You Can’t Use Cash on a Cruise – Here’s Why

If you’re considering taking a cruise, you may be wondering how you pay for onboard expenses and why cash isn’t accepted on cruise ships.

I’ve been on many cruises, and all of them have been cashless. In this article, we will explore why this is and look at how making purchases on a cruise works today.

Why Are Cruise Ships Cashless?

Cruise ships do not accept cash onboard because all onboard purchases are charged to passengers’ personal cruise accounts.

Cruise accounts are usually connected to a credit or debit card, which makes it much easier for cruise lines to process.

Not carrying cash is also much easier for passengers and encourages increased spending onboard. 

Despite being cashless societies, it is still sometimes possible to pay for your cruise expenses in cash on some cruise lines.

You charge purchases to your cruise account and then pay the balance in cash (or preferably by card) at the end of the cruise.

How do You Make Purchases on a Cruise?

When you check in for a cruise, you’ll usually be asked to assign a credit or debit card to your cruise account.

The cruise lines prefer if you use a credit card and it is usually easier if you do but debit cards are accepted.

If you put down a debit card an amount will usually be ‘held’ by the cruise line. This doesn’t happen in the same way with a credit card.

You can assign multiple people’s cruise accounts to the same card if you like, or each person can have a separate card attached.

On almost all cruise lines, your payment card will be attached to your cruise card for you. On MSC cruises, there are machines onboard where you attach your own credit card to your cruise card.

Assigning Your Account to Your Cruise Card

Once you have assigned a card to your cruise account, you will be given a cruise card.

The cruise card is the only thing you really need when on a cruise. You use it to open your cabin door, and all expenses onboard are added to your account via this card.

When you purchase things onboard such as drinks or gifts in the gift shop these will be added onto your cruise account via your card.

Many people use lanyards to carry their cruise cards, but I prefer a cardholder stuck to the back of my phone. There are lots of options, such as belt attachments or purses.

When ordering or making a purchase you simply hand over your cruise card instead of handing over cash or a credit card. It’s very easy which is the main reason why cruise lines do it.

Some cruise lines have more hi-tech options, like a cruise wristband that you wear instead of carrying a card all the time. Find out more about that here:

Cruise Keycards Guide – Uses, Styles and Variations

Find out about Princess Ocean Medallion technology that has done away with the need for carrying cruise cards here:

Monitoring Onboard Spend

It’s important that you keep an eye on your onboard spend. It’s very easy to spend more than you mean to. When you’re not using cash it almost doesn’t feel like real money.

Cruise lines occasionally make mistakes, and catching these early makes sorting the problem much easier.

On a recent Celebrity cruise, I took a soda package that wasn’t assigned to my cruise card, and it charged me for soda even though I had already paid for a package.

Luckily I noticed this pretty quickly as the poor lady at reception had to delete the drinks one by one! That would have taken ages if I’d left it until the end of the cruise.

Checking Your Onboard Account

There are a couple of ways to check your onboard account. On most cruise lines, you can check your account on your stateroom TV or by using an app on your phone. On older cruise lines, you may have to go to reception to request a printout.

This is very common, so don’t worry about doing this if you want to check something. The cruise line would much prefer that you check it now rather than wait until the end of the cruise.

On the last night of your cruise, the bill is usually pushed under your cabin door. This is just a formality. The money is automatically taken from your credit or debit card.

It is important to check your bill carefully when you receive it, though. It’s much harder to sort out problems once you have left the ship.

Casinos and Cash

There’s always one exception to the rule, and in this case, it is casinos. On most cruise ships, the casinos will take cash and pay out your winnings in cash.

There is usually an ATM located on the ship for guests to take out money, but be aware that these usually have very high fees and that the exchange rates are usually not very good.

It is also possible to play in the casino using your cruise card. You simply insert your card into a machine and load money into your casino account. This usually requires a password, which is, more often than not, your birth date.

Can You Pay Cash For Drinks on a Cruise Ship?

You cannot use cash to pay for drinks on most cruise ships.

Drinks are purchased using your cruise card, and the balance is added to your onboard account.

Cash is occasionally used to tip waiters but isn’t accepted as payment for drinks. 

Can You Pay off Your Cruise Account With Cash?

Some cruise lines allow you to pay off your balance with cash at the end of the cruise. Not all accept cash payments, though, so check before you sail.

Paying in cash also means lining up at reception, which can take a long time, particularly on the last day of the cruise when other passengers have problems and are sorting out their bills or bills to pay.

When Will You Need Cash on a Cruise?

You will not need cash for anything onboard the cruise itself. Many people do bring cash to tip crew members, but this isn’t mandatory.

On most cruise lines automatic tips or ‘gratuities’ will be added to your onboard account. On some cruise lines, gratuities are included in the cruise fare, so you never have to think about them.

Why Don’t Cruise Ships Accept Cash?

Cruise ships don’t accept cash because it’s much easier for them not to.

A cruise ship would go through a lot of cash if it acted like a traditional restaurant or bar on land. They’d have to carry, count and exchange this money.

Also, you may be travelling on an itinerary where you are passing through countries with different currencies, trying to accept different currencies, or convincing everybody to use one currency – which would be nearly impossible!

That said, a cruise ship uses one currency onboard, and all onboard expenses are charged in this currency.

Not accepting cash makes it much easier for the passengers, too. Only having to carry your cruise card makes the whole process much easier, and it’s one of my favourite things about cruising.

Before You Go

To learn more about gratuities, including how they also affect drinks and spa treatments, check out this post so that you don’t have any nasty surprises on your cruise:

Cruise Gratuities: A Simple Step by Step Guide For First Time Cruisers

There are a few other things that you may need cash for such as spending money in ports, taxis, excursions and more. The amount that you’ll need is probably less than you think. Find out what you might need to budget for here:

This is How Much Cash You Should Bring on a Cruise (Onboard & Ashore)