Questions re setting up your on board account

[Emmaizzy]

Hi Everyone

 

We are traveling on Epic in August from Barcelona.

 

As we live in Jersey our currency is Sterling (GBP). When we travel we use pre-paid debit cards to avoid the currency conversion charges UK banks levy if you use your bank debit/credit cards.

 

We hold a dollar pre paid card and a euro pre paid card.

 

Having read NCL's blurp it states:

 

How do I pay for my extras?

Easy! When you check-in you open a shipboard account by registering a major credit, debit or charge card – VISA®, MasterCard® or American Express. If you prefer to pay by cash or traveller’s cheques, you’ll need to lodge a deposit of U.S.$100 per person per day at check-in (subject to change).

Then, you simply sign for your personal expenses as you go and they will be charged to your account. To make things even easier, if you haven’t paid the service charge in advance this will also be charged to your on-board account.

On the last morning of your cruise you can settle your account in cash (U.S.$ only), or if you have registered a card, the total amount will be automatically charged to that card.

IMPORTANT When your debit/credit card is entered to activate your on-board account, an initial approval is obtained from the bank. Please be advised that some banks may hold the pre-authorisation for up to 30 days. Throughout the voyage incremental holds will be obtained based on your on-board expenditure. This will reduce the amount of available credit on the credit card or restrict the availability of cash in your bank account.

 

Firstly I have to say the bank holding the funds is nonsense but moving on....

 

My query/concern is that we are cruising first then spending a week in Barcelona. I am concerned that if NCL will continue to hold monies on my card I won't be able to access the funds when we are in our second week in Barcelona causing a major cash crises!

 

If I use cash $100 seems a lot but as a first time cruiser maybe it isn't! Will I be expected to lodge $100 a day for our kids as well, one of whom is only 5 and I don't want to have charging rights or can I set up a cash account for them which is limited! I certainly don't want them having access to our $1400 or even $700 themselves.

 

If it came down to it I would rather give them the cash as at least I get that back at the end of the cruise guaranteed.

 

Thanks

Emma

[ohioNCLcruiser]

The cash you put down doesn't have to be $100 a day. All you need to put down is enough to cover the daily $12 service charge, if you haven't already prepaid it, plus any shore excursions that you reserved before the cruise.

 

After that whatever you decide to spend onboard is what you will need to put down. You can go to the desk and put cash down anytime to make sure your account is still active. At the end of the cruise you can go to the Onboard Credit Desk to collect any cash you haven't spent. I would do that then putting down a debit card.

 

As far as the bank putting down a hold they have to make sure you have the funds to cover what they are going to be charged! ;-)

 

Hope that helps,

James

 

http://twitter.com/#!/cruiseshipcrew

[che5904]

This wording appears to have changed for the cash deposit, I thought back in Feb when we took our cruise it said on the U.S. site that “US$100 per person per day is recommended”. Now the U.S. site as well says “US$100 per person per day is required”. Interesting!

The portion of the bank holding money up to 30 days is not all “nonsense”, some banks do. I know some of our Canadian banks will hold a debit authorization (not on our credit cards) on U.S. based currency for 30 days because it can take that long for everything to be cleared. And I have heard of some banks in the states putting a hold for a bit. If this is not true with the bank you use in the Channel Islands that’s great. But NCL did have to cover their butts so people were not screaming at them if the pax bank did a hold. Note they do say “Please be advised that some banks may hold the pre-authorisation for up to 30 days.”, not they will. Your concern with NCL holding is not necessary, NCL does not hold the funds (straight from my bank).

Please do take note: that I have seen a quite a few people have major problems with their pre-paid cards onboard. In saying that there could be numerous reason for this, maybe they didn’t have enough to cover, maybe it was the type they were using, or the fact that connection with land can be iffy. The canned answer from the desk onboard was “these things always gives us a problem” Maybe that was there way of not embarrassing the customer for lack of funds or maybe they do really have issues with these cards.

Everyones spending habits are different, alcohol can really boost your bill

Ours had for 2 people: approx. $500 for 7 days we are very low spenders

Shore excursion 2 ports

Small liquor sales

Photos

Souvenirs (just a couple)

DSC

1 specialty restaurant

Good luck

[Emmaizzy]

I don't think we are allowed to put names on here but this is the email response from my international Mastercard Pre-Paid:

 

On our cards once you have paid the final bill, or if you pay in advance once you finish the cruise, the funds will remain on hold for up to 16 days. What happens is NCL will request that we place the funds on hold for them in case for some reason a payment doesn’t go through. The best way thing to do would be to use a credit card for the security deposit and then use the Caxton card for the final bill.

 

Confirming my comment that it is not actually the bank that holds the funds but at NCL's request.

 

Good advice from the card provider but actually means I need to have to sources of funds for the trip!

 

I think it will just be easier to pay by cash which is shame because the exchange rate is better on my card and I don't want to end up with a whole load of dollars at the end of the trip and have to try and get rid of them.

 

I think I will email NCL uk for confirmation.

[che5904]

I don't think we are allowed to put names on here but this is the email response from my international Mastercard Pre-Paid:

 

On our cards once you have paid the final bill, or if you pay in advance once you finish the cruise, the funds will remain on hold for up to 16 days. What happens is NCL will request that we place the funds on hold for them in case for some reason a payment doesn’t go through. The best way thing to do would be to use a credit card for the security deposit and then use the Caxton card for the final bill.

 

Confirming my comment that it is not actually the bank that holds the funds but at NCL's request.

 

:) Interesting how different countries do different things. So perhaps in your case NCL would hold the funds to clear from where you are from. I just know for Canada and the U.S. it doesn't work that way. Sorry that I didn't realize it wouldn't be banks from other countries. Keep your eyes and ears open you will learn something new today. Thanks for the lesson.

 

Good advice from the card provider but actually means I need to have to sources of funds for the trip!

 

Yes I think it is good advice from the card holder but I can see where this wouldn't work for some. I guess thats why it's called freestyle so you have more than one option for everything.

 

I think it will just be easier to pay by cash which is shame because the exchange rate is better on my card and I don't want to end up with a whole load of dollars at the end of the trip and have to try and get rid of them.

 

Thats too bad.

 

I think I will email NCL uk for confirmation.

 

Probably a good idea

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Do you have a credit card? You can also put the credit card on your account to keep it active then on the last night of the cruise you can use your travel card and inform Guest Services to put a one time charge for your total balance on that card so nothing goes towards your actual credit card. Just another option you have.

 

James

http://twitter.com/#!/cruiseshipcrew

[Emmaizzy]

Hi James

 

NCL state that as you near your hold limit they increase the sum held. I would be taking my credit card for emergencies, don't have a huge limit and if NCL put too much of a hold on it I may not be able to use if needed. I don't want to use my cc on board as it's UK card and UK banks not only give you a terrible exchange rate but they also charge you 2.5% of the spend! Bad Banks! :mad:

 

Here is the response from NCL UK:

 

It would be better to pay with a credit card not a debit card so your funds are will not restricted because the fund could be held up to 30days but that is not very often, it all depends on the bank or the card company.

The first amount which is taken is $300 and then different amounts are taken depending on your spending pattern

You can put cash down if you only have say $1000 you can open up your onboard account with that, but if your spending is getting near to that amount you will be asked by the front desk to “top up your account” with more money or your account could be closed.

You can pre pay your service charge before you travel it is £6.50pppd or if you pay onboard $12pppd which will go on your onboard account.

 

The $1000 sounds like the best option to me.

 

Does anyone know what is the max you can take out of the cash point each day?

 

Emma

x

[che5904]

Hi James

 

NCL state that as you near your hold limit they increase the sum held. I would be taking my credit card for emergencies, don't have a huge limit and if NCL put too much of a hold on it I may not be able to use if needed. I don't want to use my cc on board as it's UK card and UK banks not only give you a terrible exchange rate but they also charge you 2.5% of the spend! Bad Banks! :mad:

 

Here is the response from NCL UK:

 

It would be better to pay with a credit card not a debit card so your funds are will not restricted because the fund could be held up to 30days but that is not very often, it all depends on the bank or the card company.

The first amount which is taken is $300 and then different amounts are taken depending on your spending pattern

You can put cash down if you only have say $1000 you can open up your onboard account with that, but if your spending is getting near to that amount you will be asked by the front desk to “top up your account” with more money or your account could be closed.

You can pre pay your service charge before you travel it is £6.50pppd or if you pay onboard $12pppd which will go on your onboard account.

 

The $1000 sounds like the best option to me.

 

Does anyone know what is the max you can take out of the cash point each day?

 

Emma

x

 

Emma I was under the assumption you actually didn’t have a regular credit card.

OK this is what I did and don’t know if it would work for you or if you don’t want to do it. U.K vs Canada/U.S. But I’ll give it to you anyway.

I checked in using my credit card (no holds, no charges) just had my credit card number on file. Everything went onto my on board account with no charge to my credit card at all. The night before we disembarked I put cash onto my on board account (you can use cash, pre-paid card, debit card to do this). You can just go anytime before the morning of disembarkation and they will not use your credit card at all. If you do not go before the morning of disembarkation that’s when they would charge your credit card.

[Emmaizzy]

Hi Che

 

If they don't put a hold on your CC how do they know there are enough funds available to cover your on board bill?

 

NCL's reply seems to state they would put a hold and then continue to increase the hold as your spend increases, maybe I have interpreted the response incorrectly - what do you think?

 

I've been googling to find out how much you can withdraw from the ATM but no luck so far....

 

Emma

x

[infoprof56]

They absolutely put a hold of some kind against the limit on your credit card. This is the same thing hotels, gas stations and even restaurants do. It is standard procedure. That is often the issue with using a prepaid card. If the requested hold exceeds the amount of prepayment the charge is denied. I have had hotels put as much as thousand dollar hold on my card for a few nights stay. You're never actually get charged so there is no exchange rate issue, but if you have a small limit it can stop you from using the card elsewhere.

[sierramyst44]

Just came back from 9 day Jewel cruise. Credit card "hold" is for $300.00 for 2 people. Our final bill after Casino credit was $214.00. CC was only charged the final payment and nothing else is currently on "hold". Last year on Holland America we opted for a cash account and was required to deposit $750.00 cash despite my objections that my onboard account never exceeded $500.00.

[labmonkeys]

Hi Emma,

 

I'm another UK cruiser and understand the issues with using UK based cards overseas.

 

It's difficult to advise you since I don't know your finances in detail - ie. how much spare credit you have on your cards, how much money you have available to you in current accounts, how much you'd like left on a credit card after a hold in case of emergency, etc. There are a lot of options, but most depend on your financial situation!

 

Firstly, do you have a rough idea of how much you are likely to spend over the duration of your cruise? This will make a difference in the best way to do all this. I'm not sure why you want to know how much you can withdraw from cashpoints, but it's usually around 200 euros a day.

 

Since you have a pre-paid card for dollars and one for euros, why not charge both up, accept that your dollar card may be entirely useless once you've paid your bill and any holds remaining on it, and then use your euro card for your week in Barcelona? That leaves your credit card (and I assume your current account) free for any emergencies or additional spending.

 

We don't spend much on our cruises, so we've always cleared enough on our credit card to afford our spend, plus a little bit more since the hold they place on the card is a bit more than our spending. We used to pay the account off the day before the cruise ended using US dollar travellers cheques, and normally found our 'available credit' on our credit card was back to normal within a week. There's no charges ever placed on the credit card - my available credit just goes down for a while.

 

If you can cope with doing this, but instead of using travellers cheques you use your pre-paid card, then this is your best way (as others have usually said). We recently got a credit card that doesn't charge you for using it overseas, so we now use that - is that an option for your family?

 

Alternatively, if you don't want to use a credit card, but have enough free cash to do this, you may want to consider getting enough US dollar travellers cheques to fund your onboard accoun and set it up as a cash account - leaving your credit card free for emergencies. At the end of your cruise, you can either pay your bill with the travellers cheques or with your pre-pay card - if you get your travellers cheques from the right place, you can sell the excess back, commission free and at the same rate you bought them (with only a very small charge, and a lot less than putting them on the card).

 

Hope this isn't too confusing - there are plenty of ways around all this, but your intended spending is a good place to start.

[WinterSky]

We have used both cash and credit card to secure our account on different cruises. If you prefer to use cash, it is very simple and easy to do. When you check in at the terminal you will be asked for a credit card to secure your on board account. All you have to do is say that you wish to secure your on board account with cash. You will then be advised to go to the Reception Desk after you board to set up your account.

 

When we sailed, we were asked how much we wanted to put on our on board account. We didn't know what would be enough and when we asked what was suggested, we were told $300 for the two of us in the cabin. We thought that was too low so we put $700, and as it turned out, we added more later in the week.

 

They typically want you to put down enough to cover the daily service charges for everyone in the cabin for the week, as well as enough to cover any pre-booked amenities or excursions. Perhaps they now require $100 per day but I believe that you will find that isn't too much if you are doing any excursions, specialty restaurants, drinks etc. The good thing is that on the last evening or the last morning you simply go to the Reception Desk and they will refund you any cash that you have not used. You don't have to worry about bank 'holds' etc.

 

The other nice thing about your account on board, whether you secure it by cash or credit card is that you can stop by the Reception Desk at any time and get a print out of your account so that you always know where you stand and can add additional cash if you wish.

 

When you set up your cash account at the Reception Desk after you board, you can also arrange a specific account limit for each person in your cabin or stipulate that one person or another does not have signing privileges at all. It is entirely up to you, as each person's signing limit is set by you and associated with their specific ship ID card.

 

Using cash is very simple.

[Emmaizzy]

Thanks for the input guys.

 

I pretty much decided to go with cash hadn't thought about travellers cheques. I'll defo look into those and see what kid of rate you can get and remind myself how they work.

 

I haven't seen these since I was a kid!

[colbuck]

My cruise on Jade finished on July 2. I had open my onboard account with a VISA credit card and let them charge the final balance on the same card. Yesterday I found out that NCL, besides holding an initial amount of 400 Euros, did not debit the final amount through a single charge with value date 2 July as expected but charged every single expenditure on board on my VISA.

Up to today, NCL has not released the initial 400 Euros and this is obviously creating a shortage of funds on my credit card!

VISA is enquiring with NCL and will let me know asap when NCL will release the fund. Next time I'll use cash!

Furthermore, upon boarding in Venice, there were printed notices at the check-in counters saying that NCL do not advise to use debit cards...

[Emmaizzy]

Why would they advise against the use of Debit Cards? The only thing I can think of is they hold the monies and on Credit Cards maybe people don't notice as much as it's not, for most people, the regular source of paying for everyday stuff.

 

This whole ring fencing thing needs looking at globally so that once a company has charged your account they are obliged to release your ring fenced funds within 1 working day. There is no reason for them to hold the funds any longer as once an item has been processed via PDQ it has been paid. The bank should not authorise the transaction if the funds do not exist.

[VideoTech]

Why would they advise against the use of Debit Cards? The only thing I can think of is they hold the monies and on Credit Cards maybe people don't notice as much as it's not, for most people, the regular source of paying for everyday stuff.

 

This whole ring fencing thing needs looking at globally so that once a company has charged your account they are obliged to release your ring fenced funds within 1 working day. There is no reason for them to hold the funds any longer as once an item has been processed via PDQ it has been paid. The bank should not authorise the transaction if the funds do not exist.

 

I wouldn't advise using a debit card only because you generally have less protection from, and less recourse against charges you might dispute with a debit card as opposed to a charge card.

 

Most hotels (and ships are just floating hotels) will "ring fence" a higher amount against a debit card then a charge card. I assume the reason is because the debit account may be found to be empty when the hotel/ship decides to process their billing, where as a credit charge is more likely to be paid, even if the card holder is over-limit.

 

As a frequent business traveler, I agree with you about the delays in releasing hold amounts. I often find a hotel still has a hold on my card, even several days after I have left the hotel, my bill is paid, and there were no further charges to be filed.

[Emmaizzy]

VideoTech I take your point. I believe US you have much better protection on CC payments over Debit Cards than us British. For us using a CC is only advantageous over a Debit if you purchase something and then the service is not fulfilled or the goods are not as described.

 

On a cruise for onboard spend I think that it would that in most circumstances that would be unlikely.

 

I am going to use my CC for my ring fenced hold but pay the balance with my Dollar Debit Card. At least this way I get a better exchange rate and my CC will only have the funds held once.

 

I have read on this board that guests have called NCL and asked them to release the hold on their CC after they have confirmation that the actual charges have been debited from their account. This has resulted in the hold being released much quicker.

 

It's a pretty lousy system for guests.

[SteveH2508]

Firstly - pre-pay your DSC. £6.50 per person per day is much cheaper than $12 PPPD (6.5 x 1.6 = 10.4). This also takes a lot of strain off your on-board account.

 

NCL generally rip us Brits off for the cruise fare as against the US prices - at least we get a few coppers back on the DSC!