Paying on board account in cash?

[boobear]

This is our first cruise and I need advise! Can you pay for you onboard ship account with cash? How does this work...do you give them the cash upon boarding and get back whatever is left at the end of the cruise? I've also thought about a prepaid "visa" card". Can this be used for the S&S account? How about at the ports? Also, do they add your tips to your account on a daily basis or just at the end? It's my understanding that you can remove these tips and give them out at the end of your cruise. Is this better? Any advise and tips would be greatly appreciated as I'm starting to get confused on how this all works.

[StacyandTim]

Yes, you can apply cash at any time during the week to your S&S account. We held our account with a credit card, but ended up wining a large amount at the casino once, so we went to the purser and paid off our acct. Nothing ended up getting charged to our credit card.

 

Yes, pre-paid Visa/Mastercards can be used also for the S&S account, and anywhere on port that they accept Visa/Mastercard (which is almost everywhere).

 

They added our tips by the third day ($70 per person which was $10/day per person). You can have it removed once you board the ship and they will give you envelopes if you prefer to pay each individual in cash instead.

 

I liked being able to disperse tips on my own. I had the $140 removed once I noticed the charge. You can check your balance whenever you want through your cabin television.

 

Don't get confused! It's not that bad...just relax and enjoy your trip!

[mysticalblues]

I've done my S&S in cash both times of sailed. I put $300 on to start. This was enought to cover tips and anything I might need. You can always go back and add more money. There are two ways you can handle settling your account. You can either go to the purser's desk late at night, the night before debarkation and get cash back (but you will no longer be able to user your S&S card) or the morning of debarkation, you will get a check under your door for any of the remaining balance left on your card.

 

Just something to think about, I think there is a charge to buy a prepaid Visa and I believe they limit how much you can put on it.

 

Pam

[abbyndrewmom]

Thanks for asking I was wondering the same thing. I am planning on using my credit card to guarantee the account but paying my balance off with Travellers Cheques. i will apply the travellers cheques to my account the 1st or 2nd day (after the intial rush) so my card does not get charged.

 

Allison

[LornaT]

I always put a deposit (a hefty one, depending on planned tour's, spa, etc.) down with Traveler's Checks and then on the last morning (early) anything left over is left in a check for me with an itemized statement in my mailbox or under my door. Then on the way to breakfast or before leaving the ship I take the check to the Purser's Desk (they don't publish/announce that you can do this but my PVP told me about it) and they cash it for me..........so I leave the ship with cash on hand.