3 Day Cruise

[JGB]

How much of a hold does carnival put on your credit card the morning of a 3 day cruise (per person)

[mz-s]

I am pretty sure they start with $100 and increase the hold as necessary, and finally they actually charge the card at checkout.

[ZoeyVictoria]

A hold of $100 was placed on the morning of the cruise, before we even left home.  The next day a hold was placed that basically was $100 less than what we spent the first day.  So, $100 hold the morning of the first day, spent $123 on Day 1, hold was placed for $23 the morning of Day 2.  At the end of the cruise, the total of the holds equaled the total amount we had spent.  The total charge went through before the last two holds dropped off.  It would be a mistake to use a credit card with a low amount of available credit.

[kdr69]

Sail & Sign Account Opened with a Credit Card or Debit Card

• Guests may activate their Sail & Sign account on Carnival.com, My Cruise Manager, Online Check-in prior to their cruise or on the first day of the cruise at embarkation.
• On embarkation day, an initial bank hold of up to $200 (depending on cruise length) is placed on all credit card and debit card accounts to verify that the card is valid:
  • 2 - 6 day cruise: $100 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card 
  • 7 days or longer: $200 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card 
• If the guest replaces a credit card or debit card previously used, the hold will remain on the account during the cruise and will remain on the account for one or more days after the cruise depending on the issuing bank's hold policy, limiting access to funds.
• As money is spent throughout the cruise, additional holds on bank funds are obtained. This will result in multiple amounts being held.  
  • If a credit card is presented, this will reduce the amount available on the credit card for other purchases.
  • If a debit/check-cashing card is presented, the hold will restrict the available cash in the checking account.
• On the day the cruise returns, Carnival immediately settles the guest's account with their bank for the total amount of their onboard expenses. Holds will remain on the account for one or more days depending on the issuing bank's hold policy, limiting access to funds.
• For Debit Card Holders, if using this form of payment, the bank will process the final total spent on the guest's Sail & Sign account plus retain the bank holds processed, per the bank policy.
• The bank is responsible for releasing any pending holds from the guest's account. Carnival is not able to expedite the release of bank holds. The guest will need to contact their bank for assistance.

[dallasdan]

They placed multiple $ 200 holds on my credit card during a 7 day Panorama cruise.  The holds were more than my settlement charge at the end of the cruise.

[cruisingguy007]

If you don't want a bunch of rolling holds, you can put some cruise cash in your account and that should reduce the rolling holds since you'll have credit and the charges should debit from there. Auto grats will hit on the second to last day too if not pre payed.