Shipboard Account

[Diva0881]

Will Holland still require a pre-auth of $600 if there are significant shipboard credits on the account? What is the minimum cash deposit you can pay against your onboard acct? We are traveling with a family friend that does not have a credit card and we are trying to figure out the best way to deal with her onboard expenses.

[sapper1]

Will Holland still require a pre-auth of $600 if there are significant shipboard credits on the account? What is the minimum cash deposit you can pay against your onboard acct? We are traveling with a family friend that does not have a credit card and we are trying to figure out the best way to deal with her onboard expenses.

The requirement is for a $60 pp per day in the form of cash, onboard credit or a hold on a credit or debit card.

There would be at the very least a requirement to have the hotel service charge of $11 pp per day covered and if there was no more than that on deposit, the person would not be allowed to charge anything to their account----no drinks, shore exes, casino, etc. The person may be a able to negotiage a lower cash deposit but as their spending nears the deposit amount, they will be cut off and summoned to the front desk to make a further deposit.

Maybe the hotel service charge has risen to $12 pp per day???? I don't know as I never check.

 

If you trust your friend to repay you, you could use your credit card to cover her expenses and have her repay you when the bill comes in. That would require an extra $60 pp per day hold on your credit card but it would solve the problem. I have friends I would do that for, but then again I have friends I would not think of offering to cover. It would depend on your comfort level.

[alpal1993]

I covered my on board account with cash/Travelers Cheques. No problem were encountered.We pre paid so many things that we really didn't need to spend too much and were lucky enough to get an onboard credit from HAL which was a huge surprise.

[Pixiescleo]

When we sailed on RCCL and Celebrity, we had to give a credit card when boarding. Does HAL also demand a credit card when boarding and then the cash or debit card deposit after boarding?

 

Thanks very much.

 

Smiles

 

Marg

[Krazy Kruizers]

when you fill out your boarding pass online at hal's sit -- you have the option of checking off credit card or cash

 

if you check off cash - you will have to report to the front desk on embarkation day and give them at least $60 per person for the first day -- if you don't have any shipboard credit -- they may require you to report back to the desk each day -- it all depends on your spending -- which inludes shore excursions that you -- and those shore excursions will definitelt require you to fork over more money

[dmwnc1959]

This directly from the Holland-America website:

 

Our cashless society is designed to make your life on board as simple as possible. Once you have registered your credit or debit card(s) (Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, and Discover®) you will be able to use your onboard account for shipboard purchases. Your credit or debit card number(s) will be securely sent to the ship in preparation for your cruise. Upon embarkation, we will seek an initial authorization on your card(s) for USD $60 per person for each day of your cruise. For cruises longer than 25 days, the hold is USD$30.00 per person, per day. (Please note, this authorization will not be placed against your credit or debit card(s) until the day of sailing.) At the end of your cruise, you will receive a final statement, and your card(s) will be charged only for the actual amount of your purchases. Refunds for purchases of onboard products and services will be credited to your onboard account whether purchased prior to or during your cruise. Please have the credit or debit card(s) you registered with you and available for the duration of the cruise in case our shipboard staff needs additional information.

Please inform your credit or debit card issuer in advance that your card will be used on a Holland America Line ship. This will help prevent delays in obtaining the authorization(s) throughout your cruise. Some banks may keep the authorization in place for up to 30 days. Please contact the credit or debit card issuing bank with questions regarding the length of time such authorizations remain on your account.

 

If you do not want to use a credit or debit card, the ship will collect a cash deposit from you at time of boarding in the same amount (USD $60/person/day).

 

***Note - With the cash option, you MUST bring enough cash to cover the $60/person/day account deposit. Failure to do so may forfeit your right to board. . Any excess deposit will be refunded to you at the end of the cruise. Traveler's checks may be cashed at the front office to make your deposit.

 

Personal checks are not accepted on board.

 

When you board the ship, your account will have been activated and you may make purchases immediately by showing your guest identification card and signing a receipt.

[bcd2010]

On our 15-day Hawaii cruise last year, I had a $500 OBC and was not required to add anything more to my onboard account. Since I had booked all my excursions in advance, I never came close to using the OBC amount (got money back at the end). If funds were low before the end of the trip, they'd have called me to the front desk to deposit more into the on board account or present a credit card.

[Pixiescleo]

Thank you... that answers my question very thoroughly. I prefer to put cash on my shipboard account because I find I stick closer to budget if I do that.... and no surprises on my card about two weeks later. :))

 

Smiles

 

Marg

[the2ofus]

Just curious...if it is one adult and one child in a cabin, is the deposit still $60 per person per day? Before anyone mentions it, I know that the $11 is still a per person per day charge and I have no problem with that.

[aussiedisneyfan]

Yes it is, even if it is 2a/2c it is still $60 per day. We are two adults with a child and they told us it would be $180 per day hold.

[Diva0881]

Yes it is, even if it is 2a/2c it is still $60 per day. We are two adults with a child and they told us it would be $180 per day hold.

What if our 3rd is an infant?

[aussiedisneyfan]

Hmm, that I don't know. Ours was a teen and had a lovely time buying skittle candy and mocktails. Logically they shouldn't charge and infant, surely.