What the Purser's Desk told me about the Seapass...check card vs. cash account

[CCCCreg]

Correct, the "holds" were not charged.

[bubbie617]

CCCCreg:

 

How do you get 3% on your Costco Amex card? I only get 1%. Thanks.

[CCCCreg]

It actually depends on how RCCL codes the charges. All of your charges from the Seapass are lumped together under one charge and code. (another good reason to get cash from the casino instead of the ATM, it shows up as entertainment and carries no extra fees at all, the ship ATM charges $5 upfront, plus whatever your local bank adds to it)The card gives 3% for restaurants or dining out, 2% for travel, hotel, etc, and 1% for all other puchases. I have gotten 3% before and at the very least will get 2%.

 

I also booked through Costco travel and got a great price plus a $200.00 Costco cash card, which as much as we spend at Costco, is like getting an addittional $200.00 off. However, you do not receive the cash card until approx. 2 weeks after you return from your cruise.

[CCCCreg]

It actually depends on how RCCL codes the charges. All of your charges from the Seapass are lumped together under one charge and code. (another good reason to get cash from the casino instead of the ATM, it shows up as entertainment and carries no extra fees at all, the ship ATM charges $5 upfront, plus whatever your local bank adds to it)The card gives 3% for restaurants or dining out, 2% for travel, hotel, etc, and 1% for all other puchases. I have gotten 3% before and at the very least will get 2%.

 

I also booked through Costco travel and got a great price plus a $200.00 Costco cash card, which as much as we spend at Costco, is like getting an addittional $200.00 off. However, you do not receive the cash card until approx. 2 weeks after you return from your cruise.

[bubbie617]

Thanks for the info about the Costco Amex. I will definitely look into it. We have booked our 2006 cruises through Costco Travel. Have you had any problems with them we should be alert for?

[CCCCreg]

No, Costco Travel was great. The prices were very good and the agent was very knowledgable. They do not send out a reminder for the final payment and they don't send out travel documents until about 2 weeks prior to the cruise, but everything was in order and just like we wanted. They did tell me up front that they didn't send out the doc's until 2 weeks before hand, but it made me nervous with everyone else on the board seemingly doing the doc dance before us!:) I definitely plan on using them again.

[mirthmaiden]

OK, I've been reading through this thread and it's really good information. But now I'm indecisive about which to do. I would much prefer to use my VISA check card, but unless I have loads of cushion in my account, I could have a problem after a week's worth of holds put on there. But I hate the thought of having to deal with cash, and I really hate the thought of having to visit the pursers desk at the end of the week for any reason because of the long lines. If I put a lump sum of cash on the account beginning of the week, I'd still have to go at the end and settle up.

 

Some questions:

 

1) if I give my VISA check card # when filling out the SetSail pass info online, am I committed to it? Can I change to cash once we check in at the port?

 

2) I only have a couple of credit cards and both have low limits on them. Can I give one of those credit card numbers online, and then settle up at the end of the cruise with the VISA check card before anything gets charged? In other words, is there a minimum amount of available credit necessary to be able to use a credit card for the SetSail pass?

[Nliedel]

I told them cash on my set sail pass but I can change to a CC when I get there if I prefer. If you change from one card to another then you still have to visit the pursers desk at the end of the cruise.

 

I used a debit card tied to my checking account before and it was a nightmare of overdraws for a week on the thing till it all got credited back. I will NEVER do it again. I would seriously encourage people not to do this if you are even close on your checking. We had two thousad dollars in it an spent one, because of the "daily hold" we had a grand tied up for over a week after the cruise. Yikes! Made it hard to buy groceries.

 

I know the pursers desk is a hassle. I wish there was another way but we slog through it. My CC just don't have the room on them to do a big vacation. I only have two, with low limits, and I like it that way!

[islandbound1day]

That is why I like my Wachovia checkcard. They do not put holds on your account for items authorized by hotels, cruiselines, car rentals, and pay at the pump. Once the "final" charge is sent through is when they debit your account. I realized this when I made my last couple of payments for my upcoming cruise. I called the cruiseline and they ran my card and gave me the approval code. I then checked my balance with Wachovia and it did not show up as a hold against my balance like it does when I purchase something at Macys or at the grocery store. A few days later, the amount was finally debited from my account. I have already had them put a 1000.00 on my onboard account prior to my cruise and I just used my checkcard as a back up.

[mirthmaiden]

I told them cash on my set sail pass but I can change to a CC when I get there if I prefer. If you change from one card to another then you still have to visit the pursers desk at the end of the cruise.

 

I used a debit card tied to my checking account before and it was a nightmare of overdraws for a week on the thing till it all got credited back. I will NEVER do it again. I would seriously encourage people not to do this if you are even close on your checking. We had two thousad dollars in it an spent one, because of the "daily hold" we had a grand tied up for over a week after the cruise. Yikes! Made it hard to buy groceries.

 

I know the pursers desk is a hassle. I wish there was another way but we slog through it. My CC just don't have the room on them to do a big vacation. I only have two, with low limits, and I like it that way!

 

Yep, that's how I work too. Thanks for the advice. You've convinced me to do it the cash way. I don't want to be stuck trying to use the debit card to buy gas or something on the way home and have a problem. It will be ugly enough driving up I-95 the Sunday after Thanksgiving ;)

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

HOld on... how does 'hold's work exactly?

 

Can I change to 'cash' once I get there?

[NeJaz]

If I have a credit card with a $1500 credit limit, I will actually only get to charge $750 while on-board the ship ($750 actually spent and a $750 'hold')?

 

This could really put a damper on my plans. We usually spend between $1000 - $1200 on a cruise and thought my $1500 credit limit would be plenty, am I wrong? :eek:

[Nliedel]

If I have a credit card with a $1500 credit limit, I will actually only get to charge $750 while on-board the ship ($750 actually spent and a $750 'hold')?

 

This could really put a damper on my plans. We usually spend between $1000 - $1200 on a cruise and thought my $1500 credit limit would be plenty, am I wrong? :eek:

 

A credit card is different than a debit card. The problems I encountered were with a debit card, which seems, in some instances, to put holds and actual charges in funny catagories. If you hold 500 on a debit card it will not allow the funds to clear on that 500, even if it is the same company. A credit card will just clear the funds. You should be fine.

[NeJaz]

A credit card is different than a debit card. The problems I encountered were with a debit card, which seems, in some instances, to put holds and actual charges in funny catagories. If you hold 500 on a debit card it will not allow the funds to clear on that 500, even if it is the same company. A credit card will just clear the funds. You should be fine.

Thanks for the clarification. I was getting a little nervous!