Using money onboard the ship (using credits)

[Minuet888]

So I've sailed once on Carnival and I'm not sure if Royal works the same way, but how do you use money once on board the ship.  Do I have to set up a card in advance or do I have to put down a certain amount of money then once that is used up add more?

We typically do NOT use credit cards we are debit/cash only people.  Does that change anything.

We are sailing on Symphony on May 31st-June 7th, is this something we have to set up before getting on board?

[mo&fran]

I have an RCI credit card.  I charge all cruise  expenses and do not carry a balance, so I pay no interest, and get points that I can use for OBC.

But you can use a debit card, just put the info in when you checkin.

[little britain]

4 hours ago, Minuet888 said:

So I've sailed once on Carnival and I'm not sure if Royal works the same way, but how do you use money once on board the ship.  Do I have to set up a card in advance or do I have to put down a certain amount of money then once that is used up add more?

We typically do NOT use credit cards we are debit/cash only people.  Does that change anything.

We are sailing on Symphony on May 31st-June 7th, is this something we have to set up before getting on board?

Either. When you do your online checkin you elect to pay by card or cash. If it’s cash they allow you to spend $500 and then you will get a call to come and pay off your debts. 
Even if you elect to pay by card you can still go to pay off the balance with cash 

[Starry Eyes]

Be aware that Royal Caribbean will place a temporary hold on your checking account funds if you put down your debit card number (they also place holds on credit cards).  These holds may take a few days to fall away, so some people find money inconveniently tied up if they use a debit card.  Setting up an account with a debit card is allowed, but I don’t think it is the optimal choice.  Plenty of people pay cash at guest services and that may be right for you.

 

We opt for a credit card with a high enough limit that the temporary holds does not impact us, but I respect your debit/cash lifestyle.

[Mum2Mercury]

I don't know about Carnival, but Royal requires you to set up an onboard account -- typically with a credit card -- and you give them permission to charge any onboard purchases (drinks, tee-shirts, spa treatments, restaurant meals) to that card.  

 

You can't use cash on the ship -- except for extra tips.  And maybe in the casino?  Not sure, as I'm not a gambler.  

 

Setting up a cash account OR using a debit card seems to have a few drawbacks.  Here's a different thought:  Buy yourself a VISA gift card and use that to set up your onboard account.  This means Royal can't attach themselves to your checking account, as mentioned above.  I'd get a little more money than you expect to need -- and if you don't use it all, you can use the card at the grocery store once you're back home.  

[Tree_skier]

One of the stupidest things that Royal does is preauthorize all your purchases on your card but then charge the entire amount as a separate transaction at the end of the cruise.  You end up with double your onboard spending showing up as pending.  While that isn't a problem for us since we have high and no limit credit cards for some people it might be a problem.  Also for those without credit cards who use debit cards it extremely stupid since it's not just credit that is tied up but actual cash.  

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I don't know about Carnival, but Royal requires you to set up an onboard account -- typically with a credit card -- and you give them permission to charge any onboard purchases (drinks, tee-shirts, spa treatments, restaurant meals) to that card.  

 

You can't use cash on the ship -- except for extra tips.  And maybe in the casino?  Not sure, as I'm not a gambler.  

 

Setting up a cash account OR using a debit card seems to have a few drawbacks.  Here's a different thought:  Buy yourself a VISA gift card and use that to set up your onboard account.  This means Royal can't attach themselves to your checking account, as mentioned above.  I'd get a little more money than you expect to need -- and if you don't use it all, you can use the card at the grocery store once you're back home.  

You can not use a pre paid Visa card for your on board account

[steveru621]

9 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

One of the stupidest things that Royal does is preauthorize all your purchases on your card but then charge the entire amount as a separate transaction at the end of the cruise.  You end up with double your onboard spending showing up as pending.  While that isn't a problem for us since we have high and no limit credit cards for some people it might be a problem.  Also for those without credit cards who use debit cards it extremely stupid since it's not just credit that is tied up but actual cash.  

 

RCI wants their money.  It's not stupid at all.  Your bank is supposed to add the pre-auths and delete the hold.  

 

If your bank has a hold longer than five days, find a new bank.

[toxicfairy]

You can do a cash account. We have never put a card down. We put cash on our account once on board. They let you charge so much to your account then let you know when you need to put more on. We have always done it this way. No bill once vacation is over and we're already sad to go back to reality😉

[not-enough-cruising]

10 minutes ago, toxicfairy said:

You can do a cash account. We have never put a card down. We put cash on our account once on board. They let you charge so much to your account then let you know when you need to put more on. We have always done it this way. No bill once vacation is over and we're already sad to go back to reality😉

Same, except I put no cash down initially, they will let you run up $500 at a time. We don't spend much on board, but if we ever hit the $500 mark I take my AMEX down to GS and have them run it for the balance, easy peasy, no holds, and absolutely no way a charge can be added post cruise. The last night I go down to GS after we pack up, usually around midnight, there are no lines, and have them run the card for the final balance.

[Tree_skier]

13 hours ago, steveru621 said:

 

RCI wants their money.  It's not stupid at all.  Your bank is supposed to add the pre-auths and delete the hold.  

 

If your bank has a hold longer than five days, find a new bank.

You still have, on the last day of your cruise, double the $ holds of your actual onboard spend.  If you don't have the credit limit people would have problems.  5 days later later does you good if you card is declined the day before embarkation.

[waterbug123]

22 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

One of the stupidest things that Royal does is preauthorize all your purchases on your card but then charge the entire amount as a separate transaction at the end of the cruise.  You end up with double your onboard spending showing up as pending.  While that isn't a problem for us since we have high and no limit credit cards for some people it might be a problem.  Also for those without credit cards who use debit cards it extremely stupid since it's not just credit that is tied up but actual cash.  

So they should just let people run a tab into the thousands with no way of knowing if the person's credit card is any good or not?  It's the same reason a hold gets put on your card when you check into a hotel, pump gas, etc.