Last time with Princess. EVER!

[bhopal21]

I've been told that the credit/debit card problem occurs because Princess will get an authorization each night for that day's charges. Then, at the end of the cruise, they don't use the previous authorizations, but put the balance through as one big charge. The bank is still waiting for the "ghost" charges and that's why there are problems if you don't have a large limit.

 

You are exactly correct my friend.

 

And this occurs at many places now. With the new Apple Pay app on the iphone you know immediately when this happens, I discovered that buying gas at Kroger when my phone chirped and I took a look to see that Kroger had put a $150 hold on my American Express for a $24 gas purchase.

 

So one may need a higher limit credit card or at least make sure you have an adequate amount of "available credit" before boarding.

 

Mike:)

[AZbeachboy]

It is up to the bank how long to keep the hold on.

 

It is not just holds from Princess. All cruise lines and hotels will place holds.

 

Buy gasoline at the pump and a hold for $xx will be placed on the card before you pump a drop.

 

And this is not just a recent occurrence. Over two decades ago I had a $4 charge declined because the hotel I was staying at had placed a big hold on my card.

 

I know that. However, even now when I get my gas the hold is gone after the payment. That is why I normally carry cash for gas purchases. My hotel charges have never stayed on longer than the payment was made. Ethel is right on what the problem with Princess is.

 

This use to never be a problem with princess when they pre authorized credit cards. Then the whole amount was sent in under that preauthorization. If you used more that 500 they charged your card and authorized another $500.

Edited March 11, 2015 by AZbeachboy

[STREETKING]

I've been told that the credit/debit card problem occurs because Princess will get an authorization each night for that day's charges. Then, at the end of the cruise, they don't use the previous authorizations, but put the balance through as one big charge. The bank is still waiting for the "ghost" charges and that's why there are problems if you don't have a large limit.

 

I had this very thing happen to me on the Caribbean Princess, it can be very frustrating and time consuming to resolve the issue. I also like the suggestion of gifting yourself OBC.

[schlot]

We went on the CB in late January and had a wonderful time. Nothing the OP stated even sounds like the same ship we were on.

 

In fact after the initial question about whether we wanted wine tasting, etc. I was surprised that we never heard the question again. Very low pressure.

 

No idea on the internet...and the Casino is designed to eat your money so no big surprise there.

 

Entertainment was very nice as were the activities. Broadway quality, no....but I didn't pay for that either.

 

Food in the MDR was great and the buffet was very good.

 

Odd to hear such a difference from what we experienced.

 

I know I should try a few other lines but with the great times we have had now on two cruises I hesitate to try others.

[jak378]

I've been told that the credit/debit card problem occurs because Princess will get an authorization each night for that day's charges. Then, at the end of the cruise, they don't use the previous authorizations, but put the balance through as one big charge. The bank is still waiting for the "ghost" charges and that's why there are problems if you don't have a large limit.

 

I don't exactly understand why Princess places several holds on a card during the cruise. It seems kind of counterproductive to me, but having said that I do not find it to be a problem. We use our credit card for nearly every purchase we make during the course of a month. This results in numerous holds, but they are not a problem with a large limit and never running a balance past the end of the billing period. On our last cruise I paid the current balance off prior to the cruise even though the due date was still a couple of weeks off just to eliminate any possibility of problems. Using the card for everything also results in a lot of points/miles, enough to pay for our previous cruise using Cap1's purchase eraser. To me, along with direct deposit, it is very convenient.

[Viesczy]

It is unfortunate when someone spends their money and invests their time w/o getting the return on that $/time that they were hoping to get.

 

I do hope that the OP gets satisfaction within Princess or finds another line that exceeds their hopes/wishes.

 

Sadly some of the things, the hawking of products, won't go away. Pretty soon we'll be getting time share presentations in the elevators I fear! :mad:

[Host CJSKIDS]

The washcloth situation was bizarre. We encountered pockets of cabins around the ship that weren't getting two of them. And I forgot about the MUTS blankets. We needed them! It was hard because the nights we watched a movie up there, there also weren't any pool towels out.

 

All in all I am not anxious to return to the Caribbean Princess, but that doesn't mean we didn't enjoy ourselves. Not every cruise can be better than the one before it.

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I know we all enjoyed reading about your time on the ship.

 

We were on the ship this past fall and while we enjoyed our cruises, it was our least favorite ship.

[edpeeks]

I know that. I don't mind spending / losing the money but give me more time to play.

 

Push the button s-l-o-w-e-r!

[dtb55]

I've been told that the credit/debit card problem occurs because Princess will get an authorization each night for that day's charges. Then, at the end of the cruise, they don't use the previous authorizations, but put the balance through as one big charge. The bank is still waiting for the "ghost" charges and that's why there are problems if you don't have a large limit.

 

 

It must depend on the bank. I always use my debit card and when the final bill goes through all the prior authorizations drop off.

[MJSailors]

Oh, goodie! I'm glad you posted here. I've been reading your blog and wanting to tell you that we had the same exact problems with getting small washcloths on our Regal cruise this past December. I was told by our room steward that Princess has a shortage of the washcloths! So, that part is not a problem just on the Caribbean Princess. :eek:

 

We are just off the Regal (2/22/15) sailing.

Plenty of wash cloths- all the time.

Maybe house keeping picked up the slack since December or we lucked out with an excellent steward who kept us well supplied with towels,washcloths,lotion and soap.

[markf]

I was on CB in early Feb in a full suite, my first time on Princess , but about 25th overall.

I was very dissapointed in the treatment of the suite passengers as it compares to NCL or X.

I found the overall higher staff to be invisible, and unapproachable.

However after a month being home some of the neagtive thoughts have left me.

I would have liked to have gotten priority to the Sanctuary , reserved seats at the shows, these are the things that NCL does well.

The choice of food in the buffet was limited, and we had a poor meal in the steak house , we did complain, but nothing was done. On NCL I would have at least gotten a free drink or a free meal. On the flip side Sabitinis went there 2x for dinner was excellent.

Breakfast there was also a nice touch.

Having said all that --I wont be returning!! As there are better choices

[JimAOk1945]

We were on the Island Princess in December in a full suite. We were disappointed as well. The cruise was great, but their treatment of us a suite passengers was disappointing.

 

We choose our cruises based on itineraries, so it is possible that we will return to Princess again. But, in the meantime we will cruise on RC. Next year we plan to try HAL.

[schlot]

What were you expecting as suite passengers that made you feel they fell short?

[Lovetocruiseprincess]

We are just off the Regal (2/22/15) sailing.

Plenty of wash cloths- all the time.

Maybe house keeping picked up the slack since December or we lucked out with an excellent steward who kept us well supplied with towels,washcloths,lotion and soap.

 

I beginning to think that the early bird stewards are the ones who get the first shot at loading up on the linens.

[PescadoAmarillo]

We are just off the Regal (2/22/15) sailing.

Plenty of wash cloths- all the time.

Maybe house keeping picked up the slack since December or we lucked out with an excellent steward who kept us well supplied with towels,washcloths,lotion and soap.

 

I can't fault our steward. As it happened, we had had him as a steward last year on the Royal Princess and he was excellent. I felt very bad for him...everyone was complaining about the situation. He would stay on duty until 10pm to get some clean washcloths and then deliver them to our cabin. On the nights when we got none or one, we knew he had either finally given up or there simply weren't enough for two per cabin. It's really quite unforgivable for a ship to not have adequate linens and towels.

[DebJ14]

We, too, are not real happy with Princess hitting our credit card numerous times during a cruise. For a while on our recent b2b they were hitting it every day. We haven't come up with any fraud alert problems because they don't appear to be real charges, just holds or something similar.

 

Well then you won't be happy with Carnival, HAL, or Royal Caribbean either as they get authorizations every evening for the days spending once you have exceeded their original hold. I find it a game to check my credit card to see how many are on there by the end of the cruise. Last cruise on Princess, they nailed us every night and then for the final bill, which was the total of all the previous holds.

 

I made the mistake of doing some shopping the first night and used up the amount of the hold they placed BEFORE I had even set foot on the ship. It took about 10 days until the last hold dropped off.

 

This is why we never use a debit card because the cash in the checking account would be tied up until the holds went away. Also, debit cards can have daily spending limits and if they can't get an authorization, they will shut down your Sea Pass.

[Canuckjammer]

A motto I learned a long time ago...Any day at sea is better than a day at work!

[caribill]

I don't exactly understand why Princess places several holds on a card during the cruise.

 

Instead of placing a big hold on your card, it only places holds for actual onboard charges.

 

I am sure if Princess placed a big hold at the start of the cruise instead of daily holds for actual spending there would be complaints about Princess having the high amount of credit tied up unnecessarily.

[Sea Day Cruiser]

I can't fault our steward. As it happened, we had had him as a steward last year on the Royal Princess and he was excellent. I felt very bad for him...everyone was complaining about the situation. He would stay on duty until 10pm to get some clean washcloths and then deliver them to our cabin. On the nights when we got none or one, we knew he had either finally given up or there simply weren't enough for two per cabin. It's really quite unforgivable for a ship to not have adequate linens and towels.

 

 

I was on the Royal in January and February and had one of the worst room stewards I've ever had. Almost every day something was missing from my cabin – glasses, towels, soap, ice, and washclothes. When I asked him for washcloths he told me to same thing – that there was a shortage of washcloths on the ship. At the time I didn't believe him because so many other things were forgotten also. I guess on that one item maybe he was right and there is a Princess wide shortage of washclothes. Unbelievable!

[paddingtonbear]

Instead of placing a big hold on your card, it only places holds for actual onboard charges.

 

I am sure if Princess placed a big hold at the start of the cruise instead of daily holds for actual spending there would be complaints about Princess having the high amount of credit tied up unnecessarily.

 

I am thinking of increasing he limit on my credit card and am not sure how much I will need if the hold stays for 10 days after they apply it.

 

I need to cover all the money I spend on board (drinks and excursions etc) and the service charge. Is there anything else I need to cover?

[paddingtonbear]

I was on the Royal in January and February and had one of the worst room stewards I've ever had. Almost every day something was missing from my cabin – glasses, towels, soap, ice, and washclothes. When I asked him for washcloths he told me to same thing – that there was a shortage of washcloths on the ship. At the time I didn't believe him because so many other things were forgotten also. I guess on that one item maybe he was right and there is a Princess wide shortage of washclothes. Unbelievable!

 

D Americans (as a huge generalisation) use washcloths?

My DH does but we went to a hotel in Australia the other day and asked for a washcloth and they looked at us as if we were completely mad. It took hours to get them delivered!

[BridgeMates]

Many hotels in Europe and other overseas areas do not furnish washcloths. Reasons stated were they are just too personal. We pack a few old ones and discard if we want or put the wet ones in a little plastic bag. Never had a problem on cruise ships tho.

[pablo222]

I beginning to think that the early bird stewards are the ones who get the first shot at loading up on the linens.

 

On my last cruise, I would see my steward in the hallway folding

towels at 5:30. He did not run out of anything.

 

One of the best stewards ever. When I got to the cabin, the

shower curtain smelled terrible. I asked him if he could change.

 

He did, very quickly.

 

Later he asked me if everything was ok, and thanked me for

bringing the problem to his attention.

 

I just about fell over.

 

I think he needs to go back to steward school and learn to grumble

under his breath at requests, so he doesn't make the other stewards

on princess look bad.

[Corfe Mixture]

I was on CB in early Feb in a full suite, my first time on Princess , but about 25th overall.

I was very dissapointed in the treatment of the suite passengers as it compares to NCL or X.

I found the overall higher staff to be invisible, and unapproachable.

However after a month being home some of the neagtive thoughts have left me.

I would have liked to have gotten priority to the Sanctuary , reserved seats at the shows, these are the things that NCL does well.

The choice of food in the buffet was limited, and we had a poor meal in the steak house , we did complain, but nothing was done. On NCL I would have at least gotten a free drink or a free meal. On the flip side Sabitinis went there 2x for dinner was excellent.

Breakfast there was also a nice touch.

Having said all that --I wont be returning!! As there are better choices

 

 

Interesting. I won't go into the details of why, but we left P&O and moved to Princess, because we felt that they did not value their suite passengers and have not regretted the change of loyalty

 

We also like Seabourn very much, but feel that a very good suite on Princess is better value for money than a basic veranda suite on Seabourn.

 

All goes to prove that perceptions vary between folks.

[birdiebill]

We were on a five day on the Caribbean Princess Feb 21 to Feb 26. We were pleased with our entire experience except for the presence of Noro the last two full days.

 

We enjoyed all the entertainment, our steward took good care of our room, the food was better than we fix for ourselves at home, the ship was in good shape considering its age, the passenger services desk was efficient in one problem we had with our credit card at the beginning of the cruise.

 

We ate all evening meals in the MDR except for one night in the Crown Grill; that was the best meal we have ever had on a Princess ship.

 

So much of cruising is subjective and what an individual makes of it. For us the excitement of experiencing something new is reduced; we know what to expect on each cruise even though it is becoming much more familiar. But we still enjoy getting away on Princess.

 

I hope you enjoy whatever cruise you take in the future regardless of cruise line.