can you use cash on board instead of VISA or charge card ?

[Bluemoose]

We are travelling on the Solstice next Oct 2009 with a couple new to cruising. On the 5 previous cruises we have been on, we simply give over our charge card details at the beginning of the cruise, they give us the Celebrity card, and then we hope we don't spend too much during the cruise. However, our friends seldom use credit cards at all, and prefer to always always use cash. Can they do this ? I know that they cannot pay for drinks etc. cash on-board, but can they go to the pursers desk at the start of the cruise, and give them, say, $1,000 cash ?

 

Has anyone ever done this with cash ?

 

thanks to all !

[dkjretired]

We are travelling on the Solstice next Oct 2009 with a couple new to cruising. On the 5 previous cruises we have been on, we simply give over our charge card details at the beginning of the cruise, they give us the Celebrity card, and then we hope we don't spend too much during the cruise. However, our friends seldom use credit cards at all, and prefer to always always use cash. Can they do this ? I know that they cannot pay for drinks etc. cash on-board, but can they go to the pursers desk at the start of the cruise, and give them, say, $1,000 cash ?

 

Has anyone ever done this with cash ?

 

thanks to all !

 

They can set up their account with cash if they so desire. I personally would never do it to have protection in the event of errors but that is a personal choice. As you are aware, transactions on board cannot be made in cash...

[Oceangoer2]

They can set up their account with cash if they so desire. I personally would never do it to have protection in the event of errors but that is a personal choice. As you are aware, transactions on board cannot be made in cash...

No cash purchases on board, but you can pay your onboard bill prior to disembarking with cash instead of having possible interest charges to your Visa bill. Hope this helps.

[Bluemoose]

Thanks London and Pa. ! I figured as much.... I'll be using the good ol' Visa with air miles !

[mamatrouble]

I have used these on previous cruises with no problem...I put a couple of thousand on one and had no problem. I use them on any vaction I take and haven't been turned down using it....sure helps if you're on a budget.

[Wine-O]

I always use my credit card for the specific reason that all on board purchases get charged on the final day of the cruise. Depending upon when your card cycles, you don't have to pay your balance for 30-45 days. If you always pay your credit card balance each month, it's like a free loan. And I like that. :)

[amspsh]

I always use my credit card for the specific reason that all on board purchases get charged on the final day of the cruise. Depending upon when your card cycles, you don't have to pay your balance for 30-45 days. If you always pay your credit card balance each month, it's like a free loan. And I like that. :)

 

I use credit cards for that precise reason. Additionally, if like me you have a card that earns purchase rewards, particularly bonus rewards for travel-related purchases, you are earning rewards on your on-board spending as well.

 

On a related subject, someone told me, right after :( our last Royal Caribbean cruise, that if you use your ship card at the ATM in the casino, you can get cash without paying any sort of a transaction fee. The balance is simply added to your account and settled up on your credit card at the end of the cruise. The intent, of course, is for you to buy chips with that money. But you don't have to; you can just take it with you. Thus, you're getting a true fee-free, interest-free cash advance, in cash! And earning rewards on the total, to boot.

 

Can anyone confirm that this RC trick still works, and more importantly, might it work on a Celebrity boat (in particular the Summit :rolleyes:)? At the least, it would mean I'd have to bring along less $ in cash and traveler's checks.

 

Chris.

[Conrycol]

The casino charges a 3% surcharge now on cash advances.:mad:

[amspsh]

The casino charges a 3% surcharge now on cash advances.:mad:

 

Bummer. Thanks for the info. If I had done this when I had a 5% cash back card, I'd at least have netted 2%. Oh well...

 

Chris.

[dkjretired]

I also use the card and would never use cash because if you make a purchase on board, there is a certain amount of protection if something goes wrong by using your credit card.

[fleckle]

I also use the card and would never use cash because if you make a purchase on board, there is a certain amount of protection if something goes wrong by using your credit card.

....... and also if you make a purchase off board.

In addition, when making purchases in foreign countries be sure to use a credit card that does not tack on an extra charge for currency conversion.

[amspsh]

....... and also if you make a purchase off board.

In addition, when making purchases in foreign countries be sure to use a credit card that does not tack on an extra charge for currency conversion.

 

Excellent point. MasterCard and Visa charge a 1% fee, and most banks tack on another 2%, so for most major Visa and MasterCards, the total fee for international transactions will be 3%.

 

Washington Mutual is one of the few issuers not tacking on extra surcharge. So with a WaMu card (or Providian, owned by WaMu), you'll pay only the 1% that MC/Visa charges.

 

Capital One goes one step further and not only declines to charge extra, they eat the 1% that MC/Visa charges. So with a CapOne card, you'll pay no surcharge at all.

 

Partial list of transaction fees:

 

* Capital One: 0% transaction fee.

* Discover: 0% transaction fee (Note, however, that Discover is accepted on a limited basis outside of North America.)

* Washington Mutual/Providian: 1%

* Pulaski Bank: 2%

* American Express: 2.7%

* Barclays/Juniper Bank: 2%-3%, depending on card

* Bank of America: 3%

* Chase: 3%

* Citibank: 3%

* GE Money 3%

* HSBC: 3%

* U.S. Bancorp (U.S. Bank): 3%

* Wells Fargo: 3%

 

 

Chris.