Why did Carnival charge me $$200?

Why did Carnival charge my card 200?

Ugh, Carnival. Two hundred bucks? It was April 2024, the Liberty cruise. My stupid credit card, the one with the ridiculously low limit. It freaked me out, seeing that hold. Total panic. I almost called my bank, then calmed down. They’d explained it at booking, I knew this. It’s a standard verification thing, right? A hold, not a charge. It’s supposed to be released automatically. But two hundred? Ouch.

• Cruise: Carnival Liberty, April 2024
• Hold Amount: $200
• Reason: Card verification, apparently. It was a seven-day cruise so a larger hold than for shorter trips.
• My Feelings: Pure, unadulterated terror. Seriously, my credit card limit is pathetic.

The thing is, this wasn’t my first cruise. I should have remembered. But the anxiety… I even checked my online banking repeatedly! Eventually the hold dropped. But the initial shock, man. Two hundred dollars is like, half my rent.

Seriously, Carnival should provide more visible and better explanations about this. They need to address this hold process so it’s not so stressful for people, especially those on tighter budgets. The whole experience felt incredibly unprofessional. That initial hold is a ridiculous amount of money. I’m still annoyed.

Why did Carnival charge me after my cruise?

Ugh, Carnival, those charges. Why?

• Pending transactions, duh! Like, bursts during the cruise. They wanna see if I can pay? Rude.
• My Starbucks run every morning. $7 a pop? Ouch. Ensuring coverage is the official reason, whatever.
• Then, the real charge hits. Boom! End of the cruise. The total. It’s always higher than I expect. Always.
• They release the pending charges after? Carnival releases pendings. Hope so!
• Wait, did I really spend that much in the casino? Maybe I shouldn’t have had that extra martini.
• Tax on shore excursions probably. That Rome tour was def worth it!
• Oh man, what about the auto gratuities? Are they added to my bill after? I should check that. Those are expensive.
• Maybe my card wasn’t working. Happened once in Cabo! Awful experience. Had to call my bank from a payphone. What are payphones anyway?
• I need a better budget next time. Or maybe just win the lottery and not care. Yeah, lottery sounds good!

Additional points:

• Check your onboard account daily. Use the Carnival app; it’s easier than waiting in line at guest services.
• Review your final billbefore disembarking. Dispute any discrepancies immediately!
• Set a daily spending limit. Seriously, stick to it. It prevents surprises.
• Understand the different types of charges. Drinks, gratuities, excursions, shopping, casino… it all adds up fast!
• Contact Carnival directly if you have questions. Don’t rely solely on Reddit or Facebook groups.
• Check if you can add payment method from a virtual credit card. Maybe this method is more secured than physical credit card.

How much hold does Carnival put on your card?

Carnival, huh? Expect a bank hold dance on embarkation day. Think waltz, but with your money.

It’s about $200 give or take, like my attempts at cooking. A culinary adventure!

Debit or credit, doesn’t matter. They want a slice of the pie. Or is it a wave of your wallet?

It’s their way of saying, “Welcome aboard! Now, prove you can pay for extra margaritas.” Seriously.

Think of it like this: Carnival views your bank account the way I view a cheesecake. Delicious.

• Why the hold? It’s for onboard spending. Because obviously, buffets aren’t free… shocker!
• How long? Days, usually. Until the cruise ends and they figure out how much you really owe.
• Debit vs. Credit: Makes no odds. Just prep your card! My advice? Bring two cards. Just in case!
• My cruise experience: I once racked up a $500 bill on souvenir shot glasses alone. No regrets. Okay, maybe a few.
• Pro Tip: Check your bank balance before the cruise. I learned this lesson the hard way. Very hard. Trust me.

How do I get out of paying gratuities on Carnival Cruise?

Ugh, Carnival gratuities. Hate ’em. Seriously, the whole system feels shady. Why can’t I just pay cash directly? It’s my money, right? I’m not some ATM for Carnival.

So, yeah, go to the service desk. Tell them. Plain and simple. No fancy talk. Just say you want to opt out of the automatic gratuity. Done deal.

This year, I tried it on the Carnival Vista. Worked like a charm. Felt good, actually. More control.

I always tip cash. Feels better. I know exactly who gets what. Unlike that mystery “pool” they create. Some workers, especially the room stewards, get stiffed. It’s bullshit.

My friend, Sarah, did this on the Carnival Breeze in 2023. Same deal. No issues.

Tips I’ve learned:

• Be assertive. Don’t be shy. It’s YOUR money.
• Carry cash. Small bills are best. Trust me.
• Tip generously. If someone goes above and beyond, show it. You’ll feel better.

This whole thing is annoying. Why can’t they just have a straightforward tipping system? I’m tired of these corporate loopholes. It’s a ripoff. Next time, maybe I’ll try another cruise line… or sail a different boat altogether. This whole business feels unethical, man.

Why is Carnival still charging me?

Charges linger. Bills double. Annoying.

Credit card discrepancies happen. Check. Reconcile. Dispute if needed. Easy peasy.

• Document everything.
• Call Carnival first.
• Dispute with your bank, if unresolved.
• Fraudulent charges? Report ASAP.
• Consider legal advice, if necessary. Wow!

Sometimes it’s slow processing. Duh. Often errors. Always a headache.

Think of it as a forced donation. Ha. I’m kidding. Sort of. That happened to my buddy Dave. Seriously.

Why did Carnival charge me after the cruise?

Ugh, Carnival and those post-cruise charges. Why!??

• Embarkation day… bank holds. Right, right. Always forget about that!
• Up to $200? Hmm, mine was $150. Weird.
• Oh! Card validation thing. Got it. Makes sense.

But still, annoying, right? I used my Chase Sapphire card this time. Wonder if that makes a difference.

• $100 for 2-6 day cruises? My Baja cruise was 4 days. So yeah, fits.
• Same card for the whole room? Yep. Me and my mom.
• Debit card too? Yikes, some people are brave.

Okay, okay. So the hold drops off eventually. I panic every time, though! Did they ACTUALLY charge me, or is it just the hold finally clearing? The waiting game begins again.

Why does Carnival hold $200?

Ugh, Carnival. Remember that cruise last August, the one to Cozumel? 200 bucks. Gone. Poof. Right off my card. Scared me half to death. My debit card, mind you, not a credit card, so I was freaking out a bit. They said it was a pre-authorization. A security measure, they called it. Yeah, right. Felt like a rip-off.

It was for onboard stuff, they explained. Drinks, shore excursions, that kind of thing. But, seriously? Two hundred dollars? That’s insane. For pre-authorization. My cruise was only seven days. Ridiculous. I swear it took almost a week for that hold to drop. The whole thing was a hassle.

So, yeah. They do it to check your card works, I guess. To make sure you’ve got enough money for your wild, booze-soaked vacation or something. Makes you feel like they don’t trust you, though, which isn’t great. Should have been a smaller amount, honestly. Maybe fifty bucks. Maybe less, if they were nice about it. This whole ordeal left a sour taste in my mouth.

• Cruise: Cozumel, August 2023
• Hold Amount: $200
• Card Type: Debit Card
• Duration: 7 Days
• Release Time: Approximately one week post-cruise
• My Feeling: Totally ripped off!

How much is a cruise deposit?

Ugh, planning my sister’s 70th birthday cruise in 2024 was a nightmare. It was supposed to be a surprise. We picked a 10-day Caribbean cruise, looked amazing in the brochure!

The deposit? A hefty $400 per person! That’s $1600 just to book the thing! She’s traveling alone so it was $800 for her. Ouch.

Money’s tight, you know? Paying for 4 people. This cruise better be epic. I hope she loves the surprise.

We almost canceled, seriously considered a shorter trip. But my nephews insisted, Mom wants this. It’s her dream vacation.

They were so excited. They are paying a portion of it. But still, $1600? Crazy.

Here’s what I remember about the deposit requirements:

• Ten-day cruises: $400 per person, $800 single occupancy.
• Shorter cruises (6-9 days): $250 per person, $500 single.
• Special cruises (Alaska, etc.): Same as 10-day cruises. $400/$800.

It was stressful. I’m still paying off the deposit. The final payment is due soon too. Yikes. Hopefully, the cruise itself will be worth the stress and cost. I hope.