$60 per day cash deposit?

For establishing your On Board Account? Is this actually enforced? On other lines $200-250 has been a sufficient deposit for a 7 day cruise and they will notify you if you are approaching your limit.:confused: I never even spend THAT much!

Yes, it's strictly enforced. Whether you use a credit or debit card, or cash, you need to deposit $60 per day at the beginning of the cruise. Of course, you'll only be charged for what you actually spend. The rest will be refunded.

Roz

Yes -- when you fill out your immigration form on line, it will tell you the amount that will be held on your charge day -- which won't be put on your card until the first day of your cruise. Thus a seven day cruise for 2 people -- $840.

We have seen several people have credit card problems in various ports.

HAL doesn enforce it.

Krazy Kruizers already indicated this, but just to make it crystal clear - if you use a credit card to set up your onboard account, they don't actually charge $60pp/pd to the card when you board. Rather, they put a hold for that amount against your credit limit. So you won't actually be charged for any portion of the deposit that you don't use; it's just that your available credit will be reduced by that amount until the cruise is over and the actual charges are posted. Then the hold will be released.

Remember that $10pp/pd of that amount covers what will be billed for the hotel service charge (aka autotip). Admittedly, the remaining $50pp/pd is on the high side if you're not big on onboard spending. But if you have a credit card with a relatively high amount of credit available, it's harmless.

And if you use an Amex, isn't a hold basically meaningless since there's no preset limit anyhow?

But back to the OP question: if you're paying in cash -- and you haven't got a credit card with a sufficient limit -- and you simply haven't GOT enough cash, then what happens? Do they deny you boarding?

All of this is spelled out in the "Know Before You Go" booklet, so there's no excuse for showing up without either adequate cash or enough of a credit line to cover it.

Roz

It seems that my VISA has a hold of $1400.00 on it.

While we are on 'strange restrictions', it would seem that all cruises leaving from a U.S. port, MUST have all passengers on board 1 1/2 hours prior to sailing, otherwise you will not be permitted to board. The reason is that the U.S. Government now requires a full list of all cruisers ONE HOUR before the ship sails! I advise that you check this with your T.A..

john

And if you use an Amex, isn't a hold basically meaningless since there's no preset limit anyhow?

 

But back to the OP question: if you're paying in cash -- and you haven't got a credit card with a sufficient limit -- and you simply haven't GOT enough cash, then what happens? Do they deny you boarding?

They will deny the ability to purchase anything aboard the ship. You will be not be able to purchase a drink, soft drink, photo, anything in the stores, spa, salon, excursion etc........

No on board purchases.

As said above, it is clearly delineated and everyone (should) know about this.

OP: if you truly meant to make a CASH deposit (not by credit card), Revneal/Greg has reported on several occasions of putting down less than the $60/p/d, and had them call him back down if/when a further deposit was required. I've looked for a specific minimum amount that must be deposited, and can't find one, but IIRC you can start out by depositing as little as $100 per person.

And if you use an Amex, isn't a hold basically meaningless since there's no preset limit anyhow?

 

But back to the OP question: if you're paying in cash -- and you haven't got a credit card with a sufficient limit -- and you simply haven't GOT enough cash, then what happens? Do they deny you boarding?

I din't know about others, but my Amex Blue has a $25,000 Limit, which is preset, even though my balance is less than $1000, and if I charge a cruise I always pay it off in complete prior to the cruise date, that way I can enjoy myself.....The cruise line does put a "hold" on the card, but it's basically meaningless as long as your limit is high and your balance is low.:)

I did have a momentary pause when I realized that the cost of the cruise, plus airfare, plus pre-cruise hotel, PLUS the hold, would start to approach the limit on my primary card.

Then I remembered that I have to pay for the cruise 2 months before we leave anyhow, so that won't matter. And the airfare is long since paid for. So that just leaves the pre-cruise hotel and any incidentals.

OK, i understand it but i dont have to LIKE:p it!

In essence, i will be making a deposit into a non-interest bearing account in the amount of $420.00 to cover expenses of perhaps $100.00???

No, i more than dislike it...it STINKS!:eek:

OK, i understand it but i dont have to LIKE:p it!

In essence, i will be making a deposit into a non-interest bearing account in the amount of $420.00 to cover expenses of perhaps $100.00???

No, i more than dislike it...it STINKS!:eek:

In essence, i will be making a deposit into a non-interest bearing account in the amount of $420.00 to cover expenses of perhaps $100.00???

Only if you pay in cash. If you have a credit card with a sufficient limit, then they will NOT charge the card -- they will place a hold preventing you from using it to purchase other things in port, unless your limit is higher than $420 plus your outstanding balance. But you will NOT be paying interest on the money or giving up any actual money unless you actually buy things.

Merchants place holds on your card all the time. When you buy gas via credit card, they usually place a $50 hold on the card even if you only end up buying $5 worth of gas (not that it's easy to buy only $5 worth of gas anymore). The hold is released the following day. On the cruise, they'll release it as soon as you disembark.

Only if you pay in cash.

I was planning on putting 500.00 in ship board credits this weekend for our March cruise. With 100 we already have, will they still put the hold on our card?

I have been reading this thread because my credit card is "on record" for all four in our suite. I actually did not read the fine print when I did the pre-registration and thought it was $60 psuitepday. Because I am using my Amex I am not concerned about the hold but it was nice to see that if you are uncomfortable with the hold you just have to let them know. If I see that my kids have bought multiple rounds of smoothies for everyone at the pool it will be deducted from their allowance when they get home.

I really should have read that the $60 was pp not per suite but I'm going on vacation and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Cherie

I was planning on putting 500.00 in ship board credits this weekend for our March cruise. With 100 we already have, will they still put the hold on our card?

If I see that my kids have bought multiple rounds of smoothies for everyone at the pool it will be deducted from their allowance when they get home.

I think you can put limits on the charging ability of your kids, but I'm not sure how that works. I hope it isn't all or nothing because I'd like to give my 8-year-old a little flexibility to charge herself a virgin pina colada or coke now and then. I suppose she'll probably be with us when she needs something like that, but she still might enjoy ordering it herself with her own card.

does the ship board credit count towards your $60/ps/day. what happens if you have $600 on the shipboard credit and you are taking a 10 day cruise. then the remaining $600 is put on hold on your credit card or is the full amount $1200 put on your credit card to hold.

or is the full amount $1200 put on your credit card to hold.

For 2 people on a 10-day, the full $1200 will be held regardless of any OBC's. If you spend $800 on board, then your $600 OBC's will leave a balance of $200 as the actual amount charged to your cc.

I think you can put limits on the charging ability of your kids, but I'm not sure how that works. I hope it isn't all or nothing because I'd like to give my 8-year-old a little flexibility to charge herself a virgin pina colada or coke now and then. I suppose she'll probably be with us when she needs something like that, but she still might enjoy ordering it herself with her own card.

I'm almost positive that when I checked about this on the Zuiderdam last time, it was an "all or nothing" option I was given for the kids ability to charge with their cabin cards. I too, wanted my 9 yo to be able to pick up a souvenir or something from the gift shop... I knew she wasn't hitting the casino or anything! :D

HTH

caroline

Thank you jtl513, i must have missed post #9!;) I will try to reach RevNeal when he returns, I believe he is sailing right now...

On my recent Zuiderdam cruise I registered my credit card but on the 2nd day I received a formal letter from the front desk advising me that my card had been declined. I was asked to come to the front desk to resolve the issue. The staff allowed me to call my credit card company and it turned out HAL had entered the wrong expiry date when they tried to put on the $60 per day hold. The staff apologized and I was able to quickly resolve the situation but it was an very unpleasant experience :o

Can you use one card when you check in for the $60pp hold and then pay what you owe with a different card? The card I have that has enough $$ available to hold is a high interest card, I would like to pay what we actually owe with a low interest card.