Choosing HAL now, so I have questions

[marshhawk]

I have questions:confused:I was trying to read the small print on line, but to no avail...why does HAL want an auto charge of 60 dollars a day, I understand about the tips, around 12 per day per person, I dont drink, so where does this money get applied to? That's like adding an extra 600 per person to cruise on a 10 day cruise. Does it pay for excursions? Does it pay for meals? I want to cruise HAL, but why 60 a day?

Edited July 14, 2014 by marshhawk

[POA1]

We have answers. Ask away! I was told that it's an average figure. For whom, I don't know. It's not a charge, just a hold against the credit limit to make sure you have enough to pay the bill.

Edited July 14, 2014 by POA1

[marshhawk]

sorry, dumb me posted before the question was asked....:o

[cruz chic]

I have questions:confused:I was trying to read the small print on line, but to no avail...why does HAL want an auto charge of 60 dollars a day, I understand about the tips, around 12 per day per person, I dont drink, so where does this money get applied to? That's like adding an extra 600 per person to cruise on a 10 day cruise. Does it pay for excursions? Does it pay for meals? I want to cruise HAL, but why 60 a day?

 

It's a hold, not a charge. This is to cover what you may charge. Only actual charges will be charged to your cc.

[Ottawa traveller]

I have questions:confused:I was trying to read the small print on line, but to no avail...why does HAL want an auto charge of 60 dollars a day, I understand about the tips, around 12 per day per person, I dont drink, so where does this money get applied to? That's like adding an extra 600 per person to cruise on a 10 day cruise. Does it pay for excursions? Does it pay for meals? I want to cruise HAL, but why 60 a day?

 

This is not a charge. They just protect this amount on your credit card so that at the end of the trip, your card will not be maxed out with no room left for the HAL charges. Once they have put on the correct charges at the end of the cruise, the amount protected disappears.

[BearInStPete]

It's not an auto charge per se, they place a hold on your credit card for that amount to ensure settlement of your on board account. You will only be charged your actual charges upon debarkation or you can settle in cash. This is no different than staying in a hotel where they hold the cost of your room plus a per day amount for incidentals upon check-in.

[marshhawk]

I guess I have a problem then as I use cash, so I would have to come up with 1200 extra in cash, what could I possibly be charging? The MDR is included yes? I usually buy a picture, and I am assuming that lunch on the lido is included, and breakfast is included, I dont gamble- what do you all spend that money on? Seems like a great way for the cruise line to earn a lot of interest off your bucks for a week or 10 days, or 21 days...

[POA1]

Yes, your meals are included. If you have a credit card with $1,200 available, just use it for the reservation. When you pay your bill in cash, nothing will be charged to the card.

 

As for what do we spend money on... We like to support the vinoculture and distilling industries.

[POA1]

Seems like a great way for the cruise line to earn a lot of interest off your bucks for a week or 10 days, or 21 days...

 

Nothing hits your statement as a result of the hold. The cruise line doesn't get anything, so there is no interest. It's not the same as a deposit.

[regnig]

Simply because they put a "hold" on your credit card I don't believe they make any interest off it. A lot of people provide their CC number and then on the last day of the cruise pay in cash. HAL has no problem with that.

 

And yes, you assumed :o correctly ALL your meals, MDR- LIDO - or Room Service are included. Only food you would pay for is if you go to the Pinnacle for which there is a charge. Now, booze and soda is another story, that you would be billed for.

 

Hope you enjoy your HAL cruise! Any other questions just ask away.

Edited July 14, 2014 by larsen

[navybankerteacher]

I guess I have a problem then as I use cash, so I would have to come up with 1200 extra in cash, what could I possibly be charging? The MDR is included yes? I usually buy a picture, and I am assuming that lunch on the lido is included, and breakfast is included, I dont gamble- what do you all spend that money on? Seems like a great way for the cruise line to earn a lot of interest off your bucks for a week or 10 days, or 21 days...

 

Since you used a $1,200 figure, I assume you are talking about two people on a 10 day cruise - that suggests $240 in service charges - allowing $960 - or $48 per person per day in on board purchases - which is easy to hit if you have a few drinks, take a tour or two, buy some photos, play in the casino, etc. The line does not know what your spending habits are - but they sure do not want to be left holding the bag if you turn out to be a big spender - using your ship card for everything. Perhaps you want to re-think the cash thing - they just put a hold on the necessary amount of your credit line, so it does not cost you anything.

 

You cannot blame the cruise line for wanting to protect themselves - after all, in today's environment most people have credit cards - and a significant percentage of those who do not - do not have them because they have had problems in controlling spending: exactly the type the cruise line does not want to have to go after.

[sail7seas]

Almost every hotel puts a hold on credit cards when you register as do rental car companies. It is a common business practice.

[marshhawk]

Well I worked in security for CC services for several years, a hold is running your card through, and holding X amount for a period of time, which means you would not have access to $ as X amount is being held.

That said, I dont drink, I am a diabetic, so no to soda, I dont gamble-so does any of this money go to shore excursions? Or do you book those in advance- Does it go to laundry, or do you have to prepay that. This trip will slowly change from a balcony cruise to an interior quickly.

Sorry if these questions are dumb, but I have been sailing Carnival and wanted to break away-

[cruz chic]

Well I worked in security for CC services for several years, a hold is running your card through, and holding X amount for a period of time, which means you would not have access to $ as X amount is being held.

That said, I dont drink, I am a diabetic, so no to soda, I dont gamble-so does any of this money go to shore excursions? Or do you book those in advance- Does it go to laundry, or do you have to prepay that. This trip will slowly change from a balcony cruise to an interior quickly.

Sorry if these questions are dumb, but I have been sailing Carnival and wanted to break away-

 

I'd be shocked if carnival doesn't do the hold. They probably just don't tell you. That said, posters have reported that they were able to lower this thru calling Hal. It's not a problem for me so I can't speak from personal experience.

[RuthC]

Anything you book in advance, such as shore excursions or dinners in specialty restaurants, is paid for in advance with a credit card. If you wait and purchase on the ship, the price is charged to your on-board account. That $60 pp/pd hold is set to cover just those kind of purchases.

 

As previously posted, HAL has no idea what you may charge while on board. You could seriously enjoy the spa, or salon---or both! You could be opening the first bar of the day, and closing the last, with no time outs between. They don't know, so have to put a hold on a credit card, or collect cash in advance, to cover the possibilities.

 

At the end of the cruise, HAL will either bill the credit card company for what you have actually charged, or refund any balance of cash due you if you left a cash deposit.

[sail7seas]

I agree.

Anyone who thinks HAL is unique in placing these holds might feel better about it if they call hotels and other cruise lines and ask if they do the same. If calling a cruise line, HOPEFULLY, you will reach a customer rep who has been trained, has experience and can give an accurate response. :rolleyes: Sadly, some of us have encountered reps who are not as well trained as would be ideal.

 

[OCruisers]

When I see these sort of "hold on Credit Card" posts, I'm always totally confused ... seriously, really confused. We've never had a problem charging any amount we wish on ours on cruises or elsewhere. :confused:

LuLu

[jenp123]

Carnival puts a hold on your card as well or requires a cash deposit

 

http://m.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Sail_And_Sign_On_Board_Account.aspx

 

 

 

Holland America puts a hold on your card, not a charge. Unfortunately it looks like if you can't come up with the cash or the empty space on the card, boarding can be denied. This is copied from Holland America

 

 

Our cashless society is designed to make your life on board as simple as possible. Once you have registered your credit card(s) (Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, and Discover®) you will be able to use your onboard account for shipboard purchases. Your credit card number(s) will be securely sent to the ship in preparation for your cruise. Upon embarkation a hold will be placed on your card(s) for USD $60+ per person for each day of your cruise. (Please note, this hold will not be placed against your credit card(s) until the day of sailing.) At the end of your cruise, you will receive a final statement, and your card(s) will be charged only for the actual amount of your purchases. Please have the credit card(s) you registered with you and available for the duration of the cruise in case our shipboard staff needs additional information. Please inform your credit card issuer in advance that your card will be used on a Holland America Line ship. This will help prevent delays in obtaining pre-authorization. Some banks may keep the pre-authorization in place for up to 30 days. If you do not want to use a credit or debit card, the ship will collect a cash deposit from you at time of boarding in the same amount (USD $60/person/day)+. ***Note - With the cash option, you MUST bring enough cash to cover the $60/person/day+ account deposit. Failure to do so may forfeit your right to board. Any excess deposit will be refunded to you at the end of the cruise. Traveler’s checks may be cashed at the front office to make your deposit. Personal checks are not accepted on board. When you board the ship, your account will have been activated and you may make purchases immediately by showing your guest identification card and signing a receipt. +For cruises longer than 25 days, the hold is US$30.00 per person, per day.

Edited July 15, 2014 by jenp123

[thetexasaggiecruiser]

We try to book as many things in advance as we can. We typically book all of our shore excursions, buy any beverage cards – probably not applicable to you, and anything else. That way we pay for all of it out of the bank, and don't use a credit card.

 

If you are thinking about using a debit card or cash, I don't know what HAL's policies are but as you are probably aware, using cash or a debit card for a hold means that the hold is even higher than the credit card hold.

 

But you are right, if you are using the same credit card that you plan to use for purchases on shore or other incidentals, you do need to take into account the per day hold that HAL will already be putting on your card.

 

 

Sent by magic. Or mobile. Same thing.

[richwmn]

We try to book as many things in advance as we can. We typically book all of our shore excursions, buy any beverage cards – probably not applicable to you, and anything else. That way we pay for all of it out of the bank, and don't use a credit card.

 

If you are thinking about using a debit card or cash, I don't know what HAL's policies are but as you are probably aware, using cash or a debit card for a hold means that the hold is even higher than the credit card hold.

 

But you are right, if you are using the same credit card that you plan to use for purchases on shore or other incidentals, you do need to take into account the per day hold that HAL will already be putting on your card.

 

 

Sent by magic. Or mobile. Same thing.

 

Actually, using a debit card the hold is exactly the same as if you are using a credit card $60/person/day. If you select cash they request the same amount, but will let you board with a little less (exactly how much less I don't know). The difference is that with cash they will cut off your ability to charge when your money runs out.

Edited July 15, 2014 by richwmn

[dadroy]

Want to use cash? No problem. After boarding go to guest services and give them cash. You spend it until it is used. Then you cannot charge anymore until you put up additional cash.

 

I cruised with someone who used cash and she was very embarrassed when she could not charge a drink of the day because her deposit had run out.

[sppunk]

You have always had a hold on your card when booking through Carnival, you just didn't know it.

 

It's not a charge - it is a false report against the card to ensure money is available so HAL isn't stiffed by bouncing cards. It is everyday practice in most all hotels, cruises, resorts, etc. You are never paying that charge, HAL isn't collecting that.

 

You aren't spending that money unless you, well, spend it on the ship. You have nothing to worry about.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well I worked in security for CC services for several years, a hold is running your card through, and holding X amount for a period of time, which means you would not have access to $ as X amount is being held.

 

That said, I dont drink, I am a diabetic, so no to soda, I dont gamble-so does any of this money go to shore excursions? Or do you book those in advance- Does it go to laundry, or do you have to prepay that. This trip will slowly change from a balcony cruise to an interior quickly.

 

Sorry if these questions are dumb, but I have been sailing Carnival and wanted to break away-

 

 

Did you use a credit card on Carnival? They have the same rules as HAL.

Surely you were also notified by Carnival about a $60 a day hold per person????

[Krazy Kruizers]

When I see these sort of "hold on Credit Card" posts, I'm always totally confused ... seriously, really confused. We've never had a problem charging any amount we wish on ours on cruises or elsewhere. :confused:

LuLu

 

 

I think a lot depends on what your limit is on your credit cards.

Some people have very low limits.