Hold on credit card

[gooddayz]

When you use a credit card for your sail & sign (or whatever rccl calls their payment card) how much do they pre-authorize for your account?

 

My intention is to let them use whatever they pre authorize, then a day or 2 into cruise put cash on card to pay balance.

 

Thanking you in advance for any help or insight[emoji41]

[Clarea]

When you use a credit card for your sail & sign (or whatever rccl calls their payment card) how much do they pre-authorize for your account?

 

My intention is to let them use whatever they pre authorize, then a day or 2 into cruise put cash on card to pay balance.

 

Thanking you in advance for any help or insight[emoji41]

I have never seen any hold or pre-authorization on our credit card. The only activity I see is a "pending" charge on the last day of the cruise, which gets posted a few days later.

[BettyPC]

maybe a Debit card has a "hold". Not credit cards (in my experience)

[gooddayz]

Thanks for info. Just thought they may put some kind of hold or pre-authorization on card. As an example you put money for casino, drinks, etc on card, and on final day your card gets declined!

[gooddayz]

So in the opinion of all you experienced cruisers are u better off with cc or debit card? Or does it even matter? Thanks again...Eddie

[cruisinfanatic]

So in the opinion of all you experienced cruisers are u better off with cc or debit card? Or does it even matter? Thanks again...Eddie

Never debit!

[reallyitsmema]

So in the opinion of all you experienced cruisers are u better off with cc or debit card? Or does it even matter? Thanks again...Eddie

 

We use a credit card because we don't want to risk any errors that could mess with our available funds in our checking account. We also use a credit card that we earn points that we can use for future travel so credit card makes the most sense for us.

[bouhunter]

Never debit!

 

Agree.

 

Debit = Risk to bank funds.

 

Credit = No risk. Plus airline miles!:D

 

I have never ever understood the obsession with debit cards. Unless one cannot qualify for a credit card, or lacks discipline when using one, there is NO good reason to use debit cards.

[blackshirt]

I have never seen any hold or pre-authorization on our credit card. The only activity I see is a "pending" charge on the last day of the cruise, which gets posted a few days later.

 

I've seen pending charges appear during the cruise but they always fall off and the only charge that actually clears is the final bill.

[PCWalton1]

We use a credit card because we don't want to risk any errors that could mess with our available funds in our checking account. We also use a credit card that we earn points that we can use for future travel so credit card makes the most sense for us.

 

ditto. :)

[wolfcathorse]

We usually just use our credit card, then on the last night pay off the balance with cash. Never have had a hold on the card. My next cruise I'm setting it up as a cash account. The fine print says you can incur up to a $200 balance before they'll ask you to come down and pay something on your account.

[reallyitsmema]

I strictly use my debit card because it's really easy for me to stay on budget. There are a lot of myths about using a debit card over a credit card but I've never really had any issues. One time the cruise ship went a bit nuts and did a lot of pre-auths and Chase ended up flagging a security alert, so I told CS to call my bank on their dime (which they did) and it was fixed in less than 120 seconds.

 

I like my debit card because I can always instantly transfer more money into the account if I want to splurge, otherwise there's only as much as I allot myself.

 

Now, with credit cards and travel, twice have I had the number copied and both times it was a bit of a headache dealing with the credit card merchants (who did investigate and didn't charge me anything, but the offending international retailers fought the charge backs). $11,000 on a credit card with a high limit when you're traveling is still a headache, and since I only put a $500 on my debit when I travel, it's impossible to happen.

 

We have no issues with budgeting so either works for us.

 

As far as your last sentence, what do you mean by "I only put a $500 on my debit when I travel"? This statement makes no sense.

[ajp76]

I travel 2-3 times a month, and frequently internationally. I've had zero issues doing this for probably 20 years now. I don't travel with my active checking debit card, I travel with one of the debit cards I allot specifically for travel. Bank accounts are free, I don't have to worry about catching annual fees or changing terms and conditions.

 

 

 

Airline miles never worked for me, either (I have friends who are nuts about them). The amount of money I save not being loyal to any particular airline has saved me so much more than the free tickets you'd get with mileage redemption.

 

 

 

The benefit of using my debit card is that if I need more money, it takes me 30 seconds to log in to online banking and transfer funds instantly. If I don't need more money, I keep a reasonable limit in there and if someone steals my card or my account number, there's not a lot of hassle because it isn't a ton of money I keep active.

 

 

 

When I travel to third world countries, I may only keep $200 in my account active and transfer fresh funds daily online.

 

 

 

Debit cards are just as secure as credit cards, and my bank's debit card protection on fraudulent charges is equal to their credit cards' protections. I just find it's a lot easier to budget, and I have less headaches.

 

 

 

This is the exact reason we use a debit card! We have a checking account just for travel for this purpose.

[reallyitsmema]

I travel 2-3 times a month, and frequently internationally. I've had zero issues doing this for probably 20 years now. I don't travel with my active checking debit card, I travel with one of the debit cards I allot specifically for travel. Bank accounts are free, I don't have to worry about catching annual fees or changing terms and conditions.

 

Airline miles never worked for me, either (I have friends who are nuts about them). The amount of money I save not being loyal to any particular airline has saved me so much more than the free tickets you'd get with mileage redemption.

 

The benefit of using my debit card is that if I need more money, it takes me 30 seconds to log in to online banking and transfer funds instantly. If I don't need more money, I keep a reasonable limit in there and if someone steals my card or my account number, there's not a lot of hassle because it isn't a ton of money I keep active.

 

When I travel to third world countries, I may only keep $200 in my account active and transfer fresh funds daily online.

 

Debit cards are just as secure as credit cards, and my bank's debit card protection on fraudulent charges is equal to their credit cards' protections. I just find it's a lot easier to budget, and I have less headaches.

 

Before I hop on a flight or a cruise or whatever, I'll transfer $500 into my travel debit card. If I need more, I transfer as I need it. If someone steals my card or hacks that account number, I'm out $500 for a maximum of a day or two, not a big deal.

 

In any event, if you have a credit card or a debit card and someone steals the number while you're on vacation, that card will be probably turned off. Higher end card providers will same day or overnight you a new card, but not all do this.

 

I also try to pay cash when possible when I travel because the money I save by negotiating a better price is superior to the airline miles earned or the cash back. 4% cash back is great, but smaller merchants will sometimes give 40% discounts if you pay "cash no receipt". Especially true of international merchants.

 

The OP is talking about holds on their credit card for their on board account, they are not talking about in port and neither was I. There is no negotiating with the cruise line about your on board charges, you owe what you charge, period. As far as in port, we use cash.

 

You say you put $200 in your account or $500, depending on the post, and then transfer money daily if you need it. We chose not to waste our time managing a bank balance while we are on vacation. If that is what you need for budgeting, have at it, we bring the cash we are willing to spend and pay our on board account with a credit card.

[bouhunter]

I travel 2-3 times a month, and frequently internationally. I've had zero issues doing this for probably 20 years now. I don't travel with my active checking debit card, I travel with one of the debit cards I allot specifically for travel. Bank accounts are free, I don't have to worry about catching annual fees or changing terms and conditions.

 

Airline miles never worked for me, either (I have friends who are nuts about them). The amount of money I save not being loyal to any particular airline has saved me so much more than the free tickets you'd get with mileage redemption.

 

The benefit of using my debit card is that if I need more money, it takes me 30 seconds to log in to online banking and transfer funds instantly. If I don't need more money, I keep a reasonable limit in there and if someone steals my card or my account number, there's not a lot of hassle because it isn't a ton of money I keep active.

 

When I travel to third world countries, I may only keep $200 in my account active and transfer fresh funds daily online.

 

Debit cards are just as secure as credit cards, and my bank's debit card protection on fraudulent charges is equal to their credit cards' protections. I just find it's a lot easier to budget, and I have less headaches.

 

You make some good points, particularly if it's a dedicated debit card with limited funds. There are good reasons to use either credit or debit, neither is clearly better than the other when using debit like you do.

 

Your paragraph about airline miles doesn't make much sense in the credit vs debit conversation. We've cashed in many a free ticket and never once selected an airline or flight based on miles earned, it always comes down to the ticket price. One doesn't have to fly to earn miles..........

[reallyitsmema]

Your attitude here is obnoxious but also hilarious.

 

It takes literally 30 seconds to transfer funds -- and sometimes I've done it even faster, even with slow ship WiFi. It doesn't distract from my vacation at all, and it allows me to monitor things better in case there is an event where my card has an unauthorized charge. I'll check my balance in the morning (10 seconds or less to open the app), and in the evening (again, 10 seconds to open the app). If all looks good, I don't really give it a thought.

 

If I find something I want to purchase using my debit card and I need to transfer funds, I have international data roaming so I just load the app, transfer the necessary funds, make the purchase, and move along. Again, it's a non-issue, but it works very well for me and obviously it works well for others who also don't want to travel in unknown parts of the world with a credit card that could have a $100,000 limit on it.

 

My debit card has the limit I want on it, at any time. $500 typically, but if I want to spend a lot more, it's no issue to "raise" my limit by doing a near instant transfer.

 

Attitude because I called you out on your inconsistencies? Now, that is funny. I would be careful about your no receipt purchases though, customs might frown on that practice.

[KsucAts]

 

Your paragraph about airline miles doesn't make much sense in the credit vs debit conversation. We've cashed in many a free ticket and never once selected an airline or flight based on miles earned, it always comes down to the ticket price. One doesn't have to fly to earn miles..........

 

Agreed. We use American Airlines credit cards. I also usually fly them, but won't if it doesn't make sense costwise. You not only have to consider the miles earned, but also the perks earned such as free checked luggage.

[reallyitsmema]

Agreed. We use American Airlines credit cards. I also usually fly them, but won't if it doesn't make sense costwise. You not only have to consider the miles earned, but also the perks earned such as free checked luggage.

 

Agreed and some credit cards also offer trip interruption insurance and also pay the application fee for TSA Pre-chek or Nexus.

[KsucAts]

Agreed and some credit cards also offer trip interruption insurance and also pay the application fee for TSA Pre-chek or Nexus.

 

Yeah, the application fee for TSA Pre-check is one that I am a bit irritated by, but no fault to my credit card. I signed up earlier for Pre-check and used my Disney credit card as I was trying to max out some Disney $ for our last Disney cruise. Then about two weeks later, I got an email from my AA credit card that they would pay for TSA Pre-check. They also would refund the money to anybody who had already paid for it using their AA credit card. Just unlucky timing on my part.

[Havingfun2010]

Before I hop on a flight or a cruise or whatever, I'll transfer $500 into my travel debit card. If I need more, I transfer as I need it. If someone steals my card or hacks that account number, I'm out $500 for a maximum of a day or two, not a big deal.

 

So this is not a "debit" card but a prepaid card. It's a little different. A debit card is linked to your bank account. A prepaid card is not. You can refill a prepaid card, which is what you are doing,

 

In any event, if you have a credit card or a debit card and someone steals the number while you're on vacation, that card will be probably turned off. Higher end card providers will same day or overnight you a new card, but not all do this.

 

I also try to pay cash when possible when I travel because the money I save by negotiating a better price is superior to the airline miles earned or the cash back. 4% cash back is great, but smaller merchants will sometimes give 40% discounts if you pay "cash no receipt". Especially true of international merchants.

....

[Rocketlady]

We use to a long time ago have to prepay for the set and sail cards but now

they just go with the credit card or debit.

 

I only use cash in a casino though. No way am I paying any extra fees

to get cash out for a casino. And I stay with in my limit with gambling.

I only use credit cards.

[critterchick]

I've seen pending charges appear during the cruise but they always fall off and the only charge that actually clears is the final bill.

 

So have I. And I got an alert from the card issuer daily.

[1SGCruiser]

Agree.

 

Debit = Risk to bank funds.

 

Credit = No risk. Plus airline miles!:D

 

I have never ever understood the obsession with debit cards. Unless one cannot qualify for a credit card, or lacks discipline when using one, there is NO good reason to use debit cards.

 

+1 Agree!

[1SGCruiser]

Instant availability of however much I need, and the option to protect myself against all sorts of problems I've read about on forums or heard about from friends who had incredibly high credit limits and nefarious individuals found ways to take advantage of it. Credit cards protect you from the liability of unauthorized purchases but they don't protect you from the hassle of charging them back.

 

If it works for you that's great. That's important.

 

More than once, my credit card numbers have been compromised due to system hacking, etc. (i.e., not lost cards). In every case, the credit card companies called me to discuss - which resulted in all charges being removed. Also, any efforts to straighten it all out have always taken care of by the credit card companies. Other than talk with them, I've had to do nothing. Some of the bills were substantial.

 

I also like the points/miles. We recently were on a 3.5 week trip to Europe and the a 15 day TA home. The flights to Germany were 'free' due to points from using the CC's.

[gooddayz]

Thanks for all the info. I don't travel much and appreciate all the help from all of you. Got points for paying cruise fare, that was a no brainier.

 

But reading the responses make me think of two more things.

1. I have cc that has no foreign transaction fees. Is use of cc in the ports pretty secure?

 

2. What are TSA or Nexus fees. Never heard of them?

 

Thanks again for help