Using Debit Card for Sign & Sail ?

[kiraryker]

We are leaving next week and I am wondering they have you fill out the sign & sail card prior with the last 4 digits of the credit card you will be using and the authorized signers but what if you just want to give them cash??? Do you just not fill it out???

[colk12]

Just talked to a PVP and they say $50 hold for a 4 day cruise

[parrotthead]

we have 2 checking accounts. One for bills, and one for other things. we use the other things account for the cruise. that way our bill money is not crompromised.

We do too. We each have our own accounts and then we have a joint acct that we call the 'Cruise fund'. We will be using the joint one for vacation expenses.

[4mrnyer]

Not sure anyone can answer this but here goes. We just got back from our sailing on the Liberty. Our dd used her credit card for her charges and got her final bill on Sunday morning. It was correct and her total charges were $260.00 including her tips of $80.00. When she checked her credit card account Carnival had placed an additional hold of $450.00 on the last day of our cruise. Carnival is only showing that they charged the $260.00 not the additional. She does not drink and did not go to the casino at all. Only purchased a couple of pictures, some alcohol for her boyfriend and a couple of outfits in the onboard store. She is working with Carnival and her cc company to get the hold taken off. So far no one will release it. Any ideas?

 

Sherry

[nulf4me]

Interesting thread.......we were also planning on using our debit card, but now I'm worried and think we should go the cash route. We could withdraw all money and leave in the account only what we want to spend on the cruise, but what I'm afraid of is all the holds will make me run out of money. We have no credit cards, have paid all of them off and closed them.

 

One more question........how do you prepay your gratuities? I have to the Carnival website and couldn't find it.

 

Thanks,

Karen

[vacruizer]

Not sure anyone can answer this but here goes. We just got back from our sailing on the Liberty. Our dd used her credit card for her charges and got her final bill on Sunday morning. It was correct and her total charges were $260.00 including her tips of $80.00. When she checked her credit card account Carnival had placed an additional hold of $450.00 on the last day of our cruise. Carnival is only showing that they charged the $260.00 not the additional. She does not drink and did not go to the casino at all. Only purchased a couple of pictures, some alcohol for her boyfriend and a couple of outfits in the onboard store. She is working with Carnival and her cc company to get the hold taken off. So far no one will release it. Any ideas?

 

Sherry

 

The hold will probably drop off within the next week. It's happened to me on my last two cruises where the charge posted and the hold took about 5 days to come off. But my hold amount each time was the same as what I'd spent onboard. But a good reason to use that credit card and not have the money in your checking account tied up unless you can cover it!

[helicopter]

Cash is soo very easy to do. Just go to the desk and put down what ever amount you want (above tips). There is NO minimum to put down ... they will take whatever you give them (I know it says there is a minimum amount, but believe me, they will take whatever you give them.) If sometime during the week you decide that you would rather hand out your tips in person they will give you that money back and you can do that (I've done it, since that is what I prefer to do). On the last night of the cruise (later in the evening) go down to the P.'s desk and close your account if you want to avoid the refund check. If during the week you are running low on money go put some more down. Sometimes using cash may sound a little complicated (how much, hold, etc) however they WILL take whatever you give (remember tips). Soooo, if you have 2 people (70/pp tips) and you want to put down 200, go ahead and do that, they will take it. You are under No obligation to buy anything on the ship so not having much money on your account isn't going to land you in S&S jail:eek:

[scar4711]

I work in a retail environment whre 99% of our transactions are credit card based.

 

Here are the maximum times for authorizations to expire:

 

Debit cards - 3 business days

 

Visa/Amex/Discover - 7 Business days

 

Master Card - up to 30 days.

 

 

I hope this helps... someone.

 

I used my debit card on my last cruise.. and had no issues with the auth vs charges, because the auth fell off before the end of the cruise... but they did post each days charges seperate.

[wecamp]

Parrotthead,

my family of 4 just went on the Ecstasy in December. FYI - you can't check your account on the TV on the Ecstasy. I asked the purser and they said no.

I put $800 down in cash and asked the purser desk a couple of times what our balance was. Also on the 3rd day they told me we would get a S&S statement that night, but we didn't (Didn't ask the room steward where it was). On the 4th day the Purser printed it out for me. When we got down to $100 I put my debit card down. It does have the Visa logo on it. The Purser told me it would have a $10 hold on it (since we had paid $800 already). They charged my card the remaining amount of our bill, I didn't have to go back down the day we got home. The $10 fell offf about 7-8 days later. We arrived on a Saturday and the last charges did show on my bank account until about Wednesday. My bank also knew we were on vacation and where (Mexico), so we had no problems.

Starting with cash and covering the end with debit card worked fine for us.

Tammy

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

If sometime during the week you decide that you would rather hand out your tips in person they will give you that money back and you can do that (I've done it, since that is what I prefer to do).

Not to slam you but I would never consider removing auto-tips unless you plan to tip everyone. That money is split to various people so likely someone will get shafted. A portion goes to buffet staff. If you don't ever eat at the buffet, get coffee or ice cream from Lido etc, then fine. A portion goes to your room steward. If your room steward is horrible & hasn't done anything for you throughout the week (new towels, make bed-standard service) then go ahead & remove his/her portion. Another portion goes to the dining service. If you never step foot in the dining rooms, then fine feel free to remove their portion of the auto-tip. Otherwise, leave it in place and tip extra for those that have exceeded your expectations. PERIOD.

[parrotthead]

Thanks Wecamp!

I think thats a great comprimise. I was aware that we could not check the balance on the TV (Thanks Stircrazy)

I think we will put an amount down in cash (probably $400)and then go down mid-cruise and put debit card (MC logo) if needed.

Thanks

[jayscore]

The last two cruises, we used traveler's checks. I allready had my tips prepaid. I put down $500 for the two of us, and it worked out pretty well. I agree, the drink bill and pictures can suck your funds quickly. If you plan ahead and check the prices through these wonderful boards, you will have a good idea what the "grand damage" will be at the end of your cruise. I hope this helps!