Having trouble cashing travelers checks

[bplazo]

I am currently on the Serenade and I was trying to cash a travelers check at St. Martin yesterday and the clerk said that the signatures do not match and wouldnt cash it.

 

This is the first time that I have had this happen to me. I do not know if I was just in a rush when I purchased the checks and my signature was rushed or what but it is becoming a problem. I went to guest relations and they didnt want to cash them either after I explained what the problem was. Guess I will have to practice writing better. I do not think I will by travelers checks again.

[nerak]

We saw this happen to someone last year on the Serenade. They didn't feel the signatures matched, so would not cash the TC. Does your signature look like that on your driver's license or passport? Just a suggestion...you might ask to talk to Sinead at the desk. Maybe you could match a signature with the DL or passport for additonal proof. Might be worth a try...and Sinead is over the desk. Otherwise, what about trying a bank with the same ID as above? Just a suggestion, can't hurt to try. Enjoy the cruise...wish we were there.

[byefairwind]

I had the opposite problem. I purchased 20 checks and on the first couple I signed nice and neat and then signed the rest in my usual sloppy fast fashion. I have a long name. Anyway i tried to cash the first one and the purser said it didn't match. It became quite embarrassing as I tried to sign neater without luck. I told her she could see my passport with the sloppy signature, my pile of bar bills that were really sloppy etc. She went in the back and talked to somebody came out and said no. Now I was in a quandry. I had $1000 in checks that I wanted to cash for tips. Large group. I thought this over for the night as well as trying to practice this way too neat signature. Next day I made my move. I went back to the pursers and made sure I got a different person. I then started with the last check I had signed and put my slop down. Fired through the checks which signatures were matching up perfectly. Finally got to the one that was rejected and explained the situation. Showed her how the checks had sequential numbers and said I needed the cash for tips. She was a much nicer purser as she just smiled and cashed them all.

 

Next time I may get the dual signature ones. My wife always signs neat.

[alb38]

I cashed my travelers checks onboard the Serenade before I went into port - I was never asked for any ID onboard the ship just my cabin number!

[JamesFic]

I stopped using traveller's checks years ago. Get your self a debit card and get cash as you need it from ATM's. They're everywhere -even on the ship.

[pjbrock]

Never had trouble cashing them on board the ship-you must have gotten a grumpy purser! Hope you didn't tip her!!

[pjbrock]

Never had trouble cashing them on board the ship-you must have gotten a grumpy purser! Hope you didn't tip her!!

[natish3000]

These cards are linked to your bank account.

If one gets stolen or someone gets hold of the number they can drain your bank account.

[springtxbill]

Get a credit card.:)

[dad son team]

I stopped using traveller's checks years ago. Get your self a debit card and get cash as you need it from ATM's. They're everywhere -even on the ship.

 

NEVER use the ATM's on the ship. The fees are ridiculous. Go to the casino and get cash from the window against your seapass card. There is no extra charge for this, but remember that your seapass account will be high at the end of the cruise if you do this enough.

[FrogCruiser]

One more warning...don't use the American Express Traveler's Check Cards.... they are convenient and can be "reloaded" BUT the pursurs won't give you cash for them and you can't use them in the ATM machines on the ship....I had planned on cashing those for tip money also and ran into this problem...so there I am...last night on board. and no tip money... but plenty of "cash" on my traveler's check card..."Accepted everywhere American Express is accepted" or so they told me when I got them at the bank! Of course the fine print does say not for use on a Cruise ship, or to rent a car, or to buy gas at the pump....... the devil is in the details and unless you are a Philadelphia lawyer who reads all the fine print when they buy a traveler's check?

[larkwind]

Frogcruiser--is it a Horned Frog, by chance? If so--go TCU!

[FrogCruiser]

"how 'bout Them Horned Frogs!!!!"

[EBFURR]

Wow, this is the first time I have heard of this, especially on the ship. I can see why someone on shore might not do it, especially if you are trying to cash a $50.00 check for a $5.00 purchase. I have never had a problem on the ship. I am also a very sloppy writer and I don't think I have ever made two signatures that look the same - mine are kind of like snowflakes in that regard. I will definitely be more careful having read this.

[bplazo]

Wow, I feel better knowing that I am not the only one with a bad signature. I am going to try the guest relations desk again, if no luck I will go to the casino and get money off my sea pass.

 

We are having a great time on the Serenade. We did Jungle Tours with Shal today and it has to be one of the best tours that I have done. We were the only people on the tour today (three of us).