On board account

[mustangmandy]

Can someone explain to me how my account will work putting a credit/debit card on my sign/ sail account. It says something about putting holds on it for $100. Is it better just to put cash on the card? Thanks!

 

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[girlsbgoing]

If you are short on credit or cash in your bank account, not linking your S&S card to a credit/debit card might be beneficial for you. If that’s not an issue, yes there will be a hold on your credit card. To save time you can add your cards prior to boarding (on-line). As funds are used, or as funds go below the hold, additional holds will be added. If you use cash, you will have to constantly add it yourself. The amount of the hold (cash required) is dependent on the cruise days.

 

 

 

 

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[mustangmandy]

Ok thank you!

 

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[girlsbgoing]

Ok thank you!

 

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Forgot to say that any unused cash will be returned by check via mail. That’s definitely important to know.

 

 

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[Babyfin]

When I sailed in April I was told it was $100 hold on my debit card for the room or $200 cash per person. But I had added a $500 Carnival gift card at check in so there was never a hold on my account.

[mustangmandy]

When I sailed in April I was told it was $100 hold on my debit card for the room or $200 cash per person. But I had added a $500 Carnival gift card at check in so there was never a hold on my account.

So I could get a gift card and put my money on it?

 

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[RS77471]

If you don't want to do a Carnival gift card...do a pre-paid Visa type card. Then after the cruise any money you have left can be spent elseware.

[LNNLNNLNN]

Forgot to say that any unused cash will be returned by check via mail. That’s definitely important to know.

 

 

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Any unused cash can be cashed out at guest services...I just did that last week on the Magic.

[ColeyBowli]

I always use cash or gift cards. Also, I always go to guest services early in the morning before I leave and get my cash back instead of waiting on a check in the mail.

[girlsbgoing]

Any unused cash can be cashed out at guest services...I just did that last week on the Magic.

 

 

 

Oh that’s great! Do you think it was a one time courtesy or that Perhaps they’ve made policy changes?? Last year my cousin used cash and receive a check later.

 

 

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[maryred]

Oh that’s great! Do you think it was a one time courtesy or that Perhaps they’ve made policy changes?? Last year my cousin used cash and receive a check later.

 

 

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If you close the account out before Carnival does it automatically you can get cash back for any unspent refundable on board credits (OBC) or cash deposited. In fact if disagree with Carnival's policy and your account has less than $10 left on it it is important that you manually close your account to get your cash. Otherwise any cash account auto-closed with $9.99 or less on it is donated to Saint Judes Children's Cancer Research Hospital.

Getting cash back from a Carnival gift cards deposited to the account on the other hand is more a courtesy. Usually unless using the casino method* funds left over from a gift card will be put on a new gift card and mailed to the address on file for the passenger.

As for credit (including prepaid cards) and debit cards if they are on file there will be an initial test charge placed on the account (like hotels and car rentals do when making a reservation). This amount varies based on cruise length and the number of cabins being covered by the account. Many times what happens with this test charge is the bank or card's issuer will then place a hold on the account for the amount of the test charge. Secondary test charges during the cruise can be made if the cruise line wants to test the limit of the card against previous spending on board, these will generate additional holds against the account. Most major mainline credit cards will delete the hold as soon as a final billing authorization request is made by the same provider. Not so with prepaid credit and debit cards, banking regulations allow them to keep that hold on top of the final charges for 10 banking days (which around certain holidays is 16 calendar days). This in turn can really mess up an account by putting it in overdraft, or result in having a prepaid card denied as insufficient funds. There are a few good banks that will drop the holds as soon as a finial authorization is requested, so it is best to talk directly with the card's issuer about their policies.

For many the best method of funding any cruise line's on board account is a mixture of funding methods. A little pre-purchased obc (like cruise cash or GCs), a bit of cash, and a card for back-up. Funds will be used in this order.

1) Non-refundable OBC like some promo and cruise cash

2) Refundable OBC like what received from ES price drops requests and Carnival gcs

3) Cash and cash equivalents like traditional traveler's cheques

4) Credit or debit cards on file

 

* Withdraw funds from you S&S account to your casino player's account on a slot machine in excess of what is left on the gift card deposit, spin once or twice, then close the player's account at the casino cashier for cash.

[girlsbgoing]

If you close the account out before Carnival does it automatically you can get cash back for any unspent refundable on board credits (OBC) or cash deposited. In fact if disagree with Carnival's policy and your account has less than $10 left on it it is important that you manually close your account to get your cash. Otherwise any cash account auto-closed with $9.99 or less on it is donated to Saint Judes Children's Cancer Research Hospital.

 

Getting cash back from a Carnival gift cards deposited to the account on the other hand is more a courtesy. Usually unless using the casino method* funds left over from a gift card will be put on a new gift card and mailed to the address on file for the passenger.

 

As for credit (including prepaid cards) and debit cards if they are on file there will be an initial test charge placed on the account (like hotels and car rentals do when making a reservation). This amount varies based on cruise length and the number of cabins being covered by the account. Many times what happens with this test charge is the bank or card's issuer will then place a hold on the account for the amount of the test charge. Secondary test charges during the cruise can be made if the cruise line wants to test the limit of the card against previous spending on board, these will generate additional holds against the account. Most major mainline credit cards will delete the hold as soon as a final billing authorization request is made by the same provider. Not so with prepaid credit and debit cards, banking regulations allow them to keep that hold on top of the final charges for 10 banking days (which around certain holidays is 16 calendar days). This in turn can really mess up an account by putting it in overdraft, or result in having a prepaid card denied as insufficient funds. There are a few good banks that will drop the holds as soon as a finial authorization is requested, so it is best to talk directly with the card's issuer about their policies.

 

For many the best method of funding any cruise line's on board account is a mixture of funding methods. A little pre-purchased obc (like cruise cash or GCs), a bit of cash, and a card for back-up. Funds will be used in this order.

 

1) Non-refundable OBC like some promo and cruise cash

 

2) Refundable OBC like what received from ES price drops requests and Carnival gcs

 

3) Cash and cash equivalents like traditional traveler's cheques

 

4) Credit or debit cards on file

 

 

 

* Withdraw funds from you S&S account to your casino player's account on a slot machine in excess of what is left on the gift card deposit, spin once or twice, then close the player's account at the casino cashier for cash.

 

 

 

Good info - thanks!!

 

 

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[cb at sea]

Credit cards have no "holds". Debit cards do....so if you want to pay for this out of your checking account, bring cash...no 'holds' on cash. Otherwise, use a credit card. You can go and pay it off in cash on the last evening, if you don't want charges to your credit card. Nothing is actually CHARGED until the last night on CREDIT cards. However, debit card incur a "hold" every time they post a charge to your account. Cash or credit....NEVER a DEBIT.

[riclop]

Can someone explain to me how my account will work putting a credit/debit card on my sign/ sail account. It says something about putting holds on it for $100. Is it better just to put cash on the card? Thanks!

 

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That is up to you,