credit cards

[Joal]

Read on a recent post that MSC does not register your credit card for on board payments at boarding time. Said that you have to register the card using certain machines similar to an ATM. Is this a fact? It seems to me that this might create a lot of problems. I have never heard of such system. Does anyone have any knowledge about this?

[riclop]

Read on a recent post that MSC does not register your credit card for on board payments at boarding time. Said that you have to register the card using certain machines similar to an ATM. Is this a fact? It seems to me that this might create a lot of problems. I have never heard of such system. Does anyone have any knowledge about this?

 

We have been on the Divina 5x and never had to do such a thing.

[Skier52]

Read on a recent post that MSC does not register your credit card for on board payments at boarding time. Said that you have to register the card using certain machines similar to an ATM. Is this a fact? It seems to me that this might create a lot of problems. I have never heard of such system. Does anyone have any knowledge about this?

They do exist here is an image of one on OPERA taken from a review by tomvet

 

link to his review published this week

 

 

http://www.cruisingmates.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=270&t=10926

 

 

 

[Bra_BE2014]

I haven't seen it mentioned in any review of the Fantasia class ships. Hoping it will remain that way :D

[Beamafar]

I registered my card in the machine beside Reception on my recent Divina TA. It's a very simple process.

[Joal]

I registered my card in the machine beside Reception on my recent Divina TA. It's a very simple process.

 

OK, so they do exist. The reason this policy worries me is because of the number of posts from people who did have problems with credit card issues. We have taken many cruises and never, ever have seen such a thing. I guess they really do things differently!

[tomvet]

They are very simple to use. Insert your room key and then your Cr Cd (or swipe them - cannot remember which). The names in your cabin appear and you use the stylus to tick the members of the cabin you wish registered to that card.

 

Then you are asked if you wish to include members of another cabin, you swipe the card of that cabin. Then you sign with the stylus and your done!

 

Just be care if you are putting the charges of two cabins on your card. The charges will go across to your cabin but any OBC assigned to the other cabin will not - you will have to chase it!

[AmoMondo]

OK, so they do exist. The reason this policy worries me is because of the number of posts from people who did have problems with credit card issues. We have taken many cruises and never, ever have seen such a thing. I guess they really do things differently!

 

It's fairly new for MSC, however Costa have been doing this for years, so MSC are not alone.

 

If you think about it, not handing a card over to someone else is likely to minimise fraud.

 

I've sailed years with MSC and am not aware of problems with credit cards specific to MSC. You get people getting cards blocked because they failed to notify their card issuer that they would be making overseas transactions. There have Lao been complaints about charges but those are not levied by MSC but by card issuers.

[Bra_BE2014]

I registered my card in the machine beside Reception on my recent Divina TA. It's a very simple process.

 

 

I hope there was no queues! I dont mind to register my card but it would suck to have to face yet another line right after checing in

[kerryincork]

Very easy to use and they have them in different places all over the ship , not just the lobby, you can register your card anytime. Boarding for us was quick and easy and there were no ques for the machines.

[Joal]

I hope there was no queues! I dont mind to register my card but it would suck to have to face yet another line right after checing in

 

I do not understand the need to register my card, Maybe this is a misunderstanding. What I am talking about,is not to register or adding anyone or cabin to the card you get to use on board. I am referring to the credit card that you use when you make the reservation, the card that appears on your documents. At the time of embarkation, when we go to the window and fill out all the other papers like the health declaration, etc., then you give the agent the card you want to use to charge on board. Usually, I use the same credit card. They take the card, process it, and that is the end of the story. After that, you are given the ship's card, the one to use to enter the cabin, to charge at the bars, etc. Why on earth should I have to go and register that card in any machine on board? If that is the case, it seems an unnecessary step. By the way, yes, I have read several posts from people who did have problems with their credit cards on MSC, and it was not because they did not call the credit card company prior to embarkation (something I always do).

[Tonsoffun44]

Glad I just put Cash down for my sign an sail card, no need for these machines if they have them onboard. Hope they have someone standing nearby for those that can't figure out the machines. Heck in line at the bank it can take 5min for some people to figure out which way to swipe their ATM card to make a transaction at the teller.

[Tracey/Thom]

Just off the Divina 3 days - YES these machines are there and you MUST use them.

 

I registered my credit card for our cabin (on the phone with MSC) the month before I left, called my CC company and told them the countries I'd be visiting to make sure they didn't cancel my CC. We checked our bill on the TV each night, to make sure our prepaid gratuities, our prepaid excursions would not "appear" on our bill. All was well.

 

About to disembark and they scanned my card (I was just a foot away from land!) and told me my bill was not paid. I had to go all the way back to reception and stand in line (having already stood in line to disembark) to sort it out.

 

Turns out that my CC was fine, but I had not ACTIVATED it on that little machine. Lots of people were lined up that machine on Day one - I figured because I'd already registered my CC with MSC, it would be fine. There were no problems with anything we charged to our cabin (drinks, photos, etc.). But if you do not use that machine to activate your CC (on any day of your cruise), you will not be allowed to leave the ship with an outstanding bill.

 

All I did was swipe my CC card (the one I had registered the month before) in the activation machine - then go back to reception - where Voila! It showed up in their system. The reception desk could see in their computer that my card had been registered, but it had not been ACTIVATED. I have no idea why or how this works - (also as a side note, the reception desk only accepts CASH, no credit cards), but I advise you to use that machine at some point during your cruise to avoid a problem on disembarkation day.

 

About disembarkation - we went to our meeting place at 7 am and were off the ship at 7:45 am. So in actual time, it wasn't that long, but hundreds of passengers in a line were frustrated - and then more people in a line at reception were frustrated. This is not a Carnivalized ship, this is an Italian ship and they do things differently. We had a great cruise, and this didn't change my opinion - but I wish I'd read about that Activation machine on Cruise Critic before I left!

[tomvet]

I hope there was no queues! I dont mind to register my card but it would suck to have to face yet another line right after checing in

On Opera last week, there were no queues. Not sure how many machines were onboard, I only saw the one. Again, I am not sure how soon after boarding one has to get a card registered. I did it on the day after embarkation. We had loads of sea days on our cruise so there was not so much pressure on passenger's time.

[tomvet]

I do not understand the need to register my card, Maybe this is a misunderstanding. What I am talking about,is not to register or adding anyone or cabin to the card you get to use on board. I am referring to the credit card that you use when you make the reservation, the card that appears on your documents. At the time of embarkation, when we go to the window and fill out all the other papers like the health declaration, etc., then you give the agent the card you want to use to charge on board. Usually, I use the same credit card. They take the card, process it, and that is the end of the story. After that, you are given the ship's card, the one to use to enter the cabin, to charge at the bars, etc. Why on earth should I have to go and register that card in any machine on board? If that is the case, it seems an unnecessary step. By the way, yes, I have read several posts from people who did have problems with their credit cards on MSC, and it was not because they did not call the credit card company prior to embarkation (something I always do).

 

You misunderstand. When you check in you do everything - passport checks, health declaration, photo taken for the ID EXCEPT registration of your credit card. Your are then issued your room key.

 

When on board you must register your credit card to your account (be that any number of guests or cabins of your choosing!). You do this at the machine - picture above. First you swipe your key card - to identify you, your account and room and then you swipe your credit card - then both are linked.

 

Simple really!

[Joal]

Thank you all for your replies. Now I am aware of the process. No that I see the need to complicate things, but at least I will know what to do. By the way, since this is probably new for most passengers, do they made you aware of the need to register your card on those machines? or they leave it up to you to find out?

[jgallagh1944]

Thank you all for your replies. Now I am aware of the process. No that I see the need to complicate things, but at least I will know what to do. By the way, since this is probably new for most passengers, do they made you aware of the need to register your card on those machines? or they leave it up to you to find out?

 

We cruised on Divina last month; the credit card caused problems at disembarkation for several in our party. They didn't register their cards in the ATM and they were stopped as they were about to step off the ship. They had to return to Guest Services to close out their accounts. The delay caused 26 of us to wait on the bus for over an hour before they disembarked. There are several of the ATMs near Guest Services and I believe they have one or two in the Casino. I waited on line about 10 minutes as two people in front of me struggled through the process. You don't have to register your card immediately upon embarkation, but don't forget to do it before you disembark. Much easier on other cruise lines where they swipe your card as you embark.

[riclop]

Just off the Divina 3 days - YES these machines are there and you MUST use them.

 

I registered my credit card for our cabin (on the phone with MSC) the month before I left, called my CC company and told them the countries I'd be visiting to make sure they didn't cancel my CC. We checked our bill on the TV each night, to make sure our prepaid gratuities, our prepaid excursions would not "appear" on our bill. All was well.

 

About to disembark and they scanned my card (I was just a foot away from land!) and told me my bill was not paid. I had to go all the way back to reception and stand in line (having already stood in line to disembark) to sort it out.

 

Turns out that my CC was fine, but I had not ACTIVATED it on that little machine. Lots of people were lined up that machine on Day one - I figured because I'd already registered my CC with MSC, it would be fine. There were no problems with anything we charged to our cabin (drinks, photos, etc.). But if you do not use that machine to activate your CC (on any day of your cruise), you will not be allowed to leave the ship with an outstanding bill.

 

All I did was swipe my CC card (the one I had registered the month before) in the activation machine - then go back to reception - where Voila! It showed up in their system. The reception desk could see in their computer that my card had been registered, but it had not been ACTIVATED. I have no idea why or how this works - (also as a side note, the reception desk only accepts CASH, no credit cards), but I advise you to use that machine at some point during your cruise to avoid a problem on disembarkation day.

 

About disembarkation - we went to our meeting place at 7 am and were off the ship at 7:45 am. So in actual time, it wasn't that long, but hundreds of passengers in a line were frustrated - and then more people in a line at reception were frustrated. This is not a Carnivalized ship, this is an Italian ship and they do things differently. We had a great cruise, and this didn't change my opinion - but I wish I'd read about that Activation machine on Cruise Critic before I left!

 

Thanks for the heads up because this is new and i have been on the Divina 5x and never had to do this, but the last time on board was 1 yr ago.Thanks again!!!

[Donsyb]

Can you use a debit card if it has a visa sign or does it have to be a credit card?

[jgallagh1944]

Can you use a debit card if it has a visa sign or does it have to be a credit card?

 

The debit card should be OK as almost all debit cards can also be used as credit cards.

[98Charlie]

Maybe it's just me. But I never use a debit card except at a bank arm. I would suggest that you check with MSC about holds that they may put on. Some places like hotels put holds for expected charges that may not drop off for several days or more.

 

This blocks your access to your money until the hold falls off.

 

Then there is the security issue. A credit card gives you better protection in case of fraud or a charge dispute.

 

JMHO

 

Charlie

[Gig103]

I hope there was no queues! I dont mind to register my card but it would suck to have to face yet another line right after checing in

 

Just off the Musica which used these. You have 24 hours to register your card, and can make online charges immediately. They were scattered around the atrium on different levels and I just hopped on one between dinner seatings. It took only a few minutes even being unfamiliar.

 

I do think it's easier to have it done at check-in, but it didn't end up being a hassle or a queue.

[Gig103]

Maybe it's just me. But I never use a debit card except at a bank arm. I would suggest that you check with MSC about holds that they may put on. Some places like hotels put holds for expected charges that may not drop off for several days or more.

 

This blocks your access to your money until the hold falls off.

 

Then there is the security issue. A credit card gives you better protection in case of fraud or a charge dispute.

 

JMHO

 

Charlie

 

I agree with Charlie. The hold is a certain amount of Euros per day, whether or not you're using it. Same for a credit card but that doesn't tie up your cash, just your available balance.

[puzz]

Is this process of activation for cruise  card done for everyone in your room ?

[mmbcater]

On 12/15/2015 at 11:53 PM, Joal said:

Thank you all for your replies. Now I am aware of the process. No that I see the need to complicate things, but at least I will know what to do. By the way, since this is probably new for most passengers, do they made you aware of the need to register your card on those machines? or they leave it up to you to find out?

You have the first two days to do this otherwise they will hold your account and will not let you put anything (even drinks in the drink pkg) on your card. FYI it is VERY EASY to do this! It is a standard on all of the newer ships and the whole system is being converted to this system.