Issue with Onboard Charging Privileges...

[NavyCruiser]

Had a very frustrating issue with Royal's onboard charging privileges on our last 7 day cruise on the Liberty, traveling with my elderly Mother.

 

From the very first time I checked in online before the cruise, under "Onboard Expense Account, set up how you wish to charge expenses during your cruise" section, I entered my credit card under my name, & "No charging privileges" under my Mom's name.   Mom has a gambling & shopping spending problem, thus she has a daily cash budget for the casino. 

Upon arrival in the terminal upon check-in, I changed to new credit card for onboard expense account, & again I informed agent that Mom has "No charging privileges" when filling out the new forms.

Once onboard, after Mom blew through her first & second night's budgeted cash amount in the casino, I checked our room charges thru the room TV & was shocked to find that Mom charged over $100 at the onboard shops.  Went down to Guest Services desk to correct the problem, staff said that it doesn't matter that I indicated "No charging privileges online & at the pier, since that information/instructions didn't follow onboard to the ship.  WTH?  So why even have that option available then?  Why not just tell us that we must instruct them once we're onboard the ship?  Anyways staff member updated info, transferred the charges over to my name & says that now her card will only unlock the cabin door & no more charging privileges.

Next evening, I checked the account again, & again amazingly, saw more than $100 of purchases in the onboard shops, charged under my account.  How can onboard shops staff allow her to manipulate them to charge it under my account instead?  Unbelievable!

Of the 30+ cruises so far, I've never had this type of issues before.  Imagine if she had racked up thousands of $$$ in the casino, or other shopping charges, am I still be responsible for those charges?   Never had these  issues with our kids in the past, luckily they weren't interested in the casino nor shopping.

I thought I had made numerous attempts to prevent such issues upfront, but Royal has not made it easy.

I hope this is a one-time glitch, & not that the Cruise lines' sneaky way to create more revenue...

 

[Clarea]

Thanks for sharing your story.  This reminds me of the "glitch" that Royal has on some ships where parents can limit their children's spending at all venues except for the arcade.

[Arzeena]

Thanks for sharing the story, but I do feel that along with Royal Caribbean your adult mom needs a severe speaking to as well.

[smplybcause]

Is no charging privileges the same as cash account? If not, maybe a cash amount would at least put a limit on what she can spend. 

[cruisegirl1]

I hope that it gets worked out for you, but I seriously doubt that it is “ the  cruise lines sneaky way to create more revenue!”   Guest services can issue a Sea pass card that is only used to unlock the cabin door. We have use that when we needed an extra room key. 
 

I am sorry you have these issues with your mother. Since she committed fraud in the shops when she used your account to make purchases, perhaps you can return the items.

m

[Clarea]

40 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

Is no charging privileges the same as cash account? If not, maybe a cash amount would at least put a limit on what she can spend. 

 

No, a cash account allows $500 in charges on a 7-night cruise before Guest Services will ask you to pay it down.

[smplybcause]

18 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

No, a cash account allows $500 in charges on a 7-night cruise before Guest Services will ask you to pay it down.

 

Definitely thought it was less than that. Nevermind my thought! 

[vacationlover_mn]

Ugh, sorry 😞. That sucks!

[sparks1093]

OP I feel your pain. As another poster suggested next time get a card that will only open the cabin door. We'll have to keep this in mind when we're cruising with the grand kids if mom and dad aren't along. (As you say, it's fortunate that she didn't spend more. Reminds me of the comedian that said "my wife's identity was stolen, but the thief is spending less then she did so I'm letting it slide".)

Edited December 4, 2019 by sparks1093

[spookwife]

the problem is  with a cash account( which may have been the default  once you took away the credit card link)  you can charge up to $500 without being cut off.  

 

you could always  let her swing.. if she has a balance at the end of the cruise she will not be allowed to disembark without payment being secured.  

[cruisinfanatic]

14 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

I hope that it gets worked out for you, but I seriously doubt that it is “ the  cruise lines sneaky way to create more revenue!”   Guest services can issue a Sea pass card that is only used to unlock the cabin door. We have use that when we needed an extra room key. 
 

I am sorry you have these issues with your mother. Since she committed fraud in the shops when she used your account to make purchases, perhaps you can return the items.

m

Seriously?

[NateUpNorth]

10 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

Seriously?

 

Let me know your next cruise itinerary, and the details on how I can make purchases on your account.

Thanks in advance...........

[cruisinfanatic]

3 minutes ago, NateUpNorth said:

 

Let me know your next cruise itinerary, and the details on how I can make purchases on your account.

Thanks in advance...........

A close relative as the OP's certainly doesn't know when to stop. I have a hard time with your fraud term relating to her spending. Do you know what fraud is?

Edited December 4, 2019 by cruisinfanatic

[cruisegirl1]

14 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

Seriously?

Yes-the mother used someone’s account (on purpose) to make a purchase.   
 

And in addition, the employee who knowingly  made the charge to someone else’s account should probably be disciplined.  
 

Quite honestly, I’m not even sure how that purchase was able to be made. More than once I’ve left the cabin with my husbands sea pass  card instead of mine, and I’ve never been permitted to make any kind of purchase in the shops bars etc. with his card. 
 

m

 

 

[sparks1093]

15 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Yes-the mother used someone’s account (on purpose) to make a purchase.   
 

And in addition, the employee who knowingly  made the charge to someone else’s account should probably be disciplined.  
 

Quite honestly, I’m not even sure how that purchase was able to be made. More than once I’ve left the cabin with my husbands sea pass  card instead of mine, and I’ve never been permitted to make any kind of purchase in the shops bars etc. with his card. 
 

m

 

 

It sounds like their accounts were linked and they were on the same folio. She was using her sea pass card and evidently the system notice didn't take as it should have. I have little trouble believing that Royal's IT system failed in this regard given their past history. 

Edited December 4, 2019 by sparks1093

[cruisegirl1]

OP-are you able to take the items back to the stores?

m

[DesireeC03]

I am so sorry you went through this and more importantly that your Mom has a problem - so tough!

[cruisinfanatic]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Yes-the mother used someone’s account (on purpose) to make a purchase.   
 

And in addition, the employee who knowingly  made the charge to someone else’s account should probably be disciplined.  
 

Quite honestly, I’m not even sure how that purchase was able to be made. More than once I’ve left the cabin with my husbands sea pass  card instead of mine, and I’ve never been permitted to make any kind of purchase in the shops bars etc. with his card. 
 

m

 

 

Wanna explain how the employee can possible know the credit card linked to the card is an error?

[NavyCruiser]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

OP-are you able to take the items back to the stores?

m

 

No, I have no issues with Mom buying all the gifts at Ship's stores, it was only a little over $200.  She enjoyed herself looking at & buying all the items, as she said: "They did a wonderful job of showcasing the items, & at least I'm almost finished with Christmas gift shopping..."  Even with the cash spending in the 3 ports for more gifts, she stayed within her cash budget.

Luckily, she stopped gambling in the casino after the first 2 days.

 

The main point here is that if I wasn't vigilant to check on both of our onboard spending accounts, or waited until the last night to check, things might have spiraled out of control pretty quickly.  And luckily, she didn't charge or withdrew $$$ in the casino, which could've been disastrous. 

[PhoenixCruiser]

I'm not agreeing with your main point at all

[cruisegirl1]

3 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

 

No, I have no issues with Mom buying all the gifts at Ship's stores, it was only a little over $200.  She enjoyed herself looking at & buying all the items, as she said: "They did a wonderful job of showcasing the items, & at least I'm almost finished with Christmas gift shopping..."  Even with the cash spending in the 3 ports for more gifts, she stayed within her cash budget.

Luckily, she stopped gambling in the casino after the first 2 days.

 

The main point here is that if I wasn't vigilant to check on both of our onboard spending accounts, or waited until the last night to check, things might have spiraled out of control pretty quickly.  And luckily, she didn't charge or withdrew $$$ in the casino, which could've been disastrous. 

I’m sorry OP – I thought you were shocked annoyed that your mother made purchases on board but I see actually, it was fine.
 

Have an enjoyable cruise. 
 

m

[Jared2]

Why does guest services allow one adult to change another adult's spending privileges? That's insane. There are plenty of examples here where parents couldn't get spending privileges changed because the kid had turned 18, yet they did it in this case?

[spookwife]

21 minutes ago, Jared2 said:

Why does guest services allow one adult to change another adult's spending privileges? That's insane. There are plenty of examples here where parents couldn't get spending privileges changed because the kid had turned 18, yet they did it in this case?

Maybe because the cc in question was the daughters.  

[sparks1093]

13 hours ago, Jared2 said:

Why does guest services allow one adult to change another adult's spending privileges? That's insane. There are plenty of examples here where parents couldn't get spending privileges changed because the kid had turned 18, yet they did it in this case?

If someone else in on my folio using my credit card then I expect that I would be able to control their spending regardless of their age. In the OP's case he didn't want his mother to be able to charge anything.

[sparks1093]

14 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

I’m sorry OP – I thought you were shocked annoyed that your mother made purchases on board but I see actually, it was fine.
 

Have an enjoyable cruise. 
 

m

The purchases shouldn't have been authorized since the OP took steps to turn off the charging privileges for the sail and sign card. The amount spent doesn't matter.