Another sign and sail question- credit card hold

[AUTUMN SUN]

We are a family of four traveling on a 5 day cruise. We have prepaid the $200 in tips already. My question is how much of a hold are they going to put on my credit card if i have already prepaid the tips? Thanks!:)

[jleq]

Same amount as if you hadn't prepaid the tips...

[AUTUMN SUN]

Same amount as if you hadn't prepaid the tips...

 

Which is.........? :confused: Is there any concensous on the amount. I have seen varying opinions on this.:D Thanks!:)

[ChristieDawn]

I think it's $200 pp.

[serene56]

If its a regular charge card there will be no hold- it will be charged on the last night for all purchases.

 

If its a debit card there will be a hold. Make sure the cards have no daily availabilty-- this is where the problem comes in.

[GoinCruisin]

They do put a hold on a credit card (otherwise, they couldn't guarantee getting paid ;)) It's called a pre-authorization, just like they do at gas stations, hotels, etc. They put a $356 hold on my Visa check card in January at the end of the first day... I could not understand where they got the number from, other than the first day I spent quite a bit of money. Now, when I've used my Amex, no hold... back in the day when I used credit cards, the hold was I believe $200 for a 5 day cruise...

[AUTUMN SUN]

If its $200 a person thats $800 for a family of 4.:eek: Ive been on one other cruise and used my debit card with no problem. It does have a daily $500 limit, so I know they could not have put a $800 hold on it. Im just wanting to use the card for all my purchases on my entire trip. The same day we leave for the cruise, we will be checking out of a hotel and who know what kind of hold they will place also. Im getting a little stressed about this!

[GoinCruisin]

If its $200 a person thats $800 for a family of 4.:eek: Ive been on one other cruise and used my debit card with no problem. It does have a daily $500 limit, so I know they could not have put a $800 hold on it. Im just wanting to use the card for all my purchases on my entire trip. The same day we leave for the cruise, we will be checking out of a hotel and who know what kind of hold they will place also. Im getting a little stressed about this!

 

They may not do $200pp, some ships only do $50pp as the hold and raise it if you go over that. You may be able to block your kids from purchases and ask for no hold on them...

[AUTUMN SUN]

They may not do $200pp, some ships only do $50pp as the hold and raise it if you go over that. You may be able to block your kids from purchases and ask for no hold on them...

 

My kids are small enough they wont be making purchases, thank goodness.:D I did just call a carnival rep about this and mentioned my daily limit. She said" Oh no, they will not put a hold on your card of that much. " She said it was AROUND $250! I like the around part!!! Anyways I guess ill be alright.:)

[AMONTG]

I am now soooooo confused on this part.....

I prepaid my tips and made my final payment back in February for my April Cruise....now my money came directly out of my account. Am I hearing these stories because people used actual credit cards and not a bank card?...I'm new so if this sounds crazy forgive me, but I'm not getting the hold part....what's being held. I want to make sure that when I get on the cruise all I have to do is put my cash money on my S & S card and that would be all I have to be concerned about...is there more to this?

 

Thanks!

[GoinCruisin]

I am now soooooo confused on this part.....

I prepaid my tips and made my final payment back in February for my April Cruise....now my money came directly out of my account. Am I hearing these stories because people used actual credit cards and not a bank card?...I'm new so if this sounds crazy forgive me, but I'm not getting the hold part....what's being held. I want to make sure that when I get on the cruise all I have to do is put my cash money on my S & S card and that would be all I have to be concerned about...is there more to this?

 

Thanks!

 

We are not talking about payment for the cruise... you will have to secure your S&S card with something... cash, credit card, debit card, travelers checks... You can put cash down, that's fine, there is a minimum you put down that is stated on the the Carnival site. No worries... this is concerning securing your card with a credit or debit card. With cash, you put down the cash deposit and if you go over, they call you to get more.

[alphakitty]

Here's the skinny from the Carnival web site:

 

What is Sail & Sign? Sail & Sign is Carnival's cashless on board credit program which allows guests to charge purchases directly to a personal account for convenience throughout the cruise.

 

Registration will take place on sailing day at embarkation or on board at the Information Desk. The completed application form (included in the cruise documents) must be submitted along with a 1) credit card, 2) U.S. currency, or 3) traveler's checks.

 

Personalized Sail & Sign cards will be provided to all guests on a booking (including minors) and are valid for use immediately upon boarding the ship.

 

The Information Desk can provide guests with a balance update at any time throughout the cruise.

 

All charges will automatically be billed to the guest's credit card at the end of the voyage. On the final morning of the cruise, a statement detailing all purchases made with the Sail & Sign card will be delivered to the guest's stateroom. The total amount will be applied to the credit card presented during registration. For those guests who put down a cash deposit, if there is an overpayment at the end of the cruise, the guest will receive the overpayment in the form of a check attached to their detailed statement on the final morning of the cruise.

 

Any inqiries regarding a Sail & Sign Account made after the cruise, need to be referred to the Guest Relations Department (71551) for researching.

 

Deposit with a Credit Card

Credit Cards are accepted as a form of deposit to open a Sail & Sign Account at the start of the cruise. The following credit cards are accepted:

• Visa

• MasterCard

• Discover® Network

• American Express

Note:

• The American Express "Persona Select" is not an acceptable credit card.

• Regular ATM debit cards are not acceptable.

• Guests may use a checking account debit card as long as it is a registered MasterCard or Visa card.

• A guest traveling without his/her parents cannot use the parents' credit card even with the parents' written permission

• The cardholding guest must be an authorized signer by the card issuing bank.

• Upon completion of the Sail & Sign Application Form, the cardholder agrees to pay for the individuals indicated on the form; it is not necessary for these individuals to be booked in the same room as the cardholder.

Important Note: A hold will be placed on the credit card or checking account debit card at the beginning of the cruise as a deposit for an onboard purchases. This will reduce the amount of available credit on the credit card or restrict the availability of cash in the checking account. The hold will be released and actual charges will be billed at the end of the cruise.

The following dollar amounts, per guest, are used as a deposit and placed as a hold on the credit card when the Sail & Sign Account is opened:

 

2-4 day cruises: $100 deposit pp

5-8 day cruises: $200 deposit pp

9 + day cruises: $350 deposit pp

Deposit with U.S. Currency or Traveler's Checks

U.S. Currency and traveler's checks are accepted as a form of deposit to open a Sail & Sign Account at the start of the cruise. As the guest approaches the deposit limit, the Information Desk will notify the guest that additional money must be deposited.

 

Uses for the Sail & Sign Card The Sail & Sign Card must be utilized for the following; cash will not be an accepted form of payment:

Beverage purchases: A 15% gratuity will automatically be added to the bill which the guest may adjust appropriate to the service received.

Shore excursion tours

In-room calling charges

Infirmary charges

Valet laundry charges

Photo purchases: On debarkation day, cash is only accepted.

Video service

Gift Shops

Steiner's spa and salon

Formality Shop (flowers; tuxedo; chocolates)

European Cafe (specialty coffees and pastries)

Supper Club

Camp Carnival babysitting fees

Gratuities for shipboard staff for ships with "Reverse Gratuity" program.

Note: Ships with the traditional gratuity program must be paid with cash.

Casino: to purchase chips for the tables and coins for the slot machines.

Note: Cash is also accepted in the casino.

[serene56]

Chris- I have never noticed a hold on a credit card. How do you know this was done? (well could be that we used a visa debit card to hold the account)

[GoinCruisin]

Chris- I have never noticed a hold on a credit card. How do you know this was done? (well could be that we used a visa debit card to hold the account)

 

You generally won't know it's done... just like a gas station and hotel, you generally have no idea a pre-auth is posted to your account because it is released within a few days. When you are using a credit card, companies like to be assured they are going to get their money, so they use a pre-auth... I do it in both of my businesses... companies would go out of business if they didn't do this. As far as how I know, Carnival states it on their website :)

 

Important Note: A hold will be placed on the credit card or checking account debit card at the beginning of the cruise as a deposit for an onboard purchases. This will reduce the amount of available credit on the credit card or restrict the availability of cash in the checking account. The hold will be released and actual charges will be billed at the end of the cruise.

The following dollar amounts, per guest, are used as a deposit and placed as a hold on the credit card when the Sail & Sign Account is opened:

 

2-4 day cruises: $100 deposit pp

5-8 day cruises: $200 deposit pp

9 + day cruises: $350 deposit pp

[wisefamily4]

. The hold will be released and actual charges will be billed at the end of the cruise.

.

 

Unless carnival has recently changed - this statement is not really true.

 

Carnival does not release the hold - they simply do not complete the transaction thus the hold expires according to your banks policy (some 24 hrs - some up to 10 days).

The final charge from carnival (at the end of the cruise) is not linked in any way to the the hold (or holds) placed at the start and during your cruise.

There may be several holds placed during the cruise (depending on how much you spend).

[VentureMan_2000]

Chris- I have never noticed a hold on a credit card. How do you know this was done? (well could be that we used a visa debit card to hold the account)

 

You would have to call your credit card 800 number on the back, and work thru the voice response questions to get to the menu that tells you how much has been pre-authorized (put on hold). You never actually see it on a statement anywhere, or receipt.

 

This is all pretty standard fare when using a credit card.

[caa]

Chris- I have never noticed a hold on a credit card. How do you know this was done? (well could be that we used a visa debit card to hold the account)

 

You generally only find out about holds if your credit limit is not high enough. For example, suppose you are a family of 4 on a 7 day cruise and you use a credit card with a $2000 limit and a $0 balance. Carnival will do an auth transaction for $800 when you arrive. Now if you go to a jewelry store in port and try to buy a $1500 ring with the same card, that transaction is going to fail because you are over your limit, even though the actual balance on your card is still $0. It's that potential charge of $800 that causes the problem. If your credit limit were $10,000 and all the other numbers were the same, the ring purchase would go through and the hold wouldn't inconvenience you at all.

 

It's the same with a visa debit card. In that case you will just not be allowed to withdraw enough cash from your account to fall below the held amount.

[VentureMan_2000]

Now I'm courious.

 

Do folks have credit card limits so low that a Carnival hold really does pose an issue...? I thought a credit card would at least have a $5000 limit on them before a Credit Provider would bother issuing one.

 

Anyone have any insight here...?

[MrGolf]

I plan on leaving everyone on my credit card for 2 simple reasons.

 

1. It provides me protection.

2. I get more miles. :D

[Sirwinston]

I used to have a $ 500.00 dollar limit credit card. I used it at the front desk of a hotel. (the room was paid for, this was just in case I wanted to use the phone). Anyway I was not able to use it to buy lunch at the airport because of the hold. Anyway luckily I had either cash or another credit card so I was fine. But I could see how this could put people in a bind. Also I work in fine dining. A few time people have come in with visa or mc gift cards for $ 100.00. Usually the customer wants to use these to pay for either the meal or part of the meal. But our computer / visa machine won't accept them for the whole $ 100.00 because it wants to pre approve them for the tip also... So we have to have the cashier call these in for us..

Worse yet I have had frantic brides trying to pay for big receptions with visa check cards with daily limits. Spending time on the phone with the banks is not what she wants to do her special day.

I could see how something like this would frustrate a first timer or someone repairing their credit.

[caa]

Now I'm courious.

 

Do folks have credit card limits so low that a Carnival hold really does pose an issue...? I thought a credit card would at least have a $5000 limit on them before a Credit Provider would bother issuing one.

 

Anyone have any insight here...?

 

Yes, but if you have a $5000 limit and a $3000 balance, then the math is the same as when you have a $2000 limit and a $0 balance. :)

[VentureMan_2000]

:eek: A $3000 balance...? On a credit card with $5000 limit...? :eek:

 

Holy Crap...!

[Fun~N~Sun]

If its $200 a person thats $800 for a family of 4.:eek: Ive been on one other cruise and used my debit card with no problem. It does have a daily $500 limit, so I know they could not have put a $800 hold on it. Im just wanting to use the card for all my purchases on my entire trip. The same day we leave for the cruise, we will be checking out of a hotel and who know what kind of hold they will place also. Im getting a little stressed about this!

 

 

I had the same situation with my debit card. Talked to my bank and explained and they made arrangments for a limited time period to not have the daily limits on my account so that I could use the debit card for the whole trip and not have to use credit cards. This was a good thing especially since I don't have credit cards.

[AUTUMN SUN]

Wow,lots of ideas!!! I will say I did read the whole statement on Carnivals website about the sign and sail account before I called the rep. She said the hold is not $200 PP. I know this is true because on the last cruise I had the same debit card with a $500 dollar a day spending limit and never had a problem. If this were the case, they would have placed a $800 dollar hold and my card would have DECLINED.:D

[dzcruisers]

So that there are no embarrassing situations, it's best to let your credit card company or bank customer service know what you are doing and where you are traveling. They shut down my card in Europe because they could not reach me at home to be sure someone was not making fraudulent charges. No credit problems, just security measure because we were using the card more frequently than usual and out of the country. I've heard of it happening to others in the islands also. Since we have let our bank know ahead of time what we were doing we have had no problems. We also get the daily amount allowed changed on our atm card for the duration of the trip. That little bit of communication really helps prevent unexpected situations with CC & atm cards.