On board account question

[vancruiser69]

My wife and I are very much looking forward to our very first cruise, Feb 19 on the Star, and this board has proved to be a great resource.

 

Now for the newbie question: for your on board account I understand the key card you're given doubles as essentially a credit card while you're on the ship and is used for drinks, spa treatments, etc.

 

My question is when you first arrive do they precharge or preauthorize a certain amount to your actual credit card? And if so how much? If they see you've already spent for eg. $500 two days into the cruise do they preauthorize a further amount? And lastly how is the bill finally settled, do they just put through the final amount on the last day?

 

Thanks!

[Rollexx]

They treat your CC just like any hotel does. Taking an imprint, then at the end of the cruise you can settle up with cash or leave it on your card. As far as putting a hold amount on your card, not sure.

[Colo Cruiser]

Only if you choose to use a debit card will they pre authorize charges. :)

[vancruiser69]

Thanks a lot, this board has made me so much more comfortable for my first cruise! If things go as I expect they will it will definitely be the first of many with Princess.

[MSN-Travelers]

An shipboard account is created for each individual issued a card. Account statements are sent to your stateroom on the last evening in the hope you will examine the statement for errors. I seem to recall that no action on your part indicates the statement(s) is/are correct and the total charge is applied to your credit card. Individuals that wish to settle the bill with cash can go to the pursers desk and pay. If there are errors, that evening would be a good time to get things corrected rather than waiting until debarkation morning.

 

People that use a debit/check card vs. a regular credit card will likely have a hold (pre-charge) placed on the account.

 

I have heard chatter about people that have or are issued onboard account credits needing to balance their charges. I'm sure you will get additional info in this thread but I don't think a credit balance remaining on one person's account can be use to offset charges on another's account. (ie: You shouldn't make all purchases using your card if your spouse has an unused credit balance in his/her account).Enjoy!

[gvb]

Van, they will take your credit card info before the cruise--you should go online and input it at the Princess site along with all your passport info, etc. This really speeds up embarkation. But to your point--they don't preauthorize any certain amount, just let you keep charging! It is helpful if you go to the purser's desk about halfway through the cruise to review your bill and make sure you understand all the charges on it. The day before the end of the cruise, you will get a bill to proof that will have all your charges except the very last night's worth, and then a final bill under your door the last night. If those are OK, you don't have to do anything and the charges will be on your credit card. If there are mistakes (not often but it does happen) bring them to the purser's attention as soon as possible to get them resolved. Don't forget the standard tips are also put on your bill--I can't remember if they put them on each day or wait til the end of the cruise. Hope this helps.

 

PS--the charges will mount up fast, so if you have a budget, keep track so you won't be surprised. But remember, you're on vacation! I used to sweat every drink but now I just realize my cabin charges will be bad but will show what a good time I had!

[Chris54]

This is a little off topic but what would you all say is "average" for a 7 day cruise, as far as extra charges? I don't want to have a heart attack when we see our bill. If a couple is enjoying themselves, having a few drinks each evening, wine with dinner, etc., and excursions (not over the top excursions but normal excursions), what do you think would be a typical end of cruise bill?

 

Thanks,

[cherylandtk]

Drinks about $4.50 with tip. Wine, $35 and up per bottle. Excursion, figure $80 each. Don't forget you will probably buy souvenirs in the shops, or bingo cards, or something extra. Figure $100 for that. Tips will be $140 for two. Add it up and you will likely be looking at something between $750 to $1000 for two of you. But many people get by on much less, and many spend a lot more.

[Linda the Book Lover]

This is a little off topic but what would you all say is "average" for a 7 day cruise, as far as extra charges? I don't want to have a heart attack when we see our bill. If a couple is enjoying themselves, having a few drinks each evening, wine with dinner, etc., and excursions (not over the top excursions but normal excursions), what do you think would be a typical end of cruise bill?

 

Thanks,

When our DD and DSIL went on a "first cruise" with us and I told them to figure on days with excursions a little more but round it to about $150 a day. It was actually alot more than they needed but sometimes by the time you buy wine with dinner (over the bottles you bring on board), the beers at the pool :), and any extras it might mount. It gave them a cushion and they never came close to the actual total. You can always add your excursion amount, figure in a bottle of wine at dinner, any paid dinner events, and drinks (prices on Princess web site) prior to going and that will help you as well. The DH and I being "of a certain age" do enjoy the cocktails :D so we figure big there and we bring travelers checks as we usually book excursions on our own. I hope this helps.

[Chris54]

Thanks, Cherylandtk. That's kind of what I had in mind -- I just needed to know I was being realistic.

 

And Linda, we also enjoy our cocktails (heck, it's a vacation!!!!), so I'm figuring that in. I think $150 a day is probably a good budget to tell hubby and then, if we're under, hubby will be very pleased. Thanks!

[chasetf]

They treat your CC just like any hotel does. Taking an imprint, then at the end of the cruise you can settle up with cash or leave it on your card. As far as putting a hold amount on your card, not sure.

The cruise lines do pre-authorize. They are making sure you have room on your CC for your charges.

 

My brother used a CC on a 14 day B2B. For some reason, during that time, his CC company reissued his card, sending the new card (with a new account #) to his home. He was unaware it happened.

 

In the middle of the cruise, he then got an invite to the purser desk because they detected his old account number was no longer valild. He knew he was not over limit, so with the ship help, he called the CC company to find out what happened. It took a while (multiple calls) to get the thing straightened out to the new number.

[chasetf]

I can't remember if they put them on each day or wait til the end of the cruise. Hope this helps.!

They put them on each day, on each person's account.

 

PS--the charges will mount up fast, so if you have a budget, keep track so you won't be surprised. But remember, you're on vacation! I used to sweat every drink but now I just realize my cabin charges will be bad but will show what a good time I had!

Another thing I like to do is mid cruise go to the purser desk and get a printout of the account. I also get one the last night. This way I can check for errors and make sure my internet charges are credited. :)

 

Saves lining up departure morning with everyone else who got their bill under the door at midnight and had a first look at it as they are disembarking, and found an error. :eek:

[RodneyG]

Your CC bill can mount up , we had all our Tours put on it ($1900 for 3 ppl for a 19 day cruise) , add the mandatory $10 a day tip , all liquor , bingo , video arcade charges (worked out to about $50-60 a day per person) , all duty free or ships shop purchases, spa treatments and even cash advances from the casino get added

But what sent our bill over the top was the cost of a minor procedure in the ships hospital($2600 for merely opening up a small foot infection) and we had to settle that prior to disembarkment. I had a well in excess of $6500 shipboard acct and we didnt splash out!!!

[KAJOKG]

Yes, they do put a hold on credit card onboard accounts. The same way hotels and auto rental agencies do. These drop off after a few days. You will probably see a hold on your credit card by the cruise line after you return home. I called my credit card bank and they dropped it for me instead of waiting the usual 7 days.

[jlp20]

If you know you have an onboard credit, go to the main desk and ask for a copy of your account(s) on the first day. If there is a problem, it might get fixed before you even leave the dock.

 

Check your account the 2nd or 3rd day just to be sure your getting billed for YOUR transactions.

 

Check one more time, the day before you get off the boat. You get another copy put under your door in the wee hours of the last day, but look at the line at the main desk that last day. Hundreds of people tring to straighten things out so they can get off the ship..

[Mary Poppins]

On my last cruise, I answered this question, by checking my credit card balance daily from my cabin with my laptop. Sure enough each day a new amount was added to the card. They charge daily...if you should go over your credit limit they will know almost immediately and you will be called to the pursers desk for payment arrangements.

[Mrs. Gump]

Is there a way to put $$ into your onboard account prior to your cruise? I know it all works out the same in the end but I like to fool myself and pretend that I've already got a $500 credit when I board! That way, the blow doesn't seem so bad on the last day.

[cmm80124]

To add to what Mary Poppins & others said...

 

Four temporary charges were put on my credit card during our 10 day cruise. At the end of the cruise, one of those temporary charges was removed and the full amount of our bill was charged.

 

However, the remaining three temporary charges were not removed, and stayed on my credit card until multiple calls were made to Princess over two weeks later.

 

The effect of this was to reduce my available balance on the card to zero for a time because both the temporary and final charges were larger than my limit (a student cash-back credit card).

 

Just fair notice for the OP...

[vancruiser69]

On my last cruise, I answered this question, by checking my credit card balance daily from my cabin with my laptop. Sure enough each day a new amount was added to the card. They charge daily...if you should go over your credit limit they will know almost immediately and you will be called to the pursers desk for payment arrangements.

 

That makes sense, so each day in fact your credit card gets billed for what you've purchased.

[vancruiser69]

To add to what Mary Poppins & others said...

 

Four temporary charges were put on my credit card during our 10 day cruise. At the end of the cruise, one of those temporary charges was removed and the full amount of our bill was charged.

 

However, the remaining three temporary charges were not removed, and stayed on my credit card until multiple calls were made to Princess over two weeks later.

 

The effect of this was to reduce my available balance on the card to zero for a time because both the temporary and final charges were larger than my limit (a student cash-back credit card).

 

Just fair notice for the OP...

 

ugh, and that exactly was my concern. Budget is not really the issue on this cruise, I'm planing on spending about $2000 (the wife REALLY likes to shop) but I too just have a student credit card with a fairly low limit and my concern was they would be charging against the available credit for the hold and then put through the final "real" charge and use up all my available credit. Oh well, it is a vacation so I'm not going to let it interfere with my enjoyment in any way, but I will keep this in mind.

[Aloha Me]

Carnival allows you to check your account via tv in your room as often as you want. Is this not an option on the Princess line?

[LeeW]

On the last sea day they will tell you that your bill will be delivered under your door overnight. Reason given was that crying isn't allowed in the public areas. You can either leave the bill on your credit card or arrange to pay another way.

 

Princess ships don't have account viewing on the TV yet (and they don't have networking in the rooms, either).

[mjwelch]

This is a little off topic but what would you all say is "average" for a 7 day cruise, as far as extra charges? I don't want to have a heart attack when we see our bill. If a couple is enjoying themselves, having a few drinks each evening, wine with dinner, etc., and excursions (not over the top excursions but normal excursions), what do you think would be a typical end of cruise bill?

 

Thanks,

 

We've racked up over $2K to under $500 on the most recent. I read that someone here carries an envelope with them and writes the amount of each receipt on the back when they toss in the receipt. Then you can quickly get a good idea on how much you're spending. Not a bad idea!

[West Coast]

Here's how it works, in simpilest terms:

 

CREDIT CARD:

Princess will pre-auth a set amount on the first day (+/- $200). Then, each following night, they put through a 'cummulative' pre-auth to ensure that what you have spent will be covered.

 

Example:

Day 1 - pre auth $200

Day 2 - charge $500, that night the pre-auth will be increased to $500

Day 3 - charge $100, that night the pre-auth will be increased to $600

...

Day 7 - final amount (let's say $900) will be put through - the pre-auth is increased to the final amount and then a few days later it is settled for the final amount.

 

So, in this example, the cc credit 'room' is eaten up on a gradual basis.

 

Note: If you have a lower limit on your card you can always pre-pay your cc to increase the available credit room.

 

DEBIT/CHEQUE CARDS with a VISA or MC Logo:

These cards work differently... The pre-auth is NOT removed when the final amount is put through. It will take 10-14 days for the pre-auth to 'fall off.'

So, in the example above - you would have a charge for the final payment ($900) PLUS you would have a HOLD on the final payment amount ($900). So, if you had $2000 in your account before the cruise, when you came home you would only have $200 (available) [$1800 - $900 - $900 (hold)] and then after 10-14 days the $900 will drop and the funds will become available.

 

 

Also, if you have registered you on-board accounts so that only one person pays, and if one person has a credit balance at the end, that credit balance that is okay as the two accounts are added together or 'netted' so in total you do get the benefit of the unused credit.