What is the 99.75 charge on Royal Caribbean?

Just like some land-based hotels, guests can expect to see an initial $99.75 pending charge or authorization on their credit card. This pending amount is used to secure funds for anticipated onboard purchases. Purchases made onboard over the initial $99.75 will generate additional holds.



The $99.75 charge on Royal Caribbean is almost always a temporary "authorization hold" rather than a permanent fee. When you check in for your cruise (either online or at the terminal) and link a credit or debit card for your "SeaPass" account, the cruise line places this hold to verify that your payment method is valid and has sufficient funds. It typically appears as a "pending" transaction of $99.75 or sometimes $100. In 2026, these holds are processed automatically; if you don't spend anything on board, the hold is usually released by your bank within 3 to 7 business days after the cruise ends. A high-value peer warning: if you use a debit card, this hold actually "freezes" your physical cash, which can be a high-stress issue if you are on a tight budget. For the smoothest experience, always use a credit card for onboard incidentals so that these "verify-only" charges don't impact your actual bank balance during your high-value vacation.

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Does Royal Caribbean take authorisation holds for Onboard Guest Accounts? Yes, Royal Caribbean takes a temporary daily authorisation hold for each credit or debit card used for Onboard Guest Accounts. Credit cards may incur up to a 10 day hold and debit or Travel Money cards may incur up to 30 day holds.

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To ensure you are not charged by your phone company on your cruise, you have two choices: Turn off your phone as soon as your cruise ship leaves port, or, if you want to use offline applications, put your phone into airplane mode.

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Most lines allow passengers to adjust or remove automatic tips by visiting the front desk. The exception? Norwegian Cruise Lines, who requires cruisers to file a reimbursement request after the cruise ends.

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Typically, the cruise line will offer the upgrade at a discount, meaning you'll pay less for the upgraded room than it would cost to book it outright, but more than what you paid for your original cabin.

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And how much cash should you take on your next cruise? We're here to help you figure it out! Experts say the average cruise passenger spends anywhere from $52 to $89 per day, but the amount you'll spend will, of course, vary based on cruise line, ship, experience and your individual preferences.

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Debit card This method of payment is not recommended. If you use a debit card, a request for pre-authorization will be made by the cruise line to ensure the availability of funds. This request will freeze the pre-authorized amount for up to 30 days.

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Typically charges will appear on the next monthly bill, but depending on your carrier it may occasionally take up to 60 days for charges to appear on your phone bill. Please note that most cell phone carriers do not allow their unlimited rate plans to apply to cellular calls, texts or data used while onboard ships.

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Service for voice calls, texting (SMS) and data is available onboard while the ship is at sea. Once the WMS network is switched on, while roaming on our cruise ships, you will see a distinct display on your handset that differs from your home carrier.

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Most cruise lines these days have options for onboard internet, but you'll need to pay for access, and not all types of internet service are equal. When you book a cruise, you'll generally be given the opportunity to purchase Wi-Fi before boarding. Doing so can save you money versus buying on board.

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