Chapter 3: The Incidentals Embargo
Chapter 3: The Incidentals Embargo
The main lobby on Deck 4 was a grand, multi-story atrium filled with crystal chandeliers, live piano music, and a sprawling guest relations desk wrapped in polished marble. Richard Vance stood at the counter, his chest puffed out as he presented his platinum personal credit card to the assistant manager.
"I want three premium suites immediately," Richard demanded, his voice carrying over the music. "I don't care what the cost is. Move us off Deck 2. My family cannot stay in those conditions."
The assistant manager, a polite man named David, looked at the card and then scanned Richard's boarding profile. He sighed softly.
"Mr. Vance, I would love to assist you, but the ship is completely sold out for this sailing," David explained. "Every single balcony, mini-suite, and standard oceanview cabin was occupied as of two hours ago. The international corporate group that took over the Royal Sky Penthouse also purchased the remaining inventory for their executives."
Richard’s jaw tightened. "Fine. If you can't move our rooms, then at least grant us access to the VIP lounge and the specialty restaurants. My daughter paid a massive deposit on this reservation. Just apply our access codes to our cards."
David tapped a few keys, his eyes scanning the security restrictions on the account. "Ah, I see the issue here. The booking sponsor, Aria Vance, has applied a strict incidentals embargo to your profile. The forty-thousand-dollar onboard credit is locked under a private security PIN. Furthermore, your individual SeaPass cards have been decoupled from her account. To access any services outside of the basic complimentary buffet, you must link each card to a valid personal account with a five-hundred-dollar pre-authorization hold per passenger."
"Five hundred dollars per passenger?" Julian called out, stepping up behind his father. "There are seven of us! That’s thirty-five hundred dollars just to look at the menus!"
"Yes, sir," David replied smoothly. "And without that authorization hold, your cards will be declined at every lounge, bar, cafe, and specialty dining venue on this ship. You will also be barred from booking any shore excursions."
Richard felt a cold sweat break out on his neck. His personal credit card was already near its limit from a bad business investment he had hidden from Eleanor, and Julian’s account was practically empty after his startup failed the previous month. They didn't have thirty-five hundred dollars in liquid capital to throw away on an authorization hold.
"Dad, do something," Chloe pleaded, dragging her tired children behind her. "The kids are starving, and the main buffet looks like a zoo. There are hundreds of people in line down there, and the food looks like school lunch. We were supposed to have a private chef in the penthouse!"
"Just put the hold on the card, Richard," Eleanor whispered, her face pale as she looked around the luxurious atrium, realizing that everyone else was holding gold and silver cards while they were stuck with the basic blue plastic of the lowest tier.
With a shaking hand, Richard pushed his platinum card across the counter. David slid it through the reader.
A sharp, high-pitched beep echoed from the machine.
Transaction Declined: Insufficient Funds.
Julian gasped. Richard’s face turned from red to a ghostly, bloodless white. "That’s... that’s impossible. Try it again."
"Sir, the bank is declining the authorization hold," David said, his voice dropping into that quiet, polite tone used for passengers who could no longer afford their vacation. "Unless you have an alternative method of payment, your cards will remain restricted to the basic tier for the remainder of the voyage. You will have access to the Windjammer Buffet on Deck 11 and the public pool areas, but all premium zones, including the Solarium and the Skyline Lounge, will be closed to your party."
"This is a nightmare," Julian groaned, dropping his head against the marble counter. "We're trapped on a luxury ship with absolutely no money, living next to the engines, eating leftover buffet food for a week."
Just then, a massive video screen in the center of the atrium flared to life, showing the daily cruise highlights. A live broadcast from the Royal Sky Penthouse was being used to advertise the ship's premium amenities. The screen showed a beautiful, sun-drenched private deck where a group of sharply dressed corporate executives were currently laughing, drinking champagne served by a personal butler, and enjoying a private jazz trio.
Right at the center of the screen, the camera panned over to a beautiful teak lounger.
Sitting there, wearing a stunning white sun hat and holding a glass of vintage Dom Pérignon, was me.
May you like
I looked directly into the camera, raised my glass in a silent, elegant toast, and took a slow, deliberate sip as the broadcast transitioned back to the ship’s captain.
Richard stared at the screen, his breath catching in his throat as he realized that I hadn't stayed behind in Denver. I had boarded the ship using a separate, private VIP reservation I’d arranged through my corporate network, leaving them to watch my luxury from the absolute bottom of the vessel.
