Advice for a low earner please

Flylikeaneagle

I'm not eligible for a credit card as I am a selfemployed low earner living with / caring for aged parent having lived abroad most of working life etc. However I have been invited on a cruise (lucky me) and have been informed that I need to have a credit card to deposit with cruise company even though I do not intend to use it since we have paid up front for all packages etc and will be using cash for incidental purchases. They will not accept debit card. Any advice on how I can get a credit card in my name for short term?  I have exhausted all the available offers but thought someone here may have a simple solution? Please?.

Flugelhorn

interested to see the answers - didn't know that this was such a thing, we don't have credit cards so would be a bit stuck

QrizB

Is there anyone you know with a card already and who trusts you enough to give you a second card on their account?

strawb_shortcake

Some cruise lines will take debit cards.

When we've cruised as a family I put my credit card on the children's room, and when I went with a friend I put my CC on for the room and sorted it out when we got home. 

Would anyone you are travelling with able to put their credit card against your room?

A pre payment card may work too?

Langerhan

Have you talked to whoever invited you on the cruise?

Nasqueron

Flugelhorn said:

interested to see the answers - didn't know that this was such a thing, we don't have credit cards so would be a bit stuck

Cruises may vary, I don't know, but in the US for hotels as example, it's very common to demand a CC deposit, much less common now in the UK of course

Andyjflet

This is a US thing where most of the population carry credit cards, its unfortunate but what can they do, stop you going? I would say you dont carry or intend to carry a credit card. 

eskbanker

Andyjflet said:

This is a US thing where most of the population carry credit cards, its unfortunate but what can they do, stop you going? I would say you dont carry or intend to carry a credit card. 

Yes, they can stop passengers from joining a cruise if they fail to adhere to the terms of the contract!  Not saying they would but they could....

Grumpy_chap

Flylikeaneagle said:

I'm not eligible for a credit card as I am a selfemployed low earner living with / caring for aged parent having lived abroad most of working life etc. However I have been invited on a cruise (lucky me) and have been informed that I need to have a credit card to deposit with cruise company even though I do not intend to use it since we have paid up front for all packages etc and will be using cash for incidental purchases. They will not accept debit card. Any advice on how I can get a credit card in my name for short term?  I have exhausted all the available offers but thought someone here may have a simple solution? Please?.

Would the cruise line accept a pre-payment card?

While I don't encourage credit where it is not required, would you be able to obtain one of the credit builder cards, such as Aqua?  You don't particularly need a high credit facility available and, so long as you are disciplined and use the card only for the stated purpose related to the cruise, the higher charges that these cards can attract need not be a worry as you won't hold a balance nor breach any card limits.

DullGreyGuy

Flylikeaneagle said:

I'm not eligible for a credit card as I am a selfemployed low earner living with / caring for aged parent having lived abroad most of working life etc. However I have been invited on a cruise (lucky me) and have been informed that I need to have a credit card to deposit with cruise company even though I do not intend to use it since we have paid up front for all packages etc and will be using cash for incidental purchases. They will not accept debit card. Any advice on how I can get a credit card in my name for short term?  I have exhausted all the available offers but thought someone here may have a simple solution? Please?.

Do you know how much they will swipe the card for? They won't take anything out immediately but most will do a set amount authorisation just to ensure the card is valid and has enough headroom. 

You could get a prepaid credit card and deposit enough cash such that the card will authorise. If it's a small amount then maybe a credit builder card will accept you? A close friend or such may give you a second card. 

How did you get the cruise invite? Is that person travelling too? Can they put their card on your room too? 

Are you sure they accept cash? Last cruise we went on was some time ago and only the casino took cash. 

How long have you been self employed? It alone doesn't stop you, banks treat me as self employed but have vast limits, but I've been trading for many years.