Payments onboard MSC Virtuosa - Revolut card

[TMCU]

Hello guys!

 

To pay the extra bills onboard I can just use my Revolut card, right? I don't need to use the MSC Card nor is mandatory to use it for payments, is that correct?

Thank you.

[showingdiva]

You can register your credit / debit card before your cruise or at one of the ATM machines on board.

 

Your MSC card is used for all purchases, including signing for any drinks you have as a pre-bought / included package,   The same card also scans you on and off the ship at ports, opens your cabin door and needs put into the slot to work the cabin lights / air conditioning.

 

What you owe at the end of the cruise is taken off the card you have registered.    

[8420PR]

The only way to pay onboard (e.g. at bars, restaurants, shops, spa etc) is to use your MSC cruise card.  You cannot use your Revolut card apart from to settle the bill at the end of the cruise.

[TMCU]

1 hour ago, showingdiva said:

You can register your credit / debit card before your cruise or at one of the ATM machines on board.

 

Your MSC card is used for all purchases, including signing for any drinks you have as a pre-bought / included package,   The same card also scans you on and off the ship at ports, opens your cabin door and needs put into the slot to work the cabin lights / air conditioning.

 

What you owe at the end of the cruise is taken off the card you have registered.    

 

1 hour ago, 8420PR said:

The only way to pay onboard (e.g. at bars, restaurants, shops, spa etc) is to use your MSC cruise card.  You cannot use your Revolut card apart from to settle the bill at the end of the cruise.

 

Thank you both for the answers. Had no idea that I will need to pay  with the MSC cruise card for everything I consume or buy inside, except for settle the bill by the end.  Now I know. 

 

So can I use a virtual debit card on the cruise card then? Is that ok? 

 

Just another question if you don't mind please. Those extra daily charges presented by the end of the cruise - hotel service charges I guess it how it's called? - they are mandatory and everyone has to pay for those,  right? 

[TMCU]

Or can I just register the cruise card using the revolut card?

[showingdiva]

Service charges on MSC (certainly out of the UK for UK passengers) are included in the cruise fare.   So you won't have any extra charges for that on your bill at the end of the cruise if this is your case.    What will be on your bill are any non-included restaurants, drinks if you don't have / want a drink package, gelato, casino and purchases in any of the shops, excursions etc.

 

You get your MSC card at check in.   It will be scanned when you board the ship the first time, and each time you get off at ports.    If, for example you want a drink, when you order it, you will be asked to scan your MSC card.    If you have a drink package, the cost is added to your bill, but then taken off to balance it back to zero.   If you don't have a drink package, it will add to your bill like a tab, and you will get a balance at the end of the cruise which will need settled before you disembark - or you can pay in (by cash or card) a credit amount at the beginning of the cruise when you register your card.

 

I assume virtual debit cards can be used just like an ordinary one.   Just be careful when registering a debit card, because it will automatically hold an automatic charge of £250.

 

The best idea is to go to Guest Services, where the ATM machines are when you embark.   They have staff around to help you.

Edited August 4, 2023 by showingdiva

[TMCU]

26 minutes ago, showingdiva said:

Service charges on MSC (certainly out of the UK for UK passengers) are included in the cruise fare.   So you won't have any extra charges for that on your bill at the end of the cruise if this is your case.    What will be on your bill are any non-included restaurants, drinks if you don't have / want a drink package, gelato, casino and purchases in any of the shops, excursions etc.

 

You get your MSC card at check in.   It will be scanned when you board the ship the first time, and each time you get off at ports.    If, for example you want a drink, when you order it, you will be asked to scan your MSC card.    If you have a drink package, the cost is added to your bill, but then taken off to balance it back to zero.   If you don't have a drink package, it will add to your bill like a tab, and you will get a balance at the end of the cruise which will need settled before you disembark - or you can pay in (by cash or card) a credit amount at the beginning of the cruise when you register your card.

 

I assume virtual debit cards can be used just like an ordinary one.   Just be careful when registering a debit card, because it will automatically hold an automatic charge of £250.

 

The best idea is to go to Guest Services, where the ATM machines are when you embark.   They have staff around to help you.

 

Thank you!

 

But regarding those service charges, I've read and seen in video reviews that gratuities are charged daily (something arounf 14USD)  and then you need to pay them onboard. That was with MSC.

[showingdiva]

51 minutes ago, TMCU said:

 

Thank you!

 

But regarding those service charges, I've read and seen in video reviews that gratuities are charged daily (something arounf 14USD)  and then you need to pay them onboard. That was with MSC.

 

That's why I mentioned that included gratuities were applicable to UK passengers sailing out of the UK.  It wasn't clear where you originate from.    If your gratuities aren't included, then they will be added to your ship account, along with any other purchases, and will need settled at the end of your cruise.

[TMCU]

13 minutes ago, showingdiva said:

 

That's why I mentioned that included gratuities were applicable to UK passengers sailing out of the UK.  It wasn't clear where you originate from.    If your gratuities aren't included, then they will be added to your ship account, along with any other purchases, and will need settled at the end of your cruise.

 

Thank you.

 

By the way, I guess it's totally fine to use cash deposit instead of card? And I believe euros are accepted? In this case the cruise will be going to Norway, sailing from Southampton.

[showingdiva]

59 minutes ago, TMCU said:

 

Thank you.

 

By the way, I guess it's totally fine to use cash deposit instead of card? And I believe euros are accepted? In this case the cruise will be going to Norway, sailing from Southampton.

 

Yes, cash is fine, although while Virtuosa is home ported in Southampton, the currency on board is British Pounds,

[TMCU]

I had to contact MSC Cruises today regarding other stuff and I took the opportunity to ask about the

 onboard currency to make cash deposit and she answered euros  🤨

[Stokie33]

Our voyagers club onboard credit as been converted to £ for our sailing in Sept, when virtuosa is based in uk(summer) it’s £, it changes when home ported in Europe(winter) to €.

I just think they want to confuse us before we start on the drinks package 😂 

[TMCU]

24 minutes ago, Stokie33 said:

Our voyagers club onboard credit as been converted to £ for our sailing in Sept, when virtuosa is based in uk(summer) it’s £, it changes when home ported in Europe(winter) to €.

I just think they want to confuse us before we start on the drinks package 😂 

So in this case, 2nd of September departing from Southampton is £ and they wont accept € cash deposits?  Im really confused sorry 😅

Edited August 11, 2023 by TMCU

[Stokie33]

I’d be surprised if they wouldn’t but you may be hit with a rubbish exchange rate, €50 became £40 😂 

[Bonbon1984]

Just to note if you register a revolut card, you will have trouble at the end of your cruise. MSC put a hold on my card for every transaction and then at the end of the cruise, took the full amount in one transaction, leaving a lot of pending payments on my account resulting in my card being in the minus now until the end of the month when all pending charges get reversed. I will never use my Revolut again on board. 

[TMCU]

2 hours ago, Bonbon1984 said:

Just to note if you register a revolut card, you will have trouble at the end of your cruise. MSC put a hold on my card for every transaction and then at the end of the cruise, took the full amount in one transaction, leaving a lot of pending payments on my account resulting in my card being in the minus now until the end of the month when all pending charges get reversed. I will never use my Revolut again on board. 

Thanks for the info. 

I'll really use cash

[emmas gran]

Where abouts are you from?? I did a Norway cruise on this ship in May and the onboard currency

was £££ . MSC customer service sometimes don't know exactly what happens on ships..

 

Norway currency is Krone so your card (Revolut) will be useful there for any purchases while

on shore at the momewnt its about 12.5 to the £ on travel money exchange

 

You can register a credit card at the start of the cruise and they will put a provisional debit  on the

card at the end of the cruise the amount spent will replace the debit. 

If you booked in UK tips are included in your fare so don't worry about that

[Mark_T]

11 hours ago, Bonbon1984 said:

Just to note if you register a revolut card, you will have trouble at the end of your cruise. MSC put a hold on my card for every transaction and then at the end of the cruise, took the full amount in one transaction, leaving a lot of pending payments on my account resulting in my card being in the minus now until the end of the month when all pending charges get reversed. I will never use my Revolut again on board. 

I've been using a 'Currensea' debit card instead of Revolut as it handles the pre-auth problem far more elegantly. Only available in a few European countries at the moment but worth checking out.

[TMCU]

2 hours ago, emmas gran said:

Where abouts are you from?? I did a Norway cruise on this ship in May and the onboard currency

was £££ . MSC customer service sometimes don't know exactly what happens on ships..

 

Norway currency is Krone so your card (Revolut) will be useful there for any purchases while

on shore at the momewnt its about 12.5 to the £ on travel money exchange

 

You can register a credit card at the start of the cruise and they will put a provisional debit  on the

card at the end of the cruise the amount spent will replace the debit. 

If you booked in UK tips are included in your fare so don't worry about that

Thanks.

 

I'm from Portugal and that's why using € onboard would be really nice for me. The ship will depart from Southampton. I guess yours did too?

I'm more and more convinced that its £ that will be used inside. The only people who told me otherwise were from the customer service lol.

 

I definitely plan to use Revolut in Norway