Travelers checks?

[my3pies]

We are leaving next week. Tonight I was letting my husband know how much cash we'll need. I'm worried to carry that much cash.

 

Does anyone carry travelers checks anymore?

 

Is there a surcharge to get cash on the ship?

[GUT2407]

Do they still issue them????

 

Why do you want cash on the ship?

 

Ships are cashless.

 

If you need cash in port [and most things can be paid by card] just grab some from an ATM.

[my3pies]

Because one of our private excursions needs to be paid in cash.

[UKWLDCruise]

Travellers cheques are cashable on the ship, if no where else, so are good for getting extra cash without any ATM charges or paying the casino their cut.

 

There are a lot of islands where I feel safer paying cash than letting them have my card details.

[Merion_Mom]

We are leaving next week. Tonight I was letting my husband know how much cash we'll need. I'm worried to carry that much cash.

 

Does anyone carry travelers checks anymore?

 

Is there a surcharge to get cash on the ship?

 

Travellers cheques are cashable on the ship, if no where else, so are good for getting extra cash without any ATM charges or paying the casino their cut.

 

There are a lot of islands where I feel safer paying cash than letting them have my card details.

 

Correct. If you can find a bank (or AAA branch) that still sells them, you can cash them at Guest Services.

 

I have no idea how much your excursions cost......

 

You can also cash one personal check per cruise for up to $200.

 

:)

[wendychloecruiser]

I understand your anxiety regarding carrying around cash. I was responsible for paying for a private tour...€1000 cash. We were to pay him after the tour but I gave it to him right away just to get it out of my hands!

[-Lew-]

 

Does anyone carry travelers checks anymore?

Where are you going? If it's Europe, forget travelers checks.

 

You might be okay with travelers checks in the Caribbean as ATMs are few and far between. Cashing checks onboard would be more convenient than trying to locate an ATM.

 

Enjoy your cruise...

 

Lew

[powelweb]

We just completed a 12 night med cruise which included several private tours that required payment in cash, and the traveler's checks worked out great to cash at guest services.

 

We did bring some euro with us (also purchased in advance from our local AAA) to address our immediate needs upon arrival before we boarded, but we also liked not having to find an ATM, and if we did not need to cash all the traveler's checks, we could simply deposit them back into our bank account when we returned home.

 

I think the ship had mentioned a $1,000 limit in cashing traveler's checks per person.

 

No surcharge to exchange- and the exchange rate was reasonable.

[SuzD123]

Travelers checks can be used/cashed on board. However, the past few years we have switched to using travel VISA debit cards when our local bank stopped selling travelers checks. So now we get two (2) cards with access to the same pool of funds. Ours happen to be issued through AAA, but I imagine there are other sources as well. They can be loaded/reloaded, used safely onboard, on shore, and at most any ATM. They are less cumbersome than travelers checks and offer all of the same security.

[cruisinfanatic]

Do they still issue them????

 

Why do you want cash on the ship?

 

Ships are cashless.

 

If you need cash in port [and most things can be paid by card] just grab some from an ATM.

Ever stepped foot in the casino, tipped someone a little extra, or paid for an excursion. They don't take "card". I'd never use a credit card in the Caribbean if I could avoid it

ATM's when available charge you for your own money.

[peteukmcr]

Travelers checks can be used/cashed on board. However, the past few years we have switched to using travel VISA debit cards when our local bank stopped selling travelers checks. So now we get two (2) cards with access to the same pool of funds. Ours happen to be issued through AAA, but I imagine there are other sources as well. They can be loaded/reloaded, used safely onboard, on shore, and at most any ATM. They are less cumbersome than travelers checks and offer all of the same security.

I'm really interested about the use of 'pre-paid' cards that you mention can be reloaded with funds. You mention that you can use them on board. Is this to make payment towards your on board account even if you open a cash account or with a normal credit card?

 

The reason I ask is that although I have a FairFX pre-paid USD MasterCard that I use when I'm in the US, Celebrity UK terms & conditions specifically state that:

 

'Since American Express Traveller Cheque Cards are prepaid cards, they cannot be used for on board cruise charges, nor can any other pre-paid card. Please note: We do not accept Maestro/Switch cards as a payment method.'

Edited June 22, 2015 by peteukmcr

[cb at sea]

I don't know how much you're thinking of bringing, but bring most of it in large bills and have them broken down on the ship, as needed. $1000 in hundreds is only 10 bills...not hard to carry! Split the money between the 2 of you while traveling, and put it in your cabin's safe until needed.

 

Cash is not hard to carry, IMO.

 

But, traveler's checks will be cashed on the ship for you.

[megr1125]

I'm really interested about the use of 'pre-paid' cards that you mention can be reloaded with funds. You mention that you can use them on board. Is this to make payment towards your on board account even if you open a cash account or with a normal credit card?

 

 

 

The reason I ask is that although I have a FairFX pre-paid USD MasterCard that I use when I'm in the US, Celebrity UK terms & conditions specifically state that:

 

 

 

'Since American Express Traveller Cheque Cards are prepaid cards, they cannot be used for on board cruise charges, nor can any other pre-paid card. Please note: We do not accept Maestro/Switch cards as a payment method.'

 

 

In many cases they cannot be used...hard to verify the funds sometimes, and if, say your prepaid card is for $500 and you spend $600, intending to use an additional form of payment, often the prepaid card will be declined even though you can cover the whole charge with another form of payment..

 

Many prepaid cards have a similar caveat, and as a merchant they are a PITA, especially if you are giving a refund and the person no longer has the prepaid card.....

[trixiegolf]

Guest services will cash up to $300 per day using travelers checks.

I've been on 2 RCI cruises when their ATM machines weren't working. Never again!!

[nimbex1970]

Ever stepped foot in the casino, tipped someone a little extra, or paid for an excursion. They don't take "card". I'd never use a credit card in the Caribbean if I could avoid it

ATM's when available charge you for your own money.

 

I have Ally bank no ATM fees, they repay you the bank user fee that provides the ATM as well. :D:D For your first example, that's why we carry ones and fives!

 

OP, we all worry about credit card fraud. We keep our credit card with the large account in the ship safe for emergencies. We each have a debit card with a $2k balance each (no overdraw). So the worst we have to deal with in the fraud dept. is 2k, quickly tracked, and Ally has always protected our debit fraud transactions. (two instances). I have no experience with travelers checks

[Queen of Oakville]

Travellers cheques are harder to come by now.

 

On a recent trip to Universal Studios, I wanted to take advantage of an AMEX discount which offers 10% off on dining. Canadians cannot get a USD AMEX card and I did not want to pay currency conversion on my CAD card. So I sent hubby to the bank to get traveller's cheque.

 

It took forever as no one could remember how to issue traveller's cheques. The had them but just could not remember how to sell them. Even when trying to redeem them in Universal, some places went smoothly, and others not so much.

[CaptData]

I use Travellers Checks for my cruises all the time. Just go to Guest Services to cash (no charge). Due to the exchange rate now it is better for me to use TC then put on my Visa or Master Card. I get my TC from a local bank or Credit Union.

 

I get them in $100.00 increments. Cash what I need for the day. I ask for small bills is 1s, 5s and 10s.

Edited June 22, 2015 by CaptData

[RadioRob]

Here's RCCL's official policy on check cashing, which includes their traveler check policy:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=3908&faqSubjectId=337

 

A guest may cash one check per cruise as follows:

* One check up to $200.00 USD.

* Only checks written in US dollars which are drawn against a US bank can be accepted.

* Guests can no longer cash a personal check at the Casino cash desk; they can only do this at the Guest Relations or Guest Services Desk.

* Guests can only cash one personal check per bank account per cruise.

 

Foreign Currency and Travelers Checks:

* Guests cannot exchange more than USD $950 in travelers checks and foreign currency per day.

* Guests can only exchange foreign currency and travelers checks for cash at the Guest Relations or Guest Services Desk.

* Guests can only exchange foreign currency and travelers checks for chips and tokens in the Casino.

[Putterdude]

While TCs are very difficult to cash ashore, we always carry $1,000 USD worth of them. That way if we do need some extra cash we have it. They are very cashable on Princess, Celebrity and HAL without a fee. We have the ability to purchase them on a commission free basis...if we had to pay a commission I might think twice about them.

[Thetrail]

Ever stepped foot in the casino, tipped someone a little extra, or paid for an excursion. They don't take "card". I'd never use a credit card in the Caribbean if I could avoid it

ATM's when available charge you for your own money.

Why would you "never" use a credit card in the Caribbean????

[Thetrail]

Here's RCCL's official policy on check cashing, which includes their traveler check policy:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=3908&faqSubjectId=337

 

A guest may cash one check per cruise as follows:

* One check up to $200.00 USD.

* Only checks written in US dollars which are drawn against a US bank can be accepted.

* Guests can no longer cash a personal check at the Casino cash desk; they can only do this at the Guest Relations or Guest Services Desk.

* Guests can only cash one personal check per bank account per cruise.

 

Foreign Currency and Travelers Checks:

* Guests cannot exchange more than USD $950 in travelers checks and foreign currency per day.

* Guests can only exchange foreign currency and travelers checks for cash at the Guest Relations or Guest Services Desk.

* Guests can only exchange foreign currency and travelers checks for chips and tokens in the Casino.

Not seeing this on your post?:confused:

[Thetrail]

Here's RCCL's official policy on check cashing, which includes their traveler check policy:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=3908&faqSubjectId=337

 

A guest may cash one check per cruise as follows:

* One check up to $200.00 USD.

* Only checks written in US dollars which are drawn against a US bank can be accepted.

* Guests can no longer cash a personal check at the Casino cash desk; they can only do this at the Guest Relations or Guest Services Desk.

* Guests can only cash one personal check per bank account per cruise.

 

Foreign Currency and Travelers Checks:

* Guests cannot exchange more than USD $950 in travelers checks and foreign currency per day.

* Guests can only exchange foreign currency and travelers checks for cash at the Guest Relations or Guest Services Desk.

* Guests can only exchange foreign currency and travelers checks for chips and tokens in the Casino.

Failed to read down far enough!....:)

[CrusieToy]

Do they still issue them????

 

Why do you want cash on the ship?

 

Ships are cashless.

 

If you need cash in port [and most things can be paid by card] just grab some from an ATM.

 

My bank stopped issuing them...

[cruisinfanatic]

Why would you "never" use a credit card in the Caribbean????

I said never if I didn't have to. Big difference

[cruisegirl1]

We use them all the time ON THE SHIP to get cash. Our last trip was 28 days with a 15 night cruise. It was a great way to have US cash for the casino and a few times we needed US cash without carrying lots of cash. They are safe and easily cashed ON THE SHIP. They were free to purchase with AAA.

 

M