ready2cruzagain Posted May 20, 2018 #1 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Read today that a person was on a MSC Divina cruise out of Miami and they tried to use their credit card as payment. The kiosk would not take it. She said there was several people like that. Come to find out her card was not authorized for foreign transactions and that is why she could not use it. I am sailing the Divina out of Miami. I always call my CC company and let them know when going out of the country. So I have never had that problem but she said their money goes straight to a European bank. I am sure I will have to let the CC know that. My main question would be is there an international fee applied? On one of my CC's there is a 3% International fee. I am guessing I should not use that one and go with the one that has no fees for charging internationally. Is this correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deliver42 Posted May 20, 2018 #2 Share Posted May 20, 2018 I used a credit card on the Divina with no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ready2cruzagain Posted May 20, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted May 20, 2018 I used a credit card on the Divina with no problem. Good to know. I am still wondering if there is a fee for international purchases even though sailing out of Miami. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisingFox27 Posted May 20, 2018 #4 Share Posted May 20, 2018 There will be an international fee applied so if you have one which does not charge then I'd use that. I've have not had issues using a credit card on board but like yourself have always notified the bank before travelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ready2cruzagain Posted May 20, 2018 Author #5 Share Posted May 20, 2018 There will be an international fee applied so if you have one which does not charge then I'd use that. I've have not had issues using a credit card on board but like yourself have always notified the bank before travelling. Thank you! This is exactly what I wanted to know! Much appreciated!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelleherdl Posted May 20, 2018 #6 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Thanks from me too. This is a great trip. Dennis Sent from my QTASUN1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted May 21, 2018 #7 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Read today that a person was on a MSC Divina cruise out of Miami and they tried to use their credit card as payment. The kiosk would not take it. She said there was several people like that. Come to find out her card was not authorized for foreign transactions and that is why she could not use it. I am sailing the Divina out of Miami. I always call my CC company and let them know when going out of the country. So I have never had that problem but she said their money goes straight to a European bank. I am sure I will have to let the CC know that. My main question would be is there an international fee applied? On one of my CC's there is a 3% International fee. I am guessing I should not use that one and go with the one that has no fees for charging internationally. Is this correct? Just ask your bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilovetotravel1977 Posted May 21, 2018 #8 Share Posted May 21, 2018 I'm from Canada and my credit card charges me 2.5% a foreign exchange fee. So if my bill on the cruise is $100 US, slap another 30% on that for Canadian dollars, and then another 2.5% for the credit card fee. ugh, just typing that makes me sad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted May 21, 2018 #9 Share Posted May 21, 2018 MSC processes their onboard transactions through a bank in Paris, so there is a foreign transaction fee on a credit card that charges one. If you travel out of the country a lot, it is wise to seek out a card or two that do not charge foreign transaction fees. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelwide Posted May 21, 2018 #10 Share Posted May 21, 2018 We have been on the Divina two times and the seaside one time. We used a Us credit card. They charged in dollars and there is NO International transaction fees. All 3 of these cruises were in the Caribbean. I have not heard of your issue before on MSC in the Caribbean. Are you using a Us credit card or an international credit card which would make charging in u.s. dollars a foreign transaction fee charge. I am baffled by all of the former responses. Will be on MSC Seaside next week. Will confirm my statement is true when we get back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegraminator Posted May 21, 2018 #11 Share Posted May 21, 2018 When we sailed on the Divina last July we call our bank before the cruise to inquire about international fees and we were told there would be no additional fees added , however the month following our cruise a charge was on our bank statement for $8.95 as an international charges fee. It was no big deal , but it conflicted with what we were told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ready2cruzagain Posted May 21, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted May 21, 2018 We have been on the Divina two times and the seaside one time. We used a Us credit card. They charged in dollars and there is NO International transaction fees. All 3 of these cruises were in the Caribbean. I have not heard of your issue before on MSC in the Caribbean. Are you using a Us credit card or an international credit card which would make charging in u.s. dollars a foreign transaction fee charge. I am baffled by all of the former responses. Will be on MSC Seaside next week. Will confirm my statement is true when we get back. I am using a US card and the person that I read about it happening to was using a US card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted May 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted May 21, 2018 I am using a US card and the person that I read about it happening to was using a US card. Not all US cards are created equal. If they were, there wouldn't be so many TV ads for various cards... My cards are all 'US' caards: AMEX does charge foreign transaction fees, even when the purchase is in $US. My Capital One, USAA, and PenFed cards do not. I usually us an AMEX card for onboard expenses, but not when I sail MSC. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homosassa Posted May 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted May 21, 2018 We have been on the Divina two times and the seaside one time. We used a Us credit card. They charged in dollars and there is NO International transaction fees. All 3 of these cruises were in the Caribbean. I have not heard of your issue before on MSC in the Caribbean. Are you using a Us credit card or an international credit card which would make charging in u.s. dollars a foreign transaction fee charge. I am baffled by all of the former responses. Will be on MSC Seaside next week. Will confirm my statement is true when we get back. You obviously used a credit card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee. Some cards do charge the fee and the charge can be a surprise to those who are not expecting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ready2cruzagain Posted May 22, 2018 Author #15 Share Posted May 22, 2018 You obviously used a credit card that does not charge a foreign transaction fee. Some cards do charge the fee and the charge can be a surprise to those who are not expecting it. Thank you! This is the answer I was trying to get. I have a card that does charge a foreign transaction fee and one that does not. Normally I would use the one that does but since MSC would charge a FTF then I will use the one that does not have a FTF. I would never have thought about it since we have sailed out of Miami so many times (never on MSC though) but when I seen it on a blog I had to get the right answer. You are right though, most people do not even think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homosassa Posted May 22, 2018 #16 Share Posted May 22, 2018 I saw the information about the foreign transaction fee and credit cards on the MSC website when I booked my first MSC cruise three years ago. Don't ask me where on the website; probably in an area dealing with money on board. In any case, I always give a head's up to anyone I know that is cruising MSC for the first time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbabyfish Posted May 22, 2018 #17 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Is that the case when booking in the u.s. thru a travel agent? Sent from my SM-S320VL using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now