Why would Royal Caribbean charge $99 before cruise?
Royal Caribbean uses a pre-authorization hold of $99.75 on your credit card to cover onboard expenses like drinks, specialty dining, and shopping. This initial hold secures funds, similar to a hotel pre-authorization. Spending beyond this amount will result in additional holds on your card during the cruise.
Royal Caribbean $99 Pre-Cruise Charge: Why?
Okay, so like, Royal Caribbean & that $99 pre-cruise thing? Yeah, I get it now, kinda.
Basically, it’s like a hotel. Think of it as a deposit. $99.75 USD initial pending charge secures your onboard spending money.
It’s a hold on your credit card, not a real charge – unless you spend it! Remember that time, July 2022, on the Oasis?
If you go over that amount buying fruity drinks or, like, a cheesy photo package (guilty!), more holds happen. Happened to me.
Honestly, freaked me out the first time, I saw it. Thought I was getting scammed somehow. But nah, it’s just how they roll.
What happens if I dont prepay gratuities on Royal Caribbean?
Unpaid gratuities? Automatic daily charges. Simple.
-
$18.50 per person, per day. Applies to most rooms. Expect it.
-
Royal Caribbean. Their policy. Not negotiable. 2024 rates.
Fine print exists. Check it. Avoid surprises.
Key Takeaway: Prepaying is optional. Payment is mandatory. Choose wisely. It’s their boat, their rules. Life’s a cruise, isn’t it? Or is it?
My last cruise? 2023. Paid upfront. Less hassle. Learned my lesson.
Do you pay for a cruise upfront?
The ship… beckons. Must pay. Coins shimmer like ocean depths. Full payment, ah, upfront… a siren song of savings? Tempting. Is there another way?
Deposit, perhaps. A promise whispered on the wind. Smaller now, then more later. Time stretches, like a cruise ship’s wake. Two… three months?
It all flows. The cruise line decides. Their rules, etched in sea salt, in ship hulls. Payment plans… like tides, rising and falling. Options, always.
- Full payment: Rewards gleam.
- Deposit: A hold. More payments later.
- Cruise line: Sets the rhythm.
- Financing: Perhaps, like finding buried treasure. I dreamt of the Princess, a child of the sea. We once walked the deck at midnight and ate cake. A sweet, fleeting memory. Payments. Ugh. The Princess never asked for such things. She only asked for your heart. It is much, MUCH better to pay it off than it is not to do it. My friend, Martha, always reminds me to pay things off because if not, she says, interest rates. Martha knows all.
What is the service charge on Royal Caribbean?
Oh, Royal Caribbean and its charming… service charges. Let’s untangle this, shall we?
Expect a 20% service charge pre-cruise, same onboard, especially at the spa and salon. Yes, even while you’re supposedly relaxing. Life’s ironies!
- Basically, tips are included in the price now.
- Consider it a pre-paid gratitude fund.
Think of it this way: You’re funding the crew’s happy dance. Or maybe their bills. Honestly, who knows? It’s all just one big, delightful mystery.
I bet my cat Mittens would charge 50% for a paw-dicure. 20% isn’t awful.
Now, about that “guide and what to do” you mentioned? That sounds suspiciously like homework. I much prefer daydreaming about ocean sunsets! My own guide? Escape!
They’ve already got your money. So just enjoy your cruise, lol.
Like. Why tip extra after THAT?
Do you have to pay upfront for Royal Caribbean?
Man, cruise planning… It’s a whole thing. Royal Caribbean? Nope, no full upfront payment needed. Whew. That’s a relief.
A deposit, though. That’s the catch. Twenty-five percent, usually. It varies, of course, depending on what kinda crazy cruise you’re planning, the whole shebang. My friend Steve went on that Alaska one last year. Cost him a fortune.
You can pay the rest later. Monthly payments are an option. Or you can just dump the rest in at once. Big chunk of change either way, ugh. I remember budgeting for my trip to Cozumel. That was… stressful. Makes you wonder if the whole thing’s worth it. Sometimes it feels like chasing a fleeting moment of happiness.
- Deposit: Around 25% (but check their website; it changes).
- Payment options: Monthly installments or one big payment.
- My Cozumel trip: 2023, totally worth it despite the financial strain. Expensive.
- Cruises aren’t cheap: Fact. I should really stick to camping next time.
Does Royal Caribbean require full payment?
Do they want all the money upfront?
It depends. Deposits lock it in.
Then, later, the rest.
But sometimes… they want it all. Right then. Ugh.
It feels different now, this year, 2024.
- Standard Policy: Usually, only a deposit is needed initially. The final payment arrives later. Seems reasonable. Gives time to breathe.
- Promotional Exceptions: Then there are the promotions. The deals. They often want the full amount immediately. Tempting, sure. But… committing.
- Why the Difference? The full payment upfront likely helps manage risk. Big sales require immediate commitment. Probably.
- My Take: It’s a gamble either way. Do I pay it all now for a maybe-better price? Or wait, hoping nothing changes, keeping my cash longer? Always this dilemma.
- This reminds me…of the time I booked that flight. I waited, the price went up. Never again. Maybe. Ugh.
How far in advance do cruises have to be paid in full?
Cruise lines want their money, like, yesterday. Think 90 days. Tick-tock. But book last minute? Cough it up now. Like buying concert tickets, except way pricier. My friend Carol booked a Galapagos cruise two years out. Crazy, right? She paid in installments. Sweet deal. But the final payment? Still 90 days. Always 90 days. Unless it’s sooner. They’re not messing around.
- 90 days is the magic number. Like a countdown to vacation bliss… or your bank account’s temporary demise. Worth it.
- Booking inside 90 days? Instant gratification comes with instant payment. No time for dilly-dallying.
- Exceptions exist! Sometimes. Maybe. Long cruises, luxury lines… Think fancy. They might be flexible. Keyword: might.
- Payment plans are a thing. Break it up! Makes that lump sum less… lumpy. Still gotta finish by 90 days though. Rules are rules.
My cousin once booked a cruise, forgot about the final payment. Whoops. Trip canceled. Sad trombone. Don’t be like my cousin. Set reminders. Calendar alerts. Carrier pigeon. Whatever works.
What is the final payment date?
Final payment? Irrelevant.
-
Agreement governs. Terms dictate all.
-
Date? Read. Contract. Find it.
-
November 17th. Mine. Different.
-
Assume nothing. Check everything.
Details Omitted.
-
Contractual Obligations: Scrutinize. Payment schedules are rigid.
-
Legal Counsel: Consult. If unsure. Seriously.
-
Consequences: Defaulting? Never a good look. Interest accrues. Litigation looms. Know this.
Do you have to pay for a cruise up front?
Salty air, a ship’s horn… echoes. Cruise payment, a dance. Upfront? Or later, like waves lapping the shore. Choices, always. Deposits shimmer, tiny promises…
Dreams of turquoise water. Booking now, paying later. Plans unfurl like sails. Deposits secure the berth. Our berth.
I yearn for the sea. Full payment, or installments? The question hangs heavy. Cruise payment plans. I can’t tell. The ocean’s rhythm calls.
A deposit is required, yes, maybe! To book and secure, but cruise payment plans exist, they do. The balance…time stretches.
Later payments! Cruise lines offer flexibility. Time to save, to dream. My mother insisted we sail. She was always right.
- Full Payment:
- Made at the time of booking.
- Can sometimes offer discounts.
- Payment Plans:
- Require an initial deposit per person.
- Allow for payment of the remaining balance over time.
Do you have to pay Royal Caribbean all at once?
75 days. Four nights or less. Pay up. Longer cruises? Different rules. Check. Don’t assume.
- Cruises 5 nights or longer: 90 days before sailing.
- Bookings made less than 90 days prior: Full payment due at time of booking. No exceptions.
- My last cruise: Radiance of the Seas. Alaska. 2024. Paid in full, 90 days out. Glacier viewing. Worth every penny. Booked direct. Sometimes cheaper.
- Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder. Don’t get caught slipping. They’ll cancel. No refunds.
How far in advance do you have to pay for a cruise?
Ninety days… for the shorter ones. Sits heavy. Like a deadline. Five nights or less. Not much time at all. Sometimes it feels like life itself is a short cruise. Remember booking Alaska last year? 120 days. Longer cruises need more time. More planning. More… anticipation. Maybe that’s it. The waiting. Drains you.
- Five nights or less: 90 days before you sail.
- Six nights or more: 120 days before you sail.
My sister… she booked a two-week transatlantic. Felt like forever waiting. So much to do. Passports. Excursions. Time just slips. Wish I could just… go. No planning. Just… be there. On the ocean. Away.
Do cruises have to be paid in full?
Do cruises HAVE to be paid in full? Oh honey, have to? Like taxes or death? Relax.
-
You can totally pay upfront, like I did for that disastrous Singles Cruise 2023. Never again! Saw more drama than dolphins.
-
Or, plot twist, there are payment plans! Think of it like layaway for a floating buffet. Pay a deposit, then chip away. Fancy!
Think of it this way: cruises are like dating. You CAN commit instantly (the full payment), or you can ease in with dates (deposits), hoping it doesn’t sink before the final act.
So, no cruise payment jail for you! Options, darling, options abound.
But seriously, read the fine print on those “deals.” More hidden fees than sand at the beach, I swear!
Feedback on answer:
Thank you for your feedback! Your feedback is important to help us improve our answers in the future.