Cash Account - Help?

[XMoanaxyz]

Hey there,

First time cruiser, so please be patient lol. I am considering doing a Cash Account on the cruise since my credit card company (even if I call ahead) tends to disable my card if there is suspicious activity, and I'd like to have control over when I pay what - and how often the card is used. I've also heard weird things about there being holds, long waits for refunds etc. when people add credit cards to their accounts.

I have a few excursions planned, but would really love to settle my final bill on the final night. My question is this... how does a cash account work? Is the 500.00 onboard credit (8-night cruise) how much I'll have to put down in cash, or is it how much is available for me to spend before I have to go to guest services and pay the account down? If I called ahead and paid, say 300.00 towards my stateroom account, does that mean I have around 800.00 (300.00 cash + 500.00 credit) that would need to be spent prior to having to go to guest services, or did I just preemptively paid 300.00 towards the 500.00 that I needed to put down?

If you've done this before, I'd love your input... I just don't want any surprises!

If this helps, here's what it says for my online check-in:
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You have chosen to settle your account on a cash basis. You may place cash on your account any time during the cruise by visiting the Guest Services Desk on Deck 3, Mid-ship. Your onboard credit limit has been established based upon the length of your sailing.

• 2-5 days = onboard credit limit of $300.00
• 6-9 days = onboard credit limit of $500.00
• 10 days or greater = onboard credit limit of $700.00

Please note that we will automatically disable the charging privileges on your Key to the World card once you exceed the onboard credit limit. This will also disable the charging privileges of any persons authorized by you to charge to your onboard account.

To avoid suspension of charging privileges, we request that you stop by the Guest Services Desk and apply payment prior to exceeding the onboard credit limit. Also, on the final morning of your cruise, we kindly request that you settle any remaining cash account balances prior to 7:00 a.m.

Express Checkout is a convenient way to have your onboard account automatically settled on the final morning of the cruise with a copy of your charges delivered directly to your stateroom. If you wish to utilize our Express Checkout service, you may do so by presenting your credit card to Guest Services.

 

[Dug720]

They will cut off charging after $500 is reached and you will have to pay it down at that point.

If your excursions are going to put you over that (they are charged on the first night) it's better to either buy OBC in that amount in advance (through the Gift and Amenities number) or go directly to guest services upon boarding and put that amount down.

If the limit is $500 and your excursions go over that amount, I do not know how they handle that as I've never let myself get in that situation.

 

[XMoanaxyz]

They will cut off charging after $500 is reached and you will have to pay it down at that point.

If your excursions are going to put you over that (they are charged on the first night) it's better to either buy OBC in that amount in advance (through the Gift and Amenities number) or go directly to guest services upon boarding and put that amount down.

If the limit is $500 and your excursions go over that amount, I do not know how they handle that as I've never let myself get in that situation.

Yeah my excursions are a bit more than the 500, they are about 600- so I'll likely just pay that ahead of time and leave the 500.00 credit for incidentals. Thank you!

 

[Dug720]

Yeah my excursions are a bit more than the 500, they are about 600- so I'll likely just pay that ahead of time and leave the 500.00 credit for incidentals. Thank you!

You're welcome!

 

[Ravenne]

Yeah my excursions are a bit more than the 500, they are about 600- so I'll likely just pay that ahead of time and leave the 500.00 credit for incidentals. Thank you!

I've always done cash accounts, and prefer it that way. After I book my excursions, I jot down how much they'll run me, and buy some Disney gift cards for around that amount. I call DCL and apply those gcs to my onboard account to cover excursions. If you go that route, make sure you hang onto all of the gift cards. In the event of a cancellation and refund, funds will be refunded back onto the original form of payment, which means those gift cards. You don't HAVE to go the gift card route. You can even call ahead and apply x amount to your onboard account using your credit card too. It would be easier to deal with any alert issues while you're on land and at home.

 

[XMoanaxyz]

I've always done cash accounts, and prefer it that way. After I book my excursions, I jot down how much they'll run me, and buy some Disney gift cards for around that amount. I call DCL and apply those gcs to my onboard account to cover excursions. If you go that route, make sure you hang onto all of the gift cards. In the event of a cancellation and refund, funds will be refunded back onto the original form of payment, which means those gift cards. You don't HAVE to go the gift card route. You can even call ahead and apply x amount to your onboard account using your credit card too. It would be easier to deal with any alert issues while you're on land and at home.

I think that's a good idea. I'll call in the morning and add it using my debt card that way I don't have to worry about keeping track of the gift cards during the cruise in the event of a cancellation.

 

[Dug720]

I think that's a good idea. I'll call in the morning and add it using my debt card that way I don't have to worry about keeping track of the gift cards during the cruise in the event of a cancellation.

You can also go to disneygiftcard.com and combine gift cards up to I think $1000 on one. Then you only have to hold onto that one. BUT that money would be tied to the gift card should you cancel, so there's that to consider.

 

[Andasibe]

Just an item of note, which may not impact your decision, but for other's reference. If you call DCL and add the amount to your account they charge it in real time, NOT when you get to your cruise for that amount.