oceana caribbean

[edgie]

Hi

 

New to cruising hope somebody can help. We have booked to go on a caribbean cruise later this year on the p&o oceana. What i cant seem to find out but want to know is how do you pay for drinks etc on board?

1/Can you just pay cash as you drink... like a sort of pay as you go as you would in a pub/bar at home

2/Do they take a credit card swipe when you board and you just run up a bill and pay at the end of the cruise, if so can you pay cash or do you have to pay on the card. this does not appear to be in any p&o bumf i can find on line.

i have seen a cruise card mentioned what is this?

 

any advice greatly appreciated

 

also are the prices on board uk sterling or us dollars as this could make a huge difference in your final spend as the exchange rate sterling/dollars is very favourable at the moment in uk but i am sure the same rate will not be available on board

 

edgie

[The Monocled Mutineer]

Ship is cashless (except optionally for the purchase of casino/slots chips and for postage stamps from reception)

 

You settle your bill at the end of the cruise. I do not use credit-cards so instead pay over two-thirds of what I estimate my bill will be in cash at the beginning of the cruise and then settle up at the end.

 

Pricing is in £s

 

Bar prices are akin to a UK pub price (ie much cheaper than an equivalent 4/5 * Hotel in he UK)

[Elaine0138]

Seems like this thread has had some messages removed.

 

Edgie, just ignore the children who seeem to want to bicker among themselves even although the MM has given you some of the answers to your query :)

 

Yes cruise companies take a swipe of your credit card at the begining of your trip and you get the bill at the end. You can pay cash to pay your bill, contact guest relations onboard before the end of the cruise and check with them the procedure for doing this.

 

The cruise card is what you use onboard ship to charge any purchase onboard to your account, it is also your room key and used to swipe you on and off the ship.

[daiB]

Hi

 

New to cruising hope somebody can help. We have booked to go on a caribbean cruise later this year on the p&o oceana. What i cant seem to find out but want to know is how do you pay for drinks etc on board?

1/Can you just pay cash as you drink... like a sort of pay as you go as you would in a pub/bar at home

2/Do they take a credit card swipe when you board and you just run up a bill and pay at the end of the cruise, if so can you pay cash or do you have to pay on the card. this does not appear to be in any p&o bumf i can find on line.

i have seen a cruise card mentioned what is this?

 

any advice greatly appreciated

 

also are the prices on board uk sterling or us dollars as this could make a huge difference in your final spend as the exchange rate sterling/dollars is very favourable at the moment in uk but i am sure the same rate will not be available on board

 

edgie

 

 

 

Hi edgie,

 

All above gives you the low down on paying whilst on board but do not forget all of the islands will take the US$. People told us that things would be priced in local currency but our experience was that $ were quoted to us. Of course nothing was expensive.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

[cruisebore]

Hi edgie,

 

All above gives you the low down on paying whilst on board but do not forget all of the islands will take the US$. People told us that things would be priced in local currency but our experience was that $ were quoted to us. Of course nothing was expensive.

 

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

 

Make sure you have have enough low denomination dollar bills and ask for any change in US$. Change in the local currency has a limited use.

The only place were we found difficulty with the US$ was Tobago and there we did get our change in the local currency, also they were not up to speed on the exchange rates.

 

regards

 

Cb

[annieuk]

We were in the Caribbean on Oceana in February and can endorse what has been said. Our credit card was registered when we checked in at Barbados and we were given the card to use whenever we purchased anything on board. Unless things have changed there is a separate room card which you will be given at this point (there is a second one in your cabin). All we took were US dollars as most islands take them. Do take low denomination notes if possible; we found M&S most helpful in this respect.

Also, be careful to notice that on some islands - Barbados for example - you will be given your change in East Caribbean Dollars. Unless you want to spend lots of money ashore you won't need an awful lot of cash - it depends on what you want to do. We found that other than a few presents and drinks we spent very little ashore. I realise some people buy lots of jewellery etc. - not us unfortunately.

Oceana is a fabulous ship, we had been on Adonia before so we knew what to expect. I'm sure you will have a fantastic cruise.

 

Annie:)