Debit cards - Maestro

[rdt123]

Hello,

 

As an HSBC customer I use Maestro debit. NCL's website says "you can also use your debit card..." but doesn't specify which. Will my Maestro card be ok? If so how much do they pre-authorise? Do they authorise a certain ammount and then anything above that at the end or do they authorise a certain amount and then take the whole bill at the end (in effect having the original deposit amount still authorised)

 

Rob

[terrymtex01]

Hello,

 

As an HSBC customer I use Maestro debit. NCL's website says "you can also use your debit card..." but doesn't specify which. Will my Maestro card be ok? If so how much do they pre-authorise? Do they authorise a certain ammount and then anything above that at the end or do they authorise a certain amount and then take the whole bill at the end (in effect having the original deposit amount still authorised)

 

Rob

The only part of that I can advise you on is from our experience with our credit card. On both of our last cruises when we took out $2000.00 from the casino, of course the front desk (account people where ever they are) get an approval from the credit card people but not the actual charge. The actual charge was at the end of the cruise. However, every time they authroized the $2000.00, it stayed as "held funds" or ever how they hold it, for a few days. So eventually at the end of the cruise there could be $8000.00 to $10,000.00 in "held" funds (as the first few $2000.00 had fallen off at this point along with our actual charges. Of course the "held" funds always fell off after a few days. Until then, $20,000 or $30,000 would be used up on our limit of our charge card.

 

I am sure it is the same for when they put the deposit on your stateroom. If they approve $300.00 and you spend $250.00, you will have $550.00 in "held" funds until the original deposit authrization falls off. Hope that helps answer some of your question

 

I may be wrong and if so, someone will surely correct us both.. but I would think it would work the same.

 

And if I may add a tip to those who do take out cash from the Casino.. On the last cruise we were on.. three weeks ago on the Star.. the casino would get pre-approval if you knew how much you wanted to take out while on the cruise. ie. We were pretty sure we would take out $10,000.00 so the first time we took out $2,000.00 they went ahead and got approval for $10,000.00. You can still only get $2000.00 of that a day (thank goodness) but you don't have to wait the ten or fifteen minutes each time for them to get approval for $2,000.00

[rdt123]

Thanks for the info mate. I think we may just take a few thousand dollars of travelers cheques. Do they charge you to cash these?

[lincslass64]

Hello,

 

As an HSBC customer I use Maestro debit. NCL's website says "you can also use your debit card..." but doesn't specify which. Will my Maestro card be ok? If so how much do they pre-authorise? Do they authorise a certain ammount and then anything above that at the end or do they authorise a certain amount and then take the whole bill at the end (in effect having the original deposit amount still authorised)

 

Rob

Maestro cards are not accepted onboard at all , i see where your coming from as you can pay your final bill with it ,its a definate no no on board.

[rdt123]

thanks for clearing that up. I presume i can give them some travellers cheques for a cash deposit?

[terrymtex01]

thanks for clearing that up. I presume i can give them some travellers cheques for a cash deposit?

 

I know the people that were in front of us when we checked in on our last cruise "paid' with travlers checks.. so I know they take them... And I have seen people cash them at the front service desk on board and did not hear them charging the pax.

[garycarla]

Maestro cards are not accepted onboard at all , i see where your coming from as you can pay your final bill with it ,its a definate no no on board.

 

Please clarify this statement. You say they do not take them, they you say you can.

 

Everyone ( I think) knows that all charges onboard go to your account. But, final payment goes to cash, charge card, or debit card.

 

Meanwhile, debit cards is general are not good and are looking for problems.

[lincslass64]

Please clarify this statement. You say they do not take them, they you say you can.

 

Everyone ( I think) knows that all charges onboard go to your account. But, final payment goes to cash, charge card, or debit card.

 

Meanwhile, debit cards is general are not good and are looking for problems.

 

The maestro debit card is not allowed to be used onboard VISA debit is allowed Does that clarify that for you .No need for sarcasm.RDT asked specifically about the maestro debit card of which i answered.

[lincslass64]

thanks for clearing that up. I presume i can give them some travellers cheques for a cash deposit?

You will be fine with travellers checks when i asked NCL they said $300 deposit.

[garycarla]

Maestro cards are not accepted onboard at all , i see where your coming from as you can pay your final bill with it ,its a definate no no on board.

 

You say you can pay your final bill with it in the statement above. That is what is confusing.

[lincslass64]

You say you can pay your final bill with it in the statement above. That is what is confusing.

Ok final bill and invoice have

the same meaning IE for your cruise payment ,i didnt say onboard account.

[garycarla]

Ah!

 

Now I see, says the blindman!

 

You can use it to make the final payment FOR the cruise, but not the final payment when ONBOARD. Thanks.