Sail Cards

[blackjck]

Im traveling with husband and three kids and wondered what kind of hold is put on a credit card for the Ship N Sail cards?

[blackjck]

Im traveling with husband and three kids and wondered what kind of hold is put on a credit card for the Ship N Sail cards?

[Jim C.]

I don't know. I've always been on the cruise during the time the hold would have been applied so I have not bothered to check. I suppose you could ask them.

I don't think they charge the card until the end of the cruise, because you can "settle" your account the last night if you wish. And I know that only one charged shows up on the statement.

Its possible that they don't put a hold on the card, but they may do a credit "request" for a certain amount to verify the card company doesn't deny it.

Any know for sure how this works?

(You could always just give them a cash deposit, but this can be a hassle.

[mandypenn]

Assuming a 7 day cruise:
They put a $300-$400 hold on your credit card, PER PERSON (depends on ship and length of cruise). So, with 5 of you, they will put a $1500-$2000 hold on your card. At the end of the week, the hold is cleared and only the actual charged show up.

We are using cash instead (we really don't use credit, and don't want a hold on our checking account), and only have to deposit $200 pp.

Keep in mind, the gratuities are charged first day, so $350 comes off the top of whatever you have in the account. You can adjust them yourself.

Check out the carnival link:
http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Sai...d_Account.aspx

[1cruisefanatic]

quote:

Originally posted by mandypenn:


Keep in mind, the gratuities are charged first day, so $350 comes off the top of whatever you have in the account. You can adjust them yourself.

We go to purser's desk and tell them to remove the gratuities and tell them we will take care of it ourselves.

[John and Dottie]

So let me see if I have this right. Since we are first time cruisers and are leaving on the 4th on the miracle. If I pay in cash I put down 400.00 for both of us but if I use a credit card the hold is 800.00? I guess I don't get it. why the big differences in the amounts?

[Jerome]

OK WE WERE TOLD ITS 10.00 PER DAY PER GUESTS WHICH ON A SEVEN DAY CRUISE IS 70.00 A PERSON UNLESS WE WERE TOLD WRONG THATS WHAT THERE POLICY STATES ALSO

[Jim C.]

Jerome/John & Dottie-

First, yes it is $10 per person per day for tips. This is what will be charged. You CAN go to the pusurers desk at any point in the cruise and have them change the amounts.

John- the big difference is that with the credit card, you could charge more than the $800 really fast on the cruise. They just are trying to make sure your card will accept the charges. The cash deposit will stop letting you charge as soon as you burn the deposit. So a family of 4 puting down $400 will be at $220 balance the first day after they take out the $280 for tips (assuming a 7 day cruise.) LEaving $220 before the card stops letting you charge things. A couple of spa appointments and you could wipe that out fast. So the larger "hold" is to cover CCL for the potentional of a guest over charging their cards. Unless you don't have the free balance headroom on the card, there is really no harm in the hold. They don't accually charge anything until the end of the cruise. So your 30 day grace period or interest doesn't start until then.