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Onboard account - Cash

BostonBeachGirl2017
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Cruiser Who Knows Nothing

Cruiser Who Knows Nothing

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It's DSC are prepaid, you can put down any amount. The rule is $300pp but those rules are outdated and almost never adhered to. When you check in, at the terminal, that is where they set up the account and swipe a credit card. Tell them you're establishing cash account. Then when on board go to guest services and add the cash.

 

 

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zqvol

zqvol

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If the DSC is paid you can get away with $300 to start. If your DSC is not paid $300 will not be sufficient. You will need at least the total amount of the DSC plus an additional $300.

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  • 3 weeks later...
garycarla

garycarla

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I can not imagine traveling without a credit card. My wife and I actually carry at least two cards each, on different accounts in case they get stolen/lost,

 

Yes, I know some people do not have cards as they do not have enough credit history, terrible credit, or unable to control their spending. I get that.

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shof515 "Live from...." Rare

shof515

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Another related question, what can I NoT use cash for onboard? Casino is cash, what about bingo? Do I have to use my onboard account for everything else?

casino can be cash or your on board account

bingo is your on board account

everything else is on board account

 

if the fly on entertainer has their own merch (cd/dvd/etc), that is cash only.

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BostonBeachGirl2017

BostonBeachGirl2017

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Exactly, I wasn't looking for a lecture, just looking for an answer to my question. This response added nothing to the thread... I wish I had a credit card I could use, but I don't at the moment. Plenty of cash though in my checking account and I was told not to use the debit card.

I can not imagine traveling without a credit card. My wife and I actually carry at least two cards each, on different accounts in case they get stolen/lost,

 

Yes, I know some people do not have cards as they do not have enough credit history, terrible credit, or unable to control their spending. I get that.

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BostonBeachGirl2017

BostonBeachGirl2017

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Thank you. Just trying to figure out how much money to place in the onboard account.

casino can be cash or your on board account

bingo is your on board account

everything else is on board account

 

if the fly on entertainer has their own merch (cd/dvd/etc), that is cash only.

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ColoradoGurl

ColoradoGurl

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Exactly, I wasn't looking for a lecture, just looking for an answer to my question. This response added nothing to the thread... I wish I had a credit card I could use, but I don't at the moment. Plenty of cash though in my checking account and I was told not to use the debit card.

 

 

I would agree that if a credit card is not an option, I would use cash only for several reasons.

 

1) If the ship overcharges you for items you didn't use or buy, you can more easily dispute the bill with cash vs a debit card. If you use a debit card they will charge it and likely won't give your money back, or will require you to go through a process of paperwork and a long wait period while the charges are disputed. Meanwhile, you're out the actual cash in your account. If you have a cash account (at least on Royal Caribbean, I'm not sure about NCL) they don't require you to give them any actual cash until your bill reaches a certain amount, at which point you can review your bill, then pay it down at guest services (unless you dispute a charge, in which case, refuse to pay until it's resolved).

 

2) Similar to #1, if your debit card number is compromised (stolen), which happens often in foreign countries then, again, you are out actual cash while you wait for your bank to investigate the charges. I have had anywhere from $70-$3,600 fraudulently charged to my card, usually in the $700-$1500 range when in Mexico, and thankfully it has never been an amount that has drained my bank account or overdrawn me or caused me not to be able to pay my bills, but for some people those amounts would break them. If you don't have a bank that temporarily credits that money back to your account while they investigate, then you're really screwed because it can be months before they give it back.

 

I used to be an "all cash" person too, because I didn't have a need for credit since I always have enough cash to cover what I want and need, and didn't recognize that there were some really useful benefits to using a credit card.

 

Having a credit card is not just for people who don't have enough money. It can protect you from losing actual cash from your bank account if the number gets compromised or the card is stolen and used. The credit card company simply refuses to pay for the items, whereas with debit cards, your actual real cash is stolen.

 

Using one to purchase high ticket items (electronics or jewelry for example) can give you additional warranty protections, just for using a particular credit card. Using one to purchase travel can give you insurance against lost luggage or trip cancellation. Some cards even offer life and limb insurance, which can give you (or your heirs) hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance payments in the event you lose a limb or die on a vacation that was purchased with that card. Not to mention some cards give you frequent flier miles or cash back bonuses based on how much you spend.

 

If you treat your credit card like a debit card, you will be better off because of all the protections and benefits they give you. I only use mine within the cash budgets I have already set for myself. Every two weeks (or however often you get paid and/or pay your bills and check in on your finances), you just transfer your weekly/monthly budget over to your credit card to pay off the balance. Only use the credit card for as much as you have already set aside in the bank to spend, and you won't ever get charged interest fees, and it will be just like using cash/debit cards, but better.

 

Of course not everyone can get a credit card, or might have maxed them out and can't use them right now, in which case, I think a cash account is safer than using a debit card.

 

 

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ColoradoGurl

ColoradoGurl

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I was really hoping to avoid all of the lectures regarding proper use of credit cards, and money. Started off so well......;)

 

 

While you might feel defensive by some of our answers, it can actually be useful to get the information and other people who read these questions might actually appreciate it. So, I'm sorry if you are feeling judged and lectured, that wasn't my intention.

 

As I said in my post, I used to be a cash only person too, and my conversion to credit cards was due largely because I travel so much, and I started being more open to it after reading so many posts about the insurance benefits of the credit cards and because my money kept getting stolen.

 

Maybe you are feeling uncomfortable because you aren't in a position to obtain a credit card in the first place, and you think we are judging you for that. But if you look at it from an outside perspective as someone who might have the same impressions I once had about credit cards, it can actually be informative. I used to think credit cards were for people who didn't have enough money, and were just a recipe for disaster. But because other people shared some of the info I passed on in my post, I was better informed. Perhaps you already knew those things about credit cards and budgeting (I didn't) and so you feel judged because your reasons for asking about cash and debit cards is because you can't get a credit card. My reason for it had always been because I didn't understand other uses for credit cards. My post may not have helped you, but I bet it will help someone else who reads it later on, like it did for me.

 

 

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lnhoney

lnhoney

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I am also going to put cash on my account when we cruise. Have the credit card and will carry it but prefer cash for the onboard acct. We are planning on doing a few excursions through the ship and those will be charged to the on board account so we will be putting enough cash on the account to cover those and still allow for extra. It is just easier for DH and I to track our spending that way.

I do have a question of my own though. If I just purchase onboard credit ahead of time would that do instead of having the cash when I embark?

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garycarla

garycarla

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It appears the OP got the answer. But, since the discussion on this discussion board is being discussed...

 

We love credit cards. Have flown around the world in biz or first for almost nothing. Taken a number of long trips at no cost - all using credit card sign up bonuses.

 

Works for us.

 

And good old cash works for others. And this fine. No judgement or lecture here.

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Cruiser Who Knows Nothing

Cruiser Who Knows Nothing

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I am also going to put cash on my account when we cruise. Have the credit card and will carry it but prefer cash for the onboard acct. We are planning on doing a few excursions through the ship and those will be charged to the on board account so we will be putting enough cash on the account to cover those and still allow for extra. It is just easier for DH and I to track our spending that way.

 

I do have a question of my own though. If I just purchase onboard credit ahead of time would that do instead of having the cash when I embark?

 

 

Yes. But you can only use refundable (purchased by you or a friend) for DSC. Non-refundable (gifted by NCL) can not be used for DSC. If DSC is pre paid, you're good either way.

 

 

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lnhoney

lnhoney

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Yes. But you can only use refundable (purchased by you or a friend) for DSC. Non-refundable (gifted by NCL) can not be used for DSC. If DSC is pre paid, you're good either way.

 

 

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Thank you for the reply. That is what I thought would be the case.

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