Visa Current Account

thesaint

The car-hire stipulation is put there so that the hire company can charge your account a sum decided by themselves at a later date if they so desire.
If the cruise company don't accept a debit card I would be wary.
When you ask, make sure you call it a 'Visa debit card'., and not a 'Visa current account card', they wouldn't have heard of that and would decline you because they would misunderstand what you have.

catz747

I have emailed to ask them but if I don't get a reply I will ring up

damianw

I'm pretty sure you will need a credit card. Hotels work in the same way - at check in, you provide a credit card. The hotel then reserve a chunk of your credit limit (the exact amoung will obviously vary depending on the hotel, but is based on an estimate of how much they expect you to spend per day on things like bar bill / restaurant & the number of nights you are planning on staying).

You are then allowed to charge items back to your room. The cost is recouped by the hotel when you check out, and and reserve your credit limit is released.

I don't think debit cards allow this system.

Be aware: The downside is that in effect, your credit limit is reduced by the amount reserved, until everything is settled. If you have a small credit limit (or your current outstanding balance is near the limit), or are planning to make a large purchase while away, you may struggle.

sgx.saint

I'm pretty sure you will need a credit card. Hotels work in the same way - at check in, you provide a credit card. The hotel then reserve a chunk of your credit limit (the exact amoung will obviously vary depending on the hotel, but is based on an estimate of how much they expect you to spend per day on things like bar bill / restaurant & the number of nights you are planning on staying).

You are then allowed to charge items back to your room. The cost is recouped by the hotel when you check out, and and reserve your credit limit is released.

I don't think debit cards allow this system.

Be aware: The downside is that in effect, your credit limit is reduced by the amount reserved, until everything is settled. If you have a small credit limit (or your current outstanding balance is near the limit), or are planning to make a large purchase while away, you may struggle.

I have reserved rooms on many occassions using a debit card without issue.

As far as I am aware, you can place an authorisation check on a debit card just as much as you can on a credit card.

i.e. they place an authorisation for £50 on your debit card to see if the funds are available. That way if you don't pay then they can take the £50 and if you do pay then the authorisation just drops of your account. Very similar process to credit cards.

Although I could be wrong on this.

catz747

Thanks for all your replies, they got back to us and said we can use either visa debit or visa credit cards onboard

Rafter

catz,

If your cruise is abroad and you will be billed in a currency other than £'s you may want to open yourself a Nationwide Current account or Credit Card account. Reason being they don't charge 2.75% conversion charges and you will get a better exchange rate.

Enjoy your trip.

R.