Shipboard Account-1st timer. . .

[factoryfourteen]

I am a cruise newbie, and will be sailing on HAL for the world cruise in Jan. . . Just wondering about HAL's shipboard account policy, as what I've read on the boards seems to conflict with what Hal's ppl have been telling me. . . SO, my question is, when hal pre-authorizes your card (or debit) for your shipboard account, how much is that pre-authorization for? I'm assuming it's similar to a hold that is placed on your card, but is it placed each day, or for a bulk amount at the beginning of the cruise? Or do they just check to make sure you have an available balance sufficient enough to cover the $60 per day for the length of the cruise? My problem basically boils down to this- my boyfriend & I will be on the ship for 113 days, and a $60 pre-authorization for each day for both of us would be $13, 560. We don't have any credit cards with limits this high (or even high enough to support the 6,780 per person). . . we are both recent college grads and can only afford this amazing trip because his generous (and rich) grandma decided to pay for a family trip. We don't have 13,560 set aside in cash on top of our port spending allowances either, so as far as I can tell, putting down cash for our account won't be an option. Any clarification/help/advice any one could give would be greatly appreciated, as we are so confused about the whole thing right now! thanks!

[bepsf]

Wow!!!

Welcome to the boards!
I wish my Grandmother had sent me on a World Cruise!!!

This is a tough question. What is HAL Shipservices telling you?

I sure hope that Granny is kicking in some spending $$$ too???

[jhannah]

The hold is placed all at once, up front. However, nothing is charged to your account until the end of cruise. Then it's just the actual amount you've spent. I don't know if they calculate the hold differently for this long a voyage or not. Hopefully someone with the experience will know and post it.

[lknick]

On longer cruises not in the Caribberan, the hold is placed/renewed weekly so long as it exceeds your actual purchases. Your actual charges are accumulated and placed at the end of the cruise or monthly, whichever is shorter.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The hold will $60 + $10 per day per person. Remember that for 113 days, you both will have a total of $2260 alone on your ship account just for the acutomatic tipping. And if you drink, then you will have those bills as well as 15% gratuity on your account as well. And if you go on any ship's tours, more bills.

Hope grandma or someone will be able to advance you some money before you go.

Since the world cruise is done segments, maybe you can arrange to pay off each segment?

You will find that unless you use a different charge card in the ports and because HAL puts these high holds on, you may not be able ti charge in a port.

[trubey]

Perhaps one or both of you can apply for an American Express card, which doesn't have a preset limit. I imagine new customers will be up for some scrutiny, but a call to the Amex 800 number might give you an agent who will cut you some slack. Remember, this is just a hold, not a charge. Just don't forget to have somebody pay your bill when it comes in!

I have had an amex green card for many years, but I don't use it much lately. I called customer service and told them I was going on a cruise and the ports/countries I would be in, and they made a note of it on their computer so no little alarms went off . . .

lane

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have always notified AM EX as well as Visa whenever we are traveling and/or going to be out of the country. You would be wise to do this as well being as you will be gone for 113 days.

[factoryfourteen]

Thanks for all the info/suggestions! I think I finally understand how the hold works, and we're going to look into getting an Am Ex card. . . Now we can finally relax and focus on the fun stuff!!!

[Lovebirds]

We'll also be with you for the world Tour. Looking forward to meeting you and your B/F's family onboard.

I will be filing our itenerary with our credit card companies before we leave. They have refused to authorize purchases in the past that the felt were outside the norm, and I certainly don't need that hassle abroad. Since we will have internet access, I'll be able to keep track of charges and also handle the payments on the accounts while we are gone. My sister lives a couple of miles from us and will be able to check the mail and handle anything that we can't take care of online so we shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[grannynurse]

Hi,
I thought the daily charge used to be $50 pp/perday and then HAL added $10 for gratuities making it $60 pp/pd. Have they raised it to $60 and $10? It was a total of $60 as of this summer, HelP!
GN

[ekerr19]

Just off the Noordam - it was $60 per person per day for us. DH used one of his cards and I used one of mine. My hold ($540) was removed by the third day - I know this because I check my account online. DH's was not, but he uses a different credit card provider than I do.

The longest cruise we've been on is 16 days, the hold was released sfter the first 48 hours by our credit card company, not by HAL. It was not renewed by HAL. We still had our entire balance available to us. Back then it was stil $50 pp, per day and we had five of us, the hold should have been $4,000 - and it was for about two or three days. My credit card company's policy is that is the "hold" is not actaully charged within 48 hours, they will release it.

It's no big deal but I see many posters saying if you go over the amount of the hold, they (HAL) will hold more. As a pax who has ALWAYS gone over the "hold", I have never had this happen to me in all the years I've been with HAL, and know this because I do monitor my credit card account while I am on the ship.

Be sure you know you credit card company policy regarding holds and expect the minimum of $60 pp, per day to be held and unavailable for other purchases. As far as additional funds being held if you exceed this amount, I have yet to experience it personally.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Someone mentioned on another thread that HAL recently changed the "hold" to $60 + $10 a day per person. I don't know where that person get his/her information.

[lknick]

HAL has recently changed their hold policy for Caribbean cruises, not for others...for what I believe is obvious reasons.

[bookworm0911]

HAL has recently changed their hold policy for Caribbean cruises, not for others...for what I believe is obvious reasons.I may be stupid, but the reason for a $70 per day hold in the Caribbean instead of the $60 hold elsewhere is not obvious to me. Care to elaborate?

[lknick]

With the expansion of the Caribbean market, more than should be expected have exceeded their credit limits. Therefore, increase the hold.

To me, that's obvious.

[bookworm0911]

I agree though that a 7 day Caribbean cruise on ships that are heavily discounted would attract more people that would have low credit limits than the longer cruises would. Doesn't seem like a $10 a day increase would be enough to solve the problem though.