Question about Onboard Account

[Erinchita]

Is there any drawback to using a debit card as the credit card for your onboard account? Do they do a hold of any sort that could potentially tie up your cash?

[frankathy]

They will pre-authorize and it will hold your available funds. Not sure how much a day but initally I thought it was 70.00 per person.

[paul929207]

Yes, they will put a hold on some money in your account. These holds are often slow to come off at the end of the cruise.

[frankathy]

Paul is correct. They hold authorizations on your funds for 7 to 15 days depending on the bank and cruise line.

[Erinchita]

They will pre-authorize and it will hold your available funds. Not sure how much a day but initally I thought it was 70.00 per person.

 

$70 per person, per DAY? Yikes. This throws a wrench in my plans. Do they do this even if my account will already have a significant amount of onboard credit/gifts?

[HR Champion 03]

Yes, I got a sea miles master card and pay it off before the due date every month ,and earned a free cruise last year on the Destiny. All the purchases I make on the ship gets me double sea miles even the purchase of the cruise itself. I hope this helps Good luck and God Bless.

 

Craig and Sue

[parislady40]

Just spoke to Princess and after a long wait for the correct answer, they advised that each day in the early hours of the morning, they pre-authorize the amount that you have spent in the previous 24 hour period. she said an initial amount is not pre-authorized on boarding. Wonder if I call back again, if the answer will change???

[Treven]

This is one of the reasons I send in $ gifts to myself prior to boarding. It usually ranges between $500 - $1k. This way I'm spending my pre-cruise $ instead of tying up funds on my MasterCard.

[Curtzilla]

On RCL, I've always given a Credit Card for the onboard account, and on the last night switched it to the Debit Card just before settlement. Hopefully I can do this on Princess as well. The hold stays on the CC, and will eventually roll off with no problems, only the settlement debit (and its rewards, in my case airmiles) goes on the DC. It has worked well. I do this on long hotel stays, too.

[Pam in CA]

Just spoke to Princess and after a long wait for the correct answer, they advised that each day in the early hours of the morning, they pre-authorize the amount that you have spent in the previous 24 hour period. she said an initial amount is not pre-authorized on boarding. Wonder if I call back again, if the answer will change???

Unlike other cruiselines (HAL comes to mind), they don't pre-authorize funds for your onboard account. The rep you spoke to might be correct but I wouldn't use a debit card without a lot more in the account than you plan to spend "just in case."

[mummyrose]

We use a debit visa and had no problems....as others say they just put a hold on it as you spend each day and then took it out on the last day in one go......there was no wait that others mentioned