When using a cruise card do you have to sign?

[AKman2495]

We are first time cruisers. We are sailing in just over a month on the Coral Princess. My daughter, who has sailed on other lines tells us we have to sign when we use our cruise cards-jst like when you use a regular credit card in a store. This is the first time I have thought about it so, does Princess make you sign something whenever you use your cruise card, and if not, how do they know it is "you" who is charging something?

[MilliesMom]

We've always had to sign, no matter which cruise line we were on.

[TracieABD]

We are first time cruisers. We are sailing in just over a month on the Coral Princess. My daughter, who has sailed on other lines tells us we have to sign when we use our cruise cards-jst like when you use a regular credit card in a store. This is the first time I have thought about it so, does Princess make you sign something whenever you use your cruise card, and if not, how do they know it is "you" who is charging something?

 

Yes, you will have to sign a receipt when you use your cruise card to purchase anything. :)

[sunluva7]

Yes, you will have to sign just like a credit card. It will be tied to whatever credit, debit or cash account on file for you. Your card is also your room key and security card. When you embark the ship, your photo will be taken. That photo is linked to the card, and you will need to slide your card through the ship's scanner whenever you enter or exit the ship. Hope this helps.:)

[Pam in CA]

We are first time cruisers. We are sailing in just over a month on the Coral Princess. My daughter, who has sailed on other lines tells us we have to sign when we use our cruise cards-jst like when you use a regular credit card in a store. This is the first time I have thought about it so, does Princess make you sign something whenever you use your cruise card, and if not, how do they know it is "you" who is charging something?

Every cruise line I've been on requires you to sign the receipt. Your cruise card is just like a credit card and if someone gets hold of it and uses it, they can charge some serious money to your account.

[AKman2495]

Ok! Thanks for the help!

[waltd]

You should get a receipt for most/all transactions. Save them. While on board you can print out your on board account and you can check your receipts against the ship account. It's a good idea to do this at least once near the end of your cruise to make sure everything looks right.

[Boomer 123]

I never sign my card on the back the way I sign my statements. If you lose it on the ship why give someone a sample signature to help them forge a purchase.

[Treven]

I never sign my card on the back the way I sign my statements. If you lose it on the ship why give someone a sample signature to help them forge a purchase.

I don't either.

[Times Prince]

We are first time cruisers. We are sailing in just over a month on the Coral Princess. My daughter, who has sailed on other lines tells us we have to sign when we use our cruise cards-jst like when you use a regular credit card in a store. This is the first time I have thought about it so, does Princess make you sign something whenever you use your cruise card, and if not, how do they know it is "you" who is charging something?

Yes you do have to sign and in the case of lost card and/or suspected unauthorized purchases the signature becomes the prime bit of evidence whether the purchase was made by you or someone else.

 

If you find something on your statement that you question then the Pursor will locate the original receipt and verify the signature with you. To my embarrassment most have been my charges, which were simply logged at a different bar than the one I was at. Seeing my own signature was proof.

 

I usually use my nickname for my first name's signature when on board ship (e.g. "Jack Smith" vs. "John Smith") when signing receipts.

[kayelbee]

I had a minor situation whereby upon checking my passenger statement/folio there was a $20 purchase in one of the on-board stores that I knew I hadn't made. I went to the passenger services desk and explained my situation. The receipt for that purchase was located (each receipt has a URN which shows on the folio) and it was very obvious the wrong card number had been used as the signature was not mine. On this occasion the signature was easily read so I assume the correct details of the purchaser were identified, quite what happens when the signature is a scrawl I don't know.

[EddieCruzer]

Just a little tip to a first time cruiser. If a crew member asks to see your cruise card, that means you are paying for something. Often, first timers don't realize something is an extra charge the way the crew presents it to them. ;) You will not be asked for your cruise card if there is no charge.

[Desert Cruizers]

My husband saves all receipts, then during the cruise, will get a print out and compare against the receipts to make sure we haven't been charged for something we shouldn't. It is better to know before you disembark then to try and settle up afterwards. Everytime you purchase an acoholic beverage, buy something in the stores, they will ask for your Sea Pass Card to apply those charges to a credit card or cash acct you have on file.

[beg3yrs]

If you want a no-fee cash (really chips) advance at the casino for table play, they require you to have your cruise card signed. The dealer compares the cruise card signature to your receipt before issuing chips.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Yes and save you receipts ,And check your bill on the 2nd to the last day ..

[Level six]

I lost my cruise card on our last cruise (slipped out of a new pair of capris with bigger pockets.....be careful!!). I realized it probably 1-2 hours later and immediately went to the main desk and had it replaced. I was so nervous that charges would be made on the card and I would be held accountable. They assured me there were no charges and no future charges could be made on the old card. I checked my balance every day and there were no charges! I was so happy. I felt so dumb for losing the card in the first place, I never lose anything!! :confused: Oh well, in the event that you do lose your card, go to the desk and have it inactivated ASAP.

[EdmPair]

I want to echo the advice of others. On a one week trip, check the charges the second last day. One a longer trip, check about once a week and then the second or third last day. The front desk will print it out for you any time. Once I read thru the printed pages, I wrote 'OK' on that page and tossed all those bits of receipt papers in the trash. The next printing only has to be checked from the end of the last print out.

 

The second last day is critical as the desk gets busy and you need time to clean up any mistakes. I had two charges which 'I knew' were wrong as I never had a drink in that bar and never shopped in that shop. Turns out when I was in Sabatini's for supper I ordered a drink which the waiter brought from down the hall. And they had a giftware sale in the gallery with just tables and I signed a handwritten receipt. End of the day, they carried them all to one shop to process so my gift item looked like it was fragrance. Both were mine but glad I checked.

 

On the stolen/lost card problem, report it fast. Its one thing for a card to be used to get a drink or two, but the upscale shops had things like Faberge eggs. Granted not REAL ones. But one item is roughly the cost of your whole cruise. I hope they check your signature a bit more for that purchase but I do not know. Its a time when cameras help out security but you can only help them if you report promptly.

 

(I did not know the casino will ask you to sign the card as I did not use the Princess casino but that is a terrible shame as once you do there is a sample signature on the card. Could the casino not use the scanners of security and see your picture at that point?)

[Boomer 123]

(I did not know the casino will ask you to sign the card as I did not use the Princess casino but that is a terrible shame as once you do there is a sample signature on the card. Could the casino not use the scanners of security and see your picture at that point?)

 

Even though they ask you to sign it doesn't mean it has to be the same signature you use to make purchases.

[beg3yrs]

Even though they ask you to sign it doesn't mean it has to be the same signature you use to make purchases.

 

Excellent thinking. I'll do that on the next cruise!

[CruisinFinsUp]

Another possible mistake to watch out for:

 

A couple of cruises ago there was a large bar charge on our account and we knew that one wasn't us ... we went to the purser and they pulled the actual slip - the signature was clearly not ours as they had a number of our receipts to compare to.

They said they'd follow up with the waiter as it was a dinner bill.

Turns out that our dinner waiter had incorrectly entered OUR FOLIO NUMBER on the receipt for the guests at the NEXT dining seating (same table) who ordered a bottle of wine. He did it from memory or he misread his list, and made an error. The accounting folks must key them into the computer quickly using the folio number only. The ship fixed it.

[jrzebird]

I don't know about Princess, but another line I've sailed has your photo show up when they swipe your card. Pretty hard to pull a fast one that way.

[beg3yrs]

I don't know about Princess, but another line I've sailed has your photo show up when they swipe your card. Pretty hard to pull a fast one that way.

 

Princess doesn't swipe the card, they only use the Folio Number printed on the front. There's no comparison to a photo (yet).

[Eppe4]

I want to echo the advice of others. On a one week trip, check the charges the second last day. One a longer trip, check about once a week and then the second or third last day. The front desk will print it out for you any time. Once I read thru the printed pages, I wrote 'OK' on that page and tossed all those bits of receipt papers in the trash. The next printing only has to be checked from the end of the last print out.

 

The second last day is critical as the desk gets busy and you need time to clean up any mistakes. I had two charges which 'I knew' were wrong as I never had a drink in that bar and never shopped in that shop. Turns out when I was in Sabatini's for supper I ordered a drink which the waiter brought from down the hall. And they had a giftware sale in the gallery with just tables and I signed a handwritten receipt. End of the day, they carried them all to one shop to process so my gift item looked like it was fragrance. Both were mine but glad I checked.

 

On the stolen/lost card problem, report it fast. Its one thing for a card to be used to get a drink or two, but the upscale shops had things like Faberge eggs. Granted not REAL ones. But one item is roughly the cost of your whole cruise. I hope they check your signature a bit more for that purchase but I do not know. Its a time when cameras help out security but you can only help them if you report promptly.

 

(I did not know the casino will ask you to sign the card as I did not use the Princess casino but that is a terrible shame as once you do there is a sample signature on the card. Could the casino not use the scanners of security and see your picture at that point?)

 

You now print out your own bill at the kiosk that sits next to the Purser's Desk. No need to stand in line any more.

[ChiefBoats]

Yes if you are purchasing something.

[jrzebird]

Princess doesn't swipe the card, they only use the Folio Number printed on the front. There's no comparison to a photo (yet).

 

Thank you. I had forgotten about that. Gosh, it's less than a year since I sailed Princess. Where did my memory go???? Good thing I've given myself 14 more days to make new ones!