Visa Gift Cards at DCL & ports

[TaTa4Now1968]

I am thinking of buying Visa Gift Cards and using them on on DCL and at port stops in St. Martin & St. Thomas (I want to use something that is not connected with my main bank account for security reasons while I am on my cruise). Has anybody else used the gift cards? I want to make sure that they will work before I purchase them.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am thinking of buying Visa Gift Cards and using them on on DCL and at port stops in St. Martin & St. Thomas (I want to use something that is not connected with my main bank account for security reasons while I am on my cruise). Has anybody else used the gift cards? I want to make sure that they will work before I purchase them.

Onboard, the gift cards will be applied to your onboard account. I don't know how they would work in port.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Why not just use a pay as you go prepaid debit card?

You can then add money to it as you need to, and removes the link to your main bank account to prevent any fraud.

Ex Techie

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

Why not just use a pay as you go prepaid debit card?

You can then add money to it as you need to, and removes the link to your main bank account to prevent any fraud.

Ex Techie

That is basically what the gift card is. I was thinking of buying a pre-paid debit card/gift card from my TD Bank and just wanted to make sure that it would work on DCL and Ports. Sometimes when you charge things the company that you are purchasing from pad your purchase until they receive payment or do not except pre-paid debit cards only debit cards associated to a bank account or credit cards.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

That is basically what the gift card is. I was thinking of buying a pre-paid debit card/gift card from my TD Bank and just wanted to make sure that it would work on DCL and Ports. Sometimes when you charge things the company that you are purchasing from pad your purchase until they receive payment or do not except pre-paid debit cards only debit cards associated to a bank account or credit cards.

I get that, but gift cards have one amount added to them to spend and generally not to be topped up, but the pay as you go ones can have extra cash added afterwards when needed, so you can transfer extra funds to them for that diamond ring you saw and loved or because you didn't realize how many mimosa's you had at that bar on the beach! lol!

Either way, If the establishment accepts Visa, they will probably accept a pre-paid card, but many of the island shop's are just that, island shops, so cash is king.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_gift_card.html

vs.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/prepaid-card.html

Ex Techie

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

I get that, but gift cards have one amount added to them to spend and generally not to be topped up, but the pay as you go ones can have extra cash added afterwards when needed, so you can transfer extra funds to them for that diamond ring you saw and loved or because you didn't realize how many mimosa's you had at that bar on the beach! lol!

Either way, If the establishment accepts Visa, they will probably accept a pre-paid card, but many of the island shop's are just that, island shops, so cash is king.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_gift_card.html

vs.

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/prepaid-card.html

Ex Techie

Yea I probably would be looking for more mimosa's than that Diamond...JK. (I will be looking for something special on our cruise for our 10 year anniversary for the following year, no I would rather spend that money on more DVC points...shhhh don't tell my DH, ) Thank you for the feedback I appreciate it and will take it into conisideration and I also understand cash is king in some places. I will ask TD bank if we can transfer money to a card if we need more, if not I am thinking of just opening up an account for our vacation and putting more than enough money in there for us to use which nothing else is tied to. (this way we have a budget),

 

[MTmomma]

Be sure to read the fine print on any of the Visa/Master Card/AMEX branded gift cards. Many are only able to be used in the continental US. Also, the cards aren't run with "padding." If you use these types of cards in the "service industry" locations (ie bars, resturaunts, cruise lines) they run an automatic 10% overage to compensate for that "tip" line. This is why many people run into trouble trying to get their rebate visa from their Verizon phone to work on a cruise ship. Run it for 10% less than face value, and approved.
Ask your bank if they offer a traveling debit card. Money can only be added once, BUT it carries similar fraud protection to a regular debit card without actually being electronically linked to your regular account.

 

[Minnie116]

We had a difficult time applying a $250 visa gift card to out On board account. In the end we were not able to use it at all and just had to use our regular credit card.

 

[TaTa4Now1968]

Thank you to everybody who responded. It has helped in making my decision regarding this a lot easier.

Beth

 

[taximom00]

Be sure to read the fine print on any of the Visa/Master Card/AMEX branded gift cards. Many are only able to be used in the continental US. Also, the cards aren't run with "padding." If you use these types of cards in the "service industry" locations (ie bars, resturaunts, cruise lines) they run an automatic 10% overage to compensate for that "tip" line. This is why many people run into trouble trying to get their rebate visa from their Verizon phone to work on a cruise ship. Run it for 10% less than face value, and approved.
Ask your bank if they offer a traveling debit card. Money can only be added once, BUT it carries similar fraud protection to a regular debit card without actually being electronically linked to your regular account.

Definitely read the fine print. I gave my sister a Visa gift card for her birthday last month as she was going to St Maarten to celebrate. She was not able to use it there and a merchant called Visa for her and they said they had recently changed their rules.

 

[cwdefouw]

We have had mixed results with pre-paid visa gift cards. Last year on the Dream, there were difficulties initially, but after extreme frustration with getting our account correct, and getting the accounting manager involved, we were able to use them. On the Wonder in Alaska, last year, new cards from the same company, (exact brand as before) were unable to be used, and when I called the card issuing company to inquire, I was told that they cannot be used for international transactions and a cruise ship is considered an international location. From now on, we will use any pre-paid Visa or AMX cards that we have, to purchase Disney gift cards, which will always be accepted no-questions-asked on the ships.