HELP!!!CASH,CREDIT CARD or TRAVELER CHECKS

[tvjj11]

What is the best or safest way to pay for things on a cruz. I like to have some cash on hand for some things, Are trav checks worth the time? Don't want to have to keep every thing with us at the beach or pool. Is there a safe place to keep your valuables? Need some help with this if you can!

[Janet524]

When onboard the ship, all you'll need is your SeaPass Card. It's your room key, ID card for getting on and off the ship, and your "charge card" for onboard purchases. When we're on the ship, we generally lock up our wallets and cash in the room safe and carry only our SeaPass Card. We operate with our credit card and some cash. I've taken travelers checks with us on the last three cruises, never to use them. If you feel more comfortable carrying travelers checks rather than cash, do so...Guest Relations will cash them for you. Another option to get cash (if you don't want to carry a lot and find you need more) is to make a charge to you SeaPass for cash in the Casino. The charge goes on your onboard statement and you pay for it with your credit card at the end of the cruise.

[Cats' slave]

We use a credit card for almost everything. We charge our basic tips and use cash for extra tips, room service tips, the casino and little shops on the islands. I don't think traveler's checks are worth the hassle.

[PhoenixCruiser]

If you have the RCI Credit Card through MBNA, that would be my first option, you get double points for $$ spent on anything RCI related. You can get info on their website :D If you don't have that card I suggest using your other CC.

 

Have fun planning!

 

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[cb at sea]

I don't think Traveler's checks are worth the hassle, either,--or the cost! Use your credit card to fund your seapass, and take enough cash for small purchases in port and for tips (if you're not charging the tips to your seapass/credit card.) Bear in mind--some of the handicraft-type stalls you run across don't take credit cards--but everyone takes US money!

[Fritz265]

Exactly. No need for cash on the ship but when you want some money for shopping on shore excursions, we usually use a credit card where possible and take a little cash with us for all of the crap du jour we tend to collect. Best to get cash (for tips, etc) on your seapass account from the casino as you won't get charged a fee to your credit card for it. So to answer your question, all you need is one good credit card for your trip. Have fun.

[superjerryw]

Don't want to have to keep every thing with us at the beach or pool. Is there a safe place to keep your valuables? Need some help with this if you can!

 

While on board the ship you don't need cash for anything. All on board purchases are charged to your sea pass account. Since your Sea Pass card is also the key to your cabin you need not carry anything else with you when on the ship. As someone else said, just put all your valuables in the safe in the cabin. If we go to the beach while in port I use a waterproof belt bag. I put our valuables inside and wear it right in to the water. Here is an example from Magellans -

 

http://www.magellans.com/store/Safety___Security___Security_Wallets___Money_BeltsParent_Splash_Caddy?Args=

[Nliedel]

I use cash and a debit card. I had an issue a few years ago with a hold on funds that was never released that messed me up for weeks. It was a one time thing and I am being paranoid, but I still put down a cash deposit.

 

Normal people, people not like me, can use credit cards with much success. Other people have explained how the seapass works quite well so I won't go into that.

[lovemylab]

I took all three. I didn't like travelling with a big amount of cash so I took travellers cheques and cashed them at the guest relations desk when needed.

 

We used a credit card to secure our Seapass account and used cash while in port (although we had a credit card as well). I prefered using cash as it allowed me to better control my spending :)

[WECoyote]

What is the best or safest way to pay for things on a cruz. I like to have some cash on hand for some things, Are trav checks worth the time? Don't want to have to keep every thing with us at the beach or pool. Is there a safe place to keep your valuables? Need some help with this if you can!

 

I put the majority of my charges on my RCI (MBNA) credit card. I will wait to insure that the servers/attendents are truly worthy of full gratuities (which they almost always are...98% of the time!). If I find a slacker, then I use cash to give that person what they deserve. I do carry a few hundred dollars in cash to make purchases ashore and to give the overachievers additional tips over the vouchers that we get when we put the tips on our sea pass account. However I know what I am looking for when we plan on shopping ashore before we sail and plan accordingly. I have yet to use my credit card ashore. If I find I am short of cash, I take my sea pass and head for the casino. They allow you get cash on your sea pass without any additional charges. It is put on your credit card without it being labeled as a cash advance, so it looks like a purchase to your credit card company. I have not used travelers checks in nearly 20 years.

 

As far as being safe, most of the newer ships have safes in your rooms. When we are aboard one that does not have a safe, I put the cash in a water wallet and carry it around my neck. I have never lost a penny aboard a ship and we take what I would call minimum precautions. I think the majority of rooms are as safe, maybe even more safe than your homes, just because of your attendent and the continuous parade of people in your living areas. Give your attendent an international calling card or a small tip when you board and your area could not be more secure with a ticked off lion!

[tvjj11]

Thanks for all your help. But

do you think the safes are safe or can the crew get into them.Someone has to have a over ride code or key, what do you think?:eek:

[chasetf]

What is the best or safest way to pay for things on a cruz. I like to have some cash on hand for some things, Are trav checks worth the time? Don't want to have to keep every thing with us at the beach or pool. Is there a safe place to keep your valuables? Need some help with this if you can!

If US Dollars are readily accepted where you are going... then cash is ok along with credit card or debit card.

 

If going to Europe for instance, cash $s are not needed. If is more convenient and cheaper using an ATM to get local currency.

 

Of course, cash is not needed on the ship. :D

[Mlkkc]

Never had a problem with the safes you activate the safes with a card you bring for example driver liscense or library card what activates is the magnetic strip on whatever card you use and only 1 person can open it for your cabin but I imagine if you lose whatever card you activate your safe with somehow it can be overridden just in case if you left the safe locked once you go home

[tvjj11]

Does anyone know if Sovereign of the Seas has safes in the cabins, since boat refurb?

[texancruzer]

We also take all three......

 

Seapass gets put on our American Express which gives us double points towards future travel.....

Other credit cards just in case American Express is not accepted at astore where I have found something "I can't live without"

 

Cash for taxis, excursion tips, souveniers at small markets or booths that cant take credit cards. Also for cokes or snacks while in port.

 

We always take an "emergency envelope" of travelers checks. Just habit I guess but they usually never get used. We leave these in our safe in our cabin. At the end of the trip....we bring them home and pay the American Express bill with them :)

 

As far as safes in the cabin..... we put everything in there....no worries.

Jewelry, money, cameras, etc.....

 

Our best friends "forgot" their code and yes there is someone who can get into it if this happens.....but it is a BIG DEAL TO GET IT OPENED BY THEM. Not just anyone can do it. So put your stuff in there and don't worry about it.

[quagmire0]

Use your Seapass to withdraw cash from the Casino. Use that cash for land excursions. Just remember to get the cash the night before, as when you are docked, the Casino is closed.

 

A backup credit card is also good to have -especially for bigger purchases. However, many stores will charge you extra to use a card, so having cash is nice. Although at one store, I got them to waive the credit card fee - so it may be negotiable.

[bluvsbermuda]

My DH and I were just talking about this issue this morning! We have several private tours booked for our Mediterranean cruise which need to be paid in cash at the end of the all-day excursions. My DH thinks it would be fine to take dollars along since they can be exchanged onboard for Euros with no fee. I think it makes more sense to get travelers' checks in Euros ahead of time and exchange them onboard Euro for Euro. That way, we wouldn't have to worry about stashing alot of $$ in the room safe, just travelers' checks. Any feelings either way?!

[Fritz265]

You folks that use debit cards on vacation are more brave than I since a lost or compromised account could drain your bank account whereas a lost credit card means that I'm only liable for $50 max.

 

Another point: If you're going to make large purchases (as we did for jewelry) let your credit card company know before you leave or they'll think a major charge outside of the country is fraudulent and probably decline your purchase. Granted, my purchase was over $8k and I resolved the situation over the phone in the store, I was glad that they were looking out for me.

[SLH]

The Purser's desk will also cash a 1 personal check upto $200 so I don't bother with traveler's checks.

[texancruzer]

I think you really need to assess WHAT you will be spending money on and WHERE.....

 

one personal check cashed for $ 200.00 may be fine for some people but for others that would only cover what we spent in one afternoon while on St. Maarten ;)

 

and if you order room service you will need a couple of dollars each time for a tip for that.

 

Also how far do you have to travel to even get to the ship ? by car or air ? Will you need money for meals en route or at the airport ? How about pier parking if driving..... that adds up quick !!!!

 

Do you have a long or short list of souveniers you would like to bring back ?

 

In my opinion.....nothing is worse than coming up "short" the last couple of days of a vacation because you didnt think you would need that much :(

[whitsmom]

I took all three. I didn't like travelling with a big amount of cash so I took travellers cheques and cashed them at the guest relations desk when needed.

 

We used a credit card to secure our Seapass account and used cash while in port (although we had a credit card as well). I prefered using cash as it allowed me to better control my spending :)

 

We do the same thing. And when we get home, I use the remaining travelers cheques to pay the credit card bill. I get my travelers cheques through AAA and as a member there I do not have to pay a fee to get the travelers cheques. I found that several places in the caribbean take travelers cheques and I just feel safer with them. You can always cash them at guest relations desk anytime.

[ggourmet65]

I will NEVER give a cruise ship my credit card again. Unfortunately, on one cruise my husband was helicoptered off to the hospital in Nassau. It's a long story, but between the ship's infirmary and the hospital, they maxed out my card and I was left with no money for hotel, food, transportation, etc. Also, someone from security can run a large magnet over the safe and it opens. Is anyone going on the Mariner of the Seas on April 15th?

[PhoenixCruiser]

I will NEVER give a cruise ship my credit card again. Unfortunately, on one cruise my husband was helicoptered off to the hospital in Nassau. It's a long story, but between the ship's infirmary and the hospital, they maxed out my card and I was left with no money for hotel, food, transportation, etc. Also, someone from security can run a large magnet over the safe and it opens.

 

Who did you think would pay for those expenses :confused:

 

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[ggourmet65]

I did - at the end of the cruise!

[Bluenose Sandy]

Who did you think would pay for those expenses :confused:

 

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It's not WHO but HOW. Pretty stressful to have your card maxed out and no easy way to get cash from your reserves at home! Presumably they do medical evacuations for people who don't present high-limit credit cards... maybe they bill them later, allowing them to arrange for the money to be ready, or they have them get the money wired to them? I can see the poster's point. They didn't let her make a decision about how to pay, didn't tell her they were charging her card immediately, and didn't give her time to arrange for money.

 

Maybe the moral of the story is that you should have several ways of getting your hands on your money instead of just one credit card with you.