E docs and pp/day charge

[1of4]

Hopefully this is a quick question. I am just waiting for 1 passport to arrive (why when you apply on the same day they are delivered on different days is beyond me, but that is not the subject of this post) and then I will be doing the electronic registration for our cruise in August.

When I register our credit card, will the $60 pp/pd hold be put on as of that date, months before the cruise, or not until the embarkation date? Since we are in the midst of registering our kids into summer camps the amount of hold put on the credit card does have to be factored in (please no lectures on paying off the balance each month - we just can't right now and yes, I know, that would be the best possible approach but we have had a year of unexpected expenses).

Also, earlier on this board I was told if we did indicate that we didn't want our children to be able to charge to the shipboard account they would not be subject of the $60 pp/pd. Our kids will only be 7 and 10 and therefore will not be anywhere on the ship without my husband or I where they will have that opportunity. I don't drink alcohol so our shipboard charges will be minimal.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Gail
http://clocks.cruisecritic.com/countdown.pl?image=alaska&name=1of4&date=8-24-2011&text=Heading to Alaska!&ship=Volendam (http://www.cruisecritic.com)

[jtl513]

The hold is not placed until embarkation day.

I believe that when you say your children will not have charging privileges you will not be required to place the full $60/p/d. You might be allowed as little as the $11/d Hotel Service Charge for them.

Do you have to have the passport numbers before you can go to step two to register a credit card? Try doing it without them. You can always go back and edit later.

[erewhon]

For our last cruise, when we filled in the online registration to obtain our boarding passes, we indicated that we would pay in Cash at checkin time.
Then at checkin time prior to boarding the ship, said we would now use a credit card, DH gave the appropriate credit card number.

Am sure someone else will help regarding your children.

[iriemon]

Being in the Financial industry I can tell you that holds on accounts only stay for 7 to 14 days depending on the banks policy. If a charge does not come in during that time to match the hold, that money is credited back to your account. With that said the hold is not placed on your account until you get on the ship. This is the ship protecting itself from people who charge a whole bunch and then at the end of the cruise they don't have the credit to cover the bill. True this credit may not cover their entire bill but it will at least be something.

[Hawaiidan]

That you can exclude you children from charging since no sales on the ship are in cash. Just like on airlines... no cash sales any more. You will have to be with them 24/7 and to take the cards from them except when you go ashore.

Too, each person, iincluding children get an ID card on boarding and the card will allow them to charge anything to the room..
In fact everone registered in that room will have all their charges listed for the room... Mon dad, kids, Aunt Minney.

[sail7seas]

OP said she or her DH will be with the young children at all times they are out and about. With most kids, soda is about the only thing most parents will permit the children charging and they can buy them a soda card if they wish and the kids wouldn't need any charging ability.

But how will they bill the automatic hotel service charge for the children if there is no credit card on record for them?

[1of4]

That you can exclude you children from charging since no sales on the ship are in cash. Just like on airlines... no cash sales any more. You will have to be with them 24/7 and to take the cards from them except when you go ashore.

Too, each person, iincluding children get an ID card on boarding and the card will allow them to charge anything to the room..
In fact everone registered in that room will have all their charges listed for the room... Mon dad, kids, Aunt Minney.

This trip is so that we can be a family...not apart. We are apart too much in our everyday lives. Unless my children are in Club Hal, they will be with us. So no, they will not get to charge anything without my husband or I. They do not drink soda and will not be buying anything.

We were told by members on this board that we would have to pay the $11 charge per day each, but it was our option whether they would be allowed to charge to our account (one cabin, one account). Since they are 7 and 10 (just by days) that is not an option.

Gail

[catl331]

Too, each person, iincluding children get an ID card on boarding and the card will allow them to charge anything to the room..If the kids and Aunt Minney have not been authorized to charge to a registered credit card, their key-card will be delclined when they try to purchase anything.

In fact everone registered in that room will have all their charges listed for the room... Mon dad, kids, Aunt Minney.Each key-card charges are tabulated separately - it's not "by the cabin". Kids and Aunt will have zero if they aren't authorized on your card.