Florida's BankAtlantic Puts ATMs Aboard Two Carnival Superliners

An affiliate of BankAtlantic Bancorp has teamed with Carnival Cruise Lines to offer real time, satellite-linked automated teller machine service on board two major superliners.

Passengers aboard the Ecstasy and Sensation can now obtain balances on their checking and savings accounts - and cash - while their ship is at sea or docked.

Additional Carnival ships are expected to receive shore-linked ATMs in the next few months, the company said.

Regional ATM network cards are processed through the Honor System, which also offers gateway service to other regional networks throughout the United States. American Express cards are accepted at the superliner ATMs.

"We're quite excited about the prospects for this new technology," said David Finkelman, a spokesman for BankAtlantic, which is based in Fort Lauderdale.

"We have come up with something innovative that will be well received by the traveling public. It will offer conveniences that were never there before."

A Carnival spokeswoman said that the company's superliners largely utilize cashless payment systems, so most passenger ATM withdrawals would be for anticipated expenses on land. However, customers could use cash at the casinos on board the superliners.