Badger169

Thank you everybody for your replies and advice. It seems that Royal Caribbean don't have chip & pin machines on their ships (if only someone had told me this before we got on). Anyhow, I went to guest services yesterday and asked them for a balance of my account so far. Then I used the atm machine on the ship to draw the money out. There is still a small amount outstanding, but at least I know that the majority of it is paid and what ever is left, I can draw the extra cash out when we leave the ship on the 1st Dec. This certainly has been an experience, and at least I know that if I decide to do another cruise, I will apply for a credit card (even though I don't really like them). Unfortunately though I was told that Royal Caribbean ships do accept chip & pin machines. Thanks again everybody for all your advice :) 

13 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

I would ask at guest services if they could do a PIN transaction on the last night of the cruise. They do have an ATM on board and you could withdraw your $250 each day until you had enough to cover your final bill (the fee will be more than what a land based ATM charges).

I have already asked at guest services, and they have told me that they do not do chip & pin transactions on the ship. So I have contacted my bank to increase the amount of cash that I can draw out, so that on the final day I can pay my account. In fact, I got a balance so far, and have paid that, so I know that what ever etc is spent between now and the end of my cruise (1st Dec), will be very little. 

On 11/25/2018 at 2:41 PM, klfrodo said:

A couple of things you should have done before hand and maybe you can do online.

 

Always, always, always, call the bank or credit card issuer and let them know you'll be out of country, what dates, and where you're going.  The bank security did their job in this instance. They protected you and the bank.

 

Tell your bank what you plans are and set up a temporary increase in daily withdrawal amounts. Also note that some banks set up max purchase amount limits on debit cards. (example, can't make a 1 time purchase of any product or service more than $500)

 

You're most likely in a world of hurt at the end of the cruise. That 50 bps that they just ran is ONLY an approval or a (hold). It really means nothing. The cruiseline is still going to try to run your final bill at the end and it won't work. You need to get this cleared before the end of the cruise. Otherwise you're going to be put into an embarrassing situation. Call your bank again and get ahead of this.

I did contact my bank a good week or two before I left for my cruise. I told them exactly the dates that I would be out of the country from, and which destinations I would be visiting. I have now resolved the situation, and increased the amount that I can draw out via an atm, so I will be paying cash at the end. 

On 11/24/2018 at 9:36 PM, Sauer-kraut said:

A good rule to be aware of for ANY cruiser new or not.  NEVER ever use a debit card for your shipboard account.  There are too many holds, charges put through and other things that the passenger isn't aware of.  Many cruisers have had issues after departing the ship as well as during the cruise.

IF you only have a debit card.....please pre-pay as much as you possibly can (the daily service charge, purchase gift cards or onboard money, etc.), then bring CASH to apply to your account while onboard.

Unfortunately I only have a debit card. Personally I dont like credit cards, never have. But if I had know this information regarding debit cards on the ship, then I would of applied for a credit card just for my cruise. I have never ever done a cruise before in my life, and I was told by my cruise concierge, that debit cards are accepted.

On 11/24/2018 at 8:56 PM, jlp20 said:

I'm GUESSING that once the 50 is spent, your cruise card will be declined.

No, it was only to set the sail pass account up. I asked them to put the card through for $50 and it was accepted. My concern was that at the end of my cruise, if Royal Caribbean dont have chip & pin machines on the ship, how would I pay. It seems my bank has an overall set limit when using the card via the magnetic strip only, and this limit is $50.00. This is a limit set by the bank for everyone, and not just for me, and I only found this information out after I had been on the ship 2 days. 

7 minutes ago, paul929207 said:

Could you get money from an ATM on one of the islands. Be sure it is a currency the ship will accept.

My son thinks there is an atm machine on the ship, but I think the max I can withdraw per day is 250sterling 

Me & my son are currently on our first cruise. After 2 days of being on the ship I had a letter left on my bed saying that unfortunately a sea pass account could not be set up with the card details I had given them, and could I please go to Guest Services, so that’s what I did. I was told that I had to contact my bank as it was them who were declining my card. I rang my bank (Nat West), and they said that a block had been put on my card as it had tried to be used for more than £50.00, via the magnetic strip. Apparently the bank has an overall set limit on debit cards (i don’t have credit cards), and when using the magnetic strip only, that limit is £50.00, anything more and it will automatically be declined. So my bank advised me to tell Guest Services to put the card through for £50.00 and it will work, so that’s what I did and hey presto...my sea pass account is up and running. However, I am now worried that when I come to the end of my cruise, and want to settle my sea pass account, if it’s more than £50.00 (which it’s highly likely it will be), if they try to put my card through without a PIN number, it isn’t going to work....so does anyone know if they do chip & pin on Royal Caribbean?.....if they don’t, does anyone know how I will be able to settle my account? Thank you 

This is the first holiday for my son and I without my late husband, and the first cruise ever. We are on Serenade of the Seas, going in Nov round the Caribbean. I really need some advice regarding tips and drink packages. Some people I speak to say don’t do tips, just tip as you go along and then other people say include them and with the drinks package some people say it’s not worth it and other people say it is. I honestly don’t think I will drink the equivalent of £40 worth of alcohol per day, il mostly be having soft drinks with my son and maybe the odd glass of wine or cocktail. I have already priced up a drink package on RC website, and for the top package where everything is included it will cost me an extra £400+, that’s not including my sons soft drinks package. Then there’s the tips, I really don’t know what to do about this. I much prefer tipping as I go, so I know exactly where my tips have gone, but I have been told that this is frowned upon on the ship. So I really don’t know what to do, please can anyone offer some advice.

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