AmEx gift card for a cruise line?

[monkeybug]

We have family members going on a cruise to Alaska this summer. The cruise line is Princess, but I don't know what ship specifically. If I were to get them AmEx gift cards would they be able to use them for shore excursions and purchases on the ship? I apologize if this is a silly question (I'm assuming cruise lines take credit cards) but I know nothing about cruising and don't want to get them the wrong thing. I tried to look up buying them a gift card directly from Princess, but it seemed like you needed to know the exact cruise they were taking.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I am pretty sure that cruise lines DON"T accept visa/amex/mc gift cards at all.
it says it in the fine print of the card...

buy travel money amex cards...we used them on our recent cruise to Mexico in Sept...worked perfectly...
they are not GIFT cards...but AMEX TRAVEL CARDS...google it

good luck

 

[Sherlee]

I was on Princess to Alaska in August. I had spent several months putting extra dollars onto a VISA TravelMoney card to cover my shore excursions and onboard expenses. I went to the desk on day 3 or 4 to put that money down on my account and they would not accept it. I tried a second day, too, to see if maybe a different person might have a different answer, but no. After talking to a supervisor, the reason is... they only accept credit cards/gift cards that are imprinted with your name. My card (issued by a major US bank) was imprinted with VISA TRAVELMONEY even though I signed the back.

 

[monkeybug]

Thank you! I'm so glad I asked!
I think I'm going to go buy them the frommers Alaska cruise book and just put $100 in ones randomly throughout the pages. Fun right?
I'm sure they won't mind a trip to the bank to change it for larger bills.