The Short Answer
The “$200 charge” people notice around a Carnival cruise is usually a temporary authorization hold on the credit or debit card linked to the onboard account, not a fee and not a final payment. Cruise lines, like hotels, place a hold to confirm that the card is valid and that funds are available for the extras you may buy during the trip. The hold is usually released after the cruise, once your final bill is settled.
The exact amount is not the same for every guest. Cruisers commonly report holds of around $100 to $200, but the amount can depend on the length of your cruise, the number of guests and your booking, so treat any number you read, including this one, as an example. If you need the precise figure, check your Carnival booking information or ask Carnival.
How the Hold Works
Carnival ships use an onboard account, commonly called Sail & Sign, that you link to your cruise card. You can charge drinks, specialty dining, excursions, shop purchases and other items to it, and you settle up at the end. When you add a card, either online before the cruise or at the terminal, the cruise line can place a pre-authorization on it.
This works much like a hotel’s incidental hold:
- It reduces your available balance, but it is not money that has been paid to Carnival.
- It shows up as “pending” on many bank apps.
- It is released if it is not needed, or replaced by the actual charges you made.
How Long Does the Hold Last?
Usually the hold stays in place for the cruise and is released afterward. How quickly it disappears from your statement depends on your bank, and people commonly report a window of several business days, often described as around 5 to 7 business days. Banks do not all work the same way, so if it stays longer, contact your card issuer.
Credit Card vs Debit Card
Because a hold ties up funds, it matters which card you use:
- Credit cards. The hold reduces your available credit, which can be a problem if you are close to the limit.
- Debit cards. The hold reduces the money available in your checking account, so you could find less in your account than expected while you are traveling.
Many cruisers prefer a credit card for the onboard account for this reason. If you use a debit card, make sure your balance can handle the hold plus your planned spending.
Can There Be More Than One Hold?
Yes. If your onboard spending goes over the amount first authorized, Carnival may place additional authorizations on the card as the cruise goes on. If you see more than one pending item, that is not necessarily a double charge. Look at your onboard account (through the app or Guest Services) to compare it to what you actually bought.
Is It a Real Charge?
A hold is different from a charge that has “posted” to your account. A pending hold should drop off, while a posted charge reflects an actual payment. It can be confusing, because both appear in the same list. Possible actual charges around a cruise include:
- Your cruise fare, if you paid by card.
- Prepaid items such as gratuities or drink packages. See Carnival’s daily gratuities and the Cheers drink package.
- Onboard purchases settled on the last day.
If a posted charge looks wrong or appears to be duplicated, contact Carnival Guest Care first, with your booking number, and then your card issuer if needed.
What to Do If You’re Worried
- Look at whether the item is marked pending or posted.
- Check your booking and onboard account for the expected amounts.
- Ask your bank how it treats card authorizations and how long it will hold them.
- Keep receipts and the final folio from the cruise.
- If something still doesn’t add up after you’ve sailed, contact Carnival and, if necessary, dispute the charge with your issuer.
Planning Around It
The hold is one more reason to think about money before you sail. See how much money to bring on a Carnival cruise for a spending plan, the hidden costs a cruise fare leaves out for the wider budget, and our first-timer’s guide for other pre-cruise steps.