Cash or Card

[Telles]

I think that card is a pre loaded travel card and not a card that is actually tied to an account anywhere. Can understand them not taking those to set up an account on board but don't know why they would not accept them to pay down a cash account.

 

I've used a prepaid credit/debit card for our seapass account on both of our cruises on Enchantment without issue. The only "issue" we ran into is that RCL doubles the charges on disembarkation day (ie: $100 spent onboard, $200 posted on the card) the second amount is a freeze/hold and takes 3-5 business days to fall off.

 

My guess for the original debit card question is maybe it was because it's not a US debit card but just a guess :-)

[beckinoz]

You have to do the same thing for BOTH options. Both use the Sea-Pass to buy stuff.

 

You want to budget your spending. With a credit card, you monitor the spending so you do not go over your budget. With cash, you monitor the spending so you do not run out of money in your account.

 

Sounds like the same monitoring effort except that the credit card is a lot less hassle.

 

And yet, I know many people who spend unnecessarily using their credit card and think they will be able to pay it off by the next statement when they can't. I have seen them getting loans to pay off a credit card debt.

 

So, yes, you SHOULD do the same for BOTH but that isn't always the case. You can't spend any more cash than you carry but you can always add extra's to a credit card and have the hassle when your statement comes in the next month.

[matj2000]

And yet, I know many people who spend unnecessarily using their credit card and think they will be able to pay it off by the next statement when they can't. I have seen them getting loans to pay off a credit card debt.

 

Sounds like you have a lot of irresponsible friends...

[Maybaybie10]

The reason I don't use a credit card onboard is because I don't have one.

 

I don't like using my debit card on vacation...I'm not sure why, I just don't.

 

I'm not used to carrying cash at home (because I use my debit card) that I am paranoid having large amounts of cash on vacation.

 

My solution?

 

I go old school....Traveler's Cheques! (go ahead and snicker...) RCI takes them without a problem. You can add $$ to your sea pass card with them. The casino will cash them (and it does help to control spending in the casino when you have to leave the machine to cash one!) And if you do lose them, you can get them replaced.

 

Everyone has their own method...that's mine!

[edjny]

And yet, I know many people who spend unnecessarily using their credit card and think they will be able to pay it off by the next statement when they can't. I have seen them getting loans to pay off a credit card debt.

 

So, yes, you SHOULD do the same for BOTH but that isn't always the case. You can't spend any more cash than you carry but you can always add extra's to a credit card and have the hassle when your statement comes in the next month.

 

Self-Control = Financial Responsibility..... What you are saying is why so many people can not afford to retire... :(

[Uri1961]

you can purchase OBC.

[beckinoz]

Sounds like you have a lot of irresponsible friends...

 

That is a bit self-righteous to call them irresponsible when you do not know their circumstance!

 

Young people (and old) can make some rash decisions and some aren't as strong as others in managing their finances. So get off your high horse!

[readytolose]

They did not give me a reason, just said RCI systems did not accept debit cards. It is a preloaded travel card but is chipped etc. If this is wrong, I am pxxsed off as I had to withdraw the USD from the card at an ATM in Portland which incurred both ATM fees and card fees. The benefit of the card lies in using it for transactions but not for withdrawals.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I've used a debit card on all 3 of my cruises so far with no problems. Not sure why they would tell you their system doesn't accept them.

[peteukmcr]

CC is the easy and safe method to pay for everything. I know many will not do this, but WHY. I guess it is the same reason I stand in line in the grocery store waiting for the person in front of me to write a check for $10 and having to find and show ID.

 

I hate checkwriters.

Especially the ones who don't even pull the checkbook out of their pocket until the cashier tells them the total.

We'll get in line folks behind me because I don't use credit, cash or debit card for me. Sorry if it inconveniences you form a line at another check out.

 

Mmm, what got the world into the recent financial mess CREDIT, that's what! So don't ridicule people like me that only spend within their means with cash.

Edited November 8, 2014 by peteukmcr

[peteukmcr]

That is a bit self-righteous to call them irresponsible when you do not know their circumstance!

 

Young people (and old) can make some rash decisions and some aren't as strong as others in managing their finances. So get off your high horse!

like!

[peteukmcr]

On Legend of the Seas in September, I was told that they would not accept my mastercard debit card (ozforex) would not be accepted. In fact no debit cards are accepted. This was a real pain as I had preloaded it with US dollars. I chose to pay with cash as I have had problems with RCC charging in the card's home currency which means double fees.

in the T&Cs for RCI UK they specifically state they do not accept what we call prepaid currency cards, which sound a lot like your debit card.

[edjny]

Mmm, what got the world into the recent financial mess CREDIT, that's what! So don't ridicule people like me that only spend within their means with cash.

 

Not quite.... It is people who do not pay off their credit card charges EVERY MONTH that gets them into trouble. Simple rule... Keep enough cash in the bank to pay off every month AND/OR limit your use of a credit card to only what you can afford to pay off every month.

[tidygirl]

Not sure why people care if a person pays with cash or credit card as long as they don't have to pay the bill! I use a credit card but I know people that don't have a credit card and prefer it that way.

Sometimes cash is better than credit when travelling oversees I'm not real fond of paying an extra $5 to use my credit card. And before I hear use a card that doesn't have fees I tried using that one before we went to Spain to buy tickets and my credit card locked me out of the purchase so had to use the one with fees.

Also for the company they have to pay a fee every time someone uses a credit card no charges for accepting cash!

[beckinoz]

Also remember that all purchases are in USD, so depending on which financial institution you use here in Oz they will charge you a certain percentage for a currency conversion fee.

[edjny]

Sometimes cash is better than credit when travelling oversees I'm not real fond of paying an extra $5 to use my credit card. And before I hear use a card that doesn't have fees I tried using that one before we went to Spain to buy tickets and my credit card locked me out of the purchase so had to use the one with fees.

 

That is a security thing that protects YOU. If you are going very far out of your local area, you should call up the credit card people and tell them your plans. This way the computer that processes the charge will know that the card has not been stolen when you use it a thousand miles from home.

 

BTW, this would also apply to Debit Cards.....

Edited November 8, 2014 by edjny