Cruises… The Money You’ll Need

Money Needed for Your Cruise

Onboard the Ship

At boarding, you will be issued a cruise card which serves the multiple functions of embarkation pass, room key, and onboard credit card. It is very important not to lose this card. If you have a habit of misplacing things, check with the staff in the purser’s office about getting a hole punched in the card so you can wear it on a lanyard around your neck. If you do lose your cruise card, see the purser’s office immediately about getting it replaced. You will have to show identification to get a new one.

You will need to use a major credit card to activate your cruise card. After that, your cruise card will act as an onboard credit card. Because you will not be carrying cash, you may be tempted to overspend; just remember that at disembarkation, the bill still has to be settled. It is advisable to check the balance on your cruise card frequently to make sure you remain within your budget.

You should receive an itemized statement at the end of your cruise listing all onboard purchases. Check this list carefully for accuracy. If you do find an error in the statement, contact the purser’s staff to correct the issue. Once the statement has been approved, the balance will automatically be charged to the credit card used to activate the cruise card. This service will help you avoid standing in a long payment line the last evening or final morning of your cruise.

In Port…The only time you should really need cash is while in port. Many popular tourist destinations are in the habit of accepting U.S. currency; however, it is still advisable to have some local currency on hand while in port. Cruise lines often arrange for local bank officers to exchange currency onboard the ship.

Some major cruise lines will have an ATM machine onboard, but it is advisable to make other arrangements because the access fee can be steeper than what you are used to paying, sometimes $5 or more. It is best to withdraw cash from an ATM prior to boarding to be on the safe side.

Personal Checks and Traveler’s Checks
Please note that personal checks are generally not accepted onboard a cruise ship. It is also worth noting that traveler’s checks are becoming less and less popular due to the proliferation of payment methods such as debit cards, check cards, and reloadable cash cards that function the same way as a credit card.