NCL Onboard Expense Account...Cash, Credit?

[PIM463]

This topic was a hot one for me before I got on the boat and it seems to be a burning question on the boards also. I traveled on the Norwegian Sky 01/11 - 01/14/13 so, I have fresh updates.

 

When we first arrived to check-in, I verified with the staff how I would set up the account, being that I didnt want to hassle with a credit card (and any possible authorization holds, releasing of any auth holds, etc.) and I had planned to set up this account with cash. I was told by my booking representative that they required $100 per day, per person. I didnt want to give that amount b/c I would never use that much $. I know myself and I was completely comfortable with $150 in cash. When we checked in, however, the embarkation representative told us that we could secure the onboard accounts with a credit card and there would be no transactions or holds placed on the account until the end of the cruise. Immediately, I was very skeptical of this b/c who's to say that A) this card was valid and had available credit for the charges made on the ship and B) if the card was even valid, at all. We proceeded with the check-in and settled into one stateroom, using one card.

 

Later, I went to guest services on the ship and I posed the same question to the representative there and he gave me a more plausible scenario. He did confirm that we could use ONE card for the two people in one stateroom and he indicated that on the first night, a $150 authorization would be requested on the card, to secure the onboard account.

 

At the end of the cruise, he indicated that we had the ability to pay in cash or allow the transaction to go through on the card. Unfortunately, I failed to ask about the cash situation and if in fact I was able to do less than $100/day if I had chosen to go that route. Other posts I've read indicated just that, however. Hope this helps everyone.

[JerseyGrl85]

We only delt in cash on previous cruises bc we didnt have credit. Once we were checking in we would set up out account, they did not require a min amount from us however we place $400-$500 to start. we dont typically pre pay service chargers either.

 

I use the spa alot and drink some we also have dinners in the specialty resturants in addition to shopping(NCL must love us) however we dont use the casino(so I guess they cant love us that much) so we keep an eye on the account, normally checking it in the am and in the evening. Hubby will go down to the lobby before dinner to put some money on when he see's it getting low.

 

We dont like to over pay because we dont like to worry about refunds. The first cruise we waitied about 2-4 weeks for our refund. our second cruise we were given back cash as we departed, very convient to get home lol. hope you had a wonderful cruise. Cant wait for mine!!! may cannot come soon enough

[PIM463]

We only delt in cash on previous cruises bc we didnt have credit. Once we were checking in we would set up out account, they did not require a min amount from us however we place $400-$500 to start. we dont typically pre pay service chargers either.

 

I use the spa alot and drink some we also have dinners in the specialty resturants in addition to shopping(NCL must love us) however we dont use the casino(so I guess they cant love us that much) so we keep an eye on the account, normally checking it in the am and in the evening. Hubby will go down to the lobby before dinner to put some money on when he see's it getting low.

 

We dont like to over pay because we dont like to worry about refunds. The first cruise we waitied about 2-4 weeks for our refund. our second cruise we were given back cash as we departed, very convient to get home lol. hope you had a wonderful cruise. Cant wait for mine!!! may cannot come soon enough

 

 

 

You waited 2-4 weeks? WOW. I would have been pissed. That's why I told my partner to be leery of using the card but, the check-in rep. said to not be worried and it worked out for us so, we'll see how it works on other cruise lines in the future.

[Sam The Cat]

The last two times I paid cash and put down a good size amount due to the fact that I knew that we would eat in the pay resturants (some times 8 of us) go to martini classes. Anyway the last morning I received a refund check of over $100 which I took down to pursers office where I cashed the check with no fee.

[PIM463]

The last two times I paid cash and put down a good size amount due to the fact that I knew that we would eat in the pay resturants (some times 8 of us) go to martini classes. Anyway the last morning I received a refund check of over $100 which I took down to pursers office where I cashed the check with no fee.

 

 

 

This is good to know....who knew they would even cash the check onboard?

[sdmike]

ok. Don't flame me here, but I don't understand why people use cash when they have a credit card. Can someone help me out here?

[PIM463]

ok. Don't flame me here, but I don't understand why people use cash when they have a credit card. Can someone help me out here?

 

 

For me, it's the instant gratification of having my $ back in hand...and not having to wait days for the refund of any unused credit.

[$hip$hape]

ok. Don't flame me here, but I don't understand why people use cash when they have a credit card. Can someone help me out here?

I had the same question, especially since the OP stated :

"When we first arrived to check-in, I verified with the staff how I would set up the account,

being that I didn't want to hassle with a credit card."

Cash just seems to create more "hassle" issues(?).

[sdmike]

For me, it's the instant gratification of having my $ back in hand...and not having to wait days for the refund of any unused credit.

 

With the credit card you are charged for what you spend. There's nothing unused, and nothing refunded. Am I misunderstanding your reply?

[$hip$hape]

For me, it's the instant gratification of having my $ back in hand...and not having to wait days for the refund of any unused credit.

Sorry, I never heard of an "unused credit".

Could you please explain?

[$hip$hape]

Sorry, I never heard of an "unused credit".

Could you please explain?

LOL ..just thought of all the "unused checks" in my checkbook.:)

[sdmike]

LOL ..just thought of all the "unused checks" in my checkbook.:)

 

I can't be broke, I still have checks!!

[PIM463]

Sorry, I never heard of an "unused credit".

Could you please explain?

 

 

In the credit card world, they can do an authorization hold for say $300. They in essence cuardon off hold of $300 of money, which is not available for your use. If you are conservative on the ship and only use $100, they will still hold the excess $200 (i.e., "credit") until the "real" transaction actually posts to your account. With real $, if I put down $300 in cash and if I only use $100...I get the cash back RIGHT AWAY and don't have to wait a few days. I can utilize that cash for tips, shuttle, etc. on the way back home.

 

I guess it's just a matter of preference....my partner tends to be of your mindset so, tomato/tomata I suppose.

[sdmike]

In the credit card world, they can do an authorization hold for say $300. They in essence cuardon off hold of $300 of money, which is not available for your use. If you are conservative on the ship and only use $100, they will still hold the excess $200 (i.e., "credit") until the "real" transaction actually posts to your account. With real $, if I put down $300 in cash and if I only use $100...I get the cash back RIGHT AWAY and don't have to wait a few days. I can utilize that cash for tips, shuttle, etc. on the way back home.

 

I guess it's just a matter of preference....my partner tends to be of your mindset so, tomato/tomata I suppose.

 

I guess this is only really an issue if you don't have much available credit on your card. Personally, them putting a $300 "hold" on my card wouldn't matter for a week...or even a month. All it does is reduce the available balance by the amount of the hold. No money changes hands.

[time2cruise1]

In the credit card world, they can do an authorization hold for say $300. They in essence cuardon off hold of $300 of money, which is not available for your use. If you are conservative on the ship and only use $100, they will still hold the excess $200 (i.e., "credit") until the "real" transaction actually posts to your account. With real $, if I put down $300 in cash and if I only use $100...I get the cash back RIGHT AWAY and don't have to wait a few days. I can utilize that cash for tips, shuttle, etc. on the way back home.

 

I guess it's just a matter of preference....my partner tends to be of your mindset so, tomato/tomata I suppose.

 

Unlike a debit card they don't put a hold on a credit card. They do process a temporary charge that drops off as soon as the final real charge hits. It is the only way to make sure the card is good. As your balance goes up they repeat the process.

If you use your card to by gas login at the pump and you will see the same temporary charge for$100 before you finish. By the time you get home all those temporary charges are gone. In the case of a debit card it could be as much as 30 days. Depends on the bank.

Edited January 17, 2013 by time2cruise1

[galleycook]

ok. Don't flame me here, but I don't understand why people use cash when they have a credit card. Can someone help me out here?

 

I guess you've never heard of Dave Ramsey:)

[time2cruise1]

I guess you've never heard of Dave Ramsey:)

 

I have but I don't think Mike was saying increase debt but to use the protection the cards offer and use you cash to pay it off every month. I am sure Dave would approve of using someone else's money free.

[AquamarineBreeze]

As I'm sure that my older mother prefers to use cash only, does anyone have experience setting up a cash account on the Jade? I'm just wondering if ncl.eu has different rules.

Thanks:)

[surran12]

I was also just wondering 2 things if I use cash to secure my account after getting my key cards do I need to go on the ship and do more to set up my account? Or if using a debit card what is the amount the hold initially?

[Demonyte]

As I'm sure that my older mother prefers to use cash only, does anyone have experience setting up a cash account on the Jade? I'm just wondering if ncl.eu has different rules.

Thanks:)

 

No, the Jade is the same as all the other ships. The different websites (and regional companies) are only for marketing purposes.

 

The currency onboard Jade is USD and from what I've read from here lately, you just inform them that you want to pay with cash in the checkin and then go to the guest services where you deposit money to the onboard account. In guest services you can give them euros and they will credit the account in dollars.

Edited January 17, 2013 by Demonyte

[HokiePoq]

I guess this is only really an issue if you don't have much available credit on your card. Personally, them putting a $300 "hold" on my card wouldn't matter for a week...or even a month. All it does is reduce the available balance by the amount of the hold. No money changes hands.

 

This is our case as well. Could it be a debit card that causes the problems? I've traveled to work meetings where young people had problems with a hotel double charging their debit cards and making their bank accounts go bust.

We use our Costco AMEX and get 3% cash back on travel, so it's cheaper than using cash if you pay off your monthly balance on time.

The NCL Mastercard was having a special on our recent cruise and the onboard credit sounded tempting but I didn't look into the details.

[Maisie45]

Hi,

 

I've used a credit card on both NCL and P&O and in both cases they don't take any charges prior to the bill at the end. My understanding is that they would put some hold charges on if you used a debit card. The credit card is the easiest by far, no queueing up to pay your bill at the end of the cruise, it's just automatically taken and the bill left outside your door so it is there on the morning of disembarkation.

 

Mandie

[eventamy]

We have chosen not to have a credit card. Would it be a better choice for us to use our debit card or cash?

Edited January 17, 2013 by eventamy

[LarryNY]

I had a problem on Carnival back in August. I used my debit card when we boarded but paid my bill in full with cash on the last night. The problem was that they placed holds on my debit/checking account that took at least 7 days after the cruise to get the holds removed. Not very pleasant if you have bills to pay out of your checking account. From now on using credit cards when cruising.

[DevCruise]

We have chosen not to have a credit card. Would it be a better choice for us to use our debit card or cash?

 

Depends on how much extra money you keep in the account tied to your debit card. If you're like me and only keep enough in there to pay your bills, I wouldn't do it due to the hold process. If you keep a lot of extra money in the account, you won't have an issue.