Please explain how a cash account works?

[CruiseBell]

I am paying for a cruise for my family, my daughter and her husband and their 3 kids (15,11 and 8) and this is their first cruise. They are responsible for all the extra spending they do. We have always had a credit card to apply to our account while cruising and did not need to worry too much about the balance since we kept a close eye on our spending, but they are pretty much a cash only family and will not have a credit card to apply to the account. So I want to know how does a cash account work, do they still need to have a credit card tied to the account? Also, with a teen on board, is there a way to keep his spending to a limit.

 

Or should I just let them use my credit card (do not really want to do this)?

 

Any information is appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[Clarea]

They don't need a credit card to opt for a cash account. RC will let them charge up to $500 before they ask for the account to be paid down. The account must be settled on the last evening. They can pay using cash, debit card, or credit card.

 

With regard to the teen, I believe Guest Services can put limits on the spending, though I have read that the arcade may not be included in that limit. Best to confirm with Guest Services.

[JAMESCC]

We do cash on every cruise, but my wife really handles that. From what I understand she puts like 500 bucks on it when we first board, then keep track of expenses on our stateroom TV and when or if it gets low we'll add more. At the end of the cruise we typically get money back because we don't spend more than we put on the account. We like this method, and will keep doing it. We prepay gratuities before we board so that helps with doing cash for onboard account.

 

Sent from my Pixel using Forums mobile app

[Foosguy]

Bob, not sure if Royal just recently changed policies or if I was treated 'special'... But on my cruise last week, 4 Night, they told me Cash Accounts are now limited to $300 per stateroom (vs $500 per person)... On my prior cruise in Dec on Harmony in Dec 2016 my wife and I were able to charge $500 per person via Cash Account on that 7 Night cruise...

 

Kyle

[Clarea]

Bob, not sure if Royal just recently changed policies or if I was treated 'special'... But on my cruise last week, 4 Night, they told me Cash Accounts are now limited to $300 per stateroom (vs $500 per person)... On my prior cruise in Dec on Harmony in Dec 2016 my wife and I were able to charge $500 per person via Cash Account on that 7 Night cruise...

 

Kyle

Thanks for the update. We will have to see if this is a new fleetwide policy, or something specific to that ship. Which ship by the way?

[CruiseBell]

Thanks for the help.

 

I forgot to mention that 2 rooms are booked, dad and son in one room, mom and girls are in room next door. Would that mean they would need to bring $500 or if they are "special" $300 per room. Also, would this cash be left at guest relations desk once onboard, or at the check-in? I really don't see them spending that amount, we have prepaid gratuities and also for an excursion in Bahamas.

 

We are on Majesty for a 4 day cruise this June.

[Foosguy]

Thanks for the update. We will have to see if this is a new fleetwide policy, or something specific to that ship. Which ship by the way?

 

Brilliance 4 night to Cozumel 3/2/17, they told me it was fleetwide policy... I don't believe it...

 

 

Kyle

[Clarea]

Thanks for the help.

 

I forgot to mention that 2 rooms are booked, dad and son in one room, mom and girls are in room next door. Would that mean they would need to bring $500 or if they are "special" $300 per room. Also, would this cash be left at guest relations desk once onboard, or at the check-in? I really don't see them spending that amount, we have prepaid gratuities and also for an excursion in Bahamas.

 

We are on Majesty for a 4 day cruise this June.

You don't need to give them cash up front. However, if you do want to give them cash up front or when you settle your bill at the end of the cruise, you would do that on board, at Guest Services.

[Ken at the beach]

Bob, not sure if Royal just recently changed policies or if I was treated 'special'... But on my cruise last week, 4 Night, they told me Cash Accounts are now limited to $300 per stateroom (vs $500 per person)... On my prior cruise in Dec on Harmony in Dec 2016 my wife and I were able to charge $500 per person via Cash Account on that 7 Night cruise...

 

Kyle

 

Thanks for the update. We will have to see if this is a new fleetwide policy, or something specific to that ship. Which ship by the way?

 

 

Cruises 7 days or longer are allowed up to $500 while cruises 6 days or less are limited to $300 before being required to pay down the balance.

 

These same limits coincidentally apply to withdraws from the casino with a cash account.

[Clarea]

Cruises 7 days or longer are allowed up to $500 while cruises 6 days or less are limited to $300 before being required to pay down the balance.

 

These same limits coincidentally apply to withdraws from the casino with a cash account.

Thanks Ken. These limits are per account, right? In other words, if two people are responsible for their own onboard account, each would get these limits, even if they are in the same stateroom?

[Ken at the beach]

Thanks Ken. These limits are per account, right? In other words, if two people are responsible for their own onboard account, each would get these limits, even if they are in the same stateroom?

 

I would assume so but I haven't tried that.

[cb at sea]

That's not a "limit" on what you can spend...it may be a limit that you can charge before you have to give them the actual money...but you certainly can and will be allowed to spend as much as you can pay for!! There are NO limits on spending!!! Trust me on that!

 

Simply means, once an ACCOUNT has $300 worth of charges, you must go and give them at least $300. If your kids/grandkids are on 1 account, once they hit $300, then they need to go and pay it off.

[cbusbigred]

This really helps. We are also a cash only family (viva el Dave Ramsey), and we don't want to occupy our debit card with a daily charge. We aren't big drinkers, and will have our excursions (and gratuities if possible) paid before we board.

[mollyeilis]

If you have OBC that 300/500 amount is after the OBC, by the way.

 

Arcade cannot and will not be blocked. If a teen gets weak they can use their card and rack up arcade charges. They'll know what they are doing because you have to add the money to the card at a machine; it's not just swiping at the game machines.

 

And with a teen even if you tell them it's blocked if they mention that to an in-the-know new friend they might be told the truth.

 

With my son we don't get hugely serious unless it's a life-threatening behavior we are warning against. But with the arcade we are super serious about it being on pain of "death" if he charges without our permission. :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums