sail and sign account

O

Ohio Edge

Guest
We are sailing on the victory 10/09. This is our first cruise. We do not have any credit cards. I was wondering if we are able to deposit cash into the account when we arrive. I really don't want to use our check card because I do not want the account frozen the entire time we are on the trip.



Thanks, Jeff
 
C

Coppertone Girl

Guest
Yes, you can do that. Advise the agent that checks you in that you will create a cash account onboard. You have to do it at the purser's office and unless you are going to start buying stuff right away... I suggest you wait until the long lines are gone and do it at night.
 
R

Richsap

Guest
If Carnival does what RCCL did to me a few years ago, they will allow you to establish a 'cash' account with them. They have a minimum deposit of somewhere in the neighborhood of $250. As soon as your account begins to run low they will notify you that you have to add more to it. I assume if you don't they cut off your S&S 'privileges'.

I put $500 into my account upon boarding my RCCL cruise, and within three days I had a notice tacked to my cabin door saying that my account was low (I think I had gotten to within $100 of a zero balance) and that I needed to come to the purser's desk. Here I thought I had gotten an invitation to dine with the Captain...

Ended up spending about $800 onboard ship, not including gratuities. That was just for pictures, drinks and a few gift purchases. And I don't drink much!
 
C

Coppertone Girl

Guest
You don't have to put that much money. I sail often and do like $100 at a time. Something interesting, they will let you get over your balance... You know thos people they keep calling over the intercome when you're back home? really really early in the morning? they owe money! and no one is getting off that ship until they come up... jejejeje
 
C

Cactuscruise

Guest
Initial sail & sign cash deposit for 7 day cruise or more is $150. When the balance gets low you will receive a note from the purser to replenish the account.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
Jeff, why would your bank freeze your account if you're using a debit card?

I pay my deposit and balance with Carnival with my Visa debit card, and they 'swipe it' when I check in at the terminal. I never have to go to the purser's desk at any time during my cruises. It's just all automatic.
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
BlueChef Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jeff, why would your bank freeze your account if
> you're using a debit card?
>
They don't freeze the entire account, just a portion of it (whatever the opening deposit is). The problem comes when trying to get that hold off the account. It can sometimes take days. If that happens, you could bounce a check. For this reason I don't think it is a good idea to use a debit card for your ship board account. Use a credit card. Unless you are near your limit, the hold (which is also put on a credit card) will not be a problem.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
Thx, Cruizer, for your thoughts. I've just always used my debit card for everything concerning my cruises for the past many years, so I didn't know there could be any problems. None for me. But I guess every case could be different? (I don't own credit cards.)
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
BlueChef -

It depends on how fast the hold comes off and how much money is in the account vs. how much in checks you are writing.

If you have $5,000 in the account, write $1000 in checks and there is a $1,000 hold pending for 3 days, you will not have a problem. However, if you have $500 in the account, write $400 in checks and there is a $250 hold when the checks come in, and if you do not have overdraft protection, a check could bounce. Of course if the hold is cleared prior to the checks coming through, then no problem.

This link below discusses this problem in greater detail ...

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/Betterbanking/P118381.asp
 
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