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I wonder what would happen if you were unable to pay your cruise bill, would they make you stay on board and scrub the decks?

 

But seriously I wonder what would happen!

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I wonder what would happen if you were unable to pay your cruise bill, would they make you stay on board and scrub the decks?

 

But seriously I wonder what would happen!

 

Yes that's what they do! There was a man who couldn't and had a cash bill...they said stay and scrub or walk the plank.

 

 

:p

 

In all seriousness though, I think cash accounts have a limit as to how much spending can occur. For credit cards there is no issue with not being able to pay.

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I wonder what would happen if you were unable to pay your cruise bill, would they make you stay on board and scrub the decks?

 

But seriously I wonder what would happen!

 

They have you sign paperwork like an IOU. Like any other obligation if it's not paid it will go to collections. And I wouldn't count sailing on their ships again if it isn't paid.

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Yes that's what they do! There was a man who couldn't and had a cash bill...they said stay and scrub or walk the plank.

 

 

:p

 

In all seriousness though, I think cash accounts have a limit as to how much spending can occur. For credit cards there is no issue with not being able to pay.

 

Say somebody only had a small amount, like $200 left on their credit limit when they set up the onboard account, I would think there certainly could be a problem!

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I remember a woman on these boards a couple years ago who was unable to pay her cruise bill. She said she had to 1) sign a promisory note and 2) was banned from the cruise line in the future. If memory serves, she was aware that her credit card limit wouldn't cover the bill, but she thought they'd just add it on and the bank would charge her an overage fee . . . and she was very insulted that the cruise people stopped her as she was exiting the ship.

 

That was some time back. I'm surprised I remember it.

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I don't understand it completely, because I have high limits and I pay my credit cards right off each month, but I've heard it explained on other threads that the cruise line actually puts a "advance" on a certain amount of money on your credit card.

 

This is the part I don't quite understand, but it seems like they inform the card issuer that they expect to need say $500 in credit from the card holder. The card then reduces the credit limit by the amount RCL applies in advance. You are only charged for what you actually spend, but RCL makes sure enough is available for what they estimate you'll spend.

 

This has not happened to us, but other threads mention that it's a problem because if you have a high balance close to the limit, when you get home if RCL has not " released" you from the amount of that obligation ( even if you didn't spend it all) then those folks were getting denials on their CC for being over or too close to the limit. Folks on those threads were complaining that it was taking even several days to a week before Royal settled that and their account went back to " normal".

 

Again, I'm sketchy on the details, but the upshot is you have to secure your account with either cash, or with a card with a limit beyond what they " think" you will spend ( and they have some way of holding onto the potential for you to borrow that money) so that you cannot spend what you cannot pay.( or borrow) So say you bought a pricey watch in prt with the same CC that you used to check in. You could get rejected for buying the watch because Royal has first dibs. Essentially, they become a creditor, is how it seems.

 

Maybe someone with a much better command of banking or just a better memory of those complaints could enlighten us!

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I don't think it happens too often. I remember one night witnessing a rather terse conversation between a husband and wife who had a cash account and the sail and sign had been frozen because "somebody" blew all the money on it.

I guess they just didn't get anymore drinks that cruise? And NOBODY got a tip.

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We have always used our Credit Card which is set for an unlimited amount we can charge, of course we never come close to that as we pay in full each month the bill comes due. Because our 2014 will be the most expensive with two cruises out of Sydney, ( 13 day NZ & 18 Day back to Honolulu) I put funds away so only work of that when paying off our cruises. I doubt we will ever be that fortunate again but we have dreamed of these cruises and saved up.

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I am embarrassed to say that this happened to me once. I was young and had a cc with a low credit limit and I exceeded it with my available balance. This was before debit/CC and I didn't have a check with me. I didn't have to swab the decks or do dishes. I signed some papers saying I would pay the bill in 30 days. When I got home I immediately sent them a check for the amount. As you can see, I have not been banned from cruising.

 

Of course I learned my lesson and now check my account regularly as to not go over. I did away with CC's so it's all cash. I pay for as much as I can before hand and stash money away in envelopes for cabs, excursions, drinks.

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I heard you sign a promissory note and pay back with a lot of interest. They also "hold" a certain amount per day. We were staying at a Renaissance, and they put a $1,500 hold on our stay. At the end of the stay, I paid with gift cards, but the hold was still there, tying up our credit for several days.

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I remember a woman on these boards a couple years ago who was unable to pay her cruise bill. She said she had to 1) sign a promisory note and 2) was banned from the cruise line in the future. If memory serves, she was aware that her credit card limit wouldn't cover the bill, but she thought they'd just add it on and the bank would charge her an overage fee . . . and she was very insulted that the cruise people stopped her as she was exiting the ship.

 

That was some time back. I'm surprised I remember it.

 

 

I seem to recall a similar story about a woman who brought her mom on a cruise. Her mother proceeded to lose all their money in the casino so they were not able to pay their SeaPass tab. They also had no money to return home. She was humiliated but RCI did set up some sort of credit account for her if memory serves me well.

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If you can't pay your cruise tab then you shouldn't have gone cruising to begin with lol.

 

:rolleyes: You are most fortunate that you have never had the - Life Happens - experience. As one person explained she had the money but no checks, a spouse gets carried away at the tables, you bring the wrong credit card, something bad happens while you're away to your debit card.

 

Life happens. But it goes beyond that - it's their choice, if they want to go into debt up to their eyeballs to pay for a cruise, car, shoes, house, etc. it is their business and the rest of us have no business telling them otherwise.

 

Sorry to go off on you, but I've read one to many smarmy replies like yours telling folks how they should manage their money, pay for their cruise, live their life, etc.

 

Stepping off my soap box now, have a great cruise.

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Actual charges are processed, usually on a Monday, after a weekend cruise. If the hold was for more than the actual expenses, when the charge is processed, the balance is "released" by the credit card company...so the delay is not the cruise line, but the credit card company. and yup! the credit card company will tell you it is the fault of the cruise line (note, I did not say RCI, it happens with all of them).

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:rolleyes: You are most fortunate that you have never had the - Life Happens - experience. As one person explained she had the money but no checks, a spouse gets carried away at the tables, you bring the wrong credit card, something bad happens while you're away to your debit card.

 

Life happens. But it goes beyond that - it's their choice, if they want to go into debt up to their eyeballs to pay for a cruise, car, shoes, house, etc. it is their business and the rest of us have no business telling them otherwise.

 

Sorry to go off on you, but I've read one to many smarmy replies like yours telling folks how they should manage their money, pay for their cruise, live their life, etc.

 

Stepping off my soap box now, have a great cruise.

 

 

I agree! I think at the end of the cruise when they are calling people by name to the pursers deck it may be to settle up. We always use our AMEX and it has no preset limit. The hotels, cruise lines even gas stations "reserve" a certain amount and then release it. I would imagine if someone was one a tight budget and was close to the limit on the card they could get into trouble with the reserves.

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I agree! I think at the end of the cruise when they are calling people by name to the pursers deck it may be to settle up. We always use our AMEX and it has no preset limit. The hotels, cruise lines even gas stations "reserve" a certain amount and then release it. I would imagine if someone was one a tight budget and was close to the limit on the card they could get into trouble with the reserves.

 

Another bad thing that can happen to a cc with a perfectly adequate balance - Operator Error. :o

 

A few months ago I was trying to pay for something online (of all things an internet security package) and kept putting in the wrong expiration date. I gave up and used another credit card. Fast forward a few days. DH mentions the cc wouldn't work at Walmart, few days later I'm trying to pay a very large vet bill with the same card and it won't go through. I had to use the alternative card. Called the cc company - seems there was some suspicious activity on the card with an internet purchase and there was a block on the card! :eek:

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I am embarrassed to say that this happened to me once. I was young and had a cc with a low credit limit and I exceeded it with my available balance. This was before debit/CC and I didn't have a check with me. I didn't have to swab the decks or do dishes. I signed some papers saying I would pay the bill in 30 days. When I got home I immediately sent them a check for the amount. As you can see, I have not been banned from cruising.

 

Of course I learned my lesson and now check my account regularly as to not go over. I did away with CC's so it's all cash. I pay for as much as I can before hand and stash money away in envelopes for cabs, excursions, drinks.

I am so glad you learn your lesson early. I watched children of my friends (I have no children) do the same you did and never learn their lessons. Now these children are grown, have children of their own and are constantly in debt. And my friends complain that their children are always "trying" to borrow money from them to meet ends meet.

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I have also seen people who forget to tell thier CC company they are traveling outside the country. They try to use thier card and a fraud notice is triggered and the card is declined. Last year in Italy, I gave a restaurant a card I had not done that with, it looked like another card, and it was declined for that reason even with a zero balance. I realized my mistake and gave them the correct card. Lesson is let your CC company know where you are going so that you do not get declined, even with an available credit line.

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I don't understand it completely, because I have high limits and I pay my credit cards right off each month, but I've heard it explained on other threads that the cruise line actually puts a "advance" on a certain amount of money on your credit card.

 

This is the part I don't quite understand, but it seems like they inform the card issuer that they expect to need say $500 in credit from the card holder. The card then reduces the credit limit by the amount RCL applies in advance. You are only charged for what you actually spend, but RCL makes sure enough is available for what they estimate you'll spend.

 

This has not happened to us, but other threads mention that it's a problem because if you have a high balance close to the limit, when you get home if RCL has not " released" you from the amount of that obligation ( even if you didn't spend it all) then those folks were getting denials on their CC for being over or too close to the limit. Folks on those threads were complaining that it was taking even several days to a week before Royal settled that and their account went back to " normal".

 

Again, I'm sketchy on the details, but the upshot is you have to secure your account with either cash, or with a card with a limit beyond what they " think" you will spend ( and they have some way of holding onto the potential for you to borrow that money) so that you cannot spend what you cannot pay.( or borrow) So say you bought a pricey watch in prt with the same CC that you used to check in. You could get rejected for buying the watch because Royal has first dibs. Essentially, they become a creditor, is how it seems.

 

Maybe someone with a much better command of banking or just a better memory of those complaints could enlighten us!

 

This happens all the time with many industries: When you pay for gas at the pump your card always gets initially authorized for a larger amount than you're probably going to put in -- possibly $75 or $100. I think it probably also happens at restaurants - so that you can leave money for a tip after they swipe your card and they know it will still go through. This is why those prepaid Visa cards you get (from a rebate, Christmas gift, etc.) don't always work at some places -- because they are trying to authorize your card for more than the balance that's on it.

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I have heard many people here say that it happens but I have NEVER had a hold put on my credit card while I was on a cruise. I check my account daily when we cruise to make sure that there are no suspicious charges. If a hold was there, it would show up on my account and there has never been one there.

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I have also seen people who forget to tell thier CC company they are traveling outside the country. They try to use thier card and a fraud notice is triggered and the card is declined. Last year in Italy, I gave a restaurant a card I had not done that with, it looked like another card, and it was declined for that reason even with a zero balance. I realized my mistake and gave them the correct card. Lesson is let your CC company know where you are going so that you do not get declined, even with an available credit line.

 

Or sometimes you have my problem where you go to the bank, give them a copy of your itinerary and all the countries you are going to be using your card in on the cruise and it still ends up getting shut off for suspicious activity :p This happened to us on our honeymoon - thank goodness we had a back up card.

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I agree! I think at the end of the cruise when they are calling people by name to the pursers deck it may be to settle up. We always use our AMEX and it has no preset limit. The hotels, cruise lines even gas stations "reserve" a certain amount and then release it. I would imagine if someone was one a tight budget and was close to the limit on the card they could get into trouble with the reserves.

 

My MIL was called over PA morning of debarkation, but not to settle up a bill... Customs wanted to meet with her about a $7,000 ring she had bought onboard... they were coming to collect taxes on it... I specifically asked them in the jewelry shop if a store manifest of sales would be pulled once we reached the US to give to US Customs and they told me no... bunch of crap!! :eek: (And I know there is a family max limit but they advertise all that stuff as tax and duty free when you are in the jewelry shop... )

 

Ended up my DH (her son) escorted her down there and showed his law enforcement badge and they didn't collect... But point is sometimes they are calling because Customs wants to see passengers on board before they debark the ship...

 

Lesson here is that that "Tax & Duty Free" stuff on board is not always free....

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I have heard many people here say that it happens but I have NEVER had a hold put on my credit card while I was on a cruise. I check my account daily when we cruise to make sure that there are no suspicious charges. If a hold was there, it would show up on my account and there has never been one there.

 

You would never know that you have a "Hold" unless you exceeded your limit. Its not a true charge. Its just the cruise line telling the bank that they need a certain amount of money set aside for "Expected" expenses. After your cruise, the hold is released.

 

I have even been in a restaurant/bar (in a college town) where there is a big sign at the entrance that parties of 8 people and more will have to give a credit card when they are seated so that a hold of X amount (I don't remember) will automatically be placed on their credit card. The restaurant probably had issues in the past.

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