Without a drink package, one’s bar bill on a cruise vacation can quickly add up, along with other onboard expenses such as shore tours, photo purchases, spa treatments, specialty dining, and more.
The solution is not, however, to try to leave the ship in a rush to avoid the tab. One cruise couple found that trying to do so leads to fraud charges, arrest, and possible persecution – meaning they will most definitely pay up, one way or another.
The cruisers were arrested by the Spanish National Police at the airport on the island of Ibiza, Spain, as they attempted to leave without making proper payment to the cruise ship.
The couple, both of whom are British citizens, have not been identified, but charges are likely pending for their attempt at fraud. Police reports note that the 18-year-old woman and 23-year-old man hastily and forcefully left their cruise ship without having paid a bill of €3,196 (approximately $3,630 USD).
The nature of the charges have not been detailed, but likely includes a bar tab and other expenses linked to their onboard account.
Crew members interviewed about the incident note that the couple did physically push and shove to make their hasty way off the ship without having paid their outstanding balance.
“Police called to the scene interviewed crew members who told them the alleged offenders had tried to push their way off the ship in their attempts to abandon the vessel,” a police spokesman confirmed.
There are no reports of injuries or any damage to the cruise ship as a result of the guests’ actions.
While the ship the couple departed from has not been confirmed, only two ships were docked in Ibiza on Wednesday, May 21, when the couple was arrested: MSC Grandiosa and Costa Toscana.
Both ships are offering 7-night Mediterranean sailings with various ports of call including stops in Italy, Spain, and France. Neither ship was delayed in departing from the island of Ibiza and both have continued their sailings without difficulty.
An island-wide search was initiated for the couple, and they were tracked to the Ibiza airport, where they were apprehended.
What Happens If You Can’t Pay Your Onboard Bill?
Most cruise guests tend to use either a credit card or debit card to secure their onboard ship account, ensuring there are no delays with how payments are processed.
While this might mean that spendthrift guests are surprised with a higher-than-expected tab at the end of their cruise, so long as the payment clears, there is no difficulty.
When travelers use cash for their onboard expenses, however, they might run into difficulty if they run up a bigger bill than they can pay at the end of the cruise.
Most cruise lines will monitor spending during each sailing. If a passenger exceeds their cash allotment for an onboard account, the cruise line can refuse to add more charges until the guest adds extra cash or links another method of payment to their tab.
Those guests will be called to guest services to correct the problem, or they may face fines and fees from the cruise line. Other legal action might also be taken against the guest with an unpaid account, and they may even be banned from future sailings due to the outstanding debt.
If the situation has arisen due to unexpected difficulties, it is possible a cruise line might be willing to arrange payment plans or other accommodations to help guests settle an overdue balance.
Read Also: 12 Smart Tricks to Stop Wasting Money on Cruises
Each cruise line’s policies are different, and may even vary depending on local laws where an individual ship may be homeported, registered, or sailing at the time of any financial problems.
It’s easy for cruise guests to keep track of their onboard spending. Most cruise lines have guest accounts linked to their individualized app, or guests may be able to check their account balances and individual charges on stateroom televisions or kiosks around the ship.
If those options aren’t available, a quick trip to the guest services desk and travelers can request a printed copy of their current statement and details of charges.
It is important for all cruise guests to check their balances at least once before the end of the cruise to ensure the accuracy of the information. Mistakes can and do happen – I’ve been charged for drinks I never ordered, but a quick visit to the guest services desk and the charge was easily removed.
Setting aside a “cruises only” credit card is another strategy some travelers use to be sure they won’t be unable to pay a balance and can finish their cruise vacation without financial distress.
