Using a debit card for S&S

[maxandmolly]

How much of a hold will be put on your account for a five day cruise using your debit card?

[cb at sea]

Depends on how you're spending. It would be better to simply take the money out of your account, and use cash. No "holds"" on cash! The "holds" can affect you up to a week after the cruise is over....

 

Or, use a CREDIT card to "hold" your account, and pay it off in cash at the end...that way, nothing goes ON the credit card. Debits are different...while nothing is actually charged to your account until the end of the cruise, those "holds" stack up....use cash...never a debit!

[maxandmolly]

I usually do cash but thought debit might be easier. I don’t have any credit cards.

I’m not a spender on board. Couple sodas, maybe a drink. That’s about it.

[lax19]

From the CCL FAQs - https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1138

 

The guest's credit card or debit card will be swiped at embarkation with an initial hold placed on file as a deposit; if the card is activated online, the initial hold will be placed on file on the day of embarkation:

• 2 - 5 day cruise: $100 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card
  
• 6 days or longer: $200 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card
  

[maxandmolly]

Thank you!

[beachbum53]

Using a debit card for S&S

 

Don't do it, unless you have absolutely no other option. If you do opt to use a debit card, make sure that all checks have cleared, as well as any other recent transactions before using it for your S&S account. There have been numerous posts on here about people having bounced checks, then charged for insufficient funds by their bank due to the hold placed on their debit card. If you're able to, apply for a credit to use for your S&S account. It would also be handy to have if an emergency of some sort came up. Then, when you get back home, pay it off as soon as possible.

[Drazil65]

The holds can take 10 days or more to fall off once you return from cruise....unless you can afford to have that sum tied up until it falls off then I would not use a debit card....

[klfrodo]

From the CCL FAQs - https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1138

 

The guest's credit card or debit card will be swiped at embarkation with an initial hold placed on file as a deposit; if the card is activated online, the initial hold will be placed on file on the day of embarkation:

• 2 - 5 day cruise: $100 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card
  
• 6 days or longer: $200 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card
  

 

That’s just for the initial hold.

 

They could put additional holds during the time on the ship.

[Unclearnie]

I realize that a $100.00 hold isn't a big deal or you wouldn't be cruising however, wait until you go to the ports of call preview and the Cruise Director convinces you that you absolutely must go Swim with the Dolphins or parasail. Hold gets bigger and bigger. Don't do it. Just plunk down $500.00 cash and enjoy your cruise.

[Gypsywych]

People are cautioning against using the debit for good reason. The initial hold is $200. Say you go the next day and buy a watch in the shops. $140. They add another hold for $140. So now you've got $340 on hold. The next day you get only a soda and a glass of wine. They see you've spent $170 of your $200 so they add another hold. Now you've only spent $170, but you have holds to the tune of almost $600. Then at the end of the cruise, they will actually charge you the $170 you spent. So now your checking account is down $770. The holds fall off one at a time, sometimes taking 10 days depending on your bank. This might not be how it is supposed to happen, and it doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen. Be prepared.

[coevan]

I usually do cash but thought debit might be easier. I don’t have any credit cards.

I’m not a spender on board. Couple sodas, maybe a drink. That’s about it.

 

 

I can't believe people do not have credit cards. If you pay them off monthly, there is no interest. The rewards are always excellent. We have not paid for a flight for years. You are completely protected from fraud, not so much on a debit card. Debit cards can be dangerous, if you are not careful. If you remember "Up in the Air" with George Clooney, he always said "it's all about the mileage"

[sanger727]

If you are able to get a credit card, it would be a good investment. Keep in mind that if you get hurt or sick out of the country you almost always (even with trip insurance) have to pay upfront. Would also come in handy for a missed port, lost passport, emergency at home, etc.

 

 

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[coevan]

another good reason to get trip insurance

[Elaine5715]

People are cautioning against using the debit for good reason. The initial hold is $200. Say you go the next day and buy a watch in the shops. $140. They add another hold for $140. So now you've got $340 on hold. The next day you get only a soda and a glass of wine. They see you've spent $170 of your $200 so they add another hold. Now you've only spent $170, but you have holds to the tune of almost $600. Then at the end of the cruise, they will actually charge you the $170 you spent. So now your checking account is down $770. The holds fall off one at a time, sometimes taking 10 days depending on your bank. This might not be how it is supposed to happen, and it doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen. Be prepared.

 

That’s just for the initial hold.

 

They could put additional holds during the time on the ship.

Every time you charge to your sail and sign in the casino to play, they also run holds.

[sanger727]

another good reason to get trip insurance

 

 

 

Most trip insurance still requires you to pay upfront and get reimbursed when you get home.

 

 

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[Drazil65]

Most trip insurance still requires you to pay upfront and get reimbursed when you get home.

 

This is true and you must READ the fine print and make sure you opt for insurance that cover medical PRIMARY and it states that they will front all medical costs to doctors or hospitals....people must sit and actually think about their needs and if in a medical situation in another country how it would be handled....many people dont realize that you need to do your research and READ carefully (most people put way more thought into buying cheers and how much they will drink......accidents and sickness dont know they are on vacation when they hit)....

 

They will be the ones to complain that they did not get their money or were not covered cuz they didn't do their due diligence....blaming CCL or the travel insurance for not doing what they paid them to do...:rolleyes:

[cjcrowder]

Debit cards have a daily limit placed on them by your bank— most are $500. If you go over that daily limit your charges will be denied. We deal with this problem daily where I work.

 

 

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[maryred]

The cruise line will run a test charge at check-in to make sure the card is good, and reserves the right to run additional test charges during the cruise is spending warrants it. How your BANK handles those test charges is up to their TOUs, some will keep the test charges as a pending transaction even after final payment is request on your total bill for up to 10 banking days. 10 banking days can equal 16 calendar days. These pending charges can put you in an overdraft situation, so the best thing to do is call the customer service # on the back of a debit or even prepaid credit card, talking to a rep there about how that particular card handles reservation charges and resort open account funding.

[LMaxwell]

The amount of the hold is up to what you spend and the length of the hold could be up to 30 days and is controlled by the bank. If you have another option (credit preferably, and then cash) please consider using that. Best case with debit card is the hold falls off in a couple of days. Worst case is a hold for hundreds of dollars stays on your card for a month and really screws you up and cuts off access to YOUR money. Hard pass.

[blondie151o]

So if you put 100$ for your hold in cash- how do they refund it back?- do you go back to the desk to get your refund?

I don't see myself spending 100$ on board since I will have already payed for cheers ahead of time. I've only ever used my debit card.

 

 

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[BoDidly]

So if you put 100$ for your hold in cash- how do they refund it back?- do you go back to the desk to get your refund?

I don't see myself spending 100$ on board since I will have already payed for cheers ahead of time. I've only ever used my debit card.

 

 

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Cash is paid in cash if you close down your account at guest services on the last night.

[SAJordan]

Question-can I use my debit card at the kiosk to put cash from that account onto my S&S card?

 

 

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[maryred]

So if you put 100$ for your hold in cash- how do they refund it back?- do you go back to the desk to get your refund?

I don't see myself spending 100$ on board since I will have already payed for cheers ahead of time. I've only ever used my debit card.

 

 

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SORRY, just reread your post.

For those depositing cash, there is no need to follow the published minimums.

If you want to just put down $25, go ahead.

But be warned on Day 2 of the cruise the auto-gratuity is assessed, if you have not prepaid this and the deposited amount does not cover it fully your S&S account will be suspended. (Which in certain cases can prevent you from leaving the ship to visit a port.)

 

 

For those choosing to go with a debit or prepaid credit card instead of cash or a traditional credit card.

You do not get to choose the amount the cruise line uses as the test charge, which your bank might choose to put as a hold against the account.

Since it is only a test charge and not a verified transaction no money moves out of your bank to you on board account with the cruise line.

If spending exceeds the first test charge, the cruise lines reserve the right to run additional tests charges to make sure the card can handle the limit.

On the last day of the cruise a final bill will be transmitted to the bank for an approved transaction of all on board spending.

So what can happen since banks need not release test charge(s), and in fact may retain them as a hold against a debit or prepaid credit card account balance, even when a final bill for authorization is presented by the vendor, is for a period of time it will look as if the cruise line (or resort) double or triple charged you.

By banking regulations any unverified transaction, such as a test or reservation charge, needs to be released in 10 banking days.

But since most banks have more holidays than even the federal government, this can tie an account up for over 2 calendar weeks.

 

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Edited October 29, 2017 by maryred

[BoDidly]

SORRY, just reread your post.

For those depositing cash, there is no need to follow the published minimums.

If you want to just put down $25, go ahead.

But be warned on Day 2 of the cruise the auto-gratuity is assessed, if you have not prepaid this and the deposited amount does not cover it fully your S&S account will be suspended. (Which in certain cases can prevent you from leaving the ship to visit a port.)

 

 

For those choosing to go with a debit or prepaid credit card instead of cash or a traditional credit card.

You do not get to choose the amount the cruise line uses as the test charge, which your bank might choose to put as a hold against the account.

Since it is only a test charge and not a verified transaction no money moves out of your bank to you on board account with the cruise line.

If spending exceeds the first test charge, the cruise lines reserve the right to run additional tests charges to make sure the card can handle the limit.

On the last day of the cruise a final bill will be transmitted to the bank for an approved transaction of all on board spending.

So what can happen since banks need not release test charge(s), and in fact may retain them as a hold against a debit or prepaid credit card account balance, even when a final bill for authorization is presented by the vendor, is for a period of time it will look as if the cruise line (or resort) double or triple charged you.

By banking regulations any unverified transaction, such as a test or reservation charge, needs to be released in 10 banking days.

But since most banks have more holidays than even the federal government, this can tie an account up for over 2 calendar weeks.

 

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It's not always on day two ,depending on the length of the cruise it may be day four or five on a seven day cruise. Most experienced cruisers that use cash always include gratuity. Good advice for newbies ;p

[GlamorousGirl]

I use my debit card and pay off my purchases day by day in cash and when the cruise ends I have never had holds still on my account when I got home. I also pay whatever I can online before the trip. Also, in response to the person who said if you're taking a cruise $100 is not a big deal - that is not my situation. I have to scrape and claw for every penny and save up for months for every trip. But it's well worth all of the hard work and effort and "doing without" things back home to save up!