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New cruiser here/question about S&S cards


jojolee1968
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We cruise in less thank 2 weeks for the first time! I have a few questions about the S&S cards...

Do they require everyone in your family to have one? We have two daughters ages 11 and 9 who will be with us the majority of the time, except for a tiny bit of time in kids club...they will not be on their own on the ship.

We plan on putting $1000 cash on our S&S cards in total...is it true that gratuities will be taken out of this during the cruise or I think I read I can prepay those? Can we adjust the amount when prepaying and then also tip cash onboard? I don't want to have gratuities taken out of our cash while sailing as I want there to be enough for spending and dont want to scramble to cover that kid of stuff.

Other question....I saw the long thread on lanyards. I guess its easiest to get one and wear it. I was thinking of just bringing a small bag with our towels and having it with us on loungers but if we get up to do water slides etc as a family...I dont want to leave the bag to be stolen and/or have to carry that around. Are bags generally safe left alone? Thanks for any help you can offer this newby! We are excited.

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We cruise in less thank 2 weeks for the first time! I have a few questions about the S&S cards...

Do they require everyone in your family to have one? We have two daughters ages 11 and 9 who will be with us the majority of the time, except for a tiny bit of time in kids club...they will not be on their own on the ship.

We plan on putting $1000 cash on our S&S cards in total...is it true that gratuities will be taken out of this during the cruise or I think I read I can prepay those? Can we adjust the amount when prepaying and then also tip cash onboard? I don't want to have gratuities taken out of our cash while sailing as I want there to be enough for spending and dont want to scramble to cover that kid of stuff.

Other question....I saw the long thread on lanyards. I guess its easiest to get one and wear it. I was thinking of just bringing a small bag with our towels and having it with us on loungers but if we get up to do water slides etc as a family...I dont want to leave the bag to be stolen and/or have to carry that around. Are bags generally safe left alone? Thanks for any help you can offer this newby! We are excited.

 

Yes they will have their own S&S card. They will need it all the time. So it is best that they get in the habit right from the beginning to have it. It's their ID to get on and off the shift. It's their room key. Then if you allow them charging privileges they will need their card. You can pre-pay your gratuities. That way you do not have to worry about it at the time of the cruise. As far as the lanyards go, yes you will want to have one. Do not worry that it might look goofy. Almost everyone will be wearing one. It's just an easy way to make sure you have your S&S card and don't lose it.

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Everyone has their own S&S card; it’s a room key, allows for charging (though pretty sure you can turn that off for your kids if you want); it’s needed every time you get on and off the ship.

 

You can pre-pay gratuities though I don’t think you can adjust the amount when pre-paying. Not sure why you would adjust it just to tip cash. Leave the auto gratuities and there’s no expectation that you’ll be tipping in cash. It’s easier and we find it a pain to carry cash since you can’t use it on the ship.

 

I use a lanyard. It is easier because you need the cards often. If I go to the pool I’ll take a bag with towels and a magazine or paperback. Never had one messed with but I wouldn’t leave your S&S card or anything of value out. Cruise ships are essentially mini cities, no real reason to believe they are devoid of thiefs.

 

 

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Thank you! Reason I would want to adjust gratuities is I read that sometimes its spread out and its nice to give to whom you want like waiters...extras for bartenders, room steward etc?

Do most people prepay gratuities? I forget, what is the general percentage they take out so Im prepared?

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"

Cruise ships are essentially mini cities, no real reason to believe they are devoid of thiefs."

I guess I just wasn't raised with this kind of attitude. We routinely leave, iPhone, iPad, camera, S&S card in our bag by our lounge chair. I would never think twice about someone reaching into my bag and stealing personal belongings on a cruise ship. I would relate a cruise to a resort, not a city of thieves.

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So, eventhough we prepay gratuities...if we order a drink at the bar they will add 15% and we dont have to tip in cash?

 

 

 

Gratuities cover your room stewards and waiterstaff. It also includes the stewards steaming the baseboards, scrubbing the treads on stairwells, washing the interior windows etc. Waitstaff also includes those setting up, clearing tables and cleaning the buffet.

Not included is paid beverages, most paid foods, room service, Spa, Casino, and kids counselors.

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So, eventhough we prepay gratuities...if we order a drink at the bar they will add 15% and we dont have to tip in cash?

 

Correct. the Gratuities you prepay for do not go to the bar staff, so you will be charged 15% for every beverage. If you decide to do the "Cheers" program, you will be charged the 15% when you buy that drink package. So when you go to the bar during the cruise you will not be charged for the drinks. But if you want to leave an additional tip that is up to you.

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My kids were the same age the last time we cruised Carnival. They did have their own sail and sign cards and they also had to wear a plastic bracelet during the cruise. The bracelet was so Carnival staff knew where they belonged in an emergency. We did get the kids lanyards and they wore their cards with the exception of when they were swimming. I did take the cards when we went into port to reduce the chance of it getting lost. They will need the card to re-board the ship. They may have also scanned their sail and sign cards when they went to the kids club but that I cannot be sure of. I have never worried about leaving my card in a backpack on a lounge while I jumped in the pool. I know there is a way to set a daily spending limit for the kids cards. So if you wanted to allow them each 10.00 a day for the arcade and drinks you can do that when you are on board. I was very nervous about letting them go off on their own on the cruise ship and fully expected to be with them most of the time but they quickly made friends and we wound up letting them go off to the arcade and kids activities with friends and just set specific times and places to meet back up with them. If your kids don't have phones I would suggest buying each of them a watch so they always know the time. As for tipping the kids club people I did tip the lead person in their kids club at the very end of the cruise. I don't remember how much but he really was good at planning fun stuff for the kids so I felt he really deserved the extra money! It was one of the best vacations we ever took. I hope yours turns out to be just as good!

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Thank you sooo much for his info!

Very helpful..

So, will water ruin the ss cards or is it just a choice to not let the kiddoes take them into the pool?

 

The SS cards are made from plastic. All onboard purchases are made with this . You might want to have cash account for the kiddies, this way they can’t overspend their money limit.

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Thank you! Reason I would want to adjust gratuities is I read that sometimes its spread out and its nice to give to whom you want like waiters...extras for bartenders, room steward etc?

Do most people prepay gratuities? I forget, what is the general percentage they take out so Im prepared?

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1123/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNTM2ODA3MDc0L3NpZC9mVTJBS3E1UjNCNk5lb1h0NFJhNUd6MThiV3dzRTZXbDJEMGZUY05KQlBJYzNNd0hiUW1JTjE1UXpuanRPR1dudlRoVzFMYVVJZGVIUHNpUUJ6MnRHRUllWiU3RXc1Z1lNRHNZSjN0SnRNMVB3d1VtVVdhMm9RMkt5USUyMSUyMQ%3D%3D

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Thank you sooo much for his info!

Very helpful..

So, will water ruin the ss cards or is it just a choice to not let the kiddoes take them into the pool?

 

I dont think water would ruin them. They are like a credit card or store loyalty card with a magnetic strip on the back. But trying to swim or go down a slide with a lanyard around your neck is probably not a great idea. The card could float right off or worse yet... get stuck on something or someone while it is around your neck.

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In eight voyages I have never had to reduce the automatic gratuities. The service has always impressed me, and the grats also go to persons you never see, but are deserving of a tip. I do tip if I receive especially nice service. I'll add a buck to the slip for a bar waiter, or a pleasant time in the steakhouse. I don't use cash on the ship. You don't need to. I allow my Costco card to cover the sign and sail expenses. Pays me 3%, where paying cash gets me no commission.

 

I carry my S&S card in my wallet most of the time. I have my tailor put a small pocket with velcro in my swimming shorts for the S&S card. It has a barcode for opening the room and getting off and on the ship. Also a mag stripe for some purchases and making the safe lock. Some waiters will just copy your folio number from the face of the card if you order a drink, and bring a slip to be signed.

 

Have a great time on your cruise. I am leaving in two weeks too! Splendor to Mexico.

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Gratuities cover your room stewards and waiterstaff. It also includes the stewards steaming the baseboards, scrubbing the treads on stairwells, washing the interior windows etc. Waitstaff also includes those setting up, clearing tables and cleaning the buffet.

Not included is paid beverages, most paid foods, room service, Spa, Casino, and kids counselors.

 

According to their site, those above in red are not covered. " A small portion goes to a mix of other personnel who are in guest-facing customer service positions within areas such as culinary and hotel services, along with certain key positions in entertainment and guest services".

Here is the breakdown, per day:

Housekeeping Team: $4.05 ($5.05 for suites)

Dining Team: $6.40

Alternative Services: $2.50

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No problem getting the cards wet. We clip ours onto a cheap lanyard. Tuck inside swimsuit top or tshirt and it's out of the way, yet easily accessible when needed. A lot of people put them in their swim trunk pockets - seems every cruise I find one at the bottom of the pool or hot tub.

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"

Cruise ships are essentially mini cities, no real reason to believe they are devoid of thiefs."

I guess I just wasn't raised with this kind of attitude. We routinely leave, iPhone, iPad, camera, S&S card in our bag by our lounge chair. I would never think twice about someone reaching into my bag and stealing personal belongings on a cruise ship. I would relate a cruise to a resort, not a city of thieves.

 

 

 

It’s not about how you were raised. It’s about not being naive. There have been posts and news articles about fights, assaults, sexual assaults, thefts, and even a homicide on cruise ships. Not sure why you think a group of several thousand people who are they simply because they were able to come up with several hundred to a few thousand dollars are all honest and completely well meaning.

 

I don’t live in fear but I do take the same precautions, whether I’m at home, on a cruise ship, or at a resort: don’t leave valuables unattended, don’t get so drunk that you can’t protect yourself, don’t go wandering off to isolated places with people you don’t know, etc.

 

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"

Cruise ships are essentially mini cities, no real reason to believe they are devoid of thiefs."

I guess I just wasn't raised with this kind of attitude. We routinely leave, iPhone, iPad, camera, S&S card in our bag by our lounge chair. I would never think twice about someone reaching into my bag and stealing personal belongings on a cruise ship. I would relate a cruise to a resort, not a city of thieves.

 

 

 

Still need to be careful and aware. Crime does happen on cruise ships. With that said I have left my phone in my bag along with books, room key, etc... never had an issue so far [emoji16]

 

 

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We cruise in less thank 2 weeks for the first time! I have a few questions about the S&S cards...

Do they require everyone in your family to have one? We have two daughters ages 11 and 9 who will be with us the majority of the time, except for a tiny bit of time in kids club...they will not be on their own on the ship.

 

Everyone gets one because it is used for getting on and off the ship. On higher tech ships, the cards can also be used for finding missing people. Your girls do not actually need to have them on them, the choice is yours. Just make sure you have it when you want to get off the ship. Glad to hear you will not let them wander around. Ships are huge, and are mini cities. Treat is like you would at home. Also no need to allow the kid cards to have access to spending. Unless you give your kids a credit card at age 9, why would you do it on the ship?

 

 

We plan on putting $1000 cash on our S&S cards in total...is it true that gratuities will be taken out of this during the cruise or I think I read I can prepay those?

 

You can prepay, or let it be handled daily on your account.

 

Can we adjust the amount when prepaying and then also tip cash onboard? I don't want to have gratuities taken out of our cash while sailing as I want there to be enough for spending and dont want to scramble to cover that kid of stuff.

 

Why would you scramble? BUDGET. Tips are part of the cost. If you pay for the cruise, I recommend prepaying the tips as part of the cruise. The only legitimate reason for adjusting tips, is that the front line employee you are dealing with is so awful, so derelict in their duties, that you don't want to tip them. Than all means, report this poor person, and remove the tips. All tips that you pay, including those in cash, or those prepaid, are shared tips. The cruise lines have a formula for this, and they expect that everyone gets tips. When a person stiffs a tipped employee, what happens, is the person that tips extra really ends up covering that cost.

 

Other question....I saw the long thread on lanyards. I guess its easiest to get one and wear it. I was thinking of just bringing a small bag with our towels and having it with us on loungers but if we get up to do water slides etc as a family...I dont want to leave the bag to be stolen and/or have to carry that around. Are bags generally safe left alone? Thanks for any help you can offer this newby! We are excited.

 

Would you leave your credit cards on a park bench in Miami, or NYC? What about on Daytona Beach, or Asbury Park? If you answer yes, than leave them on your chair on the ship. If you answer no, than put them in your pocket while swimming in the tiny pool.

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It’s not about how you were raised. It’s about not being naive. There have been posts and news articles about fights, assaults, sexual assaults, thefts, and even a homicide on cruise ships. Not sure why you think a group of several thousand people who are they simply because they were able to come up with several hundred to a few thousand dollars are all honest and completely well meaning.

 

I don’t live in fear but I do take the same precautions, whether I’m at home, on a cruise ship, or at a resort: don’t leave valuables unattended, don’t get so drunk that you can’t protect yourself, don’t go wandering off to isolated places with people you don’t know, etc.

 

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There are people who live in LaLa land. They believe everything and everyone, is honest, and would never commit a crime.

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