Royal Caribbean Visa Card

[QTMichele]

Can you get cash from the Purser's desk??? This is the first time I've heard this. Please enlighten me! :D

[cruisenfever]

And so I can't help but wonder..... what difference does it make to me whether I get my cash from the casino or from the purser's desk as long as either way it is charged to my seapass card, and ultimately to my RCCL Visa?

The purser's desk is usually where all monetary transactions take place.........pax that wish to add money on their seapass account, pay their final bill if they don't have a credit card account. This is also where the casino gets their money from. So as not to shorten their cash flow to pay those that do occassionally win in the casino, they can refuse to charge large advances to pax.

[lephysteria]

Can you get cash from the Purser's desk??? This is the first time I've heard this. Please enlighten me! :D

 

Yes, you can also cash travellers checks there - or change a 100 bill into several small bills :)

[QTMichele]

lephysteria, Thank you! Just to make sure I'm understanding you... Let's say I put my RCCL credit card down for my Sea Pass Account and only bring a limited amount of money in cash. If I need cash for tipping, ports, etc., can I just go to the Purser's desk and ask for X amount of money? The money would then be charged to my account (which my RCCL card will be charged at the end of the cruise), correct? Is there a fee for this? I do not want to carry a lot of cash with me and do not want to pay a lot in ATM fees aboard the ship.

 

ALSO... if this is true and you can get cash (for no fee??), then why do the "tips" always say to get the cash at the casino? Why go through that round-about way to get it if you can get it at the Purser's desk?

 

Whew. And we thought this thread was dead. ;)

[forpaws]

lephysteria, Thank you! Just to make sure I'm understanding you... Let's say I put my RCCL credit card down for my Sea Pass Account and only bring a limited amount of money in cash. If I need cash for tipping, ports, etc., can I just go to the Purser's desk and ask for X amount of money? The money would then be charged to my account (which my RCCL card will be charged at the end of the cruise), correct? Is there a fee for this? I do not want to carry a lot of cash with me and do not want to pay a lot in ATM fees aboard the ship.

 

ALSO... if this is true and you can get cash (for no fee??), then why do the "tips" always say to get the cash at the casino? Why go through that round-about way to get it if you can get it at the Purser's desk?

 

Whew. And we thought this thread was dead. ;)

 

And...since your ticker says you're leaving in 24 days...that's a question for which you definitely need an answer! (I'm envious of all who have cruises coming up in the next few weeks!) ;) :cool:

[QTMichele]

And...since your ticker says you're leaving in 24 days... ;) :cool:

 

That I am! AND... I'M SO EXCITED I CANNOT STAND IT!!! :D :D :D This is my very first cruise AND my first vacation (other than a rare long weekend) alone with my husband since we've had kids. These boards have been SOOOO helpful to me. I can't wait to experience everything myself and post my experience on these boards in the hopes of giving back for all the generosity I've received. Can't wait!!!

[forpaws]

That I am! AND... I'M SO EXCITED I CANNOT STAND IT!!! :D :D :D This is my very first cruise AND my first vacation (other than a rare long weekend) alone with my husband since we've had kids. These boards have been SOOOO helpful to me. I can't wait to experience everything myself and post my experience on these boards in the hopes of giving back for all the generosity I've received. Can't wait!!!

 

I've only been on one cruise myself which was last August, and I can tell you, you and your hubby will have the time of your life. And like you, the CC boards were invaluable in planning and knowing what to expect. When I got onboard, it was almost like I'd cruised before because I had gotten so much info! Which is nice because you don't spend precious vacation time dealing with the "learning curve" of not knowing what to expect and trying to find out answers once you're there.

 

Have a great time! We'll be awaiting your review when you get back.

[AFT_LOVER]

is actually next to the Purser's Desk but it is own party working it, and he is very good at exchanging USD for Euros or whatever currency is to be used ashore. The rates are better than ashore too. You also see him for OBC that are not credited to your account & you have the emails, etc to prove it is for you.

 

Yes, you can also cash travellers checks there - or change a 100 bill into several small bills :)

[AFT_LOVER]

at The Bank next to the Purser's Desk, so the Casino cashier is quick to get cash for tips, etc.

 

lephysteria, Thank you! Just to make sure I'm understanding you... Let's say I put my RCCL credit card down for my Sea Pass Account and only bring a limited amount of money in cash. If I need cash for tipping, ports, etc., can I just go to the Purser's desk and ask for X amount of money? The money would then be charged to my account (which my RCCL card will be charged at the end of the cruise), correct? Is there a fee for this? I do not want to carry a lot of cash with me and do not want to pay a lot in ATM fees aboard the ship.

 

ALSO... if this is true and you can get cash (for no fee??), then why do the "tips" always say to get the cash at the casino? Why go through that round-about way to get it if you can get it at the Purser's desk?

 

Whew. And we thought this thread was dead. ;)

[isujim]

And so I can't help but wonder..... what difference does it make to me whether I get my cash from the casino or from the purser's desk as long as either way it is charged to my seapass card, and ultimately to my RCCL Visa?

 

You are so right Marla............some people just don't want to wait in line:)

[isujim]

Why go to the Casino to get cash? It is just the long lines, especially 48 to 72 hours before the end of a long cruise that people are trying to avoid........I have never had more than 2 people in line at the casino cage, but have seen 20 people in line at guest relations..........

 

The Purser is the Banker...........which is why more and more are being directed there by the casino................ships do eventually catch on:)

[Host Karen]

is actually next to the Purser's Desk but it is own party working it, and he is very good at exchanging USD for Euros or whatever currency is to be used ashore. The rates are better than ashore too.

 

Brenda, this is incorrect. The rate for changing US dollars to euros (or vice versa) onboard the ship is much WORSE than you can get by going to an ATM in Europe. When we were in the Med in June 2005, the exchange rate at the ATMs was around $1.25 to 1 euro and onboard Brilliance it was $1.30 to 1 euro.

 

Karen

[In the Pink]

You are so right Marla............some people just don't want to wait in line:)

 

Okay, thanks, Jim. Not being a big gambler, I've never gotten more than a little cash at a time at the casino, but after reading this thread, I guess I'm going to "need a lot more cash this time"! I'll just pop in at the purser's desk whenever I see there's not a long line.

 

Thanks to all of you for this discussion!

[AFT_LOVER]

and my husband & another cruiser with us was remarking what a great deal we got.

 

Now on Celebrity they have a machine that exchanges money for the port. That cost more than a bank but no wait. Then we changed it back to USC when we got back.

 

We are buying magnets so we get under $40 USD exchanged since shopping isn't for us (don't need anything).

 

Brenda, this is incorrect. The rate for changing US dollars to euros (or vice versa) onboard the ship is much WORSE than you can get by going to an ATM in Europe. When we were in the Med in June 2005, the exchange rate at the ATMs was around $1.25 to 1 euro and onboard Brilliance it was $1.30 to 1 euro.

 

Karen

[cruisenfever]

Brenda, this is incorrect. The rate for changing US dollars to euros (or vice versa) onboard the ship is much WORSE than you can get by going to an ATM in Europe. When we were in the Med in June 2005, the exchange rate at the ATMs was around $1.25 to 1 euro and onboard Brilliance it was $1.30 to 1 euro.

 

Karen

We found that to be true when we did our cruises in Australia/NZ on Legend in 2001 and 2002.....and back then the exchange rate was far better than today. I would never do an exchange on the ship, unless, of course, you really don't care how much money you are actually losing!!;)

[forpaws]

We found that to be true when we did our cruises in Australia/NZ on Legend in 2001 and 2002.....and back then the exchange rate was far better than today. I would never do an exchange on the ship, unless, of course, you really don't care how much money you are actually losing!!;)

 

Pretty much anytime you exchange money at a place that's "convenient," you're gonna get a lower exchange rate, whether it's onboard a ship, at an airport, or even at your own bank when you return home. Many U.S. banks have to send off your foreign currency to have it exchanged (I've had to do this two times because I didn't get it converted prior to my departure).

 

On all my U.K. and France travels, you ALWAYS wanted to get your money exchanged back to dollars at a bank before leaving that country. Otherwise, expect to lose a few more dollars for the exchange.

[mollyeilis]

I love the real green stuff. We live in a plastic society I guess.

My Daddy always said if you don't have the cash in hand you can't afford it!;)

 

Thanks to bad decisions we made in our twenties (before we knew each other), hubby and I don't have much of a choice but to live without credit cards.

 

But now that we're older and wiser, and have lived on a cash basis for soooooo long (and trust ourselves to never get into trouble like we did before), there are times we WISH we could get a credit card for perks like free cruises and such. :(

 

Paying for our couch in cash also didn't allow us the 15% off that having a Macy's card would have...

 

Funny that people talk about the preapproved card offers they get b/c of their high credit score. I get SCADS of them, but I have a gazillion dollars in student loans that are being paid off VERY slowly and not fast enough for those I owe, and I don't work outside the house!

 

So it's not just good credit score people who get the offers. :)

 

 

Wish we could get a card that gave us credit towards cruises!

[cruisenfever]

Thanks to bad decisions we made in our twenties (before we knew each other), hubby and I don't have much of a choice but to live without credit cards.

 

But now that we're older and wiser, and have lived on a cash basis for soooooo long (and trust ourselves to never get into trouble like we did before), there are times we WISH we could get a credit card for perks like free cruises and such. :(

 

Paying for our couch in cash also didn't allow us the 15% off that having a Macy's card would have...

 

Funny that people talk about the preapproved card offers they get b/c of their high credit score. I get SCADS of them, but I have a gazillion dollars in student loans that are being paid off VERY slowly and not fast enough for those I owe, and I don't work outside the house!

 

So it's not just good credit score people who get the offers. :)

 

 

Wish we could get a card that gave us credit towards cruises!

I couldn't agree with you more. The vast majority of mailings are done to kids that are entering college. Our son was hounded when he graduated from high school........and he never had a credit card when he was in school. They were willing to give him big bucks as far as his credit limit went and when I inquired if he could get a lower limit...........I was told NO.

 

My dad never used a credit card a day in his life. He paid cash for everything..........said if he didn't have the money........he didn't need it!! His credit rating was based on his punctional payments of his utilities and his mortage on the house and any other monthly bills. You do not need credit cards to establish a good credit rating.

[PattyW]

I read in the rules that you can only accumulate points for 60 months. In the 61st month they will delete the 1st months points and add the 61st month's points, in the 62nd month, they will delete the 2nd month's points and add the 62nd's, etc.

 

My card says it was opened in '03 - that means I'll have been a member for 5 years sometime in '08 (don't know the month). I think I changed in 10,000 points for OBC in 2004. Does that mean that my 60 months starts up again with the month that the first remaining point was earned?

 

For example - my cruise was in November, 2004. Let's say I had a balance of 11,000 point when I cashed in 10,000 in October, 2004. Do my 60 months now run from September (or whenever that last 1,000 was earned) 2004? Or does it work some other way?

 

I'm sort on on a cusp between 50,000 and 75,000. I don't think I will reach 75,000 by 2008, but if I get another 12 months out of it, I may make it. If they are going to start taking points from me, however, I'd like to think about spending the 50,000 I have.

[mollyeilis]

I couldn't agree with you more. The vast majority of mailings are done to kids that are entering college. Our son was hounded when he graduated from high school........and he never had a credit card when he was in school. They were willing to give him big bucks as far as his credit limit went and when I inquired if he could get a lower limit...........I was told NO.

 

My dad never used a credit card a day in his life. He paid cash for everything..........said if he didn't have the money........he didn't need it!! His credit rating was based on his punctional payments of his utilities and his mortage on the house and any other monthly bills. You do not need credit cards to establish a good credit rating.

 

Yep. My problem was being allowed to apply for a Discover, Visa, AND American Express in college. I was 17!!!! Got 'em, had no problems while IN college. But then in graduate school I started running into problems. Then while trying to start my business I got into big trouble (especially with the Evil, suddenly 30% interest, call you 3 times a day and on Sundays, too when you're doing your BEST to work with them already, Discover card lady:( ), and one-by-one as I paid them off, they plucked the cards away from me. :( My parents weren't all that savvy, financially, at the time, and coudln't really explain to me that I shouldn't have all those cards. They got smart with money later, but for me to learn from them it was too late!

 

Hubby's trouble was actually his first wife, who threw 20K on HIS cards, then got an annulment after a few months of marriage. Never paid him anything and he was just so glad to be rid of her he never hounded her for her half.

 

And here we are. Doing our best to rebuild credit in the way that your dad did, with utilities, phone, etc! Though hubby's stuff should be coming off his credit soon (it's been around 7 years since they were paid off), so he'll be prettier soon, I hope. Student loans aren't actually as ugly on a credit score than other, smaller, debt, so, for instance, I got our cellphones when they would have needed a $500 deposit if it was under his SS# (this is before we were married) even though his debt was all in the past. It's all very weird.

 

 

 

Trying to keep myself slightly on track with the thread:

 

Does anyone know if the RCCL-perks credit card comes in a 'secure' version, meaning you put money down as security? Anyone?

[QTMichele]

Let's say you earn 10,000 points in January 2002, 5,000 points in February 2002 and 1000 points in March 2002. THEN you cashed in 15,000 points anytime within the 60 month period (before they expire). Are you following so far? Okay. :) You now have 1000 points left. Those points were obtained in March 2002 and will expire in March 2007. It doesn't matter WHEN you cash your points in (as long as it's within the time frame), but it does matter WHEN you accumulate them.

 

Your example of having 11,000 points and only cashing in 10,000 points doesn't give us enough information to tell you when those extra 1,000 points expire. They will expire when you accumulated them.

 

WHEW! I hope I wrote that correctly and you can understand it! :D

[mollyeilis]

In perusing the info about the card (trying to see if they have a secured card), I found this in the application for the Platinum Plus (though it might be for the Preferred, too, as they simply state that one's credit might cause one to be offered the Preferred instead of the Platinum):

 

"Cash advances, purchases of cash equivalents (including purchases of casino gaming chips), fees, finance charges, and fraudulent or unauthorized transactions do not earn Royal Points."

 

Also: "To qualify for double Royal Points: eligible transaction must appear on your monthly credit card statement and contain either the words "Royal Caribbean" or the name of a Royal Caribbean vessel."

 

And: "Earn up to 125,000 Royal Points per Year and redeem a maximum of 625,000 Royal Points over 5 Years. Royal Points expire 60 Months from when they are earned."

[VaCruzers]

So....just to clarify one more time....sorry if I am being dense about this....

 

When points are redeemed, are they redeemed in order earned? For example, if I have 64000 points & I redeem 50000, I am redeeming the points earned from the time I got the card up till the 50000 were earned. Who keeps track of when the 14000 left over began being earned?

[In the Pink]

VACruizers.... it's just like QTMichele explained, the first points you earned are the first points to be used or the first to expire....it's called "first in, first out". The credit card company keeps track of when your points were earned, when you use them and when they roll off. You can call the credit card's customer service number and ask when you have points rolling off and in what number.

But, for example:

January 2003 - earn 2000

February 2003 - earn 2000

March 2003 - earn 1000

April 2003 - earn 1500

TOTAL NOW = 6500

you cash in 5,000. The bank takes January's, 2000, February's 2000, and March's 1000

Your balance is 1500 which you earned in April 2003, so they will expire at the end of March 2008

Then you keep earning so

May 2003 - earn 2000

June 2003 - earn 2000

July 2003 - earn 2000

August 2003 - earn 1000

Total now = 8,500

you cash in 5,000. The bank takes April's 1500, May's 2000, and 1500 from June.

You now have a balance of 3,500. 500 of those were earned in June 2003, so they will expire at the end of May 2008. you have 2000 earned in July which will expire at the end of June 2008, and you have 1000 earned in August which will expire at the end of July 2008.

 

I hope that helps.

[isujim]

Thanks to bad decisions we made in our twenties (before we knew each other), hubby and I don't have much of a choice but to live without credit cards.

 

But now that we're older and wiser, and have lived on a cash basis for soooooo long (and trust ourselves to never get into trouble like we did before), there are times we WISH we could get a credit card for perks like free cruises and such. :(

 

Paying for our couch in cash also didn't allow us the 15% off that having a Macy's card would have...

 

Funny that people talk about the preapproved card offers they get b/c of their high credit score. I get SCADS of them, but I have a gazillion dollars in student loans that are being paid off VERY slowly and not fast enough for those I owe, and I don't work outside the house!

 

So it's not just good credit score people who get the offers. :)

 

 

Wish we could get a card that gave us credit towards cruises!

 

This is a great post and thanks..........we all made some bad decisions along the way...........my hat is off to you............

 

And cash isn't a bad thing...............