Paying cruise bill with cash?

[5xGrandma]

Can you deposit cash with guest services to create an available balance to use while on the cruise? Yes I know that they hold a credit card number on file but did not want them to use it.

[Tree_skier]

3 minutes ago, 5xGrandma said:

Can you deposit cash with guest services to create an available balance to use while on the cruise? Yes I know that they hold a credit card number on file but did not want them to use it.

You don’t need to put cash down in advance. They will extend $500 of “credit” without a credit card on the account. You can then pay it down with cash once onboard. 

[5xGrandma]

Thanks

[cantellu]

If you really want to be sure they don't charge your credit card you should go to  guest services and remove your card on file. If it is on file you may see a refundable transaction on day 1 which is what they do to be sure your CC is valid.  Best to just remove it so you can activate the $500 cash credit. 

[not-enough-cruising]

17 minutes ago, cantellu said:

If you really want to be sure they don't charge your credit card you should go to  guest services and remove your card on file. If it is on file you may see a refundable transaction on day 1 which is what they do to be sure your CC is valid.  Best to just remove it so you can activate the $500 cash credit. 

Or never give a credit card 

[cantellu]

My experience has been that if you used your credit card to book your cruise then it will be on file going forward. I tried to remove i]t and change to a cash account during pre cruise online check-in but it wasn't an option. I either had to call in and have them, remove the credit card which automatically changes your account to a cash account with the $500 credit or go to guest services at on site check-in and remove the CC which also changes your account to a cash account with the $500 credit. 

[Norwich Cruiser]

Go to guest services on embarkation and have them remove the credit card.

 

You can then give them say $500.00 in cash to hold for you and go against your final account.

 

If that runs out and they need anymore money added during the cruise they will call your stateroom and ask you to add some more.

[Ourusualbeach]

4 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

Go to guest services on embarkation and have them remove the credit card.

 

You can then give them say $500.00 in cash to hold for you and go against your final account.

 

If that runs out and they need anymore money added during the cruise they will call your stateroom and ask you to add some more.

No need to give them any money up front.  They will allow you to run a $500 charge on a 7 day or longer cruise before asking you to pay it down.  $300 on 6 nights or less. 

[TravelinTess]

On 10/7/2023 at 1:38 PM, 5xGrandma said:

Can you deposit cash with guest services to create an available balance to use while on the cruise? Yes I know that they hold a credit card number on file but did not want them to use it.

Yes. I did this over the summer after an unexpected casino win. I cashed out then went to guest services to add it to my onboard spending account. 

Edited October 9, 2023 by TravelinTess

[Norwich Cruiser]

13 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

No need to give them any money up front.  They will allow you to run a $500 charge on a 7 day or longer cruise before asking you to pay it down.  $300 on 6 nights or less. 

That’s right no need but you also have the option as I said of giving them some money if you so wish.

[not-enough-cruising]

53 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

That’s right no need but you also have the option as I said of giving them some money if you so wish.

But why would you add a completely unnecessary step to the process?

[Norwich Cruiser]

9 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

But why would you add a completely unnecessary step to the process?

The completely unnecessary step to the process maybe isn’t.

 

The reason I suggested it as an option was because a few years ago we were cruising on Mariner of the Seas and we were speaking to some people on deck who’d had a problem with their on board account as they hadn’t kept a check on there spending.

 

I’ve really no idea what they had spent or what the limit was back in the day.

 

But they’d obviously gone over whatever it was and hadn’t realised.

 

They went to purchase something on board again no idea what but were refused and asked to contact guest services.

 

When they went to guest services they were informed of the reason.

 

So they then went to their stateroom took however much from the safe and gave it to guest services to clear the account.

 

On checking their telephone messages they did have a message from guest services telling them they had reached the permitted limit.

 

So I was really just trying to be helpful.

[Ourusualbeach]

1 hour ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

That’s right no need but you also have the option as I said of giving them some money if you so wish.

Your post made it sound like there was a need as you mentioned the $500 (the amount of credit they will grant) and you said that

 

"If that runs out and they need anymore money added during the cruise they will call your stateroom and ask you to add some more."

[Norwich Cruiser]

I mentioned $500 as another poster gave that amount and said that you could pay it down once on board.

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Your post made it sound like there was a need as you mentioned the $500 (the amount of credit they will grant) and you said that

 

"If that runs out and they need anymore money added during the cruise they will call your stateroom and ask you to add some more."

 

[not-enough-cruising]

20 minutes ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

The completely unnecessary step to the process maybe isn’t.

 

The reason I suggested it as an option was because a few years ago we were cruising on Mariner of the Seas and we were speaking to some people on deck who’d had a problem with their on board account as they hadn’t kept a check on there spending.

 

I’ve really no idea what they had spent or what the limit was back in the day.

 

But they’d obviously gone over whatever it was and hadn’t realised.

 

They went to purchase something on board again no idea what but were refused and asked to contact guest services.

 

When they went to guest services they were informed of the reason.

 

So they then went to their stateroom took however much from the safe and gave it to guest services to clear the account.

 

On checking their telephone messages they did have a message from guest services telling them they had reached the permitted limit.

 

So I was really just trying to be helpful.

Still unnecessary; making a $500 deposit changes nothing in this scenario. A $500 deposit and a $500 credit would be treated the same way by GS. 

I would argue the folks in your scenario would possibly be in even worse shape had they made a cash deposit. They would have been able to spend their $500 plus another $500 in credit before they realized they’re spending was out of control.

[TravelinTess]

As a single parent and budget traveler, I see value in adding cash to the onboard spending account as it can been seen as a fixed budget that is not relying on credit/borrowed money.  In my case, I had a decent casino win. I could have wasted it at the bar or an over-priced watch, I decided to use it to cover gratuities and purchases made on board. It was nice knowing that would not appear on my credit card bill at the end of the month. Took all of 5 minutes at customer service.

 

Not the same as showing up with a fixed amount to deposit, but doing that, at least for me, would set a boundary/budget in my mind. The app makes it very easy to track ob spending. 

 

Also a great option if you do not want to unnecessarily tie up available funds on card you plan on using in port or post cruise. 

[HappyTexan44]

I can see it being handy to hand G.S. the cash up front as a way to make sure it isn't stolen out of the safe.   Yes that is very unlikely, but 0% if it isn't in your cabin.