Whats the best way to go about it..

[GinaRz]

Hubby and I don't like to use credit for anything unless we have to (our motto is if we can't pay cash for it then we shouldn't have it).. Our debit cards have daily spending caps ($400 per card per day). We intend on bringing cash with us for our cruise spending, but obviously don't want to walk around with that kind of money. So what is our best bet? Should I make a pretty decent deposit into my sign and sail account the first night to eliminate the risk of loss or theft? Is there a way to make small deposits into your account before you cruise so that you don't have to carry around so much? I can get my debit limit increased temporarily which I had to do to pay for the cruise and airfare, but the bank doesn't like to leave it open for longer than a day. Obviously it would be an issue if they attempted to clear up my account all at once on my debit card.

[Essiesmom]

Almost every cruise line allows you to purchase 'On Board Credit' for yourself before you cruise. If you have the funds available, it is the easy way to have money 'in your account' when you board. Some people get OBC various ways, such as credit for drops in fare price prior to final payment. You can buy as much OBC as you want, and if there is any left over at the end of your cruise, they give you a check. Another way to avoid carrying cash is to get travelers checks. They cash them onboard free and you can use them to pay your account, or for cash when going aashore. EM

[Beopthtuh]

were like you dont like credit cards and take dollars everywhere we traval in the world .

on our first day we always deposit $1000 on to our account and put the rest into our cabin safe

check you on board account every 3 to 4 days and if need be put some more on.

[cb at sea]

Or, you could set the cash aside, and use your credit card...simply pay it off in FULL when you return! That's the nice thing about credit cards...they give you a "grace" period so you can pay it off with no interest charges!

[paul929207]

Several choices:

-Pay cash in advance on your account. You can do it all at once or a little each pay day. Eliminates need to carry lots of cash.

-Bring cash or travlers checks and put down as deposit on your account when you board.

-Use credit card, but at end of cruise pay off account with cash, leaving little if anything on the card.

[spookwife]

are you worried about embarking with all that moolah or or something else?

 

cash is NOT used on board except to tip room service delivery peeps.

 

you can choose to:

 

pad your on board account before you leave

Bring large copious amounts of greenbacks and put it on the account once you arrive

bring Traveler's checks and use them to pay off the account

run up the cc and then pay it off at the end once you get home.

 

Our strategy is the first and last options. I haven't paid interest n my CC in over 5 years.. we simply pay it off in full every 2 weeks( DH is paid on the 5th and 1st of each month)

 

soon as I get back from my trip that i leave on tomorrow I will start putting nominal amounts on my on board account each pay day until we sail in May. I will leave my CC on file to cover any balance due at the end of the cruise and once home log online and pay it off.

 

Many people use the CC to guarantee their charges then line up the night before disembarkation and pay all or part in cash.

[jt_83]

Just pay it off within the 30 day grace period. These days with online banking you don't even have to wait for the statement. Don't make things more difficult on yourself than they need to be.

[alleauna]

Up to this point, we've brought traveler's checks. We put X amount down on our cruise account when we board the ship & add more if we need to. The night before arriving at a port of call, we exchange travelers checks at the pursor's desk for the cash we'll be needing for that day. It feels old-fashioned but we haven't found another option...we are also cash-only folk in our day-to-day lives, having a debit card to use for only non-cash purchases (online, etc.).

[hi2you]

Traveller's checks are good as mentioned-if your ship is like most(Carnival at least since they are all I have travelled on to date) you will have a safe in your cabin. You need a card with a magnetic strip on the back-don't use a credit card-if you have a library card or some other card with a strip use it instead.

 

have fun.

[trish1c]

I agree about not racking up debt but you can use a credit card & pay it off. That is much safer b/c you don't have to carry cash. It stays saely in your bank account. If you are really concerned take your bill from the end of the cruise & write a check to the credit card company for the amount the day you get home.

[EmJakeBubbie]

IF you have a credit card, use it, imho. Pay it off as soon as you return home. That's the safest, easiest way to insure you can make any purchases you desire.

IF you don't have a credit card, load the stateroom account with your cash and cash out, on the last night, what you didn't spend.

[Essiesmom]

Every cruise line I have sailed (with possible exception of Louis Lines) has had a safe in the cabin. EM

[debperth]

I agree, use credit card and pay off balance before due date, especially when it relates to paying for your air fare and cruise. If by any chance the airline goes under and you have paid for it by credit card, you will get your money back. I know as this has happened to us and visa reimbursed us. As I understand it, if you pay cash, i.e. debit card, you have no recourse in the case of any problems of this sort.

[sherilyn70]

I don't carry debt either but I certainly use credit cards. They're safe and you can easily pay off the balance before interest is charged with online bill pay.

[MCC retired]

Leave the cash at home to pay off your credit card in full when it comes due. Much safer than handling all the cash and most cc's have reward programs , many with cash back . Then just go back to cash only if you wish.

[jannandjohn]

.we are also cash-only folk in our day-to-day lives, having a debit card to use for only non-cash purchases (online, etc.).

so how do you get on when checking into a hotel , or hiring a car?

.they always want your credit card.

[Alaskanb]

Credit cards are much safer than cash and can be used to access ATM machines in foreign countries. Some have no charges for currency conversions and provide perks regarding insurance for goods and services. If you know your limits and keep track then there is no issue with overspending. We have a card dedicated to travel.

[alleauna]

so how do you get on when checking into a hotel , or hiring a car?

.they always want your credit card.

 

Visa debit.

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

I use a debit card and keep a very low balance on a credit card.

 

On my last cruise, my traveling companion told me to call my credit card company and debit card company to tell them to be alert for any suspicious activity. I did so and sure enough a legitimate charge was rejected...fortunately I had enough cash on me to pay the very nice owner of a restaurant in Bologna Italy.

 

Am I correct in that cruise lines will allow you to put cash into your on board account, and will give you this money back as you request it.

 

If this is true then it is a major benefit because you do not have to carry much cash, do not have to scurry around looking for ATMs in foreign countries (though this is fun for the adventure of it).

 

And what is the process...does the cruise line want the funds from your credit card, debit card, check or cash?

 

Thanks

[alleauna]

Hello,

 

I use a debit card and keep a very low balance on a credit card.

 

On my last cruise, my traveling companion told me to call my credit card company and debit card company to tell them to be alert for any suspicious activity. I did so and sure enough a legitimate charge was rejected...fortunately I had enough cash on me to pay the very nice owner of a restaurant in Bologna Italy.

 

Am I correct in that cruise lines will allow you to put cash into your on board account, and will give you this money back as you request it.

 

If this is true then it is a major benefit because you do not have to carry much cash, do not have to scurry around looking for ATMs in foreign countries (though this is fun for the adventure of it).

 

And what is the process...does the cruise line want the funds from your credit card, debit card, check or cash?

 

Thanks

 

We get free travelers checks before our cruise & cash them at the Pursors desk as needed for no charge. I've read online that if you put cash on your sign and sail card you can get cash from your card at no cost at the pursors desk.

[sarafinadh]

Keep in mind that cashing the travelers checks OFF the ship could be problematic. They are not as universally accepted as in the past.

 

If you can cash them for free aboard that would be an easy way to do it.

[hladygirl]

call your bank and have your debit card daily purchase amount increased during this time period. it is very easy.....

[GinaRz]

call your bank and have your debit card daily purchase amount increased during this time period. it is very easy.....

 

Easier said than done. I had to fight to get them to keep it up overnight so I could purchase the cruise and airfare. Gave me the whole "its for your protection speech". I think I may do travelers checks.

[pj1973]

I've only done one cruise, but this worked for me...

 

I created a budget, based on reading a lot of posts on this site. I got a Visa gift card from my bank with enough funds to cover my pre-cruise hotel and food as well as my taxi fares. I also bought myself OBC though the ship. If I needed a little cash for an excursion, I stopped by the casino and moved some funds from my cruise account to my casino account. I then cashed out my account. Not sure if this works on every line, but for Princess it was perfect. I ended up leaving the cruise with cash in my pocket and almost $100 refunded. No debt after vacation felt great and it was all thanks to the great ideas from this site. THANK YOU!!