Out of money

[Towel Critter]

With PayPal you can link a checking or savings account to it so you can send/receive funds directly into the account.

Okay, thanks. That was my guess... just wanted to verify, as opposed to assuming. :D

[iltutcruiser]

I was actually in line waiting to disembark and they were holding up a lady for $12. She was being loud and yelling, FOR $12????? , They called for security and removed her from the line to disembark. I have no idea what happened after that.

[sperkins921]

I've used the same cc on cruises for years. All cruises are out of NY....to Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda.

 

On one cruise (NCL) last year I went to purchase a watch on the first sea day. Declined! Told to visit guest services....where I was informed that "just because you use it to check in, the card isn't actually processed at that time."

 

I was allowed a courtesy call to the bank. "The bank" told me that I didn't inform them that I was leaving the country. Huh...I never inform them that I'll be on a cruise. In any case, is sailing out of NY, and back to NY, as far as spending really "leaving the country?" They allowed the credit and now I call multiple cards "just in case".

 

I had DH with me, and several other cards between us, but I had wondered what would have happened if they didn't let me call the bank.

 

I had something similar happen to me and DH. Communication was our fault- we both thought the other had called this particular card issuer (or done it online) to notify them that we'd be sailing. We had done some shopping in St Martin on the card, nothing before, and so it targeted the fraud alert. I'm thinking this was a BoA or Citi or Chase as those three are very very prompt with shutting off a card if they think it's being fraudulently used. Guess which card was the card we had attached to the sail account? LOL

 

Quick call on the next to the last day (we got a note saying please come down to guest services) to the bank to explain that we were on a cruise and where we were and when we'd be home and they reactivated the card so that the cruise line could process the card. Embarrassing, but actually the guest services person said that kind of thing happened a lot. I still felt like a dork, but I tell you what- we learned our lesson for sure!

 

I know it doesn't answer OP's question, but at least know that guest services will let you call card issuers and I'm assuming back to home countries because at the end of the day? The cruise line wants (and will get) their money.

[grandmarnnurse]

I had something similar happen to me and DH. Communication was our fault- we both thought the other had called this particular card issuer (or done it online) to notify them that we'd be sailing. We had done some shopping in St Martin on the card, nothing before, and so it targeted the fraud alert. I'm thinking this was a BoA or Citi or Chase as those three are very very prompt with shutting off a card if they think it's being fraudulently used. Guess which card was the card we had attached to the sail account? LOL

 

Quick call on the next to the last day (we got a note saying please come down to guest services) to the bank to explain that we were on a cruise and where we were and when we'd be home and they reactivated the card so that the cruise line could process the card. Embarrassing, but actually the guest services person said that kind of thing happened a lot. I still felt like a dork, but I tell you what- we learned our lesson for sure!

 

I know it doesn't answer OP's question, but at least know that guest services will let you call card issuers and I'm assuming back to home countries because at the end of the day? The cruise line wants (and will get) their money.

The same thing happened to my son when he cruised with us back in 2015 on the Oasis. His card was a BOA card, and he never notified them prior to cruise of his travel plans. What’s hilarious is that my son was a bank manager for BOA back then and probably should have known better. Lol! I always notify my cc company prior to any travel.

[salty dingo]

I was actually in line waiting to disembark and they were holding up a lady for $12. She was being loud and yelling, FOR $12????? , They called for security and removed her from the line to disembark. I have no idea what happened after that.

My guess is she was escorted to the cashier.

[ParrotRob]

And that’s why doing a cash account makes perfect sense especially when you’re saving 10% or more. If you already know your budget there’s no need for a credit card. I have it down to a science and end up getting a few bucks back at the end of each cruise.

 

How does cash save you 10% or more?

[ParrotRob]

According to Carnival's website, you have to leave either a cash deposit or a credit card pre-auth for $100-$200, depending on the length of the cruise. Then if you exceed that, you have to leave/authorize more. How is it even possible to over-spend? Wouldn't they simply turn off your S&S charging privileges if you exceeded the amount that they have secured?

 

Also, for the people that say the "authorities" will be waiting for you if you don't pay your bill, are you completely sure of that? What law am I breaking if my credit card is declined? That seems to me like a civil matter and not a criminal one.

[firemanbobswife]

How does cash save you 10% or more?

 

By buying the various discounted Carnival Gift Cards. Looks like eBay has a special going on for 15% off. Too bad I’m not planning another Carnival cruise right now, or I would be all over it.

[ParrotRob]

By buying the various discounted Carnival Gift Cards. Looks like eBay has a special going on for 15% off. Too bad I’m not planning another Carnival cruise right now, or I would be all over it.

 

But how do you buy gift cards online with cash? I buy them with credit cards and get the same 10-15% off, plus the 2% cash back on the CC. So it's actually cheaper to use the CC than to pay cash.

 

I paid for my entire cruise later this month with AARP cards, which, with my 2% cash back cost me 88.2 cents on the dollar.

[Schoifmom]

But how do you buy gift cards online with cash? I buy them with credit cards and get the same 10-15% off, plus the 2% cash back on the CC. So it's actually cheaper to use the CC than to pay cash.

 

I paid for my entire cruise later this month with AARP cards, which, with my 2% cash back cost me 88.2 cents on the dollar.

 

Are you being purposefully obtuse? Just because someone chooses to live on a cash basis, doesn't mean that they don't have the means to make on-line purchases. Debit cards work just as well as credit cards for those purposes. Granted, I don't get your 2% cash back, but that's my choice.

[firemanbobswife]

But how do you buy gift cards online with cash? I buy them with credit cards and get the same 10-15% off, plus the 2% cash back on the CC. So it's actually cheaper to use the CC than to pay cash.

 

I paid for my entire cruise later this month with AARP cards, which, with my 2% cash back cost me 88.2 cents on the dollar.

 

I think you are misunderstanding something. This thread is (mostly) about a “Cash Account” onboard the ship. Meaning it’s funded either with cash, gift cards, or cruise cash and not a credit card. I have said multiple times in here that I buy my gift cards with my credit card earning both points and saving money on the gift cards.

[Elaine5715]

According to Carnival's website, you have to leave either a cash deposit or a credit card pre-auth for $100-$200, depending on the length of the cruise. Then if you exceed that, you have to leave/authorize more. How is it even possible to over-spend? Wouldn't they simply turn off your S&S charging privileges if you exceeded the amount that they have secured?

 

Also, for the people that say the "authorities" will be waiting for you if you don't pay your bill, are you completely sure of that? What law am I breaking if my credit card is declined? That seems to me like a civil matter and not a criminal one.

It is a felony in the State of Florida. Similar to defrauding an innkeeper in most states. You will be placed under arrest if you try to evade payment.

[Elaine5715]

Last night on the Vista, a woman who had been whooping it up pretty good in the casino was sitting on the stairs begging her mom to transfer funds into her bank account after she got called to Guest Services .

[sparks1093]

It is a felony in the State of Florida. Similar to defrauding an innkeeper in most states. You will be placed under arrest if you try to evade payment.

 

I'm sure that there is a lot more involved in defrauding an innkeeper than just having a credit card declined or not having the funds immediately available. Signing a promissory note would seem to negate such a charge.

[CirrusPilot]

They chain you in the engine room and if you don't pay after 3 days, they drop you off.....200 miles from shore. :eek:

 

Seriously though...never run into this but I imagine they send you a bill and there are probably penalties built into the cruise contract to discourage this sort of thing.

 

We met a couple on our last cruise who used only cash deposits on their account, in order to definitely control their spending. For them it worked. For me, it would ruin the cruise. I tend to spend whatever it takes to insure we have a great time but make yourself a budget and stick to it. We have done "Sky's the limit" cruises where our onboard bill was easily three times the cruise fare and we have done "Costco/Government Cheese" cruises where we didn't break 100 bucks against our on board account. The "sky's the limit" ones are certainly more fun but if one stays out of the casino, shopping center and away from the paparazzi, you can make it to the end of the cruise without spending much. Its all personal preference and how much you are willing to spend.

Another thing they have now is Cruise Cash. I believe you can buy up to 500.00 per cabin in basically the form of "Gift Cards" or credits to your onboard account. The caveat is that none of your cruise cash is refundable nor will it follow you to another cruise. Only purchase what you know you will spend. Its a good way to limit one's spending as well.

 

EDIT: and post numero Uno!! lol What happened to Carnival's own forums? Didn't they used to have them?

[Elaine5715]

I'm sure that there is a lot more involved in defrauding an innkeeper than just having a credit card declined or not having the funds immediately available. Signing a promissory note would seem to negate such a charge.

Yes, if you sign it. Cruise and dash is a concept. Amazing number of people think the cruise company won't find out they are short until they are off the ship.

[Elaine5715]

They chain you in the engine room and if you don't pay after 3 days, they drop you off.....200 miles from shore. :eek:

 

Seriously though...never run into this but I imagine they send you a bill and there are probably penalties built into the cruise contract to discourage this sort of thing.

 

We met a couple on our last cruise who used only cash deposits on their account, in order to definitely control their spending. For them it worked. For me, it would ruin the cruise. I tend to spend whatever it takes to insure we have a great time but make yourself a budget and stick to it. We have done "Sky's the limit" cruises where our onboard bill was easily three times the cruise fare and we have done "Costco/Government Cheese" cruises where we didn't break 100 bucks against our on board account. The "sky's the limit" ones are certainly more fun but if one stays out of the casino, shopping center and away from the paparazzi, you can make it to the end of the cruise without spending much. Its all personal preference and how much you are willing to spend.

Another thing they have now is Cruise Cash. I believe you can buy up to 500.00 per cabin in basically the form of "Gift Cards" or credits to your onboard account. The caveat is that none of your cruise cash is refundable nor will it follow you to another cruise. Only purchase what you know you will spend. Its a good way to limit one's spending as well.

 

EDIT: and post numero Uno!! lol What happened to Carnival's own forums? Didn't they used to have them?

They don't send a bill. You settle up or sign rock solid promissory notes before leaving the ship. Until you are paid up, you will not sail and future bookings may be declined.

[CirrusPilot]

They don't send a bill. You settle up or sign rock solid promissory notes before leaving the ship. Until you are paid up, you will not sail and future bookings may be declined.

 

Hmmm...makes sense. I wouldn't let someone who essentially stiffed me on one cruise, position themselves to do it again either. Can't blame them. After all Carnival is not a savings and loan.

[AmBear]

It happened last year my bank put a stop on the card. Because suspicion of theft. Carnival gave me a cell phone that can call out free of charge to make my call in private to the bank. Whoever says they won’t let you call out is crazy. They’ll let you call whoever to get you to spend more money. Long story short it was corrected in 5 minutes just had to let them know I was on a ship and also what island I was visiting.

 

 

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You can call long distance from your cabin, it runs about $2. a minute, so make sure you're not put on hold!;p

[AmBear]

Some use cash to control their spending!

Some use gift cards they purchase on Ebay/AARP, etc for a reduced rate to put on their accounts.

We always have 3 plus credit cards plus an ATM card with us, with one credit card attached to our account!

That said, we were once stopped on RCL cause of a late purchase of $10. after they closed out our SS/CC account the night before. I was not a happy camper, and we never made a last minute purchase again!

[jason534]

I've had/witnessed both cash and credit card issues. I normally use cash to only spend a certain amount. One cruise probably 6 years ago I didn't look at the bill under the door the day we got off. When we showed our cards to leave we heard "the beep" and were sent to guest services. The lady took my card and said we owed $48, but she had already closed the sailing and couldn't take payment. (we had the cash in hand) I normally charge to the sail n sign card til it says no and go put more cash on it...probably some kind of lag in the computer allowed the over charge...anyways, this one time it paid to be one of the last off the boat LOL. carnival never sent anything about the balance.

 

A year before my best friend had a credit card on his account and gambles A LOT. He just charges to the S&S card in the casino and gambles with that. I think it was the 4th day of a 5 day cruise and he received the statement in his room that showed he owed about $500. When he went to guest services he learned that he had exceeded his card limit. The funniest thing was when he turned to me and said, "what are we gonna do?" I laughed and said "we"? Anyways, they had him sign a 30-day note of some sort and he paid it when we got back home. I'm guessing this one happened because of satellite/communication issues while at sea.

 

Not commenting on right or wrong to use cash/credit or exceeding one's limit, just sharing how Carnival has handled two specific situations relevant to the thread.

[sparks1093]

Yes, if you sign it. Cruise and dash is a concept. Amazing number of people think the cruise company won't find out they are short until they are off the ship.

 

I know that if I were in this position and the options were to sign the paper or have the authorities called that I'd be signing the paper.:')

[LuckyZ]

The funniest thing was when he turned to me and said, "what are we gonna do?" I laughed and said "we"?

 

 

Do parents hear “we” a lot from their kids?

 

 

 

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[DramaQueen22]

On 5/4/2018 at 6:53 PM, April42749 said:

I've used the same cc on cruises for years. All cruises are out of NY....to Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda.

 

On one cruise (NCL) last year I went to purchase a watch on the first sea day. Declined! Told to visit guest services....where I was informed that "just because you use it to check in, the card isn't actually processed at that time."

 

I was allowed a courtesy call to the bank. "The bank" told me that I didn't inform them that I was leaving the country. Huh...I never inform them that I'll be on a cruise. In any case, is sailing out of NY, and back to NY, as far as spending really "leaving the country?" They allowed the credit and now I call multiple cards "just in case".

 

I had DH with me, and several other cards between us, but I had wondered what would have happened if they didn't let me call the bank.

I call our bank with a detailed itinerary when we leave the state.  Most banks are hyper vigilant about fraud these days, so anything that is out of your normal spending pattern gets flagged.  Never had an issue when I let them know ahead.  

[rufflesmom]

On 5/3/2018 at 5:42 PM, bury me at sea said:

I agree with Nic. I believe if you have a cash only account, not backed by a debit or credit card, your charging privileges are suspended if you run out of cash.

I have had experience with this.  If you set up a cash account, you can only spend until the cash is gone.  Then they suspend your card until you either put on more cash or add a CC or debit card.