Cash Only

[Cruising4]

Thinking of setting up a cash only account for our onboard charges. What are the specifics of this? Will I have to wait at GS on the last night of the cruise to settle the charges? If I have extra cash leftover on the account how do I get that back?

 

It is my understanding I can go negative $500.

 

Thank you.

[matj2000]

If you just use a CC it is much less hassle....

[Clarea]

Yes, you have to settle your account on the last evening. They will refund you any extra cash at that time.

[Cruising4]

Thanks, I'll probably put a CC on file then take pics of the mini-bar before and after. I'm trying to avoid the post-cruise fraudulent mini-bar charges that seems to happen way too frequently.

[Clarea]

Thanks, I'll probably put a CC on file then take pics of the mini-bar before and after. I'm trying to avoid the post-cruise fraudulent mini-bar charges that seems to happen way too frequently.

If you're not going to make any charges after you settle your account, then I would not put the CC on file. That's the best way to avoid the "mistaken" mini-bar charges.

[Ourusualbeach]

Thanks, I'll probably put a CC on file then take pics of the mini-bar before and after. I'm trying to avoid the post-cruise fraudulent mini-bar charges that seems to happen way too frequently.

 

Just remember that it's only those who get charged who end up saying something. While I agree that there have been many reports of erroneous charges they are still by far a small % of the overall number of people cruising. We were on Allure early January and had no unexpected charges.

[jamesr3939]

Most of the mini-bars have been emptied. The Allure in November was empty.

[Havingfun2010]

Thinking of setting up a cash only account for our onboard charges. What are the specifics of this? Will I have to wait at GS on the last night of the cruise to settle the charges? If I have extra cash leftover on the account how do I get that back?

 

It is my understanding I can go negative $500.

 

Thank you.

 

If you don't mind waiting in line several times to manage this, you can. Personally, I prepay for everything, and my cc bill is next to nothing. I still wouldn't want to spend my last evening in line, than knowing I can't spend any thing, not even a drink. Way too much of a hassle

[toxicfairy]

We always do cash account. It's really no big deal . They let you know when you've spent $500 then ypu go put $ on your account. My DH puts money on as soon as we get on then the last night he goes and settles up. No holds on our cc's and no bills to pay after vacation :)

[Cruising4]

Is cash accepted for payment anywhere on board? Like the store or bars or pay restaurants?

 

Glad to hear the mini-bars are emptied, now if they'd just remove those bottles of water!

[Ourusualbeach]

Is cash accepted for payment anywhere on board? Like the store or bars or pay restaurants?

 

Glad to hear the mini-bars are emptied, now if they'd just remove those bottles of water!

 

No cash accepted anywhere on the ship (other than tips). Seapass card only.

 

Edit. And casino...thanks Bob.

[Clarea]

Is cash accepted for payment anywhere on board? Like the store or bars or pay restaurants?

 

Glad to hear the mini-bars are emptied, now if they'd just remove those bottles of water!

Cash accepted (and required) only in the casino.

[brillohead]

That line at the desk is HORRENDOUS the last night. Not enough money in the world for me to waste three hours of my vacation waiting in line, especially if there is an erroneous $10 minibar charge post-cruise, I can spend five minutes on the phone getting it cleared up.

 

Three wasted hours on vacation versus five wasted minutes on my couch at home = NO BRAINER!!!!

 

(And after five RC cruises in the past few years, I've never had an erroneous minibar charge, during or after the cruise. I just put a note on the door that says we won't be needing minibar service at all, and they just skip my room every day.)

[ryano]

Ive yet to see these horrendous lines everyone talks about and I always do cash accounts but I go there late, generally after midnight, right before I turn in for the night if there is any settling up to do. I have also never had erroneous mini bar charges, thank goodness.

 

Generally what I will do is set up a cash account and then pre purchase OBC using my debit card. This way there are no holds on my account and I can charge up to 500.00 and then by the second day of the cruise my OBC shows up. If they owe me, I cash out on the last night. If I owe them, I settle up right before bedtime.

 

 

Just make sure you settle up though after ALL charges have hit. Even if you owe .25 cents you wont be allowed to disembark until its settled. Also the same if they owe you.

[toxicfairy]

As far as cash being accepted on ship. Cash account works just like a credit card account. Your sea pass card is used to " charge" everything you purchase but instead of it being billed to your credit card it's subtracted from your cash account. We also have never had to deal with horrendous lines. My husband goes down to the desk before we turn in on our last night.

[cb at sea]

Put a card on file, and put whatever amount of cash you think you'll spend....if you go over your allotted cash, they can just start using the credit card. You can check your balance on the next to last MORNING...when there are no major lines...and go get any remaining cash.

[bowler15547]

We have never had a problem with erroneous mini-bar charges. I've bought a soda or two out of the mini bar and it has always been correct. If you are that concerned about the mini-bar that you would go for a cash account, request to have it emptied on the first day.

[Lisa8]

You should be fine making it a cash only account. We did this on our last cruise. We put money in your account though to cover the charges we might have. Then when that credit ran out and we hit 500+ mark we went and settled the account. If you have remaining money you can easily cash out at the casino.

[matj2000]

That line at the desk is HORRENDOUS the last night. Not enough money in the world for me to waste three hours of my vacation waiting in line, especially if there is an erroneous $10 minibar charge post-cruise, I can spend five minutes on the phone getting it cleared up.

 

Three wasted hours on vacation versus five wasted minutes on my couch at home = NO BRAINER!!!!

 

Really 3 hours?

 

Slight exaggeration.

 

By 2.75 hours.....

 

 

 

[bala1130]

What about having a large OBC on a cash account. We have $650 in OBC for an upcoming cruise. Do you still have to put additional cash if you have over $500 in OBC?

[Lisa8]

What about having a large OBC on a cash account. We have $650 in OBC for an upcoming cruise. Do you still have to put additional cash if you have over $500 in OBC?

I dont know what the limit was but we just went down to guest services to make sure we didnt go over 500 because we wanted to keep track of what we were spending. You can ask guest services the first night what your limit is on cash account.

 

Also as long as the lines may seem, the longest you'll ever wait is 30 min in my opinion.

[Ourusualbeach]

What about having a large OBC on a cash account. We have $650 in OBC for an upcoming cruise. Do you still have to put additional cash if you have over $500 in OBC?

 

No. You can charge up to $500 in addition to your OBC, in your case you could charge up to $1150 before being asked to pay it down.

[Clarea]

What about having a large OBC on a cash account. We have $650 in OBC for an upcoming cruise. Do you still have to put additional cash if you have over $500 in OBC?

No, you only have to put in additional cash when you owe $500 over and above all your OBC.

[mollyeilis]

What about having a large OBC on a cash account. We have $650 in OBC for an upcoming cruise. Do you still have to put additional cash if you have over $500 in OBC?

 

 

 

Nope. They take the obc into account.

 

We had 300ish obc and we charged that then the amount allowed beyond that before we had to go out cash down.

 

(Sorry didn't realize it had been thoroughly answered...page 1 of 2 wasn't as obvious as my tired self needed this morn)

[Clarea]

... (Sorry didn't realize it had been thoroughly answered...page 1 of 2 wasn't as obvious as my tired self needed this morn)

It's the new format, Much harder to read. I've missed the extra pages a couple of times too. Still wondering what the improvement is.:confused: