All onboard purchases can be made with the personal cruise card, so there’s no need to carry cash or credit cards on the ship.
Guests should activate the cruise card for onboard purchases by self-registering the credit/debit/prepaid card or leave a cash deposit at one of the Cruise Card Activation Points. This can be done at any time from embarkation until 11:00 pm the following day, at any of the Cruise Card Activation Points located around the ship. These new devices let our guests register a card simply, rapidly and securely. Please note that guests will be asked to enter the PIN number. Alternatively, they can leave cash deposit at the Reception – Guest Service.
Settling the final bill
Guests can settle their final bill in any of the following three ways:
1. By credit card
The following credit cards are accepted: Visa, MasterCard, Diners, JCB, Discover and American Express. If guests choose to pay by credit card, their account will be closed automatically at the end of the cruise, so there is no need to go to the Reception – Guest Service.
2. By debit or prepaid card
Guests should make sure that their debit/prepaid card is enabled for use abroad. The following debit cards are accepted: Maestro, Visa Debit, Visa Electron, MasterCard debit. Any amount debited to guests’ card and not spent during the cruise will be reimbursed in cash at the Reception - Guest Service on the final morning before disembarkation.
3. In cash
Any amount deposited in cash and not spent during the cruise will be reimbursed in cash at the Reception - Guest Service on the final morning before disembarkation. Please note that personal cheques are not accepted.
-For cruises in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antilles, Dubai, the Emirates and Oman, as well as MSC Grand Voyages departing from Europe, the onboard currency is the Euro (€).
-For cruises in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada & New England, South America and South Africa, as well as MSC Grand Voyages going to Europe and to Australia, the onboard currency is the US Dollar ($).
-The onboard currency for cruises departing from Southampton will be the British Pound (£).
Europe: EC Regulation 1889/2005 states that: “Any natural person entering or leaving the Community and carrying cash of a value of Euro 10,000 or more shall declare that sum to the competent authorities of the Member state through which he is entering or leaving the Community in accordance with this Regulation”. Please consult the relevant authorities (embassies, consulates or other local authorities) to find out whether there are any other restrictions to carrying cash on your clients’ itinerary.
Prices on board
The prices on board are not more expensive than those on land. In fact the special operating environment that regulates the maritime sector means that many products (such as alcohol, tobacco and fragrances) can be sold duty free, bringing reductions of up to 30% off retail prices on land.
*Depending on the itineraries and subject to applicable legislation.
Cash withdrawals on the ship
All on board purchases can be made with the personal cruise card, eliminating the need to carry cash. A cash in advance service is available before departing and can be booked in guests’ personal area. This credit can be used on board for shopping, relaxation or any other activity for the whole duration of the cruise.
In alternative, the service is available by registering a credit card on board account. This can only be done in the on-board currency (euro or US dollars, depending on the itinerary), for a fee, set according to the itinerary.
BANK PRE-AUTHORIZATIONS
During the cruise, if guests have registered a credit or debit card for onboard expenses, they may see pre-authorizations on their statement. These pre-authorizations are a precautionary measure to reserve funds for potential expenses during the cruise. They are not actual charges but may temporarily reduce the available credit.
Normally, pre-authorizations are released after guests’ final bill is settled upon disembarkation. However, in some cases, they might persist on the account beyond that point. While they should expire within 30 days after disembarkation, this timeframe can vary based on the bank's policy. It is important to note that MSC Cruises does not have control over the duration of these holds and is not responsible for their release. The bank is responsible for the release of any pending pre-authorizations.
Should your clients have any concerns or notice delays in the release of these holds, we recommend contacting the bank directly.
