Using a debit card for shipboard expenses

[Kclovesken]

I read that NCL doesn't recommend using a debit card however that's what we would like to use. Has anyone had an issue using a debit card? Do I still need to reach out and let them know we ar travelling? Thoughts or suggestions?

[hallux]

I wouldn't.  They put a funds hold on the payment card, which means those funds are not available in whatever account the card is linked to until the hold is cleared.  There's a chance the hold doesn't come off before the final charge hits, which means you need 2x your expected ship-board charges available in that account to be sure to cover the charges and credit hold.

[bonvoyagie]

Debit cards are not recommended as they are not as secure as a credit card and NCL will place substantial holds against the card as your cruise progresses. I would almost go with all cash instead of a debit card.

[pcakes122]

4 hours ago, Kclovesken said:

I read that NCL doesn't recommend using a debit card however that's what we would like to use. Has anyone had an issue using a debit card? Do I still need to reach out and let them know we ar travelling? Thoughts or suggestions?

As others have said, the only reason that NCL doesn't recommend using them is for YOUR benefit. People in the past have gotten upset because NCL puts a "hold" on your funds (even if you aren't spending anything) and, depending upon your bank, those holds can stay on for up to 2 weeks -  even after you are home from the cruise. (They do this on credit cards as well, but since the debit card is connected to your checking account, it's a much bigger impact to you.)

 

So the answer is yes, many people have had issues using debit cards (because of the funds being held.)  If you have waay more $$ in your checking account than you're planning on spending, you'll be fine!

[phillygwm]

12 hours ago, Kclovesken said:

I read that NCL doesn't recommend using a debit card however that's what we would like to use. Has anyone had an issue using a debit card? Do I still need to reach out and let them know we ar travelling? Thoughts or suggestions?

As stated in previous posts, unless you have a lot of extra funds in your checking account, don't use a debit card.  NCL will place sizable, potentially multiple authorization holds on the account, exceeding what you'll actually spend.  These can take a week or so to fall off.

 

I'd recommend giving them a credit card at check-in.  If you really want to use your debit card, go to Guest Services on the last night of the cruise and settle up your tab using that.

[BirdTravels]

13 hours ago, Kclovesken said:

I read that NCL doesn't recommend using a debit card however that's what we would like to use. Has anyone had an issue using a debit card? Do I still need to reach out and let them know we ar travelling? Thoughts or suggestions?

NCL will run authorizations against your debit card throughout the cruise. And run the total balance due at the end of your cruise. YOUR BANK will almost always take each authorization and final charge, and place a hold against the funds in your account. 

 

Example: 

 

If, over the course of your cruise, you run up a $2000 onboard bill (e.g., Daily service charges $434 for 4 people, specialty dining of $566, and shore excursions of $1000).

 

NCL could place authorizations of $500, $700, $600, $600 ($2400 total) against your debit card over the course of the cruise. They will always authorize more to cover future expenses (i.e., they do not try to authorize each charge made). They will make authorizations based on your spending patterns. It's like a lot of hotels when they tell you at check-in that they are running an authorization of $100 for "incidental charges" (always wanting to make sure that you are "good for the money" before allowing you to charge your room account). 

 

At the end of the cruise, NCL runs the actual charge for $2000 against your debit card.

 

Most/all banks are not smart enough (or willing to take the risk) to equate the $2000 actual charge against the multiple small authorizations.

 

YOUR BANK places holds on your funds.

 

YOUR BANK determines how long to hold funds for the authorizations. (Some hold for a few days, some hold for a few weeks to mitigate risk of the charge coming through).

 

At the end of the cruise, (1) you have $4400 of your funds tied up; (2) you must have much more than 2 times your onboard account worth of funds available in your bank account, otherwise that final charge will "bounce" and you will be stopped by security as you try to disembark and sent back to Guest Services to pay your bill with another form of payment. 

 

 

[Kclovesken]

Thanks for the input guys I appreciate it. Credit card it is ❤️

[dbrown84]

you can also do cash, especially if you don't charge much.  But if you want to use a debit card and avoid some of the charges, pre-pay as much as possible.  I like to pay a little from each paycheck when I have a cruise booked.  Once I'm done paying for the cruise itself, I'll prepay for the gratuities from a check, then book/pay for any excursions one by one.  If I have OBC as part of my booking, then I actually don't fund my account at all.  Otherwise, I'll put $10 or $20 on my account.  The only reason for this is that even if your drinks are free, you have to have a positive balance on your onboard account to "charge" the free drinks.  I prefer to setup a cash account because if you give a credit card, they will still do a minimum hold on it, and I'd rather have that available for shopping in the ports, where as you can put any amount you want (or nothing) when using cash.

[MeHeartCruising]

Seriously, if you want to use a debit card, stop at an ATM on the way to the port and take $300 - $500  out of your checking account.  Then get on board and go to guest services and set up your cash account as discussed in the above post.  Easy and the best way to use a debit card.  You will likely have to wait in a sizable line at guest services. 

[pcakes122]

Since you do have a credit card,  I'll also add that I do not know why people people don't want to use their credit cards!  Most credit cards today have a lot of great perks and/or cash back -  especially if you have the NCL credit card through Bank of America (They pay 3x points for NCL purchases.)

 

I don't usually have a bill for purchases/incidentals at the end of my cruise (casino perk - I wont complain), but I go out of my way to charge all my casino play to my cabin (you can now charge up to 5K per day!) 

 

Using a credit card these days is like getting free money! 💰 (of course you need to pay the credit card bill in full each month to avoid any interest charges!)

[Kclovesken]

2 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

Since you do have a credit card,  I'll also add that I do not know why people people don't want to use their credit cards!  Most credit cards today have a lot of great perks and/or cash back -  especially if you have the NCL credit card through Bank of America (They pay 3x points for NCL purchases.)

 

I don't usually have a bill for purchases/incidentals at the end of my cruise (casino perk - I wont complain), but I go out of my way to charge all my casino play to my cabin (you can now charge up to 5K per day!) 

 

Using a credit card these days is like getting free money! 💰 (of course you need to pay the credit card bill in full each month to avoid any interest charges!)

Yea I agree with you. I thought about that as well. Was just curious if it was a hassle or not and apparently it is sooooo lesson learned lol. Since I have another guest going my brain went old school and was thinking ok we do debit you can Zelle or Venmo me tada. However I see my brain was clearly already on vacation 😂

[sanger727]

27 minutes ago, Kclovesken said:

Yea I agree with you. I thought about that as well. Was just curious if it was a hassle or not and apparently it is sooooo lesson learned lol. Since I have another guest going my brain went old school and was thinking ok we do debit you can Zelle or Venmo me tada. However I see my brain was clearly already on vacation 😂

you can set up your accounts separately and under different payment methods.

[RRSeeker]

I use a credit card for most everything. I used to use a debit card but after having my card compromised twice I realized it wasn’t worth it. In the end I never lost money but trying to get your cash back when you have bills to pay isn’t as stressful as submitting a dispute with your credit card. 

[sanger727]

1 minute ago, RRSeeker said:

I use a credit card for most everything. I used to use a debit card but after having my card compromised twice I realized it wasn’t worth it. In the end I never lost money but trying to get your cash back when you have bills to pay isn’t as stressful as submitting a dispute with your credit card. 

agreed. I never use my debit card outside of a bank atm for this reason. Worst case scenario with a credit card is that I have to dispute charges and report it as stolen. Worst case with a debit card is missing bills and bouncing checks.

[julig22]

Slightly off topic but I got a debit card specifically for foreign travel. It covers foreign ATM fees so I can do currency exchanges as needed and if it gets stolen or compromised the maximum amount I can lose is the amount in the account - kinda like a prepaid cc.

The NCL card gets me points toward an upgraded cabin so that's what I use for all NCL charges (no foreign transaction fees either).

[CielG22]

7 hours ago, dbrown84 said:

If I have OBC as part of my booking, then I actually don't fund my account at all.  Otherwise, I'll put $10 or $20 on my account.  The only reason for this is that even if your drinks are free, you have to have a positive balance on your onboard account to "charge" the free drinks.  

 

Possibly a daft question, but is this the case if you have the drinks package, that the drinks included in the package are still charged to the account? How does that work?

[debenson0723]

20 minutes ago, CielG22 said:

 

Possibly a daft question, but is this the case if you have the drinks package, that the drinks included in the package are still charged to the account? How does that work?

No, they are not charged to your account.  Half the time they don't even take my card (though they are always supposed to). The only time you would get a charge is if your drink is over the $15 limit.

[CielG22]

Just now, debenson0723 said:

No, they are not charged to your account.  Half the time they don't even take my card (though they are always supposed to). The only time you would get a charge is if your drink is over the $15 limit.

Oh good. Thank you.

[phillygwm]

2 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

No, they are not charged to your account.  Half the time they don't even take my card (though they are always supposed to). The only time you would get a charge is if your drink is over the $15 limit.

Or if you're in port, where taxes would apply.

[phillygwm]

4 hours ago, julig22 said:

Slightly off topic but I got a debit card specifically for foreign travel. It covers foreign ATM fees so I can do currency exchanges as needed and if it gets stolen or compromised the maximum amount I can lose is the amount in the account - kinda like a prepaid cc.

The NCL card gets me points toward an upgraded cabin so that's what I use for all NCL charges (no foreign transaction fees either).

My primary bank charges a fee for foreign currency transactions.  I later realized my secondary account, with a credit union, does not.  So if I'm using an ATM in a foreign country I'll use the credit union ATM/debit card.  I never use a debit card for purchases.  

 

I  recommend a few things before any international trip:  1) Check your cards to see which surcharge transactions in other currencies.  Leave those at home;  2) Research the consumer protections for disputes abroad; some cards will be much better than others;  3) Always register your travel with the card companies.  You don't want to be shut down because a transaction from a strange country got flagged; and 4) Always carry one or more "backup" cards, preferably on different networks (V/MC/AX/Discover.)  Things happen.  Amex isn't as widely accepted abroad, especially off the tourist path, and I've encountered foreign merchants who accept Visa or MC but not both.

[hallux]

5 hours ago, phillygwm said:

3) Always register your travel with the card companies.  You don't want to be shut down because a transaction from a strange country got flagged

You'd be surprised how many people miss this step.

 

Funny story on that.  I was in Mexico City for work, there were 3 of us from my company there, one had been there previously.  We were trying to get cash from an ATM for a weekend excursion, the two "newbies" had no problem but the other guy had some trouble.  Turns out the two of us that had no trouble HAD contacted our banks to register the travel, the other guy hadn't and had never heard of doing such!  He called his bank, instant success.

[Joanne G.]

7 hours ago, phillygwm said:

. . . . .3) Always register your travel with the card companies.  You don't want to be shut down because a transaction from a strange country got flagged; 

 

Interestingly, I planned on doing this last summer before a road trip to S. Carolina.  Two major credit card companies, Chase and Bank of America, said this was no longer necessary, regardless of whether I was headed out of the country or within the country.   They apparently use some secret method to detect potentially fraudulent activity.    I ultimately was six states away from my home, buying gas, food, and hotel stays during the trip, without any issues, even though I can't think of anything in my spending patterns that would indicate that trip was typical for me.     I did take 3 cards with me and ample cash, in order to be prepared for a fraud alert that actually was me making a purchase.

 

 

 

[MeHeartCruising]

I always notify my credit card and ATM banks when I travel internationally and for long domestic trips.  As stated above, a couple of them no longer gather that information.

 

I will add that on one cruise I took about 5 years ago, I notified the credit card company of my Caribbean island destinations as well as Florida (departing from Miami).  The night before the cruise departed, I decided to purchase an Apple Watch at the Miami Beach Lincoln Road Mall retail store.  The bank still detected my purchase as a fraud attempt and declined the charge.  I used a different card and completed my purchase.  On the way back to the hotel, I called my bank and inquired why it was flagged as fraud when I told them I was traveling to Florida.  They apologized but told me that they will still make every attempt to detect and stop fraud.  Make sure you always have a backup plan when traveling with credit cards.

[phillygwm]

7 hours ago, Joanne G. said:

 

Interestingly, I planned on doing this last summer before a road trip to S. Carolina.  Two major credit card companies, Chase and Bank of America, said this was no longer necessary, regardless of whether I was headed out of the country or within the country.   

 

Some issuers want to know, others don't care.  I've been flagged buying gas in Las Vegas using my BofA card.  Another time, I got an Uber in Dublin, not realizing my corporate card was the one charged (there may have been alcohol involved.)  I got a call from corporate security in what was the middle of the night for me.  Oops! 

[dbrown84]

On 1/30/2022 at 11:35 PM, debenson0723 said:

No, they are not charged to your account.  Half the time they don't even take my card (though they are always supposed to). The only time you would get a charge is if your drink is over the $15 limit.

sorry, I should have been more clear.  When they do take your card (and they are supposed to each time), they will swipe your card for the drinks.  It still goes thru the POS system as a charge, even though the charge is $0.00.  So, if you don't have at least $1 credit on your account, your charging privileges on your card are turned off.  It's sorta silly, but at that point you can't even charge a free drink.