Putting Cash Down at Boarding

[becomingophelia]

I would like to just put cash down rather than use a credit card when I board the Dawn out of Boston on our upcoming trip. Do they have a set amount to put down at boarding? We won't spend much onboard at all.My husband and I don't drink and will probably only have a specialty restaurant charge and some photos for onboard spending. We also have $200 OBC if that matters.

[mitsugirly]

I usually do cash only and some will try to tell you $300 pp for each day, however, this is not true. The only thing they want to make sure that you put down is enough to cover your DSC. So, if you put down that much, they will be happy. Just remember, if you start to run out, they will cut you off, but you can go to the front desk and ask for a balance sheet to see where you are and apply more money at any time. :D

 

 

Happy cruising.

[crusinmama06]

No set amount. Just got off of Gem today and we have debit cards and there is a HUGE sign at the check in desk about the credit holds on the debit cards. I, of course, already knew this and already planned in advance by withdrawing cash and bringing it with me. ;)

 

So, when checking in, we said "CASH". When we got onboard - I personally started out with $500 (there were 4 of us) and then added to it everytime we started to get close to it with our spending.

 

On Gem, you can monitor your account onboard, so each day I looked at it and adjusted accordingly. When I checked out, NCL owed ME $3. So you can choose to allow them to mail it to you at your home address or you can cash out between 6am and 9am.

 

Oh and when I say "no set amount" - just know that you WILL see $12 per person per day Service Charge being added to your bill EACH day. So it's just best to start with at least that.

[gizmo911]

Sorry, I am still a bit confused.

 

1- If you create account with debit card how much do you have to have in that account at the time and will they place a hold?

2- If you create account with cash what is the minumum you have to put down?

 

Thanks, Ramona

[mitsugirly]

Sorry, I am still a bit confused.

 

1- If you create account with debit card how much do you have to have in that account at the time and will they place a hold?

2- If you create account with cash what is the minumum you have to put down?

 

Thanks, Ramona

 

They placed a $300 hold on our debit card before. Then for some reason out of the blue, decided 2 days prior to departure to place another weird amount (like $129.84) on it :confused:

 

With cash, NCL just says they want you to put enough down to cover your daily charge. = $12 per day for ____ amount of people that are going so do the math according to how many are going. Although I put money down prior to cruising before (to make it a cash account and my OBC/DSC was already paid for) and when they ask me about payment, I told them I had already put down X amount of dollars months ago to cover it all and they said ok and handed me my card without putting any more down. :)

[lizanb]

I called NCL 2 days ago about that and was told they require $100 pp per day and there is no difference with a child vs an adult. I hope you guys are right because I have no intention of needing an OBC of $2,000 for myself and a seven year old.

[crusinmama06]

I called NCL 2 days ago about that and was told they require $100 pp per day and there is no difference with a child vs an adult. I hope you guys are right because I have no intention of needing an OBC of $2,000 for myself and a seven year old.

 

Yes, I assure you we are right. NCL AND RCL customer relations reps tell their customers the same thing when you call. It is not $2,000.

 

Just cover your daily service charges, $12 pp per day and whatever you plan to spend. Like I said, we started with $500. There were 4 of us. When I went a little crazy with my pictures I saw my balance get down to $126 (on the positive side) so I went and added more to cover the service charges that were going to hit over the next few days. Then we went shopping and I added more. I just kept watching my balance.

 

On the last night, I checked my account and I wanted to buy ONE more thing, so I went and made another deposit. They said "give it a few minutes" - it hit the account immediatly - I walk over to the gift shop and bought what I wanted.

[patseacruiser]

That hold they put on the debit card can stay pending for even a couple weeks. I tell people who only have a debit card to put down cash. As long as you put enough for your DSC with is $12 per person per day you will be good. If you plan to spend money on photos, etc. then put a little more and monitor it to see how you are spending.

[Je2ter]

I'm in trouble lol. I lost my job and am going on the Gem NY-Bermuda in ten days! (woohoo) BUT I only have like $300 spending lol. No credit cards, just cash. And I shouldn't even be spending THAT because rent cable electric is all due!! I'm soooo broke!

$100 of that will go to tipping right off the bat. So I need to have cash on the island, it can't all be tied up with the ship. Oh man. I might never leave the ship lol

[becomingophelia]

I'm in trouble lol. I lost my job and am going on the Gem NY-Bermuda in ten days! (woohoo) BUT I only have like $300 spending lol. No credit cards, just cash. And I shouldn't even be spending THAT because rent cable electric is all due!! I'm soooo broke!

$100 of that will go to tipping right off the bat. So I need to have cash on the island, it can't all be tied up with the ship. Oh man. I might never leave the ship lol

 

Do you have trip insurance? Many trip insurance companies will let you cancel for a refund in case of job loss.

 

Otherwise I would just stick to the free activities and restaurants and not drink. Good luck.

[debt]

But I have a similar question and didn't want to upset others by starting a similar thread. :o

 

I will be on the Epic in 9 days. I have already paid my daily service charge, purchased my soda card, purchased my shore excursions, purchased my specialty dinners, and bought $600 worth of on board credits. How much of a hold should I expect on my debit card?

 

It will be a 13 day Transatlantic, if that matters at all.

[Je2ter]

Do you have trip insurance? Many trip insurance companies will let you cancel for a refund in case of job loss.

 

Otherwise I would just stick to the free activities and restaurants and not drink. Good luck.

 

 

Naa no insurance, I was a full-time nanny and quit so I could finish college. Paid cash so that wouldn't work. It's ok I'm going go pinch pennies and yes do everything free! :)

I'll splurge on the roulette table and hope for the best!

 

@debt, if you put $600 down for on board credit you should not need to put any other money down. No worries for you but could you please send some to me lol!!

[mittchelandsophie]

I called NCL 2 days ago about that and was told they require $100 pp per day and there is no difference with a child vs an adult. I hope you guys are right because I have no intention of needing an OBC of $2,000 for myself and a seven year old.

 

It states $100 per day on the NCL website.

[garycarla]

Just a few notes.

 

If you have a credit card, that is by far the easiest way to handle things. You can still stop by and pay it down with cash and let the final few things go to the card - this assumes you even have a credit card.

 

If you have a debit card, and a "tight" checking account, you might want to go with cash. There are many stories of people where they held out money for an extended period on the debit card. Do a search on DEBIT and you will find lots of stories. Some are just fine, others are trouble.

[agabbymama]

Naa no insurance, I was a full-time nanny and quit so I could finish college. Paid cash so that wouldn't work. It's ok I'm going go pinch pennies and yes do everything free! :)

I'll splurge on the roulette table and hope for the best!

 

@debt, if you put $600 down for on board credit you should not need to put any other money down. No worries for you but could you please send some to me lol!!

 

Not true. Just off the Star. They will still ask for the credit card at check-in. OBC doesn't matter. I argued for about 10 minutes that I had $1100 OBC and didn't want to use a credit card. The Supervisor told me I could either give him my credit card or go to the cash desk and give them $500 TO OPEN MY ON-BOARD ACCOUNT. And they don't use any non-refundable OBC until all of your refundable OBC is used up. AND they did not give me an option to get a cash refund, told me a check would be mailed to my home address. So I went and did some last minutes shopping!

 

I won't ever purchase OBC again. It is pointless.

[Sam The Cat]

Just off the Jewel on Saturday, I put down $800 cash (travelers checks) and due to martini classes( which ran my budget over) and the dinner for 5 of us the last night gave them my debit card. They put a hold for $300 even though it was our last night on board. I checked when I got back and determined that the balance that I owed was posted to my account there was still a hold of $ 175. which was lifted this morning (Tuesday)

[Anjjmum0294]

No worries! I sweat my behind off before my cruise in June over the same subject. They will take whatever you give them and just suspend your ability to charge until you put more on. If you aren't using it to book excursions, do not plan on using it for booze, or the Casino. You can get away with three hundred. My daughter and I used only that together the whole seven days we were gone! All we did was visit the shop for souveniers and had dinner in the pay restuarants once or twice, oh and we bought some coffee at the Java shop and a ring in the jewelry shop at the end. If you plan to do alot, leave alot. If not, dont. They give you a receipt and you can ask them at any time to give you a balance.