BrianAlt

To their onboard account. Not from the CC. It is a credit card.

I'm quoting what they told me. So could be their misunderstanding, but I'm assuming it's correct. Yes, I wouldn't expect this to be the breaking point. But it could be one point of a list of 5-6 things. This was a "test cruise" as we have a big family cruise where she is invited later this year. I don't want nitpicky excuses of why she doesn't want to join us.

Again though, to be clear, I've always had a pre-charge, a hold, on my credit card. This was a charge to their onboard account.

It isn't. They just were surprised since they weren't expecting it. I would have been too.

Actually, reading that is the policy as I understand it... A hold on your credit card. Not a charge to you onboard account. The charge was on the onboard account.

Thanks. Just odd that I've never seen it happen myself.

It's a dumb way to do business. My son has cruised several times with us and has our D+ status. His girlfriend is a new cruiser. We told her everything we know about cruising (which I personally think is a lot!). She was surprised by this and so were we. It could potentially turn her off from cruising again. Will it? Probably not. But it could be on her list of, "things I didn't like about cruising."

One of my first thoughts. But if that's the policy, where is it?

Exactly my experience too! To be clear, they did secure their account with a credit card (not debit or cash).

My son and his girlfriend are on their first cruise together, and her first ever, on the Mariner of the Seas. On the first day a charge for $99.75 appeared on their account. They had no idea what it was, so they asked me. I had no idea either, so I suggested they stop at guest services. When they spoke to someone, probably the triage person on the line, and told them the problem was a charge on their account, the person asked, "is it the $99.75 charge?" So presumably they weren't the only ones asking. They were told it was a security deposit for damages to the room and they would get it back at the end of the cruise. Okay, fine. But shouldn't you be telling people about that BEFORE it happens? I know that they do a test charge on the credit card so they know it's valid. But I never heard it going on the ACCOUNT. I thought that maybe it was due to the fact that they are under 25, or that she was a first-time cruiser, but apparently it applies to all cabins. Has anyone encountered this? Is this a Mariner only procedure? Cause I've never heard of such a thing in my 33 cruises.

We were in Aqua. As I understand it, Luminae was open on sea days.

Yes, we were in the "parade". We were on Captain Kate's instagram.

Me neither. It was there before. I’ll try again.

Hello! Anyone here joining us on this cruise? My wife, Sheri, and I will be joined by our friend Eric. Hope we have some others here.

Definitely loved it! Maybe we did meet? I was Barney...

I was on Anthem OTS for NYE in it's inaugural year. CNN was on board as one of the spots they were covering. A) I believe so. B) Special menu for the evening. Champagne bottles on sale. Parties in the Promenade and the Pool Deck. LOTS OF FUN!

I'll be on the Beyond TOMORROW!!! Is this the sailing you're referring to?

Probably the next icon class ship. Not this one.

I booked!

I believe that's only been shared with RC Blog Insiders as of right now. But someone more official can correct me if I'm wrong.

Wouldn't be surprising.

Booked the group cruise!

I actually wouldn't until they made some minor modifications to lower the smokestacks. They had them down to move it from the shipyard, but the intent was to lock them in the up position after that, which they did. So they had to "unlock" them and I'm sure they added some automated system to raise and lower them.

Ken Jarvis posted on his FB that it should be able to fit because it has to go under the Great Belt Bridge which has 213' of clearance and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge has a clearance of 228'. I wouldn't take that as gospel, but it's hopeful.