What is a cruise ship credit card?

What is a ship credit card? - you don't need to carry around money on the ship. Everything you buy like souvenirs, soft drinks, mixed drinks or even photographs are charged to your Ship Credit Card.

When you first board the ship you can go to the Pursers Desk and give cash as a deposit for your card or give them a credit card number. If you give a credit card number or even a check card it can usually be done while checking in even before you board. If you give cash as a deposit, the minimum is about $200 and you’ll have to stand in a long line on the last morning of the cruise to get back what's left over. You can avoid that long line if you close your account on the last evening but it would be a bummer if you wanted to purchase a last minute drink or souvenir after you've closed it.

If you decide to give a cash deposit and have no access to any additional funds, it would be a good idea to ask the Pursers Desk not to allow your account to be overcharged. If you give a credit card or check card it will save you that last minute hassle.

The Ship Credit Card that you will be given when you check-in is something you will need everywhere you go, guard it very carefully: you see, it's more than a credit card. It's also your official ID for getting off and on the ship and it's also your room key! I'm sure you've heard a similar phrase before, but quite literally: Don't leave your room without it! A neat suggestion is to purchase a spiral key chain that you wear around your wrist; you can then have the Purser's Desk to punch a hole in your credit card so you can wear it everywhere. I usually wear a lanyard around my neck that has a clear plastic holder for my Ship Credit Card.