later that night or departure morning). That may or may not be an issue for you (especially since you'll have the drink package).

 

Line-ups at Guest Services to settle your account in cash may also be long depending on when you go. However, I generally find the line to be short late at night.

 

If your cash account balance is zero at the end of your cruise, you don't even need to go to Guest Services to close or settle your account. So you can simply anticipate what charges may be put on your SeaPass (e.g. shops purchases), zero them out with a cash payment ahead of time (not necessarily waiting until later in the cruise when line-ups are generally longer), and walk off the ship at the end. I've done this before, but obviously it involves some arithmetic that you may not want to do while on vacation ;)

 

Cash accounts also allow money to be drawn from the casino cashier without a 5% premium (to cover credit card merchant fees). You may not be able to get actual cash on all ships; you might only be able to get slot machine vouchers or chips.

 

You can decide to add a credit card to your account later during the cruise, even if you start with a cash account at embarkation.

[Paulxyz2004]

Your card should be charged the USD price. RC doesn't handle the currency conversion, your card issuer would. Typically that will get you a better exchange rate than you'd find anywhere else.

 

This is absolutely wrong information!!!

 

When paying By credit Card RCI lets you Chose if you want them to make the conversion or if they shall Charge you in USD and let your credit Card make the conversion. It´s part of the online check-in.

 

In my Experience even with a small fee it´s better to have your credit Card make the conversion.

[goneclear]

OP like you I do not live in the US and we do not use US dollars here. However I always use my CC for on board charges. 1. It just gives you peace of mind. 2. you don't have to go down to guest relations to deposit cash to your account.

3. On the last night or day you do not have to go when the lines are longest at guest relations to pay off your bill. 4.You don't have to worry about the security issues of having a lot of cash on you.

Yes we do lose a little with the CC conversion but it is insignificant, usually 4 to 5 cents on the dollar. Not really a big deal when you take in to consideration most things can be pre paid long before you travel.

Of course my experience does not necessarily mean AUS banks conversion rates will be the same but I sure it is something you can check.

[shanley]

This is absolutely wrong information!!!

 

When paying By credit Card RCI lets you Chose if you want them to make the conversion or if they shall Charge you in USD and let your credit Card make the conversion. It´s part of the online check-in.

 

In my Experience even with a small fee it´s better to have your credit Card make the conversion.

 

I was about to post the same thing. When setting up your account as part of the online check-in, you can select if you want your account charged in USD or converted. I don't know if there is a default choice or you have to click something. I leave it in USD and get the credit card rate, which has been good for me.

 

Back when RCI was offering an amazing exchange rate for OBC, it was offering a regular exchange for your account. I had my accounted converted to Canadian by RCI and I definitely lost out. My CC would have been better.

[moopetguy]

I just wanted to add that if you start with a cash account and then add a credit card at Guest Services while on board during the cruise, read the fine print very carefully before you sign. It can easily be misread or misunderstood.

 

Others have already commented that you should not have RCI handle the currency exchange from USD -> your credit card currency and then charge your credit card in the "native" currency.

 

Instead, have USD charged to your credit card and let your card issuer charge their foreign currency conversion fee (if applicable) and the credit card's USD exchange rate. I would do (and have done) this too. Your card's rate is almost assuredly better than RCI's rate.

 

I have a recent copy of the "SEAPASS VERIFICATION FORM" which is used to add a credit card to the onboard account. The fine print with a check box at the bottom reads:

 

"For Non-US issued MasterCard or Visa card holders: If you do not want your charges converted by Royal Caribbean International to the currency of your card's billing as described in the Ticket Contract, please check here."

 

So, you want to check the box for your credit card to be charged in USD. By default if you leave the box unchecked, RCI will use their currency conversion rate which will in all likelihood not be in your favour.