Debit card v/s cash for onboard account?

[evanandsamuel'smom]

Leaving for Florida tomorrow to sail on the Mariner for Christmas! :)

Any thoughts on using a debit card vs cash for your onboard account?

I don't have a major credit card. Any experience here one way or the other?

[kathyemma]

I would do either. I used my debit card and every day they put on a hold on my card for that days charges. Then about 2 days later they would release it. So they may have a hold on your card for 2 days worth of stuff. By the end of the cruise all holds were realeased and it took about 2 or 3 days for them to actually take the money out of my account.

 

ENJOY!!!!

[firefly333]

As long as you have a good sized balance in your checking account, a debit card will work fine. I used one for quite a few cruises, until I got the RCL VISA card.

[Honey's Gal]

We have used my debit card many times. We never had a problem, the holds were normal and nothing other then we would expect. You would not use your card unless you actually had the money in you account to cover your expenditures, so no worries.

[MIDWESTCRUIZER]

question - can i give cc to put on file but at the end, pay cash instead of putting on cc?

[raytownlady]

That's what we do; has always worked out fine for us. Since we usually take care of this early on the last day of the cruise there are sometimes a few small charges that go on our card.