I hate to worry about $$ on vacation...Trying to pay for everything I can in advance!

[josassoc]

We travel yearly...usually cruising. And, I hate to worry about my cruise bill and having enough money with me when I'm cruising. So, I try to buy/pay for everything I can in advance. I've already "gifted" myself a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate strawberries (for our departure), a soda package (for the frig in the minisuite) and some casino credits...and paid for them in advance. But, we are traveling to Tahiti on a 10 day cruise, with several of the Princess excursions presigned up for. Is it possible to pay for any of these Princess excursions in advance of the trip? I hate coming home with a huge credit card bill...and any guilt for my vacation.

 

I realize that there are private excursions, but my DH isn't keen on going on too many excusions that aren't guaranteed by Princess that they won't be leaving us at the dock. We'll do a couple of these also...but on longer docking days. I'm really looking to see if Princess allows for prepayment of Princess excursions.

 

I'm also looking for good ideas to futher my "quest" to prebuy or not have to charge a ton to my credit card for this trip....

[spongerob]

You can pay off a huge portion of your tab as soon as you board, or soon thereafter, and settle the rest at the end with cash if you wish. They also take travelers' checks. You don't actually get charged for the excursion until you take it.

[Pam in CA]

Your excursions are charged to your onboard account once you board, but not before. You can't "pre-pay" them but you can send in money towards your onboard account which is essentially the same thing. I know that others who post on the boards have done that and could perhaps share how they do that.

[catdancers]

You can also send a gift to your husband of casino, boutique or spa credits. While it doesn't show up on the Princess website, I have seen in the Princess literature that comes after final payment, where someone can also send a money gift that can be applied to your various charges on your account. If this is still available, you could "prepay" for your shore excurstions, etc. Maybe you could call Princess directly and check.

[Maryandi]

I would add extra money to my CC. That way if you don't take a tour, etc, you don't have to wait for a credit fr. Princess, you will have the money as a credit on your own CC. MaryAnn:D

[Toto2Kansas]

This is not a problem. Just contact your TA or Princess and tell them you would like to pay 'towards' your shipboard account. This way you can board the ship with lots of credit beforehand. I have friends that do it all of the time when their exchange rate goes down on the U.S. dollar.

[josassoc]

Do you mean by giving them cash? The problem is that we are staying for four days precruise in Moorea (the island next door to Tahiti) before our cruise stay. And, I'd rather not carry that much cash around or keep that at a hotel before we actually do our cruise. I was thinking of buying a bunch of traveler's checks, and just dropping them at the check-in or purser's desk at the onset of the cruise...effectively prepaying our account. Does anyone know how to do this...I'd think going to the purser's desk after we board would be the safest way of making sure that our account is properly credited.

 

Thanks for the ideas. I know i'm kinda "anal retentive" about this, but I really don't enjoy the huge bill at the end of the cruise.

[Dreamer333]

Do you mean by giving them cash?

 

You can have your TA charge your credit card any time, which basically means that you are "buying" ship board credit in advance.

 

One year, my DH and I charged $50-$100 each pay period, and when we got onboard, we had about $800 in shipboard credit already.

[atlcple2]

You can have your TA charge your credit card any time, which basically means that you are "buying" ship board credit in advance.

 

One year, my DH and I charged $50-$100 each pay period, and when we got onboard, we had about $800 in shipboard credit already.

 

What a great idea!!! I have been paying about $200 extra on one of my credit cards for a few months now so I would have extra room on it for our on-board bill, kinda the same thing. On the islands it is better to use your credit card because you get a better exchange rate than you would using cash...crazy but true.

[johnql]

One year, my DH and I charged $50-$100 each pay period, and when we got onboard, we had about $800 in shipboard credit already.

This is what makes the world go 'round - to each his own. I can't imagine parting with my money any sooner than I have to. The longer I hold onto it, the more I can make it work for me, even with a rock-bottom savings account interest rate. I just make sure I have enough money socked away to cover the entire credit card bill when I receive it, hopefully about a month after the cruise (LOL).

[Dreamer333]

I just make sure I have enough money socked away to cover the entire credit card bill when I receive it, hopefully about a month after the cruise (LOL).

 

I can definitely understand this... however when I wrote "credit card" I really meant my debit card, therefore I am not paying ANY interest.

 

As for me, I know I'll end up spending that 50 bucks on something else (that I don't need) anyway!!

 

The way that I look at it, my cruise IS an investment... into myself, into my marriage, etc.

[johnql]

I can definitely understand this... however when I wrote "credit card" I really meant my debit card, therefore I am not paying ANY interest.

We are in complete agreement there. I haven't paid credit card interest in years. I always pay off my bill in its entirety without incurring interest. I use the cc for additional float on my money.

 

As for debit cards, I rarely use them. Again, I'd rather hold onto my money as long as possible.

 

I also agree that a cruise can be considered an investment "into myself, into my marriage", but what does that have to do with how one pays for it? Again, I'm not saying that my way is the better way for everybody. It's just my preference.

[josassoc]

Like you said, to each his own! I hate large credit card bills after our vacation. And, after traveling for several cruises/vacations in the last few years, I've been planning on how to best alleviate my desire to not worry about $$ on vacation. In our relationship, I'm in charge of the finances, and I look forward to vacations to get away from that responsibility.

 

I called Princess and arranged to pay $$ toward our shipboard account. They said that when I get onboard, there should be card in my room that indicates that I paid this amount and I then take it down to the pursers office to apply that to my shipboard account. The hitch is that any amount you purchase, you cannot have back at the end of the cruise, if you don't spend it. So, I paid off the excursions that we already booked and the tips + a reasonable amount expected for drinks. We'll easily cover this amount, but not likely charge and incredible bill above the $$ credited. I realize that I'm taking the chance that Princess "screws up" and doesn't follow through (the card is missing when we get there). But worst case scenario, we'll just charge to the credit card anyway...and I'll make Princess customer service misrable when I get back.

 

I'll call them and confirm that its worked before I go at any rate.

[Cruise Junky]

We're doing something similar, but instead of paying it in advance on the credit card, we're just socking money away and then I'll get $500 in travelers Cheques and give that to the pursers office...that way they can't screw up or lose it:)

[gatour]

Instead of prepaying the cruiseline why don't you prepay yourself. Open some type of "savings" account with your bank and periodically drop money into it. Right before your cruise using this account, make a prepayment to your credit card that you will be using on your cruise.

 

Just because your CC bill is $50 doesn't mean that you can't pay $500 right before your cruise.

 

While not the ideal way to do things, I think it is a possibility for some people.

[vijoge]

Right before your cruise using this account, make a prepayment to your credit card that you will be using on your cruise.

 

Just because your CC bill is $50 doesn't mean that you can't pay $500 right before your cruise.

 

 

I do this al the time. I send a huge payment to American Express just before I travel and when I get home I don't owe them anything! I've also already paid for everything I possible can.