Safe in room and Zip-lining

[newbiecruiser55]

Do you have to pay to use your safe in your room? Are there any other hidden fees I should be aware of (not talking about port fees or gratuities)? Norwegian wanted our credit card but I declined to give that stating we would use cash. That being said, can we simply use our credit card if we want to purchase something on the ship? We didn't book any excursions through the ship. Is there an opportunity to do that once we port? In other words are the vendors waiting at the ports selling the excursions. Only reason why I don't want to book in advanced through the ship or online is that I want to make sure that I'm not sick (don't always do well on water) when I get to a port.

[paul929207]

No charge for using safe.

 

Anything you purchase on the ship will be signed for and charged to your room account. You cannot use cash for things like drinks, shore excursions, purchases in the shops.  They want your credit card to charge these expenses at the end of the cruise. If you want to pay that account with cash, you can. However, you will have to deposit cash at the front desk. If your charges reach the amount deposited, you will not be able to buy anything until you deposit additional funds.

[Missymo]

The safe in your cabin is for your, private use for the duration of the cruise.  You must use your room key for any services on the ship, no cash except for casino.  It is much easier if you put your credit card on file, or you will find you are constantly having to go the the purser to add funds to your account. Cruise  Excursions are available to purchase  when you you board.  As you get into each port, you will find vendors trying to sell you whatever you are looking to do.  Do your homework before boarding and have some sort of plan of where you want to go. Most vendors online , will let you cancel anywhere from one week to one day before your excursion. Cruise excursions can be cancelled 24 hours in advance.  Welcome to Cruise Critic

 

Edited December 1, 2018 by Missymo

[Flatbush Flyer]

OP: you get no CC FF points with cash. Use a credit card.

[Nebr.cruiser]

I really don't think there are any 'hidden' fees; there might be some you don't expect, but they aren't hidden.  No charge for safes.  

 

Really, using a credit card linked to your on board account is much simpler than depositing cash.  I can't really think of an advantage except that maybe it makes you think twice about buying stuff.  You can't use cash on board, except maybe the casino?  Not sure as I don't use that venue.  

 

A little reading about cruises and the cruise line you are on will prevent any surprise charges; for instance, to know that, say, 18% tip is added to drinks, spa services and specialty restaurants.

 

Almost all ports have many people at the dock area selling tours.  We usually do independent tours arranged ahead of time, but we have done quite a few booked right at the dock and have never had a really bad tour.

 

With a little research, you can find out names of reputable companies, sights and activities to see and do and also many ports you can do without any tour at all; walk, taxi, bus, etc. to a beach, or just walk the port area. 

[MicCanberra]

You can use your CC card for your sea board account and then load it up in cash if you wish so that there is no charges against it.

[cb at sea]

Or, use your credit card to "HOLD" the account, and go down on the last night and pay it off.  Nothing is actually CHARGED to your credit card until the cruise is over.

Do NOT use a DEBIT card in this manner, however....holds from your bank can mess with your bank account.  If you have a choice between debit and cash, ALWAYS pick cash!

[MicCanberra]

Debit cards have there uses but often it is better to use the CC or cash or a mixture of both.

[Essiesmom]

You can use a credit card in the specialty shops onboard if you don't want to put it on your onboard account.  I have done this for jewelry.  EM

[newbiecruiser55]

We have already bought the drink package, so I'm really not sure what else we would purchase on the boat. We won't be doing any spas or other specialty dinners or shows. I just want to veg out and read a book by the pool. This is our first cruise so maybe I am being naive. So we can't pay for an excursion when we are on shore with cash?

[MicCanberra]

Of course you could use cash pay for an excursion once on shore, but how much cash do you want to carry?

[Grandma Dazzles]

15 minutes ago, newbiecruiser55 said:

We have already bought the drink package, so I'm really not sure what else we would purchase on the boat. We won't be doing any spas or other specialty dinners or shows. I just want to veg out and read a book by the pool. This is our first cruise so maybe I am being naive. So we can't pay for an excursion when we are on shore with cash?

 

Sounds like you are cruising to the Caribbean. Most places accept US dollars. However, as a general rule people are recommending credit cards as you should not travel without one.  So much easier to charge to your Seapass account and settle up with a credit card.  

 

You could also find some places accept only local currency or accept dollars but give change in the local currency.  If you were cruising in Europe, for example, you would not be able to spend dollars on shore. Definitely depends where you are cruising as to payment. 

Edited December 2, 2018 by Grandma Dazzles

[newbiecruiser55]

We aren't taking a lot of cash along and we will take our credit card. I simply want to either pay right away with our credit card or with cash. 

Edited December 2, 2018 by newbiecruiser55

[MicCanberra]

Shouldn't have an issue then.

[newbiecruiser55]

So we can pay with our credit card at time of purchase? I don't want to be shocked at the end of the cruise with our purchases.  I do want to think about our purchases as we make them.

[Missymo]

 I do not carry very much cash with me when leaving the ship.  Just enough for any drinks or cab fare. I Take a credit card for any purchases. Safer that way.   Have a wonderful cruise OP

[Nic6318]

1 hour ago, newbiecruiser55 said:

We have already bought the drink package, so I'm really not sure what else we would purchase on the boat. We won't be doing any spas or other specialty dinners or shows. I just want to veg out and read a book by the pool. This is our first cruise so maybe I am being naive. So we can't pay for an excursion when we are on shore with cash?

 

Hi

Welcome to cruise critic.

 

You can pay for an excursion when you are on shore with cash. This would be to a 3rd. party (not cruise line) excursion. So, you are going to a port (presumably you have never been to before), you get off the ship and you don't know what you will be doing. You see a taxi driver, they offer to bring you around the island, maybe there is a bus loading up offering a tour. Are you going to get on? How are you going to decide what is a fair price? How do you even know there will be tour vendors available at the port? If not, will you be happy just wandering around. Some ports there is literally little or nothing at the port. It would be good to know this before you get there.

 

You come to a web site like this to do some research. There are threads on this site dedicated to all the "port of calls". You can find them on the main forums page if you scroll down. You want to have an idea of what you might want to do at each port before you get there. You could purchase a cruise line excursion the day before you arrive at port, so you can be more certain that you are feeling well. On the ships, they have people who will talk about the ports themselves. They might suggest things you would be interested in.

 

On the ship, all purchases are typically charged to your account. You can pay that account at any time with cash, but most people will allow it to be charged to their credit card, just for the simplicity. There are no surprise charges. You know what you have purchased while on the ship. You can check daily/hourly your account, in fact you should check occasionally to make sure there are no mistaken charges. The only time you would need/use cash on the ship is if you choose to give someone an additional tip, or if you are using cash in the casino.

 

Make sure you also go to the thread dedicated to the cruise line you are sailing with. That's also found on the main forums page. You can ask questions specific to that cruise line. Just reading questions from others will usually bring up other questions yo may ask. Ask all the questions before you go on the cruise. Usually I would suggest you ask the questions before you actually spend any money. The reason people are often disappointed while on a cruise is because of things they did not know or understand.

 

hope this helps

have a great cruise

[jlp20]

The room "safe" should be considered a secured space, not a "safe". The safe has default codes for ship personnel to have access. While I trust the steward, I'm not going to put the Hope Diamond in there. That being said, the first thing we do is dump our junk into the safe. Wallets, keys and extra cash stay there for the duration of the cruise. A port wallet with I.D., one credit card, ship card and some cash go ashore.

[MicCanberra]

Wow, why would you not be cruising on your own yacht if you have the Hope Diamond.

[Philob]

12 hours ago, newbiecruiser55 said:

So we can pay with our credit card at time of purchase? I don't want to be shocked at the end of the cruise with our purchases.  I do want to think about our purchases as we make them.

On board purchases are made with your Sail/Room key card only.  As other have mentioned only the casino handles cash.  I've never seen an on-board vendor accept a credit card.

 

You get a print out of your on board charges on the last night or you can check your account at anytime, either on your cabin TV or going to the front desk and ask for a print out.

 

On the last night or on disembarkation day you can go to the front desk (where the line is) and settle your on board account with cash or let them have your credit card info in the beginning and everything you bought on board will be charged to it. 

 

Hidden fees?  Unless you've pre-paid the "daily service charge" or "tip, it will be added on your account every evening.  Drinks from the bar will have a 15-18% "tip" added on per check.  There's a line on your check if you want to add more.  Some room service items have a service charge.

 

If you think your cabin steward (or any waiter) did extra good, thank them and palm him/her some cash before you leave.

 

Some folks advocate going to the front desk and remove the daily service charge in the beginning and tip as they go along or tip at the end.   I'm not one of them, but "Search" around and you'll find hundreds of discussions or rants about this.

Edited December 2, 2018 by Philob

[jlp20]

7 hours ago, Philob said:

...You get a print out of your on board charges on the last night or you can check your account at anytime, either on your cabin TV or going to the front desk and ask for a print out....On the last night or on disembarkation day you can go to the front desk (where the line is) and settle your on board account with cash or let them have your credit card info in the beginning and everything you bought on board will be charged to it. 

 

 

On a seven day cruise, I check on charges on day two. I first verify MY charges are going onto my account. On day six I get a second print out to verify no other pax charges show. If you have ever seen the line at the purser's deck on the last morning, you understand why I check the day before. For longer cruises, the time frame is expanded with possible second mid cruise check. Kind of hard to remember if you had that drink six days ago. 

[MicCanberra]

I check my account often, with some lines they have an interactive TV which makes it easy, other lines have a Kiosk to save you lining up at Guest services.

[CruiseGal999]

On 12/1/2018 at 7:24 PM, newbiecruiser55 said:

We have already bought the drink package, so I'm really not sure what else we would purchase on the boat. We won't be doing any spas or other specialty dinners or shows. I just want to veg out and read a book by the pool. This is our first cruise so maybe I am being naive. So we can't pay for an excursion when we are on shore with cash?

 

You can NOT be aboard the ship without SOME form of payment on your account.  The cruise line is going to cover their butt ... no matter what.   And yes, if you go ashore and take a PRIVATE tour/excursion, you can pay any way you like.  You can NOT pay the ship cash for one of their excursions when you arrive in port.  

 

I am not sure what your concern is .... whether it's to control spending or you fear the cruise line will charge money on your credit card that they shouldn't.  But when you check in at the cruise terminal, a form of payment will be taken and applied to your onboard account.  

[CruiseGal999]

On 12/1/2018 at 8:00 PM, newbiecruiser55 said:

So we can pay with our credit card at time of purchase? I don't want to be shocked at the end of the cruise with our purchases.  I do want to think about our purchases as we make them.

 

NO, you can not pay for individual things on the ship with your credit card.  You give the cruise line your credit card information at check in ... which is at the cruise terminal ... before you step foot onto the ship.   The stores on the ship will NOT take your credit card.  The specialty restaurant will NOT take your credit card, etc.  

 

Where are you cruising to?  Is it the Caribbean?  What ports are you visiting?  What do you want to do when you get ashore?  What type of excursions/activities/tours do you want to take? 

[dkjretired]

One last point on taking shore excursions particularly if you are not familiar with the ports.  I would definitely do some research and book your excursions beforehand.  You can pick someone at the port but you never know  how reliable they are.  Remember that if something happens (accident, illness) and you don't get back to the ship on time, they will leave without you unless you are on a ship sponsored excursion.  One of the pastimes of people on board at ports is watching all the runners trying to get back to the ship before it leaves. 

Edited December 3, 2018 by dkjretired