Using a Travel Money Card on US Dollar Ships (Rhapsody)

[Hot Chilli]

As the title says, has anyone used one?

 

It's a pre-loaded MasterCard in US Dollars that's not connected to your personal account. So that way they can't sting you by using whatever exchange rate they wish and you don't have to carry a large wad of cash with you.

[rugbypopsie]

Sorry cant help about using that particular one...but its easy to avoid the ship using its own exchange rate you just stipulate NO CONVERSION the bill goes to your cc bank and the bank exchanges at the current aussie bank rate.

[sludger]

As the title says, has anyone used one?

 

It's a pre-loaded MasterCard in US Dollars that's not connected to your personal account. So that way they can't sting you by using whatever exchange rate they wish and you don't have to carry a large wad of cash with you.

 

We have used ANZ travelcards on several cruises with RCI.

 

Just watch it when you do because the staff on the Legend once converted the US$ to AUD and then charged it to our ANZ travelcard which was in US$, ANZ then converted it again and at the end of the day we were about $50 down.

 

To RCI's credit they did give id an OBC for our next cruise which was over and above but it was very frustrating.

 

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT

On RCI ships that charge in USD, as you board the ship there is a form which they do not offer straight away, it is to say that you want your on board account to be charged to your credit card in US$. You sign it stating that you want YOUR bank to do the conversion and not RCI.

After that Hey Presto no more rip off on board currency conversions.

This also applies to ordinary credit cards.

 

A couple of days before disembarking just make sure they are clear about what you want because some of the staff are a bit divvy.

 

Paul

[bazzaw]

On our cruises with P&O UK - I was assured that my CC would be charged in UK Pounds. However, I did not trust them - so took a few thousand Pounds in cash with me - no biggie as it went straight into the safe. I paid off my account in cash - however I didn't need to because they did indeed charge Aussies CC cards in Pounds.

 

Barry

[lynsteve]

we bought our USD a few weeks ago at 1.01 and got them through the post office, no commission.

 

Stevo

[OzKruser]

RCI told us we could not use our ANZ travel card that we got especially for our cruise later this year. We have been saving our USD by transferring money to it whilst the AUD is high against the USD. They told me I should withdraw the money before going on board, then put it on my account and register my credit card for the rest, assuming the savings do not cover what we expect to spend.

[bazzaw]

Yes - this was the same with P&O UK. They will not accept Debit Cards. I believe this is because they have no way of knowing how much money you have debited to the card - whereas with a credit card, they get an "authorisation" (basically a guarantee of payment) from the card's bank. Something like that. We had a Travel money cash card with us - but only to withdraw cash from ATM's in the UK. We took cash with us to pay the onboard expenses.

 

Barry

[cazz0069]

As the title says, has anyone used one?

 

It's a pre-loaded MasterCard in US Dollars that's not connected to your personal account. So that way they can't sting you by using whatever exchange rate they wish and you don't have to carry a large wad of cash with you.

 

Just remember if the card is not embossed with your name on it, then RCL wont accept it. We found that out the hard way about 2 weeks prior to sailing. There is an ATM on board, so we just topped our account up with cash every few days. Try and put as much on as you can to start with as the ATM has a transaction fee of $6.00 a go :)

[sludger]

I am watching this thread with great interest as I have used an ANZ Travelcard on 3 RCI cruises.

 

I didn't use one on my last on the Rhapsody in January so they must have changed the rules.

 

I had a bit of trouble actually on the Legend a couple of years ago where they would routinely everyday take out an amount of money that didn't relate to any goods or services that we had had. The amounts ranged from a few dollars one day to hundreds the next.

It was as if they had charged us for someone else's account.

I only noticed it when I got home but these amounts disappeared from the account 30 days after they were put on there. So you saw them daily one by one dropping off the account.

When I queried this with RCI they told me that the amounts were some sort of guarantee. It was all quite strange really.

 

We are booked on the P&O Azura at Christmas and was hoping to use a ANZ Sterling Travelcard which we have already loaded up while the exchange rate is good. It seems like I will have to think again.

The only thing is now I am loathe to us my credit card after the debacle mentioned above.

 

Paul

[Hot Chilli]

Thanks everyone. Your advice has been very helpful.

 

We decided to buy the Travel Money Card (ours is Commonwealth Mastercard). As cazz0069 has said, the ship won't accept this because our name is not on it. But given the excellent exchange rate this week, we couldn't resist buying the money now :)

 

So....... we will put down our credit card as the 'guarantee' but will withdraw the cash from the Travel Card at the end of the cruise to pay for the entire account (thus needing to pay for just 1 withdrawal from the ATM).

 

I will let you all know how it goes when we get back. Just hope they don't start billing strange amounts on our credit card like Sludger. I'll have to keep a close eye one things as I don't trust them one little bit!!!!

[Big Kev]

Thanks everyone. Your advice has been very helpful.

 

We decided to buy the Travel Money Card (ours is Commonwealth Mastercard). As cazz0069 has said, the ship won't accept this because our name is not on it. But given the excellent exchange rate this week, we couldn't resist buying the money now :)

 

So....... we will put down our credit card as the 'guarantee' but will withdraw the cash from the Travel Card at the end of the cruise to pay for the entire account (thus needing to pay for just 1 withdrawal from the ATM).

 

I will let you all know how it goes when we get back. Just hope they don't start billing strange amounts on our credit card like Sludger. I'll have to keep a close eye one things as I don't trust them one little bit!!!!

 

 

Sorry, but I think much of your advise is incorrect when you look at the entire circumstance of you question..

 

Yes, the cruise lines will require a "Hold" or guarantee on a payment method when you board. This cannot be done entirely on a debit card.. .

 

However, you can use your current CREDIT CARD when you embark, but pay by another method when you finalise.

 

Your USD Visa/Mastercard card is as good as cash for the amount you are trying to pay, whether it is on a ship, with a merchant, or when overseas.. It is IMMEDIATE money to the vendor.. ....They dont care !

 

It looks like the only way you wish to pay your final account is in cash.. You have got a good rate on cash which you have already, and do not want to settle at your own banks exchange rate on the final cruise day..

 

Well, you can certainly guarantee with your C Card, when you board, and then on the last night go and use your PRE PAID USD CASH CARD to finalise account. You can also make progress payments with your USD card to reduce that Credit card liability as you go.. The same as all merchants, they just want a guarantee that you wont jump ship and leave them holding the bag..

 

There is no reason for you to use the on-board ATM to get hard cash and pay account...

 

 

P

 

.

[Haoie]

Any hidden fees and what not? Yeah I don't trust cards in general.

[LuckiePuris]

Just for clarification, does this mean that when setting up my onboard account I can set this up using a credit card, but settle the account on the last day using a travel card with US dollars or cash?

 

There was a mention here of RCI placing guarantee holds on the credit card throughout the cruise. If I settle the account with a travel card or cash on the last day, I am assuming that the guarantee holds on the credit card will be removed and not processed as actual charges?

 

Thanks for your help :)

[bazzaw]

Just for clarification, does this mean that when setting up my onboard account I can set this up using a credit card, but settle the account on the last day using a travel card with US dollars or cash?

 

yes - this is what we did on P&O UK - paid the bulk in cash a couple of days before settlement day - and let a few Pounds go through onto the credit card.

 

If I settle the account with a travel card or cash on the last day, I am assuming that the guarantee holds on the credit card will be removed and not processed as actual charges?

 

Not necessarily - it depends on whether the ships right hand is talking to its left hand.

 

There are 3 processes involved - First is the "hold" that is initially placed against your card ( called an "authorisation" ) . Second is the actual settlement of your onboard account - either by payment in cash or the ship making a claim against your CC. IF you do pay in cash, then the ship "should" cancel the CC "authorisation" - but there is nothing to say that they will do that immediately.

[bvm49]

We used a Travel Money Card (ours is Commonwealth Mastercard) 3 times - on MSC in April & NCL in May last year, & finally on Princess last month. They usually look at the card with suspicion but then accept it as our credit card even though our name is not on it. We insist they leave it in USD although MSC converted it to Euros.

[Thirsty1]

:confused:It has been stated on this thread that "Debit Cards are not accepted" and I have also seen this stated by some of the cruise lines in their terms and conditions.

 

However, on my last 7 or so cruises (3 x P&O, 2 x RCI, 1 x Princess, 1 x Costa) I have presented a Visa Debit Card to set up my account and it was accepted on every occasion without without hesitation or any questions. How come???

 

I always had a credit card avaiable should there have been a problem on boarding not never used it.

 

I have always made sure there was more than sufficient funds to cover expenses and I remember on some of the cruises there were various visa authorisations posted against the card during the duration of the cruise. These dropped off one by one over time after the full final account was debited.

 

Can anyone explain how they can say "No Debit Cards" theen happily accept one???

 

John.:confused:

[sludger]

I have gone from being certain I can use my AN Travelcard to totally confused.

 

I suppose the only real way to find out if you can use these types of card is to ask the cruise line prior to cruising and if necessary get it in writing.

 

I have previously paid my cruise balance on a couple of cruises prior to sailing over the phone and they have accepted them, I paid my deposit for our cruise on NCL Epic using my US dollar Travelcard 3 months ago, so I don't know what to think.

 

 

Does anyone know the full story, maybe someone in the industry may be able to answer.

 

Interesting to see someone else had strange amounts of money taken from their card and then see the amounts drop off later. I am glad I am not the only one.

 

All the best,

Paul

[stki]

I have used my ANZ travelcard (3 times) to pay for the balance of my cruises that I have booked via the US. The only thing to remember that the maximum charge per day is $3600USD, so I had to make 2 payments (just rang the next day)

 

You need to use a credit card when checking in, as the cruise line puts a HOLD or pre auth on your card to cover expenses.

 

WE then either use US cash or our Travel card to pay the final account, though we always do this the 2nd last day, & just let the last night drinks get charged to our credit card. That is because one cruise we were in credit by $20 in our a/c & they wouldnt let us off the ship, till we went to the pursers desk to get a refund to our CC. WE thought they would do that automatically, but they didnt.

 

Cheers

 

Tanya

[sludger]

Well after reading this thread I am getting more confused by the post.

 

I'm off on the AZURA at Christmas so I'm going to take the following:

 

ANZ Sterling Travelcard

ANZ USD Travelcard

Visa credit card

Visa debit card

Mastercard credit card

Mastercard debit card

Sterling

US dollars

Aussie dollars

Euros

Jamaican dollars

Dutch kroners

My iphone, because by then I will be able to waive it about and pay for things

Medicare card

Drivers license

Working with children check card

Qantas FF card

Woolworths everyday reward card.

 

I might have to get some clothes when I get there, I might be over the 23kg limit!

 

Oh I nearly forgot, better take a couple of sheep and chickens just in case they only follow the barter system

 

Have a great day, it's sunny again here. I rained for about 3 milliseconds the other day though.

Great place if you only drink beer because we've got no water, but I think the pipeline is back on the agenda.

 

Paul

[Hot Chilli]

Just got back from our cruise on Rhapsody. Thought I would let you know how I got on....

 

I put our regular VISA card down as the 'hold' and went to pay the account on the last night with our Travel Money Card. They would not accept payment from it so I had to withdraw the cash from the card at the ATM onboard. The ATM in the Casino was the only one that allowed me to do this. It cost $6 for the transaction.

[LuckiePuris]

Just got back from our cruise on Rhapsody. Thought I would let you know how I got on....

 

I put our regular VISA card down as the 'hold' and went to pay the account on the last night with our Travel Money Card. They would not accept payment from it so I had to withdraw the cash from the card at the ATM onboard. The ATM in the Casino was the only one that allowed me to do this. It cost $6 for the transaction.

 

Thank you for the update on the travel card. Do you mind if I ask, do you know if there was a maximum amount you could withdraw from the ATM onboard? Was the cash withdrawn in US dollars? (I'm assuming the travel card currency was in US dollars).

 

I am thinking of doing like you did - use a regular credit card as the hold card, and then settle the account on the last night in cash.

 

Thanks for the help! :)

[Nelie]

We took a commonwealth travel money card on our NCL cruise around Hawaiian islands. They did accept it to pay off our account, i think we put another card down initially. However they did put a hold on an extra $200 to ensure the money was there ? either way we didn't know they were going to do that and that last bit of money was the last we had for our holiday so we were so distraught when we didnt have access to it.

 

Just keep that in mind

[Hot Chilli]

Hi LuckiePuris,

 

I don't mind at all :) I'm not actually sure what the maximum withdrawal limit is. I took out US$600 with no problem at all (yes it comes out in US Dollars & my Travel Card Currency was in US$). I then let them charge our credit card for any remaining amounts so we could continue to purchase drinks right up to the last minute. It worked well & I would probably do the same thing on our next cruise.