Onboard NCL Account

[jrzurel]

Looking for information on the following...

 

I want to use cash onboard as I have been budgeting cash for the last six months. Here is my thought process.

 

I want to use a credit card to start my NCL Onboard Account (as opposed to giving them $300 p/person in cash) at the embarkation port. I don't plan on spending much, maybe Food Republic, tax on UBP while in port, and some little stuff. So lets say at the end of the cruise I have a balance of $125, can I go over to guest services and give them $125 in cash to settle the account?

 

I remember on Carnival we did this and were able to pay off the account at little kiosks set up around the ship. I reviewed some other posts but some of them were dated 2013. NCL's website states that they require $300 p/person to set up a cash account. I will not be spending that much cash, and I don't want to wait for a refund. We also never use credit cards.

 

Has anyone heard of any other way of just using cash? Thanks for any help.

[BirdTravels]

You can pay your balance in cash and close your account on the last night. NCL will run authorizations on your credit card. You have to have credit line to cover it.

 

Don't forget your daily service charge per person per day.

[Crusin6]

Why bother? Just put the cash in your checking account when you get home and pay your credit card

 

Earn the points

 

Hold on to the greenbacks until you are safely home in case you need them for emergency while in transit

 

 

 

If it were me I'd just travel with credit cards and use it onboard for everything. I

 

Use cash in port as I rarely spend much there that requires cash anyway. Just the Loungers on the beach and a drink or 2 and cab fare

 

In reputable shops I use credit cards

 

 

Then I pay my credit cards when home....with that cash that I didn't give to guest services. Lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Weetahbugdotcom]

Why bother? Just put the cash in your checking account when you get home and pay your credit card

 

Earn the points

 

Hold on to the greenbacks until you are safely home in case you need them for emergency while in transit

 

 

 

If it were me I'd just travel with credit cards and use it onboard for everything. I

 

Use cash in port as I rarely spend much there that requires cash anyway. Just the Loungers on the beach and a drink or 2 and cab fare

 

In reputable shops I use credit cards

 

 

Then I pay my credit cards when home....with that cash that I didn't give to guest services. Lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Everyone works differently. Some people don't have credit cards, or don't have enough credit card to do that and rely on debit cards- others aren't as good at or don't want to be bothered with keeping track. Me? When I go on my cruise I want to feel like I am spending as little money as possible so I try to load up on pre-bought on board credits prior to my cruise.

 

 

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[jrzurel]

We follow the Dave Ramsey plan and use cash for everything. I know exactly what I can spend on the cruise. This is the first time I will be using a credit card since my last cruise in 2015. I like to pay as I go.

 

Dave would be upset that I still have a credit card though...

[CaliTravels]

Everyone works differently. Some people don't have credit cards, or don't have enough credit card to do that and rely on debit cards- others aren't as good at or don't want to be bothered with keeping track. Me? When I go on my cruise I want to feel like I am spending as little money as possible so I try to load up on pre-bought on board credits prior to my cruise.

 

 

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Finally, someone who understands not everyone uses or have credit cards or a sufficient line of credit on their card, or just aren't good at sitting limits (at least they recognize it).

 

For me I like to have my vacation paid in full before I travel. This is my first cruise and I plan to pre-purchase OBC. I don't care that I won't see a refund, if any, for several weeks.

 

 

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[CaliTravels]

We follow the Dave Ramsey plan and use cash for everything. I know exactly what I can spend on the cruise. This is the first time I will be using a credit card since my last cruise in 2015. I like to pay as I go.

 

 

Dave would be upset that I still have a credit card though...

 

 

I like pay as you go. You have a hard stop. I'm sure Dave would forgive you [emoji6]

 

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[Crusin6]

Everyone works differently. Some people don't have credit cards, or don't have enough credit card to do that and rely on debit cards- others aren't as good at or don't want to be bothered with keeping track. Me? When I go on my cruise I want to feel like I am spending as little money as possible so I try to load up on pre-bought on board credits prior to my cruise.

 

 

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In this day and age to travel without a good credit card is unusual

 

I get the whole everything paid for in advance...I don't want bills when I get home idea....but....if you are stranded? If you are hurt and must go to a hospital? If you must use the ships infirmary? If you lose or run out of cash? If you must leave a trip early and buy return tickets on a plane? You can't get that flight immediately and need a hotel overnight?

 

Try telling the hotel you will send them the money when you get home. Lol

 

 

Travel insurance covers lots of stuff....but much of that stuff must be paid for by you and then reimbursed by the insurance

 

 

To each his own but for me it's a card with $30,000 limit for emergencies and a card with $3000 limit for my pocket.

 

Plus dollars AND euro

 

Hotels go on the card at checkout

 

Meals on the card too

 

No foreign transactions fees either

 

 

Oh and before I leave home I set up weekly automatic payments of a significant amount to that $3000 card as it's a rather low limit...why? So I never run out of credit. Why? Because I'm on top of my finances and travel often

 

 

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[inga418]

I don't have a credit card and don't want one. I'm buying onboard credit. I figure if I can't afford to wait to get that cash refund back in a few weeks I probably should not be going on vacation. I have until November though. I just buy a 25$ on board certificate each week.

 

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[sanger727]

In this day and age to travel without a good credit card is unusual

 

I get the whole everything paid for in advance...I don't want bills when I get home idea....but....if you are stranded? If you are hurt and must go to a hospital? If you must use the ships infirmary? If you lose or run out of cash? If you must leave a trip early and buy return tickets on a plane? You can't get that flight immediately and need a hotel overnight?

 

Try telling the hotel you will send them the money when you get home. Lol

 

 

Agree with this... bringing cash for spending money/obc for your on board account is fine for your foreseeable expenses; but it's crazy to travel without a card for emergencies. If something happens and you need access to cash right then and there you'll be stuck - you won't have a bank branch you can go to, you'll be limited by ATM limits and what's available in checking, and you may not be able to get in touch with anyone back at home to send you money.

 

 

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[jrzurel]

That's why I have built an emergency fund of 3-6 months of my monthly take home pay. $20,000 in available funds sounds better than $20,000 of debt.

 

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[khaide612]

Back to the OP's question - Yes you can go give them cash. I like to go periodically throughout the cruise when I see no line at guest services (like if I win in the casino). The last night the lines can be crazy.

[jrzurel]

^^ thanks for the great answer. Exactly what I wanted to know.

 

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[nfldpenguin]

I also love purchasing the OBC ahead of time. Nice to have that there once your on board and don't have to worry about a huge bill at the end. We also pay close attention to our account daily while on board to keep it on budget.

[Weetahbugdotcom]

In this day and age to travel without a good credit card is unusual

 

I get the whole everything paid for in advance...I don't want bills when I get home idea....but....if you are stranded? If you are hurt and must go to a hospital? If you must use the ships infirmary? If you lose or run out of cash? If you must leave a trip early and buy return tickets on a plane? You can't get that flight immediately and need a hotel overnight?

 

Try telling the hotel you will send them the money when you get home. Lol

 

 

Travel insurance covers lots of stuff....but much of that stuff must be paid for by you and then reimbursed by the insurance

 

 

To each his own but for me it's a card with $30,000 limit for emergencies and a card with $3000 limit for my pocket.

 

Plus dollars AND euro

 

Hotels go on the card at checkout

 

Meals on the card too

 

No foreign transactions fees either

 

 

Oh and before I leave home I set up weekly automatic payments of a significant amount to that $3000 card as it's a rather low limit...why? So I never run out of credit. Why? Because I'm on top of my finances and travel often

 

 

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This is a myopic view though, and I mean no disrespect. You are essentially saying that people with bad credit don't deserve vacations. Me? My credit is just barely ok, but for a very long time it was not. A combination of being a freelancer without insurance, medical bills out of pocket, unwise spending, "robbing Peter to pay Paul" when I was broke and needed to pay bills. Thankfully that's been behind me for years and I have been able to afford to go on a few vacations a year and do some repair on my credit. But I don't have anything even close to a 5 digit credit limit somewhere. And personally, I choose to pay for everything I possibly can with money I have, not credit, so that I don't get caught up in things that I know I am not good at. I work hard, I have worked hard to get my credit where it is, and I certainly can afford a cruise. I can take one, and have emergency plans, and plans for how I pay for things, they just might be different than yours and that's ok.

 

 

 

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[luvtheships]

That's why I have built an emergency fund of 3-6 months of my monthly take home pay. $20,000 in available funds sounds better than $20,000 of debt.

 

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Why do you say debt?

 

If I had emergency expenses abroad of $20,000 it goes on the credit card and gets paid when I get home. It's a no brainer. There is no debt as it gets paid promptly plus you earn the points

 

I doubt you are saying you would carry $20,000 in cash with you on vacation and are assuming you would be talking about your debit card connected to your checking account?

 

 

That same checking account that will be subject to daily withdrawal limits?

 

That same checking account that is attached to your debit card?

 

That same debit card that when you hand it over to a store...a hospital admitting clerk...a restaurant...a hotel...to pay the bill....that will give these strangers complete access to your checking account?

 

That might be fine for you but from experience I will never do that for the risk of being hacked abroad is enormous. First hand experience here btw

 

I would protect that $20,000 diligently and just use the credit card and pay it off from home

 

There is absolutely no debt or interest charges involved here

 

Methinks that those who insist on using cash only are obviously in cash type of businesses

 

 

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[luvtheships]

This is a myopic view though, and I mean no disrespect. You are essentially saying that people with bad credit don't deserve vacations. Me? My credit is just barely ok, but for a very long time it was not. A combination of being a freelancer without insurance, medical bills out of pocket, unwise spending, "robbing Peter to pay Paul" when I was broke and needed to pay bills. Thankfully that's been behind me for years and I have been able to afford to go on a few vacations a year and do some repair on my credit. But I don't have anything even close to a 5 digit credit limit somewhere. And personally, I choose to pay for everything I possibly can with money I have, not credit, so that I don't get caught up in things that I know I am not good at. I work hard, I have worked hard to get my credit where it is, and I certainly can afford a cruise. I can take one, and have emergency plans, and plans for how I pay for things, they just might be different than yours and that's ok.

 

 

 

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I'm not the poster you quoted but IMHO there are 3 types of people regarding non use of credit cards

 

1. Those with poor credit

 

2. Those that can't handle having a bill to pay when they come home ....not sure why that is such a problem though to so many people because they obviously have the cash on hand so it must be that they dont trust themselves with the cash

 

3. Those that want to keep cash out of their checking account so there is no official bank account paper trail

 

 

 

 

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[jrzurel]

I'm not the poster you quoted but IMHO there are 3 types of people regarding non use of credit cards

 

1. Those with poor credit

 

2. Those that can't handle having a bill to pay when they come home ....not sure why that is such a problem though to so many people because they obviously have the cash on hand so it must be that they dont trust themselves with the cash

 

3. Those that want to keep cash out of their checking account so there is no official bank account paper trail

 

 

 

 

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And those that don't believe in charging something you don't have the actual money to buy.

 

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[CaliTravels]

I don't have a credit card and don't want one. I'm buying onboard credit. I figure if I can't afford to wait to get that cash refund back in a few weeks I probably should not be going on vacation. I have until November though. I just buy a 25$ on board certificate each week.

 

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[emoji1417] I like your thinking.

 

 

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[Two Wheels Only]

Has anyone used one of those pre-paid debit cards?

 

If someone decides "my spending limit is $1,000...", they can just put $1,000 in cash on the card and use it until it's empty. Anything extra can be used after the cruise. There's no "debt" or "borrowing" from anyone other than yourself.

[CaliTravels]

There are pluses to using a credit card for travel. However a lot of people have learned the hard way that it creates havoc in their life. The credit card users seem to imply that everyone can get a high limit, low interest card. It also implies that those using cash are possibly unscrupulous. If one has an emergency that costs 5 figures, that is catastrophic, even at home.

 

Stop downing people who prefer to travel debt-free and/or use cash to manage their spending. Cash is king. It's all a personal choice. (Drops [emoji441])

 

 

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[CaliTravels]

I'm not the poster you quoted but IMHO there are 3 types of people regarding non use of credit cards

 

1. Those with poor credit

 

2. Those that can't handle having a bill to pay when they come home ....not sure why that is such a problem though to so many people because they obviously have the cash on hand so it must be that they dont trust themselves with the cash

 

3. Those that want to keep cash out of their checking account so there is no official bank account paper trail

 

 

 

 

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Yes people with poor or no credit deserve to travel. It takes time to build credit.

 

So people have learned what works for them. Me & credit were way too chummy. It's a constant battle, much like kicking a smoking or gambling habit.

 

Paying cash does not mean there's no paper trail of money flowing through the bank.

 

Very narrow minded. Must be a 1%.

 

 

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[luvtheships]

And those that don't believe in charging something you don't have the actual money to buy.

 

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I'm talking about people who refuse to use credit cards when they travel and should have made that clear.

 

It makes no sense at all to travel without a credit card these days and IMHO those that do fall into one of those 3 categories

 

 

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[jrzurel]

"Where cash is king and the paid off home mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice"

[Weetahbugdotcom]

I'm talking about people who refuse to use credit cards when they travel and should have made that clear.

 

It makes no sense at all to travel without a credit card these days and IMHO those that do fall into one of those 3 categories

 

 

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Thank goodness that's all it is- is your opinion- but in my opinion, it's very clear you are being judgemental by your language- you missed "no credit" which is different than poor credit, those newlyweds who's credit line might only be a couple hundred bucks- you refer to people who "can't handle" having a bill in the mail when maybe it's a preference- I know i am going all out on spa services when I take a solo in 2018, it's going to really cramp my mood deciding if I am being a jerk spending half a paycheck on a bunch of massages and facials. If I already paid for the OBC a year earlier, I can relax and enjoy it. Many people DO have a credit card, and choose not to use it unless there is an emergency. Some can't get a credit card, and have other backup plans. Some don't have backup plans- but that's not our business.

 

 

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