When you board a Royal Caribbean ship, you’ll quickly notice something different: there aren’t any cash registers or card terminals where you can swipe your Visa or Mastercard like at home. Instead, everything runs through your SeaPass card (or Wow Band), which is linked to your onboard account.

Here’s what you need to know:

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How Payments Work Onboard

• When you check in for your cruise, you put a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit on file.
• Every purchase onboard- drinks, dining, spa treatments, shops, arcade, even shore excursion bookings- is charged to your SeaPass card or Wow Band, except for cash in the casino.
• At the end of your cruise, Royal Caribbean totals your account and charges the payment method you’ve linked.

Think of your SeaPass as your room key and your onboard credit card rolled into one.

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Can I Swipe My Own Credit Card Anywhere Onboard?

For 99% of purchases, no. You can’t walk into the gift shop, a specialty restaurant, or the bar and use your own Visa, Mastercard, or Amex.

But there are a couple of exceptions and workarounds:

🎰 Casino

• You can use your credit or debit card at the casino cage or ATMs for cash advances.
• However, your actual play is still tracked via your SeaPass card.

💍 Jewelry Shops / Art Auctions

• Purchases are charged through your SeaPass card.
• If you prefer to pay with a different card than the one on file, you can visit Guest Services to settle that specific charge.

So while you can’t swipe a card at the counter, you can shift how the bill is settled before the cruise ends.

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What If I Don’t Want to Link a Credit Card?

Royal Caribbean also allows you to:

• Put down cash at Guest Services as a deposit.
• Reload your account with more cash if you run out.

This can be a good option if you want to control your spending or if you’re cruising with teens who have charging privileges.

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FAQs

Q: Do I need to carry my bank card around the ship?
A: No, once your SeaPass is linked at check-in, leave your card in the safe.

Q: Can I use cash to buy drinks or souvenirs?
A: Not directly. You’d have to deposit the cash into your onboard account first.

Q: What if I want to use different cards for different charges?
A: Visit Guest Services before the last night of your cruise. They can split charges across different cards if you ask.

Q: Are gratuities and service charges automatically billed to my SeaPass?
A: Yes. Daily gratuities, drink package service charges, and any automatic tips are billed to your onboard account.

Q: Can I pay off my balance early?
A: Yes, you can stop by Guest Services mid-cruise and pay down your balance with cash or another card.

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The Bottom Line

On Royal Caribbean, your SeaPass card (or Wow Band) is your key to everything: your room, your drinks, your shopping, and your final bill. You can’t swipe your own bank card onboard like at a regular store, but you can choose how to settle your balance before disembarking.

If you’re heading to the casino or making a big purchase like jewelry, just remember: use your SeaPass first, then head to Guest Services if you’d like to apply a different card.