What happens if you can't pay onboard account?

[tvguy]

Our primary card was compromised during one of our cruises. I got a text from the CC issuer while on board. Luckily we had a second card that we could use to pay our charges.

Two lessons learned.
1) Don't use the primary card for one time on-line purchases (local HS CC provider was hacked).
2) Always travel with a back up card.

I had an attempted compromise of my card two days before a cruise. The bank caught it, and overnighted me a new card. They would have overnighted it to the ship if necessary.

 

[soniam]

I always carry at least 2 cards, $300-500 in cash, and an ATM card. My Disney Visa Rewards card also has money on it. I usually travel with my husband who also brings the same but brings 2 cards that are different from mine and an ATM card fir a different account. We had a card get a hold for suspicious activity on it when we traveled to Hawaii. We couldn’t get the hold cleared for days but had other cards. I also had a hold put on my ATM card in Germany. My bank tried to text me, but I couldn’t get texts in Germany. We had backup options though.

 

[mousefan73]

General Question: Whatever happened to the AmEx Traveler's Check? Does it even exist?

OMG I remember using those for my study abroad summer. They were so cool. so official looking.

 

[I_love_Cruising]

I'm in Europe too and always travel with a back-up credit card and I learned the hard way to never store both cards at the same place.

While visiting London I had my wallet stolen out of my purse with both credit cards, all my cash £ and € and ID. I was very lucky that I had my passport with me and my mom who still had her cards and cash.

When I called the credit card companies AmEx offered to overnight me a new card and Visa told me that I would receive a new card in 3 to 5 weeks at the home address that they had onfile.

AmEx also has no real limit, but they contact you if they think your transactions are suspicious. That's why I use them as my secondary, only for emergency card. ( they are expensive for foreign transactions)

 

[Cruising Engineer]

AmEx also has no real limit, but they contact you if they think your transactions are suspicious.

Do you have the limit notification on your European AmEx account?

 

[DisneYE]

Do you have the limit notification on your European AmEx account?
View attachment 635525

I have a Canadian Amex and they do.
I just absolutely love Amex. I'm their biggest fan in the world.
They have the best insurance in the industry.
My DD had an accident during our WBPC in 2020 that required hospitalization in Cozumel and they paid for everything, including a 5 star hotel stay and business class flights back for the 3 of us. Even meds. They offered to pay for meals as well but I refused because we didn't want to abuse them.
I always tell people to pay their trips with Amex bc their insurance is top notch. Sure their annual fee is high but its totally worth it.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I have a Canadian Amex and they do.
I just absolutely love Amex. I'm their biggest fan in the world.

I just paid my balance for the May 2022 cruise and received the text notification of a large purchase before DU posted my payment, about 2-3 minutes after I hit the submit payment button.

 

[DisneYE]

I just paid my balance for the May 2022 cruise and received the text notification of a large purchase before DU posted my payment, about 2-3 minutes after I hit the submit payment button.

Can't you increase to whatever limit you choose?

 

[starry_solo]

I carry three credit cards when I'm on vacation. Two with high limits, one low.

Sis carries three as well. We try to get a mix of Visa and MC too.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Can't you increase to whatever limit you choose?

Yes, I can. This was also a test of the system and it worked. I use the AmEx card primarily for the 6% groceries cb.

 

[mousefan73]

OP here. I spent a few minutes today looking for credit cards in Germany where I can earn points or something and use it as a back up card for travel or maybe actually just charge my travel expenses to earn points. I believe I post it in another thread earlier but I am looking at ones that have insurance etc. One actually has a Covid quarantine insurance but the funny thing is if you read between the lines and in the details it says if you travel anywhere where there’s a Covid travel warning you won’t be covered. Which is kind of pointless because basically the whole world right now is a travel warning from Germany out. They would’ve covered 3500 for quarantine and flights back home costs.

I know there are some others here that are based in Germany do you have any recommendations? I’m looking at Miles and more code or AMEX gold. Payback doesn’t have insurance

 

[Carrie in AZ]

My friend, who worked at a bank, offered this suggestion when traveling: Always travel with a card or cards opposite of your traveling companion in case one of you gets their card lost or stolen, you will have another way to pay. Example, Person 1 carries a Chase credit card, Person 2 carries a Citi card or AmEx. I take this advice to heart. Not only in the event of lost or stolen, but there could be a bank whose servers go down. It doesn't happen frequently, but there could be a catastrophe and Chase could go down, for example. It would be good to have a back-up card from another issuer. I read on these boards all the time about guests who travel with debit cards, gift cards or cash, and that is not at all how we roll, but everyone needs to think through the worst possible scenarios and have a back-up plan, especially when traveling internationally. When you think of it, especially in these fluid times, A LOT could go wrong.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My friend, who worked at a bank, offered this suggestion when traveling: Always travel with a card or cards opposite of your traveling companion in case one of you gets their card lost or stolen, you will have another way to pay. Example, Person 1 carries a Chase credit card, Person 2 carries a Citi card or AmEx. I take this advice to heart. Not only in the event of lost or stolen, but there could be a bank whose servers go down. It doesn't happen frequently, but there could be a catastrophe and Chase could go down, for example. It would be good to have a back-up card from another issuer. I read on these boards all the time about guests who travel with debit cards, gift cards or cash, and that is not at all how we roll, but everyone needs to think through the worst possible scenarios and have a back-up plan, especially when traveling internationally. When you think of it, especially in these fluid times, A LOT could go wrong.

We opened a "travel account" at a local bank, just for emergencies. And have an ATM card on that account. It's not connected in any way to any of our other accounts in either that bank or any other bank. If the card gets stolen or compromised, the people trying to hack into our accounts will only have access to the couple of thousand dollars we have in there. And not be able to wipe us out.

 

[Intr3pid]

Carry cards with at least three payment networks. Amex, VISA, and Mastercard are always in our wallets.

Your issuing bank is only maintaining your credit limit. The payment network is the one overseeing the security. Carrying multiple VISA cards, for example, isn't going to help if VISA itself flags your travel spend.

 

[kanerf]

Walk the plank, matey.

 

[starry_solo]

I need to go find my AMEX...

 

[FigmentSpark]

I seem to remember that people would often add funds to their DCL account before sailing. For example, "prepaying" tips. That's really just adding cash to the account.

Could your mother do that rather than carry cash on the ship?

 

[Breezer4]

I got Disney Gift Cards in the amount we intended to spend on port adventures, drinks, and onboard activities. What went on the credit card was a small amount and I didn’t have to worry about my card getting compromised. We used to travel with mostly cash, but found a lot of places insisted on card transactions due to the pandemic.

 

[Lizgistix]

What happens if you can't pay your onboard account?
Just like the old days with a restaurant tab: they make you work it off by washing dishes.
Happy scrubbing!

 

[Lilsia]

Anything that is charged to Disney, my CC knows that it is me. LOL I bring a back up card but keep it separate. Of course, the cruise is different and you don't need to carry any card, but I have 2 and my bank card just in case. I actually have a recurring dream before some of my trips that I forget my wallet and can't buy anything.