$60 hold per day on credit card

[tiggerzmom]

This is our first cruise (to Alaska) and they want to charge us $60 per day on our credit card towards onboard daily purchases. Relatives who cruise a lot have never had this before on any cruise line. Is this a new initiate of HAL. Can't continue with registration until done or told to bring cash equivalent.

[ger_77]

The $60 per person per day credit card hold has been around a long time. It's like checking into a hotel; you don't realize it, but they've put a hold on your credit card for the full amount owing, but only charge it at check out, depending on what other items you might have added to the bill. It assures them that you have the funds in place to pay for your stay.

If you check out the fine print of your cruise contract on any cruise line, you will see it is a common practice.

If you don't want to pay your shipboard account by credit card, you can deposit the equivalent of $60 per person per day with the Purser's Office or Front Desk. If you exceed the amount, they will call your cabin and ask you to deposit more money. If you don't use it all, they will refund the balance at the end of the cruise before you disembark.

Smooth Sailing! :):):)

[want-to-cruise]

How is this refunded? In cash or to the credit card?

Thanks

[RuthC]

Make sure you read ger77's post correctly---the $60/day is a HOLD, not a CHARGE. Big difference.
The only amount actually charged to your card at the end of the cruise is the amount of expenses you authorized, including the $11/day service charge.

[RuthC]

How is this refunded? In cash or to the credit card?
If you leave a deposit in cash, the balance to be refunded to you is paid in cash.
If you have HAL put the hold on a credit card, the only the amount due is charged to the card. Any balance of the hold is released by the credit card company.

[upontheCs]

ruth is correct, when using a credit card their is a big difference. when using a debit card however, a 'hold' will reduce you balance immediatly.

[Australian family]

So does that mean if you a family of four they charge $60 US per day per person, which if my calculations are correct that is US $3360 or AUS $4800 for a 14 day cruise. That is a huge amount of money to put against your credit card limit.

The other option of giving that to them in cash is also a pain, given that we don't want to convert that much money into USD as we are cruising to New Zealand.

[RuthC]

So does that mean if you a family of four they charge $60 US per day per person, which if my calculations are correct that is US $3360 or AUS $4800 for a 14 day cruise. That is a huge amount of money to put against your credit card limit.
Your calculation in US dollars is correct. I have no idea, but figure you know what you're doing, on the US to Australian dollar conversion.

[magandab]

There is a reason for this. If you board with a credit card with a limit of, say, $2000 and that's the card you register, then you charge $1999 for that piece of jewelry in a port, there is not enough credit left on the card to settle your on-board charges. So, the ship gets there first, and holds enough to cover the average person's shipboard expenditures. Knowing this ahead of time, and it's been this way since my first cruise, I use one card for the ship and carry another for port spending. It's also safer to carry a second, backup card in case of theft or loss.

[SDHALFAN]

So does that mean if you a family of four they charge $60 US per day per person, which if my calculations are correct that is US $3360 or AUS $4800 for a 14 day cruise. That is a huge amount of money to put against your credit card limit.

The other option of giving that to them in cash is also a pain, given that we don't want to convert that much money into USD as we are cruising to New Zealand.


Once again, this is simply a "hold" on your credit card - not a charge. You will not be charged a single red cent until the end of your cruise.

Now, should you have a credit card with a very small limit then you need to remember that HAL has put a "hold" on a certain amount so if you wish to charge something to that credit card while ashore that charge may be denied (again depending on the credit card limit). Holland America Line is not ripping you off - they just want to make sure that at the end of your cruise you will have enough money to pay their bill.

No need to change AU dollars for US dollars -everything spent aboard ship (including the Autotip) will be charged to your account, payable when the bill comes in. For a family of four the $60.00 per day amounts to $240.00 per day which I doubt sincerely you will spend unless you are really "party animals":D.

Have a wonderful cruise..

Valerie:)

[Australian family]

Just seems a lot of the credit to tie up, can you talk to them to adjust it, as our children are young, and we have no intention of drinking that much or buying shore excursions or spending huge amounts in the shops.

I can understand it for adults, but not for children to have that limit.

I would hate to be doing an extended cruise if they tie money up like that.

[papadave]

If I'm not mistaken (although I often am mistaken) the hold will correspond to the number of people with ship cards that permit them to charge to the ship account. If that is the case, then children who can't make purchases should not have the same allocation. Children do factor into the daily tips, so there will be some money involved there.

Of course, if you have a $100,000 line of credit on your charge account this does not matter. One thing you may want to do before you cruise is contact the company that issues your charge card and let them know that you are going on a cruise. At their discretion, they can increase your available credit for the duration of the cruise and you won't have the problem of insufficient available credit on that account due to holds.

[Australian family]

If I'm not mistaken (although I often am mistaken) the hold will correspond to the number of people with ship cards that permit them to charge to the ship account. If that is the case, then children who can't make purchases should not have the same allocation. Children do factor into the daily tips, so there will be some money involved there.

Of course, if you have a $100,000 line of credit on your charge account this does not matter. One thing you may want to do before you cruise is contact the company that issues your charge card and let them know that you are going on a cruise. At their discretion, they can increase your available credit for the duration of the cruise and you won't have the problem of insufficient available credit on that account due to holds.

That would make it a lot less. How many people have a $100,000 line of credit. You wouldn't get too many banks here is Australia giving that sort of line of credit.

[papadave]

I was trying too hard to be cute. I mentioned a theoretical $100,000 line of credit to illustrate that there is a point at which the situation you described is not an issue at all. If you have enough available credit, then the hold (that portion of your available credit set aside so that you don't overextend yourself) is irrelevant. However, it is always a good idea to notify your credit card issuer when you are traveling abroad as it keeps the company from flagging unusual charges. Otherwise you may be in a situation where the credit card company asks that the merchant accepting your credit card telephone the credit card company to verify data before accepting the credit card (for security purposes) which is annoying when you are in a rush.

[dandro]

If you are worried about the HOLD that HAL puts on your credit card exceeding your credit limit, call your credit card company and have them increase your credit limit. Explain that you will be going on a cruise and need the extra limit because of the hold.

As others have said, this is NOT a charge, and you will not see the $60pp/per day charge on your final bill before you disembark, nor will you see a credit if you don't spend it, because it was never charged to your account. All you will see are the actual charges you made while on board.

[The4thPr]

Just seems a lot of the credit to tie up, can you talk to them to adjust it, as our children are young, and we have no intention of drinking that much or buying shore excursions or spending huge amounts in the shops.



For my 3 year old grandson that will be traveling with us I was told to list him as if he will pay with cash once on the ship, and then talk Purser once on board. Since he will not be making any direct charges I was told that his requirement may either be reduced or eliminated.

[sapper1]

For my 3 year old grandson that will be traveling with us I was told to list him as if he will pay with cash once on the ship, and then talk Purser once on board. Since he will not be making any direct charges I was told that his requirement may either be reduced or eliminated.
You will still be required to pay the daily tipping charge for your grandson. After all, the room steward will still be cleaning up after him and the waiters will still be serving him in the dining room. I can see the daily hold for him being reduced, but certainly not eliminated.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is our first cruise (to Alaska) and they want to charge us $60 per day on our credit card towards onboard daily purchases. Relatives who cruise a lot have never had this before on any cruise line. Is this a new initiate of HAL. Can't continue with registration until done or told to bring cash equivalent.


Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Everyone has explained this quite well.

[bcd2010]

Please clarify for me: when do you set up your onboard account if you don't do it when you check in online? At the terminal before boarding or once onboard?

[spcl4cs_gal]

Please clarify for me: when do you set up your onboard account if you don't do it when you check in online? At the terminal before boarding or once onboard?

If you don't do it with an online check in then when you check in at the terminal, the agent will ask you for a credit card number that you would like to use for your on board expenses.

[mrsltg]

If you don't do it with an online check in then when you check in at the terminal, the agent will ask you for a credit card number that you would like to use for your on board expenses.

Which you DO NOT have to provide. You can put whatever you want toward onboard charges. They cannot force you to put $60/pp/pd onto anything. You have paid for your cruise ticket and they cannot deny you boarding if you do not wish to set up an onboard account. HOWEVER, you won't be able to purchase anything on the ship. Instead you can provide a cash equivalent based on what you want to spend. I am doing OBC for my upcoming cruise. I will not be handing over cash or a cc and will instead draw from the OBC I have paid in advance.

[bcd2010]

If you don't do it with an online check in then when you check in at the terminal, the agent will ask you for a credit card number that you would like to use for your on board expenses.

Which you DO NOT have to provide. You can put whatever you want toward onboard charges. They cannot force you to put $60/pp/pd onto anything. You have paid for your cruise ticket and they cannot deny you boarding if you do not wish to set up an onboard account. HOWEVER, you won't be able to purchase anything on the ship. Instead you can provide a cash equivalent based on what you want to spend. I am doing OBC for my upcoming cruise. I will not be handing over cash or a cc and will instead draw from the OBC I have paid in advance.

Thank you both. I want to pay for onboard charges for my adult sons who will be travelling with me. I wanted to use cash (ie, put a little bundle of bills in their hands to hold and count until HAL "takes it away"!) but I'm not thrilled with carrying $2700+ with me (3 pax * 15 days * $11). The idea of gifting them an OBC sounds good, although I lose the fun of giving them a bundle of bills...

I'll pay the full amount if required but the truth of the matter is, we've never incurred that much in onboard charges even in the "olden" days when we couldn't book shore excursions until onboard (of course Shore Exs cost more now!). We will book our Shore Exs online; none of us drink alcohol, only occasional soda or coffee drinks (mostly water, tea and juice); and we buy limited souvenirs onboard. No Bingo, etc. So with the tip/hotel service charge (additional tips would be in cash) and limited onboard purchases, we won't spend half the allocated amount.

And so would have about $500 each to carry off the ship, which is a lot more than any of us are used to. Which raises the question, where do we go to get our refund? I think I read that we would get it from the purser on the last day -- that would be another line to stand in -- avoiding that makes the OBC sound even better.

I wonder if anyone knows about the $60/day average -- do most people spend a lot on beverages, souvenirs, bingo, etc? Or do you think that includes Shore Exs? Or something else I'm not aware of?

[Lunur]

Shore excursions, if booked from the ship, can eat up a lot of your onboard spending account. I usually book my tours independently, so I don't have that problem. I have seen many people with bar bills much larger than their "holds" before.

[jtl513]

One side note: the credit card you register with the Online CheckIn must expire at least one month after your cruise. The cc that I want to use expires at the end of the same month, so I have temporarily had to say "cash on board" until my new card arrives.

[dobiemom]

Make sure you read ger77's post correctly---the $60/day is a HOLD, not a CHARGE. Big difference.
The only amount actually charged to your card at the end of the cruise is the amount of expenses you authorized, including the $11/day service charge.

Once again, this is simply a "hold" on your credit card - not a charge. You will not be charged a single red cent until the end of your cruise.

Now, should you have a credit card with a very small limit then you need to remember that HAL has put a "hold" on a certain amount so if you wish to charge something to that credit card while ashore that charge may be denied (again depending on the credit card limit). Holland America Line is not ripping you off - they just want to make sure that at the end of your cruise you will have enough money to pay their bill.

There is a reason for this. If you board with a credit card with a limit of, say, $2000 and that's the card you register, then you charge $1999 for that piece of jewelry in a port, there is not enough credit left on the card to settle your on-board charges. So, the ship gets there first, and holds enough to cover the average person's shipboard expenditures. Knowing this ahead of time, and it's been this way since my first cruise, I use one card for the ship and carry another for port spending. It's also safer to carry a second, backup card in case of theft or loss.

HAL is just making sure that you can pay them what you owe. And if you're worried about tying up your credit, the "hold" doesn't start until you actually check in, not when you do you online check in.

I like the idea of using one credit card for the ship and another for port spending.

[want-to-cruise]

When you book excursions from the ship ahead of time are they charged to your credit card at that time or are they added to your final balance due date?

[jtl513]

When you book excursions from the ship ahead of time are they charged to your credit card at that time or are they added to your final balance due date?
I'm a little confused about what you mean by "from the ship ahead of time". If you book once you are on board it goes on your final bill. That's a large part of many people's final bill, and part of the reason that the credit card hold is $60 /p/d.

If you book on-line (or by phone), either before after final payment, your cc will be charged immediately.

[RevNeal]

If you don't do it with an online check in then when you check in at the terminal, the agent will ask you for a credit card number that you would like to use for your on board expenses.

Or, if you're going to settle with cash, you proceed to the Front Office at some point during the first day ... after 10 pm on the first night there's usually no line ... and make your cash deposit. I've done this several times, using Travelers Checks. It's nice, easy, and painless. Make a cash deposit, get cash back at the end of the cruise, NO "expenses shock" when you get home and get your credit card bill. :)

It's been a while since I've done that, though.

If you want to wait to give them a credit card to use, and still want to check-in online, just tell them you'll settle with cash, then when you check-in at the pier tell them you've changed your mind and hand them a credit card. That's what I usually do, anyway.

[Millie6]

This is our first cruise (to Alaska) and they want to charge us $60 per day on our credit card towards onboard daily purchases. Relatives who cruise a lot have never had this before on any cruise line. Is this a new initiate of HAL. Can't continue with registration until done or told to bring cash equivalent.
After reading replies to your query, I am surprised - we've never had this happen to us on any cruise line (6+) we've been on. All we've ever done is sign up for our onboard account and give them our credit card number - there's never been any kind of amount stipulated "on hold" or otherwise for onboard expenses, other than the $11 gratuity.:confused:

[grammax3]

We have been on 24 cruises and have never had a "hold" on our credit card. I am wondering if this is because of some cruisers running up a bill and then on the last day not having the "credit limit" or "cash" to cover. I know, several years ago, we were on a cruise where a couple at our table didn't have enough to pay their bill, so they made arrangements to pay it within 30 days of the cruise, but were told if they didn't get it paid, they would have theft of services brought against them. There are always a few who make it difficult for the honest person.

[Zeta3]

The hold is very common practice, those who think it hasn't happened on other cruises were more than likely simply not aware of it because it is usually not a big deal. Most gas stations even put a hold on your card when you pay at the pump.

[Mary Ellen]

Millie and grammax3 - The majority of cruise lines (maybe all) will put a hold on your credit card at the beginning of the cruise. They just don't tell you, but HAL is up front with the amount. Every time you pay at the pump when getting gas, a hold is put on your credit card ($75 was the amount I last heard and it stays for several days). Every time you check into a hotel - a hold is put on your credit card. Every time you rent a car - yep, another credit card hold. You just aren't informed. As in the above situations, on cruises the hold is released and you never see it on your monthly bill.

Just because you haven't been aware of an stipulated amount "on hold", doesn't mean there wasn't one. ;)

[cruisequeen10]

I only take enough cash with me to settle my account. I only have the tips, embarkation photo, dining photo and couple games of bingo and maybe one drink (estimated at less than $250). I am on a 13 day cruise and are not taking the required $780 in cash. I do not give them my credit card as previously I have had things charged on it that weren't mine and had a hard time with the cruise line to have it removed. So on this cruise I will hand them $250 and that is it.

[skankycat]

If you doubt the ordinary gas station type holds, you can see them on-line if you access your bill that way. Often they're marked 'pending.'

[tiggerzmom]

Realatives who cruise a lot on various cruise lines have never heard of holding $60 per day per person on any cruise line, but when trying to do online registration before our first cruise (to Alaska) HAL is staying you either let us do this or come up with the cash before boarding. Is this common or only if you book directly with the cruise line and not a travel agent?

[jtl513]

You have many responses to this question on the thread you started last night:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1025588

[CowPrincess]

It has nothing to do with how you book. We've done thru TA, and direct with HAL. Every time, we are expected to register a cc for the "hold" of $60/person/day.

I don't understand why people are getting into a knot about this. My car needed body work, and even though my rental car was covered by insurance, the car rental agency STILL put a $1000 hold on my cc. It is pretty common. The only time I can see this as a problem would be on lengthy cruises, where it would add up to HUGE money. And even then, I think I've read reports from other cruisers that at sometime during the longer cruises, HAL adjusts the hold to more accurately reflect your onboard spending.

Realatives who cruise a lot on various cruise lines have never heard of holding $60 per day per person on any cruise line,

Personally I think your relatives are just unaware that this is a common practice. Cruiselines want to ensure that they get paid for the onboard charges at the end of the cruise, and have in the past been stiffed by people who couldn't actually pay their onboard accounts.

[peaches from georgia]

Think about it. Why would any company, whether cruiseline, hotel, car rental, etc. just GIVE you drinks, shore excursions, jewelry, a car, a hotel room to sleep in, spa treatments, and food in their restaurants which you consume or use BEFORE you pay for them and then just 'hope' you can pay for these things later. Why would any business not assure they will be paid if they give you something to enjoy?

They all put a hold on your card, but rarely does any company say so. Why do you think they want your credit card# before you get on the ship, drive off in that rental car, or turn down the sheets on your hotel bed before you actually pay for these services?? To put a hold on your funds so the $$$ will have their name on it and cannot be taken by another company first. Your relatives just weren't told, that's all. Companies can 'estimate' what your charges will probably be, have the cc company hold that amount in your cc account for their use only, and at the end only charge you for the actual amount you used or purchased. Some posters are making it sound like they are being cheated in some way when actually they have been given something, used it, and have to have the funds to pay for it. Sounds fair to me.

[going2oahu]

A $500 hold for incidentals would be reasonable in my opinion so $60 per day hold is rather minimal.

[Texas Tillie]

Isn't it "interesting" that some people are giving HAL "grief" for being transparent and actually telling passengers in advance about the hold, whereas the "other" lines that aren't transparent (but DO put holds on credit cards!) are somehow better.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Go figure! Guess this is an example of the old adage "ignorance is bliss".:eek::eek::eek:

[peaches from georgia]

I only take enough cash with me to settle my account. I only have the tips, embarkation photo, dining photo and couple games of bingo and maybe one drink (estimated at less than $250). I am on a 13 day cruise and are not taking the required $780 in cash. I do not give them my credit card as previously I have had things charged on it that weren't mine and had a hard time with the cruise line to have it removed. So on this cruise I will hand them $250 and that is it.
I'm sure you know what you normally spend on a cruise, but the cruiseline has no way of knowing that for sure and when one is dealing with thousands of people, 'trust' is not the name of the game. Have you ever actually brought so much less than the 'required' cash deposit before and also refused to provide a credit card? What did they say?

[peaches from georgia]

Has the day finally come that I am losing my mind?? Wasn't there another thread on this same topic this afternoon and now it is gone? I know I posted on it, I think I was like the 4th poster, just went back to check on it and it is not there anymore. Am i imagining this? :eek:

[Mary Ellen]

Am i imagining this? :eek:No, the OP posted a new thread today asking the exact same thing they did here. I saw it after the first response to it, someone gave them the link to their earlier thread. I would imagine the hosts took care of the duplication.

[TkinNC]

I have been in banking for 15 years, just to let you know that most anywhere you use a card there is a "hold" placed on your account. As someone mentioned if you bank online, you can see it as a pending transaction. But most holds drop off after 5 - 10 days, the company just wants to make sure you have sufficient balance to cover your charges when they go to settle the transaction.

[peaches from georgia]

No, the OP posted a new thread today asking the exact same thing they did here. I saw it after the first response to it, someone gave them the link to their earlier thread. I would imagine the hosts took care of the duplication.
Thanks, Mary Ellen. Glad this is not the day I find out I am losing it. I knew I posted to a thread with the same question. I think mods used to leave the thread on and say 'closed' or something like that and not just remove it with no info about where it went.

[Host Walt]

The two threads were just merged.

Adding my 1-1/2 cents, the "hold" procedure has been well described but there are two more factors.

1. The hold will remain on the account as a reduction of your available credit until your credit card company removes it, not when the final charges are processed by HAL. Just so you are fully informed before you go, call your issuer's 800 number on the back of the card and ask them to tell you what their policies are. While you are at it, you may want to tell them you are about to travel and that you don't want them to stop a charge transaction because it is coming fro an unusual location.

2. Be sure to ask HAL when they will process your charge activity; at the end of the cruise or at various times during the cruise. That way you'll know where you stand if you want to use your credit card ashore during the cruise. If they process charges during the cruise, keep in mind that the hold will probably remain on your account, so the process may be tickling your credit limit.

[jtl513]

A $500 hold for incidentals would be reasonable in my opinion so $60 per day hold is rather minimal. But remember that's per person. We never rack up $1200 on a 10-day cruise, but we do always book our excursions in advance.

Thanks, Mary Ellen. Glad this is not the day I find out I am losing it. I knew I posted to a thread with the same question. I think mods used to leave the thread on and say 'closed' or something like that and not just remove it with no info about where it went.Today's 1:49p thread is still on the list, but marked as MOVED. If you had clicked on that MOVED thread, it would bring you here.

The first two posts on it (OP's and mine) appear here as #35 and #36. I don't know how many more were "brought over" to here, but, Peaches, yours is probably somewhere after #36. :)

Starting the two threads were OP's 1st and 2nd posts ever on CC, and so far she hasn't come back to acknowledge that she is even reading them/it!

[peaches from georgia]

But remember that's per person. We never rack up $1200 on a 10-day cruise, but we do always book our excursions in advance.

Today's 1:49p thread is still on the list, but marked as MOVED. If you had clicked on that MOVED thread, it would bring you here.

The first two posts on it (OP's and mine) appear here as #35 and #36. I don't know how many more were "brought over" to here, but, Peaches, yours is probably somewhere after #36. :)

Starting the two threads were OP's 1st and 2nd posts ever on CC, and so far she hasn't come back to acknowledge that she is even reading them/it!
John, when I first looked for the other thread it had been totally removed and not moved/merged. I checked the entire forum and also the remaining thread carefully and then posted asking about it. It was after my post that it appeared as 'moved' and then all the posts were on the other thread. I see all the posts now, but when they initially removed the one thread they had not yet merged them.

[jtl513]

John, when I first looked for the other thread it had been totally removed and not moved/merged. I checked the entire forum and also the remaining thread carefully and then posted asking about it. It was after my post that it appeared as 'moved' and then all the posts were on the other thread. I see all the posts now, but when they initially removed the one thread they had not yet merged them.It was out there in the "ethernet" temporarily! Or the Twilight Zone. :D:D

[FoxyTerrier]

I'm pretty sure I have read on similar threads that the "hold" is released day by day if you are not spending the average $60 a day.

Does anyone else recall this?

[peaches from georgia]

It was out there in the "ethernet" temporarily! Or the Twilight Zone. :D:D
LOL. For a moment I thought I was the one in the Twilight Zone. :D

[jtl513]

I'm pretty sure I have read on similar threads that the "hold" is released day by day if you are not spending the average $60 a day.

Does anyone else recall this?I know that's not correct because on a couple of cruises we still had a large "pending charge" a week or so after we got home that was equal to the hold, and greater than our final bill.

Besides, how would the ship know that just you hadn't spent much in the first couple of days that you weren't planning some very expensive excursions later on?

[FoxyTerrier]

I know that's not correct because on a couple of cruises we still had a large "pending charge" a week or so after we got home that was equal to the hold, and greater than our final bill.

Besides, how would the ship know that just you hadn't spent much in the first couple of days that you weren't planning some very expensive excursions later on?

I like I said I thought I had read that but have no personal knowledge of it.

I did find this article which explains the ins and outs of the credit card holds.

http://www.intltravelnews.com/2005/01/the-cruising-world-%C2%BB-a-credit-hold-is-not-a-credit-charge/

[SDHALFAN]

I like I said I thought I had read that but have no personal knowledge of it.

I did find this article which explains the ins and outs of the credit card holds.

http://www.intltravelnews.com/2005/01/the-cruising-world-%C2%BB-a-credit-hold-is-not-a-credit-charge/

That was a very informative article and explained everything succinctly. Thank you for the link.

Valerie:)

[Boytjie]

I will not be handing over cash or a cc and will instead draw from the OBC I have paid in advance.

How are you setting up the OBC if not by cash or credit card? What makes it different for you setting it up as OBC beforehand?

[Boytjie]

Isn't it "interesting" that some people are giving HAL "grief" for being transparent and actually telling passengers in advance about the hold, whereas the "other" lines that aren't transparent (but DO put holds on credit cards!) are somehow better.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Go figure! Guess this is an example of the old adage "ignorance is bliss".:eek::eek::eek:

I have sailed on HAL and Princess and both told me at the time of registering a credit card online that there will be a hold and how much it would be.

[mrsltg]

How are you setting up the OBC if not by cash or credit card? What makes it different for you setting it up as OBC beforehand?

Because I don't deal with credit cards. I use my debit/check card or cash instead. I will purchase enough OBC to sufficiently cover my intended spending. I will not be giving any number at the port and may put down a difference of about $200 depending. As stated, a hold on a credit card is the same as cash on a check card. The money is taken in anticipation and refunded at a later point. This is not "play money" as I refer to credit which can be manipulated during a billing cycle but actual money gone from my account. I just won't do that.

[Boytjie]

As stated, a hold on a credit card is the same as cash on a check card. The money is taken in anticipation and refunded at a later point. This is not "play money" as I refer to credit which can be manipulated during a billing cycle but actual money gone from my account. I just won't do that.

This is incorrect: a hold is against your credit limit, there is nothing charged to/no money taken from your account. At the end of your cruise your total onboard charges are then charged to your account at the hold is release. The hold is only instituted the day you board the ship, BTW, not beforehand.

[jtl513]

As stated, a hold on a credit card is the same as cash on a check card. The money is taken in anticipation and refunded at a later point.A hold on a cc is a temporary lowering of your credit limit, and nothing more.

[mrsltg]

This is incorrect: a hold is against your credit limit, there is nothing charged to/no money taken from your account. At the end of your cruise your total onboard charges are then charged to your account at the hold is release. The hold is only instituted the day you board the ship, BTW, not beforehand.

Read what I wrote again. I was speaking of a debit/check card. The amount is charged which is different from a credit card. I am speaking of debit/check cards only. I do not use credit.

[sapper1]

A hold on a cc is a temporary lowering of your credit limit, and nothing more.
That is a good way to explain it. Maybe it will help some people to grasp the concept.

[cruisequeen10]

I'm sure you know what you normally spend on a cruise, but the cruiseline has no way of knowing that for sure and when one is dealing with thousands of people, 'trust' is not the name of the game. Have you ever actually brought so much less than the 'required' cash deposit before and also refused to provide a credit card? What did they say?

I started cruising in 1980 on Princess and they never asked for cash or a cc when checking in. I have taken over 20 cruises and it only has been in the last few years that they require this. A few years on the Zuiderdam to Alaska they only asked for $25 at check in, then paid the balance on the last day.

[mmckm]

I can't figure out why anyone would take cash from the bank and give it to the cruise line instead of have hold on there card. The only money that gets put on your credit card is what you spend. Its costing you money to give them cash. everything goes on my credit card and I get a nice total at the end and pay off at the end of the cruise when I get my bill a month later. Money is better in my bank account then theres.

[jtl513]

I started cruising in 1980 on Princess and they never asked for cash or a cc when checking in. I have taken over 20 cruises and it only has been in the last few years that they require this. A few years on the Zuiderdam to Alaska they only asked for $25 at check in, then paid the balance on the last day.Your signature shows you on the Zuiderdam in 2006. Surely they asked for more than $25, with the Hotel Service Charge at $22 /day/cabin. Did you mean to say $250?

[shandryl]

Think about it. Why would any company, whether cruiseline, hotel, car rental, etc. just GIVE you drinks, shore excursions, jewelry, a car, a hotel room to sleep in, spa treatments, and food in their restaurants which you consume or use BEFORE you pay for them and then just 'hope' you can pay for these things later. Why would any business not assure they will be paid if they give you something to enjoy?

They all put a hold on your card, but rarely does any company say so. Why do you think they want your credit card# before you get on the ship, drive off in that rental car, or turn down the sheets on your hotel bed before you actually pay for these services?? To put a hold on your funds so the $$$ will have their name on it and cannot be taken by another company first. Your relatives just weren't told, that's all. Companies can 'estimate' what your charges will probably be, have the cc company hold that amount in your cc account for their use only, and at the end only charge you for the actual amount you used or purchased. Some posters are making it sound like they are being cheated in some way when actually they have been given something, used it, and have to have the funds to pay for it. Sounds fair to me.

I hear you and you are right! When I booked my 20 day cruise with HAL I knew that this was going to happen. It says so right on thier website. No shock there. :)

[rocsailor]

Having cruised HAL before I have to say that the charge is against your credit card not as a hold but pre-authorized as we were refunded our un-used portion at the end of cruise. After all charges were totaled. As this was a 64 day cruise the amount substanstle. Not all lines charge this as this why we are crusing Regent time.;)

[BruceMuzz]

The cruise lines are in a tight spot right now with so many deadbeat cruisers coming onboard.

On average, 10% of cruisers on every cruise are unable to pay their bills at the end of the cruise.
They have all sorts of stories about bank problems, late credited payments, etc. But in the end, we are forced to give them promissory notes to sign before they depart. They "promise" to pay us what they owe us "sometime in the future".

How successful so you think that program is?

I blame the cruise lines. They are too lax and trusting with the cruising public.
I think they should force everyone to come up with deposits - cash or credit - well before we let the cruiser come aboard.

In the end, all those unpaid bills will be paid - by the cruising public, in the form of higher fares.

[RevNeal]

On average, 10% of cruisers on every cruise are unable to pay their bills at the end of the cruise.
They have all sorts of stories about bank problems, late credited payments, etc. But in the end, we are forced to give them promissory notes to sign before they depart. They "promise" to pay us what they owe us "sometime in the future".

10%
Wow.
I would never have thought that the figure would be that high! That's nearly 200 people on a Vista, which to me seems inordinately high.

Do you happen to have any figures on the percentage of those who sign those promissory notes who eventually pay their bills? I would imagine that those who don't pay the notes don't ever get to cruise again on that line; that would be torture to someone who has "the addiction." And, I suppose the Line hits their credit rating for it, too. So, a percentage (albeit a small percentage?) certainly must pay their debts.

[lorekauf]

The cruise lines are in a tight spot right now with so many deadbeat cruisers coming onboard.

On average, 10% of cruisers on every cruise are unable to pay their bills at the end of the cruise.
They have all sorts of stories about bank problems, late credited payments, etc. But in the end, we are forced to give them promissory notes to sign before they depart. They "promise" to pay us what they owe us "sometime in the future".

How successful so you think that program is?

I blame the cruise lines. They are too lax and trusting with the cruising public.
I think they should force everyone to come up with deposits - cash or credit - well before we let the cruiser come aboard.

In the end, all those unpaid bills will be paid - by the cruising public, in the form of higher fares.
I agree...why should I or any other person have to pay for someone that can't cover their charges. If you are so strapped for cash maybe a cruise vacation is not in the cards for you. Either that or possibly downgrade your cabin to one that doesn't leave you so short of cash. I'd rather be sailing in a suite then an inside.....but I need to be able to pay my mortgage and monthly bills.

[Copper10-8]

I'm 100% in favor of throwing the book at all those deadbeats who don't pay their shipbooard bills and that includes their wages being garnished as well as taking their income tax refunds until those charges have been satisfied

[skankycat]

Surely all this is complicated by the international mix of cruisers and cruise lines?

While the hold is justifiable, perhaps it needs to be more clearly stated before the cruise is purchased for travellers concerned about their credit limits. Not everyone has two credit cards and/or higher limits at the present time.

[jtl513]

Having cruised HAL before I have to say that the charge is against your credit card not as a hold but pre-authorized as we were refunded our un-used portion at the end of cruise.It's odd that they singled you out for different treatment than the rest of us. What kind of credit card were you using? Something different than the usual Visa/MC/AE etc?

10%
Wow.
I would never have thought that the figure would be that high! That's nearly 200 people on a Vista, which to me seems inordinately high.
Probably more like 100 accounts, though, which doesn't sound as bad! ;)

[Jana White]

The hold policy has been around for years. I worked for a major hotel chain in the early 70's and this was common practice then. We would always put a hold on the guests rooms for the total of their anticipated stay. I think HAL does it right by telling everyone up front.

[pms4104]

The cruise lines are in a tight spot right now with so many deadbeat cruisers coming onboard.

On average, 10% of cruisers on every cruise are unable to pay their bills at the end of the cruise.
They have all sorts of stories about bank problems, late credited payments, etc. But in the end, we are forced to give them promissory notes to sign before they depart. They "promise" to pay us what they owe us "sometime in the future".

How successful so you think that program is?

I blame the cruise lines. They are too lax and trusting with the cruising public.
I think they should force everyone to come up with deposits - cash or credit - well before we let the cruiser come aboard.

In the end, all those unpaid bills will be paid - by the cruising public, in the form of higher fares.
Makes perfect sense to me ... a HAL policy change in which everyone is made aware at time of booking that 7 days before embarkation HAL will put a $60/person/day hold on passengers' credit cards, or HAL must be in receipt of a bank check for that same amount at least 7 days before sailing. No monies ... no sailing ... denied boarding at the pier.

With a 10 percent deadbeat rate, HAL should ensure they will get their monies before passengers board and before the ship sails. Never made sense to me that this was handled embarkation day or after the ship has sailed. At that point, promisory notes mean little or nothing to the moneyless. Bank problems? Low credit limit? Whatever ... get it squared away before showing up at the pier.

[Boytjie]

I can't figure out why anyone would take cash from the bank and give it to the cruise line instead of have hold on there card.

I agree. After hassles about an onboard credit due to us as a gift from someone else, I don't want to have to deal with the the front desk trying to contact Seattle because they have no record of it. (We never got that resolved on teh cruise, our friend had to dispute the charge through her credit card afterwards) No, thank you, here's my credit card - put a hold on it.

[RevNeal]

I think they should force everyone to come up with deposits - cash or credit - well before we let the cruiser come aboard.

Here's a suggestion. I don't know if it would work, but I'll toss it out anyway. Why not add that $60 pp/pd figure to the passenger's cruise fare? For instance, if a 10-day cruise costs someone a base-price of $1100 pp, and then the Line adds on taxes and port fees, why not also add in a line item called "Estimated Onboard Bill Expenses"? If a passenger appears to be approaching the total estimated amount before the end of the cruise, the Front Office can do what they do with cash-depositors and have them come to the Front Office to arrange additional payment. This will allow the Line to market themselves as "All Onboard Expenses Included!" with a little fine print notice "Up to $60 pp/pd" or some such figure.

Yes, that would boost the cruise price by $600 pp for a 10-day cruise, but it would be honest in that this is what the average passenger spends anyway and it would ensure that the Line gets its money. :)

I know ... it has a snowball's chance in hell of happening. The Line doesn't want that cruise-fare figure to go up. It harms their marketing strategy.

[magandab]

Here's a suggestion. I don't know if it would work, but I'll toss it out anyway. Why not add that $60 pp/pd figure to the passenger's cruise fare? For instance, if a 10-day cruise costs someone a base-price of $1100 pp, and then the Line adds on taxes and port fees, why not also add in a line item called "Estimated Onboard Bill Expenses"? If a passenger appears to be approaching the total estimated amount before the end of the cruise, the Front Office can do what they do with cash-depositors and have them come to the Front Office to arrange additional payment. This will allow the Line to market themselves as "All Onboard Expenses Included!" with a little fine print notice "Up to $60 pp/pd" or some such figure.

Yes, that would boost the cruise price by $600 pp for a 10-day cruise, but it would be honest in that this is what the average passenger spends anyway and it would ensure that the Line gets its money. :)

I know ... it has a snowball's chance in hell of happening. The Line doesn't want that cruise-fare figure to go up. It harms their marketing strategy.

I'm not sure I care for that one. I spend nowhere near $60 pp/pd so I I'm afraid I'd really object to my cruise fare going up just in case I might incur that much.

[RevNeal]

I can't figure out why anyone would take cash from the bank and give it to the cruise line instead of have hold on there card. The only money that gets put on your credit card is what you spend. Its costing you money to give them cash. everything goes on my credit card and I get a nice total at the end and pay off at the end of the cruise when I get my bill a month later. Money is better in my bank account then theres.

Not everybody shares your economic liquidity or credit worthiness. Some people simply don't have the kind of credit limits on their credit cards to be able to tolerate holds in access of several hundred dollars. There was once a time when that was true for me: I couldn't afford anything more than a $1000 hold on any of my cards because I didn't have that much in credit to my name. That made booking longer cruises difficult for me unless alternative methods for securing onboard expenses were available to me. Thankfully, HAL also accepted cash deposits. Even though I didn't have the credit, I did have the cash. Problem solved.

As for the money being better in your bank account than in HAL's, I agree ... in your case. And, frankly, in mine -- today -- too. However, a decade+ back such wasn't the case for me. I didn't have an interest-bearing checking account, so it didn't really matter where the money was while I was aboard ship; it wasn't doing me any good sitting in my checking account (it wasn't earning me any interest), so no harm was done by my paying my estimated onboard expenses in advance.

[RevNeal]

I'm not sure I care for that one. I spend nowhere near $60 pp/pd so I I'm afraid I'd really object to my cruise fare going up just in case I might incur that much.

Yep ... that's the rub and the problem with the idea of making it all-inclusive. You might not spend that much, and then you'd have to get it back from the Line at the end of the cruise ... and you can bet that they won't be paying interest!!!!!!

[cruisequeen10]

Your signature shows you on the Zuiderdam in 2006. Surely they asked for more than $25, with the Hotel Service Charge at $22 /day/cabin. Did you mean to say $250?

No, I only put down $25 for my portion. That is all they asked for. The tips at that time were not that high. Last year on the Celebrity Mercury, I did the same. No problem.

[jtl513]

No, I only put down $25 for my portion. That is all they asked for. The tips at that time were not that high. Last year on the Celebrity Mercury, I did the same. No problem.The auto-tip (as the HSC was called then) was $10/p/d, so there wasn't much difference. I wonder why they even bothered asking for such a small deposit, as it didn't cover much more than 2 days of auto-tip!

[sapper1]

Surely all this is complicated by the international mix of cruisers and cruise lines?

While the hold is justifiable, perhaps it needs to be more clearly stated before the cruise is purchased for travellers concerned about their credit limits. Not everyone has two credit cards and/or higher limits at the present time.
If a person does not have enough available credit to cover the hold necessary for say--a 20 day cruise, then perhaps they should consider a 10 day cruise. If they have trouble covering the credit necessary for their cruise then God forbid they should have an emergency while travelling and have to find the credit on their cards to book an unexpected flight home. While trip insurance may pay in the end, one usually has to pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement.

My comments would apply to all cruisers---nationality has nothing to do with available credit.

[Copper10-8]

If a person does not have enough available credit to cover the hold necessary for say--a 20 day cruise, then perhaps they should consider a 10 day cruise. If they have trouble covering the credit necessary for their cruise then God forbid they should have an emergency while travelling and have to find the credit on their cards to book an unexpected flight home. While trip insurance may pay in the end, one usually has to pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement.

My comments would apply to all cruisers---nationality has nothing to do with available credit.

Kinda like trying to finance a house when you can't afford it?:eek: Fanny Mae/Mac anyone?

[sapper1]

Kinda like trying to finance a house when you can't afford it?:eek: Fanny Mae/Mac anyone?
That gave me a nice chuckle, Copper.

[mrsltg]

If a person does not have enough available credit to cover the hold necessary for say--a 20 day cruise, then perhaps they should consider a 10 day cruise. If they have trouble covering the credit necessary for their cruise then God forbid they should have an emergency while travelling and have to find the credit on their cards to book an unexpected flight home. While trip insurance may pay in the end, one usually has to pay upfront and then apply for reimbursement.

My comments would apply to all cruisers---nationality has nothing to do with available credit.

Believe it or not, some people actually live without credit. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Some people do just fine paying for everything in cash and saving a substantial amount and having access to the funds. Amazing, I know!!! Different people choose this way of life for different reasons. And yes, they are entitled to vacation even if they happen to pay with cash.

As far as demanding a certain amount of a hold before being allowed to board a ship - NO WAY! There is a very easy way to be sure people don't exceed their spending limit - don't give them charging privileges. Don't have anything in the mini-bar in the first place and include the hotel service charge in the price of the cruise. You can charge up to the amount you provide. This doesn't seem like rocket science?!?

Lastly, I'd love to see some sort of back-up to the 10% deadbeat figure. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting the validity of the poster. I just find 200 people on a ship at any given time being incapable of paying their bill high. I also thing the cruise lines would figure out a way to avoid such problems. $60/pp/pd does not seem to do it.

[jjhere2]

We just realized that the $60 pp/pd charge had to be paid in advance. For our family of five, with neither of us being employed right now, that really stings. The cruise was given to us as a gift. Having never been on a cruise before we don't have any clue what to expect in OB charges. We will be using our debit card (i.e. the money will be out of our account on day 1 - reimbursement at the end won't help much). Unfortuate timing for us to be taking a cruise I guess...

So what is definitely going to be taken out? $11 pd/pp in tips seems to be a number floating around.

[mrsltg]

We just realized that the $60 pp/pd charge had to be paid in advance. For our family of five, with neither of us being employed right now, that really stings. The cruise was given to us as a gift. Having never been on a cruise before we don't have any clue what to expect in OB charges. We will be using our debit card (i.e. the money will be out of our account on day 1 - reimbursement at the end won't help much). Unfortuate timing for us to be taking a cruise I guess...

So what is definitely going to be taken out? $11 pd/pp in tips seems to be a number floating around.

Hi JJ - sorry for your tight situation. Yes, a debit card will be charged immediately. There is not a hold for debit. $55/per day will be your definite charge. Multiply that by the number of days on the cruise. From there figure how many extras you are planning. Are you going to book shore excursions beforehand? I would recommend this as you will have already paid for them before boarding the ship therefore there will be no charge added to your account. Are you planning dinner at the Pinnacle Grill? This is $20/pp so may add $100 to your account. Any spa treatments? Drinks which are not included in the price of the cruise? All of these things add up. In your case I would prepurchase On Board Credit and maybe a drink, wine, or soda card. The benefit of doing this is knowing you have paid for everything beforehand.

I understand your situation as I do not use credit cards. I pay in cash and as I go. I have purchased OBC's for my cruise already. I have also purchase drink cards and dinner at the Pinnacle. By using this site I have found the cost of other items I am interested in and know what to budget for them. I will not be using my debit card for a 'hold' and will instead make up any difference between what I intend to spend and my OBC in cash upon boarding. Take your time and think through what you want to spend and don't feel bad for not incurring debt regardless of intent to pay it off at the end of the cruise. What works for some does not work for others. Enjoy your cruise - it sounds like you could use a break!

[pms4104]

Believe it or not, some people actually live without credit. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Some people do just fine paying for everything in cash and saving a substantial amount and having access to the funds. Amazing, I know!!! Different people choose this way of life for different reasons. And yes, they are entitled to vacation even if they happen to pay with cash.

As far as demanding a certain amount of a hold before being allowed to board a ship - NO WAY! There is a very easy way to be sure people don't exceed their spending limit - don't give them charging privileges. Don't have anything in the mini-bar in the first place and include the hotel service charge in the price of the cruise. You can charge up to the amount you provide. This doesn't seem like rocket science?!?

Lastly, I'd love to see some sort of back-up to the 10% deadbeat figure. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting the validity of the poster. I just find 200 people on a ship at any given time being incapable of paying their bill high. I also thing the cruise lines would figure out a way to avoid such problems. $60/pp/pd does not seem to do it.
The member who posted the 10% deadbeat rate is a cruiseline employee, HAL I believe, and knows of what he speaks. In this economy, I'm surprised the deadbeat rate isn't higher.

[CowPrincess]

Believe it or not, some people actually live without credit. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Some people do just fine paying for everything in cash and saving a substantial amount and having access to the funds. Amazing, I know!!! Different people choose this way of life for different reasons. And yes, they are entitled to vacation even if they happen to pay with cash.

>snip<

We don't need credit cards, but recognize that they are a necessity for us in order to avoid problems with car rentals, hotel rooms, telephone orders, and such. Seriously, I don't know how a person can manage without credit cards.

[mrsltg]

We don't need credit cards, but recognize that they are a necessity for us in order to avoid problems with car rentals, hotel rooms, telephone orders, and such. Seriously, I don't know how a person can manage without credit cards.

Simply put, by paying cash. It is a lifestyle difference.

[pms4104]

We don't need credit cards, but recognize that they are a necessity for us in order to avoid problems with car rentals, hotel rooms, telephone orders, and such. Seriously, I don't know how a person can manage without credit cards.
Indeed, credit cards are a necessary convenience and, when used responsibly, can make life lots easier in many ways. Agree completely with your assessment.

We have three bank cards, all of them at least 25 years old, and we have used them extensively for anything from food and gas to expensive home repairs and vacations. In all the years we've had these accounts, we never have paid any interest charges at all ever ever. We charge only what we can pay comfortably when the bills arrive. And, we get back Rewards checks annually, based on our purchases, to the tune of approx $350 or so.

Just because one has credit cards doesn't mean they're drowning in debt or using them in a financially irresponsible manner.

[magandab]

Believe it or not, some people actually live without credit. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! Some people do just fine paying for everything in cash and saving a substantial amount and having access to the funds. Amazing, I know!!! Different people choose this way of life for different reasons. And yes, they are entitled to vacation even if they happen to pay with cash.

Not sure what the 'substantial" saving is by not using credit cards. I don't pay interest on mine. Not ever. It's a lifestyle thing I guess.

However, when my mom and I went on our first cruise together, she pulled out her checkbook to make the deposit. Our TA told her that a check would be fine BUT that if she paid by cc and for any reason the cruise did not happen, she had recourse through her cc company. She pointed out that those who paid for vacations by check, and those vacations were cancelled becaused of 9/11 were oftentimes SOL. Those who paid by cc merely provided the company with documentation that they "never received what they paid for" and were reimbursed. There is some real safety in using a credit card.

[mrsltg]

Just because one has credit cards doesn't mean they're drowning in debt or using them in a financially irresponsible manner.

Of course it doesn't! As much as a person who chooses cash (check card included) lifestyle is not unsophisticated or uneducated. Just a different path. But yes, it is very possible to live this way and do just fine.

[kyriecat]

We just realized that the $60 pp/pd charge had to be paid in advance. For our family of five, with neither of us being employed right now, that really stings. The cruise was given to us as a gift. Having never been on a cruise before we don't have any clue what to expect in OB charges. We will be using our debit card (i.e. the money will be out of our account on day 1 - reimbursement at the end won't help much). Unfortuate timing for us to be taking a cruise I guess...

So what is definitely going to be taken out? $11 pd/pp in tips seems to be a number floating around. If you give them your debit card, they will put a hold on the money in your checking account of 5 people X $60/day X number of days for your cruise. HAL will lock up that money so you cannot access it. The bad part is, it sometimes takes a few days for them (not sure if "them" is HAL or the debit card) to unlock it. While that money is on hold, HAL will issue a charge for your actual expenses - 5 people X $11/day X number of days plus whatever you purchase onboard.

If you have limited funds in your checking account, you should buy some onboard credits in advance like mrsltg recommends. Another option is to bring either enough cash or get some travelers cheques through your bank to cover your expected expenses onboard. Carefully monitor the expenses (not sure how old your kids are, but it's really easy to swipe those expense cards to buy things) and make sure that you and the kids stay within budget onboard.

[kyriecat]

Simply put, by paying cash. It is a lifestyle difference.Out of curiosity, how do you rent a car? I know a friend who doesn't have a credit card. He needed to rent a car for a few days and they wanted him to put down $1000 in cash as a deposit. He decided soon afterward to get a credit card with a low limit for those situations.

[mrsltg]

Out of curiosity, how do you rent a car? I know a friend who doesn't have a credit card. He needed to rent a car for a few days and they wanted him to put down $1000 in cash as a deposit. He decided soon afterward to get a credit card with a low limit for those situations.

Debit card. You have to have xx amount in the account based on the length or cost of rental. Last time I rented a car (last September) it was for eight days. I had to have an additional $500 over and above the cost of the rental and the obvious proof of insurance.

[kyriecat]

I guess I just don't trust people enough to use a debit card. I've known two people who have had their debit card numbers stolen (never did find out how) and had their bank accounts cleaned out. In both cases it took over 3 months for them to get their money back, and they never did get all of it. I'm afraid something like that could happen to me. I can't imagine what I'd do if someone wiped my checking account. At least I know with my credit cards that I'm not liable for the expenses if someone gets the number plus I watch my accounts carefully so I can call if there is anything suspicious.

I had my driver's license stolen several years ago and someone used it to set up a checking account in my name. They put $50 in the account then wrote over $5000 worth of checks in a couple of days. I had no idea someone could do that until I started getting phone calls from collection agencies. It took me a couple of weeks to figure out what happened then over 2 years to get my credit straightened out. I never want to go through that again.

[mrsltg]

All interesting points, Kyrie. To address the first point, I follow the proverb of "never put all of your eggs in one basket." I have multiple accounts used for different purposes. Living expenses are completely separate from "fun money." Different accounts are set up for different purposes and no, I don't mix them up. I also keep only certain amounts available in each account while the rest is in different savings accounts.

Unfortunately fraudulent accounts can be opened by anyone at any time. How you pay for things makes little difference. I am sorry this happened to you.

[SDHALFAN]

I use credit cards all the time, and for different reasons. First of all, having a credit card establishes credit worthiness (for want of a better word). Never charge more than you can afford to pay off when the bill comes in, and always pay the full amount owed when due. God forbid that any of us would need emergency funds but if we did, and we have built up our credit worthiness, we can always borrow to cover contingencies - if you have not built up your credit worthiness then you probably will have a difficult time trying to borrow necessary funds.

Secondly, I worked in the Banking industry for many years and realised that there is a reason that the banks have BIG buildings and I live in a small house - they have been using my money (and yours;)). I have a comfortable amount of money invested in banks in the way of C/D's, savings and checking accounts. Because I put my trust in them, the banks are paying me the princely sum (and yes, I am joking) of around 1.5% at today's rates. Should I wish to borrow money from the bank (and when you think about it it really is my money) they are going to charge me way more than 1.5% for the loan. So I use the bank's money for six weeks or so by charging on my credit card. It is important to know when your "cut-off" date is so you can calculate the six weeks or so. I do have the cash and could use it but why would I when the bank will cover it for me for 4-6 weeks? If I pay off the bill when it comes due, I don't pay one cent in interest, and "I laugh all the way to the bank"!

Valerie:D

[lorekauf]

So I use the bank's money for six weeks or so by charging on my credit card. It is important to know when your "cut-off" date is so you can calculate the six weeks or so. I do have the cash and could use it but why would I when the bank will cover it for me for 4-6 weeks? If I pay off the bill when it comes due, I don't pay one cent in interest, and "I laugh all the way to the bank"!

Valerie:D
I do the very same thing. Why should I use my own money when I can use theirs? I've never carried a balance on any credit card in my life. Why would you want to part with your money any sooner then you have to?

[lorekauf]

Lastly, I'd love to see some sort of back-up to the 10% deadbeat figure. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting the validity of the poster. I just find 200 people on a ship at any given time being incapable of paying their bill high. I also thing the cruise lines would figure out a way to avoid such problems. $60/pp/pd does not seem to do it.
So, what sort of back up are you looking for? Sorry but it sounds to me like you are doubting the validity of the poster. If you weren't why would you be asking this question:confused:. I have zero problem with them putting a hold on my credit card. I simply don't understand why people get so uptight about it. If it's a problem then possibly a cruise isn't the best vacation choice.

[RevNeal]

Of course it doesn't! As much as a person who chooses cash (check card included) lifestyle is not unsophisticated or uneducated.

Or poor.
Or a deadbeat.
Or unworthy of taking a 10+ day cruise.

When I had insufficient credit I paid cash for my cruises and for my onboard expenses ... and I paid IN ADVANCE. I was not a deadbeat, and I deeply resent any correlation that some might want to draw between those with insufficient credit and those who obtained Fanny Mae Loans and lacked the capacity to pay.

Over the past 20 years, as the churches I have served have grown in size and finances, my salary has gone up and my situation has improved. These days, my income and my credit limits are more than sufficient to cover my onboard bills; having access to credit makes my life easier, and I am thankful for that. However, I still pay those bills off as if they were for-cash. I often pay cash for things, and I try to keep my credit cards as cleared as possible of debt.

[SDHALFAN]

I do the very same thing. Why should I use my own money when I can use theirs? I've never carried a balance on any credit card in my life. Why would you want to part with your money any sooner then you have to?

AMEN Sister!

Valerie:D

[Copper10-8]

Holy Moly! :eek:

[TCF]

We've always looked at the "on board holds" as more of a convenience than anything. Our "hold" on a five week cruise we did last year was...as I recall...$4600.I don't know of any business that would risk that kind of money up front.

Like Revneal...we treat our credit card as if it were cash so the "hold" was paid within 24 hours of returning home.

Like any company HAL has to protect its interest as a business....the "hold" does that.

[English_in_Spain]

Those who say they travel only with cash, do you mean actual 'cash' (ie bank notes) or do you use things like travellers cheques or debit cards?

If you use cash or travellers cheques, how do you know how much to take - including any possible emergency expenses.

I would never consider international travel without having a credit card with quite a large limit or a debit card from an account with considerable funds.

Having once had to use the ship's doctor then had emergency disembarkation in a foreign port to go to a hospital, I have experienced what it is like to be faced with expenses you never considered. Believe me it is a VERY expensive exercise.

Travel insurance covers those expenses but you have to pay them first and get the refund many months later.

We were lucky, we did not have to pay air ambulances and flights home as the situation was resolved and we were able to re-board at the next port but I was really glad we both had a credit card. The situation was stressful enough without having to worry how you would pay for it.

[Ando]

So does that mean if you a family of four they charge $60 US per day per person, which if my calculations are correct that is US $3360 or AUS $4800 for a 14 day cruise. That is a huge amount of money to put against your credit card limit.

The other option of giving that to them in cash is also a pain, given that we don't want to convert that much money into USD as we are cruising to New Zealand.

We had the same situation on Volendam to NZ last year, except the US exchange rate then was lower so it was around AUD$5500.

We purchased onboard credit via the HAL website (around US$1000-1500 - cant remember exactly:confused: ) and selected pay cash when registering online and advised at checkin we would pay cash. They of course said you have to go to the pursers desk and pay the USD$3360, but you don't and we didn't. As our account was already over $1000 in credit we charged things to our account without any problem, and 2 days before the end of the cruise I went to the pursers desk and gave them my credit card to settle the balance in the usual way.

Many ask why bother? I have over $100k available limit on my credit cards (the less you use it the more they give ;) ) however when travelling only use a card with a $2k limit and use internet banking to pay it off each time I spend $2k. I do this due to incurring over $8k of fradulent charges whilst in New York. The bank of course eventually reversed the charges but it wasted my time sorting out the mess. I can live without that happening again :mad:

Hope this helps you Australian Family

P.S. And I agree with other posters. Other cruise lines, hotels & car rental companies do this, they are just not as upfront about it as HAL are.

[RevNeal]

Those who say they travel only with cash, do you mean actual 'cash' (ie bank notes) or do you use things like travellers cheques or debit cards?

If you use cash or travellers cheques, how do you know how much to take - including any possible emergency expenses.

I would never consider international travel without having a credit card with quite a large limit or a debit card from an account with considerable funds.

Having once had to use the ship's doctor then had emergency disembarkation in a foreign port to go to a hospital, I have experienced what it is like to be faced with expenses you never considered. Believe me it is a VERY expensive exercise.

Travel insurance covers those expenses but you have to pay them first and get the refund many months later.

We were lucky, we did not have to pay air ambulances and flights home as the situation was resolved and we were able to re-board at the next port but I was really glad we both had a credit card. The situation was stressful enough without having to worry how you would pay for it.


Back when I had limited credit I only rarely traveled to Europe. My cruises, back then, were Caribbean, Hawaiian, and Mexican in nature, with the exception of a single crossing. So, let's use a 10 or 15 day cruise as an example of how what kind of monetary instruments I would carry:

1. $1500 in Travelers Cheques
2. $500 in cash
3. My debit card, which back then had a daily charging maximum of $1000 and I always maintain far more than that in my bank account.
4. My one and only credit card, which at that time had a $800 limit and was usually kept cleared (especially before a cruise).

The onboard hold back then was $40 pp/pd, and I paid that in cash with the travelers cheques ($400 for 10 days, $600 for 15 days) soon after I boarded. That was before one could purchase shore excursions online, and so I would always have to deposit an additional few hundred not too longer after embarkation to cover those. However, my average onboard expense on a 10-day cruise never amounted to more than $800 - $1000 (depending upon the cruise and the kinds of shore excursions I did).

I paid my tips out of the remaining money obtained by cashing the travelers cheques at the front desk, and I retained the $500 cash for travel expenses (taxies, etc), incidental purchases ashore, trinkets, transit food, etc. The debit card and the credit card were not touched unless absolutely necessary.

In case of an emergency, I had the financial capacity to purchase (between my credit card, debit card, electronic bank draft, and cash on-hand) a commercial airplane ticket home from anywhere I would be, so I wasn't too concerned. I was still young and in good physical shape and was willing to gamble on that matter. It never bit me and I never had to end a cruise early and fly home from an unexpected airport.

Today, I take more significant precautions, buy insurance for both health and emergency evacuation, and travel with far more significant credit capacity. I do still carry travelers cheques, though not for as much money as I used to, and I do still carry cash (and I'm not going to say how much).

[suse]

You guys have given this matter a great deal of thought. I never think about it. I work for a living and spend my money. Usually via credit card. It's so easy for me.:)

[suse]

Oh, just in case you think I'm a ditz for never giving this much thought, it's mostly because I've never been much for cash. Never have any. If I have it, it's truly gone quickly. Kind of like that hug that Pres. Bush never got from Bono. Gone, gone, gone. Never happened.

[RevNeal]

Oh, just in case you think I'm a ditz for never giving this much thought, it's mostly because I've never been much for cash. Never have any. If I have it, it's truly gone quickly. Kind of like that hug that Pres. Bush never got from Bono. Gone, gone, gone. Never happened.

When I was an undergraduate student I got myself into serious debt-trouble, and so I vowed to always pay attention to things like money, cash, and expenses, and to always plan ahead and make provision for what I will need. Attention to such details helped me to dig my way out of the hole I had put myself in, and so today I am solvent, debt-free (except for a car payment), and have rebuilt my credit rating. Time, attention to expenses, and setting a strict budget was what did it. And, yes, I did it and still managed to cruise at least once a year since 1994.

[RevNeal]

Holy Moly! :eek:

I prefer Cannoli over Moly ... less filling and it tastes great. ;)

[Copper10-8]

I prefer Cannoli over Moly ... less filling and it tastes great. ;)

A classic line; Clemenza to Rocco: "Leave the gun, take the Cannoli"

[jjhere2]

If you give them your debit card, they will put a hold on the money in your checking account of 5 people X $60/day X number of days for your cruise. HAL will lock up that money so you cannot access it. The bad part is, it sometimes takes a few days for them (not sure if "them" is HAL or the debit card) to unlock it. While that money is on hold, HAL will issue a charge for your actual expenses - 5 people X $11/day X number of days plus whatever you purchase onboard.

If you have limited funds in your checking account, you should buy some onboard credits in advance like mrsltg recommends. Another option is to bring either enough cash or get some travelers cheques through your bank to cover your expected expenses onboard. Carefully monitor the expenses (not sure how old your kids are, but it's really easy to swipe those expense cards to buy things) and make sure that you and the kids stay within budget onboard.

I would not have thought of that. Thanks to you and Erin for the heads up.

[mrsltg]

So, what sort of back up are you looking for? Sorry but it sounds to me like you are doubting the validity of the poster. If you weren't why would you be asking this question:confused:. I have zero problem with them putting a hold on my credit card. I simply don't understand why people get so uptight about it. If it's a problem then possibly a cruise isn't the best vacation choice.

Truly sorry if I sound as though I am doubting the poster. I am not, just the number. If there is no documentation the number quoted could just as easily be 65%. I understand the information may be proprietary in which case there is nothing beyond hearsay to rely on however, if the info is proprietary it shouldn't be quoted on a public bulletin board. I am asking the question because it's interesting. If, truly, one in ten people on a cruise are running out on their bills you'd think the cruise lines would do something else as the hold doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

[Debbie&Chaz]

Read what I wrote again. I was speaking of a debit/check card. The amount is charged which is different from a credit card. I am speaking of debit/check cards only. I do not use credit.

We usually use the debit card for everything from Micky Ds to Wally World and the gas station too, so we're not using credit. But that's also the reason we have the credit cards for vacations - just because of 1)the "hold" situation as described on this thread, and 2)for protection on purchases as has been discussed on the "agency" thread. We simply pay off the credit card on line as soon as we get home and all charges are in so we don't have any credit charges.

Our society has definately changed from the day when a person got $50 cash each week for thier wallet for "gas and groceries," and then wrote checks for the "big" purchases.

[socal4me]

so, if one put the amount equivalent to $60/day into the OBC online, do you still have to come up w/the cash when checking in?

[boards]

You don't have to come up with any cash at check in time. All you have to do is have a credit line of equivalent to $60 per person per day. Then when the cruise is over Hal will bill you the amount that you have charged to your account, whether it amounts $60 per day per person or the actual amount you spent. All they are trying to do is be sure they are going to get the amount you spent. You don't have a credit line for the right amount, you won't be allowed to purchased anything. It's about that simple.

[pms4104]

so, if one put the amount equivalent to $60/day into the OBC online, do you still have to come up w/the cash when checking in?
You might call HAL and pose that question.

What I do know ... we have $400 OBC for our upcoming 14-night sailing and when I did online checkin and registered our credit card, HAL's site showed a hold of $1680 ($60/person x 2 people x 14 nights). It did not subtract our $400 OBC from the expected credit card hold for a net hold of $1280.

[cruisequeen10]

Just off the Veendam October 10th and I paid the bill in cash. When I boarded, I gave them $100 and paid the balance the day before last.

[alpal1993]

This is our first cruise (to Alaska) and they want to charge us $60 per day on our credit card towards onboard daily purchases. Relatives who cruise a lot have never had this before on any cruise line. Is this a new initiate of HAL. Can't continue with registration until done or told to bring cash equivalent.

I have 17 cruises under my belt and I have never heard of it either.I never asked either so that could have been done.
Which cruise date are you sailing ?DH and I will be on June 14.Their are several roll calls going and a thread for general info and questions as this is the first time HAL is doing this itinerary.

[dulcetto]

We never pay interest on our credit cards, and people like us who also do the same thing are called freeloaders by the banks they would much rather we didn't pay the full amount each time,

No way would we ever not pay the full amount, like previous ccr's said its nice to use their money for a month or so:D:D

[boards]

Your missing the whole point there is no charge, it is simply making sure you have a credit line to pay your bill if your run up one. If you don't charge anything you don't pay anything. Surely if you a charge card you must have enough of credit line to handle up to that amount.

[MrsCruiseBabe]

This is our first cruise (to Alaska) and they want to charge us $60 per day on our credit card towards onboard daily purchases. Relatives who cruise a lot have never had this before on any cruise line. Is this a new initiate of HAL. Can't continue with registration until done or told to bring cash equivalent.

Cruised NCL and RCI they don't have a hold

[MrsCruiseBabe]

Your missing the whole point there is no charge, it is simply making sure you have a credit line to pay your bill if your run up one. If you don't charge anything you don't pay anything. Surely if you a charge card you must have enough of credit line to handle up to that amount.

Lets say you rent a car from the airport $500 hold for five -seven day you rent a car at a port $ 500 five - seven day hold you rent in the next port $500 another five - seven day hold your cruise is a week long four people $ 1680 hold you would need $ 3180 on hold............what does someone do on a world cruise of 67 days for 4 people $ 16080 it just seems like alot of money and if I got the cruise for a deal why ruin the savings:eek:

[jtl513]

... what does someone do on a world cruise of 67 days for 4 people $ 16080 it just seems like alot of money and if I got the cruise for a deal why ruin the savings:eek:The per day hold isn't that high for long voyages. They know from experience that there is far less on-board spending on them.

[CowPrincess]

I got the cruise for a deal why ruin the savings

How does having a hold "ruin the savings"?

[Cruise Junky]

What other cruise lines do this? I was trying to research this lately and only HAL actually has this on their website. Just got off Princess and I know they run holds every couple of days based on what you're spending. I can't find another line that takes a specific amount up front.

[jtl513]

I can't find another line that takes a specific amount up front.HAL does NOT "take a specific amount up front." They simply block you from using a part of your credit limit for other purchases. Think of it just as a temporary lowering of your credit limit.

[Cruise Junky]

HAL does NOT "take a specific amount up front." They simply block you from using a part of your credit limit for other purchases. Think of it just as a temporary lowering of your credit limit.

That's exactly what I meant. For some people it's taking it up front because it's leaving them with no credit. I know how HAL operates, just wondering if anyone knows of another line that does.

[lorekauf]

I'm always amazed at how people get upset about this hold. If "credit" was that tight for me.....I wouldn't be going on a cruise....or maybe take a cheaper cabin so I wouldn't be so strapped for cash.

[Boytjie]

That's exactly what I meant. For some people it's taking it up front because it's leaving them with no credit. I know how HAL operates, just wondering if anyone knows of another line that does.

IIRC Princess does it the same way as HAL. It's not an issue for me so I don't even recall if Cunard did the same for our Labor Day weekend sailing. :)

[Cruise Junky]

IIRC Princess does it the same way as HAL. It's not an issue for me so I don't even recall if Cunard did the same for our Labor Day weekend sailing. :)

Princess doesn't do it. They put a hold on every couple of days based on what you're spending. We just got off a 10 day cruise last week and they put a $100 upfront hold on my card which was being used for both us - I was watching it online. HAL is the only line that makes mention of it on their website doing a specific amount each day per person. I'm not saying they're wrong, just trying to find other lines that do the way that HAL does.

[onthegogirl]

After reading replies to your query, I am surprised - we've never had this happen to us on any cruise line (6+) we've been on. All we've ever done is sign up for our onboard account and give them our credit card number - there's never been any kind of amount stipulated "on hold" or otherwise for onboard expenses, other than the $11 gratuity.:confused:

I think this has been going on but we just didn't know it. Now vendors have to disclose it. Hotels do it, car rental agencies do it and now they have to tell us.

[Randyk47]

I think this has been going on but we just didn't know it. Now vendors have to disclose it. Hotels do it, car rental agencies do it and now they have to tell us.

Totally agree. I'm actually a little surprised that this is an issue. My wife and I travel a lot, most of it for our work, and we're very used to these "holds". In actuality it's a pre-approval and the hotels, car rental agencies et al typically put a nominal amount into the pre-approval. To me it's to test the card, to make sure that it's a valid card and that there's some reasonable expectation that the card holder has sufficient ceiling to actually pay their bill with the card. The "hold" or "pre-approval" is transparent to the card holder as far as I know. Now I've never logged on to my card account in the middle of a vacation to see if there's anything posted so I can't speak to that but it certainly never shows up in the monthly statement. A hotel or cruise line or whatever actually telling you they've put a hold or gotten a pre-approval is a little different but I guess that's good but certainly not surprising.

[Boytjie]

Now I've never logged on to my card account in the middle of a vacation to see if there's anything posted so I can't speak to that but it certainly never shows up in the monthly statement.

To tell the truth, I don't really know what any of my cards' credit limits are! They are all fairly high and I never spend anywhere near the limit.

[alpal1993]

I'm always amazed at how people get upset about this hold. If "credit" was that tight for me.....I wouldn't be going on a cruise....or maybe take a cheaper cabin so I wouldn't be so strapped for cash.

That is great for you !So you are saying that those of us who work hard all year aren't entitled to take one vacation a year because they don't have unlimited funds.
Celebrity/RCCL, NCL do call to confirm that you have enough credit on your card,but I have never heard of them putting a hold on an account

[pms4104]

That is great for you !So you are saying that those of us who work hard all year aren't entitled to take one vacation a year because they don't have unlimited funds.
Celebrity/RCCL, NCL do call to confirm that you have enough credit on your card,but I have never heard of them putting a hold on an account
If those lines call to confirm that you have enough credit to cover onboard charges, you can be sure that in that same call they also block a certain amount for their expected charges. Otherwise, you could exhaust your available credit line between embarkation and disembarkation ... and the cruiselines wouldn't get their $$$$.

[Cruise Junky]

If those lines call to confirm that you have enough credit to cover onboard charges, you can be sure that in that same call they also block a certain amount for their expected charges. Otherwise, you could exhaust your available credit line between embarkation and disembarkation ... and the cruiselines wouldn't get their $$$$.

I know for a fact what Princess does.. they put a small hold on when you board - $100 or so to make sure the card is good and then keep uping the hold based on what you're spending. If you're spending only $5 a day that initial hold may never change. Much fairer to the cruiser.

[Randyk47]

To tell the truth, I don't really know what any of my cards' credit limits are! They are all fairly high and I never spend anywhere near the limit.

Actually that's pretty much our situation. We use a card that has no limit and is hooked to a rewards program for most of our travel both business and personal so the notion of a limit or hold or pre-approval has never been an issue. Been with that company for 42 years so I'm pretty confident in offering it up.

[sparky-elpaso]

Totally agree. I'm actually a little surprised that this is an issue. My wife and I travel a lot, most of it for our work, and we're very used to these "holds". In actuality it's a pre-approval and the hotels, car rental agencies et al typically put a nominal amount into the pre-approval. To me it's to test the card, to make sure that it's a valid card and that there's some reasonable expectation that the card holder has sufficient ceiling to actually pay their bill with the card. The "hold" or "pre-approval" is transparent to the card holder as far as I know. Now I've never logged on to my card account in the middle of a vacation to see if there's anything posted so I can't speak to that but it certainly never shows up in the monthly statement. A hotel or cruise line or whatever actually telling you they've put a hold or gotten a pre-approval is a little different but I guess that's good but certainly not surprising.

Airlines do it too. And the only way it shows on the on-line info (for Discover, anyway) is the the "available credit" amount will be different that what shows on the page for recent transactions. The actual "hold" amount doesn't show as a transaction. We had a little bit of a lag on our Discover when we booked airline for our trip to Disney - they didn't remove the hold until a couple of days after the the charge actually went through. Don't know if it was the airlines fault or Discover - but it wasn't a problem. Just something someone might want to keep an eye on to make sure the hold disappears when it's supposed to.

[kyriecat]

In May 2008, Royal Caribbean put a hold on my card upon boarding equal to $25/day for the cabin (2 people) in spending ($325 hold). I don't know for certain whether that is still their policy. The hold was removed from my card 2 days after I got off the ship. During that time, the actual charge was processed so both the actual charges and the hold amount were on my card, but I had plenty of credit available so no big deal.

In April 2009, HAL put a hold on my card upon boarding equal to $120/day (2 people) in spending ($1680 hold). The hold was removed from my card (same card as above) 5 days after I got off the ship. Again, the actual charges were processed during that time so I had both on my card for those 5 days. I don't know why the HAL hold took longer to be removed than RC's hold.

[lorekauf]

That is great for you !So you are saying that those of us who work hard all year aren't entitled to take one vacation a year because they don't have unlimited funds.
Celebrity/RCCL, NCL do call to confirm that you have enough credit on your card,but I have never heard of them putting a hold on an account
Gee...I don't have unlimited funds...and I work VERY hard......and I generally take the cheapest room on the ship. That way I don't have to worry about over expending myself or complaining about the policies of cruise lines.

[NMLady]

[quote=jtl513;20436310]But remember that's per person. We never rack up $1200 on a 10-day cruise, but we do always book our excursions in advance.

Today's 1:49p thread is still on the list, but marked as MOVED. If you had clicked on that MOVED thread, it would bring you here.quote]

But if you click on the link a poster gave in this thread, it says there's no such thread.

[NMLady]

I like I said I thought I had read that but have no personal knowledge of it.

I did find this article which explains the ins and outs of the credit card holds.

http://www.intltravelnews.com/2005/01/the-cruising-world-%C2%BB-a-credit-hold-is-not-a-credit-charge/

That article is an EXCELLENT explanation of why holds are put on credit cards.

[NMLady]

I can't figure out why anyone would take cash from the bank and give it to the cruise line instead of have hold on there card. .

Because not everyone has a credit card.
A lot of people do not have credit cards. They only use Debit cards and with a debit card that money is actually removed from the checking account and then the unused portion is refunded to the account at the end of the cruise.

We don't have that problem since our credit card has a high limit, so lowering the credit limit by $1680 for a hold [2 people for 14 days] isn't a problem to us.
It could be a problem to those close to their limit or who don't pay their credit card balance in full each month.

[m steve]

and unless you are near maxed out on your card you will have no problems and shouldn't worry. If you are close to your limit contact the credit card and have them increase yoiur line of credit to cover this.

[callmedeb]

If you're worried about it, bring enough cash to deposit into your account to cover your $60 per diem estimate. Or less if you can convince the front desk.

Both my Dad and I did this on our Alaskan cruise, except instead of $420 each we did $500 each. I got $80 back at the end of the cruise (in cash) and my Dad got $1, LOL.

I pre-paid for mine using the onboard credit purchase option and my Dad brought cash. Easy as pie.

Deb

[catl331]

Now I've never logged on to my card account in the middle of a vacation to see if there's anything posted so I can't speak to that but it certainly never shows up in the monthly statement.I have, and on our Visa the full hold amount shows up as a "pending charge". Often that "pending" doesn't disappear until a week or so after we're home.

Another little thing our card does is tack on $1 to nearly every pending charge. I've sometimes wondered if it's the merchants doing a $1 test charge before the true amount.

[RevNeal]

and unless you are near maxed out on your card you will have no problems and shouldn't worry. If you are close to your limit contact the credit card and have them increase yoiur line of credit to cover this.

Some people just don't have the credit available to them in the first place. And, in our current economy, not every credit card company is willing to extend even a temporary credit line increase. The simple fact is, sometimes some people have to go the cash route. This does NOT make them "dead-beats" or "unworthy of cruising" -- certainly not if they pay their bills. It's just that their circumstances are different than yours or mine.

[heathriel]

When I did the onboard checkin, I wasn't paying enough attention it and thought they were taking out just the automatic gratuity money ahead of time, since I knew that that was definitely going to be spent.

And I was like "Dude, that's almost $1200 for tips?!"

But it wouldn't let me register without saying yes, so, I said, ok, whatever.

When I went to check in my husband, I read it more carefully and realized that it's really only around $200 in tips, and the rest is them expecting us to drink, go to the spa, etc.

I turned to him and said "Do you think we could spend $2400 on the cruise?" He said "Is that a challenge?"

[the4ofusandallourfriends]

We've been on both sides.

We started off with a $500 credit card.
Then we had a $800 credit card.


During all the cruises that we took with those credit limits, we went up to the purser and we were asked/said we are only planning on spending $xx and they would set that as our limit. If you exceed the limit, the charge wouldn't go through and we'd have to go add money at the pursers desk. Simple. The cruiser chose their credit limit and the cruiseline did not get burned.

The cruise line doesn't like you setting your own limit because they know that typically people tend to spend more when they know the money's already been "set aside". So while I fully agree with the need for a security deposit to protect basic charges, let's not be ignorant about the reason they want so much more in advance from everyone, even the non-big-spenders. It encourages you spend spend spend.

However when you say...hey...this is all I want to put down, they've always accomodated us no problem.

Now that we have a bigger credit card limit, we can relax about it, but we still don't give our kids spending privileges and don't put them on the credit card or put cash deposit for them. Their automated tips just go on my hold.

But I do feel for those who don't have CC and/or low limits. Like us, these can be families that work very hard to save for a vacation paid with cash without having loads of money in the bank. I've been there.

As we have an upcoming cruise on HAL, I hope they are still reasonable with allowing a passenger the right to set his own credit limit above the automated tips.

[CowPrincess]

The cruise line doesn't like you setting your own limit because they know that typically people tend to spend more when they know the money's already been "set aside".

I have to disagree with this. One reason that everything goes on your sign & sail card (beyond the security issues) is because it doesn't seem like "real money" so you may be less inclined to deny yourself something.

Having some sort of "hold" on your credit card has very little, if any, psychological impact on a person's willingness to spend. Seriously, the money is NOT spent, the hold has virtually nothing to do with your onboard account, and if you choose to consider that the "hold" is the equivalent of "spent money" you're misinterpreting the hold.

The cruise line is not a charity and wants to ensure (for its stockholders) that people will be able to pay their bill at the end of the cruise. That is what the "hold" is about. Personally, I can't imagine cruising and not being able to pay the bill, but there ARE people who either inadvertently or deliberately are not able to pay.

[the4ofusandallourfriends]

I have to disagree with this. One reason that everything goes on your sign & sail card (beyond the security issues) is because it doesn't seem like "real money" so you may be less inclined to deny yourself something.

Looks like we are agreeing.

I have no problem with the cruise line securing automated tipping and any amount the passenger wants to add on top and then blocking any further charges. That is fair......but obviously securing more "hold" and making you think it's mandatory is in their interest....a smart business decision. I don't blame them but it doesn't make it right and "upfront".

[CowPrincess]

Looks like we are agreeing.


No we aren't agreeing because YOUR position is that the cruiselines put a "hold" on your card, and that encourages people to spend because the money is already spoken for:

The cruise line doesn't like you setting your own limit because they know that typically people tend to spend more when they know the money's already been "set aside".

while my position is that the "hold" has nothing to do with encouraging spending (the sign & sail card does that for the cruiseline) and everything to do with covering their butts over pax who can't pay the bill at the end of the cruise.

[Boytjie]

The cruise line doesn't like you setting your own limit because they know that typically people tend to spend more when they know the money's already been "set aside".

I seriously doubt that; from what I have seen here the majority of cruisers seem to be oblivious of the hold! I know I have seen the hold amount mentioned when checking in online but by the time I get on the ship I all forgotten about it.

[mrsltg]

I seriously doubt that; from what I have seen here the majority of cruisers seem to be oblivious of the hold! I know I have seen the hold amount mentioned when checking in online but by the time I get on the ship I all forgotten about it.

The fact the cruiselines want a credit card and NOT cash on board suggests they want to make it as simple for you as possible. When you're on vacation, so the cruiselines tell us, you don't have to "worry" about money. Instead, just charge whatever to your room. Go ahead and have that third pina colada by the pool, it's only $6.50! If you were laying down cash instead of signing your drink and sink receipt many people would think twice. This makes it very easy...

[Boytjie]

The fact the cruiselines want a credit card and NOT cash on board suggests they want to make it as simple for you as possible. When you're on vacation, so the cruiselines tell us, you don't have to "worry" about money. Instead, just charge whatever to your room. Go ahead and have that third pina colada by the pool, it's only $6.50! If you were laying down cash instead of signing your drink and sink receipt many people would think twice. This makes it very easy...

No cruise line has ever told me that. :rolleyes:

I use credit cards far more than cash every day of my life, good luck to them trying to change my ways....

[jtl513]

The fact the cruiselines want a credit card and NOT cash on board suggests they want to make it as simple for you as possible.I think they want to make as simple for themselves as possible. :)

I use credit cards far more than cash every day of my life, good luck to them trying to change my ways....Me too. I hardly ever have more than $10 in my wallet. :cool:

[doctork]

It seems that it is important to recognize that different people feel differently about this. Some prefer the ease of "sign and sail" while others will find it a temptation to exceed their budget, and some just prefer paying cash. Some people have religious objections to the use of credit cards.

I prefer to avoid using credit cards and I have made my deposits in cash when cruising. If I use a debit card, it is effectively a charge (not a hold) since the actual cash "Available Balance" shown electronically in my account is reduced today (not later when I pay a credit card bill) by the amount of the "hold." I'd rather not do that so I make a cash deposit.

Does HAL accept euro for payment of cash deposits? Since there is a 500 euro banknote, it is easier to carry larger amounts of cash in euro than dollars.

I am not happy to learn that 10% of cruisers are not paying their bills, as that seems to indicate sloppy financial management, which I as a passenger who pays her bills will have to cover through higher fares. If HAL is collecting credit holds or cash deposits on all the passengers, or is not extending credit beyond the cash deposit amount, how is it these hundreds of passengers on every cruise are skipping out on their bills?

[m steve]

if you don't arrange payment of your charges. They have a way of programing the card reader to stop you if you have made a large purchase on board to make sure it's on your customs declaration and the announce people to come to the pursers desk the morning of disembarkation. Unless you jump off the ship I doon't see how you can just walk off the ship without being stopped.

[ekerr19]

I'm surprised this is still such an issue. If it were a problem for me, I'd just consider it part of my vacation expense, such as airline tickets, hotel costs etc. - and budget accordingly in order to cover it.

I don't understand why it's such a big deal, especially on shorter cruises. :confused:

Now, if it were regarding a 45-day cruise or something, I'd understand the concerns.

[doctork]

It's not a big deal to me, as I explained I just make a cash deposit. But I am troubled that 10% of passengers (as per a HAL employee) are not paying their bills. I wonder how this happens, and if it is inflating my bills unnecessarily, when prevention should be straightforward, as pointed out by m steve.

[Randyk47]

Eventually it inflates or increases your bill as HAL, or any other business for that matter, has to factor in bad debts as a cost of doing business. To make up for the loss they charge more for services, etc., to compensate. I don't know of a business that doesn't do this to some extent.

[CowPrincess]

I don't understand why it's such a big deal, especially on shorter cruises

Some people don't have high credit limits on their credit cards, others may not have credit cards. And others may have unexpected expenses just prior to vacation that put them in an uncomfortable position on their credit card (vet bills, major house repairs, legal problems, kid expenses). If I had a low cc limit or didn't carry a cc, I'd be buying a prepaid credit card to use for the "hold".

For us, it isn't an issue, and I understand that it is a "hold", not a charge. But some people need to figure out how to make it work in their particular circumstances. Then there are others who feel that HAL is ripping them off somehow :rolleyes:

[doctork]

Eventually it inflates or increases your bill as HAL, or any other business for that matter, has to factor in bad debts as a cost of doing business. To make up for the loss they charge more for services, etc., to compensate. I don't know of a business that doesn't do this to some extent.

I certainly agree with this. I am just surprised that with all the measures in place (cc hold, cash deposit, automated credit cut-off), HAL experiences a 10% bad debt rate. That seems high.

[jtl513]

Does HAL accept euro for payment of cash deposits? Since there is a 500 euro banknote, it is easier to carry larger amounts of cash in euro than dollars.Since the official ship currency is just $US, they would probably do a "conversion", with you paying an exchange fee that would not be very favorable.
... how is it these hundreds of passengers on every cruise are skipping out on their bills?
Unless you jump off the ship I doon't see how you can just walk off the ship without being stopped.HAL makes them sign a promissory note, in effect extending them a "HAL credit line". What percentage of them default on that note, I have no idea.

[ekerr19]

For us, it isn't an issue, and I understand that it is a "hold", not a charge. But some people need to figure out how to make it work in their particular circumstances. Then there are others who feel that HAL is ripping them off somehow :rolleyes:

I guess I don't get it either - because it is just a hold - not a charge. HAL hasn't run anything through, just pre-authorized.... same thing hotels, car rental agencies, etc. have been doing for years.

Most major banks/credit card companies release the hold after 24-72 hours if the charge hasn't gone through anyway... for me it's just a non-issue; but I also shake my head in wonder at those who pride themselves for "having just one credit card"... because I wonder what happens if it gets lost or compromised. :confused: That doesn't seem particularly smart or something to brag about to me.

I guess I'm just different when it comes to things like that. Both DH & I maintain separate bank accounts, credit profiles, etc. in addition to sharing many things jointly. If something happens to either of us, the other will still have credit, access to funds, etc. without hassle or worry.

[CowPrincess]

I also shake my head in wonder at those who pride themselves for "having just one credit card"... because I wonder what happens if it gets lost or compromised. That doesn't seem particularly smart or something to brag about to me.


I was on vacation once and BOTH my bank account debit cards became "disabled" -- one strip quit working, the OTHER got eaten by a malfunctioning ATM. That sucked :( I had credit cards, but it was still annoying.

We have friends who moved from one country to another, and even though they had LOTS of money on deposit, paid cash for a huge expensive home, were both employed in high-paying jobs and had no debt, no bank would issue them a credit card for two years (so they could become "established" here :rolleyes: ). We ended up signing for a card for them with a low limit, so they at least HAD a credit card. So sometimes choices are FORCED on people.

[ekerr19]

I was on vacation once and BOTH my bank account debit cards became "disabled" -- one strip quit working, the OTHER got eaten by a malfunctioning ATM. That sucked :( I had credit cards, but it was still annoying.

We have friends who moved from one country to another, and even though they had LOTS of money on deposit, paid cash for a huge expensive home, were both employed in high-paying jobs and had no debt, no bank would issue them a credit card for two years (so they could become "established" here :rolleyes: ). We ended up signing for a card for them with a low limit, so they at least HAD a credit card. So sometimes choices are FORCED on people.

I understand that sometimes situations require different choices. At least your friends recognized they had to do something and took steps to do it - seems a bit unfair they had to go through that.

I am more frustrated by those unwilling to accept fiscal responsibility for their situation(s) and then complain about corporate policies that have been put in place to prevent further loss. If someone is afraid the hold will wipe out half their credit limit, they should see about getting another card, or using another payment method.

People DO have options to improve or alter their situations (like your friends did) and I still don't understand why the hold is such a huge issue for so many people. There is a thread about the "hold" at least once a month.

There are many cruisers who simply put down a cash deposit for their hold - others have negotiated the amount as low as $20 per day. That is not a huge amount of money on a 7-day cruise, and I feel if someone is that hard pressed for cash, perhaps they should re-examine their choice to cruise in the first place.

Sorry about the rant. It's a subject that just seems to bug - especially in todays sad economy with all the bailouts, foreclosures, etc.

[CowPrincess]

I still don't understand why the hold is such a huge issue for so many people

Sorry about the rant. It's a subject that just seems to bug - especially in todays sad economy with all the bailouts, foreclosures, etc.


I don't really understand why it is a huge issue for so many, either. It's not like HAL is keeping your money, they are just protecting themselves.

No need to apologize to ME about your comments -- I agree. Why anyone thinks it is their "right" to cruise and enjoy extra amenities/alcohol/shore excursions/shipboard purchases without proving some form of fiscal responsibility is beyond me.

[ekerr19]

I don't really understand why it is a huge issue for so many, either. It's not like HAL is keeping your money, they are just protecting themselves.

No need to apologize to ME about your comments -- I agree. Why anyone thinks it is their "right" to cruise and enjoy extra amenities/alcohol/shore excursions/shipboard purchases without proving some form of fiscal responsibility is beyond me.

:) I agree 100%!

And I remember when HAL used to take personal checks as means to settle onboard accounts... Gee, I wonder why they stopped doing that, lol!

[doctork]

I don't really understand why it is a huge issue for so many, either. It's not like HAL is keeping your money, they are just protecting themselves.


I agree HAL should protect themselves from loss, and I do not mind paying a cash deposit; being financially responsible protects all of us from higher fares, and of course it is the Right Thing To Do. I have several credit cards for exactly the emergency reasons mentioned above, I just prefer to pay cash where possible, as I have had a problem with identity theft of my cc numbers - an "inside job" perpetuated by employees of the establishment involved. Credit card holds are a fine method for those who haven't been burned as I have by handing out credit card numbers for a "hold." HAL is pretty clear about this practice in its documentation, so I see no reason for being upset about it.

But I still don't understand how and why HAL allows 10% of passengers to skip out without paying their bills. Bad debt losses of 2 - 3% are common in many businesses, but the 10% figure cited really surprises me.

And thanks for the thoughts on the euro deposit jtl513. I am sure you are correct about the unfavorable conversion rates and transaction fees. One of our kids attended university outside the US, and figuring out the "best way" to pay the large tuition bill in another country and currency was a real challenge!

[heathriel]

I attended Cambridge University (as a US Citizen) - and they took my father's tuition payments via Wire Transfer. Was much easier to deal with than my husband's college loans.

The difficult bit came in that all the "locals" were allowed to get jobs, earn money, etc, and I couldn't (unless it was under the table, and my parents would have freaked if I did that). So I had to make do on whatever allowance I had for cash, or charging things to credit cards. I had a *lot* of nights in.

[CowPrincess]

the 10% figure cited really surprises me.


Yes, it actually shocks me! I'd expect about 5% max to be overextended at checkout time. Though I suppose of we work thru some math, it MIGHT make sense. Maybe.

If there's 1200 people on the ship, and let's assume they are all couples or families, no solos for this exercise.

10% would be 120
That would be 60 couples, or 30 families of 4..... now that doesn't seem quite as huge a number as 120 people, y'know? So 60 unpaid bills, or 45 or 30 unpaid bills. Doesn't seem quite as bad/outrageous or unbelievable when I look at it like that.

2% would be 24
12 couples, or 6 families of 4 . . .

Things that make you go "hmmmmm" :)

[m steve]

Doesn't the cruise line attempt to collect if someone skips? I bet the casino would if you gave them a bad check. And once someone did that I hope the cruise line bans them from future cruises and shares the info w/ other lines as well as their sister companies.

[Randyk47]

This whole "skipping on your ship account" has me scratching my head. If a passenger uses a credit card, and assuming the cruise line processes a hold, then the charges would go through and the credit card company would be stuck with collecting. If the passenger writes a check, and quite frankly I didn't know a cruise line would accept a check, then I guess the cruise line would have no choice but to send it to a collection agency. It would seem to me that a passenger who has a history of dodging on-board charges has a lot more issues and problems than figuring out their next cruise. I'd also assume that if you skipped on a HAL charge that somehow Carnival would flag you across all their lines as a bad risk and you'd play the devil trying to book a cruise. Wouldn't take many cruises on the other major lines before you were out of cruise options. Again, this whole scamming or skipping on a ship account, or any monetary obligation for that matter, is so alien to me that I marvel at the notion.

[NMLady]

I also shake my head in wonder at those who pride themselves for "having just one credit card"... because I wonder what happens if it gets lost or compromised. :confused: That doesn't seem particularly smart or something to brag about to me.

We have two different credit cards, one which we use only once a year, to keep it active. When we travel we each carry a different credit card so that if, heaven forbid, one is stolen/lost/misplaced/damaged, we still have a credit card to use.
Even though our money market account has low interest, I'd rather get interest than have a lot of money in a checking account for a debit card. Also, credit card protects against purchase problems whereas a debit card doesn't.

[sapper1]

We have two different credit cards, one which we use only once a year, to keep it active. When we travel we each carry a different credit card so that if, heaven forbid, one is stolen/lost/misplaced/damaged, we still have a credit card to use
For just that reason, we take cards from two different companies along on a cruise and keep one of the cards locked in the onboard safe and take the other ashore with us. That way we still have access to credit if the cards we take ashore are lost or stolen.

[doctork]

I'm still scratching my head too, randyk47. I would think HAL would pursue the non-payers, establish a court judgment, and see to it they didn't board another HAL or other Carnival cruise. So how 10% of HAL passengers or parties manage to get away with this despite cash deposits & credit card holds is a mystery.

And heathriel, we too thought wire transfer was the best way to pay the foreign college tuition, only to discover that the wire transfer took 3 weeks to process! It disappeared from my account immediately, went somewhere in cyberspace for 3 weeks, then eventually reappeared as a tuition payment in the university account. The next semester we put the money in our son's bank account in the US and he then paid the university with his VISA debit card; by using a credit union, the international exchange fee was "only" 1.5%.

[jtl513]

I'm still scratching my head too, randyk47. I would think HAL would pursue the non-payers, establish a court judgment, and see to it they didn't board another HAL or other Carnival cruise. So how 10% of HAL passengers or parties manage to get away with this despite cash deposits & credit card holds is a mystery.Do you know that in fact they are "getting away with it"? They are made to sign a promissary note at debarkation, and I would presume those that don't pay those notes are turned over first to a collection agency and possibly later to court action.

[doctork]

Do you know that in fact they are "getting away with it"? They are made to sign a promissary note at debarkation, and I would presume those that don't pay those notes are turned over first to a collection agency and possibly later to court action.

I don't know this for a fact - it is what a poster who said they worked for HAL posted, and said they had reason to know. I find it hard to believe that HAL would allow this to happen, and I would expect them to make every attempt to collect.

[jtl513]

I don't know this for a fact - it is what a poster who said they worked for HAL posted, and said they had reason to know. I find it hard to believe that HAL would allow this to happen, and I would expect them to make every attempt to collect.All BruceMuzz said was "On average, 10% of cruisers on every cruise are unable to pay their bills at the end of the cruise. They have all sorts of stories about bank problems, late credited payments, etc. But in the end, we are forced to give them promissory notes to sign before they depart. They "promise" to pay us what they owe us "sometime in the future".

That doesn't say that these people never have to pay up, without any consequences.

[doctork]

It's true he does not say that those passengers never pay. But the quotation marks make me think that the "promise" is often not kept. And I certainly hope failure to pay is not without consequences.

I guess those of us who pay our bills have a hard time imagining that one in 10 passengers/parties try to skip out at all. And given the $60 per day deposit/hold, and the ability to cut off charge privileges (I'm assuming, as per another poster), that 1 in 10 owe more than they can pay at the end of the trip. The things we learn here!

[mrsltg]

It's true he does not say that those passengers never pay. But the quotation marks make me think that the "promise" is often not kept. And I certainly hope failure to pay is not without consequences.

I guess those of us who pay our bills have a hard time imagining that one in 10 passengers/parties try to skip out at all. And given the $60 per day deposit/hold, and the ability to cut off charge privileges (I'm assuming, as per another poster), that 1 in 10 owe more than they can pay at the end of the trip. The things we learn here!

I wouldn't necessarily give too much credence to the 10% figure. First, if it were absolutely, swear on the Bible, kind of true, I would imagine it to be proprietary information. As in, someone with access to that info wouldn't be posting it on a public bulletin board. If it's a general industry wide expected default then that means some lines are going to run higher and some are going to go lower. I'd expect HAL, with its older clientele and less "drink till you puke" atmosphere, to trend decidedly lower. The idea of one in ten people on a ship at any given time not paying their bill at the end of the cruise seems unusual. Further, the cruise line can set a limit on what you can charge. If you have $250 in cash to pay for onboard expenses, the line can set your limit to that number. That's why people seem to be sticking on the 10% number. It definitely sounds higher than an acceptable default rate.

[jtl513]

I guess those of us who pay our bills have a hard time imagining that one in 10 passengers/parties try to skip out at all.I would venture to say that a many of them don't intend to over-spend, but simply don't pay enough attention to what they are doing. Or one spouse doesn't fully inform the other one until it's too late! :eek: I don't agree that they necessarily "try to skip out", only that they caught short due to poor habits. Yes, I'll grant you that there are some who may cynically think they can get away without paying their debts, but I doubt that that number is very large.

I have a laptop with me on every cruise, and I enter all my ship charges into a spread sheet every night. I don't want any "surprises" on the last day, even though my typical bill doesn't come close to straining my credit limit! :cool:

[az-cruiser]

Ok, I have a few questions, hoping someone can answer them for me:

1. do they put the hold of $60 on children as well ? ( 5 and 6 year olds)
2. My 5 and 6 year olds will not be charging anything..how do I do this so they do not have active cards?
3. Can you check in online without a credit card?
4. If I check in with a credit card and I only want say $1000 limit, how do I get this done?

I dont use credit cards very much and I dont typically carry much cash. If I bring a card with a smalll $2000 limit and they put $60 pp x 4 thats $1800 and that leaves me with no room to purchase anything else and then I am forced to bring more cash with me than I would like.

Typically we spend about $800 on a 7 day cruise, and no, never had Princess do $60 pp per day.

Thanks in advance for your help:D

[ekerr19]

Ok, I have a few questions, hoping someone can answer them for me:

1. do they put the hold of $60 on children as well ? ( 5 and 6 year olds)
2. My 5 and 6 year olds will not be charging anything..how do I do this so they do not have active cards?
3. Can you check in online without a credit card?
4. If I check in with a credit card and I only want say $1000 limit, how do I get this done?

I dont use credit cards very much and I dont typically carry much cash. If I bring a card with a smalll $2000 limit and they put $60 pp x 4 thats $1800 and that leaves me with no room to purchase anything else and then I am forced to bring more cash with me than I would like.

Typically we spend about $800 on a 7 day cruise, and no, never had Princess do $60 pp per day.

Thanks in advance for your help:D

You do not have to authorize your children, however you should pay the gratuities for them on your shipboard account/card.... the cabin steward works super hard - especially with 4 people in the cabin (our personal experience).

You can opt to place a cash deposit on board or call HAL's ship services and see if you can negotiate a lower "hold". Keep in mind that's it's only a PRE-AUTHORIZATION hold, which will last maybe 72 hours? I'd check with my bank/card issuer if it's a problem.

[kyriecat]

Ok, I have a few questions, hoping someone can answer them for me:

1. do they put the hold of $60 on children as well ? ( 5 and 6 year olds)
2. My 5 and 6 year olds will not be charging anything..how do I do this so they do not have active cards?
3. Can you check in online without a credit card?
4. If I check in with a credit card and I only want say $1000 limit, how do I get this done?

I dont use credit cards very much and I dont typically carry much cash. If I bring a card with a smalll $2000 limit and they put $60 pp x 4 thats $1800 and that leaves me with no room to purchase anything else and then I am forced to bring more cash with me than I would like.

Typically we spend about $800 on a 7 day cruise, and no, never had Princess do $60 pp per day.

Thanks in advance for your help:DActually, if you have a card with only $2000 limit, then you will need a second card to pay your ship board account since the $1800 hold will take up almost all your available credit. If you spend more than $200 onboard, most likely your card wlll be denied since the hold is still in place when the actual charges are run. You will end up getting a 5 am phone call asking how you plan to pay your bill. Like others have stated, you might be able to get your credit card holder to give you a credit line increase to $4000 for one month.

You can check in online without a credit card by checking that you will pay cash onboard. I'm not sure that you can set a limit on your ship board card. I'm pretty sure that you can have them not allow your kids to charge on their cards, but the ship will still add the $11/day for each child's service charge to your acount.

Have you considered getting $1000 in travelers' cheques to use for your shipboard account? If you don't use the full $1K. you can get the cash returned. You can also put a minimum amount down ($500?) and add additional funds to your account as you need them.

You do not have to authorize your children, however you should pay the gratuities for them on your shipboard account/card.... the cabin steward works super hard - especially with 4 people in the cabin (our personal experience).

You can opt to place a cash deposit on board or call HAL's ship services and see if you can negotiate a lower "hold". Keep in mind that's it's only a PRE-AUTHORIZATION hold, which will last maybe 72 hours? I'd check with my bank/card issuer if it's a problem.When they put the "pre-authorization hold" on my credit card in April, the hold went on the day we boarded the ship. It did not come off my card until 4 days after we returned from the cruise. Fortunately I have a high enough credit limit so I didn't have a problem with the $1680 hold, plus some on-shore spending, plus our final balance being on the card at once.

[ekerr19]

When they put the "pre-authorization hold" on my credit card in April, the hold went on the day we boarded the ship. It did not come off my card until 4 days after we returned from the cruise. Fortunately I have a high enough credit limit so I didn't have a problem with the $1680 hold, plus some on-shore spending, plus our final balance being on the card at once.

A couple cruises ago, I checked online as an experiment - while using several different cards. That is why I urge each person to contact their credit card issuer. I agree, it can be different for each situation. :)

In my 18+ HAL cruises, I've never had a hold last over 72 hours, but who knows? Times may be changing due to the credit crisis, etc. I'll have to check on our next cruise (3 weeks away) and advise if things have changed for us. We typically use Citi HiltonHonors, Wells Fargo Platinum VISA and/or Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum M/C.

[Boytjie]

Actually, if you have a card with only $2000 limit, then you will need a second card to pay your ship board account since the $1800 hold will take up almost all your available credit. If you spend more than $200 onboard, most likely your card wlll be denied since the hold is still in place when the actual charges are run. You will end up getting a 5 am phone call asking how you plan to pay your bill. Like others have stated, you might be able to get your credit card holder to give you a credit line increase to $4000 for one month.

That doesn't make sense: HAL paces the hold to cover your charges, which means what you spend onboard. The hold is placed on the card at the beginning of the cruise and they only charge your credit card at the end of the cruise.

[BruceMuzz]

if you don't arrange payment of your charges. They have a way of programing the card reader to stop you if you have made a large purchase on board to make sure it's on your customs declaration and the announce people to come to the pursers desk the morning of disembarkation. Unless you jump off the ship I doon't see how you can just walk off the ship without being stopped.

Good question. We have tried for years to stop the growing number of deadbeats from exiting the ship if they have not paid their bills. We can browbeat them, threaten them, but in the end, there is nothing we can really do. The police in the USA will not touch a case like this.

As I mentioned earlier, the cruise lines are at fault for letting this happen. They should get a hold - and credit confirmation from the credit card company - before a passenger is allowed to board the ship. In actual practice this has not worked out very well.

Many cruisers today have low/poor/no credit. Forcing them to put a credit hold on thier card before the cruise begins is not feasible for far too many. They just don't have the spare money/credit to do that.

Trying to get credit card approval for thousands of people in a short time (at check-in) takes far too long and delays boarding for many pax. Several cruise lines tried it and gave up.

So the cruise lines do it the old tried and tested way. They have their night auditors on the ship run batches of credit card approvals for the first several nights of the cruise.

Meanwhile, irresponsible passengers, who already know that they cannot afford to pay, are charging away on their onboard accounts. After a day or two, the Pursers Department sends letters to passengers whose credit cards were declined, asking them to provide another means of payment. The deadbeats drag this process out a day or two longer, claiming lack of time to visit the front desk, asking that the auditors try the card again, blaming the bank, arguing that the card is fine and somehow blaming the cruise line for the card being declined, etc, etc, etc.

By mid-cruise it becomes clear that these people cannot pay. Their credit is cut off. But it is too late. They have already charged quite a large amount. Even worse, they continue to go to the bars and order drinks. The waiter gives them the drink first and asks for their card key to charge the purchase. By the time he discovers that the account is closed, the passsenger is already consuming the drink.
The same passenger goes to the Spa. After the massage he presents his card key for payment. The account is closed. What is the massusse supposed to do now???

At the end of the cruise, the deadbeat tries to disembark. Security stops him at the gangway and directs him to the Pursers Desk to pay his outstanding bill. He explains to the purser that he cannot pay. He has no money, no checks, no credit.

Local police will not come to even speak to him about this.
He can be reported to US Customs, but nothing is done.
He signs his promissory note and off he goes.
Case closed.

[kyriecat]

That doesn't make sense: HAL paces the hold to cover your charges, which means what you spend onboard. The hold is placed on the card at the beginning of the cruise and they only charge your credit card at the end of the cruise.HAL placed a hold of $1680 on my card when I boarded the ship. They didn't charge that amount, but it was credit that I couldn't use for the duration of the cruise plus a few days after I got back. On the day we disembarked, they ran a charge for the actual amount of my shipboard spending. At that point, I had $1680 hold plus a pending charge of $750 to cover shipboard spending on my card. After 4 days, the $1680 hold was removed and the $750 charge was left.

If I only had a $2000 limit, the $750 charge would have been rejected because it would have put me over my limit. A hold still uses up your credit available even if it's not processed as a transaction.

Maybe other people have credit cards where the hold amount doesn't reduce your credit available. I used a Chase credit card for my HAL cruise. Every hold amount, even if it's $1, reduces the amount of credit that I have available. When the hold is released, the amount is returned to my available credit. I have Bank of America and Wells Fargo credit cards that handle hold amounts the same way as the Chase card. I don't know how holds affect my Discover or AmEx since they don't show hold amounts when you view your online accounts.

[sail7seas]

I hope after a 'guest' pulls that stunt on a cruise company their name is entered onto a list that forbids he ever cruise that cruise line again. At the least, one would like to think they are done with Princess or HAL or whichever line got cheated.

[kyriecat]

Here's a thought on the "10%" of passengers who don't/can't pay their shipboard account. Maybe they have a low limit on their card and don't realize the $60 pp/day hold will tie up their credit available. From the number of posts on this subject, it seems like many new HAL cruisers don't know about the hold and how it affects their credit available. Perhaps some of the problem is they have the money budgeted to pay their shipboard account but they don't have enough available credit on their card for both the hold amount and their actual charges. After HAL lets the CC company know to release the hold, the passenger then has enough credit available to pay their account. However, it can take a few days after the cruise is over to release the hold. During that time, they look like a deadbeat.

I have 5 credit cards and more available credit than I would ever need so the hold amount doesn't affect me. Even though I have never carried a balance or made a late payment on any of my cards, 3 of my cards have reduced my credit limit in the past 6 months - one of them cut it to 1/3 of the prevous amount. If I only had one or two cards with low limits to begin with and the card company cut my limit in half, I can see where some people might have problems having both the hold and the actual charge on their card at the same time.

[serendipity1499]

I wouldn't necessarily give too much credence to the 10% figure. First, if it were absolutely, swear on the Bible, kind of true, I would imagine it to be proprietary information. As in, someone with access to that info wouldn't be posting it on a public bulletin board. If it's a general industry wide expected default then that means some lines are going to run higher and some are going to go lower. I'd expect HAL, with its older clientele and less "drink till you puke" atmosphere, to trend decidedly lower. The idea of one in ten people on a ship at any given time not paying their bill at the end of the cruise seems unusual. Further, the cruise line can set a limit on what you can charge. If you have $250 in cash to pay for onboard expenses, the line can set your limit to that number. That's why people seem to be sticking on the 10% number. It definitely sounds higher than an acceptable default rate.

Why do you doubt Bruce Muzz post stating 10% of passengers can't pay their bill..Why in heavens name would you believe that a Cruise Line employee would not quote a correct figure?

Suggest you read the post by Phillip217 on the other on the thread about the $60.00 per day Hold..Phillip also says that 10% of the passengers can't pay their bill..Now you have two Cruise Line Employees saying the same thing..

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1081612&page=2 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1081612&page=2)

Do you still doubt them?

Betty

[serendipity1499]

You do not have to authorize your children, however you should pay the gratuities for them on your shipboard account/card.... the cabin steward works super hard - especially with 4 people in the cabin (our personal experience).

You can opt to place a cash deposit on board or call HAL's ship services and see if you can negotiate a lower "hold". Keep in mind that's it's only a PRE-AUTHORIZATION hold, which will last maybe 72 hours? I'd check with my bank/card issuer if it's a problem.

I bold-ed your last statement only because in a previous post you took me to task by saying I was not giving the poster correct info about Holds reducing your credit limit..In all due respect I believe you are actually giving the wrong information about Holds only lasting maybe for 72 hours....As you said in that post not all credit cards are the same..

Perhaps your card issuers only have Holds for 72 hours.. That does not mean that all cards are the same..Many posters have mentioned that it has taken days for holds to be removed after their final invoice was paid...

My example to him was, If a person presents a Credit Card with a $5000 credit limit & HAL puts a hold on it for $840 their credit limit is reduced by that amount..

This was explained exactly that way in an article in Cruising World in

http://www.intltravelnews.com/2005/01/the-cruising-world-%C2%BB-a-credit-hold-is-not-a-credit-charge/ (http://www.intltravelnews.com/2005/01/the-cruising-world-%C2%BB-a-credit-hold-is-not-a-credit-charge/)

I agree with your advice about calling the credit card company to find out their policy, as all Credit Card cards rules are not the same..

Cheers...Betty

[Donray]

Cruised NCL and RCI they don't have a hold

Yes they did. Surprising on how many people don't know about holds.

[kyriecat]

Yes they did. Surprising on how many people don't know about holds.
On my last cruise with RC the hold was $25 for 2 people a 13-night cruise. They might have increased the hold amount since May 2008. With such a small amount, it's no surprise that many people don't notice it. HAL's hold is $1560 for 2 people for a 13-night cruise.

[kyriecat]

. . . Perhaps your card issuers only have Holds for 72 hours.. That does not mean that all cards are the same..Many posters have mentioned that it has taken days for holds to be removed after their final invoice was paid...
Cheers...BettyI am wondering if we're all really saying the same thing but in different words. Ekerr19 might mean that the holds are usually dropped from the account 72 hours or less from the time it is released. The issue is the hold isn't released until the merchant processes the actual charge, which is why you end up with both the hold and the actual charge on your account for a few days. In HAL's case, they put the hold on your card when you board and release the hold when they process your shipboard account charge when you disembark.

[dwillis43]

On my last cruise with RC the hold was $25 for 2 people a 13-night cruise. They might have increased the hold amount since May 2008. With such a small amount, it's no surprise that many people don't notice it. HAL's hold is $1560 for 2 people for a 13-night cruise.

You are correct. That was the amount in March of this year. I posted on the other thread on this topic the following;

"During check-in, your credit card will be verified as an active card. Each evening, if purchases were made throughout the day, your bank will put a hold for the amount charged. At the end of the cruise, the bank will put through the charges incurred."

This is what I recieved from RCCL on the topic.

[momofmeg]

You are correct. That was the amount in March of this year. I posted on the other thread on this topic the following;

"During check-in, your credit card will be verified as an active card. Each evening, if purchases were made throughout the day, your bank will put a hold for the amount charged. At the end of the cruise, the bank will put through the charges incurred."

This is what I received from RCCL on the topic.

Okay, I found the thread in "money savign tips" where the gal could not pay her balance on RCI, as her credit card was maxed out-she had to sign a promissory note-I said IOU-but I guess it amounts to the same thing.

I expect RCI will raise their hold limit also-with this happening to them.

[momofmeg]

Yes they did. Surprising on how many people don't know about holds.


One of the hotels in France this summer put a hold on our account-simply because we had 2 shirts cleaned-they put a hold of $300 for 2 shirts! their cleaning was steep-$32 for those 2 shirts. I guess they thought we would have a LOT more cleaned-to put that hold on. We had booked a tour, so our room was paid up before we ever left home.

We were upset-because we had been home 4 days and this was still showing-as they had not put the cleaning charge through-we called and complained-they put through the charge of $33, and the $300 hold was dropped.

[dwillis43]

One of the hotels in France this summer put a hold on our account-simply because we had 2 shirts cleaned-they put a hold of $300 for 2 shirts! their cleaning was steep-$32 for those 2 shirts. I guess they thought we would have a LOT more cleaned-to put that hold on. We had booked a tour, so our room was paid up before we ever left home.

We were upset-because we had been home 4 days and this was still showing-as they had not put the cleaning charge through-we called and complained-they put through the charge of $33, and the $300 hold was dropped.

You may be right, may just be a sign of the times we live in.

[az-cruiser]

I just spoke to a HAL rep and she told me that I have to come on board with the $60 per person per day in cash or submit a credit card for that amount before the cruise and they did not negotiate, not even for children, but I could try to negotiate with the desk when I checked in if I wanted to...no promises. I then requested her manager and got a different story. The HAL manager told me that if i did not want to do the $60 a day hold per person ( I am travelling with a family of 5 and a family of 7, all with small children), then I would choose the cash option. I would not be able to charge anything until I went to the front desk on the ship, then I could give them a cash deposit with what I wanted to be my limit ( including enough to cover gratuities) or a credit card and just tell them what I would like my limit to be. My kids of course will have no limit since they are so young, buy my total credit limit i request will of course include their share of the grats. If I decide to purchase art and need an increase, i will happily go to the desk and increase my limit either with a cc or cash. Everyone wins.

This makes much more sense to me. If HAL gives an option of picking your own credit limit (minimum being grats) and then having it backed up by either cash or credit card, they would be able to avoid the deadbeats that dont pay the bills.

I dont pay for things before I buy them or tell people to hold onto my money or credit for a week just in case I decide to buy something. It's my credit, my money and I will decide what I will spend and when. The resolution that the HAL manager suggested is perfect.

Seems like a simple and fair solution to me. Thanks HAL.

[dwillis43]

I just spoke to a HAL rep and she told me that I have to come on board with the $60 per person per day in cash or submit a credit card for that amount before the cruise and they did not negotiate, not even for children, but I could try to negotiate with the desk when I checked in if I wanted to...no promises. I then requested her manager and got a different story. The HAL manager told me that if i did not want to do the $60 a day hold per person ( I am travelling with a family of 5 and a family of 7, all with small children), then I would choose the cash option. I would not be able to charge anything until I went to the front desk on the ship, then I could give them a cash deposit with what I wanted to be my limit ( including enough to cover gratuities) or a credit card and just tell them what I would like my limit to be. My kids of course will have no limit since they are so young, buy my total credit limit i request will of course include their share of the grats. If I decide to purchase art and need an increase, i will happily go to the desk and increase my limit either with a cc or cash. Everyone wins.

This makes much more sense to me. If HAL gives an option of picking your own credit limit (minimum being grats) and then having it backed up by either cash or credit card, they would be able to avoid the deadbeats that dont pay the bills.

I dont pay for things before I buy them or tell people to hold onto my money or credit for a week just in case I decide to buy something. It's my credit, my money and I will decide what I will spend and when. The resolution that the HAL manager suggested is perfect.

Seems like a simple and fair solution to me. Thanks HAL.

Thanks for the info.

[Boytjie]

This makes much more sense to me. If HAL gives an option of picking your own credit limit (minimum being grats) and then having it backed up by either cash or credit card, they would be able to avoid the deadbeats that dont pay the bills.

I dont pay for things before I buy them or tell people to hold onto my money or credit for a week just in case I decide to buy something. It's my credit, my money and I will decide what I will spend and when. The resolution that the HAL manager suggested is perfect.

Seems like a simple and fair solution to me. Thanks HAL.

Instead of having to go stand on line and deal with the purser's desk I'd much rather give them a credit card that they can place their $60 per day hold on. :D

[momofmeg]

You may be right, may just be a sign of the times we live in.

I was just going to add-how $32 became $33, we had to pay a conversion to euros charge also.

[ekerr19]

HAL placed a hold of $1680 on my card when I boarded the ship. They didn't charge that amount, but it was credit that I couldn't use for the duration of the cruise plus a few days after I got back. On the day we disembarked, they ran a charge for the actual amount of my shipboard spending. At that point, I had $1680 hold plus a pending charge of $750 to cover shipboard spending on my card. After 4 days, the $1680 hold was removed and the $750 charge was left.

If I only had a $2000 limit, the $750 charge would have been rejected because it would have put me over my limit. A hold still uses up your credit available even if it's not processed as a transaction.



That doesn't make sense. They are not two separate transactions. Even if the hold was still in place at the end of the cruise, the hold would be converted to the charge, not entered as a secondary transaction... I have also used my Chase Amazon VISA onboard and the hold was released by Chase after 72 hours, because there had been no actual charge (from HAL) presented yet.

[momofmeg]

That doesn't make sense. They are not two separate transactions. Even if the hold was still in place at the end of the cruise, the hold would be converted to the charge, not entered as a secondary transaction... I have also used my Chase Amazon VISA onboard and the hold was released by Chase after 72 hours, because there had been no actual charge (from HAL) presented yet.

That is what I was thinking also.

[mrsltg]

Why do you doubt Bruce Muzz post stating 10% of passengers can't pay their bill..Why in heavens name would you believe that a Cruise Line employee would not quote a correct figure?

Suggest you read the post by Phillip217 on the other on the thread about the $60.00 per day Hold..Phillip also says that 10% of the passengers can't pay their bill..Now you have two Cruise Line Employees saying the same thing..

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1081612&page=2 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1081612&page=2)

Do you still doubt them?

Betty

Because, Betty, it's called reasoning. That's why, in heavens name, I don't think the number is accurate. Ten percent is an unacceptable default rate. There is no way the line could survive ten percent default on ship board spending on every ship on every cruise. It's math. Add up whatever the average on board spending is per person and multiply it by ten percent of the passengers onboard at any given time by the number of cruises the line takes in a single year - you're talking millions in losses. RCL is about to launch Oasis. What does she hold? 5000? That's 500 people defaulting on a week's worth of charges. On my Westerdam cruise next week we'd be talking close to 200 people not paying. 200 x 420 = $84,000! NO WAY they're taking that kind of hit. That would equate to the Westerdam ALONE taking over a $4 MILLION hit this year on default onboard charges. Multiply that number by four to simply cover the Vista class ships and you are looking at a $16 MILLION loss. Sorry, I'm not buying. I don't doubt the lines lose money, but this 10% figure is more akin to a hemorrhage than the cost of doing business.

[CowPrincess]

There is no way the line could survive ten percent default on ship board spending on every ship on every cruise

The people quoted said that 10% of pax can't pay their bill at the end of a cruise, not "never paid their bill". Not all those people were spending $60/day as you presume. Not all of them never paid their bill. There is too much info not available to presume that you are correct.

[ekerr19]

Because, Betty, it's called reasoning. That's why, in heavens name, I don't think the number is accurate. Ten percent is an unacceptable default rate. There is no way the line could survive ten percent default on ship board spending on every ship on every cruise. It's math. Add up whatever the average on board spending is per person and multiply it by ten percent of the passengers onboard at any given time by the number of cruises the line takes in a single year - you're talking millions in losses. RCL is about to launch Oasis. What does she hold? 5000? That's 500 people defaulting on a week's worth of charges. On my Westerdam cruise next week we'd be talking close to 200 people not paying. 200 x 420 = $84,000! NO WAY they're taking that kind of hit. That would equate to the Westerdam ALONE taking over a $4 MILLION hit this year on default onboard charges. Multiply that number by four to simply cover the Vista class ships and you are looking at a $16 MILLION loss. Sorry, I'm not buying. I don't doubt the lines lose money, but this 10% figure is more akin to a hemorrhage than the cost of doing business.

I agree with you Erin. Well stated - very clear and concise - however we don't know the exact formulas.

I believe that 10% is awfully high as well. I guess I'll go look at their 10K's and 10Q's and see what types of loss and dollar amounts are specified.

I'll post what I find out...

[momofmeg]

I'm 100% in favor of throwing the book at all those deadbeats who don't pay their shipboard bills and that includes their wages being garnished as well as taking their income tax refunds until those charges have been satisfied

This woman in "Money Savings Tips" was afraid that RCI would bann her. Not a bad idea, I would think. Alitle nicer than garnishing wages, but this would keep this from happening again. In her case, she was living paycheck to paycheck,in my mind, she had no business booking a cruise.

[pipedreams62]

Can't pay your bill at the end of the cruise?

http://pipedreams62.eaph2.com/share/afunstuff/walktheplank1.jpg (http://pipedreams62.eaph2.com/programs/iDrive.cgi?VIEWER&http://pipedreams62.eaph2.com/share/afunstuff/walktheplank1.jpg|300|390|50#)

[serendipity1499]

Because, Betty, it's called reasoning. That's why, in heavens name, I don't think the number is accurate. Ten percent is an unacceptable default rate. There is no way the line could survive ten percent default on ship board spending on every ship on every cruise. It's math. Add up whatever the average on board spending is per person and multiply it by ten percent of the passengers onboard at any given time by the number of cruises the line takes in a single year - you're talking millions in losses. RCL is about to launch Oasis. What does she hold? 5000? That's 500 people defaulting on a week's worth of charges. On my Westerdam cruise next week we'd be talking close to 200 people not paying. 200 x 420 = $84,000! NO WAY they're taking that kind of hit. That would equate to the Westerdam ALONE taking over a $4 MILLION hit this year on default onboard charges. Multiply that number by four to simply cover the Vista class ships and you are looking at a $16 MILLION loss. Sorry, I'm not buying. I don't doubt the lines lose money, but this 10% figure is more akin to a hemorrhage than the cost of doing business.

The people quoted said that 10% of pax can't pay their bill at the end of a cruise, not "never paid their bill". Not all those people were spending $60/day as you presume. Not all of them never paid their bill. There is too much info not available to presume that you are correct.

I agree with you Erin. Well stated - very clear and concise - however we don't know the exact formulas.

I believe that 10% is awfully high as well. I guess I'll go look at their 10K's and 10Q's and see what types of loss and dollar amounts are specified.

I'll post what I find out...

Mrs.ltg & ekerr, Cow Princess is right..You are misinterpreting Bruce Muzz & Phillip...They both said that 10% of the passengers could not pay their bill at the end of the cruises & that was the reason cruise lines are starting to put holds on Credit Cards..They also said, passengers who could not pay had to sign promissory notes..They never said that the Cruise Lines are not collecting on the promisory notes..I'm sure they have collection agency's who go after the deadbeats..

I for one do not believe these two Cruise Line Managers are giving us incorrect information..Why do you think collection agency's stay in busines & make money? Why do you think the Credit Card rates are so high? Why do you think that so many Travel Agents are going out of business..There are many people who can't pay their bills at all, but still purchase cruises & luxuries..There are a lot of deadbeats in this world!

For example, DH's Barbershop Chorus delivers Singing Valentines for people every year..The reciepient got a personalized card, a small box of candy & a Rose in addition to two love songs..The proceeds are shared with our Hospitals Pediatric Speech Therapy unit..I took the bookings for 13 years..Every year had to go after deadbeats who did not pay us..The three years we were able to take credit cards thru a special service for payment in advance, we rarely had people renege on payment..When the service closed up we again had to trust that people would send us their check for $45.00...Last year out of 120 orders I had to go after 16 deadbeats a little over 13%...

All those who ordered Valentines thought that it was a "bargain & so wonderful that the men & I were volunteering our time to help the kids"..But obviously when payment came due, they could not afford to pay us $45.00...Last year we were able to finally collect on all but three, after calling twice, mailing an invoice & finally a pleading letter.. In our files we keep the names of all those who have not paid over the years..

Betty

P.S. We're not sure which cruise lines Bruce & Phillip are with..

[jtl513]

The people quoted said that 10% of pax can't pay their bill at the end of a cruise, not "never paid their bill". Not all those people were spending $60/day as you presume. Not all of them never paid their bill. There is too much info not available to presume that you are correct.And not all of them couldn't pay some or most of their bill at checkout time.

[Roz]

Here's a link to a thread here at CC from a lady who had to sign a promissory note. Interesting reading. She takes responsibility for the situation.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1059165

Roz

[sapper1]

Here's a link to a thread here at CC from a lady who had to sign a promissory note. Interesting reading. She takes responsibility for the situation.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1059165

Roz
An onboard bill of $197.20 that she couldn't cover and this lady was on a cruise?????:eek: I'm sorry but such fiscal negligence doesn't generate any sympathy here.
It she thinks that situation is a "perfect storm" what would she have thought if she had had a medical emergency that she couldn't cover while away? It just boggles the mind that some people pay such little heed to possible eventualities.

[momofmeg]

Here's a link to a thread here at CC from a lady who had to sign a promissory note. Interesting reading. She takes responsibility for the situation.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1059165

Roz

Yes, that is it. I am not savvy enough to post links, but I did post on it to bring it up,so people could find the thread.

I could not understand why she booked a cruise in her financial condition, and was hoping to book another. She has no savings. Since I live near Atlanta also, I know we have a 10.2 % unemployment rate-I just cannot understand how anyone could live like that. She is also in sales, she could lose her job anytime.

[Jade13]

Yes, that is it. I am not savvy enough to post links, but I did post on it to bring it up,so people could find the thread.

I could not understand why she booked a cruise in her financial condition, and was hoping to book another. She has no savings. Since I live near Atlanta also, I know we have a 10.2 % unemployment rate-I just cannot understand how anyone could live like that. She is also in sales, she could lose her job anytime.

I could understand if someone had a terminal condition. At that point they are not worried about savings.

[pms4104]

Yes, that is it. I am not savvy enough to post links, but I did post on it to bring it up,so people could find the thread.

I could not understand why she booked a cruise in her financial condition, and was hoping to book another. She has no savings. Since I live near Atlanta also, I know we have a 10.2 % unemployment rate-I just cannot understand how anyone could live like that. She is also in sales, she could lose her job anytime.
I have not gone back to read that IOU thread, but did follow it for a while. I thought she said she worked for the post office ... and was counting on gobs of overtime to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Part of her perfect storm was that overtime had been cut back ... but, after her I-couldn't-afford-to-settle-at-the-end story, she was hopeful overtime would be reinstated due to the illness of co-workers. Also, I don't think she had any savings or any emergency fund whatsoever. Duh!

[momofmeg]

I have not gone back to read that IOU thread, but did follow it for a while. I thought she said she worked for the post office ... and was counting on gobs of overtime to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Part of her perfect storm was that overtime had been cut back ... but, after her I-couldn't-afford-to-settle-at-the-end story, she was hopeful overtime would be reinstated due to the illness of co-workers. Also, I don't think she had any savings or any emergency fund whatsoever. Duh!

she said she had a sales job. Maybe she lost the post office job? I know she said suddenly her income was a $1000 a month less because she took a new position-maybe I have it backwards- perhaps she left a sales job for the post office.

[pms4104]

she said she had a sales job. Maybe she lost the post office job? I know she said suddenly her income was a $1000 a month less because she took a new position-maybe I have it backwards- perhaps she left a sales job for the post office.
From her post #7 on that thread:
"My job as a window clerk with USPS was abolished! I was reclassified as an "Unassigned Regular" and immediately assigned to a (much busier) PO on the other side of town. My OT $$ was great there, though, even though I was not officially on the "OT Desired List." Then a bid package came out which gave me the opportunity to regain a regular bid job. Of course I went for that - at my stage of 29 yrs. service, I don't want to be Unassigned! At the new facility, one could make OT only if one were officially on the OT Desired List! My paycheck immediately dropped $800/mo. Actually more, because my co-workers have been working 7 days a week (27 days straight when I left for my cruise) and really were making the $$. I couldn't make a dime of it."

Seldom a good idea to count on unlimited overtime to make ends meet.

[Roz]

Sure, it's not a good idea, but that's how a segment of the population lives. I grew up in such a family, and we lived paycheck to paycheck. We made ends meet by both mom and dad working overtime when it was available. My parents did what they could with what they had available to them.

Roz

[pms4104]

Sure, it's not a good idea, but that's how a segment of the population lives. I grew up in such a family, and we lived paycheck to paycheck. We made ends meet by both mom and dad working overtime when it was available. My parents did what they could with what they had available to them.

Roz
I understand what you're saying ... we grew up dirt poor, but always had a roof over our head, food on the table, clothes on our back. It was a struggle, and we didn't have a lot of extras while growing up. but we survived and hoped for a better situation when we became adults and went out on our own.

Reflecting on our family life and financial situation made both of us behave very conservatively with our money after we got married. When we earned overtime, in those early years, we treated it as instant savings and sacrificed extras so we could build some security for ourselves. We didn't vacation for years after we got married. Currently, we drive old cars (1994 and 1995), have basic cable and dialup internet ... but we are content and comfortable with our lifestyle.

Yes, this economy has not been easy on a whole segment of our society and, unfortunately, no one is sure when everything will turn around.

[momofmeg]

Sure, it's not a good idea, but that's how a segment of the population lives. I grew up in such a family, and we lived paycheck to paycheck. We made ends meet by both mom and dad working overtime when it was available. My parents did what they could with what they had available to them.

Roz

I grew up in such a family also. "vacations" was going to visit relatives for a week. I was a teenager before we went to the beach for a 4 day weekend. That was my first real vacation.

I was 28 when I married, and I begged hubby that we go to DISNEYWORLD for our honeymoon-as I had never been. He had been tons of times, growing up. He could not believe that I had never been. We went to Disneyworld.

Money was tight for us too, not long after we married, our daughter was born and she had serious health issues, still does. So, it has only been in the last 15 years that we could afford to take nice vacations-and even now-it is usually only once a year. But, we pay for our cruises, we refuse to leave a balance on our credit card and take months to pay it off. If we had to do that, we would not cruise.

[NMLady]

I have not gone back to read that IOU thread, but did follow it for a while. I thought she said she worked for the post office ... and was counting on gobs of overtime to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Part of her perfect storm was that overtime had been cut back ... but, after her I-couldn't-afford-to-settle-at-the-end story, she was hopeful overtime would be reinstated due to the illness of co-workers. Also, I don't think she had any savings or any emergency fund whatsoever. Duh!

Sounds like my youngest step-son. Never saves for the future, spends money on credit cards presuming his current good aviation job will continue and it rarely does since they are term contract jobs. We can't convince him not to depend on future money.

I don't know how others plan/pay for cruises, but we don't book one until the money for it is in our actual possession, either in Money Market, high interest savings (which nowadays is only about 2%), or in a CD that will mature in time for final payment.
There are too many things that could happen with 'future' money.