Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our opinions or reviews. Learn how we make money.

How to send money from a cruise ship

PayPal, WorldRemit and MoneyGram can help you send and receive funds at sea.

Shannon Terrell

Updated Dec 31, 2019

Fact checked

Just because you’re at sea doesn’t mean your funds are inaccessible. Whether you’re embarking on a Mediterranean vacation or want to send money home to your family as a crew member, there are plenty of ways to both send and receive funds from a cruise ship.

How can I send money from a cruise ship?

Set sail with ease knowing there are several options for sending money aboard a cruise ship:

PayPal. Many cruise ships offer Wi-Fi for their crew and passengers, and as long as your recipient has a PayPal account, you can transfer funds from just about anywhere
Money transfer app. There are a number of international money transfer apps that can help you move funds while traveling at sea. Set up an account with a service like TransferWise, WorldRemit or OFX to send money quickly and conveniently.
Wire transfer. The Crew Purser’s office is the accounting hub of the ship. Some cruise ships — like the Princess line — allow crew members and passengers to send wire transfers from the Crew Purser’s office.
Remitly for Seafarers. This digital remittance service is custom-tailored for crew members across major cruise lines looking to send money to the Philippines. It offers competitive exchange rates, low fees and the ability to send funds from your computer or mobile device.

How can I send money to a cruise ship?

If you need to transfer funds to someone on board, there are a number of options available:

PayPal. Log in to your PayPal account to send an online transfer to a crew member or passenger.
Money transfer app. Create an account with an international money transfer service to move funds at competitive rates.
Wire transfer. You may be able to set up a wire transfer to someone on board but some cruise lines restrict the allocation of these funds to specific services and amenities, such as the casino.
MoneyGram Express Payment. If you prefer to conduct your business in person, cruise lines like Carnival offer MoneyGram transfer options. Visit a MoneyGram location and provide the cruise guest’s reservation and booking number to send funds.
Western Union Quick Collect Service. If the cruise line is set up to receive Western Union transfers, you can send money in person or online by specifying the cruise passenger’s name, booking number, ship and sail date.
Get a cash advance. Get a cash advance on a credit or debit card by visiting the Crew Purser’s office, Casino Cashier’s window or reception desk.
Cash a traveler’s check. Depending on your cruise line, you may be able to cash a traveler’s check or withdraw funds from an onboard ATM.

Compare online money transfer services

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
USD 1,000	1 day	USD 0.00	0.908	EUR 4,540	No-maximum limit transfers with competitive exchange rates for 100+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, AZN, BGN, BND, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MGA, MXN, MYR, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, RUB, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, THB, TOP, TRY, TWD, TZS, USD, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XOF, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
GBP 1,000	1 - 2 days	USD 0.00	0.908	EUR 4,540	Exclusive: Minimum transfer of $1,000 for Finder readers (normally $5,000). For larger transfers, get no transaction fees and no maximum send limits.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Chat Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ARS, AUD, AZN, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LBP, LKR, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SEK, SGD, SLL, THB, TND, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	1 - 2 days	USD 0.00	0.913	EUR 4,565	Offering no maximum and no minimum limit transfers with $0 fees.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AMD, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BND, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, KZT, LKR, LSL, MAD, MKD, MUR, MWK, MXN, MYR, NAD, NGN, NOK, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SZL, THB, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UGX, USD, VUV, WST, XCD, XPF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 2,000	1 day	USD 0.00	0.908	EUR 4,540	$0 transfer fees with rates at never more than a 2% markup.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email, Branch Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, HKD, ILS, JPY, NOK, NZD, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 0	1 - 2 days	USD 1.99	0.899	EUR 4,492	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Quick, affordable transfers around the world with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 0.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ARS, BDT, BGN, BOB, BRL, CLP, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, GHS, GTQ, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, INR, JMD, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NIO, NPR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RWF, THB, TND, TRY, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	1 - 2 days	USD 40.00	0.917	EUR 4,549	Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 20 currencies while saving up to 90% over local banks.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
USD 1	Within an hour	USD 3.99	0.913	EUR 4,563	Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Send to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile top-up.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount USD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

How can I keep my money secure?

There are a myriad of money transfer services out there, but not all are created equal. To protect your funds while traveling abroad, suss out a service with a strong history and reputable safety measures, including 256-bit encryption, identity verification, fraud prevention and transfer tracking.

Is my money safe if I use public Wi-Fi?

Public Wi-Fi is convenient in a pinch, but think twice before you log in to your online bank account. Why? Because when you connect to a public wireless network, you may be unintentionally exposing your sensitive, unencrypted data.

When you use Wi-Fi, your device broadcasts your activity to any other device within range. Ideally, your information is encrypted, but some apps may be outdated and broadcasting sensitive information that isn’t encrypted.

Keep your money and data safe by using two-factor authentication, installing security software, opting for a cellular network and keeping your operating system and apps up to date. Monitor your accounts for any fraudulent activity and report anything suspicious to your financial provider.

How to compare money transfer options

Before you select a money transfer service, consider the following:

Speed. Some money transfer services, like WorldRemit, move funds within the hour, while PayPal transactions can take several business days, depending on the payment method.
Exchange rate. Wire transfers can offer weaker exchange rates when compared to competitive online money transfer services like OFX and TransferWise.
Fees. Fees for sending or receiving money will hinge on a variety of factors, including your service provider. Western Union, MoneyGram and PayPal all charge fees that are contingent on the amount, payment method and where you’re sending the money.
Security. You may feel tempted to opt for the cheapest transfer service with the most competitive rate, but be wary of outdated security protocols — especially when using an online service or app. Ask about 256-bit encryption, two-factor authentication and how to track your transfer.
Convenience. While online services and apps offer convenience with the tap of a button, you may prefer to conduct your business in person with a transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram.

Bottom line

Take to the high seas with peace of mind and money in your pocket with any number of convenient transfer services. Compare your international transfer options with other providers to find the best rate and service to fit your budget and destination.

Frequently asked questions

Thank you for your feedback!

Shannon Terrell

Shannon Terrell is a writer for Finder who studied communications and English literature at the University of Toronto. On any given day, you can find her researching everything from equine financing and business loans to student debt refinancing and how to start a trust. She loves hot coffee, the smell of fresh books and discovering new ways to save her pennies.

Revolut vs. TransferWise Opening a UK bank account from the US

Ask an Expert

Click here to cancel reply.

Display Name

Your Email (will not be published)

Your Question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

Card Finder: Get a personalized card recommendation with this free tool

Find the best personal loan offer

See how much you could save:

Find the best mortgage rates and offers

Guides

Services

Send Money To

Exchange Rates

How to send money from a cruise ship