Credit Card or Cash? Pls. help!

[tobeyjc]

Hello,

I already check in on line and we chose to pay by cash at the end of our cruise, I was wondering if we decide to pay by card on our last day can we still do that change it on our last day?

[codyboy]

I would like to know that too, since in the last whole month so many things kept popping up and all we do keep spending instead of saving some for trip. sigh.... not having a very good luck at all this past month. We have 3 weeks left go and just hoping things will die down for awhile to save a little. :(

[LSpencer]

I called Royal and was told if we put up our credit card they will put a hold for each charge we use on the sail pass. You can pay off the charge holds before the end of the cruise with cash if do not want charges on your card. The service rep gave me this example.

 

If I charge $20 onboard with the sail pass the first night there would be a hold for that amount then the next day I spent $100(sailpass) there would be a hold for that amount and so on each day. Then its our choice to pay it off or leave it on the card. I personally think if I put cash down then I can be more in control of what I spend. If I use my card then its like an endless spending(within reason ) I have a pretty good idea what i'll spend and how much to take but just in case I will have my card as backup :)

[branmea]

You can change at the pier once you check in there and get your sea pass card, but one thing to remember (I was on Monarch in May) and for the first time ever we decided to pay with cash at the end as opposed to our card... they start out with a 300.00 limit on the card and then you have to go to guest relations to activate it, and possibly put down a cash deposit which would be good if you know about how much you want to spend- but the lines are usually long the first day... the other thing, is if you go over etc. you have to go the counter... then the last day, it was just a hassle to settle up, I will never use cash again, I will always put it on a card because it was just needless hassles that were just annoying when I"m trying to have a good time, so if you have option to put it on a card... do... I do have a friend, who opts to put everything on a card at the pier, and then every night she goes to guest relations and pays it off in cash, but if she forgets, then she has it on the card for the end of the cruise... she does it mainly to avoid trying to settle at the end of the trip... this is just my opinion, and others have other ways of doing things...this is what I do.

[branmea]

I called Royal and was told if we put up our credit card they will put a hold for each charge we use on the sail pass. You can pay off the charge holds before the end of the cruise with cash if do not want charges on your card. The service rep gave me this example.

 

If I charge $20 onboard with the sail pass the first night there would be a hold for that amount then the next day I spent $100(sailpass) there would be a hold for that amount and so on each day. Then its our choice to pay it off or leave it on the card. I personally think if I put cash down then I can be more in control of what I spend. If I use my card then its like an endless spending(within reason ) I have a pretty good idea what i'll spend and how much to take but just in case I will have my card as backup :)

 

 

I've never had this happen, I've never seen ANY charges on my card until the last day where they put the balance of my account on the card.

[kuddles14]

I've never had this happen, I've never seen ANY charges on my card until the last day where they put the balance of my account on the card.

We were able to keep track of our spending by viewing our account on the tv in our room. We gave them a credit card when we checked in. We had an OBC and kept track of our purchases, drinks, etc. when that was done, I had some extra money with me and put that on the account. At the end of the cruise I was able to view our account in our room and decide then if I wanted to just leave it on the credit card or pay it off then. I decided to keep it on since I was getting points with our Royal card and they would be doubled if I left them. When I came home, went on the computer and paid them off.

[laedw]

I used my debit card as a credit card while cruising and the charges were not posted until the last day.

[jujucrew]

hi all,

so am i correct in thinking if you do cash

when you board and pay cash £300.00

you can check this on tv,

and at the end of the cruise if you have any left over

you go to the desk and get it back?

so is this line the one everyone says is long???

hope ive explained this properly

thanks

is 300.00 the min you can put on the card?

[Paul65]

I've never had this happen, I've never seen ANY charges on my card until the last day where they put the balance of my account on the card.

 

You will never "see" these holds on your card, other than if you check your available credit and see that it has been reduced. That's what happens almost every time you use your card. The authorization process puts a hold on your card, and when the actual charge gets processed, it shows up on your statement, and the hold is released.

[pltag]

Whatever you decide to do ..... you DO NOT want to wait until the last morning to take care of your bill. The lines are BRUTAL. I would suggest establishing your account with a credit card and then applying cash as you go. As mentioned by another poster, you can track your charges / balance on the t.v. in your cabin.

[jujucrew]

can you not settle your bill the night before??

[satxdiver]

can you not settle your bill the night before??

 

Yes. They close out the seapass card around midnight. You can settle your bill anytime and then not use it for any purchases so that the final bill will be $0. Your choice.

 

As stated below a hold will not show up on your CC bill but it does reduce the amount of credit you have available until it is released. If you use a debit card they will put a similar hold on your bank account. This could result in your being over drawn if you have sent out checks or have automatic withdrawals to pay bills back home. A hold on your bank account means the money is not available for use. Beware.

[dalitos]

Hello,

I already check in on line and we chose to pay by cash at the end of our cruise, I was wondering if we decide to pay by card on our last day can we still do that change it on our last day?

 

Yes, you will be able to pay with a credit card if you decide to.

[Smokin J]

We always set up our account with cash. When we board we load up about $200 and then on the last night we go and settle the account and then place our credit card on the account for any last minute purchases that night and the next morning. This has always worked well for us.

[PattyG12]

We always set up our account with a credit card. When (ok, if) we win at the casino or have more cash available, we go to the front desk and pay on our sea pass account (normally early in the morning when the line isn't so long). That makes the bill lower at the end! ;)

[kimberley]

I always pay with cash and have never had a problem. If I don't have any obc then I make a deposit at the beginning of the cruise. By paying in cash I have more control and no little surprised can accur when we get home.