Another question about holds against Credit Cards

[suzybeezy]

I've read several posts about the holds placed on credit cards by the cruise line and the more I read the more confused I get. We're traveling on a 6 day Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Freedom. I know when traveling Hotels like to place a hold on your credit card, til check out. I expect something similar with cruising. Anyone have an idea how much Carnival will "hold" against our credit card? And can this hold be averted by a cash deposit?

[BeachChik]

They place holds on what you spend each day and then charge the full amount at the end. The holds can sometimes take a few weeks to be released. Yes you can avoid it by giving cash as a deposit.

[TravelingDiva1]

I think it really differs from bank to bank. I've never experienced holds on my account once the cruise was over, but have seen several complaints on here.

[luddite]

You wanta use a credit card, not a debit card.

[Cruisin'Doc]

When using a debit card, at the end of every day, all of your individual charges are charged to your debit card as a hold. They are charged individually, so you may have a dozen individual charges a day, depending upon how much you are using your Sail & Sign card ($20 from the Casino, $8.75 from the bar, $35 from the gift ship, etc.). At the end of your cruise, a final comprehensive (total) charge will be made to your debit card.

 

At this time, Carnival will release all of the individual holds that were made throughout your cruise. However, each banking entity has different timing as to when THEY will release the charge, or as many call it, they let them 'fall off' when they are not actually processed. Some may do it so quickly, you never notice the holds. Others may take several weeks to release the holds.

 

I do choose to use my debit card. I do not use credit cards, and I don't like bothering with cash. I just make sure I know how much is in my checking account and keep track of my charges. You DO have to be careful, because you DO ultimately end up with double your bill at a certain point before the 'holds' fall off - so a $2,000 Sail & Sign account could hold up $4,000.

[stargate fan]

I've read several posts about the holds placed on credit cards by the cruise line and the more I read the more confused I get. We're traveling on a 6 day Western Caribbean cruise on Carnival Freedom. I know when traveling Hotels like to place a hold on your credit card, til check out. I expect something similar with cruising. Anyone have an idea how much Carnival will "hold" against our credit card? And can this hold be averted by a cash deposit?

 

Just got back from a four day cruise on Glory. Capitol One put a $200 hold on our credit card. I'm not sure if it's off yet-haven't checked this morning.

 

BTW, my final S&S bill was a whopping 71 cents. :eek:

[ch27088]

I just purchased an American Express prepaid card (like a debit card), which I have been adding money to for my cruise in March. Why you ask...because I don't like anyone putting a hold on my credit cards or my checking account cards (debit). I have bills that are paid automatically, and I don't need to come home from vacation to a financial mess. The separate prepaid card allows me to add money to it (up to $10,000, if I could), and then it's used just like a debit card. If they want to put a hold on the funds for this card, they can do whatever they like, because it doesn't mess up my household finances. I am a stickler about who has access to my funds. Besides it's great for me on vacation, because I know what I can spend and not worry about dipping in to my reserve funds. BTW, holds can take up to 2 - 3 weeks (I use to work for Citibank), so it is at the discretion of your financial institution.

[Cyber Kat]

I think it really differs from bank to bank. I've never experienced holds on my account once the cruise was over, but have seen several complaints on here.

 

Definitely differs from bank to bank. My husband's credit card is from Citibank and he had all kinds of holds, plus the total charge.

 

I have Barclays (Carnival MasterCard) and just have the total on my bill.

 

DH called Carnival and the person he spoke to told him that Citibank is the worst with not dropping the charges off (they get to earn interest on YOUR money). The Carnival rep said there was something she could do to push Citibank into releasing the funds and she said she would do that. I don't know if DH checked his balance yesterday.

[BeachChik]

I just purchased an American Express prepaid card (like a debit card), which I have been adding money to for my cruise in March. Why you ask...because I don't like anyone putting a hold on my credit cards or my checking account cards (debit). I have bills that are paid automatically, and I don't need to come home from vacation to a financial mess. The separate prepaid card allows me to add money to it (up to $10,000, if I could), and then it's used just like a debit card. If they want to put a hold on the funds for this card, they can do whatever they like, because it doesn't mess up my household finances. I am a stickler about who has access to my funds. Besides it's great for me on vacation, because I know what I can spend and not worry about dipping in to my reserve funds. BTW, holds can take up to 2 - 3 weeks (I use to work for Citibank), so it is at the discretion of your financial institution.

 

I would double check the fine print on this card. I had one and it said it could not be used on cruise ships. It was also an Amex card. I don't know why this was the case but it was a little blurb in the rules and restrictions.

[LHP]

People actually deal with holds every week and they just do not realize it.

 

Every time you gas up your card and use a debit or credit card, there is a hold put on your account.

 

We have used a credit card on every cruise without an issue.

 

But then, we do not carry any debt so it does not matter how long it takes to "release the hold".

[JohnBoy in NC]

Definitely differs from bank to bank. My husband's credit card is from Citibank and he had all kinds of holds, plus the total charge.

 

DH called Carnival and the person he spoke to told him that Citibank is the worst with not dropping the charges off (they get to earn interest on YOUR money). The Carnival rep said there was something she could do to push Citibank into releasing the funds and she said she would do that. I don't know if DH checked his balance yesterday.

 

I sail over a week ago and I still see a few daily charges on my Citi AA Amex card....they are dropping off slowly but surely....but I haven't seen this before on past cruises (Visa - Citi).

 

John in NC

[suzybeezy]

Wow, I'm glad I ask. Given the responses, I'll probably just have one credit card used for the sign and sail card and then use cash for my other spending at ports. That will keep it simply for me and reduce any worries about holds the cruise line has on the credit card.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys!

[khrivnak]

Will I need to add a debit card for our cruise? We will be a family of 6 cruising and as of now we have $780 in OBC and $400 in cash. I'm hoping to bypass the debit card all together. Is it necessary?

[SAT Spurs]

After reading on the issue, it appears that if you use a credit card, you need to have double the credit you will use. Ie...You spend $500 you need at least $1000. $500 for the holds and $500 for the S&S balance. Is this a correct assumption?

[luddite]

Will I need to add a debit card for our cruise? We will be a family of 6 cruising and as of now we have $780 in OBC and $400 in cash. I'm hoping to bypass the debit card all together. Is it necessary?

 

Never, ever use a debit card for this.

Use a credit card.

[QTPieRye]

Will I need to add a debit card for our cruise? We will be a family of 6 cruising and as of now we have $780 in OBC and $400 in cash. I'm hoping to bypass the debit card all together. Is it necessary?

 

With $780 OBC and $400.00 cash deposit, you will not be required to put down a debit or credit card.

[Vitality08]

I just purchased an American Express prepaid card (like a debit card), which I have been adding money to for my cruise in March. Why you ask...because I don't like anyone putting a hold on my credit cards or my checking account cards (debit). I have bills that are paid automatically, and I don't need to come home from vacation to a financial mess. The separate prepaid card allows me to add money to it (up to $10,000, if I could), and then it's used just like a debit card. If they want to put a hold on the funds for this card, they can do whatever they like, because it doesn't mess up my household finances. I am a stickler about who has access to my funds. Besides it's great for me on vacation, because I know what I can spend and not worry about dipping in to my reserve funds. BTW, holds can take up to 2 - 3 weeks (I use to work for Citibank), so it is at the discretion of your financial institution.

 

I think I remember reading that a pre paid cc can't be used for the sign and sail account. I would double check this before you go. It'd be a shame to get there only to find out the money you socked away can't be accessed.

[RjayB]

I do not understand the hesitation to use a "real" credit card for exactly this type of travel situation. There are simply some situations where you SHOULD use a credit card, and this is one of them. The worry expressed by the OP and others about holds on debit cards, etc. should not even be an issue.

 

If you get a card with no annual fee, there is absolutely no cost to use a credit card as long as you pay it off IN FULL every month (and you are not required to use it much at all to keep it active). And it's not like they are difficult to get, either. Unless your credit is really really bad, getting a decent credit limit is not a problem.

 

Happy sailings :)

[suzybeezy]

Talked to Carnival customer service today (was inquiring about a price drop). Anyway, gentlemen said, if using a credit card - they will make a $75 or $100 per person charge (he said its a charge, not a hold). He said that's to ensure the card is good. He said its not a per day charge. He said those funds are used for expenses you may incur during the cruise on your sign and sail card. He said at the end of the cruise, any funds not used will be credited back onto your card, but he said it was dependent upon the credit card company, not the cruise lines, as to how long it takes to process the credit. He said it will be $200 if using cash - per person.

 

After talking to him, and the responses here, I think I'll just use a credit card that I don't normally use for this purpose, rather than using my debit card. That way I don't have to worry about my "real" funds getting tied up.

[jsjjkelly]

With $780 OBC and $400.00 cash deposit, you will not be required to put down a debit or credit card.

 

We had over $500 as an OBC for our 8 day on the Breeze. They put a $200 hold on my credit card on Friday, and that was the only hold. They still did require me to put down a card though. It wouldn't let me proceed through the check in process online without one.

 

Our total bill was $6 at the end...

 

:-)

Shawn

[QTPieRye]

We had over $500 as an OBC for our 8 day on the Breeze. They put a $200 hold on my credit card on Friday, and that was the only hold. They still did require me to put down a card though. It wouldn't let me proceed through the check in process online without one.

 

Our total bill was $6 at the end...

 

:-)

Shawn

 

That happened to us a few years ago... we had a large OBC and put a credit card down for deposit. There were 6 of us, so the hold was large.

 

Last cruise, when checking in I had an OBC and deposited cash. No credit card was required :)

[Pookeybear1966]

Our obc was 570.00 and they "held" only 100.00. It was NOT a charge but a hold

[TravelingDiva1]

We had over $500 as an OBC for our 8 day on the Breeze. They put a $200 hold on my credit card on Friday, and that was the only hold. They still did require me to put down a card though. It wouldn't let me proceed through the check in process online without one.

 

Our total bill was $6 at the end...

 

:-)

Shawn

 

On my 12 day cruise last month, I had around $480 in OBC. For the check in process online I simply selected "cash" deposit as I was always do. (I usually just hand over my card during the actual check in process). Carnival did not ask for a card at check in or request any additional cash for a deposit. I assumed it was due to my OBC.

[jbrn]

I have always used a debit card on all but the first cruise and have never had a problem. I noticed all the holds for onboard purchases were on there but removed by the time I got home (unless iit was a weekend). I bank with BB&T. I've just been lucky I guess.

[Seago2]

In my experience, the answer to your question is $300 for a 7 day cruise per person. Yet- when I travel with a bunch of kids it is definitely not $300 per child. Hope this helps. Ask the cruise line- they'll tell you right away.