Paying for onboard account

[radiancecruiser]

Just a question regarding paying for our onboard accounts. Sorry if this has been answered before....I haven't been on CC for a while....

When filling in the online check in, can we say that we will pay by cash, and then just go to the desk and pay with credit card? Will we need to do this at regular intervals during the cruise? And does this avoid the "holds" that RCI put on credit cards?

Thank you.

[Clarea]

Royal lets you charge up to $500 on a 7-night cruise, over any OBC before they ask you to pay down the account.  If you only use the credit card at the end of the cruise, there should be no holds.

[rhuntington3]

Yes, you can choose a cash account when performing the online check-in.  Believe once you get to $500.00, its requested you pay off the balance.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/seapass-copy-request

[wolfcathorse]

haven't used a cc in 4 years. Always opt for cash account. You'll get a letter in your stateroom updating you on what your currently is, once it hits $200 or $500 (can't remember which) you have to go pay some cash on it. When I board I always go put $200 cash deposit on our account, it takes a long time to eat that up cuz we're cheapos.

[Ashland]

1 hour ago, rhuntington3 said:

Yes, you can choose a cash account when performing the online check-in.  Believe once you get to $500.00, its requested you pay off the balance.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/seapass-copy-request

I don't think they make you pay the total at that point...you can just put more cash down to pay it down.

I now always do a cash account during online checkin.....then just pay in cash last night of cruise...which for us is very nominal...we don't spend much onboard at all.

[rhuntington3]

5 minutes ago, Ashland said:

I don't think they make you pay the total at that point...you can just put more cash down to pay it down.

I now always do a cash account during online checkin.....then just pay in cash last night of cruise...which for us is very nominal...we don't spend much onboard at all.

 

Yeah, sorry, meant to say pay down the balance.

[Ourusualbeach]

39 minutes ago, wolfcathorse said:

haven't used a cc in 4 years. Always opt for cash account. You'll get a letter in your stateroom updating you on what your currently is, once it hits $200 or $500 (can't remember which) you have to go pay some cash on it. When I board I always go put $200 cash deposit on our account, it takes a long time to eat that up cuz we're cheapos.

$500 on 7 day or longer cruises, $300 on 6 day or less cruises. 

[Hogbay]

Were are all the CC lover's chiming in... 

😄

[bruzin_for_a_cruizin]

There was a loophole which allowed cash accounts to get USD from the casino cashier without paying the 5% vig, so I always used to set up my account on check-in as a cash account. Made it very convenient to get USD for use in ports. It was particularly great a number of years ago when they were taking CAD at par (I loaded up my account pre-cruise with CAD and withdrew it all in USD. Really subsidized that trip!).

 

On our cruise last month, I learned that RCL has closed that loophole. The cage now directs you to the Purser's desk at Guest Services. They'll also give you cash up to your account limit, but they'll apply the 5% charge now.

 

For future cruises, I'll probably just give them my credit card on check-in.

[cravingthis]

Great question @radiancecruiser

I was thinking of doing the same to avoid confusion that happens with the credit cards - USD vs. Canadian.  It would be quite a nightmare.  I have a US credit card, and want to make sure I'm charged in US funds, even though I'm from Canada.  This would be a good idea!  

 

 

 

[orville99]

We rarely use cash for anything any more. I think I've had the same $100 in my wallet for the last three months. When you open your wallet and extract cash, it's gone immediately. When I open my wallet and use my credit card, my cash stays in my account for at least 30 days before I have to part with it.

[Mary Louise]

10 hours ago, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

On our cruise last month, I learned that RCL has closed that loophole. The cage now directs you to the Purser's desk at Guest Services. They'll also give you cash up to your account limit, but they'll apply the 5% charge now.

Oh no say it is not so. I have quite a bit of OBC and was going to take the cash option, and cash out my non refundable OBC without paying the 5% fee. What ship were you on?

 

ML

[bruzin_for_a_cruizin]

We were on Freedom out of San Juan.

Hopefully, it'll be better for you on whichever ship you sail, but get back to us and let us know!

[orville99]

On ‎9‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 10:18 AM, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

There was a loophole which allowed cash accounts to get USD from the casino cashier without paying the 5% vig, so I always used to set up my account on check-in as a cash account. Made it very convenient to get USD for use in ports. It was particularly great a number of years ago when they were taking CAD at par (I loaded up my account pre-cruise with CAD and withdrew it all in USD. Really subsidized that trip!).

 

On our cruise last month, I learned that RCL has closed that loophole. The cage now directs you to the Purser's desk at Guest Services. They'll also give you cash up to your account limit, but they'll apply the 5% charge now.

 

For future cruises, I'll probably just give them my credit card on check-in.

On Harmony last two weeks, and while we don't do a lot of casino visits, we do throw a few $$ into the slots from time to time. When we tapped our sea pass cards at the machines, it looked like we could draw directly against our onboard account without ever visiting the cashier's cage. It was the same on Mariner in July. It didn't look like there was any vig when you did that at the slots.

[cb at sea]

You can do that...but if you charge more than $500, you will be asked to put down CASH...if you pay that off with your credit card, you will then be on a credit card account.  Why not just DO a CC account from the get-go?  Nothing is actually CHARGED to the card until the cruise is over.

[Ashland]

7 hours ago, cb at sea said:

You can do that...but if you charge more than $500, you will be asked to put down CASH...if you pay that off with your credit card, you will then be on a credit card account.  Why not just DO a CC account from the get-go?  Nothing is actually CHARGED to the card until the cruise is over.

Don't some have a hold put on their funds when using a CC?

[Clarea]

25 minutes ago, Ashland said:

Don't some have a hold put on their funds when using a CC?

 

I've seen reports that indicate holds on credit cards.

[Ashland]

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I've seen reported that indicate holds on credit cards.

Yes...I have also and my point. I do a cash account and then on the last night opt for method of payment...cash or credit card then no hold. That hold could be something for some to consider.

[Merion_Mom]

On 9/17/2019 at 10:18 AM, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

There was a loophole which allowed cash accounts to get USD from the casino cashier without paying the 5% vig, so I always used to set up my account on check-in as a cash account. Made it very convenient to get USD for use in ports. It was particularly great a number of years ago when they were taking CAD at par (I loaded up my account pre-cruise with CAD and withdrew it all in USD. Really subsidized that trip!).

 

On our cruise last month, I learned that RCL has closed that loophole. The cage now directs you to the Purser's desk at Guest Services. They'll also give you cash up to your account limit, but they'll apply the 5% charge now.

 

For future cruises, I'll probably just give them my credit card on check-in.

 

I am getting cash (through the slot machines) at the casino with no fee right this minute on the Adventure.

[Snit13]

13 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I've seen reports that indicate holds on credit cards.

Is a hold the same as pending?  I frequently see "pending" on my statement when I review it.  Do not ever recall seeing a hold on my CC's.  I have heard of holds on debit cards but not credit cards.
 

[Clarea]

26 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

Is a hold the same as pending?  I frequently see "pending" on my statement when I review it.  Do not ever recall seeing a hold on my CC's.  I have heard of holds on debit cards but not credit cards.
 

 

Same thing, the pendng charge reduces the credit limit.

[AshleyDillo]

On 9/17/2019 at 10:18 AM, bruzin_for_a_cruizin said:

The cage now directs you to the Purser's desk at Guest Services.

 

My Allure sailing earlier this month had a sign at the cage directing folks to take out at the slot machines if they wanted cash.  As confirmed by above posters, no 5% charge.  Let the manufactured spending commence.

Edited September 19, 2019 by AshleyDillo

[Freefall Doug]

If you opt for a cash account can you prepay to a credit balance with a credit card?

 

I ask because we have a handful of visa giftcards from my wife's bridal shower and it would be great just to empty them all onto our onboard account. It just seems like a good way to use them instead of using them 15 dollars here 25 dollars there.

 

 

[Clarea]

30 minutes ago, Freefall Doug said:

If you opt for a cash account can you prepay to a credit balance with a credit card?

 

I ask because we have a handful of visa giftcards from my wife's bridal shower and it would be great just to empty them all onto our onboard account. It just seems like a good way to use them instead of using them 15 dollars here 25 dollars there.

 

 

 

You can probably call 800-722-5443 and buy OBC for your cruise with the gift cards.

[Freefall Doug]

Just wanted to close the loop. I called that number and they were happy to accept the visa gift cards. It took a little while to get it wrapped up, they must all be in a super noisy call center and the woman was having trouble getting all of the information. Haa!