Maasdam-Point of Info about credit cards

[GMWT10A]

I am cruising next MAY on Maasdam and HAL's papers suggested going to their site and completing the documentation today... Well, interesting item is that your credit card "hold" is $900 per person. WOW!!

I know it's generally $500 and I also agree that costs have skyrocketed; however, it's a good thing I read it. I aso agree that the company has to protect themselves...this is normal business practice.

But, Some people cut it "close" and $1800 being held would put them at a great disadvantage.

[sail7seas]

How many days is your cruise?

Last I heard, the 'hold' is $60 per person per day.

Maybe they are now adding the daily fuel charge to the "hold"???

[gizmo]

GMWT10A,

I see you are taking the 15 day cruise next May. The $900.00 is correct since it is a 15 day cruise. There has been no increase, it is still 60.00 per day per person. :)

[O2B@C]

I looked it up - it's a 15-day - and did the math - 15 x $60 = $900. So this is nothing new.

To the OP: Did they actually place the hold already? I thought they did not do that until embarkation, or at most a few days before. Your post is unclear as to whether the hold was actually placed, or you were just informed of what the amount would be when the time comes.

If the credit card hold is a problem, you can make arrangements with HAL to put up a cash deposit instead when you board. There have been several threads about this in the past.

[sail7seas]

You don't have to wait until you board to make cash deposit. You can send moneyt to HAL in advance of your cruise to deposit toward your shipboard account.

RevNeal has written here about doing that.

[HamOp]

You don't have to wait until you board to make cash deposit. You can send moneyt to HAL in advance of your cruise to deposit toward your shipboard account.

RevNeal has written here about doing that.



Or, you could just send me the money. I'll hold onto it for you till the cruise:D :D :D

[lorekauf]

You don't have to wait until you board to make cash deposit. You can send moneyt to HAL in advance of your cruise to deposit toward your shipboard account.

RevNeal has written here about doing that.


Awesome...send money early....no way....I have none to send:D .

[airlink diva]

I'm sailing on the Maasdam in October. I have only three credit cards, but with low limits. I placed money for my OBC based on what I normally charge on a cruise. You do have this option when filling out your online check in. Of course they suggested the amount of $60 per day, but since the only charge beyond my daily tips is my themal spa package, I placed enough for both of these items and a small cushion amount. If you are running low,they will call you from the front desk.
My only grip about HAL is I wish they offer guest the option of viewing their daily account info on their tv. Carnival offer this option and it's great of keeping tabs on your account.
Happy sailing!!
Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the
Maasdam!!
10/24/08-11/07/08

[Krazy Kruizers]

I'm sailing on the Maasdam in October. I have only three credit cards, but with low limits. I placed money for my OBC based on what I normally charge on a cruise. You do have this option when filling out your online check in. Of course they suggested the amount of $60 per day, but since the only charge beyond my daily tips is my themal spa package, I placed enough for both of these items and a small cushion amount. If you are running low,they will call you from the front desk.
My only grip about HAL is I wish they offer guest the option of viewing their daily account info on their tv. Carnival offer this option and it's great of keeping tabs on your account.
Happy sailing!!
Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the
Maasdam!!
10/24/08-11/07/08

You can always go to the front desk and ask for a copy of your on board account every couple of days -- it just takes a couple of minutes for them to run it off for you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am cruising next MAY on Maasdam and HAL's papers suggested going to their site and completing the documentation today... Well, interesting item is that your credit card "hold" is $900 per person. WOW!!

I know it's generally $500 and I also agree that costs have skyrocketed; however, it's a good thing I read it. I aso agree that the company has to protect themselves...this is normal business practice.

But, Some people cut it "close" and $1800 being held would put them at a great disadvantage.

As has been said -- that amount is correct for your 15 day repositioning cruise - $60 per day per person.

Think what was held on our card last Nov when we boarded the Ryndam for a 23 day cruise!

[sail7seas]

KK is correct. They are very cheerful about providing you a copy of your 'bill to date' anytime you request. Go at an off time and there's no wait, no problem. Remember, the office is open 24/7 so you can go by whenever you wish.

[sail7seas]

As has been said -- that amount is correct for your 15 day repositioning cruise - $60 per day per person.

Think what was held on our card last Nov when we boarded the Ryndam for a 23 day cruise!

For years, we weren't even aware they were doing this. It wasn't a problem but it just didn't occur to us. Of course, we knew hotels did it so why didn't we think ships would, as well!!!?? One of those 'duh' moments. Another good thing about AmEx Plat......no specific limit.

[kryos]

I am cruising next MAY on Maasdam and HAL's papers suggested going to their site and completing the documentation today... Well, interesting item is that your credit card "hold" is $900 per person. WOW!!

My credit hold is $2,100, and that's per person ... not per stateroom.

I don't really care what they "hold" ... AmEx is virtually unlimited anyway ... but it does seem a bit high considering I've already bought just about all of my shore excursions and even some onboard stuff in advance. I'm even thinking about buying $500 in OBC to cover tips and a couple of other things.

But, I guess HAL knows what the majority spends ... I just know I won't come anywhere near that ... not since I've bought most of the expensive things in advance and paid for them already.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[kryos]

As has been said -- that amount is correct for your 15 day repositioning cruise - $60 per day per person.

Think what was held on our card last Nov when we boarded the Ryndam for a 23 day cruise!LOL ... I can't even begin to imagine what they would hold for a World Cruise. That's would be a lot of money! They're holding $2,100 for my 35 days cruise ... so I would imagine you'd have to triple that ... then double it again for a couple.

Do most people have that kind of a credit limit on their cards? I use AmEx, and supposedly there is no limit on that. I'm sure if I tried to charge $50 grand, they might question it ... but I know I've had it up as high as $10 grand in the past with no trouble. They must be used to me. I throw EVERYTHING on there and then pay most of it off the next month. I just wanna scarf up the bonus points. :)

But still ... having a hold for a World Cruise put on the card and you might not have anything left for other spending.

Do they hold the $60 per day for the entire World Cruise, or do they handle things by segment on them ... only holding the $60 per day for the segment and then seeing where you are at the end of the segment before taking more?

Blue skies ...

--rita

[GeriatricNurse]

I'm sailing on the Maasdam in October. I have only three credit cards, but with low limits. I placed money for my OBC based on what I normally charge on a cruise. You do have this option when filling out your online check in. Of course they suggested the amount of $60 per day, but since the only charge beyond my daily tips is my themal spa package, I placed enough for both of these items and a small cushion amount. If you are running low,they will call you from the front desk.
My only grip about HAL is I wish they offer guest the option of viewing their daily account info on their tv. Carnival offer this option and it's great of keeping tabs on your account.
Happy sailing!!
Second time around and my 40th birthday cruise on the
Maasdam!!
10/24/08-11/07/08


Celebrity also does this as well! Perhaps HAL should soon get with the program too!

[GeriatricNurse]

You can always go to the front desk and ask for a copy of your on board account every couple of days -- it just takes a couple of minutes for them to run it off for you.


What a waste of time! Perhaps HAL should upgrade their onboard service and put your account on your stateroom television, like Celebrity does, to be viewed as desired, without having to waste time standing in a line at the Front Desk to obtain a printout!

[sail7seas]

No reason to stand in line. We go by the front office so many times during the day/evening when there is no one there at all. Just don't go during what you obviously know would be extra busy times...... the day before the end of the cruise; the first day when people have all sorts of needs/request. Go after your dinner one night or when you come back early to the ship on a port day. It is no big deal.

[GMWT10A]

Thanx for all your response folks...as you can see, I've done a "few" cruises in my life...I just never thought about this before. Seeing it in print woke my eyes up! <G>

[Juanita462]

thank you for pointing this out - that is a whack of money for a 50 day cruise. Since our daily tips are prepaid and we don't drink or gamble or use the spa what would they need that much money on hold for? Perhaps we will just take some traveller's cheques with us and deposit them with HAL and top this up as needed.

[Alexat2]

What's really silly about the whole thing is with MOST cards that hold expires in 7 days, so if they do a hold at $60 per day for a cruise that's more than 7 days.... Well, I think you can figure that out, and they don't re-authorize it every 7 days. It's not for security purposes (to make sure they get their money) if it was, they'd do it the way most other lines do.

What MOST cruise lines do is take an initial authorization for $100 or so, and every night process your onboard charges - when you hit the $100 they authorize another $100 - if it doesn't clear your ability to charge is suspended. It makes a lot more sense if covering their behinds is what it's about...

:mad: Here's my theory on why HAL does it their way: Psychologically they're setting you up to SPEND that money. Since you already had the money held out to be authorized you're more likely to go ahead and spend it even if originally you were only budgeting $20 a day. "Oh, well honey what will $10 more a day hurt, we do have it." The word "sleazy" comes to mind and insulting - apparently they don't think anyone can figure that out. Keep in mind, not everyone has a platinum card - some of us have budgets and if you're on a longer cruise it takes a chunk, even if it's only temporary.

For the cruise I'm taking in September, 32 days - my "hold" is $1920. I rarely drink, don't do their tours (where the ship makes all their money), my only vice is internet time. I was on Marco Polo for 47 days last Nov/Dec my total charges came to a little over $700... I seriously think twice before doing long cruises on HAL because of the hold. I don't use credit cards so I have to block off cold, hard cash for that hold - and it annoys me everytime. Because that cash could be making me money in my portfolio instead...

I can understand the $60 per day for 7 day cruises, but beyond that - it's really STUPID the way they do it on all levels. What they should do is do an original hold for 7 days x $60 no matter what length the cruise is, and if they don't want to settle accounts nightly, when someone hits $420 authorize another $420 and so on. A lot of people prebook shore excursions, etc... do they really think the average cruiser is going to spend $1920 onboard if they've pre-booke excursions? You'd have to live in the spa, be drunk constantly (or buying drinks nightly for the whole bar).

What's eventually going to happen, especially in this economy, is people aren't going to book the longer cruises on HAL because it's a financial Pain In The A**

Lydia

ps. When mom and I were on the Veendam in '96 - they did it the per night way... so they used to do it like everybody else.:confused:

[Alexat2]

thank you for pointing this out - that is a whack of money for a 50 day cruise. Since our daily tips are prepaid and we don't drink or gamble or use the spa what would they need that much money on hold for? Perhaps we will just take some traveller's cheques with us and deposit them with HAL and top this up as needed.


:mad: They won't allow you to do that anymore. If you want to pay cash or travellers checks it has to be for the amount of the hold $60 x 50=$3000 per person.

Lydia

[Alexat2]

I placed money for my OBC based on what I normally charge on a cruise. You do have this option when filling out your online check in. 10/24/08-11/07/08

Since when? The literature I got before sailing last March, and the onboard for the one in Sept. 30 said the full amount was REQUIRED - period. Did I miss something on the online check in?

Lydia

ps. I just went back into online check-in and there's no way to edit the amount.

[westboroatty]

What a waste of time! Perhaps HAL should upgrade their onboard service and put your account on your stateroom television, like Celebrity does, to be viewed as desired, without having to waste time standing in a line at the Front Desk to obtain a printout!

It actually not in HAL's interest to make your account information available on demand through the TV. Studies have shown that people spend more when using plastic versus paper currency, and HAL want their passengers to spend as much as possible

Having to go the front desk for an accounting is a hassle that most people do not want to deal with. On my recent trip on the Rotterdam, there were usually between two to five people waiting in line at the Front Desk. Anybody who is motivated enough to wait in the line to get an accounting is probably going to exercize more restraint with their on board account. If HAL made account informaiton available via the TV, more passengers would realize how much they are spending and exercize restraint. That is not in HAL's best interest.

Rick

[aussiedisneyfan]

Thankfully we won't have a problem with our credit card, although we wont spend anywhere near the hold amount. What does annoy me is that they hold exactly the same amount for our 11 year old daughter and my understanding is they if we pay cash then they expect the $60x17 cash upfront.