Anyone used a US$ cash passport card at onboard ATMS esp Rhapsody?

[allyman]

Hi cruisers

 

We are planning our first cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas next January, departing Sydney, Australia and I was wondering if anyone has used a cash passport card (looks like an eftpos card) at one of the ATM's on board? I already have one and it is pre-loaded with alot of US dollars left over from our last trip to the states. I would love to use it on Rhapsody and take out cash for spending money.

 

I have asked this question on the P & O Austalia board and no one can confirm if this works? All the info I have says it should work but I would feel better if someone can tell me definitely.

 

Hope to get some responses ...

 

Regards

Ally

[rool]

Hi cruisers

 

We are planning our first cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas next January, departing Sydney, Australia and I was wondering if anyone has used a cash passport card (looks like an eftpos card) at one of the ATM's on board? I already have one and it is pre-loaded with alot of US dollars left over from our last trip to the states. I would love to use it on Rhapsody and take out cash for spending money.

 

I have asked this question on the P & O Austalia board and no one can confirm if this works? All the info I have says it should work but I would feel better if someone can tell me definitely.

 

Hope to get some responses ...

 

Regards

Ally

 

Hi, I was looking into these for my trip to the states over Christmas.

 

My guess is that it would work.

 

The one I was looking at only allowed free withdrawals from particular ATMs e.g. Citibank. All other ATM withdrawals carried a transaction charge. This was fine if you wanted to withdraw a large amount but not if you took out say $50 a time.

 

You could just make one large withdrawal and place it in your seapass account.

[allyman]

Yes the cash passports are handy, and we would draw out at least $500 at a time. My husband and I had one each. Our only problem is we bought to much and came home with US$3500. The exchange rate has steadily climbed since we purchased last April so I don't want to 'cash it in' but would rather use it.

 

If it can be used on the Rhapsody it solves all my problems.

 

When in the US we just put it into an ATM machine that had the visa logo I believe. I know we took money out at New York, New York in Vegas and the Beverly Centre in LA with no issues.

 

I hope someone can help ...:confused:

 

Ally

[Duck Creek]

This is a link straight to the RCL website

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do;jsessionid=0000A0ATX-fpPF3LZoqDkyyo

 

I would also call RCL office in Sydney

[jddc7]

we had one of those cash passports too with USD and the ATM on Liberty accepted it. Was a fee but cant remember how much

 

Only one place in the US wouldnt/couldnt accept it which was a taxi as they had an old style machine which cant read the card as there are no imprints (numbers sticking out) on the card

[theozwalrus]

We used the ANZ version of the cash passport it is essentially a prepaid Visa card and had no problems with it on the Rhapsody. I think there was a charge of $6 USD per withdrawal from the ATM onboard (this was on top of the withdrawal fee from ANZ) the receipt showed the $6 fee and you were advised of it before agreeing to continue or you could also go to the casino and draw money from it also .... That fee was 3% of the amount withdrawn so get your calculator out .... ;) about $3USD per $100 (I think) I do not think the card charged a fee for this as it treated it as a credit transaction, but I am not too sure.

 

We used our card all around Hawaii with no problems but had to sign for every transaction as the US does not seem to know about the PIN system for credit cards. The only other time we could not use it was as the deposit for our rental car as it did not have our name printed on it so used another card we had.

 

Hope this helps

Cheers

David

[allyman]

Thanks David, you have gone a long way towards settling my mind.

 

However, what I didn't know until recently is that there are two types of cash passport. One is the ATM card (which I have pre-loaded with US currenty) and the second is called a Debit card. The main difference their website says is you can buy goods online with the debit card, not the ATM card.

 

As you mention using your signature, I assume you have the debit card. We don't have a signature panel on ours nor the visa logo. At the time of purchase April last year we weren't told of the two different types, otherwise I would have got the debit card.

 

Having said all that, the atm card is supposed to work at any atm machine that dispenses US dollar, so I am counting on the Rhapsody being one of those machines.

 

I hope I am making sense.

 

You are the only person so far to know what I am talking about. When I mention to family and friends they have never heard of it.

 

Any further clarity on the topic would be appreciated.

 

Alexandra

[theozwalrus]

G'day Alexandra

 

we have one of these ..... https://www.anztravelcard.com/ My MIL has the Travelex Cash Passport that does the same as this ......

 

Also, are you aware that the USD hit 86C AUD last night .... could be a good time to transfer it or change it over. having said that you may be able to contact cash passport and change your card for one of the Visa variety for peace of mind and ease of use ...... Try here if this is the same as yours .....

http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/au/

 

they also have the "Visa" variety available

 

Cheers,

David

[Big Kev]

Hi cruisers

 

We are planning our first cruise on the Rhapsody of the Seas next January, departing Sydney, Australia and I was wondering if anyone has used a cash passport card (looks like an eftpos card) at one of the ATM's on board? I already have one and it is pre-loaded with alot of US dollars left over from our last trip to the states. I would love to use it on Rhapsody and take out cash for spending money.

 

I have asked this question on the P & O Austalia board and no one can confirm if this works? All the info I have says it should work but I would feel better if someone can tell me definitely.

 

Hope to get some responses ...

 

Regards

Ally

 

Gidday.

 

Forgive me if I missed something.

 

Since the Rhapsody is sailing on its Australian/NZ season during January, do you really want to get USD from the Rhapsody ATM? If you are visiting other countries on your trip you will need their local currencies. Best you use your card atb ATM's on shore to do this.

 

We use the Visa based ANZ "travelcard" loaded with USD too, and se it as a convenience in any country ATM's (or shops).. There is of course another conversion cost, but the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

 

We only use it to get local ATM cash for sundry items, craft markets etc. We use normal credit card for most on shore purchases

 

If your objective is to use up the credits you have on your card, it might be easier to use it to pay towards your on board account, which is in USD anyway...

 

 

Phil

[allyman]

G'day Alexandra

 

we have one of these ..... https://www.anztravelcard.com/ My MIL has the Travelex Cash Passport that does the same as this ......

 

Also, are you aware that the USD hit 86C AUD last night .... could be a good time to transfer it or change it over. having said that you may be able to contact cash passport and change your card for one of the Visa variety for peace of mind and ease of use ...... Try here if this is the same as yours .....

http://www.cashpassport.com/1/en/au/

 

they also have the "Visa" variety available

 

Cheers,

David

 

Thanks David for the links,

 

We have the second type not the first. Ie: we don't have a signature panel or the 3 digit CCV code on the back, nor the visa logo on the front.

 

To fill you in I bought this money last April at 0.67c. We still have a tad over US$3500 on the card. If I were to exchange back now even at US$0.86 I would still lose.

 

Regarding Phil's comments, I do plan to use the money to settle my final account. Whatever is left over I will bring home to Australia, and put in a safe place until the dollar goes down again, or we go back to the US. I haven't even thought far enough to consider how we pay for things at ports. I guess I was just thinking of the trusty credit card, plus we will take some Australian Dollars.

 

Thanks again for input and taking the time to reply.

 

Ally