getting ready for a 5 day cruise. The info says to use a line of credit from my CC, they will take tips out for the room and dinner. Anybody have problems with that. I'd rather use cash. What if we don't eat at our main setting couldn't thay charge us for the tip?

All cruiselines use some form of shipboard credit. Most want you to secure the line of credit with a credit card, but if you don't have one or would rather not use it you can secure the line of credit with cash. Cash is not used on board except for bingo on some ships and gratuities at the end of the cruise. The standard cash deposit for the onboard credit is usually around $200.00/cabin for short 4 and 5 day cruises. If you go above that amount the Purser's Desk will notify you. You can also go daily to the Purser's Desk and check on your charges. It is really easy, and if need be you may put more cash up. If you have a cash balance left over at the end of the cruise you will receive a refund under your door the morning the cruise docks into its home port.

We had the same problem. Our credit cards were totally maxed, but the cruise was happening right then and there. We had NO problem giving cash to the purser for our account for our account. BUT beware whatever you put into that account for ONE TIME only they will remove $70 for the whole trip per person. In our case it turned out to be a total of $280 for the whole trip because we had four people. That works out to about $3 a person for the people getting the tips per day per person.

Anyhow, take your cash along and do your account with that. Also at the end of it, they will give you no problems refunding any overflow you placed in there.

One more thing: The ATM on the ship depends on the satellite, and from time to time it does not work, but then a few hours later, it will work again.

Enjoy the trip.