Check in without a credit/debit card....

[spunkyhungry]

I believe (based on info from Guest Services and signs on board) that only debit cards have a hold that must later be released. The credit card I gave when I checked in was not charged until the day I left the ship. If you use a credit card (not debit) and pay off your balance in the final night, your card shouldn't be charged. Good luck!

 

Is this true? Can anyone else concur? I'm confused on the whole issue as well. Also, if I don't pay off my balance at the end and let it stay on the credit card, will there be a hold there as well? Say, for example, I spend $400 on the cruise. Will $800 be tied up for a while until $400 can be removed?

[JMHAM1]

You can also call the bon voyage dept and buy some OBC's before you sail.

 

We have never had an issue with cash either. Just put whatever down and if you run low, they will let you know.

[bobbycruiser]

So I called NCL today ad asked about the whole scenario, and was told that it would be $100 per person, per day. So $300 per person in my case. Not at all an issue. And i will be lucky if i even spend half of that on the cruise. Thanx for all the responses frm everyone though.

[garycarla]

I don't get it.

 

We use credit cards for everything.

No fees.

No interest.

No standing in line.

 

Works great.

[DevCruise]

Is this true? Can anyone else concur? I'm confused on the whole issue as well. Also, if I don't pay off my balance at the end and let it stay on the credit card, will there be a hold there as well? Say, for example, I spend $400 on the cruise. Will $800 be tied up for a while until $400 can be removed?

 

When we cruised in January, I just gave them my credit card. Our final total at the end of the cruise was something around $400. Not sure about any holds that might have been on it while we were gone as I didn't check, but by the time I checked it after we got home, the charge had already fully posted on the card.

[Sheils65]

I don't get it.

 

We use credit cards for everything.

No fees.

No interest.

No standing in line.

 

Works great.

 

Yes, what may work great for you in your life may mot work for others in theirs,.....

again, personal preference.

[doberlady]

when you have been the victim of identity theft etc you learn to be careful of where you are using a credit card.

[bobbycruiser]

when you have been the victim of identity theft etc you learn to be careful of where you are using a credit card.

 

 

Amen to that.

[scottamemnon]

If you decide to pay in cash, when you check in at the terminal they will simply ask how much you would like to put on your onboard account. I did a 12 day and only put $400 down in cash and they did not question me at all. As the cruise went along if it looked like we were going to run low, I added cash that I had in my safe by going to the Purser's desk.

 

The $100 per day, per person thing is absolutely not required. That is their suggested amount because they know that most people will spend every penny they put in that account, so if they can convince you to bring that much money, they will profit on you more!

[spunkyhungry]

If you decide to pay in cash, when you check in at the terminal they will simply ask how much you would like to put on your onboard account. I did a 12 day and only put $400 down in cash and they did not question me at all. As the cruise went along if it looked like we were going to run low, I added cash that I had in my safe by going to the Purser's desk.

 

The $100 per day, per person thing is absolutely not required. That is their suggested amount because they know that most people will spend every penny they put in that account, so if they can convince you to bring that much money, they will profit on you more!

 

Good, I'm relieved to read your post. I saw the other one about $100 per person per day and got nervous. I'm going on a 7 day cruise with my husband soon and don't have an extra $1400 to put on my account. I would never spend that much on board, even if I did have it.

[MrsK2008]

I have related question and I hope that I'm not taking over. :eek: My BIL will be on the Dawn with us in a few weeks and he has a CC, but with a small limit. Since this is his first cruise, he wasn't sure how paying for stuff on cruise worked. I advised him that he will need to establish an onboard account and suggested that he do that with his CC, but bring cash with him and put cash towards his onboard account every few days if he didn't want them to charge his CC or to ensure that he didn't go over his CC limit at the end of the cruise. Was the right advice to give him? Or should I have him establish an account with cash with a few hundred dollars? I did advise him not use his debit card.

[2inTul]

I have related question and I hope that I'm not taking over. :eek: My BIL will be on the Dawn with us in a few weeks and he has a CC, but with a small limit. Since this is his first cruise, he wasn't sure how paying for stuff on cruise worked. I advised him that he will need to establish an onboard account and suggested that he do that with his CC, but bring cash with him and put cash towards his onboard account every few days if he didn't want them to charge his CC or to ensure that he didn't go over his CC limit at the end of the cruise. Was the right advice to give him? Or should I have him establish an account with cash with a few hundred dollars? I did advise him not use his debit card.

 

Your initial advice was right on the money! That is the best way to do it.

[agabbymama]

on my last cruise (EPIC nov.2010) i just told them at check in that i had almost $1000 in OBC, they let me check in without using a credit/debt card

i really had it, as they were able to look it up

 

I had the total opposite experience. I had purchased $1200 in OBC myself. I even took the confirmations with me. The check-in rep said she still needed a credit card to check in. That my shipboard account hadn't been set up yet. I asked to speak to her supervisor. He came out and told me I had a choice, either give him a credit card, or go over to the credit desk and give them $1000 to open the shipboard account. I was fuming, but gave him my credit card and told him not to try and put a hold, as there was nothing available on the card.

 

When we arrived in our cabin, there were vouchers for the $1200 and I had to take them to the purser's desk and sign them. The next day the $1200 was on my shipboard account.

 

We also had $50 OBC from NCL Latitudes and $50 OBC from our TA. Both of these were marked non-refundable. My $1200 was marked refundable. However, they were using my OBC first, as at the end of the cruise, I still had the $50 from NCL and the $50 from my TA, with $300 from my OBC. The last night of the cruise, about 10:00 I went to the Purser's desk to get a refund, and was told the check would be mailed to my house for the $200, but I would lose the $100.

 

I was furious and went to the casino and withdrew the $200 paying a fee of 3%, then stopped at the watch shop and bought a new watch for the $100 OBC from NCL and my TA.

 

I would never buy OBC again.

[Sheils65]

Good, I'm relieved to read your post. I saw the other one about $100 per person per day and got nervous. I'm going on a 7 day cruise with my husband soon and don't have an extra $1400 to put on my account. I would never spend that much on board, even if I did have it.

 

Maybe I didn't make it clear, sorry. It is suggested, not required. I think $1400 del for OBC is absolutely rediculous.

[Young@heart25]

We just came back from the Gem. We had two rooms (5 people), and hadn't prepaid our DSC. We started with $700 and $500 cash deposits for the rooms. Simply paid it before boarding with no problems. The next day we had our $125 credit/room on our accounts, but also booked some shore excursions, so we added more money to our accounts. We could check our balance on the TVs, and would add money as needed. We brought the cash we thought we'd use, and kept to our budget. We were never asked for a specific amount of money, and were able to charge what we wanted to our account since we had the money there to cover it. It was easy and I'd definitely do it that way again! :)