Debit/credit holds.

[JenniX]

To start, I'm fairly new to credit cards. I have applied to the carnival mastercard, and my limit is 1300. I understand they put a hold of 200 to start.

Start with 1300, and give my card to carnival. They put 200 hold. So now my available is 1100, corerect?

So now 1100, I spend 200, and they hold for another 200. So now my available is 700? Correct?

I spend that 200 again, and they hold 200 again. Now I'm left 300.

Is this an accurate representation? So ultimately I can spend half of my available credit, and the other half is placed on hold?

[sanger727]

How it works is that you start with your 1300 limit

 

You put it down as your card and not sure what the original hold amount is, but we can say 200. And now your available limit is 1100

 

As the cruise goes on you charge 200 in shore excursions; they don’t ‘charge’ your card at this point, just increase the hold. So they may increase by 200 and now your available credit is 900.

 

Say you keep spending and the cycle repeats on more time. Now your available credit is 700.

 

Now, last night your total bill is 500. This is when they will ‘charge’ your card. So your credit will be down to 200. Temporarily until the holds fall off.

 

This can become a problem if your holds total more than the difference between your limit and bill.

 

If your limit is 1300, and you charge 700; and during the cruise they put on 900 worth of holds, you will risk the final charge being declined

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Schoifmom]

That would be true. That's why using debit cards could be so tricky (I know you are using a credit card, but it's the same principle).

[cb at sea]

Debit card "holds" are imposed by your bank...not the cruise line. "Credit card "holds" drop of when the actual charge is processed. Debit card "holds" can take DAYS to be removed. Use a credit card...NOT a debit card!

 

And call your credit card company and tell them where you'll be going, so they don't shut off the card for "fraud"!

[JenniX]

Thank you all so very very much! I've always trusted cash, it never lets me down. I think after all this information, I will plan on using cash, for my s&s, and use my card to pre-pay our excursions, and drinks.

[coevan]

Debit card "holds" are imposed by your bank...not the cruise line. "Credit card "holds" drop of when the actual charge is processed. Debit card "holds" can take DAYS to be removed. Use a credit card...NOT a debit card!

 

And call your credit card company and tell them where you'll be going, so they don't shut off the card for "fraud"!

 

 

 

We are traveling Thursday and I got an email from Capital One which stated, we know you are traveling next week and there is no reason to call us, everything is good. We love Capital One, best mileage program and the best fraud department

[maryred]

Thank you all so very very much! I've always trusted cash, it never lets me down. I think after all this information, I will plan on using cash, for my s&s, and use my card to pre-pay our excursions, and drinks.

 

Here's an idea that you can still use you new Carnival Credit card, to get your double points for spending with Carnival, help to reach the spending threshold for the new sign-up bonus, and not have to worry about holds. Use the card to buy Carnival E-gift cards direct from Carnival as close to equal of the amount you would use in cash to fund you S&S a card with. Then take the cash and pay off the credit bill as soon as you possibly can.*

 

Any remaining gift card amount can be withdrawn by closing your S&S account on the last night just like cash or doing the casino download trick. Otherwise you can let the on board accounting dept. auto close the account and get a new Carnival Gift card mailed to you about 10 days after the cruise.

 

Remember the points earned on the Carnival CC can also be used to pay down Carnival purchases that credit card bill. 5,000 points equals (which is what the sign-up & spend threshold bonus should be) is a $50.00 statement credit if you opt for it.

 

*This is also a good way to build up your credit rating, by charging things you know you can pay off when the bill comes. We also frequently use our Carnival or another "points card" to pay off monthly utility bills, to increase our point count.