Onboard accounts

[Amanda8619]

When Onboard I know that alcohol and some other things are added to the onboard account and then taken from the debit card on file at the end of the cruise. Does this include the shops onboard? Is there anywhere you can pay cash instead or swipe a debit card instead?

 

[AquaDame]

When Onboard I know that alcohol and some other things are added to the onboard account and then taken from the debit card on file at the end of the cruise. Does this include the shops onboard? Is there anywhere you can pay cash instead or swipe a debit card instead?

It does - there is no cash or cards at all on the ship aside from tips for room service (although on our last cruise in October they even had a little reader to do those too - no need for cash at all). The only place you can do cash/cards is at guest services and they will just add funds to your onboard account.

 

[beachdrmn]

All purchases on the ship go on your onboard account and you use your KTTW card to make purchases. This includes the onboard shops. Nowhere on the ship accepts cash. You can only pay with your KTTW card which is tied to your onboard account. You can however go to guest services and use cash for your onboard account rather than a credit or debit card but it my understanding that if you spend more than the credit on your account you can't purchase anything else until you add more funds to the account. The only thing we used cash for was room service tips.

 

[Amanda8619]

Ok,great. I was just curious as we have never cruised before.

 

[Dug720]

Some people have reported being able to use Disney gift cards in the onboard shops. I haven't tried that as I just put the amount on my gift cards onto my account, so I don't know for sure if it's correct.

 

[YawningDodo]

Do you have to go to guest services to check your balance? Or do they give you your balance on receipts/let you check it on the app/what-have-you?

 

[JWG]

Last I knew had to check st Guest Services to review your folio. Certainly not on the app. Can’t remember if you could on The TV.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Last I knew had to check st Guest Services to review your folio. Certainly not on the app. Can’t remember if you could on The TV.

It used to be available on the TV on the Dream class ships. But, in my experience, it was never correct there. Had to actually go to Guest Services to get a print-out.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I was able to use separate credit/debit card in the shops, on Magic last month, and on Fantasy last year.

 

[ForMyBoys]

I did carry cash with me for random tips. For instance if we decided to do table service for breakfast or lunch I liked to leave a few dollars. I also added extra cash to the envelopes for tips on top of the recommended tips. But in my experience that is the only place on the whole ship I needed cash.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I did carry cash for me for random tips. For instance if we decided to do table service for breakfast or lunch I liked to leave a few dollars. I also added extra cash to the envelopes for tips on-top of the recommended tips. But in my experience that is the only place on the whole ship I needed cash on four cruises.

It's not really necessary to tip the servers at breakfast/lunch. The tips you give your dinner server cover all three meals, as they are the ones who staff the breakfast and lunch services, also.

So, even if you don't have "your" server for lunch, someone else has covered those tips.

 

[ForMyBoys]

It's not really necessary to tip the servers at breakfast/lunch. The tips you give your dinner server cover all three meals, as they are the ones who staff the breakfast and lunch services, also.

So, even if you don't have "your" server for lunch, someone else has covered those tips.

Yeah I know but some of the servers were so great. I always just feel better if I tip them something. But agreed, its not required.

 

[erionm]

I was able to use separate credit/debit card in the shops, on Magic last month, and on Fantasy last year.

Gift shops can accept Disney Gift Cards also (subject to satellite signal).

 

[over50visits]

It does - there is no cash or cards at all on the ship aside from tips for room service (although on our last cruise in October they even had a little reader to do those too - no need for cash at all). The only place you can do cash/cards is at guest services and they will just add funds to your onboard account.

Basically you don't have use cash onboard the ship at any time, and usually you can't use cash (buying things, for example).

There are plenty of opportunities to use cash, though. You can use cash to tip any room service, theater snack window server, or bar/coffee server at any time, although you don't need to since the charge form has a line to sign. You can use cash added to your tip envelope for your servers at the end of the cruise if you wish. You will have to have cash for tips on shore excursions, and for a tip for your cabana host on CC if you so choose (there is no other way to tip them). You will need cash to tip the porters at the port when you arrive and leave. And as noted, you can take cash to guest services to be applied to your bill.

First time cruiser, welcome! You will find lots of ways to spend money (the current list of possibilities has 60 entries on it). But you can have a spectacular cruise with no expense other than your cruise cost and automatic gratuities - we've done it.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

Gift shops can accept Disney Gift Cards also (subject to satellite signal).

And also regular credit cards.

 

[erionm]

And also regular credit cards.

Yes. If you read the post I quoted, they said credit/debit cards were accepted. I just added that Disney Gift Cards were also accepted.

 

[Sytrace]

When Onboard I know that alcohol and some other things are added to the onboard account and then taken from the debit card on file at the end of the cruise. Does this include the shops onboard? Is there anywhere you can pay cash instead or swipe a debit card instead?

You can use another form of payment in the shops but not cash. You can, however, put cash on your on board account to use for purchases. The shops on the island are just KTTWC though.

 

[MM123]

Would you be able to change dollars to smaller dollar bills on board or must I try to get them before boarding? (Specifically for roomservice in case they do not have the little reader).

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Would you be able to change dollars to smaller dollar bills on board or must I try to get them before boarding? (Specifically for roomservice in case they do not have the little reader).

Yes, you should be able to do this at Guest Services. I’ve made such exchanges in both directions, cashing a couple of twenties for small bills at the beginning of the cruise and even exchanging twenty singles near the end when I had overestimated my needs for room service tips, so I didn’t have a thick stack of singles in my wallet going home.

I usually tip room service in cash, but I was given a receipt to sign each time with a $0 charge, so I could have added a tip there if I’d wanted to. I have never seen a room service delivery person with a KTTW reader available. They have your room number from when you place the order and apparently don’t need the card in hand. This was also true in the MDR when I ordered adult beverages. After the first night, the assistant server just brought a charge slip for me to sign without asking for my KTTW card. However, I needed the card all three times we were at Palo (we were able to add a second brunch onboard).

 

[MM123]

Thanks, and also good to know that you can add it to the receipt if needed. Looking forward to those Mickey bars...