Using Cash VS Credit Card Question

[AnneNchris]

Hi...I see many discussions about using credit cards, but I was wondering about cash usage...I know I read somewhere that it is okay to set up your account on Norwegian with cash, but has anyone done this?? My husband and I are strictly cash and carry people...we belive if we do not have the money now then we may not have it later...just our own personal feelings...but now I am worried...is this going to promote a problem for us on this cruise?

Thanks:)

[BeckyandSteve]

We are traveling with 3 friends who are setting up their sail n sign cards with cash/traveler's checks. NCL's website said this was just fine. Don't worry! :)

[Nilla]

:p We went on the Star in January, and set up our accounts with Cash. The only mess up that made it stresseful was when we were checking in since we did not watn to give a credit card, they sent us down to this tablet o give some man the cash. Well we waited close to 30 minutes with around 5 others and this man never showed. This one lady was getting rather vocal, and one of the reservation agents kept appologising, and said he is the only man on the whole ship who can set up cash accounts. She was mistaken any one at the Reception desk can help. Every other cruise I had ever been on you just head to the Pursers desk and they put it on for you.

One other word of advice is, put down the amount you think you will spend. NCL does not let you take cash off your card in the Casino like other lines do when you have paid cash. They also will not return any money to you until 6:30am the last morning. Just my two cents! Have a great cruise!

[Ask4Jay]

At the checkin counter we had to provide a credit card for our ship board expenses. Once on the ship, we made a cash deposit at the reception desk into our onboard account. We didn't even discuss our preference with any body, we just made two transactions, first the CC and later the cash. No fuss, no raised eyebrows. At journey's end we wound up with a small charge to the credit card for the excess charges beyond our cash deposit.

[Hikini]

My cousin and her husband sailed with us last year. They checked in and used their credit card just to establish their account. But during the cruise, she went and paid off the account with cash, and then the last evening she paid it off again. There was a very small amount (maybe $20) that got charged to the credit card that she hadn't paid off in cash.

 

Now that I think of it, maybe the $20 was for the final $10pp/pd charge, for her and her husband.

 

Hikini

[MidtheNight]

Your credit card gives you a certain amount of protection if something goes wrong (meaning that you can dispute charges). We've paid all in c.c. and sometimes all in cash but we always use the credit card as a guarantee of the payment. Every couple of days check your bill over and pay it off in cash. You'll know that you have been billed correctly (yes, we have had to fight to get some picture package off that was not ours about 2 years ago and we ended up having to dispute it with the c.c. company before it was removed) and you'll know exactly how much you are spending all the same time.

[garycarla]

Hey,if you want to do all cash, great. The ideas mentioned by a few others to mostly use cash, along with a CC has a real benefit. Starting on the final evening and getting worse the next morning, trying to deal with your account at the pursers desk can be a real pain. Long lines. People not understanding the charges, etc. etc. Use cash for most of the trip, then let the CC get those final charges so you can focus on getting off the ship and where you are going.

[linsue1231]

Anne,

 

I agree with you, we are also a cash and carry kind of couple. This way everything is paid up and I stay within my budget.

 

NCL takes cash with no problems.

 

Linda

[JPAU]

Why not use an NCL credit card? You'll get 4 points for every $100 in NCL charges to apply to your next cruise. Just cashed in $1500 earlier this year to almost pay for our entire SUN Western Caribbean trip. Busy charging away preparing for Alaska next year.

[RuUp2It?]

$37,500 worth of charges divided by $100 increments is 375 units times 4 points = $1500 :eek: . Is THAT what I'm reading? Also, do only NCL charges get you points, or do you get something for all other charges as well? And finally, is there a time limit on "use them or lose them"?:confused:

 

Oh and we're going all cash, I've figured about $ 2,000.

[smeyer418]

You get 4 points for NCL charges and 3 points per 100 elsewhere. I always pay my credit card off every month. You may have never rented a car which in many states and countries they will only accept a credit card. I use it as convenience so I don't have to carry so much cash and for unexpected purchases. Some people use cash only but as you say sometimes cash is more inconvenient. I sometimes like to purchase tickets in advance by phone. Even airline tickets, so a credit card comes in handy So using a NCL credit card gets me a free cruise without any cost to me....the perfect use of it.

[shmoopsie22]

I just came back on the Star on Sunday and my BF and I used cash to set up our account. It was a breeze. I put down $1000 cash on embarkation and on the day of disembarkation I waited in line maybe 15 minutes and got my $ balance back and off I went. I thought it was very easy and it's the only way to go. It is possible to survive in life without having an annoying cc:) .

[JPAU]

As stated by smeyer418, 4 points for NCL, 3 points for all others. I set up recurring bills, homeowners/car insurance, Directv, et al on credit card and pay off every month. Anything I can charge I do, but again, unless you zero your balance every month it doesn't benefit you. I believe you can carry over points for 3 years as I had a few left over from 2005. Balance was zeroed out this year, but slowly rebuilding.

[lv2crooz2]

We set up a cash account on the Jewel and there were no problems! You can get your $$ balance the morning of disembarkation. There weren't any lines, it was a piece of cake! :D

[newmexicoNita]

You certainly can use cash up front, but you will need to put down a sizable amount; this isn't a problem: the best way is still to use your credit card which almost everyone has today and then to pay the bill off as you go along. NMNita

[NOT2DIVAISH]

I'm going on the Norwegian Dawn on 6/10/06 :D....my boyfriend and I would like to use cash... I've read some posts and some people have said that you can go the next day and pay off your credit card purchases. Does that mean that I should use my cc and then the next day pay in cash or just put everything in cash. Also, what happens if you put a $500 deposit in cash, for example, and you go over...does it automatically come out of the cc?? ?? I'm so confused lol :confused: :confused:

 

Thank you :)

[macdays1]

I do not use credit cards. I pay cash for everything. I set up my onboard account each time, at the pursers desk, with a cash deposit. I usually start out with $500. This is just for me now. I keep track of the bill every couple of days, and I will go to the pursers desk and add more money before they have to let me know that I have used it all up. It works out just fine for me. It's really not that hard to check on your bill or to add more cash as needed. If you are at the desk early on disembarkation morning, it's a breeze to get your unused cash back. Some people do not like to use credit cards. I have to say it's a great feeling to come home and know that your trip is paid in full. Then it's time to book another cruise.

[smeyer418]

The reason that most people use credit cards is that if you lose a card it just takes some calls to replace. Also it cost money to handle cash and frankly the percentage that the cruise lines pay for the credit card is less than the cost of handling cash. Yes I understand that some people prefer cash and its ok with me, but credit cards are generally simpler and you can always prepay you credit card bill as well. You can always open an account with a cc and pay cash once you get aboard.

[macdays1]

The reason that most people use credit cards is that if you lose a card it just takes some calls to replace. Also it cost money to handle cash and frankly the percentage that the cruise lines pay for the credit card is less than the cost of handling cash. Yes I understand that some people prefer cash and its ok with me, but credit cards are generally simpler and you can always prepay you credit card bill as well. You can always open an account with a cc and pay cash once you get aboard.

 

I have never been asked to produce a credit card before going onboard. I tell them I am going to set up an account with cash, and they tell me to go to the pursers desk when I get onboard. I've never had any type of problem.

[bigred1mil]

Hi I don't have a credit card but a visa debit card. Has anyone used a debit card before? If they don't accept those I guess I'll just use cash.

[garycarla]

Hi I don't have a credit card but a visa debit card. Has anyone used a debit card before? If they don't accept those I guess I'll just use cash.

 

There are a couple of threads running that talk about debit cards. You can use it, but understand they will put on a hold on your account. Make sure you have enough money in your checking account.

 

PERSONALLY (not for everyone) I would use the following in this order

 

1 - Credit Card - easiest

or

2nd - Cash - You have control - just bring enough

or last choice

3rd- Debit - last choice and ripe for problems (overdraft your checking account)

 

Oh yea, here is the link to NCLs site where they say what they take.

[dodiebird]

What is the hold NCL puts on your debit card? HOw much. I know it says they can hold it for up 2 30 days.....hold what? The amount of your charges???

[bigred1mil]

Yea I dont understand what all this "holding" business is about either. Could somebody help me out?

[smeyer418]

Yea I dont understand what all this "holding" business is about either. Could somebody help me out?

 

when they swipe the creditcard at checkin, they ask approval for a certain dollar amount (let us say 300.00) this amount is held aside from your approval limit until the actual charge comes in and the bank recognizes that this is the same charge that has been presented and then releases the hold. Some banks keep the hold and the actual charge on for some time before the hold is released. With a debit card its actually removed as a deposit. Hope this helps.

[logcabin]

I have never given NCL a CC at check-in. Never.. I have always told them when they asked for a CC that I will be using cash. They send me down to a desk at the end of check in and I give them $500 in Travelers Checks and they give me a receipt. During the cruise I check my account. When I need to add more, I do it in $100 increments at the desk. Never had a problem..