Cruise Cash is only adding an unnecessary step and turning real money into company credits with restrictions. It was designed as a method to give a gift to someone sailing.
I assume it has something to do with the TikTok that went around over the last week where he made some joke about 'jump overboard if you aren't having a good time' at a deck party. Carnival may take offense to that since it seems to happen a good bit.
Something isn't adding up. I always save money using a TA. There is no reason the booking total won't be the exact same from them as you can do directly....to the penny. The savings come as most will give you additional OBC for booking with them. If they aren't find one that does.
Remember....this is still not a guarantee. We were denied last cruise and met many others who were. Across the board no one wanted late dining. Service was running around 2 hours so people were not getting out of the dining room until after 11pm.
....but there is never a set price. Each sailing fluctuates from the time it was released and generally trends upwards. Since there is no set price any price can be a "sale" because for all we know they may internally value the cruise at $1800.
DOU was always too much of a hassle for us. I do enjoy spending time in the casino but there is so much more to do than be there all week. I found having my drinks tied to playing was a drag and then even when playing the service was usually a disappointment.
Just tell them to bring cash or credit card. There is no need in buying Carnival monopoly money with restrictions before hand. It was created to be an easy way to give a gift to someone sailing, not fund a cruise.
They are insanely high. We have one coming up after the first of the year and the Celebration and Mardi Gras were both cheaper for the 3 different weeks we were considering. It will be interesting to see if the pricing holds up after the newness wears off. Mobile was pretty much the cheapest available when the Fantasy class ships were there.