Pros/Cons when using cash for cruise acct?

[Ahall2015]

This will be our first cruise in January on Brilliance. I set up our cruise account as cash. For now. Have heard way too many stories about cc's being charged for misc. things after cruise.

 

Does anyone have any cons to doing this? Or are they basically all pros?

 

Also if you do or have done this, how much cash did you put on your account? We have $200 obc and we are NOT buying a drink package as our cruise is only 4 nights. How much would be a good amount to bring? IYO.

 

Thank you in advance for your responses

[GTO-Girl]

We always set up our account with a credit card..... but go down the day before the cruise is over and pay off our account with cash. If we have any drinks, etc on the last evening after we have paid off the account we let them charge them to our credit card.

 

This way we don't have to worry about how much to put on a cash account and we don't have a credit card bill either.

 

We have never had any problems with any extra charges from the ship.

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise!!

[samlomax]

We have used cash account onboard for all our cruises in the past 5 years. The only thing is queuing up on first day to put the cash on but longest time we queued was 15 mins, you can check the account for charges on your stateroom tv as often as you like so if you notice anything whilst on the cruise it is quite easy to sort, also if its running low you can add more whenever you want, on the last evening you have to cash out the account by 11ish and then you cant spend on the account (except if you have a drinks package) If by any chance you don't close out the account then they stop you as you are leaving the ship (happened to my dad lol) as your room key is the account card too.

 

sami.

[ken_nyc]

We always set up our account with a credit card..... but go down the day before the cruise is over and pay off our account with cash. If we have any drinks, etc on the last evening after we have paid off the account we let them charge them to our credit card.

 

This way we don't have to worry about how much to put on a cash account and we don't have a credit card bill either.

 

We have never had any problems with any extra charges from the ship.

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise!!

 

We have done the same thing.

[Clarea]

A couple of disadvantages of a cash type account:

 

You must pay off and close the account on the last evening, when there can be long lines at Guest Services.

 

Once the account is closed, you cannot charge anything else on your SeaPass account.

[spookwife]

This will be our first cruise in January on Brilliance. I set up our cruise account as cash. For now. Have heard way too many stories about cc's being charged for misc. things after cruise.

 

Does anyone have any cons to doing this? Or are they basically all pros?

 

Also if you do or have done this, how much cash did you put on your account? We have $200 obc and we are NOT buying a drink package as our cruise is only 4 nights. How much would be a good amount to bring? IYO.

 

Thank you in advance for your responses

 

 

luckily Royal lets you charge up to $500 a cabin before they cut you off. many lines require a $100 per person per night deposit up front with a cash account. so figure that as a benchmark for how much to bring.

 

however we don't like having that much cash in hand before plonking it down at check in so we always use a CC. have never had an issue with things being charged after the fact

[north29]

But WHY does anyone do a Cash account? After many many cruises, never had a problem using a credit card, except for two times, and they were easily identified and solved on the last two days of the cruise.

I hate standing in line PERIOD

[wolfcathorse]

after 10 years of cruising using a CC to back my account, and after the last 8 years of having charges show up on the CC after getting home (even though the account was paid off on the last night). I'm going to set up future accounts in cash. I have it with me anyway to pay off any balances. I should not have to jump through hoops, no matter how easy, to keep a zero balance at zero once I've left the ship.

[Clarea]

But WHY does anyone do a Cash account? After many many cruises, never had a problem using a credit card, except for two times, and they were easily identified and solved on the last two days of the cruise.

I hate standing in line PERIOD

Some folks do not have or prefer not to use a credit card. Another advantage of a cash account is the ability to get a cash advance from the casino without paying the 5% fee.

[help04me]

But WHY does anyone do a Cash account? After many many cruises, never had a problem using a credit card, except for two times, and they were easily identified and solved on the last two days of the cruise.

I hate standing in line PERIOD

I always use cash I just prefer over letting anyone have my credit card info . I too have heard all the terrible stories of getting charges after leaving the ship and a cash account solves that. I am always early when getting on the ship so no real line then and I close it out about midnight the last night. I have never had any issues with waiting after 7 rccl cruises. but if you tend to retire early the last night then I can see the logic of cc usage .frankly I do not want my last thoughts of a great cruise how I had to fight to get a charge reversed . just my way of thinking and opinion

[cb at sea]

To each his own! Cash is definitely better than using a debit card. A credit card is easier (IMO) than cash...but they will pretty much take any form of payment!

[blackshirt]

But WHY does anyone do a Cash account? After many many cruises, never had a problem using a credit card, except for two times, and they were easily identified and solved on the last two days of the cruise.

I hate standing in line PERIOD

 

I feel the same way. From my viewpoint there are no pro's to a cash account. Another pro to using a CC is the additional cash reward or points your card may offer.

[sunset seekers]

We have had a cash account for the last couple cruises now and have always had OBC so have not put any amount on account to start with. The OBC shows on account by the next day and we don't normally use our seapass card the first day.

[StrikeEagle]

I always use my credit card for the charge on my seapass account in the past, can someone tell me how to open a cash account or how the cash account work?

 

On embarkation day, when you check-in, do you hand them a certain amount of cash which you think you will spend on the ship and when you use your seapass card to buy something on the ship, it is deduct from that amount?

 

Thanks

[Clarea]

I always use my credit card for the charge on my seapass account in the past, can someone tell me how to open a cash account or how the cash account work?

 

On embarkation day, when you check-in, do you hand them a certain amount of cash which you think you will spend on the ship and when you use your seapass card to buy something on the ship, it is deduct from that amount?

 

Thanks

You can opt for a cash account as part of your online check-in, or during actual check-in. You don't have to put any money down, Royal will allow you to charge up to $500 before they ask you to pay it down.

[StrikeEagle]

You can opt for a cash account as part of your online check-in, or during actual check-in. You don't have to put any money down, Royal will allow you to charge up to $500 before they ask you to pay it down.

 

Thank you Bob, I already did the online check-in about a month ago using the credit card. I guess that when I check in if I want to use the cash account I can tell them so.

 

I thought RCI required a deposit when using a cash account.

 

This is from their website:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=265&faqSubjectId=337

 

" Please note:

We require guests to place a deposit if they are paying for their SeaPass account with cash. There is a $500 daily limit on cash accounts for 7+ night sailings and $300 for 2/3/4/5 night sailings. Once the daily cash limit is reached, we will call the guest and inform the guest that the limit has been reached. "

Edited November 17, 2015 by StrikeEagle

[Clarea]

Thank you Bob, I already did the online check-in about a month ago using the credit card. I guess that when I check in if I want to use the cash account I can tell them so.

 

I thought RCI required a deposit when using a cash account.

 

This is from their website:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=265&faqSubjectId=337

 

" Please note:

We require guests to place a deposit if they are paying for their SeaPass account with cash. There is a $500 daily limit on cash accounts for 7+ night sailings and $300 for 2/3/4/5 night sailings. Once the daily cash limit is reached, we will call the guest and inform the guest that the limit has been reached. "

Unless the rules have changed recently, I suspect that part of the website has not been updated.

[sdrocks]

We always use a credit card to set up the account and then pay it off in cash

night before end of cruise. Just our preference and have not encountered any

problems on the past 18 cruises in doing this.

[cruise_blog]

I used to always use a credit card, but we usually get good amounts of on-board credit and never spend it all. Just got back from a cruise on Allure where we had a lot of credit, so I opted for a cash account instead. The benefit is that we could then withdraw all the on-board credit from the casino without having to pay the 5% fee.

[ryano]

Thank you Bob, I already did the online check-in about a month ago using the credit card. I guess that when I check in if I want to use the cash account I can tell them so.

 

I thought RCI required a deposit when using a cash account.

 

This is from their website:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&faqId=265&faqSubjectId=337

 

" Please note:

We require guests to place a deposit if they are paying for their SeaPass account with cash. There is a $500 daily limit on cash accounts for 7+ night sailings and $300 for 2/3/4/5 night sailings. Once the daily cash limit is reached, we will call the guest and inform the guest that the limit has been reached. "

 

Thats the same thing the website said several years ago. There is no deposit requirement for cash accounts. As pointed out above, you can charge up to 500.00 before they ask for any money. Your Seapass is available for use the minute you board the ship.

 

As far as long lines, ive yet to encounter that BUT I go to Guest services around midnight the last night before I turn in and either settle up or "cash out". Ive yet to see these long lines. Generally I cash out because I prepurchase OBC and have some left.

Edited November 17, 2015 by ryano

[Charger2008]

But WHY does anyone do a Cash account? After many many cruises, never had a problem using a credit card, except for two times, and they were easily identified and solved on the last two days of the cruise.

I hate standing in line PERIOD

 

Because some people don't have credit cards :D We do cash account on our cruises.

[LuCruise]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a cash account is an advantage if you are Canadian since we can purchase OBC at 1.1%. Then with a cash account, I believe you can withdraw money at any point and use it for say, when in port. This is an advantage as we're getting the USD at 1.1% exchange instead of the current exchange rate of 1.33% (today's rate)

 

But what happens if

1. You have $500 in your account and you spend $600? If it's cash and not credit card, how do they get the remaining $100?
   
2. If you have $500 and only spend $400, then I assume you lose the $100 if you do not stand in line and cash it out the last night, right?
   

Edited November 17, 2015 by LuCruise

[Charger2008]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a cash account is an advantage if you are Canadian since we can purchase OBC at 1.1%. Then with a cash account, I believe you can withdraw money at any point and use it for say, when in port.

 

But what happens if

1. You have $500 in your account and you spend $600? If it's cash and not credit card, how do they get the remaining $100?
   
2. If you have $500 and only spend $400, then I assume you lose the $100 if you do not stand in line and cash it out the last night, right?
   

 

If you try to spend $600, whatever venue you are at on the ship will tell you that you need to go to guest services as your card does not work. If you have money left, you get that back the last night at guest services :) I seriously doubt (could be wrong) anyone would say "oh to heck with it, I don't need that $100" :)

[Clarea]

...You have $500 in your account and you spend $600? If it's cash and not credit card, how do they get the remaining $100?...

You will be able to charge up to $500 above any credit in your account before they ask you to pay it down. If you still owe $100 and try to walk off the ship, the buzzer (not the nice ding) will sound when your SeaPass card is scanned as you leave, and you will be directed to Guest Services to settle your account.

[ryano]

On the other hand, you wont be able to get off the ship if they owe you either if you are on a cash account. It doesn't matter if they only owe you a dollar. Youll have to go get your dollar before you can disembark. Watched that happen before.

Edited November 17, 2015 by ryano